Charles Nessler is usually credited with inventing the permanent wave in the early 1900s. And he made a huge fortune from it, while also bolstering a huge beauty industry.

Research:
Bedi, Joyce. “GERMANY | Charles (Karl) Nessler.” Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. June 3, 2021. https://invention.si.edu/node/29205/p/732-germany-charles-karl-nessler
Hellman, Geoffrey T. “Profiles: Hair Scientist.” The New Yorker. April 29, 1933. https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1933-04-29/flipbook/020/
Larkin, Theresa. “From straight to curly, thick to thin: Here's how hormones and chemotherapy can change your hair.” MedicalExpress. Jan. 14, 2024. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-straight-curly-thick-thin-hormones.html
“115 Years of Long-Lasting Curls: The History and Rebirth of the Perm.” Estetica Magazine. Feb. 8, 2022. https://www.esteticamagazine.com/2022/02/08/111-years-of-long-lasting-curls-the-history-and-rebirth-of-the-perm/
Marsden, Rhodri. “Rhodri Marsden's Interesting Objects: The Nessler Permanent Wave Machine.” The Independent. Oct. 9, 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/rhodri-marsden-s-interesting-objects-the-nessler-permanent-wave-machine-a6674081.html
“Modern Living: The Great Wave.” Time. Feb. 5, 1951. https://time.com/archive/6825188/modern-living-the-great-wave/
Morton, Ella. “The Alarming Aesthetics of Jazz Age Perm Machines.” Atlas Obscura. Aug. 2, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-alarming-aesthetics-of-jazz-age-perm-machines
Nessler, Charles. “The Story of Hair.” New York. Bonni and Liveright. 1928.
Nessler, Charles. “A New or Improved Method of and Means for the Manufacture of Artificial Eyebrows, Eyelashes and the like.” UK Patent Office. Accessed via Google: https://patents.google.com/patent/GB190218723A/en
“Nessler, Invented Permanent Wave.” New York Times. January 24, 1951. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/01/24/88426426.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“A Revolutionst Dies.” Life Magazine. Feb. 5, 1951. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=50sEAAAAMBAJ&q=nestler#v=onepage&q=nessler&f=false
Sheen, Maureen. “Story of Us, 1910-1920: Do the Wave.” American Salon. Jan. 20, 2016. https://www.americansalon.com/products/story-us-1910-1920-do-wave

Charles Nessler is usually credited with inventing the permanent wave in the early 1900s. And he made a huge fortune from it, while also bolstering a huge beauty industry.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Bedi, Joyce. “GERMANY | Charles (Karl) Nessler.” Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. June 3, 2021. https://invention.si.edu/node/29205/p/732-germany-charles-karl-nessler</li>
<li>Hellman, Geoffrey T. “Profiles: Hair Scientist.” The New Yorker. April 29, 1933. https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1933-04-29/flipbook/020/</li>
<li>Larkin, Theresa. “From straight to curly, thick to thin: Here's how hormones and chemotherapy can change your hair.” MedicalExpress. Jan. 14, 2024. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-straight-curly-thick-thin-hormones.html</li>
<li>“115 Years of Long-Lasting Curls: The History and Rebirth of the Perm.” Estetica Magazine. Feb. 8, 2022. https://www.esteticamagazine.com/2022/02/08/111-years-of-long-lasting-curls-the-history-and-rebirth-of-the-perm/</li>
<li>Marsden, Rhodri. “Rhodri Marsden's Interesting Objects: The Nessler Permanent Wave Machine.” The Independent. Oct. 9, 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/rhodri-marsden-s-interesting-objects-the-nessler-permanent-wave-machine-a6674081.html</li>
<li>“Modern Living: The Great Wave.” Time. Feb. 5, 1951. https://time.com/archive/6825188/modern-living-the-great-wave/</li>
<li>Morton, Ella. “The Alarming Aesthetics of Jazz Age Perm Machines.” Atlas Obscura. Aug. 2, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-alarming-aesthetics-of-jazz-age-perm-machines</li>
<li>Nessler, Charles. “The Story of Hair.” New York. Bonni and Liveright. 1928.</li>
<li>Nessler, Charles. “A New or Improved Method of and Means for the Manufacture of Artificial Eyebrows, Eyelashes and the like.” UK Patent Office. Accessed via Google: https://patents.google.com/patent/GB190218723A/en</li>
<li>“Nessler, Invented Permanent Wave.” New York Times. January 24, 1951. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/01/24/88426426.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>“A Revolutionst Dies.” Life Magazine. Feb. 5, 1951. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=50sEAAAAMBAJ&amp;q=nestler#v=onepage&amp;q=nessler&amp;f=false</li>
<li>Sheen, Maureen. “Story of Us, 1910-1920: Do the Wave.” American Salon. Jan. 20, 2016. https://www.americansalon.com/products/story-us-1910-1920-do-wave</li>
</ul>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Charles Nessler’s Permanent Waves

