Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia The Slate Culture Gift Guide
Nov 12, 2025
Delve into the charm and quirks of holiday gift guides, tracing their evolution from early 1900s catalogs to modern selections. Hosts share unique gift inspirations, like fruit-themed homewares and cozy movie night essentials. They analyze the nostalgia of mid-20th-century illustrated guides and discuss the allure of printed catalogs today. Highlights include recommendations for a Beatles box set and whimsical decorative candles. The conversation blends humor and insightful commentary, making gift-giving feel both delightful and culturally significant.
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Gift Guides Are Both Cultural And Commercial
- Gift guides mix genuine curatorial love with clear commercial incentives like affiliate links and ads.
- Willa Paskin and Dana Stevens note the form is old but amplified by the internet, creating ambivalence.
A Gift Guide Saved His Christmas
- Chris Molanphy recounts being saved by a gift guide that solved last-minute shopping panic a few years ago.
- He used an idea from that guide to buy gifts when he was close to Christmas.
Gift Guides Have Deep Department-Store Roots
- Early 20th-century gift guides were department-store advertorials that closely resemble today's catalogs.
- Willa and Dana show the continuity between illustrated store catalogs and modern curated guides.
