Curator of Flotsam. Goes off on tangents.
These “Ripple” shoes probably were fun and different to wear, and maybe changed a person’s gait in a positive way. Years later, say 1970 something, my sister had some oddly wedge shaped heels on her shoes branded “Get There” that made similar claims.
I think that Ripple shoes were defeated by the same thing that killed “Waffle Stompers”…
DOG POOP
Folks were flush with postwar cash in 1946, and they were asked what they would like to splurge on. This little girl wants a horse in the worst way, and it looks like that’s how she will get it.
I think this has the makings of a sitcom, trying to hide this steed from her parents, and from the neighbors who are the unwitting hosts, and maybe an inept animal control officer, The horse talks but keeps calling her Wilbur.
Since cellphones with the WAZE app installed did not yet exist in 1906, motorists of the day resorted to using confetti flung across the roadway to warn other drivers of a “police trap” ahead.
Since speeds were limited by the capabilities of your horseless carriage, I have to assume that such traps involved general police harassment, and perhaps a nightstick on the noggin. One would be well advised to purchase the proffered tickets to the Policeman’s Widows and Orphans Ball.
It’s 1946, the war is over, and Look magazine asks people what they want. to buy. Because apparently everyone has piles of cash now. They want a pony, a convertible, a cruise. But Dominic just wants a simple gold band…
“No, Dominic, I don’t know what you mean… Exactly what are you interested in having her do?” – Quebec girl’s dad
Consider the case of C. B. Moore, Optometrist. WHY did he not take the GOLDEN opportunity to hang out his shingle as
C MOORE OPTOMETRIST
…and put
“See more with C. Moore”
at the bottom of his calling cards? Did he think it was beneath him?
Fans of novelty music have all heard “The Bricklayer’s Song”, I have always thought of it as mere clever lyrics, so imagine my surprise when I found it almost verbatim, presented in a 1957 issue of the esteemed Everett, Washington Herald newspaper, and attributed to the Manchester, England Guardian newspaper.
I think this is an urban legend that predated even this old article. Supposedly this was from a bricklayer in Barbados to his contracting firm- but was unsigned. Who writes a letter requesting sick leave? By the time it gets there, you would already be fired. Especially since he didn’t sign it!
P.W. Berge of Reno, Nevada, was not a man to let a broken leg slow him down- he just took the door off of his car and fashioned a support for his cast. I am assuming that he had an automatic transmission. Not sure if I would be pulling up alongside another car for a mid-road chat though.
One thing that concerns me with this setup is the loss of the driver’s side mirror with the door gone. Would he be able to look far enough over his left shoulder to merge safely? At least he put a red “oversized load” flag on his cast.
I hope he made it through the healing process, and avoided the wrath of his insurance agent. The world always needs more inventive, can-do people.