December 31, 2009

Show Off


Sometimes you just have to make people pay attention.

Lesley Anne Warren in Victor Victoria
1982
from Tom and Lorenzo's Blog

Fondue Party


Fuck those little cardboard cones you get at the grocery store, ten to a bag. Now these are party hats! Like Party Witches or the Party Klan. On second thought, maybe they are just Party Dunces.

Rochester, NYC
1960s
from helen ireland's flickr stream

Home Away from Home


This is such a perfect little setup, I just want to keep looking at it. I especially like the windows on the awning/expando part of the trailer.

Amsterdam
1980
from heiyu's flickr stream

Fighting Sailors


I'm pretty sure that this can only be referred to as "fiisticuffs".

no stats available
from ookami_dou's flickr stream

December 30, 2009

"That goat loved to drink."


I think I know now why that last goat is all bundled up and having a small glass of tea: hangover!

Chicago
from the Billy Goat Tavern website

An Army "Jenny" crashed in a tree


Oh, crap. Now what do we do?

De Soto County, Florida
1915
from the State Library and Archives of Florida

Stax


Nothing you can say will convince me that this isn't cooler than your iPod.

Stax Records Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee
photographer Bill Carrier
from WLiW21

December 29, 2009

Calm seas, Knut.


As I've posted before, in 1947, 6 men built a balsa wood raft and sailed across the Pacific Ocean. For 101 days, 6 men lived at water level, fished, maintained their small craft, told stories, and probably wished for a good steak and a shower. The last of those men, Knut Haugland, died on December 25 at 92 years old. Steady wind, Knut, and I hope you make landfall safe again this time.

The Kon-Tiki, somewhere in the Pacific
1947, Getty Images
from answers.com

December 28, 2009

Dr. Goat


Here is a goat at peace with the world.

From Dr. Goat
1950, Georgiana & Charles Clement
from Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Likes

Dolly Parton's first publicity photo


Well, she's in there somewhere. Actually, I don't think you could mistake that sweet face for anyone else, no matter how unfamiliar we are with Dolly at that age and stage.

Publicity Still for Goldband Recording Corporation
1959
from Field Trip South

A Man Balancing on a Chair


Um, no. No no no. Look at his tie - the wind is obviously blowing. Blowing him right off the building.

no stats available
from Desconfianza Absoluta (Absolute Distrust), though it looks like they lifted the image from the always awesome Shorpy

We come from Garage Land


Back when the only thing a girl could play was tambourine. And could the guitar player on the left side get his guitar any higher? Still and yet, they were playing, and that's more than I can say.

The Ultimate
1965
from J. Michael Henderson's website

December 16, 2009

Girls Scouts: Harmless


The first part I won't debate, but I've got my doubts about the second part.

Yellowstone National Park
1976, photographer Harlan Kredit
from The National Park Service

December 15, 2009

Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly) and Martha Promise Ledbetter


You can be funky looking, missing teeth, and a felon, but if you can make real music you can make a woman smile like that.

Wilton, Conn
1935
from Library of Congress

Tent Revival


I know he's giving it his all, but this guy just doesn't look like he's leading many lost lambs to Jesus.

Polkville, New York
photographer Robert Dann
from his flickr stream

The Drunkard's Progress


So, if I get what you're saying, if I can just stay at level 5 I'm good to go.

lithograph, hand-colored
1846, copyright by Kelloggs & Thayer, N.Y.
from Library of Congress

backlit


How many dudes in suits did they really need for this picture?

"The Furies"
1934, director Slavko Vorkapich
from Dull Tool Dim Bulb

water wings


This kid knew what was up. That's where I'd rather be.

snapshot
1980s
from Kristina's flickr stream

relish tray


I think mom has this tablecloth. I wish I had the snacks right now - I'm munchie. I like this picture because it's just before the party starts, the calm before the storm.

snapshot
no stats available
from squareamerica

December 14, 2009

Rex Parade Carnival


(You really need to click on this one and see it at a larger size.)
I love a parade, but I have never in my life been to anything like that.

New Orleans
1913, photographer H. J. Harvey
from The Library of Congress: American Memory

December 13, 2009

Who's Afraid of the Bogeyman


Rebel leader or coal carriers' boss?

screenshot
1989, director: Helke Misselwitz, cinematography: Thomas Plenert
from DEFA Film Library

December 10, 2009

Heinlein's Bomb Shelter


Am I a Heinlein fan? Am I not a Heinlein fan? You know, I really couldn't say. What I like by him, I love by him. And I love that he invited a few fans to come hang out and stay the night in his fallout shelter in the 60s.

Robert Heinlein's House, Colorado Springs
1963, photographer Bruce Pelz
from Mimosa Fanzine

December 9, 2009

Save him from poison.


What do you suppose this shit was? How did this scam work?

Ad from Modern Mechanix
1929
from Modern Mechanix blog

December 8, 2009

Mayonnaise Salad


I love this ad, but I fucking hate the kind of salad that is about to be created in it.

Best Foods Mayonnaise ad
no stats available
from Art Deco blog

I am the fucking son of a superman


He's been gone longer than he was here.

Darby Crash of The Germs
photographer Theresa Kereakes
from Metropolis Gallery

29 years gone



John and Yoko
better days
from Rosana Prada's flickr stream

gun nut


Funny how the only thing that stayed clear in this photo was the business end of that gun, huh?

Found Film
1950s
from westfordcomp.com

December 7, 2009

Down with scamps, who harass women!


We will tighten up these studs with discipline!

Anti-Sexual Harassment Poster
1930, illustrator K. Rotov
from Soviet Poster a Day

The day Dylan went electric.


Or, at least, a symbolic take on it starring Cate Blanchett. You know, I know no one who liked this movie except me and my dad. Everyone else found it pretentious and overly self-aware. To them I say, so? Thems the times.

"I'm Not There"
2007, directed by Todd Haynes
from tsweden's flickr stream

Beautiful Machines


I have to assume that the "Adler" lettering is done by to mimic the type of their typewriters. If I had a copy of this ad, I would frame it and hang it on the wall.

Adler Typewriter Ad, Germany
1909
from Lee Suton's flickr stream

December 6, 2009

Truck Turner


What could Scientology give him that simply being Isaac Hayes could not?

"Truck Turner"
1974
from Cinema Strikes Back

skeleton hall


I have a deep seated fear of put together skeletons like this. Basically, this photo gives me the creeps in a can't stop looking kind of way.

Thanks to (OvO), I now can supply this data:
This photo is from the Royal College of Surgeons of England

a specter


Death wants a hug.

Henri Robin
1863
from hastingsgraham's flickr stream

fishboxes as boats


When you live on an island, you plan to go to sea.

Twageos, Shetland, Scotland
Mid 1960s, photographer J. Peterson
from Shetland Museum and Archives

December 5, 2009

Artificial Respiration


It's just too bad that smokes don't come with such useful inserts anymore.

Mitchell's Cigarette Card
from NYPL Digital Gallery