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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.

Pictures of the Gateway Arch under construction

Slide Scans, Featured | 0 |

These photos show the Arch under various stages of construction, from just two legs, to the final keystone about to be placed into the nearly complete monument... fascinating historic slide scans of the Gateway Arch under construction in 1965.

The A B C Book of Birds

Featured, Old Book Scans | 0 |

This turn of the century children's alphabet book contains illustrations and descriptions of 27 birds from all over the world including parrots, poultry and songbirds.

Lucille Ball and Marie Wilson were Successful Pinups on TV

Featured, Old Magazine Scans | 0 |

This next article includes plenty of scantily clad pictures of Lucille Ball and Marie Wilson (as Irma, the dumbest blonde on TV). Irma in the "My Friend Irma" show, especially, is mentioned as stretching television's strict Code with risque outfits and comedic innuendos. Lucille Ball is mentioned as being the pretty woman with brains and wit behind the top ten rated show "I Love Lucy".

Early 1900s drugstore photos

Old Photo Scans | 0 |

I have no idea what South St. Louis pharmacy or drugstore is pictured here, but these pictures that I scanned are fascinating! You can see all the glass bottles and vials of medicine neatly on shelves behind the counter, and signs saying: "Frog in your throat? 10 cents - the Greatest Cough ??? on Earth", Adams Black Jack Gum, Humphrey's Specifics, Abbey's ?? Salt... and more.

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.

Historical Bus Routes to the Muny in 1943

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

Early 1900s band photos street photography

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Here are 2 pictures of Seymour's Regiment Band, from the early 1900s. Charles Seymour was a famed conductor and soloist in St. Louis at the time, and I wonder if this was the band he led.

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 Huband and wife in 1944 Kodaslide scans

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This entry is part 5 of 19 in the series Old Slide Scans

Random Old Slides

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Pictures of the Gateway Arch under construction

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A new car in 1944

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Old house and car slides from 1962

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Old Magazine Scans

1920s Christmas gift buying tips and fashions

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Here's a 1920s article on gifts to give at Christmas. Because it's from a fashion magazine, ofcourse the gifts are all wearable. Flapper hats and purses and accessories. A friend of mine scanned these pages from his personal collection, or had them scanned, and then died. I'm sorry.

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

The A B C Book of Birds

Sep 4, 2022 | Featured, Old Book Scans |

This turn of the century children’s alphabet book contains illustrations and descriptions of 27 birds from all over the world including parrots, poultry and songbirds.

Back to scanning vintage magazines and stuff or…?

Sep 3, 2022 | Editorial, Personal Notes |

This week I’ve been inspired to scan old magazines and post them after finding a hoard that I’d bought years ago and thought were lost in my several moves! Since I have that space with all my vintage in it, and room, I made a DIY magazine scanning set up….

Chicago World’s Fair – the 1893 Columbian Exposition

Sep 1, 2022 | Misc. Ephemera |

The World’s Columbian Exposition was a world’s fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World in 1492. The centerpiece of the Fair, held in Jackson Park, was a large water pool representing Columbus’ voyage to the New World. These scans are Volume 8 of the pamphlet series, The Dream City: A Portfolio of Photographic Views of the World’s Columbian Exposition. I also bought Volume 10, thinking that this was the St. Louis World’s Fair (the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), but that’s what I get for being on eBay too late at night.

A Short History About Kirk’s Suede Life Leather Coats

Jan 9, 2022 | Editorial, Fashion History Cases |

The history of some clothing can be most fascinating.
This is what I learned about the history of Kirk’s Suede Life, the maker and label on this vintage leather coat that I just sold:

16mm home video film about The San Diego Zoo in the 1950s

Dec 26, 2021 | Misc. Ephemera, 16mm Film |

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Digitized 16mm Films

This was my first time attempting to digitize film with my iPhone and run a 16mm film projector. To test it, I bought the cheapest 16mm film that I could, which was labeled “16mm Film – Car Stunt Driving San Diego Zoo 1950s? Found Footage Incredible Rare”. Enjoy this old zoo and family vacation film footage, and let me know any info in the comments… or tips on running a 16mm projector and digitizing the films (I’ve since bought another one, a vintage Bell and Howell Specialist 550 Filmosound projector).

