Pages of the Past
Friday, July 30, 2004The Toronto Star has digitized every issue from 1892 to 2001. Pages of the Past gives you access to over a hundred years of Canadian news and events. It’s subscription-based, but right now 1945 is free!
Of course, I went straight to the comics. The Star of 45 had the usual suspects: L’il Abner, Bringing Up Father, Terry and the Pirates, and Popeye. But it also had a few I’d never heard of like King of the Royal Mounted. Watch as our Canadian hero fails to rescue a damsel in distress:
Even Superman is easily distracted in 1945:
However, the real gems are the small ads interspersed throughout the pages. Oh what I wouldn’t do for some glistening hippo oil…
erinn says:
I like how the hippo oil claims that it “should” help protect floors,.....
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D says:
Now those were the days of truth in advertising. “Try this diet stuff, it might help you lose weight… maybe. Whatever. Stop looking at me.”
On the do-gooding mounted entertainment tip, check out Renfrew. Features a gang of singing mounties preparing a barbeque!
Armchair says:
Wow, that takes me back: Hippo Oil.
We actually used to get cans of that stuff at the hazardous waste depot when people would clean out their grandparent’s basements and garages. Nothin’ but boxes of hippo oil and denture adhesive.
“Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas....”
Plish says:
I accidentally read “Do you suffer periodic female misery?” as part of the ad for the Hippo Oil, and I have to say… they lost me at “varnish-like.”
Zombie Claire says:
I LOVE SUPERMAN