J to the World
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j2theworld.bsky.social
J to the World
@j2theworld.bsky.social
29 followers 35 following 89 posts
Sharing finds from old newspapers, plus anything else that strikes my fancy.
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j2theworld.bsky.social
A newspaper editor in 1923 is quite sad that women have been getting too skinny and losing their curves.

(The Buffalo Times, Buffalo NY, Jan 28 1923) #history
November 8, 2025 at 1:07 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
"There were no injuries and rear view mirror in car wasn't broken."

That's some A+ caption writing there.

(Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena CA, Nov 7 1952)
#history
Photo of a car completely crushed down the middle by an enormous concrete beam. Caption reads "BEAM MAKES JUNK OF AUTO - Walter Harris, owner of this car, heard loud thud outside building where he works and looked up to see his auto nearly divided by 21,000-pound pre-cast concrete beam in Tulsa, Okla. Beam was being set in place adjacent to building where Harris works. There were no injuries and rear view mirror in car wasn't broken.
November 3, 2025 at 2:50 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Divorce as an unexpected consequence of Daylight Savings Time! A husband sought a divorce because his wife refused to wake up and make him breakfast an hour earlier.

(New Britain Herald, New Britain CT, Oct 9 1920)
#history #daylightsavingstime
Old newspaper item: "DAYLIGHT SAVINGS DIVORCE. The newspaper headline reading "Daylight Saving Time is cause of Divorce," brought the thought immediately that probably some husband had told his wife that he was at his work at a certain hour, meaning Standard time, and she found out that he was not there at th specified hour, by Daylight Saving time. But no! The tale is more tragic than that. The husband sought a divorce because his wife refused to recognize the new time and get up, so he had to go without his breakfast. He left home and went to live where he could get something to eat in the morning. The decision is pending."
November 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
A lovely Halloween illustration and poem from 1913. Newspapers weren't always about news - they also featured poems and short stories, bringing some art into people's lives.

(Brooklyn Citizen, Brooklyn NY, Oct 26 1913.) #history #halloween #poetry
Old newspaper clipping: a drawing of four children in costumes carrying pumpkins. A poem underneath reads: "Who said that elves were banished? That goblins were no more? That sprites and fays had vanished from all their haunts of yore? Not so. They surely flourish as in their golden prime, and Hallowe'en they cherish as their most joyous time. They frolic then about us, in queerest garments drest, from hidden places flout us with merry prank and jest. Now on the window tapping, now at the door so sly; we startle from our napping and look, but none is nigh. But if we caught a party amid their fun and noise, we'd find the goblins hearty were just our girls and boys.
October 31, 2025 at 11:36 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Imagine your child getting home from trick-or-treat and finding teeth in their bag! Quite horrifying!

(San Bernardino County Sun, San Bernardino CA, Nov 8 1952)
#history #halloween

Also wondering how you accidentally drop your teeth into a child's bag?!?
Old newspaper item: "Halloween Witch Loses Sweet Tooth in Bag Fresno - A Halloween witch has appealed to the goblins to return her lower denture. She is a grandmother whose custom it is to dress as a witch on Halloween and entertain youngsters who flock to her home. She reports the lower plate is missing and she thinks she dropped it in one of her visitor's trick-or-treat bag."
October 31, 2025 at 11:29 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
I think we can all feel glad that the "witch doctor" costume has been relegated to history. On the other hand, that cape for the "witch" costume looks pretty awesome.

(Fort Worth Star Telegram, Fort Worth TX, Oct 15 1957)
#history #halloweencostumes
Old newspaper ad featuring three Halloween costumes. Woody Woodpecker, a Witch, and a Witch Doctor.
October 31, 2025 at 4:59 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
The Food Stamp program, now called SNAP, started in 1961. Mr. Clarence Cole walked 17 miles to get his first set of food stamps!! The administrator of the program was nice enough to treat him to breakfast. #history #SNAP

(The Morning Herald, Uniontown PA, Dec 14 1961)
October 29, 2025 at 2:27 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
This headline possibly made more sense in 1922. Possibly.

(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis MO, Feb 8 1922)
#history
October 24, 2025 at 1:13 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
The exterior of the White House dates back to the early 1800s, but not the interior! By 1948 the building was in terrible shape and in danger of collapse. Instead of demolishing it, Congress decided to pay to gut and redo the interior, and install a steel structure. #history #whitehouse
October 21, 2025 at 12:33 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
This isn't the first time the White House has sent troops to Chicago! During the Pullman Strike some strikers attacked US Mail trains, triggering a federal response.

(Chicago Tribune, Jul 8 1894). #history #chicago
October 21, 2025 at 12:12 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
The sasquatch news in 1957 is the gift that keeps on giving...

