Camel--the official cigarette of the Olympics

I gotta tell you, I am so tired of all the 'nanny police' trying to tell me what to do.
I am not supposed to eat transfats (even though french fries used to taste a heck of a lot better, and I'm perfectly capable of deciding for myself what to eat, thank you very much),
I have to wear a seat belt, I can't talk on my cell phone when I drive anymore, in some places I'm not allowed to burn wood in my fireplace.
These nannies want to tax my snack foods, my soda pop, my SUV, and regulate the temperature on my thermostat.
They want to discourage fast food restaurants from opening.
They're mad at Michael Phelps, saying he's a poor role model because he enjoys junk food.

Oh please.
Stop.
Enough already.

By contrast, you have to laugh at this ad from a June 1940 issue of Collier Magazine

San Diego History

I wrote previously about my grandmother being at Tent City for her honeymoon in 1904 (post here)
Coronado's history is fascinating to me.

I recently purchased this original flier, dated 1919, advertising new amenities at Tent City


Here are some of the fees and information, such as "furs are only needed as an adornment".
(click on image to enlarge. The 'all sizes' icon over the flickr photo page will enable you to zoom further)


Vintage postcards of Tent City
This one postmarked 1906


Moonlight


Main Street


A later postcard, this one from 1944


And this, the creme de la creme...
Two photographs of what I assume is a family (or perhaps two families) in adjoining bungalows (or tents, or cabanas, whichever you prefer).
The seller I purchased these from didn't realize what she had, so I was able to buy these for a song.
Her description is interesting: "The photos show 13 people dressed for the beach in c.1899. The men are wearing coats and ties. The women are wearing full length skirts or dresses. The boy is wearing a tie. His only concession to the beach is that he is barefoot!
They are standing in front of two different tents. One is tent number S27 the second is tent S29. The tents are made by the San Diego Tent and Awning Company. There must have been a regular tent city on the beach because the tent was on Wyoming Ave."

The expression on the boy's face is priceless (again, click on image to enlarge)

Vintage Ad

ha! Master Rules?

from Smart Sewing Magazine, 2nd edition, 1950

Vintage Ad

One of the coolest things about using Flickr is that I find out what kind of images appeal to the most people.

I'm finding that vintage advertising and illustration inherently carries a big audience.
So I tend to look at old magazines and books with a new eye now.

This is a weird ad. Check out the baby tied to the plunger!
And what's with all the guns?--every kid has one!
I mean, it's just an ad for shoes.

(click on image to enlarge)

From Smart Sewing Magazine, 1954.