Features
Do the Hustle! Disco made us boogie-woogie the night away in the ‘70s
The iconic mirror ball, setting the tone and delighting disco dancers for decades. (Image courtesy of dancepoise.com)March 2025Cover StoryDo the Hustle! Disco made us boogie-woogie the night away in the ‘70sby Corbin CrableThose who remember the bygone days of disco...
You’re 75, Charlie Brown! Good grief! Peanuts gang has made readers chuckle since 1950
Peanuts Gang Valentine image (image courtesy of schulz museum)February 2025Cover StoryYou’re 75, Charlie Brown! Good grief! Peanuts gang has made readers chuckle since 1950by Corbin CrableOne beloved American comic strip has allowed readers to see the world through...
The Name of Luxury Royal Doulton has stood for the finest in bone china, ceramics since 1815
Royal Doulton “Pomeroy,” pattern # D5270. Inspired by Davenport engravings of 1793, made circa 1933-60. (image courtesy of cynthiafindlay.com)Dec 2024 / Jan 2025Cover Story The Name of Luxury Royal Doulton has stood for the finest in bone china, ceramics since 1815by...
Got a light? Smoking accessories continue their collectible streak
If there’s one thing advertising in the 1950s and ‘60s taught us, it’s that smoking was an activity that brought people together. (Image courtesy of Pinterest)November 2024Cover Story Got a light? Smoking accessories continue their collectible streakby Corbin...
A real cut-up Jack-o’-lanterns bring whimsy, fright to Halloween
Treasure your creatively-carved jack-o’-lantern while you can – they’ll begin to get soft and moldy after roughly three to five days. (Image courtesy of Manicpumpkincarvers.com)October 2024Cover Story A real cut-up Jack-o’-lanterns bring whimsy, fright to Halloweenby...
A bridge to another time Covered bridges still stir up our nostalgia
Missouri’s Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, located in Hillsboro, is seen framed by winter snow. (Image courtesy of Facebook)September 2024Cover Story A bridge to another time Covered bridges still stir up our nostalgiaby Corbin CrableThe covered bridge The covered bridge...
Dressing the part for disco
(Image created by Adobe Firefly)March 2025Everything Old Dressing the part for discoby Corbin Crable It’s 1977. You and your friends spent the afternoon going to the local cinema and watching the new film “Saturday Night Fever.” Now you’re inspired -- you want to go...
Schulz’s Peanuts has KC connection
(Image courtesy of the Schulz Museum)February 2025Everything Old Schulz’s Peanuts has KC connectionby Corbin Crable You’ve read their antics on the comics page of your local newspaper. They’ve celebrated life’s milestones with you in greeting cards. And they’ve made...
See a movie, get a gravy boat
Image from adobe firefly Dec 2024 / Jan 2025 Everything Old See a movie, get a gravy boat by Corbin Crable Holiday Films The holiday season is big business for the film industry, and even though many former moviegoers prefer to stay home and stream their favorite...
Smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em
If there’s one thing advertising in the 1950s and ‘60s, The “Marlboro Man”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” (Image courtesy of Pinterest)November 2024Everything Old Smoke ‘em if ya got ‘emby Corbin Crable Until the mid-1960s Until the mid-1960s, the act of smoking was an...
Legend has delighted, spooked us for centuries
Edward Hull, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsOctober 2024Everything Old Legend has delighted, spooked us for centuriesby Corbin Crable Pumpkin-carving season Autumn is upon us, and with it comes pumpkin-carving season. Maybe you’re planning to load the family up...
Libraries remain essential part of our communities
Photo by Seven Shooter on UnsplashSeptember 2024Everything Old Libraries remain essential part of our communitiesby Corbin Crable September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and if you’re a lifelong reader like...
How do you display your collection?
March 2023 ANTIQUE DETECTIVE How do you display your collection? by Anne Gilbert Curio Cabinets Whether a collection is large or small, over the centuries, furniture was made just to show it off. It began in ancient Rome, with royalty and the wealthy, who used table...
Toy farm tractors come to town for child and adult collectors
February 2023ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Toy farm tractors come to town for child and adult collectorsby Anne Gilbert Antique Toy Farm Tractors Farm toys have been collected for decades. One of the most popular categories is the small toy farm tractor. While late 19th century...
Victorian Gothic revival furniture can be weird and pricey
December 2022ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Victorian Gothic revival furniture can be weird and priceyby Anne Gilbert Victorian Gothic revival furniture You might think that Victorian Gothic revival furniture was made for Halloween. The carved, devilish-looking heads on chairs are...
