Felix the Cat cartoon: How the world’s first famous feline charmed the world in the 1920s and beyond
Felix the Cat was a black and white cartoon character who first appeared on movie screens way back in 1919. Created by Pat Sullivan and
1949
Direct from ’50s fashion experts come these tips for calculating a woman’s body measurements for the ideal figure. See how much things have changed!
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 not as portable as hand mixers, the fact that these vintage stand mixers could stir and blend and whip on their own was a huge boon for home chefs.
We’ve collected photos of vintage brick fireplaces from the 1940s through the 1970s, showing these fireplaces have been integrated into decor over those inspiring mid-century decades – and still maintain their charm as the warming heart of any home.
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!
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.
Looking back at 7-Up history, you can see that it’s a testament to the lemon-lime soft drink’s popularity that the brand could weather so many stumbling blocks – not the least of which included being introduced right before the Great Depression.
Lithographed vintage travel posters like those shown here are now sometimes sold at auction for tens of thousands of dollars, but they began as ads for a burgeoning industry.
Back when smoking was considered not only cool, but somehow healthy, television and movie stars had no compunction about promoting the practice, as evidenced by the 18 celebs featured in these vintage cigarette ads.
Say, kids, what time is it? Kids: It’s Howdy Doody Time! First gracing the airwaves in 1947, marionette Howdy Doody was a pioneer of American TV programming.
Ayds candy debuted in the 40s, and was basically a piece of caramel or fudge that contained an appetite suppressant. For years, the diet candy called Ayds was a big seller… and then came AIDS.
A box social, sometimes called a box supper social, was an old-fashioned way for communities to connect, share a meal and raise money for local
While you may think celebrity endorsements are a more recent trend in advertising, that’s clearly not the case, as you can see in these Bing Crosby ads from the 40s, 50s & 60s!
Serving canned cranberry sauce this year? Don’t be shy about getting out the jellied stuff, because it turns out you can do lots of cute and creative things with it, from making little turkey cutouts to eye-catching Christmas trees.
Along with some great vintage hairstyle photos below, you will also get real-life beauty advice from newspapers published in the 40s and 50s, which offered readers tips on how to get perfect pin curls every time.
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 Life Savers candy brand has been around for more than a century! Here’s a look back at how the little sweets with a hole became so popular, and the many flavors they have made over the years.
How exactly did they repair antique dolls back in the 1950s and before – in the days before toys and dolls were made of plastic? Here’s a look at what went into doll construction and restoration!
Peek back into the life of young Ronald Reagan in the 40s & 50s – way before he was president back when acting paid the bills, and his wife was Jane Wyman.
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!
Over the years and across the miles, a tricycle has been a rite of pedaling passage for generations of toddlers and preschoolers. Check out our collection of vintage pictures of old trikes
People were used to big records, but then the music industry wanted everyone to adopt a new format and a new size, and came out with 45 RPM record players and 7″ vinyl records with a big hole in the middle.
During the height of milk glass popularity (it was a must-have in American homes from the 1920s through the 50s), 90 percent of Westmoreland’s production was the famous white glassware – and they made a lot of it.
Baby Ruth candy bars – and even Baby Ruth gum – were among the most popular sweets back in the day. Right here, take a look at more than 50 years of the history of the brand.
Chocolate milk has been loved by kids – and, yes, adults! – since at least the 1920s. Here’s a look back at some vintage chocolate milk brands that have hit supermarkets over the years – some of which you know, but many more than have been lost to time.
There are lots of elegant wallpaper patterns in this Victorian-style entry hall, giving this room from the late 1940s a real 19th-century look.
Why can’t we have a milkman? Judging from the blissed out faces featured in these 1950s dairy ads and other milk bottle photos, we’re missing out big time!
The history of fitted sheets: A revolution in bed-making A lot of people may be surprised to know that fitted sheets — ones that weren’t
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!
Cake baked in a pie shell… and a sauce that goes on at the top and ends up in a layer at the bottom of the cake. That’s Funny Cake – a Pennsylvania Dutch treat so intriguing, everyone who tastes it wants the recipe.
If you look back at old home photos and these vintage sculptured and textured carpets were seen – three-dimensional carved or twisted patterns – you can pretty much bet you’re looking at decor from the middle of the 20th century.
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!
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!
Pineapple juice is more than just a drink on its own. It can be used in a variety of recipes – from party punches to zesty meat marinades. Take a look at some vintage pineapple juice recipes and ideas here!
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.
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!
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.
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!
Check out some vintage 1940s birthday cards – along with old-fashioned greeting cards for Halloween, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween and beyond.
When vintage Dial Soap debuted in the late forties, one of their selling points was ‘Dial smells good — not strong, not sissy.’ See how the product – and the message – changed over the years!
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.
Take a look back at these vintage jewelry boxes that were so popular, including some with fold-out storage and – of course – spinning ballerinas.
American Airlines was one of the first companies to offer passenger flights in the US. The industry’s biggest success came after WWII. Here’s a look at the history of the airline’s first decades!
Here is a collection of tips from the past, for researching your past – namely, how to start a genealogical record for your family. Get ideas for tracking down your ancestry here!
Here, take a look back at old Lake Tahoe – the big, beautiful lake that has been a popular vacation spot for generations.
Famous actor Gary Cooper spent most of his time in sunny California, but he loved snowy Aspen, Colorado so much, he decided to build a house there.
