May 14
In honor of Cuesta College’s 50th birthday a few posts this week from the Cuesta file. Today a lot of technical schools advertise in heavy rotation on television. However many of those programs are offered at local community colleges for less money than a for profit school and often these instructors have good insight into …
Apr 29
Now that spring seems to be on the way it may be time to pick up some back yard furniture. A folding grill for less than $4.00, three different kinds of pools, priced from $3.77 to $88. Time to head to Grants and pick up what appear to be essential and long lasting items. Grant …
Mar 20
Easter fashion for women at the dawn of the 20th century included flowery hats and high collared dresses as seen in this advertisement from a San Luis Obispo store. I am told by informed fashion sources that a shirt waist is a blouse that in that era would typically be worn over an uncomfortable whale …
Mar 01
Originally all the beaches in the county were clothing optional. According to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, traditional Chumash garb was a two-piece skirt for women and perhaps a belt for men. Then along came the Spanish friars and beach attire became more modest. When did Pirate’s Cove become the Mecca for nude …
Jan 25
In the 1960s there were two schools of thought on sound systems. The new way was assembling a set of components, speakers, amplifier, turntable, etc. As you could afford it you would buy the best component part and assemble a system. A story on the same page as this advertisement explained the concept. The old …
Dec 28
Covering the head is a religious custom that can vary depending on doctrine, degree of orthodoxy, local practice and the tenor of the time. Orthodox Jewish men and boys wear the yarmulke. Conservative Muslim women don the hijab. In the late 1960s among the many changes in the air was the lacy mantilla falling out …
Jun 26
World War II would change feature stories and advertising in curious ways. Announcements of wartime rationing were making headlines on the front page but the fashion page was still trying to promote style. The message was to dress well and perhaps you could compete with Hollywood pin up girls like Jane Russell, Rita Hayworth and …
Mar 12
A giant woman dances in a skimpy outfit amid windmills. Stylish to be sure but why are over 20 chorus girls singing, dressed in Dutch costumes complete with wooden shoes. Starved for entertainment — is the first phrase that springs to mind. It was the era before television. Movies were in black and white and …
Mar 01
She sits in a rocking chair, paper in her hand dressed in a high collared white shirt and a long floor length skirt. A woman has clearly decorated the room, fresh flowers on the table and piano, cloth under the vases. This is the only negative in the Leonard collection with a written date. Written …
Feb 13
This appears to be he height of beach fashion at Pismo Beach circa early 1900s. The flat beach leads me to guess Pismo Beach, a destination for tourists after the railroad went through in the early 20th century. The man is wearing a handsome two piece swim suit while the woman has on a stylish …
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