Christmas Carols from your Richfield Dealer

Richfield Christmas Carols
Illustration by Neil Boyle
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

Richmond Christmas Carols (and Christmas in the Early West)

‘Tis the season for holiday ephemera, starting with this excellent little booklet of carols from Richfield Oil Corporation. The richly illustrated centerfold tells (questionable) legends of how Christmas was celebrated in the wilderness of the Early West.

The illustrations are by the Canadian-born illustrator Neil Boyle (1931-2006).

More illustrations from the book of carols…

See record cover illustrations by Neil Boyle on Leif Peng’s blog, Today’s Inspiration, and read Boyle’s bio at the Lee Youngman Art Gallery…

Enjoy even more jolly vintage Christmas ephemera (and kitsch), in the flickr pool Vintage Christmas: 1945-1970…

Sing of the U.S.A. with Chevrolet

See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet

As an avid collector of sheet music, and lover of old cars, I was excited to find two copies of music put out by General Motors, both with the song “See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet.” And they even have ukulele tablature!!

The first printing is from 1948, with a gorgeous cover illustration by Disney artist and illustrator Eyvind Earle.

The second is a thicker booklet from 1964, with a selection of illustrated lyrics from America’s favorite popular songs, as well as an ode to (and advertisements for) Chevrolet. The illustrator is unknown.

View the covers and illustrations for See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet…

See and hear Dinah Shore singing the song at the Vintage Chevrolet Archives…

Deliciously Different

Deliciously Different
1967 Cinzano advertisement
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

Experience an exciting new taste from Cinzano, advertised in The Illustrated London News, Christmas Number 1967.

The unitards and hairdos in this advertisement are certainly “deliciously different.”

Check out a few other fabulous Cinzano ads:

• Three 60s ads (from el estratografico)
• A 1960s devil girl (from awonderfultreat)
• A gorgeous 1954 illustration by René Gruau (from agent lee)

For more vintage alcohol advertisements, visit the Beer and Booze: A Damn Fine Product pool…

Caricatures, Covers & Cha-cha-cha

Game & Gossip, May 1932
Illustration by Xavier Cugat
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

You may be familiar with the name Xavier Cugat as the “Rhumba King,” the Cuban-Catalan bandleader who was largely responsible for popularizing Latin American music in the United States. You may not be aware that Cugat was also a talented cartoonist (and even worked for the Los Angeles Times)!

Recently I came across some of his 1932 covers for Game & Gossip, and a fold-out with 74 caricatures of the most popular Hollywood celebrities of the time. These included such diverse characters as (see list and key) Will Rogers, Rudy Vallee, Mary Pickford, The Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin.

See more Game & Gossip illustrations, covers and advertisements…

Read more about Xavier Cugat…

You like them Fresh? So do I!

You like them Fresh? So do I!
Camels advertisement
Game & Gossip, 1932
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

Smoke a FRESH Cigarette!

Nurses everywhere recommend smoking!!

From the back page of a 1932 Game and Gossip Magazine:

She knows by a grateful throat’s testimony what a relief this smooth, cool, slow-burning fresh cigarette means to sensitive membrane.

Experience more fresh cigarettes from RJ Reynolds…

For more cough-free, minty fresh vintage tobacco advertising, signs and packaging, see my Vintage Smoking flickr set, or join us at the Smooth Smoke Slogans that “Satisfy” [VINTAGE] pool…

(Paula’s bad habit is collecting and spending too much time on flickr, not smoking…)

YOU Are in Demand if You Can Draw!

YOU Are in Demand if You Can Draw!
Modern Romances, Nov. 1949.
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

Make money with your brush and pen!

If you like to Draw, Sketch, or Paint, write for Talent Test. No Fee!

To read (and believe) these magazine advertisements, there is certainly no job more profitable than being an artist.

Tell it to my bank account, eh?

For more ephemera extolling the virtues of the artist’s life and work, see “So, you wanna be an artist?”

See even more opportunities for rewarding employment in the Success By Mail flickr group…

Beware of Intimate Neglect

Beware of Intimate Neglect
Lysol advertisement
Modern Romances, Nov. 1949
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

Too Late to Cry Out in Anguish!
Beware the one intimate neglect that can engulf you in marital grief

Those of you who use Lysol disinfectant to clean germs in your bathroom, may be surprised to hear that Lysol was once marketed as a feminine hygiene product. According to Devices and Desires: A History of Contraceptives in America, before contraceptives were readily available, many advertisers took advantage of women’s fears by offering up feminine hygiene products that could kill off “germs” (a euphemism for sperm) while “safeguarding her daintiness” (battling odor).

A woman who used Lysol to insure her personal daintiness was sure to be sweet and fresh, charming, desirable and confident. However, dire consequences awaited the woman who failed to insure her personal cleanliness.

See more Lysol feminine hygiene ads…

Read more about Lysol and other early products used for contraception…

The New Era of Healthy Food―Potato Chips

The New Era Potato Chips
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

Feast Without Fear!! Back in the 30s, The New Era came out with this great new health food―Potato Chips, in a can!! Back when “Scientifically Processed” meant better.

On the back:
Science Says… “The Alkaline Side is the Healthy Side.”

New Era Potato Chips and partially starch dextrinized and therefore more readily digested… Chemical analyses have proven NEW ERA Potato Chips to be a highly concentrated energy producing food, 95% digestible and of greater alkalinity than even fresh raw potatoes.

Their product must be healthy, just look at all those slim, active silhouettes horseriding, fishing, golfing, sledding, swimming, playing tennis, and skiing!

Found this can of scientific wonder at Urban Ore (the ultimate in complete recycling and thrift, located in Berkeley, CA).

See a fabulous photo of a New Era ad on a barn silo, by loungelistener…

Read an interesting history-packed article on Snack foods and pop, Detroit style…

Inside the Hottest Towns in the U.S.A.

Inside the Hottest Towns in the U.S.A.
Inside Magazine, March 1958.
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

This itty bitty little magazine is sure to warm the heart (or elsewhere) of warm-blooded men everywhere (or at least it was intended to, back in the 50s). Men’s magazines sure have changed over the years. What is considered “Sensational” certainly has!

Check out some of the vintage advertisements for Stag movies, books, photos, viewers and other assorted attractions.

In case you are wondering, the “Hottest Towns” featured are: Miami (hot climate, hot times), Puerto Rico (seamen’s paradise), Los Angeles (stars, strippers, and sex), Havana (city of chips and chippies), New Orleans (the most wicked of them all), Baltimore (where statesmen stay), and New York (big city, big times).

The art director on this fine little publication is Jack Newman. Picture editor is Harold Asher. No illustrator names are mentioned. How scandalous! See more…

Getting Your Answers at Electronic Speed!

Getting Your Answers at Electronic Speed!
Originally uploaded by Paula Wirth

In honor of the 10th Annual Vintage Computer Festival, here in Mountain View, CA, here’s a vintage ad from 1949 for the IBM Electronic Calculator, AKA the IBM Card-Programmed Calculator (CPC).

This beast was the first digital computer in the space program and was instrumental in the development of the U.S. Army Redstone missile.

Read more about the IBM 604 Electronic Calculating Punch…

For more exciting computer-related manufacturing of the past, see this list of International Business Machines products.

For more great electronics ads, see the I Love My Electric Appliance! flickr pool…