The Little House That Could

This is another post from the "Cut-Up Cakes" booklet published by the good people at at Baker's Coconut. This technically should have been posted in the beginning of September instead of the end, but whatever. It's my blog.

Anyway, the cake in this one isn't actually that horrible, but it became post-worthy because of the name.
Ding Dong? Ding Dong!?!?! I am sorry, Ding Dong isn't a proper name for anything, not even a house-shaped cake. Except for those other cakes... you know, Ding Dongs? Aaaaaanyway... despite the fact that this is a house, for some strange reason the picture below gives me the impression that the toothpick flag is stuck in the middle of the cake's forehead. How odd.

Is That...A Radio???

This is a great booklet that I found with my grandpa's hoard of instruction manuals. This is an advertisement sent out in 1944 by GE because they weren't able to manufacture radios during the war. It was a little "Hey, guess what is coming when the war is over" tease for everyone who wanted a radio, but couldn't buy one. You got the booklet by writing a letter to GE and asking for it. Crazy, isn't it? People actually ASKED for junk mail. So, enjoy the booklet!

Portable Radio? No Way!

I love this picture. I think my favorite part is the smoking cigarette in the decorative shell ashtray. The epitome of class. 

Hold It. It's Liquid.

Wow! Check out the "tiny" battery. 

The Television of the Fuuuuuuuuture.........

Check out the 1944 projection television. Sweet. 

December 7, 1941

This is the first of many photographs of newspaper front pages that my grandfather took during the war. This is technically the second page of a paper from the attack on Pearl Harbor by the "Japs". I am looking hard for the front page picture, which I will post if I find. I am going to post the rest of the paper photographs in (more or less) chronological order, so stay tuned!

I heard that a lot of these papers are available for viewing online, but I thought I would post my photos anyway, just cause I want to. What I think it great is that my grandpa thought far enough ahead and took pictures of the papers instead of just trying to save the paper. Almost all of the few actual newspapers he saved have long since decayed to dust. In fact, all the newspapers from the 1940's are very hard to find in good condition. Apparently it is easier to find a paper from the 1800's than the 1940's; the printers in 1800's used paper with more cotton and linen and it held up better!

Joyce the Elephant

The first news photo I have is actually from Milwaukee. I have always been tempted to go out and try and find this spot in the city to see if it still exsists. Anyway, the caption reads:

"Milwaukee, Feb 18. - A parking meter served as a hitching post for an elephant named Joyce today after she and four colleagues, all circus performers, arrived for a Milwaukee appearance a day early and had to spend 24 hours on the street before they could get into the city’s sports arena, where a basketball game was scheduled. "

Poor Joyce! Where was PETA back then? The only thing I can hope is that ALL of the performers had to spend 24 hours in the street, and not just Joyce. And is it just me, or is Joyce pretty small? God, malnourished and forced to stay in the street! It just gets worse...

The Answer to All Life's Problems

Poor Bill. He was plagued by undesirable qualites; poor posture, acne, a lisp, excessive sweating. But he doesn't have to worry anymore! Now he can play the piano! Now he can be invited to the houses of more popular people to entertain them. Finally, Bill has a purpose. I hope that you enjoy reading the story of Bill's rise to popularity. Don't forget the best part, the paragraph entitled "Popularity Insured".

"Think how surprised your friends will be when you sit down at the piano, and sweep easily from a lazy waltz to a syncopated foxtrot. How they'll crowd around you wondering how you did it. No more dull moments for you. You'll be the center of attraction at every party."

Way to go, Bill.

(By the way, check out the instruments you can order lessons for. Hmmm...I am pretty sure playing the accordian is NOT going to make you popular...)

Grandpa Art

This is a picture of my grandfather, Arthur, whose packrat tendencies brought us the bounty of stuff that I have to display on Vintage Bug.

For those of you who don't know, my grandfather was a photographer for Naval Intelligence during World War II, and he worked as a photographer for the Associated Press in post-military life. I have boxes and boxes of photos, some taken by him and some taken by others, that range in subjects from blank-faced school children to fires, from World War II to Bing Crosby. I thought it was a shame to keep all these covered up in the basement, so I am going to post them here for everyone to see. Some are funny and cute, and some are quite gruesome, but all are part of American history.

Here's to you, Grandpa! 

World War II Birthday Card

My grandparent kept every single card they ever received. Seriously, that is not an exaggeration. I am planning on pitching most of the stuff from the 60's and 70's, but there are actually a lot of interesting cards amongst all the garbage.

This, for example, is a cute and cartoony birthday card from WWII. I love the not-so-subtle hints to join up (or pay up!) with goverment programs and the "Axis" and "Japs" references. Ahhh...casual racism. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Good Housewife

I got another great bit of vintage fun from Brian. (Hooray for loyal readers!) Sorry I haven't been posting original stuff lately, but I promise I will get on it this week.

Here is Brian's contribution, a 1955 article from Good Housekeeping magazine about how to be a mindless slave....I mean...a good wife. I keep thinking to myself, "Calm down. There is no possible way that this can be real." And then I think to myself, "There is no possible way that this could have been written by a woman!" Arrgh!! I mean, really. If they would have just left it at little suggestions for your husband's homecoming, that would have been ok in view of the time period it was written in. But to add those little things in, belittling your audience like that, come on!!!!! They could have at least had an article like, "What to do with your many hours of dead-time while your husband is gone and your kids are at school" or "Make your own cloth and save". God! "You have no right to question him" Oooo...it makes me so mad.....