(The Province, Vancouver BC, 13 Apr 1957)

#history #sasquatch
Old newspaper clipping: "Sasquatch can Vote Chilliwack - Returning officer Tom Heaton has made provision for any Sasquatch in the Harrison Hot Springs area to get on the voters' list. Mr. Heaton instructed district enumerator Mrs. T. Rendall to be sure and include any Sasquatch on the voters list should such a request be received. "We'll even make provision for them to vote, too," said Mrs. Rendall, assuming a high political intelligence for the mythical monsters."
October 13, 2025 at 5:56 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
A followup to the #sasquatch story. An editorial noting that it would be dangerous for a woman to be alone in the forest with armed men - the sasquatch was less likely to be a danger to her! Even though apparently sasquatch are attracted to human women.

(The Province, Vancouver BC, 13 Apr 1957)
October 13, 2025 at 5:52 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
When they say "bait", do they believe a male sasquatch will be attracted to a female of a complete different species, or do they think it will want to eat her? It's not clear, but the article notes that the government will be paying a grant of $344.60 for the hunt.

#history #sasquatch
October 13, 2025 at 5:39 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
I'm always delighted by how similar old newspapers can be to our modern social media posts. Posting photos of cats with a "mustache" that reminds people of a certain German leader? They were doing that way back in 1940.

(Times Colonist, Victoria BC, 25 Jan 1940)

#caturday #history
Photo of a cat. Caption below the photo reads: "HEIL BUTCH! - But, the cat pictured above, has patches of black fur at either side of his nose, and there's some folks as say he's the spittin' image of a certain European statesman. Butch is the pet of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Henley of Boston, Mass.
October 4, 2025 at 10:08 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
In 1934, when taken into custody for murder, apparently you got to take your kitten along.

(Turlock Journal, Turlock CA, 28 July 1934)

#Caturday #history
Old newspaper photo of a woman holding a cat. Caption reads: "Mrs. Demarus de Forey, 70, who was convicted by a superior court jury inn Oakland, Cal., for the murder of her landlady. She was sentenced to life imprisonment by the court. The aged slayer, who had pleaded not guilty on th ground that she fired in the belief a man was going to attack her, is pictured with her pet cat, which she fondled constantly while being held in custody.
October 4, 2025 at 9:51 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
It all started with "Bournemouth girl leaves for Africa".

Spoiler alert: Jane did not marry that actor guy four months later.

(Daily Echo, Bournemouth, England, 23 April 1960)

#janegoodall
October 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Printed newspapers and magazines could do something that's hard on our digital devices - folding the paper for a fun surprise!

(Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany OR, Mar 27 1924)
September 29, 2025 at 3:35 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Portland news from 100 years ago. Three little boys ran off after their guardian hid their clothing - to prevent them from running off.

The paper says it's a mystery what clothing they are wearing, but I think I would assume there are three naked little boys running amok.
September 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
No clue why a drawing of a policeman riding a pig would be the choice for advertising pigskin hand bags for sale...

(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Oct 12 1906)
September 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Jazz Hands!

(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Feb 21, 1904)
September 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Nobody climbs the old-time stairs!

(Mount Vernon Argus, Nov 02, 1911)
September 25, 2025 at 3:50 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
The wording of this headline feels somehow NSFW.

(The Alaska daily empire, July 13, 1921. The new Governor of the Alaska Territory, Governor Bone, spoke saying that President Harding supports the concerns of Alaskans.)
Newspaper headline: "Harding with Alaskans says Governor Bone"
July 26, 2025 at 6:25 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
I don’t think any commentary is needed for this spectacular advertisement. But if you’re curious, Gertie Cochman won the race, with Big Alice coming in 2nd.

(Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb 10 1895)
Old newspaper ad with an illustration of six large women on bicycles, with completely impossible proportions. Huge busts, arms and legs with tiny hands, feet, heads and waists. Reproduction by Popular Request The Fat Ladies' Bicycle Race New Contest New Faces 3784 Pounds of Human Flesh in Tights Living Pictures on Wheels Lucy Morris, 604 lbs; Big Alice, 526 lbs; Amelia Hill, 512 lbs, Big Sallie, 490 lbs, Big Mary, 436 lbs, Cissy Claire, 428 lbs, Gertie Cochran, 407 lbs, Lizzie Schmidt, 381 lbs Come and See the Sight And See Them Mount their Bicycles Reduce Their Weight Make You Laugh Tears In Their Final Contest
June 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Fantastic, A+ score for the art in this advertisement. There's so much storytelling about this road trip in one image.

(The Windsor Star, June 11 1932)
June 17, 2025 at 5:06 AM
j2theworld.bsky.social
Dick Harris had quite a flair for writing headlines!
Old newspaper clipping: "Hog Hunters Bag Bunions And Bruises But No Boars Footsore Nimrods Limp Out of Mountains In Tennessee, Certain of Better Luck if they had 'Just One More day" By Dick Harris, Associated Press Correspondent
June 17, 2025 at 5:02 AM