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thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
This Is Noir House
@thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
54 followers 110 following 490 posts
Why aren't I writing?
I should be writing.
Those demons won't take care of themselves.
It would be so much worse if they did...
thisisnoir.house

@danielmconnolly.bsky.social
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thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Every day's a punk day if you stick enough safety pins through it.
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Thursday, Nov 28, 1929. Last frame of a Little Orphan Annie Thanksgiving comic. Annie sitting on a doorstep. Sandy the dog lays on the ground at her feet. Annie says, "Thanksgivin' Day - well, it's been a punk day for a lot o' folks in this town - course we're sorry for them - but we've got no kick comin' - eh, Sandy?" Sandy, "ARF!!!"
November 28, 2025 at 4:00 AM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
What's this Nesselrode poppycock?
Title page of "The Royal Cookery Book" (1883) by Jules Gouffe. On the left, an image of various fowl, small game, and fish. Nesselrode pudding section of "The Royal Cookery Book" (1883) by Jules Gouffe. Pages 540-541. "I have been favoured with the recipes of both these puddings by one of my old friends, M. Mony, many years chef at Count Nesselrode's; I can, therefore, in this case, as in that of the Charlottes a la Chateaubriand and a la Sicilienne, guarantee the authenticity of my recipes, as I receive them direct from their inventors, to whom I am happy to convey here my tribute of thanks and good fellowship."
November 28, 2025 at 12:15 AM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
$1.50 is roughly $28.50, inflation-adjusted. What a glorious Thanksgiving bargain!
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Thursday, November 28, 1929. Advertisement for a $1.50 Thanksgiving Dinner at Stevens Building Restaurant. Served from noon to 8 pm. Amongst the usual offerings, includes something called Nesselrode Pudding.
November 28, 2025 at 12:15 AM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Pops began screaming about corruption and replacement when questioned about the wishbone blockchain.
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Thu, Nov 28, 1929. Comic "THIS IS THE DAY WHEN WE REALIZE THAT THE FAMILY BONDS ARE THE BEST OF ALL INVESTMENTS" "The outlook is generally favorable. I look for some spirited bidding. I thinking TURKEY PREFERRED will go down although I do not advise loading up too heavily. Small operators are strongly cautioned against extending themselves with too much indigestible holdings. The downward trend will probably carry CRANBERRY COMMON to new low levels, followed by a slight bulge near the bottom"
November 27, 2025 at 11:15 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Is that what I really look like?
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Thu, Nov 28, 1929. Comic with crazed old lady rushing out of the kitchen door holding a gigantic, steaming-hot turkey on a platter. She is yelling "SOUP'S ON!"
November 27, 2025 at 10:02 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Don't forget your papers and your proper travel uniform!
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Thu, Nov 28, 1929. Thanksgiving Day comic. Small planes labeled with relatives names and origination city circle over their parents' home. Caption "Looks as if the old fashioned family dinner may come back - with everybody becoming air-minded - except the old folks."
November 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Who knows what shadows lurk in the heart of the city? Bigfoot baby? Fae trap? Tree blight? These courageous canines aim to find out!
Seen from afar, the pile of leaves against a tree trunk hides a darkened entrance. Two huskies inspect a possible sasquatch hovel disguised as a giant pile of leaves up against a tree in a park in the city of Chicago, IL.
November 26, 2025 at 2:45 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
I warned them about shambling mounds, twig blights, and sasquatch structures. They don't listen.
Husky looks back, patiently waiting for approval to approach a large pile of leaves up against the base of a tree. Sunlight breaks over two huskies sniffing at a pile of leaves at the base of a tree.
November 26, 2025 at 2:45 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
The most shocking thing here is the spelling of reënlistment with the e-umlaut.
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Saturday, September 22, 1951. "ARMY DESTROYS COMICS BRANDED AS SOCIALISTIC Washington, Sept. 21 (AP) - The army today said it has ordered army camps to halt distribution of the Sad Sack comics prepared as part of a reenlistment campaign and to destroy copies on hand. No reason was given, but a spokesman said the orders went out Sept. 10, the day Sen. Capehart [R., Ind.] denounced the comic book as socialistic propaganda. The book follows Sad Sack. from his discharge - when he says "civilian life for me" - to his reenlistment. In between times, he acquires a family and more debts than he can meet. His last nickel turns out to be counterfeit. Capehart told a reporter he understood the army spent $17,544 on 500,000 copies of the book."
November 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
That judge and his wife had no choice but to watch the offending material. In private. With soft lighting and a bottle of Courvoisier.

