One thing about personal ads that hasn’t changed since at least the 1860s is the “chance encounter” or “missed connection.” “If the lady who, from an omnibus, smiled on a gentleman with a bunch of bananas in his hand, as he crossed Wall street, corner of Broadway, will address X., box 6735 Post office, she will confer a favor.” Bader also digs up choice Mark Twain responses: “There seems to be a pack of wooden-headed louts about this town who fall in love with every old strumpet who smiles a flabby smile at them in a street car, and forthwith they pop a personal into the Herald.”
Years later, only the method has changed. The strumpets still smile at the louts, and the louts, ever hopeful, post an ad on craigslist.
On the Web
Sarah Bader's Classified Archive: http://www.classifiedarchive.org
Related:
It’s all true, The ProJo's brave new world, The numbers may not add up for Cianci’s return to talk radio, More 
- It’s all true
Here’s a selection of non-fiction books that the Phoenix liked this year, in alphabetical order by author.
- The ProJo's brave new world
The Providence Journal is turning to an unlikely source — high school football — for help.
- The numbers may not add up for Cianci’s return to talk radio
Rhode Islanders are clearly curious about the former mayor of Providence after his five years in the slammer.
- 19. Judd Apatow and Friends
In their non-probing, unprovocative films, the characters this Hollywood comedic mafia chooses to celebrate are homely, smoke a lot of pot, and watch way too much porn. We get it. Yes, Apatow, Seth Rogen, and Jonah Hill aren’t exactly anyone’s dream dates based on physical attributes alone. But we saved a special unsexy spot for this threesome based on the inescapable fact that we’re completely sick of getting inundated with their repetitive shtick. Apatow gets bonus unsexy points for the right-wing current bubbling beneath his flicks.
- Funny numbers
Maine spends more than two million dollars a year advertising our scenery to out-of-staters. Visit Maine: Tourism promotion’s cozy—and now hot—world. By Lance Tapley
- British Advertising Films of 2005
American advertising agencies don’t trust the intelligence of their audiences. Or so you’ll conclude when you see how the Brits do TV commercials.
- Debating pointers
Well, folks, Fox 25 certainly set the bar with its debate broadcast Monday night, don’t you think? So with that in mind, here are some helpful hints for the bake-offs to come. Blue Mass Group's anti-Healey ad (YouTube) Christy Mihos's Big Dig TV ad
- Mihosed
The problem with gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos’s television spots is, they’re not kinky enough.
- The WRKO shuffle
No Boston media institution is more unstable these days than WRKO Radio.
- British Advertising Films of 2007
Each year these commercials show an engagement with global culture and commerce.
- Flashbacks: September 14, 2006
These selections, culled from our back files, were compiled by Ian Sands.
- Less
Topics:
Books
, Media, Mammals, Nature and the Environment, More
, Media, Mammals, Nature and the Environment, Wildlife, Advertising, Mark Twain, Classified Advertising, Less
