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Before Photoshop, People Used To Make Homemade Christmas Cards, And These 36 From The 1930s-1960s Are The Ones That Have Caught My Eye
Way before Photoshop was available, people got very creative in making their holiday and Christmas greeting cards. Enjoy the collection and Happy Holidays to all the Pandas!
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#1
Bob Ford And His Cats, 1962
Final score:
198points
Jef Bateman 2 years ago
Since this was before Photoshop, this picture shows a man literally sitting on a GIANT CAT! I think they grew bigger before the open-air nuclear testing was banned.
Duncan 2 years ago
Nice very nice. So créating any card in photoshop isn't creative? It's basically the same thing only with modern techniques. Like those online greeting card companies. I choose a nice basic card to start with and then remove and add stuff. Not just text. I don't have to get blanc cards and start from scratch true but I'm still creating my own cards this way.
Cat Chat 2 years ago
That's what I thought. Sure, this was was Photoshop before Photoshop was available. Different technology, same result. Although, the available technology wasn't available to the general public, so unless one had the money or knew someone to do it free, then the generic one photo or store bought is what one got.
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RELATED:
#2
Groovy Silhouette
Final score:
198points
Dawn ;))) 2 years ago
No actually man is secretly another man who is secretly a woman who is secretly a girl who is secretly a boy who is secretly a cat
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funkybluegirl 2 years ago
I believe each layer is the silhouette of a different family member, as listed below; including Sparky. 🙂
Keilana Ferenczy 2 years ago
Reminds me of the Rolling Stones Hot Rocks 1964-1972 album cover! download-6...4e66a.jpeg 
#3
Gift Wrapping
Final score:
174points
funkybluegirl 2 years ago
I don't believe that I have ever used the phrase 'top notch' before. 🙋
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Melissa Johnson 2 years ago
Dude...they didn't even have photoshop! How did they pull this off!?
M O'Connell 2 years ago
A razor knife and a camera. You spend quite a bit of time posing and photographing the subjects individually. You print those shots, cut them out carefully and lay them into another photograph which forms the background. You then photograph the collage and and make RC prints of it (or lithograph if you need tons of them).
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#4
Wants A Dog For Christmas
Final score:
137points
funkybluegirl 2 years ago
This is a meme. I don't think the picture is their kid, unless she's Barbara and Elbert is her dad?!? Plus, the letter is fake. I think they made a meme for their Christmas card.
Zachary Gillette 2 years ago
Dear Santa, I'd like to learn how to write forwards, not backwards. Linda.
#5
Sitting On Brownie!
Final score:
130points
funkybluegirl 2 years ago
Wouldn't you be terrified if your entire family were, suddenly, small enough to ride on your back?
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#6
Hill Family In Bed
Final score:
122points
Deborah Harris2 2 years ago
That's a hell of a bed it would solve an overly hot ( too warm) partner in the bed plus room for another two dogs <3
BlueEyesWhiteDragon 2 years ago
Or...and hear me out...another FIVE cats.
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#7
Cats For Peace!
Final score:
119points
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
TBH, a cat could do a better job of governing than a lot of the humans that are supposedly doing that job right now.
#8
Puppet Parents
Final score:
107points
#9
Dr. Furnish And Staff
Final score:
105points
Mary Daniel 2 years ago
Nurses in white caps and white uniform dresses. This is how I dressed as a new nurse. My cap was always falling off. A nuisance.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
Back then, though, a person knew a nurse on sight. Nowadays, it could be a nurse, an aide, housekeeping, or the guy checking the vents.
Load More Replies... #10
Doggone Good Time!
Final score:
101points
#11
Ed And Norbert
Final score:
95points
Anyone-for-tea? 2 years ago
As much as I’d like to ship these two, I think they look more like father than son?
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LizzieBoredom 2 years ago
Gay and considering the time they lived in, brave.
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Lemon Beans 2 years ago
What's the creative photoshopy thing with this card? It's just two dudes on a chair?
Mimi La Souris 2 years ago
could be father and son or cousins too. displaying his homosexuality so openly at that time and on greeting cards, I find it astonishing and very courageous
Bradford B 2 years ago
The comment about their resemblance is accurate and as such it appears to be a father and son as has already been pointed out. All the other stuff is noise here.
#12
V.m. Springgate And Figaro
Final score:
91points
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
Someone must’ve to,d her “Damn your eyes”, and then it happened. (Don’t yell at me, /s, ffs)
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You Should Do Nothing with the Fence 2 years ago
"...fighting mood everybody seems to be in prior to November 4. But regardless of your political preferences..." Same then and now?
Julie 2 years ago
I really wanna know what year this is. Assuming November 4 is referring to an election in the US
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I think so too. She, her broom, and her black cat are adorable!
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Kevin J. Henning 2 years ago
It looks like one of those cartoons where the character sat on a needle or something. Right before they go through the ceiling.
#13
Fortune Teller
Final score:
87points
#14
The Purcell-Niks
Final score:
86points
Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
Circular sleds such as these, released in the '50s, were called saucers.
Mary Daniel 2 years ago
We used garbage can lids and old car hoods for sleds.
Load More Replies... Bradford B 2 years ago
My brother and I had metal saucers in the 1960s. They tend to rotate and result in riotous spills frequently.
#15
Popping Up
Final score:
82points
conniec1990yahoo 2 years ago (edited)
Hello! No one is reminded of that scary twilight zone episode??
Victoria Clark 1 year ago
Oh, my! Did that Twilight Zone "Anthony" kid do that? Thinking of the episode "It's a Good Life" with Billy Mumy.
#16
1933 Wagon
Final score:
76points
You Should Do Nothing with the Fence 2 years ago (edited)
Wow. Height of the Great Depression.
#17
The Beards
Final score:
74points
#18
Chickens
Final score:
73points
#19
Erma!
Final score:
72points
#20
Magical Christmas
Final score:
69points
Bradford B 2 years ago
The dog, having seen this trick before, was understandably bored by the time the final photo was taken.
#21
Holiday Rodents
Final score:
69points
Cassi Lyris 2 years ago
Ah chubby Norways. Snuggly for rodents, but they don't live very long at all. And of course you have the people irrationally afraid of rodents and of rats especially.
Z Alexi 2 years ago
Never send this to us~~you'll lose friends. No one wants to receive negative thoughts [& rat dreams] in their Xmas greeting cards. Esp those who've cockroaches & mice in their apts or homes. Stop clowning around...not funny. Aaack!
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#22
Chicken
Final score:
68points
Frances Nelson 2 years ago
This totally nails it. Wonder why his zipper is broken. Also wonder what he does with the fish?
#23
Christmas Cats
Final score:
68points
Deborah 2 years ago
I truly do not like cats. I like dogs. Dogs protect you. They are bigger enough to protect you. We should have been warned that the person who selected these photos has a kitty fetish. Cats are scary, needy, simple minded and pushy. I don't date people like that. Why would I bring it into my home!? Aaarrgh!
BlueEyesWhiteDragon 2 years ago
Cats? On the internet? How dare they!!! Plus, I feel that you may be confusing your attitude with the personalities of cats.
Load More Replies... Lakota Wolf 2 years ago
There's these amazing devices, they're called "scissors" and "glue". That's what we used before we had these new-fangled "computers".
Load More Replies... #24
Dressed Up Shinns
Final score:
63points
funkybluegirl 2 years ago
I love seeing proof that people were dressing up their pets, long before the internet.
Bradford B 2 years ago
I like that they depict their dogs as babies, but don't like the expressions the poor pooches bear in their discomfort.
#25
Cheery Christmas
Final score:
62points
smolspeedycats 2 years ago
My candle burns at both ends/ It will not last the night/ But ah my friends and oh my foes/ It gives a lovely light.
Basic White B1tch 2 years ago (edited)
gay? edit: sorry didnt mean to offend anyone i was just asking if anyone knew if they're gay or father & son or brothers or what
#26
Family Bowling
Final score:
61points
#27
Doghouse
Final score:
59points
#28
Edwin And Jerry
Final score:
58points
JL 2 years ago
I'm thinking that the puppet is Edwin. He bullied Jerry into giving him top billing.
Load More Replies... Kevin J. Henning 2 years ago
Having a picture taken with a ventriloquist dummy and using the plural instead of singular suggests it's time to hook him up with mental health professional.
Bradford B 2 years ago
Jerry has that look that says, "I'll stay with him for the holidays, but after that I'm outta here!"
#29
Ace High
Final score:
58points
Jef Bateman 2 years ago
I've been playing cards for decades, but I have never been dealt this hand.
Bradford B 2 years ago
Based on the style of the playing cards, I'm going to guess this one is from about 1947.
#30
What's My Line?
Final score:
56points
Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
I really hope little Robbie had a say in that delightful Annie Oakley costume.
John G 2 years ago
Was wondering about that. Maybe she was his hero - hope so.
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#31
Flying High
Final score:
53points
Auntriarch 2 years ago
Excellent example of cut and paste, when cutting and pasting was involved
Your Neighborhood Alien 2 years ago
I like how they even added the little "Merry Christmas" on the plane!
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Henrik Schmidt 2 years ago
How did they get a hold of the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket? Impressive!
Mangelo Il Fumatori 2 years ago
The Family Strangelove or: How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Holidays
Sally Anderson 2 years ago
Hey - These are the Purcell-Niks from #11! Continuing the flight theme. :)
Mya Lugar 2 years ago
The boy doesn't look like he likes flying. Nor does the baby with the rubber legs!
#32
Orbited Startweathers
Final score:
53points
Megen Karlinsey 2 years ago (edited)
They didn't need an apostrophe at the end of their last name in order to make it plural.
Bradford B 2 years ago
I would guess this was from the 1957 holiday season since that is when Sputnik was launched as the first manmade satellite in orbit.
#33
Square Dance
Final score:
53points
#34
Family Stockings
Final score:
48points
#35
Chita!
Final score:
47points
Lorraine 2 years ago
Upvote for knowing Dolores who was gorgeous and talented.
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#36
Carlson Rocket
Final score:
39points
Amy T 2 years ago
Reminds me of when they put SJParker's head on the dog in Mars Attacks.
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Pandasizing World Peace 2 years ago
I found the house too! Looks like they turned their garage into a bonus room. That was really fun looking for it!
Load More Replies... Mary Daniel 2 years ago
So many scenes of folks in midair on planes, saucers, missiles and rockets.
Lyone Fein 2 years ago
These rocket themed cards must be from around the time when we were going to the moon,etc.
Jaaawn 2 years ago
They kinda look like twins, exact same teeth. Maybe it's shirt for Harriet. Or is just a femjnine boy.
Load More Replies... suzemagoo 2 years ago
Because neighbors socialized and befriended each other back then. Some, like us, still do.
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What do you think ?
Kendra Miller 2 years ago
Sigh, these are SO much better than the generic store bought one that everyone does now. They are weird, wonderful and fun.
Jason 2 years ago
I still make ours every year! Takes some time but I feel like it shows the family cares.
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funkybluegirl 2 years ago
I really enjoyed these. In this age of AI-generated pictures, deep fakes and Photoshop, it is easy to forget the work that went into making these.
Rose Button 🇺🇦 2 years ago
1930s families on their way to get their pets for the Christmas card be like:
Marilyn Russell 2 years ago
My dad made the baby announcements when me and my sister were born in ‘69 &’70. I still have mine.
Pandasizing World Peace 2 years ago
Really enjoyed the creativity displayed here. Some of them must have taken a really long time to make!
Kendra Miller 2 years ago
Sigh, these are SO much better than the generic store bought one that everyone does now. They are weird, wonderful and fun.
Jason 2 years ago
I still make ours every year! Takes some time but I feel like it shows the family cares.
Load More Replies... funkybluegirl 2 years ago
I really enjoyed these. In this age of AI-generated pictures, deep fakes and Photoshop, it is easy to forget the work that went into making these.
Rose Button 🇺🇦 2 years ago
1930s families on their way to get their pets for the Christmas card be like:
Marilyn Russell 2 years ago
My dad made the baby announcements when me and my sister were born in ‘69 &’70. I still have mine.
Pandasizing World Peace 2 years ago
Really enjoyed the creativity displayed here. Some of them must have taken a really long time to make!
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