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Old Book Scans
Old Magazine Scans
Old Photo Scans
Old Catalog Scans
Misc. Ephemera
Vintage Styling & Photography

History of Beauty Contests and the Ideal Female Measurements of the 1950s

Did you know that the first Miss America was 5 foot 1, weighed 108lbs, had a 30 inch bust, 25 inch waist, 32 inch hips and brown hair with blue eyes? In comparison, Evelyn Ay, the 1954 winner, measured: 5'8, 132lbs, 37-24-36. Here is a chart and a picture to demonstrate the perfect female form of the 1950s, as decided by Vincent Trotta, a Miss Universe judge. He claimed that it was proportion, so a woman could be taller or shorter, just proportional.

1960s Hermits Rest Photos, Native American Indian dance, and random

Slide Scans | 0 |

These are photos from a box of Kodachrome slides labeled “Jan 7 61”. I imagine that...

World War I timeline, soldiers photos, heros, and conclusion.

Old Book Scans | 0 |

Pictures speak louder than words. In these last pages are images of World War I fighter planes in combat, famous air fighters, pictures of recuperating soldiers, descriptions and photos of hospital train cars, and, finally, a timeline of major events in World War I that happened between 1914 and 1917. These last pages also include a copy of Woodrow Wilson's speech, recommending that America declare war on Germany.

History of Beauty Contests and the Ideal Female Measurements of the 1950s

Featured, Old Magazine Scans | 0 |

Early 1900s St. Louis Photos

Old Photo Scans | 0 |

These were in a mixed album of early 1900s St. Louis photos that I scanned. One of these shows the civil courts building under construction, with just the steel beams up, which was completed in 1930 (so this picture would have been c. 1929). Another old photo is dated 1910 and appears to be a group photo of men in the Teamsters Union.

Pictures from the 1927 St. Louis Tornado

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Last of the 1930s family photos

Old Photo Scans | 0 |
1930s nun and family photos

Old Photo Scans | 0 |
1930s family and children photos

Old Photo Scans | 0 |
Last of the 1930s nun pictures

Old Photo Scans | 0 |
1930s First Communion Class Pics

Old Photo Scans | 0 |

Early 1900s Summer Fashion Illustrations

Old Catalog Scans | 0 |

These fashion illustrations show what women wore in 1913, and what was in style. Apparently, embroideries were the rule, and placed where there was the smallest excuse for them. This illustration shows three fashionable early 1900s women and a little girl. On the right side is an advertisement for a Venus adjustable dress form. The text includes detailed descriptions and how to order the dress patterns to make the fashions the models illustrated are wearing.

Bus Routes to the Muny and Guarantors of the 1943 Opera Season

Misc. Ephemera | 0 |

It appears as if bus service to the Muny at Forest Park during World War II was very comprehensive! Bus service extended as far as Gravois and Hampton, Grand and Holly Hills, 3rd and Washington (downtown), Florissant and Kingshighway, and Delmar and DeBalviere... a pretty wide radius! Also in these last few pages of the 1943 St Louis Municipal Opera program, besides ads, was the list of large donors who gave to the Municipal Theatre Associations guarantee fund. It reads like a long list of old St. Louis society's who's-who and includes Adolphus Busch II and his son, August Buch (of the Anheuser-Busch brewery). It's interesting to see who the early supporters of the Muny were!

Modeling a 1930s Gown

Vintage Styling & Photography | 0 |

This entry is part 22 of 23 in the series Carondelet Historical Society Project

Old Book Scans

The Language of Fashion by Mary Brooks Picken 1938

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I am so excited to get The Language of Fashion by Mary Brooks Picken (1938 edition) as an early Christmas present! I am even more thrilled by my friend's thoughtfulness. Even more excited that this book's copyright has apparently expired (according to my search on the U.S. government copyright site).... so I can scan the pages!

Old Photo Scans

Cabinet Cards of Young Men, Children, and Couples

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Here are the rest of the 1800s cabinet cards I digitized for the Carondelet Historical Society. I really like the young lady wearing a hat, as shot by Polensky of Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. That photo, of any, gives me some ideas on historical re-creation. The background is so cool, and could probably be made into a photoshop texture or something!

