Tag: History

Headless Templates

Yep, that’s a 1930s precursor to photoshop. More info here.

The Apache Revolver (ca. 1869)

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“The Apache Revolver is the Swiss Army knife of guns. Designed in the early 1900’s by the french gang Les Apaches this weapon was easily concealed and it is said that one bullet would always be left out of the chamber so as to not shoot yourself while it was in your pocket. Its range was very limited due to its lack of a barrel but it was an effective tool due to everything it could do, this weapon could shoot, cut and hit and could be easily folded up and placed in your pocket. Sheer Genius.”

The Wikipedia entry contradicts that description. This multi-purpose weapon was presumably designed by Louis Dolne of Belgium in 1860, went into production in 1869, and was discontinued by 1900. Here’s a quick video.

[Top image and caption from here; 2nd image from here.]

Saturday Matinee – Red Skelton, George Thorogood, Chuck Berry (with Keith Richards & Linda Ronstadt) & Postmodern Jukebox

The late comedian Red Skelton‘s greatest soliloquy is as relevant today as it ever was.

George Thorogood‘s excellent cover of the Hank Williams classic seems appropriate.

From the 1987 rockumentary “Hail, Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” on Chuck Berry‘s 60th birthday concerts. If I recall, the video has some amusing footage featuring Berry schooling Keith Richards on playing Berry and telling him to quit messing with the amp settings.

Postmodern Jukebox covers Cage The Elephant. I would have lost a bet on the origins of that song.

Have a great weekend, folks. Every little thing’s gonna be alright.

The .GIF Friday Post No. 469 – Capitol Storm, #MAGA & Daylight in Washington D.C.

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Congratulations to President Trump.

It will take years to clean up the national and global messes created and promulgated by his predecessor and the Democrat Party. May his decisions be wise, the results productive, and may we become a more prosperous nation for all. God Bless America.

[1st & 3rd .gifs found here and here. I stitched the 2nd together from here and here and modified them for snark only.]

Saturday Matinee – 1922 Hotties, Grampa Shreds, 50 Blues Riffs & Jeff Healey with Dr. John

1922 beauties and fashions in color [via].

Anonymous octogenarian walks into a guitar store and doesn’t play “Smoke On The Water.”

This guy nails the styles and acknowledges that there are caption typos in the vid. The Utoobage post has the entire list.

Jeff Healey (with Dr. John) had a killer jam recorded in 1988.

Have a great weekend, folks. Rock on wit yo bad sef.

Chew Mail Pouch

“If you can find a job that you would do without being paid, that’s what you should do.” – Harley Warrick

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Large abandoned structure in Dillonvale, Ohio, in Jefferson county. Mail Pouch Tobacco ad barely visible.

[Found here.]

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That’s Mail Pouch barn painter Harley Warrick (1924-2000).

Here’s an excellent tribute site to those who travelled the sticks to hand-paint the ubiquitous advertisements:

Mail Pouch Barnstormers.

That quote on top? It’s similar to what my own grampa told me:
“Find something you like to do, figure out how to get paid for it, and you’ll never work a day.”

The Feast Of The Bean Kings

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Fest des Bohnenkönigs (Feast of The Bean Kings)
Jakob Jordaens (ca. 1640-45)

The Lord of Misrule:

The functionary with the above whimsical title played an important part in the festivities of Christmas in the olden time. His duties were to lead and direct the multifarious revels of the season, or, as we should say at the present day, to act as Master of the Ceremonies. The following account of him is given by Stow:

‘In the feast of Christmas, there was in the king’s house, wheresoever he lodged, a Lord of Misrule, or Master of Merry Disports, and the like had ye in the house of every nobleman of honour or good worship, were he spiritual or temporal. The Mayor of London, and either of the Sheriffs, had their several Lords of Misrule, ever contending, without quarrel or offence, who should make the rarest pastime to delight the beholders. These lords beginning their rule at Allhallond Eve, continued the same till the morrow after the Feast of the Purification, commonly called Candlemas Day, in which space there were fine and subtle disguising, masks and mummeries, with playing at cards for counters, nayles and points, in every house, more for pastimes than for game.’

If that description is correct, the Fest des Bohnenkönigs was a celebration that ran for three months every year starting at Halloween, and there’s probably a good reason why the Feast was banned… twice. Click on the link, then zoom, scroll and enjoy the debauchery.

Somewhat related was the British tradition of “The Bean Feast.”

[Top image and description found here.]

We Remember – 7 December 1941

WE REMEMBER

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[Top image is my late Dad’s rubber stamp; 2nd image found here.]

Wright Brothers’ Early Spacewalk Test (ca. 1915)

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Using a pressurized helium-vapor suit, Orville and Wilbur Wright sought to solve future problems of space exploration, and their younger step brother “Nottle” volunteered to be the test pilot. Once afloat, the tethers snapped, and he sailed over the horizon. He landed in France and enlisted with the 43rd Balloon Company, serving as a practice target in WWI. Out of eleven volunteers, he was never shot down by the Boche once, and he survived the friendly fire, too.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t a spacewalk test, and maybe it had nothing at all to do with WWI, but maybe it did, depending on how you look at it.

[Original image found here.]

Boy’s Life Magazine November 1927 – Happy Thanksgiving!

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Excerpt from L.K. Smith’s short story:

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In the early years of this country’s formation, Thanksgiving was celebrated intermittently as a time of a bountiful harvest, an insurance policy against winter starvation, and thanks were given to God. It wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

Have a great Holiday, and I hope that the children and grandchildren still fight over the wishbone.  –Bunk

[Previous posts about Thanksgiving here.]