Bone Shards:
Looks like Marie McMillin was a real person and so is the story. (The actual dialogue might’ve been altered somewhat for marketing purposes.)
And the Internet being the Internet, somebody asked if it’s possible to smoke a cigarette while skydiving.
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[Pursesnatcher going through stolen bag…] “Hey! Cigars!”
It looks like the uncredited artist was Mort Drucker of MAD Magazine fame. Rest in peace, Mort. Also, rest in peace, MAD Magazine.
Pursette’s company, Campana, had one heck of a factory building in Batavia.
“How do you sell what you can’t talk about?”
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What a lovely and fashionable girl.
What do you suppose the 1913 ad she was featured in was selling?
Go ahead, take a guess.
An upscale department store?
No.
The season’s latest fur styles?
No.
A vacation to exotic Canada?
No.
Embalming fluid?
What are you, some kind of wise guy!?
Oh, wait…
You’re right!
It’s an ad for embalming fluid.
D-uh. It’s so obvious now!
Bone Shards:
Ripley’s has a lovely handful of weird embalming stories just waiting for you.
The next time you’re in Houston, don’t forget to stop at the National Museum of Funeral History. Slogan: “Any day above ground is a good one.”
I know! I’m sad I missed out on this auction too.
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This product has gone through a few name changes, from Happy Jax to Sugar Crisp to Super Sugar Crisp to Super Golden Crisp to Golden Crisp.
Bone Shards:
In 2008, Consumer Reports revealed a study that found two cereals that were more than 50% sugar. This was one of them, the other being Kellogg’s Honey Smacks (the one with the frog).
Bears have quite a history of liking the sweet stuff.
The first Ferris wheel was built for Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair by… George W.G. Ferris Jr.
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Sometimes a cactus is just a cactus.
Elizabeth Arden was born Florence Nightingale Graham.
The history of lipstick? Well, if you insist.
Did you know drinking cactus water might not be such a good idea?
A $1.25 lipstick in 1948 would cost $13.72 today.
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Speaking of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster…
Tilt steering is a comfort option? A decade earlier, it was a luxury option.
The Wagoneer is coming back… maybe.
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Slip into something a little more comfortable.
Enjoy a brief history of nylon from Mental Floss.
Enjoy a less-brief history of nylon from Science History Institute.
A little bit and a little bit more on “artist of the stars” Bradshaw Crandell.
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Yes, yes they are, because I said so.
I believe this ad also promoted the horror movie, “Attack of the 50 Foot Magic-Plaid-Wearing Woman”.
In 1948, this company made dresses available in sizes 10 to 18. Did you know that dress sizes have changed dramatically over the years?
$6 in 1948 is equal to $65.89 in 2020.
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