Old Pictures of Nuns

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Old Sinclair Gas Station Photos

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Family Photos (mostly) from the 1880s

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1950s Wedding Photos

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Old Catalog Scans

1935 Summer Dress Fashions

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This entry is part 13 of 17 in the series 1935 Chicago Mail Order Company Catalog

Slide Scans

A new car, in 1944

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I imagine this 1940s couple getting this car as a gift, or the husband giving it to his wife before he leaves back to fighting overseas. She looks so proud and you can see them posed together, with him in his military uniform. What cute WWII-era Kodachrome slides!

A family in 1944

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Random Old Slides

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San Simeon 1959

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1945 Wedding Reception or Garden Party

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Old Magazine Scans

Art Studies 100 Years Ago Were as Daring as Today’s

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Wow. What an interesting 1950s perspective on the history of nude photography! The accompanying pictures include 3 "unusual photos taken about 80 years ago" (i.e., sexy pictures from c. 1870). The full color photo is a realistic modern figure study by Jules Alexander, of a nude woman posed next to an electric fruit slicer.

Misc. Ephemera

3 Musical Gibson Girl Sketches

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Here are three sketches by Charles Dana Gibson of lovely ladies playing musical instruments. A harpist, a cellist, and a fiddler. These prints are titled: The Wearin of the Green - woman playing a harp Then You'll Remember Me - woman playing a cello The Sweetest Story Ever Told - woman playing a violin

Popular Songs Magazine: October 1935

Featured, Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Popular Songs Magazine: October 1935

Ginger Rogers graced the front cover of the October 1935 edition of Popular Songs Magazine. It advertised the lyrics to over 30 popular songs of the mid-1930s!

On the inner cover was a full page illustrated advertisement for diamond engagement rings, wedding rings, watches, and other jewelry for men and women wanting great values by Royal Diamond and Watch of 170 Broadway, NYC. You could could get a diamond engagement and wedding ring set for only $29.75 (approximately $525.12 in 2016 dollars).

The Perfolastic shapewear had a money back guarantee if it did not reduce your waist and hips by 3 inches, and an offer to send a free sample of the perforated elastic material that the girdles were made from. This illustrates the ideal 1930s silhouette of narrow waist and hips, with a small to medium bust.
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The evolution of chorus girls and showing skin on stage

Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 7 of 28 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

These next few pages of old pictures are a history of chorus girls and showing skin on stage, from Can Can girls, to to Mae West, to the Zigfield Follies, and the Rockettes.

Pinups on billboards, book covers, and record covers.

Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 11 of 28 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

Here’s an interesting history of pinups in advertising! Showing pictures of billboards from the 1800s-1950s, with a focus on pretty girls in beer advertisements.

The next page shows samples of pretty women used to advertise books and, the latest thing, record album covers. Even classical music “moves off the shelves” faster when an attractive woman is pictured on it!

Pretty Girls Sold Tobacco – old cigarette and tobacco ads

Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 9 of 28 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

Here is an interesting history of tobacco advertisements using pretty women and pinups as bait, and to gain broader social acceptance of smoking cigarettes! To explain changes in tobacco advertising, you have to take a historical perspective, which this article explains best. Briefly the history of tobacco ads (according to this 1953 article):

How to sell shirts and bed sheets with Cheesecake Pinups

Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 13 of 28 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

Here is illustrated how two marketing companies used cheesecake pinup, double entendre, and sexual innuendo to sell mens shirts and bed sheets.

Lingerie advertisements from the 1800s to the 1950s

Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 12 of 28 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

Here are shown some lingerie and shapewear ads from the 1800s-1950s. The chemise replaced the corset cover by 1918, although shape wear was still worn in the 1920s to achieve that stylish “boyish” form. The inflatable bra of the 1950s replaced the “Victoria” bosom pad of 1879… such changes in lingerie styles and advertisements!

Hollywood Steps Out – 1930s celebrity charicature cartoon

Old Movies |

Hollywood Steps Out is the first old film I’m featuring in this ephemera blog. I found a discussion about 1930s Old Hollywood celebrity caricatures on FaceBook a month ago, and decided to research further.

1940s St. Louis Municipal Opera Seating Chart and Ads

Featured, Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 4 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

This set of scans of the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera Theater Program includes the seating chart and seat prices in an advertisement for C.L. Finot Inc. Concessionaires. It looks like during WWII, The Muny seated 10,000 people and you could get front section box seats for two dollars, or sit in the back section for 25 cents. This was my favorite page in this set.

