Lots of Issues

ODDS AND ENDS/ AUGUST 18TH

 While sorting through some artifacts at the homestead, we found a collection of older health magazines like, “Homecrofter” and “Health and Happiness”. Both of these magazines were published in the early to mid 1920s, which was also known as the “Roaring Twenties”. After the dissolution of the first world war, people were more eager to celebrate and enjoy life which led to the establishment of many different healthy living magazines and books in order to prolong their enjoyment. 

For today’s blog, we’re going to be showing you some different excerpts from these magazines to give you an idea of what health concerns were most prominent. 

Health and Happiness (1922)

Throughout this magazine there are a variety of different articles and advertisements related to the controversy of women’s birth control. One advertisement for a book about such issues states;

“The greatest question that faces Humanity today is that of BIRTH CONTROL. It means either haphazard overbreeding, with all its consequences; or a happy family kept within reasonable limits of income and ability to care for the number.”

The advertisement also has quite an intriguing graphic comparing the difference between using birth control and not.

Another interesting ad within the magazine is one for a service that claims to be able to increase your height! One satisfied customer states;

“I have gained 5 ½ inches since taking your Course (two months ago). I am a real man now and can’t recommend your course too highly. It is just wonderful. . . . . . My age is 22 years. . . . . I am today one of the greatest ball players in the country, but lack of size held me down in past years, but your Course has helped me greatly. I can hardly give you enough praise.”

Homecrofter (Jan.-Feb., 1927)

The feature article of this magazine in particular is titled “Should You Marry A Blonde Or A Brunette?”. It talks about the struggle that every man faces at some point in his life, blonde? Or brunette? Quite an interesting topic to be concerned about.

Even in 1927, the debate of birth control was still on the rise. Many of the ads in this magazine discuss the benefits of taking female birth control. One advertisement for another magazine that speaks specifically of these issues titled “Fewer Babies, Better Born” written by Margaret Sanger, who was a well-known American activist for birth control.

On the back of this particular magazine there is a section titled, “This Funny World”. It includes quite a few humorous jokes and cartoons.

“There is a nice thing about having two babies in the house’ ‘What is that?’ ‘They each cry so loud that you can’t hear the other”

“Ma: ‘Why didn’t you kiss the maid when she left?’ Kid: ‘I was afraid she’d slap me like she did daddy.”

As you can see, they can get quite cheeky!

Homecrofter (May-June, 1927)

An attention grabbing ad in this magazine is titled “SKINNY PEOPLE”. It advertises a product called “KOR-LEAN” that claims to promote the production of “flesh” for people who are experiencing “extreme thinness”. The product causes the user to gain 10-20 pounds in a few weeks and contains no drugs. . .

Another fascinating advertisement is titled “You Can Be Most Popular Fellow”. The ad offers lessons to learn ventriloquism and claims that you will be the most popular person in town and make lots of money!

As you can see, there were many captivating articles and advertisements within these magazines, and we have barely scratched the surface! Tune in for the rest of this week to look at more oddities we have around the homestead!

𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 & 𝓜𝓲𝓪