Vintage clothing blog on December 20 – I am SOOO overwhelmed!

Dec 23, 2021 | Editorial, My new vintage selling journey |

I stopped updating with new vintage fashions for sale earlier this year because I had the chance to further my career at another job, and then my boyfriend moved in… 2021 was pretty awesome, but now that I’m getting back to “dealing” with my huge collection of vintage inventory that’s left from when I sold vintage full time (2011-2016)… I’m very overwhelmed by all the clothing that I need to list for sale in my vintage shop!

Lucille Ball and Marie Wilson were Successful Pinups on TV

Dec 17, 2021 | Featured, Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 28 of 32 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

This next article includes plenty of scantily clad pictures of Lucille Ball and Marie Wilson (as Irma, the dumbest blonde on TV). Irma in the “My Friend Irma” show, especially, is mentioned as stretching television’s strict Code with risque outfits and comedic innuendos. Lucille Ball is mentioned as being the pretty woman with brains and wit behind the top ten rated show “I Love Lucy”.

Totally steampunk looking Civil War era photo album (#2)

Dec 11, 2021 | Misc. Ephemera |

Here are exterior scans of an embossed leather Civil War era photo album that had metal clasps and gold accents. It was such a decadent, old, feeling to hold this and go thru the pictures long forgotten strangers that were inside.

Spring 2021 was a false re-start, but it had a serious upside

Dec 7, 2021 | My new vintage selling journey, Editorial, Personal Notes |

Revisiting and posting an update to my 2021 vintage selling journey. I’ve continued to make vintage sales and I really truly cannot stay away from vintage clothing, I saw my last blog about relaunching from back in March 2021. Since it’s winter, and I can’t go walk all the time, and I’m more or less settled in my new job, it is legitimately time to reboot my vintage… or clean the house (but working on this fun hobby is so much less of a chore)! I think… That is, if I am over being burned out of my self.

1920s Christmas gift buying tips and fashions

Dec 1, 2021 | Old Magazine Scans |

Here’s a 1920s article on gifts to give at Christmas. Because it’s from a fashion magazine, ofcourse the gifts are all wearable. Flapper hats and purses and accessories. A friend of mine scanned these pages from his personal collection, or had them scanned, and then died. I’m sorry.

The American Photograph Album with civil war photos inside: cover, sides, etc.

Dec 1, 2021 | Misc. Ephemera |

I had just 3 days to scan two Civil War era photo albums! Here are the front, back, and sides. I’m officially kicking off the digital downloads section of my shop with these high res scans. Inside were dozens of pictures of women, children, and Confederate soldiers… but that’ll be my next post!

Pictures of the Gateway Arch under construction

Nov 27, 2021 | Slide Scans, Featured |

These photos show the Arch under various stages of construction, from just two legs, to the final keystone about to be placed into the nearly complete monument… fascinating historic slide scans of the Gateway Arch under construction in 1965.

Early 1900s drugstore photos

Nov 23, 2021 | Old Photo Scans |

I have no idea what South St. Louis pharmacy or drugstore is pictured here, but these pictures that I scanned are fascinating! You can see all the glass bottles and vials of medicine neatly on shelves behind the counter, and signs saying: “Frog in your throat? 10 cents – the Greatest Cough ??? on Earth”, Adams Black Jack Gum, Humphrey’s Specifics, Abbey’s ?? Salt… and more.

Early 1900s band photos street photography

Nov 19, 2021 | Old Photo Scans |

Here are 2 pictures of Seymour’s Regiment Band, from the early 1900s. Charles Seymour was a famed conductor and soloist in St. Louis at the time, and I wonder if this was the band he led.