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7882a1fd-b17d-49c3-bf5b-b1c80159261a/transcript

This 2019 episode covers F.W. Murnau, most well known for directing the first vampire film. But the German-born creator went on to make a number of influential films before his early death.

This 2019 episode covers F.W. Murnau, most well known for directing the first vampire film. But the German-born creator went on to make a number of influential films before his early death.

SYMHC Classics: F.W. Murnau

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a9b588de-495a-45d2-9fa9-b24d013fca61/transcript

Tracy and Holly discuss the seasonal nature of pumpkin spice, and medicinal uses of nutmeg. They then talk about artificial versus real Christmas trees.

Tracy and Holly discuss the seasonal nature of pumpkin spice, and medicinal uses of nutmeg. They then talk about artificial versus real Christmas trees.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Pumpkin Spice Christmas

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This episode looks at the early days of Christmas trees, the origin of glass ornaments, and the practice of mounting lit candles on trees before electric bulbs were invented. 

Research:

·     “36 Perish as Party Guests Stampede to Flee Flames.” The Minneapolis Star. Dec 25, 1924. https://www.newspapers.com/image/178762039/ 

·     “Accident From a Christmas Tree.” The Morning Post. Jan 11, 1850. https://www.newspapers.com/image/402121758/?match=1&terms=%22christmas%20tree%22%20Victoria

·     Barnes, Allison. “The First Christmas Tree. History Today. December 12, 2006. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/first-christmas-tree

·     Brittain, J. E.  "John R. Crouse and the Society for Electrical Development [Scanning the Past]." Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 86, no. 12, pp. 2475-2477, Dec. 1998. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/735455

·     Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Woolworth Co.." Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Nov. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/money/Woolworth-Co

·     “A Christmas tree candle set fire … “ The Jersey City News. Jan. 9, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image/856106974/?match=1&terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire

·     Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, and Ernest Hartley Coleridge, ed. “LETTERS OF
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.” London. William Heinemann. 1895. Accessed online: https://gutenberg.org/files/44553/44553-h/44553-h.htm

·     Flander, Judith. “Christmas: A Biography.” Thomas Dunne Books. 2017.

·     Foyle, Jonathan. “The Business of Baubles – and the Town That Invented Them.” Financial Times. Dec. 19, 2014. https://www.ft.com/content/ce33a468-812a-11e4-b956-00144feabdc0

·     “Glass Christmas Ornaments.” The German Way. https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/christmas/glass-christmas-ornaments/

·     Loud, Nicholas. “The History of Christmas Decorations in America.” Saturday Evening Post. December 2020. https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2020/12/the-history-of-christmas-decorations-in-america/

·     Lorch, Mark. “The Forgotten Scientist Who Made Modern Christmas Ornaments Possible.” Fast Company. Dec. 21, 2021. https://www.fastcompany.com/90707875/the-forgotten-scientist-who-made-modern-christmas-ornaments-possible

·     Malanowski, Jamie. “Untangling the History of Christmas Lights.” Smithsonian. December 2016. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/untangling-history-christmas-lights-180961140/

·     “No Christmas Tree Fires Are Reported Here.” Alton Evening Telegraph. Dec. 28. 1921. https://www.newspapers.com/image/19919324/?match=1&terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire

