>

Tag: 1930’s


Apr
2015

My Favorite Vintage Images on Pinterest (April Edition)

categories: vintage images

I’m back! And while I’m off editing all the photos I took at VIVA and working on my posts I thought I would fill your eyes with lovely images from my last few weeks on Pinterest.

Enjoy and stay tuned for Viva Post # 1.

Vintage Images on Pinterest

First up while I was gone, Easter happened so here is a cute picture of Doris Day holding an Easter basket with a real bunny in it.

Further Reading: Vintage Easter 1920s-1960s (Archived blog post)

1950s vintage photo of Doris Day holding an easter basket with a bunny in it.

1950s/ 1960s vintage photo: Nothing to see here but cute Easter bonnets and really fantastic coats. I also adore the older girls purse that she is carrying. Such style at such a young age.

1950s/ 1960s Vintage Photo: Nothing to see here but cute Easter bonnets and really fantastic coats. I also adore the older girls purse that she is carrying. Such style at such a young age.
Source: Living Vintage

1940s Photo: Easter Sunday in Harlem, NY 1942 (Henri Cartier-Bresson). Now that is a hat!

Further Reading: Do you have an Easter Parade Hat?

1940s photo / 1940s Fashion: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Easter Sunday in Harlem, NY 1942
Source: MoMA

Summer is quickly approaching (or at least in my mind it is) and I’m looking forward to all the cool events I’m attending. One of those is the “Hats & Horseshoes” event at Woodbine Racetrack. To prepare for this years event I’m have been enamoured with the 1930s images of well dressed folks spending their “Day at the Races” and hope to maybe channel their looks for my day.

Below Photo: At the races in Autieul 1938-39. That Hat and Dress…Stunning is the only word I can find right now to describe this image.

Further Reading: Vintage Hat Ideas to Wear to the Horse Races

1930s vintage photo of woman in 1930s dresses and 1930s hats At the races in Autieul 1938-39
Photo Credit: Regina Relang

Ascot Racecourse, June 1932, Margaret Whigham, later Duchess of Argyll, and friend.

Further Reading: 1930s Fashions As Seen On Everyday People

Ascot Racecourse, June 1932, Margaret Whigham, later Duchess of Argyll, and friend

Well we all know that at Ascot the day is less about the horses and more about the hats on everyone’s heads. Here is an excerpt  from the British Newspaper The Sphere,1939 entitled “Madcap Millinery at the 1939 Ascot”. Do you have a favorite hat from the picture here?

1939 Vintage Hats at Ascot -Here is an excerpt  from the British Newspaper The Sphere,1939 entitled "Madcap Millinery at the 1939 Ascot"
Source: vintagefashionfairs

At Viva this year a dear friend offered to pay for my hair to get done by a professional hairdresser for one day of the event (you will see the hair in my viva post). So for the last few weeks I have been researching vintage hairstyles on Pinterest for inspiration. Here is some of what I found.

The 1940s hairstyle below is similar to what I normally wear but I still like it (clearly for a reason).

Further Reading: A Vintage Guide to 1940s Hair Accessories

1940s vintage photo of a 1940s hairstyle with hair comb.

Stunning photo of June Haver, Vivian Blaine, and Vera-Ellen. The perfect 1940s hair.

1940s vintage photo: Stunning photo of June Haver, Vivian Blaine, and Vera-Ellen. The perfect 1940s hairstyles.

Evelyn Ankers, 1940s hair is really adorable and probably fairly easy to pull off.

What I like seeing in these photos is the frizz on her tips. Makes me feel better knowing that even movie stars did not always have 100% perfect hair.

1940s Hairstyle as seen on Evelyn Ankers

Lastly I figured that if I was really in a pinch I could pick a style from this chart of 1950s stars and their hairstyles.

1950s retro hair chart featuring 1950s movie stars.

I would like to end this post on a cute note and this image from January 1927 of a young visitor and her toy elephant who discovers that the elephant house at London Zoo is closed for their winter holidays, fits the bill perfectly.

1927 vintage image of a child and her toy
Source: Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images

Happy Wednesday!

Further Reading:

Liz


Jan
2015

Vintage Dance Cards

categories: Vintage Dance, vintage History, vintage images

(updated February 2023)

I don’t know what came over me but recently I have been very enamored with finding “vintage dance cards” for my collection of “vintage stuff” at home. I just think they are so fun and wonderful to see when they have the card all filled up. I can just imagine all the glorious dances that the holder of the card would have had and I love seeing a story being told when you read who received those dances that night.

girl filling out her dance card 1940s
Source: eBay

Lets explore the world of “Dance Cards” together.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Note: If an item is no longer for sale after you click on it, don’t worry! Etsy & eBay are updated daily with 1000’s of products. Take a look around and see what you find!