He did if for the people!
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Thursday, January 07, 1960. "Igoe See Banned Film on Which He Will Rule Judge Michael L. Igoe of the federal District court and his wife Wednesday attended a private showing of the film "The Mating Urge" which has been banned from Chicago theaters by the police censorship board. The distributors, Maton Films, Inc., 77 W. Washington st., have appealed the censorship board's ruling to federal District court. No date for final argument on the appeal before Judge Igoe has been set."
November 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Always with the tote bags.
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Sun, Nov 23, 1930. Needlwork by Clotilde Image of woman hanging ruffled bag by a stap on a mirror. "These Utility Bags With Their Ruffled Edges Pleasingly Combine Practicality & Charm. What is your sewing problem? Do you have trouble in following a pattern? Do you find difficulty in making a skirt hang evenly or making a sleeve that doesn't twist? If there is anything you would like to know about these or other problems of needlework, write to Clotilde. The Tribune, Chicago, including a stamped, addressed envelope if a personal reply is desired. Utility bags made of moire, satin, or taffeta make charming gifts & are equally desirable for one's own use. These bags are unlined & are simple to make. Cut two pieces - measuring about twelve by fifteen inches. Round the lower corners. If you are not accustomed to cutting without a pattern, practice on a smooth piece of paper, maybe you will want to make the measurements slightly different. On one side of the bag stamp some delicate outline - flowers or perhaps a conventional design - & embroider using several colors. Measure entirely around the edges of the bag & buy enough inch & one-half wide ribbon to make a gathered ruffle. This ruffle is set between the edges of the bag & stitched in place when you stitch the sides together. If you have sufficient bag material you can make the ruffle of that - maybe using a selvage edge instead of putting in a hem. If you buy ribbon, a contrasting color will look well. The bag is straight across the top & turned in to make an inch & a half wide heading. A couple of nine inch pieces of quarter inch wide whalebone or anything similar should be run in a casing made by putting in a row of stitching three-eighths of an inch above where the hems are stitched. Fasten the ends & sew ribbon loops to hang the bag up by. Sew one of those tiny flower strips that may be bought by the yard over the casing. Hang the bag at one side of your mirror"
November 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Ol' Floyd was quite a character.
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. Mon, November 20, 1933. Advertisement Sketch of a man's head. He has an eyepatch. Text: FLOYD GIBBONS "doing his bit" in The War Against Depression PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION WMAQ 7:30 TONITE
November 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Everyone's a critic.
Graffiti on the back of a wooden park bench in Chicago, IL, US. Black and white filter. November 20, 2025 7:07 am. Among various other stylistic letters and symbols, white text "Graffiti Looked way better in the 2000's" in marker on the end of a dark bench slat. The park is covered with leaves. A group of trees stand tall in the distance.
November 21, 2025 at 2:58 AM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Look, I'm sorry 'bout yer fish, but if you come for the dog...

Also, please don't take my criticism of your muffins so harshly, Mrs. Coolidge.
Miles City Star. Miles City, Montana. Sat, Feb 27, 1926. GOLDFISH PONDS RAIDED BY AIREDALE DOG, TEXAS Austin, Tex., Feb. 25. - (AP) - An airdale dog on the Texas capital grounds demands gold fish for his diet. As a result policemen have been ordered to kill the dog on charges of depleting the goldfish ponds. For days mystery surrounded the disappearance of the goldfish but finally a woman saw the dog catch and devour three of the fish and reported him. _______________________ MRS. COOLIDGE BETTER Washington, Feb. 25. - (AP) - Mrs. Coolidge was up and around the White House today after having been confined to bed for two days by a cold.
November 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
I'm sure it won't surprise you that Radiana, the "mechanical man," was not an actual robot - there was a small woman inside operating the robot. Rumor has it, after 3 years working together, she declined a marriage proposal from magician Professor John Popjie.
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Sunday, November 23, 1930. Photo of a two-seater open cockpit with a man in the front and a "robot" in the back. The man is wearing a leather cap and pilot's goggles. He is waving. Caption: AN ELECTRICAL ROBOT GUIDES AN AIRPLANE -- Professor J. Popjie in the cockpit of his machine with a mechanical man of his own invention which operated the controls in a flight over Brighton, England.
November 19, 2025 at 2:52 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
In case you really need to see Mrs. Coolidge's pie...
From the Congressional Club Cook Book (1927) CUSTARD PIE 3/4 cup sugar. 1 tablespoonful flour. 2 eggs, beaten. 2 1/2 cups milk. Mix sugar and flour, add a pinch of salt. Bake in single crust. Dust a little nutmeg on top after pie is baked. Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, Wife of the President of the United States.
November 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
An abundance of cornmeal muffin recipes. I'm told abundance is hip.

