Forgotten Lives Behind the Photographs and Artifacts
LOL Cats of Yore
Long before Internet memes, the obsession with yowling, murderous, disdainful, aloof, and weirdly adorable felines produced trade cards that are still collected today.
Adored today, cats were just as freakishly lovable to Victorians, as is proven by this circa-1890 blank advertising trade card.“Ha! Tis He. The Maltese. Me rival.” Remember the old saying, “Don’t forget to put the cat out”? There were once many more domestic felines who roamed the night, yodeling for love, murdering small animals, and creating loud mayhem when territorially challenged. This circa 1881 trade card was for Allen’s Lung Balsam, “For the cure of all affections of the lungs, throat and chest, such as consumption, colds, coughs, asthma, bronchitis, croup, whooping cough, pain or oppression of the chest, hoarseness, spitting of blood and all pulmonary diseases.” Drawn by A. B. Seeley. William H. Helfand Trade Card Collection.
“Fair moon to thee I sing, Prithee all good fortune bring.” Here, the family cat was indeed put out for the night, with the implication that the sleepless family wished they’d done otherwise. Circa 1910.“Did you see me get the best of him?” Meeting the Maltese mentioned above inevitably led to this at the door come morning, waiting to be let in for a saucer of milk. Circa-1881 trade card for Gray Brothers Boots and Shoes, 56 Main Street, Galesburg, Illinois.Because it’s all fun and games until Fluffy, Jr., takes out the floral trumpet epergne. “Compliments of Beard & Allen, choice Family Groceries, 5 Arsenal Street.” There are multiple variations of this trading card, all showing cats engaged in acrobatics dangerous to the Victorian horror vacui . Illustration by Helena McGuire, circa 1880.“Tommy Dodd, Awarded 1st Prize at International Cat Show for Sweet Childlike Expression.” I have no clue what “H. R. Knight, dealer of stoves, new and second hand furniture, also furniture repaired, sign and banner painting” of Grand Rapids, Michigan, thought this would do for his business, but I did suss out some the card’s possible meanings from an internet researcher: “[T]he slang phrase Tommy Dodd turned up many meanings, some related and some clearly not: … odd or peculiar; a cemetery may be known as Tommy Dodd’s garden; thank Tommy Dodd for this or that; a phrase related to coin tossing (mid 19th century) as in tossing odds; penis; sodomite; a style of hat; a glass of beer or a walking stick. The coin-tossing allusion is the one most frequently sited and referred to. It appears that there were numerous beer hall songs devoted to Tommy Dodd and below is the chorus to one I was able to find … : ‘I’m always safe when I begin. Tommy Dodd, Tommy Dodd Glasses round, cigars as well, Tommy Dodd. Tommy Dodd, Now, my boys, let’s all go in, Tommy Dodd, Tommy Dodd, Head or tail, I’m safe to win, Hurrah for Tommy Dodd!'”And finally, a cat praised as the all-powerful being it was. French, circa-1915 trade card for the soap Le Chat Savon Extra. Hail, kitteh overlords, and yes, you can haz cheeseburger.
When you sent me the one about the cat on the roof freaking out over his rival, it immediately clicked that this was the exact same love affair with cats that led us to LOL cats.
We at Pam’s Pictorama are pleased to be mentioned in such fine cat company! The kitten toss and the one at the bottom (!) are new to me and especial favorites.
Undeniably consider that that you stated.
Your favourite justification appeared to be at the net the easiest thing
to understand of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while other folks think about worries that they just do not understand about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the highest
and outlined out the whole thing with no need side-effects , other people can take a signal.
Will likely be again to get more. Thanks
"Your Dying Charlotte" 
I bet if they keep digging they’ll find cat memes at Pompei 🙂
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When you sent me the one about the cat on the roof freaking out over his rival, it immediately clicked that this was the exact same love affair with cats that led us to LOL cats.
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Well of course I had to LOL at this one but ” floral trumpet epergne” was especially Scottish nose fountain-ish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We at Pam’s Pictorama are pleased to be mentioned in such fine cat company! The kitten toss and the one at the bottom (!) are new to me and especial favorites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Undeniably consider that that you stated.
Your favourite justification appeared to be at the net the easiest thing
to understand of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while other folks think about worries that they just do not understand about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the highest
and outlined out the whole thing with no need side-effects , other people can take a signal.
Will likely be again to get more. Thanks
LikeLike