All dolled up – To play or not to play
June 2025Good Eye All dolled up - To play or not to playby Peggy Whiteneck Children’s toys have been sought by adult collectors, especially items in their original packaging. For me, keeping dolls and other toys in original cardboard and cellophane is kind of a...
Quilt art by the piece
May 2025Good Eye Quilt art by the pieceby Peggy Whiteneck Most of us are familiar with quilted bed coverings, which have a history going back centuries. We’re also familiar with the prices the best of antique quilts can command today. Quilts can be found in many...
Laying down a Tile
September 2025Good Eye Laying down a Tileby Peggy Whiteneck Wall tiles aren’t just an antique decorative accent but a treat for modern collectors. They have a long history: Ancient tiles were being used for paving various surfaces as early as centuries before Christ....
Flying Geese classic quilting block helps quilts take flight
May 2025Covering Quilts Flying Geese classic quilting block helps quilts take flightby Sandra Starley Egyptian pyramids, Mayan Temples and myriad European churches feature this iconic triangle. This ancient shape was quickly adopted by very early quilt makers as a...
Bow Tie or Neck Tie quilts – when fashion meets quilting
March 2025Covering Quilts Bow Tie or Neck Tie quilts – when fashion meets quiltingby Sandra Starley While many quilt pattern names from the 1800s are cloaked in myth, mystery, and marketing, the Bow Tie pattern is clearly a representational block depicting male...
Fall in love with New York – AQSG adventures, Part 3
February 2025 Covering Quilts Fall in love with New York – AQSG adventures, Part 3 by Sandra Starley Every fall, quilt historians and people who just love old and new quilts attend the annual meeting of the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG). So much happens during the...
Flock to the farm for a fall craft fair
September 2025Flock to the farm for a fall craft fair The Shepherd of the Hills Historic Farm in Branson will welcome craft collectors this month for its annual Shepherd’s Fall Craft Fair. The fair, scheduled for Sept. 12-14, will feature both local and out-of-state...
Vintage Market Days is back
September 2025Vintage Market Days is back When Vintage Market Days comes to town, you can bet that fall will mean much more than just colorful foliage. It’s the season for good deals, too. Vintage Market Days will present “Forever Fall” from Sept. 26-28 at the...
Grab your friends and come to the Friends of Shawnee Town Craft and Fall Festival
September 2025Grab your friends and come to the Friends of Shawnee Town Craft and Fall Festival More than 130 vendors will converge on Shawnee Town 1929 for its annual Craft and Fall Festival on Sept. 20. Dozens of vendors will be on hand selling home décor, unique...
Keokuk, IA, celebrates 10-year restoration of 1891 Union Depot
December 2024Vintage Discoveries Keokuk, IA, celebrates 10-year restoration of 1891 Union Depotby Ken Weyand Back in its day, the massive and ornate Victorian-style depot building built in 1891 was a centerpiece of Keokuk, IA. Then a bustling transportation center,...
Poster recalls Ozark Air Lines, TWA, and an exciting cross-country flight
November 2024Vintage Discoveries Poster recalls Ozark Air Lines, TWA, and an exciting cross-country flightby Ken Weyand Recently, I found an old aviation poster, rolled up in a corner. It’s a reminder of the days I had a love affair with aviation, writing about its...
‘Forgotten airport’ found in Kansas City Area
October 2024Vintage Discoveries ‘Forgotten airport’ found in Kansas City Areaby Ken Weyand When I was putting together the 1970 book, “Aviation History in Greater Kansas City,” a few of the old-time pilots I interviewed mentioned the old “Police Airport” in North...
“A Century of Royal Doulton Character and Toby Jugs” By Steve Mullins with David Fastenau and Louise Irvine
December 2024Books for Collectors Century of Royal Doulton Character and Toby Jugs By Corbin Crable Collectors of Royal Doulton ceramics – for more than 200 years, the giant among other luxury home goods brands – “A Century of Royal Doulton Character and...
“The Handbook of Vintage Cigarette Lighters”
September 2024 Books for Collectors “The Handbook of Vintage Cigarette Lighters” by Stuart Schneider and Ira Pilossof By Corbin Crable Vintage cigarette lighters can be found just about everywhere you look, including at garage sales, estate sales, swap...
“The Complete and Unauthorized Guide to Vintage Barbie Dolls” By Hilary Shilkitus James
April 2024Books for Collectors“The Complete and Unauthorized Guide to Vintage Barbie Dolls” By Hilary Shilkitus JamesBy Corbin Crable You’ve seen the more contemporary Barbie dolls everywhere, but Hilary Shilkitus James’ book “The Complete and Unauthorized Guide...