Category Archives: 1960s

Phyllis Diller, Happy Eccentric

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Lynn

There are many reasons to remember the comedian Phyllis Diller (1917-2012).  She was the first well-known female standup comic in America; she had a long career in television and film; and she was an enthusiastic advocate of plastic surgery—theme for … Continue reading →

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Big Hair, Big Shoes 1960s

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Lynn

This wonderful photo was sent to me by Nann Hilyard, who has made several contributions to the blog.  Although the Silver Slipper has now relocated to Missouri, in the 1960s it was a major attraction on the Los Vegas strip.  … Continue reading →

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Dog Days of Summer

Posted on July 17, 2023 by Lynn

It’s hot where I live in Southern California, although I’m close enough to the ocean to get some cool breezes.  I dress for the heat in light weight pants and cotton shirts, preferably very thin Indian cotton. However, many women choose … Continue reading →

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What to Wear to a Picnic, 1969

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Lynn

So much information on this snapshot—enough to make any historian’s heart beat faster!  We have not only the names of the picnickers and the place they were meeting, but also the exact date.  If I’m not mistaken, this is an … Continue reading →

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Final Fitting, 1966

Posted on February 26, 2023 by Lynn

This photograph from the Chicago Tribune shows the sewing instructor Essie Cannon, on the right, checking the fit on a coat made by Mary Davis, on the left.  Cannon was a teacher at the Midwest Senior Center in Chicago where … Continue reading →

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Aging in Color: Ruth Adler Schnee

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Lynn

Famous textile designer Ruth Adler Schnee (1923-2023) died this month at the age of 99.  She is credited with bringing textile design into the world of midcentury modernism.  The daughter of an antiquarian bookseller and a Bauhaus graduate, her family … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990, 2000s, 2010s | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

New Year’s Eve, 1967

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Lynn

Where did the tradition of funny hats on New Year’s Eve come from? This shot of the the Hallberg family (from left to right–son, son’s wife, mother, father) shows that they endorse the idea enthusiastically. They all wear hats–and they … Continue reading →

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Redhead and Friends, early to mid-1960s

Posted on December 17, 2022 by Lynn

More big red hair!  This was a lucky eBay find.  If you’re interested in discovering your own treasures, the best search term is “beehive.”  The updo is similar to the last one—a big pile of curls on top of the … Continue reading →

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The Biggest Hair, 1968

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Lynn

What a historical treasure! The photo was sent to me by reader Nann Hilyard, who got it from a friend, who got it from who knows where.  The magic of the internet. Big hair was already heading out of style … Continue reading →

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The Sheer Dress and the Older Woman

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Lynn

I’ve long been fascinated by older women in sheer dresses.  They seem paradoxical to me, revealing an older body shape at a time when many women like to disguise those extra pounds the years have brought.  But there is no … Continue reading →

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