Afro chart

Back in the early 1970's, the "afro" hairstyle was all the rage for trendy African-American males, proudly displaying was they thought was their own cultural heritage.

Choose your own stlye with this lovely wall chart.

"Afro chart", 1972
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Drive and dine

Fathers who take their families once a week for dinner are "the greatest guys in the world". They get to spend the beautiful Spring days together, and Dad can let Mother "off the kitchen duty once a week".

Charming. Truly vintage 1950's sexism.

Not surprisingly, the ad itself is sponsored by General Foods International -a conglomerate- and the National Restaurant Association. Talk about propping up the market!

"Drive and dine", 1956
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Not a man around

Before Feminism, big corporations were still playing with gender stereotypes in the mid-sixties.

A helpless woman cannot change a tyre or look for help. So you should buy the tyres that include the "SafetySpare"; they are almost as good as having a man around.

"Stranded, helpless", 1964
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Glamorous Foodarama

More 50's extravaganza and excessive consumption. The Foodarama refrigerator.

"Foodarama", 1956
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Only in prosperous post-war America you could find a behemoth fitted with a "freezer-wrap dispenser", a "breakfast bar " and a "banana rack" - truly, a glowing statement to the rising standards of living and the new status symbol of home appliances.

And, with the added value of a stereotypical 50's family using the fridge.

"Spaciousness", "glamorous", "beauty" and "magic" are all there to see - a perfect example of the work Mad Ad Men are paid to do.

Give her the best

Think of June and a June bride says this ad. Well, you'd never buy something like this for a bride in the 21st century, would you?

"And you give her the best", 1947
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"For the Great Day, think of a Hoover" What a thought. Of course, in the 1940's an electric floor cleaner was a most elegant and prized possesion.

Fabulous. Just think of the other poor brides that still have to clean the floor on all fours.

Click, click, click

According to this ad in a well-know American music magazine, in the early sixties Australia is still a land of... sheep-rearing people.

"Click go the shears" is a traditional Australian folk song. Not surprisingly, it is about men shearing sheep. Surprisingly enough, someone used this concept to draw the reader's attention into the growth and popularity of American music in the Australian market.

Talk about stereotypes. And gotta love the photo of the factory -near Sydney- at the bottom of the piece.

"Click go the shears", 1963
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