St. Louis WWII Business Ads

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 5 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

Here are more pages of WWII business ads from the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera program. This starts with an advertisement for The Gatesworth (and the Walnut Room), and with the synopsis for The Great Waltz underneath.

Synopsis of The Great Waltz and more 1943 St. Louis Business advertisments

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 7 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

Here are more St. Louis beer and brewery advertisements and the synopsis of The Great Waltz from the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera Program.

Advertisers in these pages included: Falstaff Brewing Company, Manhattan Coffee, Efficiency Service Co (employment specialists), Griesedieck Brothers Brewing Company, The Circus Snack Bar at the Forest Park Hotel, and the Gaylord Container Corporation.

1940s ads for St. Louis Businesses

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 8 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

A bit of St. Louis Beer History and various 1940s Advertisements

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 9 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

4 more pages of scans from the St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943 season. These include WWII-era ads for Hyde Park Beer, Coca Cola, Tums, and Kieffer Cleaners. The cleaners advertisement has prices listed, which I think is pretty interesting.

Four pages from the 1943 Municipal Opera Program

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 10 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

These next four pages of the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera program were packed with advertisements! Monsanto Chemicals had a full page ad, “Streamlined Flavor” appealing to World War II sensibilities:

World War 2 advertisements

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 11 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

Here are four more pages scanned from the 25th anniversary program of the St. Louis Municipal Opera (now known as The Muny).

The Zodiac Cocktail Lounge and Bar at the Chase Park Hotel advertised Neil Bondshu and his Society Orchestra, Mary Raye and Naldi, Don Tannen (Russian Comedy Song Star), and “Snow White” Sensational Wizard of Tap with Bobby Swain and his “Note-ables”. Entertainment nightly with Joe Karnes and Betty Barr (satirical songs and piano styling). This was probably my favorite advertisement of these pages, because they really gave me a flavor for the type of WWII nightlife and entertainment available here in St. Louis.

1940s theater program advertisements

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 12 of 13 in the series St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

Here are 4 more pages out of the 25th Anniversary Program for the 1943 season at the St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny). The St. Louis Municipal Opera was started in 1918, and 1943 was the 25th (Silver Anniversary) Season. Included is an advertisement for the musical romance “Rosalie”, an ad for Hunter Meat Food Products (out of East St. Louis Illinois), Philip Morris Cigarettes, Alpen Brau Beer (and KMOX) promotional advertisement, and an ad for Nu Grape Soda (bottled locally by American Soda Water Co.).

Illustrated 1960s baby shower cards with rhymes inside

Featured, Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part of 10 in the series 1960s New Baby and Baby Shower Cards

I am just posting the rest of these 1960s baby shower cards all at once! These are vertical new baby welcome cards from that 1962 baby shower. I absolutely love the illustrations on the fronts of these cards, and the cute happy rhymes that are inside!

The mother-to-be wrote what gifts she received on the backs of these cards, which I’ve scanned also.

Here are a few of the baby shower rhymes….

Vintage baby shower card scans

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 1 of 10 in the series 1960s New Baby and Baby Shower Cards

Here’s a few more scans of cards from the 1962 baby shower. I’ve included the duplicate cards, so that you can see the imperfections, and that the mom-to-be wrote the gifts she received on the back of each card!

Corset and shapewear advertising history

Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 14 of 28 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

Advertising to women, by attractive women! Here are some shapewear and corset ads, with a historical perspective. Gilda Grey and “other famous actresses” endorsing a fat reducing cream in 1923. Gypsy Rose Lee endorsing an electric shaver. Warner Brother’s Coraline Corsets of the 1880s(the corset alone was enough to sell it), versus the more straight fronted corseted shape of 1900 (this advertisement with pretty women) in an ad for Armorside Corsets. Finally, an ad for the “modern” 1950s girdle with stockings and garters which flattened both front and bottom, and could be best illustrated in a photograph.

9 Vintage Baby Shower Cards from the 1960s

Misc. Ephemera |

This entry is part 2 of 10 in the series 1960s New Baby and Baby Shower Cards

This expectant mother must have had a heck of a party in the heat of that August of 1962! This was the baby shower for her first child, and I think it was the first grandchild on either side. It’s always extra special to be first (speaking as the eldest child). Here are 9 different vintage baby shower cards from 1962. I love the gentle, cute, illustrations… and, ofcourse, the rhymes inside!