Paris of Yesteryear even makes Running Errands look Charming

I found a really neat Facebook page today packed with old Paris photographs I’d never seen before. From an album dedicated entirely to Parisians buying baguettes to photographs of vintage advertising around the city, it’s a bit of a Parisphile treasure trove. I was drawn to a collection documenting everyday life in Paris and the simple charm of running errands…

Calling all Romantics Aboard the Orient Express, 1950

I love nothing more than digging up a new old photostory from the LIFE archives, especially one filled with romance and adventure in time for the weekend. Today, we’re going to hop aboard with photographer Jack Birns in 1950, on the legendary Simplon-Orient Express. which departed from London, travelled to Paris and Venice via the Simplon Tunnel through…

Drinking Away the Last Hours of Shanghai

Deep in the LIFE archives, I found myself fascinated by a glimpse into mid 20th century China during a period chronicled as “the last days of Shanghai”. It’s a portrait of a city full of Western influence; American neon-lit dive bars on every corner, shops and businesses advertised in English and western ex-pat communities going about their daily lives…

Circus Girl University, Class of ’52

Did you know that there are currently two collegiate circuses in the United States that have year-round programs to teach students how to become circus performers? Maybe if you had known you might have given another thought to your list of college applications… The Florida State University circus program has been going since 1947 and although it…

Whiskey Flavoured Toothpaste, 1955

By the time Don Poynter was a college student, he had already created his company Poynter International and was spending nearly half his time in Asia manufacturing novelty products. Among his inventions were the first talking toilet seat, the first basketball backboard for a wastebasket, Jayne Mansfield’s official hot water bottle and the world’s smallest…

The 1920s College Kids and the Fur “Pimp Coat” Craze

Man has worn fur since he was living in a cave, but there’s something about this photograph and the fresh-faced young men, all “pimped-out” in full-length fur that stopped me in my tracks. I had stumbled upon a snapshot of a moment in fashion history when American Ivy league-ers and young college undergrads began sporting…

Vintage Atkins, Torture Machines and Fat-Shaming: Getting Slim the 1950s Way

Here’s a rather eye-brow raising television clip from 1958 showing various diet and weight loss methods of the day. We learn that Dr. Atkins certainly wasn’t the originator of the ‘fat’ diet as we speak to the doctor behind “Eat Fat, Grow Slim”, and receive various slimming tips courtesy of the British Pathé commentator, such as,…

The 1950s Flying Saucer Conventions at an Underground Rock House

Have you ever heard the one about the guy who literally lived under a rock in the Californian desert, where legendary flying saucer conventions were held in the 1950s? It’s one of those weird stories that a friend told me at a dinner party, which I of course Googled as soon as I could leave the…

A Car Wash Beauty Pageant, 1951

In June of 1951, the Muller Bros held a “beauty pageant” to celebrate their three millionth car wash (any excuse to attract customers). Located on Sunset and Ivar in Los Angeles California, LIFE magazine photographer Allan Grant went along to photograph the event. The beautiful ladies hired for the event, given titles like “Miss Body…

10 Reasons why Vintage Hollywood Sci-Fi is still So Good

I spent the majority of my day today digging through vintage science fiction groups on Flickr, (as you do) and found a very cool archive of images from a time that seemed to have just a little bit more imagination and creativity. And because making random lists is one of my favourite things to do,…