From a time in advertising history when a copywriter wrote words and an artist drew a picture and, more often than not, one never bothered to talk with the other. So, here you have an ad with straightforward copy. A literal illustration. And a vague sense that eating Grape Nuts will make you go insane.
Via Box Vox.
There's something about that gentleman in the doorway that reminds me of my Grandpa Norman. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday, and he could always be found lurking within noseshot of the kitchen while the meal was being prepared. He was a thin man, but he could easily put away enough turkey and stuffing to make a teenage boy blush. No mustache, like the man above, but he always wore a suit. Even while mowing the lawn in the middle of the summer.
(If you'd like to know more about the illustrator above, hop on over to Ward Jenkin's blog. Lots of great stuff over there.)
May your home be loaded with joy and an overflowing bounty of warm memories this Thanksgiving weekend.
A collection of board games from the 1800s. For many more, including board games going all the way back to the 1500s, head on over to this wonderful article. One of my favorite posts on one of my all-time favorite blogs.
Via BibliOdyssey.
Meadow Gold Dairy recently announced the closing of their 101-year-old plant located just two blocks from where I am sitting right now. It's a sad end to a local success story. The dairy operation that would eventually become Meadow Gold got its start a few miles south of here, in Beatrice, Nebraska, in 1894. While still known as Beatrice Foods, the company forged a unique partnership with a freelance artist fresh out of the Disney studios.
Mary Blair had worked as an artist on Disney masterpieces such as Song of the South, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. In 1953, she left to pursue a career as a freelance illustrator and graphic artist. The artwork above, for calendars and packaging, was created in the mid 1950s. I remember the character being used into the 1980s.
Mary would go back and work with Walt Disney, most notably bringing her unique style to the It's a Small World attraction for the 1964 World's Fair (later moved to Disneyland and replicated in other parks). You can also see her work in many Golden Books, still in print today.
Images via grickily.
Illustrations from the 1931 electric safety book Elektroschutz in 132 Bildern. Twenty seven more vintage electrocution illustrations here (thanks to Bre Pettis).
Via Martin Klasch.
Details from a brochure for the U.S.S.R. Pavilion at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.
Via Grain Edit.
Couldn't resist this one. Illustration from an ad for the United Food Company in the December, 1957 issue of Good Housekeeping. The ad also had recipes for Holiday Banana Quick Bread and, ahem, Banana Nog. Check out the Mid-Cent Xmas set on Flickr for more retro design goodies.
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