Sears, Gateway Mall, Bismarck, North Dakota
Another example of why I love going through vintage magazines.
“North, a constant hotbed of agrarian reform, is radical, progressive, upsetting in politics with a habit of electing opinionated men whom sober folk elsewhere often regard as sons of the wild jackass.”
— Jack Schaefer, describing North Dakota in the feature article for Holiday magazine, May 1955.
Behold, the Asshole Lane (AKA the Testy Twat Triangle). It is found at the intersection of Main Avenue and 26th Street in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Home of the Asshole Lane
After years and years of research, I have finally found the one person who best epitomizes North Dakotans for the outside world.
It’s not Lawrence Welk, Josh Duhamel (Sorry, ladies.), Shadoe Stevens, Leslie Bibb (Call me!) or Angie Dickinson. Rather, it’s Father Aloysius Bittman of Mandaree, North Dakota, who was featured in a 1969 print ad for Volkswagen.
Don’t believe me? See for yourself.
Ad of Yore: Volkswagen print advertisement from a 1969 Look magazine
“Dammit, Sally! Stop laughing and fetch me some help!”
— some kid on April 13 in North Dakota
The little yellow balloon was promised blue skies.
Into which it could float, and fly, and rise, rise, rise.
It was lies. All lies.