[Ads-l] Vanity project (1961)

[Bonnie Taylor-Blake]

I'm surprised that "vanity project" isn't to be found in the OED or other
online dictionaries. (In fact, it doesn't look like OED has anything for
the adjectival form of "vanity.") Or have I missed this? Seems to me that
"vanity project" deserves an entry somewhere, especially given its obvious,
timely relevance for the District of Columbia.

I'm not proud, so I'm relying on Zip Recruiter (!) to provide what I think
is a good definition, at least of current use.

"Vanity projects are endeavors, typically in the arts, entertainment, or
business, that are undertaken primarily to fulfill the personal interests,
ambitions, or ego of the individual or organization funding the project,
rather than to achieve commercial success or meet a genuine market need."
(From
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/e/Vanity-Projects-What-are-Vanity-Projects)

I've listed a few early appearances of "vanity project" below, though some
may be worthy of bracketed use. Surely the term's formation was influenced
by the earlier "vanity book," "vanity press," and "vanity publisher."

-- Bonnie

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Both of these works were "vanity" projects subsidized by the citizens whose
biographies were printed therein, and little attention was given to
historical accuracy.

["Classic Area History Is Reproduced," Santa Barbara News-Press, 19 March
1961, p. B-12;
https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-barbara-news-press-vanity-project/201816491/
.]

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Let's forget our costly vanity project for a new Court House, but try
getting new factories in town so that we can have more employment, which
stimulates business for everybody.

["Less To Repair Roof Build A New Building," a letter to the editor, Daily
Herald-Telephone (Bloomington), 28 November 1961, p. 8;
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-times-vanity-project-11281/201816718/

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Vanity Project -- Or How To Have Mission at 65 [headline]

[Thomas Collins, "The Golden Years" column, The Sentinel-Record (Hot
Springs, Arkansas), 19 July 1964, p. 22; Via Genealogybank.com. Collins
interviews a recently retired fellow who's compiling a personal history
involving newspaper clippings documenting his life. A bracketed use, then,
I think.]

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Our next illustration represents quite the opposite, a vanity project
conceived to assist a developing nation in the assertion of her
technological "place in the sun," and subject to all the ills such a
program is heir to.

[Melvin Walter Wachs, "The Forge of Power: American International Science
Policy and Its Administration," American University, 1968, p. 206; Via
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.]

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If you feel that you have writing talent and no one will publish your book,
there are certainly publishers who will publish you if you pay heartily ...
Please remember however that this is a "vanity" project as almost never do
you get back more than a few dollars.

[Gene Brown, "About Town" column, The News-Times (Danbury, Connecticut), 24
December 1968, p. 6;
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-times-vanity-project-1224196/201817307/
.]

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Such books, labors of love -- if not "vanity" projects -- usually are
beautifully printed, lavishly illustrated and real treasure troves of
information on the subject at hand.

[Lettie Gudmestad, "Pottery as a Labor of Love," Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, 25 November 1973, p. 143 (Arts Magazine section); via
geneaologybank.com.]

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If the President of Pongoland needs a considerable sum, he makes it
imperiously clear that it must be provided without strings. The historic
pride of his nation (invented the year before) will brook no outside
interference. Any attempt to ensure that half the aid will not be stolen
and the other half squandered on vanity projects is branded as
neocolonialism.

[Colm Brogan, "Whatever became of Economic Man?," The Daily Telegraph
(London), 17 February 1969, p. 14;
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-vanity-project-217/201817380/

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"The Wrong Damn Movie" was produced, directed, written and edited by Carson
Davidson. He's also distributing it himself. It looks like a vanity project.

[Vincent Canby, "Screen: Sight-Gag Satire; 'Wrong Damn Film,' at Screening
Room," The New York Times, 11 March 1975, p. 26; Via Proquest Historical
Newspapers.]

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