Vintage Dance Cards

The History of Dance Cards

A dance card or programme du bal (also known by its German-language name, Tanzkarte) is used by a woman to record the names of the gentlemen with whom she intends to dance each successive dance at a formal ball. They appear to have originated in the 18th century, but their use first became widespread in 19th century Vienna, especially at the massive balls during Fasching before Lent.

An actual dance card is typically a booklet with a decorative cover, listing dance titles, composers, and the person with whom the woman intended to dance. Typically, it would have a cover indicating the sponsoring organization of the ball and a decorative cord by which it could be attached to a lady’s wrist or ball gown. From the 19th century until World War I, dance cards for the elite of Austria-Hungary were often very elaborate, with some even incorporating precious metals and jewels.

In modern times the expression “dance card” is often used metaphorically, as when someone says “pencil me into your dance card,” meaning “find some time to spend with me”. Conversely, someone’s “dance card is full” implies that even though they may be interested, they have no time for another person (Source).

Now for some wonderful examples of Dance Cards

This early 1900’s dance card from Stratton Park Pavilion in Cheyenne Canon, Colorado is a real interesting read. I recommend taking a moment to check out the “rules”.

Early 1900's dance card rules. Rules on how to behave at the dance.
1900's dance card for waltzes and two steps. vintage dance card.

Source: eBay

The Senior Class of 1946 presents ‘The Senior Prom’ April 12th, 1946 at Linden High School, New Jersey.

1940s Senior Prom Vintage Dance Card

The Order of Dance “prompts” are so fun! “Gee! you’re cute” and “Huba-Huba” HA!

1940s vintage dance card

Source: eBay

May 16th, 1947 Junior Prom in the Cafeteria.

1940s Vintage Dance Card for Junior Prom
Source: Etsy-The Vintage Hunter

CLEARLY this lovely gal had only eyes for one gentleman..Ronald Howell.

1940s Vintage Dance Card for a Junior Prom
Source: Etsy-The Vintage Hunter

The below 1941 dance card is from my personal collection. It’s for a ‘Meds Myster Dance’ and it has a fun halloween like theme to it.

1940s Vintage Dance Card-1941 for a Med Mystery Dance.

I’m thinking this colourful 1920s dance card was for a nautical themed dance.

1920's Vintage Art Deco Dance Card featuring a vintage boat
Source: Etsy-puffadonna
1920s Vintage Dance Card
Source: Etsy-puffadonna

Dance card from the 1926 Boston University Junior Prom held at the Hotel Somerset. Partially filled in with names, some crossed out (wonder what happened there?).

1926 Boston University Junior Promenade Dance Card
1926 Boston University Junior Promenade Dance Card

Source: Etsy

These vintage dance cards are lovely and evocative of more elegant and formal times. This listing is for six 1920s dance Fraternity Dance cards. See the collection HERE (and to purchase if you like).

These vintage dance cards are lovely and evocative of more elegant and formal times. This listing is for six 1920s dance Fraternity Dance cards.
These vintage dance cards are lovely and evocative of more elegant and formal times. This listing is for six 1920s dance Fraternity Dance cards.

Source: Etsy

The Gold design on the cover of this University of Michigan 1931 Senior Ball card is really fantastic!

1930s Vintage Dance Card for a senior ball.
Source: Etsy-DickandJanesbooks

And the inscription on the back eludes to a very interesting night, I think.

1930s Dance Card featuring an inscription on the inside
Source: Etsy-DickandJanesbooks

Not all dance cards were made of cardboard or decorative paper some were made out of materials like wood, leather and even metal.

Here is a delightful example of a wood dance card.

1930s Vintage Dance Card for a Senior Ball.
Source: Syracuse University Archives

At this particular Senior Ball of 1939 the famous Musician “Bobby Hackett” was playing with his Orchestra. Now that would have been a treat!

1930s vintage dance card Senior Ball
Source: jazzlives.wordpress.com

Here is another example of a “story” being told in a dance card. Someone by the name of “Gene” got the first dance, middle 2 dances and the last dance at the Ball. Did the romance of the night take these two off to marriage with kids? Or did they go their separate ways after the dance was done? We will never know but we can imagine, can’t we?

1930s vintage dance card
Source: jazzlives.wordpress.com

Now weren’t all those dance cards wonderful? Such a fun tradition, that sadly no longer exists and maybe for the best but as the Queen of Nostalgia I can’t help but yearn for maybe a night where it comes back. Maybe one day.

FURTHER READING:

Liz 🙂