CLIFFS: Black Beauties were basically Adderall.

"Black beauty" was a drug street-name used in the '60s and '70s to refer to a pill of pharmaceutical amphetamine (aka speed). Strictly speaking, a black beauty was a tablet of Biphetamine, manufactured by Strasenburgh Labs, then Pennwalt Corporation, and finally Fisons Corporation, before finally being pulled from the market in 1998. Chemically speaking, it was composed of an even, racemic mixture of dextro- and levo- amphetamine, very similar to today's Adderall. Contrary to what other definitions might say, both the d- and l- isomers of amphetamine are active and "fun." In fact, while d-amp is technically the stronger isomer, the racemic d/l mixtures are actually more stimulating, more abusable, and create more of a drug "high."

The term "black beauty" was also extended to include Biphetamine-T, which was a ridiculously abusable mixture of the aforementioned amphetamines, plus methaqualone (aka Quaalude). Both Biphetamine mixtures were available in 12.5mg and 20mg tablets.

Black Beauties were popular in the 60s and 70s, especially following post-war eras, when it stopped being shipped to our soldiers overseas and suddenly built up as a surplus on the home front. This amphetamine surplus eventually trickled out onto the streets where it was consumed recreationally. Amphetamines were not made illegal to buy without a prescription until 1965, so amphetamine use at the time was widely considered a cheap, legal alternative to cocaine, and its abuse wasn't considered taboo. It wasn't uncommon for housewives of the '50s and '60s to secretly pop speed pills and proceed to go on marathon 8-hour cleaning sessions. Amphetamine use continued rather uninhibited until that asshole Nixon came into office and passed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 (aka the law under which all street drugs are now illegal) and "The War on Drugs" was born. Pharmaceutical amphetamine abuse dwindled after that, and all the speed pills of the '60s and '70s began to disappear off the market. By the late '90s, most pills were just a distant memory. Of course, the past decade has brought a sudden rash of ADD/ADHD cases (or diagnoses rather), so now we're in the middle of a new speed "epidemic." Kids everywhere are once again abusing uppers (Ritalin/Adderall/Dexedrine) just like your parents abused black beauties in the early '70s.
The term "black beauties" specifically refers to Biphetamine, but more loosely refers to the myriad of amphetamine combo pills that your hippie parents abused when they were young. The definition can be further loosened to include the amphetamine + barbituate combos of the day. Fun notables include Desbutal (methamphetamine + pentobarbital) and Dexamyl (dex-amphetamine + amobarbital). With the modern-day legal crackdown on amphetamines, and the near complete extinction of barbituates (after the introduction of benzos), all these wildly abusable pills have ceased to exist, and remain only as figments of your parents' memories.
by Getting High September 12, 2009
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Methamphetamine and typically a short acting barbiturate. Was fairly more common in the 50s and 60s. Not as much anymore, often times will stay focused on one task (Methamphetamine), and is extemely hard to distrub that task (Methampetamine + Barbiturate).
Back in the day, my grandfather used to work in orchards picking fruit and didn't care about anything... I think it was the black beauties.
by Reo The Eagle November 23, 2005
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Black Beauties (also known as Black Birds or Black Bombers) are a combination of Amphetamine (Speed) and Dextroamphetamine (Active salt in Adderall). Pills are typically 20 milligrams. Effects include a mild to moderate euphoria, increased hyperactivity, increased awareness of surroundings, increased intrest in repetitive or normally boring activities, decreased apetite, and decreased ability to sleep. The added dextroamphetamine reduces comedown effects compared to amphetamine alone, but not to the extent of methamphetamine.
Black beauties were the drug of choice for truck drivers during the late 60's and early 70's, prior to the advent of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine became popular because drivers had the ability to sleep after the drug's effects wore off.
by Reed December 9, 2006
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A horse with a diamond in his forehead, and a white leg. He has a ridiculously long story about him
"Why, Black Beauty! Do you know me? It's Joe, the stable boy from Squire Gordon's place."
by Jennifer Caswell June 5, 2017
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A 50's custom Gibson Les Paul with 3 humbuckers and gold hardware. One was used by Jimmy Page, but was stoled at a gig and never retrieved.
A Black Beauty is one of Gibson's best guitars.
by fecal matter February 2, 2005
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ephedrin tablets that are black and blue, similar to yellow jackets. known to cause severe heart problems, but hey they keep you more awake than addherol! they were recently outlawed after several people died of heart complications.
K:I drove 15 hours to Texas
M:How'd you do it?
K: I had me some black beauties, and some riddalin.
by Kat November 21, 2004
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A large dump that is so dark that it looks black. Usually caused by eating a bunch of shitty food for many days. It is best taken in a portable shitter so that everyone can admire it.
Wow, have you been to the outhouse? After 4 days of kampin' Lance really took a Black Beauty.
by kampinmofos July 16, 2010
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