bad banana blog

A Family Christmas

The Sadorus family of Illinois in a Christmas Day portrait taken exactly one hundred years ago. (See more photos by Frank Sadorus right here.)
    May you and your family enjoy health and happiness this holiday season and through the years to come.

A Retro Christmas

From the RETrOZONe via Martin Klasch.

Happy Thanksgiving

A rather dishonest Pinocchio in the 1937 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Beyond Pinocchio's 44-foot long nose, I'm taken by the vintage signage design and typography on the building in the background. What a great photo from the Flickr stream of straatis.
    Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends, and best wishes to everyone else.

What Was On

In November of 1963, Martin Johnson took more than 140 photos of his television set during the coverage of John F. Kennedy's assassination and funeral. View more of his photos here.

Via Square America.

Ghost Photos

A spooky collection of double exposures over at Square America. They are double exposures, right? Right?

Push Your Business

Check out the signage system employed by this turn of the century sign maker. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is. (I especially love the elephant.) Starting from this Omaha building in 1895, Renze has grown over the years to become a national leader in trade show exhibits, point-of-purchase solutions, and environmental graphics. I guess the signs worked.

Summertime

Seventy summers ago in New York City. From Shorpy, one of my absolutely favorite blogs.

Different Time, Different Poses

Check out these overly dramatic catalog photos from the 1960s. Give the photographer and art director bonus points for trying something different. And, well, give the models some bonus points for being good sports.

Via Found in Mom's Basement.

Merry Christmas

Christmas dinner, 1936, at the home of Earl Pauley near Smithfield, Iowa. The meal consisted of cabbage, potatoes, and pie. You can bet those kids thought that pie was the most delicious holiday treat imaginable.
    May we all recognize and embrace our many blessings this holiday season.

Via Shorpy.

Sketchy Santas

More vintage snapshot goodness from Square America. I don't know about you, but if I thought one of these Santas was planning to come down my chimney tomorrow night, I'd block up the fireplace.