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Tag: Pennsylvania

Mar242014 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
45 Years of Selling the McDonald’s Big Mac

45 Years of Selling the McDonald’s Big Mac

Retrotisements
Although it was invented in 1967 by McDonald's Uniontown, Pennsylvania franchise owner Jim Delligatti, the Big Mac didn't enter the national consciousness until 1968. That was the year McDonald's added the sandwich -- originally dubbed the Blue Ribbon Burger and the Aristocrat -- to its national menu. In doing some quick research into how the Big Mac was marketed, I found what I believe to be the oldest national print advertisement for it. It ran in the March 14, 1969 issue of Life magazine and looked like this (click for a larger version): So unless someone has information that says otherwise, I consider this month to mark the 45th anniversary of Big Mac advertising in America. Here's a TV ad that ran around the same time (the uploader says it's from 1967 but I doubt it very muc
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Oct232013 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Vintage Photo Wednesday, Vol. 40: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West in Philadelphia, 1908

Vintage Photo Wednesday, Vol. 40: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West in Philadelphia, 1908

Vintage Photo Wednesday
I'm sure this must have been an odd sight to Philadelphians back in the day. It's a posed group photo of famed soldier and showman William F. Cody with the members of his "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" traveling show. Click for the full-size version. That's Buffalo Bill seated roughly in the middle of the picture, behind a group of Native American children. Cody started his first Wild West show in 1883, and he toured the world with it until it went bankrupt in 1913. Many people hold the belief that when Cody died in 1917 at the age of 70, it marked the end of the Wild West in America. The rather imposing building behind the group is the famed Wanamaker's, the first department store in Philly and one of the first in the United States. You can see some interested onlookers peering thro...
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Oct102011 by Chris Holmes4 Comments
A Gallery of Vintage Beistle Halloween Decorations

A Gallery of Vintage Beistle Halloween Decorations

Ephemera
You probably have never heard of the Beistle Company, but chances are you've seen their Halloween decorations. The company was founded in 1900 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Martin Luther Beistle and is still a major party products manufacturer. (For a more thorough company history, check out this page.) While Beistle still produces a wide range of year-round party goods, their classic Halloween decorations are how most of us know them. This gallery offers but a sampling of Beistle's paper Halloween decorations that have been ubiquitous in American households for generations.
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Feb262009 by Chris Holmes2 Comments
Vintage ephemera: Best Western/AT&T Business Resource Guide

Vintage ephemera: Best Western/AT&T Business Resource Guide

Ephemera
Alright, I'm probably stretching the definition of "vintage" pretty thin here.  But here's the thing -- even though this magazine (found in a Best Western in Quakertown, PA just last year) was published in 1996, it sure seems like a lifetime ago.  That's because even more than clothes or hairstyles, few things can almost instantly date a publication like images of current technology. Don't believe me?  Well here's just a sampling of the pictures and ads scattered throughout the 1996 Best Western/AT&T Business Resource Guide, a publication for the modern executive on the go...into a time warp.  (for fun slideshow action, click here) (more…)
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Mar282008 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
This Week in History! (March 24-30)

This Week in History! (March 24-30)

History
March 24, 1989: The Exxon tanker Valdez accidentally hits the state of Alaska, spilling about 11 million gallons of oil. Capt. Joseph Hazlewood was later convicted of negligent discharge of oil and failing to leave a note at the scene of an accident. What's scary is that it's not even one of the 50 worst oil spills of all-time. March 27, 1884: The first long-distance telephone call takes place, between New York and Boston. Contrary to urban legend, the content of the call was not "Red Sox suck!" March 27, 1998: The Food and Drug Administration approves the use of Viagra; sales of used Corvettes and Mustangs drop 78%. March 28, 1930: Constantinople changes its name to Istanbul; provides fodder for quirky rock bands of the future. March 28, 1979: An accident at the Three Mile ...
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Mar172008 by Chris Holmes4 Comments
An A+ for the Bad Plus

An A+ for the Bad Plus

Music
It was quite a big weekend for the Bad Plus - in addition to a two-night stand at Chris' Jazz Café in Philadelphia, the Midwest-based jazz trio made an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Friday. I caught them for the early set on Saturday (the 2nd night), and if there was any post-Conan letdown it was not apparent. The band played a tight set that showcased their strengths - chops, melody, and humor. (more…)
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Nov302007 by Chris Holmes6 Comments
In Concert: Cold War Kids – Philadelphia, PA, 11/29/07

In Concert: Cold War Kids – Philadelphia, PA, 11/29/07

Music
I'll admit up front that I'm not what you would call an überfan of Cold War Kids. I first heard their debut LP, Robbers & Cowards, about six months ago and have dug it ever since. I whiffed on a chance to see the band earlier this year, so I was definitely looking forward to last night's concert at the venue now known as Fillmore at the TLA. So we (me, Mrs. Suit, Jeff and Sara) loaded up the trusty Corolla and made it to the venue (after some trouble finding a parking garage and other navigational difficulties) in time to catch the last few songs of opening act We Barbarians. They seemed somewhat interesting I suppose, but we were busy scoping the place to get a Douchebag Hat count (don't ask). (more…)
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