The House of Googie

At long last, it's now possible to load up on as much Guinness as possible in Dublin and Shannon, and by the time you land in Boston, you've sobered up enough to hit the pubs all over again.

Owing to a certain disagreement currently taking place in the Middle East, let us look back to the 1940s for ideas on how we might conserve much-needed fuel oils.

For you "A" drivers, you get 2-4 gallons a week, mind how you go. "B" drivers, you get 8-10 gallons a week, but you have to share your car (and your horrific music tastes) with all sorts of people. "C" drivers can have all you like, but you'd better be delivering babies, parcels, or telegrams. Motorcycle drivers with "D" stickers may wish to consider swapping the engine out for pedals and chains, and pedalling for victory. Oh, and if you have more than five tyres, you're not getting a drop until you give your spares to Uncle Sam, you filthy hoarder.

Those of you with huge trucks, SUVs, and V8 engines would be recommended to shop for more economical cars, but all vehicle sales were halted at the start of 1942, so you'd better find a bus or stick to that 35 mph speed limit.

All Aboard Bassethound!

It's a new year, so make it your resolution to travel across America by bus this year! Unlike your other resolutions to lose weight and give up those disgusting vices you have, this is one that you really should break. You'll find them across all 48 states (Rhode Island and Utah should consider themselves lucky), just show a bit of leg if you want the driver to stop. The buses may or may not stop, may or may not arrive, and may or may not contain all the parts they left with, but hey, it's not like you have much choice. Consider it public transport as an endurance sport.

Get Your Kicks in 1966!

The end of the year normally means farewelling the old and welcoming the new, but at the House of Googie, we farewell the old and welcome in the even older.

This coming year is a special one for one particularly notable 2,448-mile strip of asphalt: 2026 marks the centennial year of Route 66, the great Mother Road of America. There will be plenty of celebrations leading up to the big day on November 11, but if you get the chance to travel along the road next year, be sure to raise a glass to America's most famous highway (but not if you're driving, wait until you pull in to one of the roadside motels first).

There's Nothing Like Nylon for Christmas

At this time of year, it is only natural for thoughts to turn to that most traditional of Christmas staples: nylon. It helped win the war, so it's good enough to clad your entire family in. Just remember not to stand too close to the heater.

Googiemas 2025 is brought to you by our dear friends at Du Fectiv, America's most trusted*, honest*, and reputable* industrial conglomerate, and winners of the Du Fectiv Award for Corporate Excellence from 1935-1967 and 1969-2025 (don't ask about what happened in ’68). Rumours of backroom negotiations between Du Fectiv and The House of Googie for this year's choice of advertisement are base slander, and our lawyers will be in touch.

Of course, Christmas Day means it's time for this year's Googiemas ad, and while it's getting harder to find good ones to work with each year, this 1950 ad from DuPont felt ripe for some silliness. What could possibly be more festive than a lady showing off her bestockinged leg? Don't tell me, I don't want to know.

Merry Christmas everyone, and may you enjoy the snappy style of nylon clothing, as well as the snap of the static electricity you'll be building up when you put it on and take it off.