Here’s a look back at singer and actor Bing Crosby’s house in Holmby Hills, California, as it appeared in 1950.
In the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, old-fashioned maternity wear existed – but its main job was to help the mom-to-be hide her pregnancy. Here’s a look back at fashions to help women camouflage that bump!
How did they decorate small homes back in the 1940s? Here’s a look at how career girl could set up her first apartment back during the post-war years.
See vintage car wreck photos of 35 of old auto accidents and crashes from the 1910s to the 1950s – before standardized seatbelts and airbags.
See some of the dozens of the most popular vintage board games from the ’30s & ’40s, including Camelot, Ro-Nock-O, Crow Hunt, Senet and more old-fashioned fun.
Albert Einstein was a man whose life, philosophies, discoveries and theories changed the way we looked at the world, and at life itself. Find out about him here.
The Andrews Sisters were three little girls from Minneapolis, who resolved when young that they were going to be the greatest girl singing trio ever. And they were.
Scroll down and take a stroll into the iconic orange-roofed ice cream restaurants – vintage Howard Johnson’s – that were so popular in the fifties & sixties.
Are there any chocolate lovers in your house? Surprise them with this chocolate rhapsody cake. Such rich, chocolaty flavor. So lovely and tender.
This from-scratch vintage lime delight cake recipe uses sweet-tart lime for the cake and filling, topped with a fluffy white old-fashioned frosting.
Take a look at more than 40 vintage ’40s hairstyles – long hair and short cuts, curled and waved, with and without hats – and see what was fashionable!
Years ago, the United States Brewers Foundation ran a series of kindly, old-fashioned ads for beer, all with the tagline ‘Beer belongs – enjoy it.’ Here’s a look back.
This homemade ‘Love me tender’ vintage Valentine cake with lollipop frosting has fluffy white icing and crushed cherry candy decorations.
Treet is the meat (1945) The meal-ready meat most folks like best! Yes! Treet is the Meat! More people choose Treet than any other meal-ready
Years ago, young folks gathered after school and on Saturday nights in drugstores all across America and listened to vintage jukeboxes just like these!
Betty Grable’s legs: They have now achieved the stature of a major Hollywood landmark LIFE – June 7, 1943 No one since Paavo Nurmi has
From 1950: New adventure with pineapple: Classic pineapple pie! (Plus a tasty vintage variation to try) Try your hand… please your man with homemade pie
If you’ve never thought of putting luscious, ruby-red cranberries into a pie, hurry and find out how royally delicious this Ann Pillsbury creation really is!
Futuramic in more than style – the Oldsmobiles of ’40 let you push a button to roll down the windows, and made automatic seat adjustments.
After World War II, when the railroad companies had to transport troops around the country, they upgraded the service. Here’s a look back at some of what the railroads were offering to entice passengers back in the late 1940s.
Range: Anywhere on Earth — and your Air Force has it! The Consolidated B-36 can carry a 10,000 pound atomic bomb to a target 5,000 miles away, drop it, then return to base.
Pacific Southwest Airlines executives ‘appreciate beauty and grace in women and, what’s most important, they don’t mind admitting that we are the ones who make them look good.’ Yep, it was the ’60s.
Marriage rates rose each year between 1945 and 1949 – more than ever before during a 5-year period – as almost 3,000,000 women swapped the single life for married life.
Once electrical power became widely-available in homes, vintage vacuum cleaners debuted, including ones from the famous Hoover brand.
Fun to make and fun to eat (plus super easy), your family will love this vintage recipe for porcupine meatballs!
Allow two pieces per person when you serve this luscious, moist-rich Fiesta Banana Cake! It’s just too good to last! But who cares? Your cake baking reputation will be made.
It’s a see-through dessert! This gelatin-based pie offers a clear filling, making it possible for you to see the embedded peaches and cherries when looking at the whole pie, and with every slice.
Make this pink heart-shaped cake for Valentine’s Day – or a bridal party or for a birthday, for a wedding anniversary, or just to please someone you love.
Like ice cream and cake at your house? Here’s a delightful new way to serve it, based on a recipe from the late 1940s (which was pretty much the cake heyday).
Give new life to your Thanksgiving leftovers with these two old-fashioned turkey recipes from the 1940s!
A wonderful twist on Thanksgiving tradition — a light, appetizing treat from the forties – pumpkin cake!
Your guests will hope for more as they taste the super-goodness that honey brings to this glorified pumpkin pie — the pumpkin chiffon honey pie.
You’ll be the star of the party when you serve this Choc-O-Lantern Halloween cake. Bewitching and so delicious!
Time was kind to many of Hollywood’s famous ’20s actresses, who were working two to three decades later in the 1950s. Here’s a look!
Today, when space-saving is so often a must that a piece of furniture is given houseroom almost grudgingly if it serves only one purpose, hassocks needn’t be merely be footrests. Here’s how to make your own!
If men “hate the sight of you” read this (1930s) Good news for thousands of girls who have no sex appeal (1940s) Don’t be skinny!
Woman-for-President idea gains in favor by George Gallup Princeton, NJ, Oct 28 — A woman for President of the United States? American voters are getting
“Love Happy” was the last movie starring the Marx Brothers — Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, and Groucho Marx… and included a small role for an
California’s versatile, economical wines are for all America, anytime… Let wine spark up your mealtime, every day.
Why not go native at your next party with a retro Hawaiian luau party? It’s now officially as American as a New England clambake.
