The True Story of P.T. Barnum and Jenny Lind
The hidden history behind Nipper, one of the most famous dogs in the world
Continue readingThe True Story of P.T. Barnum and Jenny Lind
The hidden history behind Nipper, one of the most famous dogs in the world
Continue readingThe soles are shot
The canvas torn
They’ve gone to pot
These shoes I’ve worn
They lasted long
And then some more
So this swan song
Has hit the floor
They paid their dues
t’s nighty-night
My Puma shoes
Head toward the light
A little bit Wonder Woman with a little bit 1980’s hard rock band. Nice.
I’m assuming this company wasn’t named after Dutch Reformed clergyman Albertus van Raalte, but maybe?
Nope. It’s was Emanuel van Raalte. Oh well.
I tried, but can’t quite make out the artist’s signature. Probably not Walt Disney.
Continue reading“Do… or do not. There is no try.” — Winston Churchill
John Bartlett’s “Familiar Quotations” was first printed in 1855. It’s still in print (many versions later), but it has also made the leap into the app world.
Continue readingDandy, Handy and Candy were later replaced by Sugar Bear.
Sugar Crisp is now known as Golden Crisp, because that’s much healthier.
Continue readingThree ingredients: roasted wheat bran, wheat and molasses.
Postum was developed by C. W. Post, the Grape-Nuts guy.
Continue readingHow Wheaties Became the ‘Breakfast of Champions’
Art by Irwin Caplan (“Cap”), illustrator/painter/designer/cartoonist. Wanna see his house?
Johnny Mize was a left-handed Hall of Famer. At last check, some of Johnny Mize’s baseball cards go for over $7,700 on eBay.
Continue readingA little bit on Fairman Wallace “Wally” Taber here and here. Dude studied photography with Ansel Adams.
The history of Tupperware parties. Did you know about Earl Tupper and his savior, Brownie Wise?
Continue readingA month or so back, I bought several old issues of La Domenica del Corriere, a weekly with cool front and back cover illustrations, on eBay from a guy in Italy who seemed to specialize in racing/auto stuff. Well, they finally arrived rolled up in a poster tube, and when I took them out, I found this nice little surprise sticking out between some of the pages — a card of typed correspondence from Enzo Ferrari signed in his signature* purple ink. Groovy.
*I just saw what I did there.
The life of Enzo Ferrari in the UK’s GQ
A nice bit on Enzo Ferrari’s choice of purple ink.