“Tot-Guard” Child Safety Car Seat Made by the Ford Motor Company

Seat belts may be all right for adults, but try keeping a squirming five-year-old child buckled up for a long automobile ride. It cannot be done, short of resorting to chloroform. In the late 1960s, the Ford Motor Co. showed off its answer: a 5-lb. padded plastic body shield called the “Tot Guard.” The child sits on a molded seat; then a loosely fitting, one-piece leg-and-body “cast” is placed over him. The seat belt loops around in front to secure the entire apparatus, allowing the child to move around inside his cast but also to stay in one place.

The “Tot-Guard” was one of the earliest examples of a child restraint system developed by an American car manufacturer with crash protection in mind. The design was unique at the time, utilizing a large, hollow-molded polyethylene shield that fit over the child's body and was secured by the vehicle’s existing lap belt. This “impact shield” design was intended to distribute impact forces over a larger surface area of the child’s body in a collision.

The system consisted of three main parts: a molded seat base, the large body shield, and a removable foam pad for the inside of the shield. It was a forward-facing only car seat. Ford engineers have tested the device extensively on their own children and claim that the kids ride contentedly for as long as four hours at a time.

While an innovative step, it was not widely used initially. Public education and later government mandates for child restraints were necessary for widespread adoption of car seats. The “Tot-Guard” was designed and tested according to the much less stringent safety standards of the late 1960s and early 1970s, before modern regulations (like the 1971 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and later updates) were fully in place.

By today’s standards, its design (bulky, minimal padding, reliance solely on a lap belt for the shield) is considered highly unsafe. Modern car seats use advanced materials, five-point harness systems, and rigorous crash testing to offer superior protection. The “Tot-Guard” is now a historical artifact, found in museums like The Henry Ford, and is not legal or safe to use for transporting children today. Modern car seats expire after a certain number of years (usually 6-10 years from the date of manufacture) and should never be used if they are old or have been in a crash.

See more»

Rosenberg Children Read in the Newspaper on June 19, 1953 That Their Parents Have One Day More to Live

On June 19, 1953, just one day before the scheduled execution of their parents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, young Michael (10) and Robert (6) were photographed reading the devastating news. The Rosenbergs had been convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage, accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. Their trial and execution became one of the most controversial moments in American history, fueling debates about justice, politics, and fear in an era defined by suspicion.

Michael Rosenberg, 10, right, and his brother, Robert, 6, sons of atom spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, read June 18, 1953 that their parents had one day more to live. The boys were at the home of friends in Toms River, N.J. The Rosenberg’s execution date had been delayed by a last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which turned a stay down. (AP Photo/Daily News)

After their parents’ execution, Michael and Robert were left orphaned and rejected by most of their relatives, who feared the stigma of being associated with the Rosenberg name. Salvation came when they were adopted by Abel and Anne Meeropol. Abel, a poet and teacher remembered for writing the haunting anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit,” gave the boys not just a home but a nurturing, politically aware environment that helped shape their future. They took the Meeropol surname and grew up determined to build meaningful lives out of a tragic beginning.

As adults, both brothers carved out paths that reflected both intellectual rigor and social commitment. Michael became an economist and professor, while Robert pursued law and later founded the Rosenberg Fund for Children, dedicated to supporting children whose activist parents face persecution. Together, they have spent their lives reassessing the case that defined their childhood—acknowledging Julius’s involvement in espionage while arguing passionately that their mother, Ethel, was unjustly convicted and executed with scant evidence. Their story stands as both a family tragedy and a testament to resilience in the shadow of history.

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are seen during their espionage trial in New York. They were convicted on this day in 1951 and executed in 1953. (Associated Press)

22 Portraits of a Young and Beautiful Morgan Fairchild in the Late 1970s

Patsy Ann McClenny (born February 3, 1950), known professionally as Morgan Fairchild, is an American actress. She began acting in the early 1970s and has had roles in several television series since then. In the late 1970s, Fairchild emerged as one of television’s most recognizable “glamour girls,” specializing in the “sophisticated vixen” archetype. This era served as her transition from daytime soap operas to becoming a primetime household name.

From 1973 to 1977, Fairchild played the role of Jennifer Pace on the CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow. Her performance as a beautiful but murderous socialite set the template for the rest of her career. By the time she left the show in 1977, she had established herself as a talent who could play “the woman you love to hate” with incredible poise.

After moving to Los Angeles, Fairchild became a ubiquitous presence on 1970s primetime TV. She was the original actress to play Jenna Wade, Bobby Ewing’s first love, in Dallas (1978). Though she only appeared in one episode before the role was eventually recast with Priscilla Presley years later, it cemented her place in the era’s biggest drama. She had a recurring role as Susan Taylor on this popular sitcom Mork & Mindy (1978–1979). Like many stars of the late 1970s, she made frequent guest appearances on The Love Boat & Fantasy Island, often playing wealthy or high-fashion characters.

Fairchild also starred in several notable TV movies and cult classics toward the end of the decade, such as The Initiation of Sarah (1978), a popular made-for-TV supernatural thriller, and Murder in Music City (1979), a detective comedy-mystery.

