• Old Photos: Kansas Wheat

    Contrary to what some people believe I don’t own the idea of posting old photos from the Life Magazine Archives, but I do enjoy doing it, so here comes another set. These are combined under the tag Kansas Wheat and where taken in 1939. Some of the faces on these photos look like there were taken straight out of some Jimmy Stewart movie.

    NEW CAMBRIA sign in front of a view of team of horses pulling a buck rake as SHELLBARGER flour mills can be seen in the background. in this big wheat farming community.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White
    Closeup of Kansas farmer.
    Closeup of Kansas farmer.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White
    Young farm boy driving a team of horses pulling a wagon loaded with straw on a wheat farm.
    Young farm boy driving a team of horses pulling a wagon loaded with straw on a wheat farm.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White
    Blue Ribbon Feeds store worker using handheld scale to weigh out the density of a pickup load of wheat brought to him for purchase to be sold as chicken feed.
    Blue Ribbon Feeds store worker using handheld scale to weigh out the density of a pickup load of wheat brought to him for purchase to be sold as chicken feed.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White
    County agent Harold Harper at his desk in front of Kansas State College graph entitled Agricultural OUTLOOK PRICE TRENDS in his Harvey County office.
    County agent Harold Harper at his desk in front of Kansas State College graph entitled “Agricultural OUTLOOK PRICE TRENDS”in his Harvey County office.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White
    Worker brushing paste on end edges of freshly-filled sacks which he will then put upside down (R) until the paste dries at WASHBURN'S GOLD MEDAL FLOUR mill.
    Worker brushing paste on end edges of freshly-filled sacks which he will then put upside down (R) until the paste dries at WASHBURN’S GOLD MEDAL FLOUR mill.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White
    Warehouse worker wheeling colorfully printed flour sacks which housewives use to make dresses because the labels wash out, at Sunbonnet Sue flour mill.
    Warehouse worker wheeling colorfully printed flour sacks which housewives use to make dresses because the labels wash out, at Sunbonnet Sue flour mill.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White
    Workers filliing colorfully printed flour sacks which housewives use to make dresses because the labels wash out, at Sunbonnet Sue flour mill.
    Workers filliing colorfully printed flour sacks which housewives use to make dresses because the labels wash out, at Sunbonnet Sue flour mill.© Time Inc.Margaret Bourke-White

    Here is a page about the flour sack dresses.

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  • Been There, Had the Chicken, Lived To Tell the Story

    I just wanted to point out that I personally visited the “money laundry” (is this what it’s called?) on the Independence Avenue almost a year ago to do some investigative reporting. No big whoop…

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  • Another Drop In My Bucket (List)

    I thought of another item to put on my bucket list (if it existed): I’d like to become a groupie (or is at a roadie? I need to get my terminology straight before I do it) for a mini donuts stand:

    I’d just follow this thing around the country and feed exclusively on “Lil’Orbits” until I die happily and quietly from clogged arteries at some random state’s fairgrounds. Now you could say that I should buy this miracle machine and stay home, but what do I do with my free spirit?

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  • Behind the Iron Curtain: Gorbachev and Zombies

    For a little musical interlude I present the video that has Gorbachev, zombies and plenty of hammers and sickles operated by pretty women. Last 20 years of the post-Soviet era replay right in front of your eyes. Enjoy!

    The band ANJ can be found here.

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  • Remember The 80’s? Michael Jackson

    One day I was researching looking at pictures of Michael Jackson’s 1984 Victory Tour which launched in Kansas City and then I saw this:

    This piece of art was published in a special issue of the Billboard Magazine where everyone from Michael’s accountant to the company which made his tapes took out ads to congratulate Michael Jackson (and slap their own backs in the process)on becoming the King of Pop.

    After the first picture I just couldn’t stop. Sorry…

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