The Wunderkammer of the Mild Colonial Boy, Esq., a Reactionary Tory Gentleman, who armed only with a Steampowered Babbage Engine and Pure Intentions, wanders the Time Streams and Aetheric Plane gathering an Eccentric Hodgepodge of Curiousities, Frivolities, Whimsicalities and Nonsense.
Q. Why is your Tumblelog called "My Ear-Trumpet Has Been Struck by Lightning"?
A. Because "My Grandmother's Ear-Trumpet Has Been Struck by Lightning" wouldn't fit in the available space.
Chicago’s Police Department’s first female officers, 1913
The starting salary of a policewoman in 1913 was $75 a month, and each officer was assigned an area to patrol—often a beach, park, bus terminal, railroad station, or dancehall. Their duties included protecting girls from unsavory types who might lure them into danger and arresting girls for wearing questionable swimming costumes at the local beaches.
via Chicago History Museum
Bartitsu exhibition from the splendid Chaps of Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts (the headquarters of the Bartitsu Club of Chicago)
http://bartitsuclubofchicago.com/the-antagonisticathlon/
(Source: fortezafitnessandmartialarts)
1933 World’s Fair in Chicago.
The 1933 Century of Progress World’s Fair was commemorating the centennial of the founding of Chicago. While this postcard doesn’t show the entire Fair it does give the viewer a bit of perspective on the enormity of this creation. I remember my Grandma Alice telling me stories about the Fair and how it lifted the spirits of so many that needed lifting because of the Great Depression. As a matter of fact, it was so successful that it was extended into 1934. The success of this fair is probably why she kept so many mementos (a few of which I’ve already posted).
The back of the card states “A view looking south over the World’s Fair Grounds showing the General Exhibits Group in the foreground: also showing Time and Fortune Pavilion, Firestone Exhibit, Paris, Thermometer, etc.” (The thermometer is that large tower in the background on the left.) With all of these buildings (most of which were in the now classic Art Deco style) you would think that at least a few of them remain. Sadly, this isn’t the case. You’d be hard pressed to find any remnants from this event, which is not only sad but also weird considering the size and the fact that the number of visitors that attended was over 40 million!
(via Posters that rival the London Underground - Salon.com)
Art Deco posters for public transit around Chicago. Click through to the article for an amazing look at all of them.
~ The White City Magazine, Chicago, IL., 1905
via internet archive
(click to enlarge)
“Piano played by wireless telegraphy”
The Monkey, Dog & Pony Circus looks ideal for the kids.
The Lady Elgin, which on Sept. 8, 1860, sank off the coast just north of Chicago. Until the Eastland disaster, this was the single greatest loss of life for one event in US history. More than 430 people perished.
(Source: calumet412, via techsgtjenn)
Gus Engines, 1905
Chicago, The Vacation City, an Illinois Central Railroad poster by Paul Proehl, 1929
(via hoodoothatvoodoo)
