The Air at the Top of the Bottle

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Entries from April 2012

Bulletin (16)

April 29th, 2012 · Comments Off on Bulletin (16)

David Gold and I will join Marc Jacobson and Larry “Ratso” Sloman for their “Live Radio Hour” on Wednesday, May 2, at 7pm.  It’s at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, NYC, and it’s all about the history of Coney Island; David and I will contribute a song from the Island’s past. Further […]

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Tags: Bulletins

“Long Island Beyond the Pale” in Retrospect

April 27th, 2012 · 1 Comment

“Long Island Beyond the Pale” attracted a nice audience, on a rainy day in Red Hook — which is, of course, technically in Long Island. We performed the ceremonial opening of the ullage with a bottle of Long Island Ice Tea, which our hostess, Lynette Wiley, said “tastes like high school.” Anthony Matt unveiled the […]

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Tags: Bulletins

Children’s Card Games (170)

April 20th, 2012 · Comments Off on Children’s Card Games (170)

The National Airlines “Jet-Deck” provided restless travelers with 28 puzzles and games.  The other sides of the cards illustrated different cities (all National Airlines destinations, of course), for a game of rummy. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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Tags: Card Games · Ephemera

The Dance of Death

April 18th, 2012 · Comments Off on The Dance of Death

I’m happy to note that one of my favorite literary hoaxes is online, which means that you can read it for free, instead of paying a lot of money for the rare original.  The Dance of Death (1877) is a remarkable polemic against the “filthy lust” of the waltz.  The author was “William Herman,” a […]

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Tags: Hoaxes · Literature

Children’s Card Games (169)

April 14th, 2012 · 2 Comments

Sam Green is part of the cast in this old version of “Old Maid,” along with Mattie Plump, Gussie Gossip, Jockey Jim, Jack Hawser, Tim Conley, Pansy Violet, Charley Washee, and Jennie Smart.  I can’t show you the Old Maid, since she’s missing.  Maybe she eloped with someone from another deck. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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Tags: Card Games · Ephemera

Long Island Beyond the Pale

April 10th, 2012 · Comments Off on Long Island Beyond the Pale

The Ullage Group announces its eleventh event, “Long Island Beyond the Pale.”  We will unearth some of the mysteries, rumors, and folklore that have haunted that troubling region. Anthony Matt will speak about the Montauk Project, and elaborate on the sources of this mad all-encompassing super-conspiracy. Doug Skinner will draw from the late John Keel’s […]

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Tags: Bulletins

Children’s Card Games (168)

April 5th, 2012 · 4 Comments

“Skeeter,” from Arrco, offered pictures of a variety of bugs and worms, all in this vivacious style.  You collected and discarded cards; if a Skeeter appeared, the first player to slap it got all the discards. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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Tags: Card Games · Ephemera

The “Bowery News,” 1948

April 2nd, 2012 · 3 Comments

We return to the Bowery News, “The Voice of Society’s Basement,” for some selections from Dec. 15, 1948. First, some cartoons by staff artist C. L. Burlew. Next, a report from Cleveland. And, finally, something for the ladies. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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Tags: Cartoons · Ephemera · Literature