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Post by spence on May 7, 2022 11:24:03 GMT -7
Doing research on life in the 18th century over the last many years, I’ve occasionally come across items which make it crystal clear that the people of that time were not totally different from ourselves. Especially marketers. Here’s one of my favorites, which always gives me a chuckle.
BTW, In the 18th century a fancy, highly fashioned wig was called a peruke.
A little background for those unfamiliar with bible stories. David was king of the Jews, and he had a son named Absalom. Absalom was a handsome man, known for his long flowing hair. Absalom rebelled against his father, carried out a coup and claimed the throne. Eventually the armies of the two met, Absalom’s army was destroyed, and Absalom fled for his life on a mule. He rode under a tree, his long hair got caught on a limb and snatched him off, leaving him hanging by his hair. Joab, commander of David’s army, found him and killed him with a spear. On hearing the news, David cried “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
The item which triggered all this nonsense:
THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE February 18, 1775 LONDON An ingenious barber, at present living in Norwich, as a method to enforce the fashion of wearing wigs, and consequently draw benefit to himself, lately put up a large well painted sign, the story of which is, Absalom fastened by the hair of his head to a tree, and Joab plunged his javelin into his bosom; at a distance, king David is seen lamenting his loss, and exclaiming,
Oh! Absalom, my son, my son! Had'st thou but worn a peruke, thou had'st not been undone.
Today’s Madison Avenue would be mighty proud of the wit who came up with that.
Spence
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Post by brokennock on May 7, 2022 18:31:22 GMT -7
Way too intelligent for today's Madison Avenue crowd,,,, and even more so for their target audience. I find most of today's advertising insulting. This that you have provided is wonderful though, I wish they would bring back some wit and nuance to advertising. Thank you Spence.
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Post by spence on May 8, 2022 17:42:05 GMT -7
Another. The 18th century was in many ways a strange place and time. ************** "Wigs.--Me givee de Avertisement to every body of New-York . . .Yes, dammee, me advertisee for makee de Vig, Cuttee and curlee de Hair, dressee and shavee de Beard of the Ghentleman, selle de Pomate, and de Powdre, so sweet for de Hair, and de Vig, for makee de bon Approach to de Madam-moselle: . . N.B. Me makee all in de Bon Taste, Alamode de Paris; and me no chargee above three Hundred per Cent. more dan all the Workmans in Town. Me havee de Prises so. For dressee de Hair, # 0 6 6 For Curlee de Hair, 0 4 0 For Cuttee de Hair, 0 6 6 For makee de Bag, 0 10 6 For makee de Ramille, de Half de Pistole. For makee de Toupee, de Half of de Pistole. For Von Stick de Pomat. # 0 2 6 For Von Bottle de Lavender 0 4 0 And so in de Proportion. The New York Gazette or the Weekly Post-Boy, January 5, 1756 ***************** [ramille is a type of wig popular with the military throughout the 18th century, consisted of plaited pigtail with a tie or ribbon at both top and bottom.] Spence
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on May 8, 2022 17:48:16 GMT -7
“dressee and shavee de Beard”
What?! Dressee de BEARD?!?
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