Behind the Curtain

Teasing upon desktops

Don't be a tease this Valentine's Day...OR you could use this sheet as reference as things to do this weekend. Tsk tsk. (Click to view larger.) If you don't feel up for such activities, I have a little V-Day gift for your laptop or phone...

Here is a free download of a lovely desktop to help remind you to get off the internet for a small bit and write some letters. Available for all resolutions screens, iPad's, and smart phones. Hope you enjoy!

The above article was published in the November 1952 issue of "The Girlfriend and The Boyfriend" magazine. Via clotho98.

Vassar Ladies' Clothing

Image from Life (Feb. 1, 1937) [source]

Imagine my delight when I saw an entire article in a 1937 issue of Life dedicated to the collegiate clothing of Vassar ladies! Here are the spreads:

You can read the entire article online via Google Books here, it starts on page 12 of the issue.

I tried to find an image gallery of these on the Life website, but couldn't find a collection, just a couple single photos.

The Oyster Girl Gets Steamed

Image from Life [source]

While reading this article about some Life photos of burlesque dancers, I found out about an interesting little stage story: Oyster Girl smashes water tank with dancer inside.

Image from Life [source]

According to the Nov 28, 1949 issue of Life, the way the story unfolds is that veteran show girl Evangeline Sylvas heard of a new act to share her stage that was similar to hers. Sylvas, who was known as The Oyster Girl, emerged from a large oyster shell and launched into her routine. The new girl performed some of her act in a water-filled tank, and then emerged from the tank to complete her routine. Divena was rumored to get top-billing over the sexy oyster pearl. Sylvas did not like this.

 
Two action shots of Sylvas breaking the water tank. Images from Life [source]

In the middle of Divena's act, Sylvas broke open her stage tank with an axe, with Divena still in it! The water rushed to the floor, ruining the carpet for the venue, and (according to Life) Sylva's reached into the tank and pulled Divena by her hair.

Image from Life [source]

Sylvas went to jail for her actions, but according to a later Life article, she was extremely remorseful immediately following the incident. The two dancers reconciled and were long-time friends after the whole ordeal.

You can read the original article in Life via Google Books here. You can also view the later Life photo-article interviewing Sylvas in March 2011 about the incident here.

Regarding the title of this post - I'm not sure if I should be embarrassed at the pun, or congratulate myself. It is definitely a headline I would expect from a 1930s rag!

Image Note: Life Magazine so awesomely has an iframe feature that allows you to place their images in your blog (just click the "Link" button while in their image galleries). Unfortunately, the iframe coding wasn't loading in my blog, so I had to stick to doing the old fashion linking the source through the caption. Please note that all these images are copyrighted by Life Magazine.

Vintage Magazine Covers: Halloween

The Ladies Home Journal, October 1905

The witching hour is soon upon us. While I put the finishing touches on my costume (this year I'm going to a party that has a costume contest with good prizes!), here is some fun Halloween eye candy for you. I've been holding on to these October-themed vintage magazine covers for just this season. I hope you enjoy.

Liberty October 31, 1936

Today's Housewife, October 1919

Woman's World, October 1912

Farm Journal, November 1925

Grade Teacher, October 1936

30 Ways to Shock Yourself

Oh man, I totally forgot that this book, Elektroschutz in 132 Bildern, existed and that Bre Pettis was kind enough to scan in 30 of its illustrations. Take a look at some of the wacky diagrams of some of the ways one could electrocute themselves back before electrical safety. A few of them seem like brain teasers! (See the entire collection here.)

&

Thank goodness for proper outlets and controlled currents!

LIFE, December 20th 1937

All images in this post are © by LIFE magazine

Every once in a while I put up a little highlight review of LIFE magazines that match with today's date. Let us look at the 1937 issue for today:

"1937 Closes with the Big Apple." Want to learn the latest dance craze? Follow the illustrated pictures and get dancin' with the Big Apple. (Pages 29-32)

On the Cover: "Her Name is Hope Chandler and she is only 16," said to be the most beautiful of the women in New York's Paradise cabaret. What do you think of her looks? She certainly doesn't look 16! (Page 43)

Pictures to the Editor...some "hats." (Page 80)

Other Interesting Bits:
The Lindberghs pay a surprise visit to the US (5 years after the kidnapping of their child) on page 14
The Kennedy Family "Nine Children & a Million Dollars," on pages 18+19
Movie Review of Tovarich, which stars Claudette Colbert (love her!), pages 22+23
Ad: "This Gift May Save His Life"...an automatic cigarette lighter!, page 50.
The Camera Overseas: The French Academy receives French woman for the first time, pages 64+65

And to close, one more picture of two ladies dancing "the big apple." I just love it too much to not include it!

Magazine Covers, Part 3

Here is the last installation of vintage magazine covers. I hope you enjoyed them.

Magazine Covers, Part 2

Here is the second installment of magazine covers, but this time around I snuck in some article illustrations too.

For those in Chicago, just a heads-up that Donovan & I are going to be at the DIY Trunkshow this Saturday the 20th. Stop by the Pulaski Park Auditorium (1419 W. Blackhawk) between 10am and 5pm and say hello! Now on to the eye candy...

Here are even more magazine covers (and other magazine article art), for your viewing pleasure. All of these are from the illustrator Ralph P. Coleman.

 

 

 

Magazine Covers, Part 1

While looking through my Flickr page I realized that I somehow ammased many vintage cover images and never shared them. So, for the next few weeks I'll be posting a series of vintage woman's magazine covers. Here is the first batch.

Tenement Children

Harvard University has digitized a few pamhlets about working tenement children. It is an extremely interesting look at how a rarely documented class lived. Check it out.