See more»

Fascinating Vintage Photos Capture Life in China in the Early 1920s

Life in China during the early 1920s was a study in stark contrasts, defined by a mesmerizing blend of ancient traditions and rapid modernization.

In cosmopolitan hubs like Shanghai and Guangzhou, the streets buzzed with a newfound energy as electric trams, early automobiles, and neon signs began to redefine the skyline. This was the era of the “Modern Girl,” where the traditional Qipao evolved into a stylish, body-hugging garment, and Western jazz mingled with Chinese opera in local tea houses. However, just beyond the glittering city gates, life remained largely agrarian and grueling, with the rural population facing the constant shadow of famine and the unpredictable whims of local warlords.

It was a decade of intense social flux, where the intellectual fervor of university students in Beijing sought to dismantle old Confucian hierarchies, while the majority of the nation still navigated a world governed by the lunar calendar and ancestral customs. These fascinating photos, via Wolfgang Wiggers, were taken by an unidentified German traveler to China in 1922.

At The Quay, China, 1922

At the South Gate, China, 1922

Carriers, China, 1922

City Wall, Kaying (Meizhou), China, 1922

Female Carrier, China, 1922

See more»

Catherine Deneuve: The Eternal Face of French Cinema

Widely regarded as the personification of French elegance and icy sophistication, Catherine Deneuve is an icon of global cinema whose career spans over six decades. She rose to international stardom in the 1960s with her breakthrough role in Jacques Demy’s vibrant musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964), followed by her haunting performance in Roman Polanski’s Repulsion (1965).

Deneuve became the ultimate muse for Luis Buñuel, notably in Belle de Jour (1967), where she masterfully balanced a prim exterior with a complex, erotic inner life. Beyond her “ice maiden” persona, she has demonstrated immense versatility in films like The Last Metro and Indochine, for which she received an Academy Award nomination.

As the former face of Marianne, the national symbol of the French Republic, Catherine Deneuve remains a timeless symbol of poise, intellect, and the enduring power of European arthouse cinema.

See more»

22 Funny “Hospital” Valentine’s Day Cards From the Early 20th Century

In the very early 20th century, the “patent medicine” industry was still booming. Companies like Smith’s Bile Beans and Lash’s Bitters realized that people were more likely to keep a card if it was colorful and funny.

A common card from this era might show a man clutching his stomach while looking longingly at a woman. The text would read something like: “I’d be yours if my liver were better!” On the back, it would explain that the only way to win her heart was to first cure your “sluggish bile” with their specific brand of pills. These weren’t just cards; they were tiny, romanticized health interventions.

Not all medical Valentines were sweet. In the 1910s and 1920s, “Vinegar Valentines” were incredibly popular. These were anonymous, mean-spirited postcards sent to people you didn’t like. If someone was a hypochondriac or particularly clumsy, they might receive a card with a caricature of a bandaged fool. A common trope was a card sent to single women depicting them as a "sour-faced nurse" with a caption like: “You’re a pill that no one wants to swallow.” It was a brutal era for medical humor!

After WWI, the image of the nurse shifted from a “sour” figure to a romanticized hero. This is when the medical puns we know today began to take their modern shape. Cards from the 1920s and 1930s often featured a nurse in a crisp white cap literally stitching a broken heart back together with a needle and thread.

Unlike the digital, sleek cards of today, early 20th-century cards used chromolithography. This gave them a distinct “vibrant but slightly off-register” look. They often used “mechanical” elements—like a flap you could lift (a doctor’s bag that opens to reveal a heart) or a wheel you could turn to change the “diagnosis” of the sender’s love.

See more»

40 Fascinating Portraits of Farrah Fawcett in the 1980s

Farrah Fawcett (born Mary Ferrah Leni Fawcett; February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009) was an American actress. A four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she played a starring role in the first season of the television series Charlie’s Angels.

In the 1980s, Fawcett underwent a dramatic transformation, moving away from her 1970s “pin-up” image to become one of the most respected dramatic actresses in Hollywood. After leaving Charlie’s Angels, she spent much of the decade proving she was far more than just a famous hairstyle.

The early 1980s were a struggle for Fawcett, as her initial films like Saturn 3 (1980) and The Cannonball Run (1981) were critical flops. However, she reinvented herself by taking on gritty, challenging roles. The Burning Bed (1984) was her career-defining moment. Playing Francine Hughes, a real-life battered wife who set her husband’s bed on fire, Fawcett shocked audiences by appearing without makeup and delivering a raw, powerful performance. It earned her an Emmy nomination and changed the public’s perception of her.

After starring in the Off-Broadway play, she reprised her role in the film version Extremities (1986) as a woman who turns the tables on her attempted rapist. This role further solidified her as a serious dramatic force. She ended the decade with another Emmy-nominated performance in Small Sacrifices (1989) as the real-life murderer Diane Downs, a role that was a complete departure from her “Angel” persona.

While she was trying to leave “Jill Munroe” behind, her style continued to influence the early 1980s. Her signature feathered hair remained the dominant hairstyle for American women well into the early 1980s. As the decade progressed, her look became more sophisticated and less “California sun-kissed,” reflecting her shift toward more mature, character-driven projects.

See more»