CRAIG CONLEY (Prof. Oddfellow) is recognized by Encarta as “America’s most creative and diligent scholar of letters, words and punctuation.” He has been called a “language fanatic” by Page Six gossip columnist Cindy Adams, a “cult hero” by Publisher’s Weekly, a “monk for the modern age” by George Parker, and “a true Renaissance man of the modern era, diving headfirst into comprehensive, open-minded study of realms obscured or merely obscure” by Clint Marsh. An eccentric scholar, Conley’s ideas are often decades ahead of their time. He invented the concept of the “virtual pet” in 1980, fifteen years before the debut of the popular “Tamagotchi” in Japan. His virtual pet, actually a rare flower, still thrives and has reached an incomprehensible size. Conley’s website is OneLetterWords.com.
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Abecedarian personal effects of 'a mad genius'
A Turkish Delight of musings on languages, deflations of metaphysics, vauntings of arcana, and great visual humor.

Found 3,368 posts tagged ‘1900s’

Restoring the Lost Sense – November 21, 2018 (permalink)

From Vampir, 1906.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #demon #vampire #1900s #blood
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Restoring the Lost Sense – November 20, 2018 (permalink)

From Satirikon, 1908.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #demon #devil #crushed #1900s #red pencil
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Restoring the Lost Sense – November 17, 2018 (permalink)

From L'Assiette au Beurre, 1903.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #big mouth #spider #cobweb #spiderweb #yawn #1900s
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Restoring the Lost Sense – November 16, 2018 (permalink)

From Le Journal Amusant, 1909.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #flying machine #giant hat #scissors #1900s #thread #airplane #sewing machine #seamstress #hat pin
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Restoring the Lost Sense – November 9, 2018 (permalink)

From L'Assiette au Beurre, 1904.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#religion #vintage illustration #christianity #torture #jesus #1900s #inquisition
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Restoring the Lost Sense – October 26, 2018 (permalink)

From L'Assiette au Beurre, 1904.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #death #skeleton #gallows #hanged man #1900s
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Yearbook Weirdness – October 25, 2018 (permalink)

There's a rabbit's foot in Southwestern's 1909 yearbook because all such tomes are occult objects.  See How to Hoodoo Hack a Yearbook.
> read more from Yearbook Weirdness . . .
#vintage illustration #vintage yearbook #yearbook #good luck #1900s #rabbit's foot
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Restoring the Lost Sense – October 19, 2018 (permalink)

From Le Rire, 1909.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #clock #grandfather clock #1900s #illustration
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 30, 2018 (permalink)

From L'Assiette au Beurre, 1906.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #running with scissors #1900s #armor #personal protection
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 29, 2018 (permalink)

From L'Assiette au Beurre, 1906.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #divination #owl #full moon #occult #fortune telling #prediction #1900s #psychic #moon magic #1906
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 26, 2018 (permalink)

From Burelom, 1905.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #demon #vampire #1900s
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 15, 2018 (permalink)

Though this illustration is making fun of a drunk who mistakes a crack in the wall for his key hole, you never know what you might unlock when you place a skeleton key into crevice.  From L'Album Comique de la Famille, 1904.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #skeleton key #keyhole #drunk #1900s
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 11, 2018 (permalink)

From L'Album Comique de la Famille, 1904.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #rabbit #hunter #1900s #disguise
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 10, 2018 (permalink)

Here's what happens to lost mail.  From Lustige Blätter, 1906.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #monster #1900s #lost mail
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 9, 2018 (permalink)

He has no eyes.  From L'Assiette au Beurre, 1902.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #1900s #no face #eyeless #no eyes
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 7, 2018 (permalink)

Laughed at by animals.  From L'Assiette au Beurre, 1902.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #animals #1900s #laughing animal
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Restoring the Lost Sense – September 1, 2018 (permalink)

The happy hour special is a "Blood and Tears" cocktail.  From L'Album Comique de la Famille, 1903.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #death #skeleton #grim reaper #bartender #cocktail #1900s #happy hour #alcohol poisoning #just kill me #art
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Go Out in a Blaze of Glory – August 23, 2018 (permalink)

We're deilghted that the latest review of our Magic Words: A Dictionary calls the book a "critter"!  This is a Retroactive Lifetime Goal!*  "This critter will definitely expand your vocabulary and repertoire."  Thanks, Amazon Hall of Fame reviewer Bernie (Xyzzy)!
Our illustration is from Kosa, 1906.
*The phrase "retroactive lifetime goal" is used with the kind permission of Jonathan Caws-Elwitt.
> read more from Go Out in a Blaze of Glory . . .
#vintage illustration #demon #imp #serpent #snake #1900s #satanic #thorns #unholy book
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Restoring the Lost Sense – August 22, 2018 (permalink)

"I fled like a madman from the accursed house."  From The Strand, 1908.
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #playing cards #1900s #illustration
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Restoring the Lost Sense – August 20, 2018 (permalink)

From Lustige Blätter, 1908. 
[Inexplicable images from generations ago invite us to restore the lost sense of immediacy.  We follow the founder of the Theater of Spontaneity, Jacob Moreno, who proposed stringing together "now and then flashes" to unfetter illusion and let imagination run free.  The images we have collected for this series came at a tremendous price, which we explained previously.]
> read more from Restoring the Lost Sense . . .
#vintage illustration #mail carrier #snail mail #1900s #postman #big letter #kicking down the door
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