·     “A few years ago the caution …” Daily Plainsman. Dec. 12, 1929. https://www.newspapers.com/image/23432095/?match=1&terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire

·     “Christmas Tree Candles – Fire.” The Courier-Journal of Louisville. Jan. 05, 1909. https://www.newspapers.com/image/119330231/?match=1&terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire

·     “The Christmas Tree at Windsor Castle.” The Morning Post. Dec. 28, 1848. https://www.newspapers.com/image/402196932/?match=1&terms=%22christmas%20tree%22%20Victoria

·     “Feiker Takes Commerce Post.” New York Times. July 2, 1931. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/07/02/113339929.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0

·     “German Hospital, Dalston.” The Morning Post. Jan. 1, 1848. https://www.newspapers.com/image/402129709/?match=1&terms=%22christmas%20tree%22%20Victoria

·     Prior, Dr. M. Faye. “Trimming the Tree – Glass and metal Christmas tree decorations.” York Museum Trust. https://www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk/blog/trimming-the-tree-glass-and-metal-christmas-tree-decorations/

·     Roberts, Sam. “Si Spiegel, War Hero Who Modernized Christmas Trees, Dies at 99.” New York Times. Feb. 11, 2024.

·     Scinto, Madeleine. “Americans Are Spending A Whopping $6 Billion On Christmas Decorations This Year.” Business Insider. Dec. 7, 2011. https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-are-spending-a-record-6-billion-on-christmas-decorations-2011-12

·     Shapiro, Laurie Gwen. “He Bombed the Nazis, Outwitted the Soviets and Modernized Christmas.” New York Times. Dec. 17, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/17/nyregion/bomber-pilot-christmas-trees.html

·     Tikkanen, Amy. "How Did the Tradition of Christmas Trees Start? ". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Dec. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/story/how-did-the-tradition-of-christmas-trees-start

·     Waxman, Olivia B. “How Christmas Trees Became a Holiday Tradition.” TIME. Dec. 21, 2020. https://time.com/5736523/history-of-christmas-trees/

·     Waxman, Olivia B. “The Electricity Lobby Was Behind the First National Christmas Tree Lighting.” TIME. Dec. 1, 2016. https://time.com/4580764/national-christmas-tree-lighting-history-origins/

·     Waxman, Olivia B. “This Was the First Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.” TIME. Nov. 30, 2016. https://time.com/4578685/first-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lighting/

 

 

