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Category Archives: Food/Drink
Bazooka Gum Tin
Psychologists say one of the most nostaligic flavors is the taste of Bazooka bubble gum! Here are a few more Bazooka fun facts to chew on: * The gum was named after the brasswind musical instrument, NOT the rocket launcher. * Candy counters were first stocked with Bazooka gum shortly after World War 2. * [...]
Also posted in Comics/Cartoons Leave a comment
Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
It’s time to stock up on summer microbrews and compile my summer reading list. First up, is a bottle of Samuel Adams Summer Ale and a book on the history of Prohibition. Last Call is by Daniel Okrent. It’s a fascinating look at the Prohibition movement in the United States. I’m only a few chapters [...]
Ryzon Baking Book
The first modern version of baking powder probably was invented by a British chemist (Alfred Bird) in 1843. Chemists around the globe quickly followed suit, developing their own brand. In the United States, some of the most “eminent men in chemistry” worked for the New York General Chemical Company. These men perfected Ryzon Baking Powder. [...]
Posted in Food/Drink Tagged culinary history, the history of baking powder, vintage cookbooks Leave a comment
Goebel Friar Tuck Monk Collectibles
First, there were Hummels. Then, came the Monks. The Goebel company introduced Hummel figurines in 1935. These handcrafted, decorative collectiblies sold by the millions. Collectors just couldn’t get enough. In the early 1950s the company introduced the Friar Tuck and Red Cardinal series. And before you could say, “Holy Smokes!” Monks and cardinals were flying [...]
1959 Coca-Cola magazine ad
Throughout the years, the advertisers of Coca-Cola have shown they’re geniuses at marketing their product. They’ve created more hits than misses. Afterall, there’s the iconic logo. Then there are the many memorable advertising slogans. Pictured here is an ad for the 1959 “Be Really Refreshed” campaign. This magazine ad belongs to my Coke collector brother-in-law, [...]
McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes
Ah, the Shamrock Shake! That green, cold, minty drink only available this time of year. McDonald’s introduced this speciality drink in 1970. Uncle O’Grimacey was its mascot, but by the 1980s he no longer appeared. These days you’re lucky if you can find a Shamrock Shake at your local McDonald’s. They’re not available everywhere. Diehard [...]
American Cookery magazine
Gourmet magazine helped change the way Americans cooked and thought about food in the latter part of the 20th century. In the first half of the century it was a magazine called American Cookery. American Cookery was first published as The Boston Cooking School Magazine. The magazine was founded in 1896 and changed its name [...]
Stork Club matchbook cover
The Stork Club on East 53rd Street in New York City existed at a time when cigarettes were held in lighters and alcohol was nicknamed “gasoline” (courtesy Frank Sinatra). The 1940s and 50s were the club’s heyday. A golden chain barred the unglamorous from the entering this famed nightclub. But if you were somebody, ie: [...]
Also posted in Ephemera Tagged historic nightclubs, Stork Club in New York City, vintage matchbooks Leave a comment
