The 50s and 60s Were a Lawless Wasteland of Crimes Against the Culinary Arts

Author image for John Summers
John Summers • Contributor
Feb 6, 2025 10:00 PM EST

I'm not judging. To each their own. Different people like different things. Now that I've gotten that out of the way—I am very much judging these dishes. Some of the culinary "masterpieces" that came out of the 50s and 60s are so horrifying they belong in a crime documentary. If I were ever served any of these at a dinner party, I would calmly set down my fork, stand up, and leave without a word. Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic. We all have that one aunt who insists on making that one dish no one has the heart to tell her is terrible. But come on—Tuna and Pear Pizza? Prune and Marshmallow Coupe? Mousse of Chicken Liver?! Why? Why make any of these?

And while some of these recipes don't sound all that bad on paper, the final presentation looks like something out of a fever dream. Maybe it's the vintage photography and early printing techniques that make these gelatin-drenched monstrosities look extra cursed, but maybe—just maybe—it's just really, really bad food. Brace yourself, because we're about to take a deep dive into the most unhinged culinary crimes of the mid-20th century.

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  • 01
    TUNA AND PEAR PIZZA PARTY FARE 2 CARD 21 Photograph by courtesy of Fruit Producers Council B
    via FAUST44
  • 02
    CHILDREN'S FAVORITES 12n HOT TUNA AND EGG BUNS EL McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
    via FAUST44
  • 03
    Budget Best Bets FRANKFURTER SPECTACULAR |11 Weight Watchers Recipe Cards
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  • 04
    IMPROMPTU PARTY FARE 5 CRUSTY SALMON SHORTCAKES 9-T The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library
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  • 05
    HURRY-UP MAIN DISHES 21 CHERRY PINEAPPLE BOLOGNA 9-S The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library
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  • 06
    PRUNE AND MARSHMALLOW COUPE Photograph by courtesy of California Prune Advisory Bureau PICNICS CARD 27
    via FAUST44
  • 07
    VEGETABLE-BURGER CUPS FOR THE MICROWAVE OVEN 32 J
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    Rhubarb and Desserts, Puddings Card 6522 Yogurt Flummery and Ice Creams Card 65. MCMLXXXIV MY GREAT RECIPES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN HOLLAND
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    PARTY PICNIC LOAF PICNICS CARD 14
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  • 10
    CREAMED LIVER LOAF PICNICS 2 CARD 16
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  • 11
    MILK CHICKEN POULTRY AND GAME CARD 2
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  • 12
    CHICKEN CHAUD-FROID SALAD SALADS AND VEGETABLES CARD 12
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    PRESSED BRISKET OF BEEF BEEF CARD 30
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    HERRING SALAD SALADS AND VEGETABLES CARD 1
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  • 15
    JELLIED GAZPACHO SOUPS AND SNACKS CARD 13
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  • 16
    ELAROO APRICOT GLAZED GAMMON Photograph by courtesy of Australian Recipe Service VEAL AND BACON CARD 24
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  • 17
    BACON FRUIT KEBABS VEAL AND BACON CARD 30 Photograph by courtesy of South African Deciduous Fruits
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  • 18
    BEAN AND SAUSAGE TOURNEDOS SUPPER DISHES CARD 22
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    SAVOURY BOXES SOUPS AND SNACKS CARD 24
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  • 20
    EASY SAUERKRAUT MOLD 8 0 INVITING VEGETABLE SALADS Easy Sauerkraut Mold is made with lemon-flavored gelatin, and includes canned sauerkraut, green onion tops, and pimiento distributed through- out. Use a kitchen scissors to easily cut through the sauerkraut while it is still in the can. Serve the salad with horseradish-seasoned mayonnaise. BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS® RECIPE CARD LIBRARY
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  • 21
    Split-Shift Specials 215 MEAT LOAF AND DILLED LIMAS To unmold, first loosen edges of meat mixture with spatula. 8 Tap inverted mold sharply on the bottom of a jelly roll pan. Betty Crocker's Step-by-Step Recipes
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  • 22
    Zucchini-Tomato Salads and Molds Their Dressings Card 88 2 MCMLXXXIV MY GREAT RECIPES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN HOLLAND
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  • 23
    CREAMY FRUIT SALAD The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library
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  • 24
    FLORENTINE RING FISH CARD 26
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  • 25
    CURRIED EGG PIE SUPPER DISHES CARD 32
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  • 26
    PLAICE AND CUCUMBER ROLLS FISH CARD 16
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  • 27
    BEEF IN ASPIC BEEF CARD 32
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  • 28
    CALIFORNIAN BEEF OLIVES CASSEROLES CARD 14
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  • 29
    SAUSAGE BOATEES EGG AND CHEESE DISHES CARD 28
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  • 30
    DANISH LIVER PATE MEAL STARTERS CARD 8
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  • 31
    HAKE WITH TOMATO AND CAPER SAUCE CASSEROLE DISHES 2 CARD 11 Photograph by courtesy of White Fish Kitchen
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  • 32
    Make-Ahead Main Dishes VERSATILE CHICKEN IN ASPIC 22 Weight Watchers Recipe Cards
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  • 33
    Parsleyed Ham Pork Card 73 12 ©MCMLXXXV MY GREAT RECIPES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN HOLLAND,
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  • 34
    BUDGET STRETCHERS 4i BAKED TUNA-STUFFED POTATOES McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
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  • 35
    MEMORABLE SUMMER MEALS 16q PRUNE-STUFFED ROAST PORK McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
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  • 36
    CONTEMPORARY COOKING 130 MOUSSAKA-IN-A-HURRY McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
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  • 37
    PRUNE WHIP OUR RICH HERITAGE 16a McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
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  • 38
    SATURDAY NIGHT PARTIES MOUSSE OF CHICKEN LIVERS 13d McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
    via FAUST44

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