Turn On

Today in 1910 neon lights are first revealed to the public at the Paris Auto Show. And, when I think of lights, neon or otherwise, I think of Broadway, where on this date in 1947 the Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire premieres at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (it runs for 855 performances). Speaking of runs and performances — on this day in 1967 a fancy cousin to the streetcar, the luxury train 20th Century Limited, rides the rails from New York to Chicago for the very last time.

Marlon Brando — who played the animalistic, sexually charismatic, "primal brute" Stanley Kowalski, both in the play and later in the film version — popularized the T-shirt (beginning with his Broadway role) as apparel to be worn as a sexy, stand-alone, outer-wear garment. It was originally issued by the U.S. Navy (around 1913) as a crew-necked, short sleeved, white cotton undershirt, to wear beneath a uniform.

This fitted T — the entire B'way offerings are here — would have looked quite fetching on Marlon Brando but then again anything would have draped appealingly on the physique he had at the time. The shirt is from the Streets of New York zone within the USA section of the World of Signs CafePress.com shop. Wear where you're at, or have been or want to be.

[To purchase items click on the photograph or colored text links.]