Manitou Springs, Colorado Firemen are Union Suit Fans !

Members of the Manitou Springs, Colorado Fire Department
participate wearing their long red underwear in the
Emma Crawford Coffin Race held every October

THE END

Union Suits - YesterYear 
Astronaut Underwear 

Mercury 7 Astronauts in Union Suits
and Homemade Garments - Survival Training

 America's first astronauts: Walter M. Schirra Jr. , Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, John H. Glenn Jr., Scott Carpenter, Alan B. Shepard Jr.  (middle), Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom and L. Gordon Cooper. Image credit: NASA 

Astronauts Made Outer Clothing Out of Parachutes 

The selected seven astronauts go through survival training in the Nevada desert. The astronauts were left there for four days in just their union suits and boots with a mock-up of a Mercury spacecraft, a parachute and a survival scenario. Image credit: NASA.

The Mercury Program was the beginning of United States’ manned, exploration of space. The seven men chosen to be the first astronauts came from many different backgrounds, but soon would become heroes of their country and the world. The men went through a meticulous selection process and a very vigorous and fast paced training program. All of the astronauts, except for one, flew in the Mercury missions and returned to Earth safely. These men were the first test subjects for flights to the Moon, and in the future, Mars and beyond.

On Monday April 27, 1959, the seven astronauts began their training. In 1960, the astronauts spent four days in desert survival training. This was incorporated into their training program because of the remote possibility they could land in Africa. This training was completed at Stead Air Force Base near Reno, Nevada. During this training, they were left in only their long underwear to learn how to “protect themselves from the sun, how to utilize the limited water supply, and to build clothing and shelter from their parachutes” 

To this day, astronauts wear a type of Union Suit under their space suits.

Thanks to Rich of Buffalo, NY, Union Suit Fan, for this topic contribution!

Richie Cunningham: Union Suit Fan  

In a 1975 Happy Days second season episode, entitled "Cruisin", Richie (Ron Howard) and his friends bet their nemesis that they could come up with dates by midnight. 

If not, they agreed to run around Mel's Diner in only their underwear. In due course, the boys lose the wager. Richie figured that they would lose their bet. He strips down to his union suit which he had worn for their cool late night run. The other boys strip to the boxer shorts they were wearing. And the fun began:

The Boys are made to  Strip to Their Underwear!

Notice the Boys' Argyle Socks,
Typical of the Day

Fortunately, Richie Remembered to Button
the Flap to his Union Suit!

The Boys Finish Their Underwear Run

             Our Gang - Union Suit Fans

Alfalfa loses his boxer shorts to Butch in a rip-roaring boxing match!  He must then finish the fight in just his long-handled Union Suit! Photos are from 1938's "Came the Brawn."

Carl Dean Switzer 
(August 7, 1927 – January 21, 1959) 
One of Our Gang's most popular characters

   

Poster Announcing the Big Contest

Thanks to Hal Roach Studios

Thanks to Russell of Hays, Kansas 
for sending me this poster:
(March 1, 2017)

         Union Suits - YesterYear

Duofold of Mohawk, New York Ad:

Union Suits - Yesteryear is a new post category that I will be adding to this Blog from time to time. Articles, photographs, and advertisements from yesteryear.