History
The History of Ordinary Things: The Shocking History of Facial Powder
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Across history, men and women whitened their skin with facial powder to show their respectability and social class. It was also intended to hide facial blemishes, such as smallpox pocks or aged skin. Only much later was powder used to “enhance natural beauty.”
Radio Days and Arthur Godfrey Time
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- Written by James Patterson James Patterson
National Radio Day is Aug. 20. Radio has played an important role in American history with live broadcasts of presidential speeches, war coverage, commentary, and other live news.
It Was 50 Years Ago Today: ‘You Don’t Mess Around with Jim’
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
In Jim Croce’s brief career — he died at age 30 in a 1973 Louisiana plane crash — Croce released five Top 10 singles, the first of which was one of the best story songs of modern times.
The History of Ordinary Things: Steam-Powered Engines – Not So Ordinary
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
For many of us, summer means outings to the state fair and steam engine shows. But what do we know about the story and significance of steam power?
Sixties Flashback: Art Weirdo or Business Savant?
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
As a dominant figure on the 1960s New York avant-garde art scene, Andy Warhol became a tireless self-promoter who straddled a line between bizarre media stardom and the straight-laced business world.
The History of Ordinary Things: Ladies’ Stockings over Time
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Stockings refer to over-the-knee hosiery, a term derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “hosen,” meaning covering.
The History of Ordinary Things: Burma-Shave Highway Signs
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Do you recall the series of six red advertising signs along the country highways?
The Cautious Consumer Guy: Our Ancestors Drove Electric Cars
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- Written by Arthur Vidro Arthur Vidro
The gradual switching over of gasoline-powered cars to electric cars doesn’t bother me, even though I generally oppose technological change and have been called, not unfairly, a curmudgeon.
Appreciating African American Music This Month
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- Written by James Patterson James Patterson
In April, singer Nat King Cole’s 1961 version of “The Christmas Song” was added to the Library of Congress’s 2022 National Recording Registry. Cole (1919-1965) had one of the smoothest voices of all singers.