Here's a precursor (by three decades) to the Doomsay Clock:

"Soon the world's clock will strike twelve; the number on its dial is red, is dipped in blood, and by that you will recognise it.  And a stormwind shall precede the new first hour." —Gustav Meyrink, The Green Face (1916)

Here's a precursor to Catcher in the Rye, from 1876.

The blind driver labeled "begger man" is a precursor to the extremely nearsighted cartoon driver Mr. Magoo (who debuted 32 years later).  From Akron's 1917 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to the superior horror/sci-fi film Slither.  From Le Charivari, 1849.

You know that the "What, me worry?" mascot of Mad Magazine is named Alfred E. Neuman.  But here are some much earlier incarnations.  Our favorite, of course, is "G. Daddleskink."  From Colorado College's 1928 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to Jacques Tati's masterpiece Playtime.  From Nebelspalter, 1958.

Here's a precursor to Werner Herzog living up to his promise that he would eat his shoe if Errol Morris ever completed the film Gates of Heaven.  From Le Charivari, 1846.

Putting the basket on the hood is as good a way as any to show the world that you're the sort of person who goes on picnics.  From Lustige Blätter, 1916.  We're designating this a precursor to Mrs. Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances driving around with snow skiis sticking out of her car to show the neighbors that she's the sort of person who might go skiing.

Today's sheet ghost menacing a precursor to Marilyn Monroe appears in Northern Illinois' 1920 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to electronic music pioneer Michael Iceberg, whose "Iceberg Machine" was once a fixture at Disneyland's and Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland.  From Nebelspalter, 1958.

We spotted the band Ghost's frontman Cardinal Copia in St. Joseph's 1973 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to British explorer Bear Grylls flying over Everest.  From Fliegende Blätter, 1924.

Here's a precursor to selecting emojis.  From Park College's 1931 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to Laura Palmer being wrapped in plastic in Twin Peaks.  From Presbyterian College's 1983 yearbook.

Here's a "spaghetti western," 40 years before the phrase was coined.  The caption says, "Effect of a spaghetti dinner on members of a wild west show."  From Life, 1923.

Here's a precursor to the Addams Family's mustachioed baby Pubert.  The caption reads, "Young Mother (examining baby with magnifying glass): Harry, I'm simply tickled to death!  I believe that when Baby grows up he's going to have a dark mustache."  From Life, 1923.

Here's a precursor to the rappers Kris Kross wearing their clothes backwards.  From Duke's 1914 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head.  From Le Journal Pour Rire, 1852.  Previously, we saw these other precursors: someone trying to eat the whole world, an enormous and alcohol-infused dessert, a huge pudding with a face, and a great big sausage that a horse warns against eating.

Here's a precursor to Eric Andre's "Ranch Dude" character that harasses innocent bystanders.

From Butler's 1982 yearbook.

Here's a precursor to the Bride of Frankenstein.  From Fliegende Blätter, 1924.