romance Archive

0October 27, 2011
Savage Me In The West

A further proof of my “Western’s are male romance novels” theory, I present Sexy Girl Cowboy, gouache artwork by Betoll, created as the cover for a Micro Mystery #173 (circa…
0February 24, 2011
Sentimental And Funny (Because It’s True)

Valentine’s Day is over, but there’s no reason you can’t send this as one of those “just because” greetings…
1February 24, 2011
Once Upon A Time… Mail Order Girlfriends

Found at Chateau Thombeau, a lovely look at these pages from Photo Album No. 11, apparently a vintage dating help publication featuring “lonely maidens, widows and divorcees searching for love,…
0February 14, 2011
Help For The Gold Diggers Of Victorian Times

A rundown of Victorian Atchison’s most eligible bachelors, as published in The Atchison Globe, January 6, 1885. Via Ye Olde News, a Tumblr site that actually does document where stuff…
0February 14, 2011
“To My Valentine I’ve got a Mortgage on you, too!”

Ah, yes, another reminder that women belong to men; we are so much their property, that you can woo them with that fact on a Valentine. (Vintage Valentine via kimmly.
7January 19, 2011
Ranch Romances & Adventures

Ranch Romances & Adventures, May, 1971. Contrary to what Jack Martin/Gary Dobbs says, I do not see Ranch Romance (& Adventures) magazines as primarily for women. Jack/Gary says they must…
0February 14, 2010
If You’re Lonely & Wistful This Valentine’s Day…

If the holiday of romance has you looking backwards, remembering a love you once had, a first love, instead of celebrating a romance of today or eagerly looking for the…
4January 12, 2010
Oh, Those Von Dewitz Characters

Because I become obsessed with research, especially when so little is readily available… In doing some additional research for a piece on silent film star Valda Valkyrien… I found juicy…
2October 22, 2009
Once Upon A Time… Gothic Romance Tales: Airs Above The Ground

Once upon a time, I read romances. First of all, they were plentiful in my youth. Not only did the popular paperback novels go from house to house as the…
1October 21, 2009
Whatjamacallit Wednesday: Lessons From Thrift Store Bookshelves

I know it’s a crappy photo (it’s beginning to be a habit), but at least you’ll believe me when I say that Dr. Phil’s Ultimate Weight Solution and Richard Elliott…
0October 12, 2009
Romancing The Van: Ephemera Proves There’s Someone For Everyone

Two years ago, hubby and went to the junk yard to get replacement doors for our van, Ookla. I was utterly fascinated with the junk yard itself and was almost…
4September 26, 2009
My Summer of ’79

At 15, I was straddling the simple romantic fantasies of girlhood by day — and the hormonal induced sweaty-pink-bit-manipulations by night. By day, I still played with Barbie & her…
3September 15, 2009
Interview With Nicole Zoltack

This week is Book Blogger Appreciation Week and festivities include today’s blogger interview swap, in which we were paired with another book loving blogger and (surprise!) interview one another. My…
0September 9, 2009
Divorce From Too Much Affection?

Published in the July 31, 1950 issue of Quick magazine, Mrs. Le Roy Nichols of Paterson, N.J., sued her husband for divorce based on “cruelty” — because “he sat her…
0August 24, 2009
Romantic Pillow Talk – Of A Different Sort

Remember practicing kissing and caressing your pillow when you were a teen? Well, there’s a whole movement dedicated to romancing the pillow and other two-dimensional objects in Japan. According to…
0August 15, 2009
Got Love Boat Stories?

To celebrate National Romance Week, Princess Cruises has joined with Cruise Critic to conduct a search for real-life love stories that have taken place on the decks of Princess ships;…
2August 11, 2009
It’s National Romance Week

National Romance Week was established in 1995 by Michael Webb. Set the second full week in August, it’s six moth opposite to Valentine’s Day is by design because Webb intended…
2July 16, 2009
Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife – Exposed!

In contrast to the many products inspired by or incorporating vintage & retro images of female domesticity that only really offer humor, Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife: All the…
0June 12, 2009
The What I Think You Should Know Relationship Round-Up

There’s a whole heck of a lot of good relationship stuff on Twolia; I thought, just in case you never leave Relationship Underarm Stick, that you should see some of…
0June 9, 2009
Now It’s Really The Last Laugh

As usual, a tiny snippet in a vintage magazine drives me to obsessive research… This time it’s a few lines on page 47 of Quick (November 21, 1949 — which…
1May 12, 2009
Cinderella Nurse: Masochistic Nurse Story Disguised As “Modern Romance” Circa 1960s

While nurses, like secretaries, may have been grudgingly accepted as appropriate occupations for women, the stereotypes about them were dangerously fed to men & women alike. And books like Cinderella…