I'll go with Yates' recipe because it's from IL.

In 1888, Yates married Ellen Wadsworth, also a native of Jacksonville, IL.

Was Ida your mother, Ellen? Your governess? Old Nanna Wadsworth?

I need to know.
From the Congressional Club Cook Book (1927) CORNMEAL MUFFINS 2 cups cornmeal. 1 cup flour. 1 cup sweet milk. 2 eggs, well beaten. 1/2 cup sugar. 2 tablespoons baking powder. This quantity will make 14 muffins. Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, Wife of the President. CORN MEAL GEMS 1 cup flour. 3 teaspoonfuls of baking powder. 1/2 cup of cornmeal. 1/2 teaspoonful of salt. 1 tablespoonful of sugar. Should be sifted and mixed together. To these dry ingredients add 3/4 cup of milk, 1 egg, well beaten, and 1 tablespoon of melted butter; bake in buttered gem pans for 25 minutes. Very good. Mrs. J. Zach Spearing, Wife of Representative Spearing (La.). IDA'S CORNMEAL MUFFINS 2 cups cornmeal and 1/2 cup flour. 1 pint milk. 2 eggs. 1/2 teaspoonful salt. 1 heaping tablespoonful sugar. 1 heaping tablespoonful lard and melt. 2 level teaspoonfuls baking powder. Beat eggs with salt and sugar and add 1 pint milk; put in cornmeal and flour and let it stand about one-half hour; then put melted lard in last and then add baking powder. Make batter consistency of cake and bake at once in greased muffin pans. Mrs. Richard Yates, Wife of Representative Yates (Ill.)
November 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
I don't think I need to know about Coolidge's muffins.

I should be delving into Queen Marie's recipes.
Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. Sun, Oct 23, 1927. SECRETS OF COOLIDGE'S MUFFINS REVEALED IN CAPITAL COOKBOOK Washington, D.C., Oct. 22. -- (UP) -- How to make the muffins served at the White House breakfasts is one of the recipes included in the Congressional Club Cook Book, which will be off the press the first week in November. Mrs. Coolidge contributed this one, also a recipe for custard pie, and prominent personages throughout the world, including kings, queens, presidents and prominent Americans, have disclosed their culinary secrets. Particularly choice and unusual recipes were received from the King of Spain, Queen Marie of Roumania and the president of Austria. Mrs. Dawes, wife of the Vice President, whose table is famed for its daintiness, also has contributed. Mrs. William Howard Taft is another noted hostess who has supplied recipes. Wives of Supreme court associate justices and governors also have aided in compiling the 2,500 formulas.
November 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Mr. Flannigan cleared concussion protocol and was sent back in, accompanied by a roar from the crowd.

