Lileks does the 30s!

[Fletch]

Many of you may be familiar with James Lileks' passion for 20th century culture and his rare ability to comment on it in a way that's at once loving, irreverent, and hip (as well as frequently hilarious).

Well, there's good news tonight. Lileks has just added a new area to his extensive website that's dedicated exclusively to the 30s. It's about time.

 

[Widebrim]

Great extension! Love the 1934 Sears catalog (and the comments). Plus, the ad with the rooster offering the hen a cigarette is real gone! http://www.lileks.com/oldads/30s/3.html

 

[Talbot]

Thanks for the heads up. Lileks is great!

 

[Fletch]

Great extension! Love the 1934 Sears catalog (and the comments).

"Yes, Old Man Depression had certainly sucked the life and brio out of society, hadn't it?" - said in response to a color page of brilliant shades and patterns.

I've been telling people this for years. No one listens, of course; it's all just an unpleasant economics lesson to most of us.

 

[Fletch]

And what, exactly, was Buckskein?

And why does Lileks insist on calling it Buckstein?

 

[Miss 1929]

That was a solid hour of my life lost to chuckles...

 

[LizzieMaine]

As it happens, the shoes I'm wearing right now are pretty much exactly the same as the sensible Goodyear Welts he scoffs at. And they're *very* comfortable. So there, smart guy.

 

[matrioshka]

The "Forgotten Hooch" section is a hoot.

M

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

Short and fat lol

 

[Avalon]

Lileks is brilliant! I loved his "Gallery of Regrettable Food" so much I have it in hard copy. lol

 

[Fletch]

Buck Skein

(aka Buckskein) was a sueded cotton fabric, probably similar to moleskin.
It was sometimes (but not always) double-layered, with DuPont waterproofing process applied between the layers.
Buck Skein and "Buck Skein Joe," the eponymous sportsman, were tradenames of Lustberg, Nast & Co., 212 Fifth Ave., New York. (Hmm, maybe that's where "Buckstein" snuck in.)

Popular Science, Nov., 1935.

Japanese vintage vendor, present day. Listed as "Buckskein Moleskin." Ah, so I was right.

 

[Paisley]

I'm not a shoe horse, but I'd buy a few those pairs even though my feet are more bony than "fleshy."

As for the kitchens... Imagine illuminating 1970s colors with blinding Colorado sunshine coming through a glass block wall. I'd do a lot of eating out.

 

[anon`]

Oh, reading this at work was not a good idea!