This episode looks at the early days of Christmas trees, the origin of glass ornaments, and the practice of mounting lit candles on trees before electric bulbs were invented.&nbsp;
Research:
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;36 Perish as Party Guests Stampede to Flee Flames.&rdquo; The Minneapolis Star. Dec 25, 1924. https://www.newspapers.com/image/178762039/&nbsp;
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Accident From a Christmas Tree.&rdquo; The Morning Post. Jan 11, 1850. https://www.newspapers.com/image/402121758/?match=1&amp;terms=%22christmas%20tree%22%20Victoria
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barnes, Allison. &ldquo;The First Christmas Tree. History Today. December 12, 2006. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/first-christmas-tree
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brittain, J. E.&nbsp; "John R. Crouse and the Society for Electrical Development [Scanning the Past]." Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 86, no. 12, pp. 2475-2477, Dec. 1998. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/735455
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia.&nbsp;"Woolworth Co.."&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica,&nbsp;30 Nov. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/money/Woolworth-Co
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;A Christmas tree candle set fire &hellip; &ldquo; The Jersey City News. Jan. 9, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image/856106974/?match=1&amp;terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, and Ernest Hartley Coleridge, ed. &ldquo;LETTERS OF SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.&rdquo; London. William Heinemann. 1895. Accessed online: https://gutenberg.org/files/44553/44553-h/44553-h.htm
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Flander, Judith. &ldquo;Christmas: A Biography.&rdquo; Thomas Dunne Books. 2017.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Foyle, Jonathan. &ldquo;The Business of Baubles &ndash; and the Town That Invented Them.&rdquo; Financial Times. Dec. 19, 2014. https://www.ft.com/content/ce33a468-812a-11e4-b956-00144feabdc0
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Glass Christmas Ornaments.&rdquo; The German Way. https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/christmas/glass-christmas-ornaments/
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loud, Nicholas. &ldquo;The History of Christmas Decorations in America.&rdquo; Saturday Evening Post. December 2020. https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2020/12/the-history-of-christmas-decorations-in-america/
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lorch, Mark. &ldquo;The Forgotten Scientist Who Made Modern Christmas Ornaments Possible.&rdquo; Fast Company. Dec. 21, 2021. https://www.fastcompany.com/90707875/the-forgotten-scientist-who-made-modern-christmas-ornaments-possible
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Malanowski, Jamie. &ldquo;Untangling the History of Christmas Lights.&rdquo; Smithsonian. December 2016. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/untangling-history-christmas-lights-180961140/
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;No Christmas Tree Fires Are Reported Here.&rdquo; Alton Evening Telegraph. Dec. 28. 1921. https://www.newspapers.com/image/19919324/?match=1&amp;terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;A few years ago the caution &hellip;&rdquo; Daily Plainsman. Dec. 12, 1929. https://www.newspapers.com/image/23432095/?match=1&amp;terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Christmas Tree Candles &ndash; Fire.&rdquo; The Courier-Journal of Louisville. Jan. 05, 1909. https://www.newspapers.com/image/119330231/?match=1&amp;terms=christmas%20tree%20candles%20fire
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;The Christmas Tree at Windsor Castle.&rdquo; The Morning Post. Dec. 28, 1848. https://www.newspapers.com/image/402196932/?match=1&amp;terms=%22christmas%20tree%22%20Victoria
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;Feiker Takes Commerce Post.&rdquo; New York Times. July 2, 1931. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/07/02/113339929.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &ldquo;German Hospital, Dalston.&rdquo; The Morning Post. Jan. 1, 1848. https://www.newspapers.com/image/402129709/?match=1&amp;terms=%22christmas%20tree%22%20Victoria
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prior, Dr. M. Faye. &ldquo;Trimming&nbsp;the Tree &ndash; Glass and metal Christmas tree decorations.&rdquo; York Museum Trust. https://www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk/blog/trimming-the-tree-glass-and-metal-christmas-tree-decorations/
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Roberts, Sam. &ldquo;Si Spiegel, War Hero Who Modernized Christmas Trees, Dies at 99.&rdquo; New York Times. Feb. 11, 2024.
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Scinto, Madeleine. &ldquo;Americans Are Spending A Whopping $6 Billion On Christmas Decorations This Year.&rdquo; Business Insider. Dec. 7, 2011. https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-are-spending-a-record-6-billion-on-christmas-decorations-2011-12
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shapiro, Laurie Gwen. &ldquo;He Bombed the Nazis, Outwitted the Soviets and Modernized Christmas.&rdquo; New York Times. Dec. 17, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/17/nyregion/bomber-pilot-christmas-trees.html
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tikkanen, Amy. "How Did the Tradition of Christmas Trees Start? ".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Dec. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/story/how-did-the-tradition-of-christmas-trees-start
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Waxman, Olivia B. &ldquo;How Christmas Trees Became a Holiday Tradition.&rdquo; TIME. Dec. 21, 2020. https://time.com/5736523/history-of-christmas-trees/
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Waxman, Olivia B. &ldquo;The Electricity Lobby Was Behind the First National Christmas Tree Lighting.&rdquo; TIME. Dec. 1, 2016. https://time.com/4580764/national-christmas-tree-lighting-history-origins/
&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Waxman, Olivia B. &ldquo;This Was the First Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.&rdquo; TIME. Nov. 30, 2016. https://time.com/4578685/first-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lighting/
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

This episode looks at the early days of Christmas trees, the origin of glass ornaments, and the practice of mounting lit candles on trees before electric bulbs were invented. 

Christmas Décor

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/77fc6a6d-797a-4775-a52e-b2480177de81/transcript

Charles Nessler’s Permanent Waves

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