Yesterday's Print

A collection of old photographs, historic newspaper clippings and assorted excerpts highlighting the parallels of past and present. Featuring weird, funny and baffling headlines, articles and advertisements! Visit www.yesterdays-print.comĀ 

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yesterdaysprint:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, July 14, 1895

Artists idea for a Sunday prohibition boat anchored near Coney Island.

About Elephantine Colossus, seen in the background, Wikipedia says:

Originally intended to serve as a hotel, the elephant contained novelty stalls, a gallery, a grand hall, and a museum in what would be the elephant’s left lung. The elephant’s eyes contained telescopes and acted as an observatory for visitors. Its manager claimed to see, from the elephant’s back, Yellowstone Park, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris.

As Coney Island became more established as a center of tourism and leisure, the elephant began to serve as a brothel as well. When the elephant caught fire on September 27, 1896, it had not been used for several years.

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yesterdaysprint:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, October 11, 1896

The room that you enter is vault-like and filled with coffins.

The undertaker-waiters call out in sad tones: “Welcome to death,” and “Choose your coffin.”

Having chosen your coffin and ordered your poison (probably beer), the waiter brings it to you, repeating some such formula as:

“Here is something to finish you off - a drink made from microbes and grave worms.”

All around you hear the undertaker-waiters repeating their dreadful phrases: “Welcome to death.” “Here is something to poison you.” “The dead cannot laugh.” “This will make you rot quickly.”

Some pictures of the Cabaret du Néant from around the web: 

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