Read a Highly Distressing Coloring Book from 1953

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THE point of this colouring book was to teach the youngsters of 1953 good safety lessons via the alphabet.  From a perspective of 60 years later, some of these lessons seem, well, I think “distressing” is the best word I can come up with. See for yourself.

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This one isn’t particularly bad – I show it to you so you’ll have an idea how this book is arranged.  For each letter of the alphabet, the folks at Star publications deliver a nice little message of safety.  This one teaches kids that killing Native Americans is fun.

 

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According to this charming colouring book, “Goof” will soon be taking his lunches from a straw.  Yet, as troubling as Goof’s imminent demise is, nothing beats this next one….

 

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Did this coloring book really just call this kid an idiot?  We’re so much more sensitive to a child’s delicate feelings these days, that simply would never fly in 2014.  Just be glad I didn’t show you the previous page: “‘H’ stands for ‘Horrible Retard'”.

 

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Ride Hooking!!  You mean this was a thing?  I grew up in the 1970s; a time when seat belts were generally buried within the crevices of the backseat and never used.  Even then,  the idea of transportation via bumper would have been a tad extreme.

 

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Yeesh.  They may as well have said that “U is for Undertaker”.  I don’t know about you, but it looks to me like Sissy is about to straight up die.

 

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Our coloring book certainly has taken a macabre turn.  As if the “U” wasn’t troubling enough – now we’re staring death directly in the eyes.   For the next colouring book I recommend “C is for Charred Remains” and “S is for Stomach Pump”.

Well, that’s all the morbid coloring pages I can handle for today.  Until next ti – wait… Don’t do it, Timmy! STOP!!!

 

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