 |
 |
|
|
||
|
||
|
| Recent Archives |
The July/August 1954 issue was 6-1/2" x 9-3/4", unlike today's dimensions of 8-1/4" x 10-3/4". It was not until 1960 that the size changed for the first time. It was a bi-monthly magazine and the newsstand price was $0.50 per copy. The H Bomb in 1596 After the defeat of Japan in WWII, in which nuclear weapons were used (initially killing an estimated 150,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki), people all over the world, particularly the U.S. and U.S.S.R., were living in fear of an impending nuclear war. The Cold War brought a heightened state of alert to U.S. citizens, hand-in-hand with such things as fallout shelters, food stockpiles, the Emergency Broadcast System, and Bert the Turtle's Duck and Cover cartoon. A new and even more destructive type of bomb than the atomic bomb was being introduced to the world in the '50s -- the H bomb, created by the Soviets. Instead of fission (splitting nuclei of atoms into fragments), the bomb was based on the process of fusion -- the same process in which the sun produces energy when light-weight atoms fuse to create heavier ones. With all this H bomb talk circulating, in the August issue of 1954 an article appeared entitled "The H Bomb in 1596." It paid homage to a weapon that predated the article by about 350 years, but probably had a price tag close to that of the H bomb (the editor speculated), due to the fact that it was loaded with gemstones and precious metals for ammunition. The tidbit read: "No one will ever know just what the actual cost of an H bomb is, but it is doubtful if the cost exceeds by too much the charge that was the costliest volley in history. A cannon was defending Ahmednagar in India and had expended all ammunition. The defenders then loaded it with all the gold and silver in the treasury and when that became exhausted the cannon was loaded with a charge of 17 pounds of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls. And that was in the year 1596! Wish they'd shoot some the Editor's way. Anyway -- don't throw away your old cabochons but learn to build a better sling shot." Cartoon Caption Contest The winners of the contest were announced in the next issue, August 1954 (Lapidary Journal was bi-monthly then, remember). What was funny is that according to the write up, most of the readers who supplied captions didn't even notice the dog ears or tail protruding from the person in the middle, and therefore their submissions were not cued to the obvious. Here were the top three entries, according to the staff of Lapidary Journal in 1954: First place: "Rockhound or wolf?" Second place: "Claim staked -- no trespassing." Honorable Mention: "and what did you say your husband was ma'am?" Think you could do better? In June, we challenged current readers to submit their own captions. Here's what a few of you submitted: "Step lively folks; the rocks can't wait all day!" - Marie Pellegrino "What do a Russian peasant on a picnic, a mutant bat gold miner, and a crying Elvis-impersonating Picasso shirt wearing man have in common? Nothing." - Justin Dula "Gee Bill, I didn't realize that learning how to do the peyote stitch required a trip to the desert." - Heather Nash "Ever the trendsetters, Gertrude, Eddie, and Howdy set off for California back in '48. They only made it as far as Texas, however, before encountering severe ideological differences, thus ending the partnership of Stein, Munster, & Doody." - Jordan Rockford "Jodie, I don't get it, everyone keeps staring at Fred. I don't think his shirt is that ugly." - Barbara Van Osten "How can George wear a shirt that's so loud? He must have something wrong with his ears." - Barbara Van Osten "Mr. President, for the last time, there are no WMDs or bin Ladens here on your ranch!" - David Chadwick "There's good news and bad news, baby . . . (sob) the good news is my coyote friend over there just found some jasper in an undiscovered mine. The bad news is that they gotta be cleaned real good & you may hafta carry me back to the car." - Dave Iannucci +++ More highlights from our archives coming next month from the September/October 1954 Lapidary Journal. |
Index of Past Issues | Buy Back Issues Online
|
________________________________________________________________ Feature Stories & Artist Profiles | Step-by-Step Projects & Workshops | Technique Articles | Business Articles | New Products | News, Conferences, & Deadlines | Take our Reader Survey
Articles & Workshops | Bead Fest | Jewelry Classes | Show Calendar | Search for Products & Suppliers | Classified Ad Deals | Advertising Rates & Information | Media Reviews | Store - Books & Back Issues | Contact Us | Links | Site Map
About Us | Subscribe to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist | Subscription Customer Service/Account Lookup Contact
us. |
In the June 1954 issue of Lapidary Journal, a contest was presented to the readers to give the following cartoon a funny caption:
