The Most Famous Song that No One Knows the Words To…
Given the season, you may already have guessed that “Auld Lang Syne” is the song to which I’m referring.
The Most Famous Song that No One Knows the Words To… Read More »
Entrepreneurs & Inventors
Then and Now: International Harvester Trucks
The other day at The Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles, I came upon this wonderful International Harvester truck, and I thought it would be fun to post a “then” and “now.”
Then and Now: International Harvester Trucks Read More »
Before There Were Smoke Alarms…
Newscasters issued frequent reminders throughout the weekend that in addition to turning our clocks back, we should check the batteries in our smoke alarms.
Before There Were Smoke Alarms… Read More »
Office Machines and Practices of the Past
One of the stories on the site that gets a lot of attention is the newsletter I wrote about Office Life–what it was like in the past.
Many of the people who locate the newsletter have come there to read about Bette Nesmith Graham, the inventor of Liquid Paper. (She’s the second story.)
Other than the frustrations of typewriters, what else do you remember about offices of the past?
Office Machines and Practices of the Past Read More »
Before GPS Units, We Used Maps
“Let’s stop for a map,” were words I heard my father say many times as I rode in the backseat of our family car.
Young people would be amazed to learn that there was a time when drivers had to navigate on their own, without the aid of a GPS unit. We couldn’t even “google” driving directions for where we were going–we had to figure it out.
And if the distances were far, we had to wait to pick up a map as we drove into each new part of the country.
This month’s newsletter tells of early “route guides” and early maps… and why and when gas stations stopped giving out maps for free. Check it out: Before GPS: Road Maps.
Before GPS Units, We Used Maps Read More »
Olive Oyl: Popeye was an Afterthought
Popeye is one of the most famous cartoon characters from the 1930s but unknown to most people is the fact that Olive Oyl, who eventually becomes his ‘sweet patootie,’ preceded him in the funny papers by a good ten years.
Olive Oyl: Popeye was an Afterthought Read More »