Hale and hearty ain't what it used to be.
The Washington Herald. Washington, District of Columbia. Tue, Jun 29, 1926. Death Mocks Doctors' O.K. Police were striving, early this morning, to penetrate the mystery which surrounded 60-year-old Jacog Flannigan, 521 Eighteenth St. N.E., who walked into Casualty Hospital last night, asked to be examined, and then, despite the facts that physicians pronounced him in the prime of health, lapsed into unconsciousness, dying shortly after 10 o'clock. The man, according to police, said he had been sent to the hospital by a Dr. Baker, of Hyattsville, and spoke of having been in an automobile accident. Dr. Baker could not be located, when the man became unconscious, and repeated examinations by the hospital staff failed to reveal any malady. Investigation at Hyattsville showed that a man named Michael Flannigan, who lives on P St. N.W., had been injured here early in the evening in an automobile accident, but had refused treatment, and he was located at his home at 10:30 hale and hearty.
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
The merriment continued until unconsciousness came to him again, about 9:30 o'clock. Fifteen minutes later he was dead.
Times Herald. Washington, District of Columbia. Tue, Jun 29, 1926. LAUGHTER BRINGS DEATH An aged man laughed himself to death at Casualty Hospital last night. Jacob Flannigan, 60, of Bladensburg, Md., was the victim of the malady, which has proved a baffling puzzle to physicians and which the District coroner will endeavor to solve at an autopsy today at the District Morgue. Stricken At Home Flannigan was stricken with fits of laughter at his home yesterday and Dr. W. B. Baker of Hyattsville was called. Realizing that the illness was a strange one, Dr. Baker sent the man to Casualty Hospital, asking physicians there to observe him and diagnose the case. The aged man was hilarious when he reached the hospital, and physicians were unable to control his laughter. After a while, however, Flannigan's laughter gradually subsided, but ended only when the man lapsed into unconsciousness about 3 p.m. He did not regain consciousness until 9 p.m. and immediately began laughing again. The merriment continued until unconsciousness came to him again, about 9:30 o'clock. Fifteen minutes later he was dead. Because of his lapses into unconsciousness, physicians at Casualty were unable to make a diagnosis of the case. The coroner, therefore, ordered an autopsy.
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
There's more than one way to report a story.

That gnu was right, no news is good news.

Good news is deadly!
Battle Creek Moon-Journal. Battle Creek, Michigan. Tue, Jun 29, 1926. GOOD NEWS KILLS HIM. Washington, June 29. -- (U.P.) -- Jacob Flannigan, 60, walked into a hospital here, said he had been in an automobile accident and asked to be examined. Physicians pronounced him uninjured. He heard the verdict, lapsed into unconsciousness and died an hour later.
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
I'm sure it was all above board.

That's barely $1.9 million, inflation-adjusted.

Probably pocket change for our mysterious banker who definitely did nothing untoward.
Jersey Observer and Jersey Journal. Jersey City, New Jersey. Monday, December 31, 1923. "Banker Beats Cousins. Hexham, Eng. -- A dozen cousins who contested the will of Mrs. Isabella Hopper leaving her estate of $100,000 to her banker were defeated in court."
November 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Doesn't quite have the same ring to it as "Riiiiicola!"

At least it has an astonishing promptitude.
The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. Wednesday, June 01, 1887. Advertisement for Hale's Honey of Horehound & Tar Artistic image of a beehive nestled amongst pine trees and flowers. Text: " Affords relief to coughs and colds with a promptitude which often astonishes those who use it. Ask for Hale's and take no substitute. 3 sizes, 25c., 50c., $1.00."
November 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
Imagine a dimension as vast as space & as timeless as infinity...the middle ground between light and shadow. A dimension where you must tell people you want seedless raisins.

This is where things went wrong. P&G thought they were helping, but you know how these things go.

24 pies men like...
Cover of a promotional pamphlet from The Proctor & Gamble Company, 1934. Sketch image of three men at a restaurant table. Title "24 pies men like" Recipe from page 21 of a promotional pamphlet from The Proctor & Gamble Company, 1934. RAISIN PIE 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup water 1 tablespoon Crisco 1 tablespoon lemon juice grated rind 1 lemon 1 cup raisins (seedless) Mix cornstarch, sugar, and salt, stir in water. Cook until thick. Add Crisco, lemon juice and rind, and raisins. Cool before pouring into pie tin lined with digestible Crisco crust. Cover with top crust. Fasten the edges by moistening between them with cold water. Press together tightly. Prick or slit the upper crust to allow the escape of steam. Bake in a hot oven (400°F.) until golden brown.
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
thisisnoirhouse.bsky.social
They really want you to know about surcingles.

I'm going to be saying surcingles all day.
Crop of part of the Faultless Nobelt Pajamas advertisement. Image of a horse with text: "*See the horse. He is wearing a surcingle. It is pulled tight, to keep the saddle in place. He runs and grunts in it, but ordinary horse-sense tells him he can't sleep in it."
November 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM