The square pieces of smooth, orange, slightly rubbery American cheese used to be the quintessential lunch food, showing up on everything from gooey grilled cheeses to baloney sandwiches. Here’s a look at how they came to be!
1945
Although penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, real research and production started in earnest in mid-1941, thanks to World War II.
Hot punch is one of the traditional winter warmer-uppers, whether or not there’s booze in it. Here are more than a dozen old-fashioned hot punch recipes for the holidays, both with and without alcohol.
Warm up with a look back at 30 different beautiful vintage fireplaces that were once found in homes across the US.
These vintage dining room sets from the 40s & 50s – bright, cheerful & compact dinettes – were the perfect fit for small post-war houses. Take a look!
Thanks to a simple, happy collaboration between a kid and Mother Nature… we have popsicles! Here’s a look back at the frozen treats we’e enjoyed over the decades.
Follow us backward through time, and check out dozens of the old roller skates that were so well-loved in the heyday of roller skating!
See portraits of vintage Halloween pin-up girls from the 1930s and 1940s – themed photos featuring famous actresses and beautiful models.
Get the history of ketchup, and see vintage catsup bottles of super-popular condiment in America that’s come a long, long way to be a tasty dip for our fries.
The Humpty Dumpty pinball machine was released in 1947, and was the first machine to include flippers the player could move, which required more skill – and that ushered in a whole new era of vintage pinball machines.
Take a look back at all kinds of American WWII military medals, decorations, shoulder insignia and other Army and Navy honors from the 1940s and earlier.
Who was Uncle Wiggily? Find out more about the author of these serials and Uncle Wiggily books, see examples of the characters and artwork, and look back at a copy of ‘Uncle Wiggily and His Friends’ that was published in 1955!
For decades, it was considered inappropriate for TV or movies to show a married couple sharing a bed. But did married couples really sleep in separate beds back in the ’50s?
When it came to parenting the ’40s, were moms too easy on their kids? Was being a parent harder than the generation before? Here’s what people said in 1940.
Here’s a look back at 100 years of vintage Fostoria glass – from candelabra to stemware, in clear crystal or a rainbow of colorful hues – that people have been using and collecting for generations.
By the early 20th century, materials were more readily available to make picture jigsaw puzzles – and the novelties were soon found in households across the country.
When long-distance travel was a novelty, travelers were sure to send plenty of postcards to the folks back home, Here, see 15 different postcards views of Portland, Oregon, as it appeared in the the late ’30s and early ’40s.
Red, pink, gold & beyond – See the top vintage nail polish brands and colors from the 20th century, with shades & styles from decades ago – see how manicures have changed over the years!
George Burns & Gracie Allen were not only married in real life, their work from the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s made them one of the biggest comedy duos in Hollywood. Meet the wacky couple here!
The history of Dr Pepper is surprisingly long – starting back in the 1800s, in fact. Here’s how the brand began and grew and grew to become one of the most popular soft drinks in the world.
Light up your memory with some some great old home décor – more than 200 antique and vintage table lamps from the beginning of the twentieth century to its end!
During WWII, countless products were limited in order to help meet the demands both of the military and the citizens back home. Here’s a look at what those ration books and rationing stamps looked like.
Trans World Airlines, better known as TWA, was one of the major US airlines, moving millions of people to destinations around the globe. Find out the history of TWA, and see this collection of vintage ads to see how exciting flying used to be.
Way back when, it’s what every girl wanted: A cedar-lined Lane hope chest for linens and her trousseau. In upper-middle-class homes, giving a teen cedar chest was a longstanding tradition — and practically a requirement for marriage.
Books in a home once signaled that the residents were intelligent, worldly, and could afford to collect their favorite volumes. Look back at some vintage bookshelves from the past!
The Campbell Kids appeared in Campbell’s Soup advertising for decades, always with those little round faces. Here, see dozens of vintage toys, cups and more with their images, find out how they began, and meet the artist!
Take a look at the classic 1940s Pontiac cars to see what the old designs were like, what the vehicles, they offered buyers (and drivers), and what the manufacturer thought would most appeal to potential customers.
Folk-art painted furniture: Upcycle & renew furniture with tips from famed vintage artist Peter Hunt
For decades, artist Peter Hunt specialized in upcycling furniture and found objects by renewing them with colorful peasant designs. Here are examples of his work, and tips for how you can create your own folk-art painted furniture!
Artist Peter Hunt was known for his colorful peasant-style folk-art paint designs. He insisted that everyone – even people who couldn’t draw a straight line – could create these whimsical designs, using the simple techniques he explains here.
Back in the 1920s, footwear manufacturers and merchants decided that X-ray shoe fittings could bring in lots of customers – people who would be thrilled to let a recent scientific advance help them find the perfect shoe. There was just a little problem…
The Tootsie Roll has a sweet legacy that started way back at the end of the 1800s, and continues to this day. From the early days, the unique chocolaty chewy candy was a huge favorite with kids. Find out more about them here!
The basic concept hasn’t changed much in 100 years, but vintage Erector Sets like these are still popular, still inspiring creativity, and still being used to build everything from mini roller coasters to motorized robots.
In the past, a few products – like Borden cheese – made it so their glass jars could be reused later as party or hostess glasses. Since people collected them, it was a smart use of double-duty packaging.
WWII Victory gardens from the 1940s: How people planted them, and how you can grow your own even now
During World War II, people needed to help ease the nation’s burden by growing as much of their own food as possible in what they called Victory Gardens. Here’s how they did it!
Take a look back at these beautiful classic 1940s Studebaker cars, which were loved by socialites and regular family folk alike. Here’s a look inside and out at these old autos!
What should you put in a hope chest? It’s an old-fashioned tradition, so we tripped back 100 years to get these explanations of what they were for, and why they were such a big deal for women long ago.
The woman on the iconic ‘We can do it!’ posters from the 1940s encouraged women to join the WWII workforce – and they did. Here, see 46 real-life Rosie the Riveters who built bombers and transport planes.
Check out some vintage 1940s birthday cards – along with old-fashioned greeting cards for Halloween, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween and beyond.
Find out about the famous B-17 Flying Fortress planes from WWII – how they were invented, built, tested and used – and what happened to them after the war was finally over.
To most American women in the 1940s, lipstick was a form of clothing – without it, they felt undressed. So how is lipstick made, anyhow? See some makeup laboratories and factories from the forties!
When you look at these vintage Longines watches, think back to the era when wristwatches were as ubiquitous as our phones today – and almost as important.
Look back at the experience passengers in the thirties, forties, fifties and sixties could expect when they sailed the high seas in high style on these fabulous old cruise ships.
The Allies weren’t just trying to create the very best WWII fighter planes that they could – they were also constantly evaluating what the Nazis were using. Here’s a look.
Here, check out 22 vintage kitchen design ideas – from funky fridges to creative cabinetry – plus other retro appliances and home decor we don’t see very often nowadays!
These beautiful women’s shoes from the 1940s – pumps of leather and suede, high heels in white & black, blue and red – would still make a stylish statement today.
In Gaby, playing off one of the more haunting love mix-ups of World War II, a French-born dancer in London (Miss Caron) meets an American soldier. Then he is sent overseas, and soon presumed lost.
This huge collection of 1940s vintage wallpaper samples show the decade was more colorful than you’d imagine from seeing just black and white photos. Take a look back!
While orchestra leader Glenn Miller himself disappeared, his music has done rather the opposite – reaching and speaking to generations well beyond his untimely death during WWII.
Dorothy Lamour, American actress and singer, wasn’t just a star on the screen – she also threw her weight behind numerous WWII war bond sales efforts, and topped those charts.
Take a look back at these vintage jewelry boxes that were so popular, including some with fold-out storage and – of course – spinning ballerinas.
Take a vintage look back at how Americans have loved coffee for generations – plus get some great old-fashioned ways to brew a delicious cup of koe.
Ayds was a diet candy that debuted in the ’40s – basically a piece of caramel or fudge that contained an appetite suppressant. For years, Ayds candy was a big seller… and then came AIDS.
