Radio History - Programmer's Digest LP Magazine

Programmer's Digest was an unusual vinyl LP magazine targeted for radio broadcast professionals. It was only around briefly, published for just a few years in the early to mid 1970s. Issues were originally sold on a subscription basis, like a print magazine.

The brain child of publisher/editor Buddy Blake, who along with Bobby Byrd assembled a nice collection of industry gossip, various air-checks (station ids) by many radio on-air personalities, interviews, sales strategies and some comedy bits in their issues.

These were great radio days - before the air-waves were largely run by just a few mega-media outlets as is the case today. Nowadays the dial seems over-run with morning zoos on every station except NPR and, with a couple of solid exceptions, showing a sad lack of compelling music programming.

There are some true broadcast gems to be found in this series. One of my faves is some great ribbing of recently fallen, but back then on-air, shock-jock Imus at the hands of a gravelly-voiced howler know as the Wolfman Jack.

The LP magazines don't turn up all the time - possibly a small number of subscriptions as compared to the relative expense of pressing up vinyl led to its early demise - and now to its rarity. A few sites offer downloads of snippets from different issues (along with other sources), but to truly get a feel for 1970s radio, its best to spin a platter - analog, baby, analog!

Vintage Weddings

June is a popular month for weddings so I thought it would be fun to peek around at some vintage wedding items! At my own ceremony in 2001, we used a 1960s honeycomb stand-up bride and groom on the gift table. They've made a great keep-sake that looks fab on a bookshelf corner.

If you're lucky enough to know someone handy with a needle and thread, having a gown made from a vintage pattern can make a truly stunning fashion statement. How about a hooded look for gothic drama? Or a little hippie romanticism for the free-spirited bride?

Vintage gift wrap not only makes a handsome wrapper, but can be used in crafts and scrapbooking. For those concerned about the acid content of old paper, a few different companies make products to neutralize them: Krylon Division Make-It-Acid Free Spray, Archival Mist and Paper Bright are some available on the web.

Decoupage a collage of wedding paper to the cover of your wedding photo album or use cut-outs in page designs! It can also be used to decorate the gift table to fabulous effect.

A vintage cake topper is another great way to bring something old into the wedding. Fancy Flours offers a nice selection to choose from (and edible gold leaf too - think of the possibilities - oooh, and save some for the honeymoon!).

And now for something completely different (and I mean waaaay out there) - here's your chance to TP the bride: The 2007 Annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest is officially underway. It runs from May 1 to July 31, 2007. Ladies and gentlemen - let the unrolling begin! But be sure to check out the 2005 and 2006 winners - Wow! the bar has been set high! Have fun - just don't invite Mr. Whipple to your ceremony - could be very embarrassing....

Time Travel with a COOKBOOK!

Although I have a few newer titles (like the FAB French Laundry Cookbook!) most of my collection dates to the early 1970s and older. I love going back in time by looking at what people were eating!

This one from the 1920s has fabulous frozen desserts and frozen fruit juice and ginger ale concoctions they call Smashes (oooh, add a little vodka and call it a Smashed!)- but those mayo and veggies entombed in gelatin recipes - bleck!

This one from 1944 reflects the hardships of those war days. It features a section on how to feed a family of 5 for a week on $15! Not quite as bad as it sounds as that would be about $175.14 today or $5.01 per day for each person. That's tight, but with no eating out and no prepared foods (and lots of dried beans - maybe nothing but beans and rice) definitely do-able, but not much fun! And don't forget to sit downwind of anyone you're trying to impress....

So what do you do when your brew is now illegal? Milwaukee's Pabst made it through the dark days of prohibition making cheese, naturally! They also sold tonics, malt syrup and some sort of near-beer that was watered down enough to prevent any sort of buzz, flavour or possible enjoyment of that PBR! With Milwaukee Wisconsin's prominent place in the history of US beer-making, it should come as no surprise that the 21st amendment to repeal the 18th, was introduced in congress by a Wisconsinite, Senator John Blaine.

Other cookbooks, like this 1935 GENERAL FOODS All About Home Baking cook book I love for the images of old kitchen dishware and cooking products. Love that dotty looking pot holder by the muffins above! OOH, can you NAME that dishware below? I love the reticulated edge on the plates - looks like some sort of milkglass....Not sure just whose hobnail glasses those are - so many possibilities!

I've got one I'll get up soon that features some squirrel recipes. A little Prune Dressing for your Smothered Squirrel? What, no second helpings?! I wonder if anyone ever served up a squirrel in one of those jello/mayo creations? Bet that'd be a sight to see - double Bleck!