The twisted exposed wiring was pretty common back in the day.
This example is still live (230V) and used pretty much daily (light switch for an enclosed porch).
Blends right in with the door frame, doesn't it?
The wooden wiremold seems to have been more of a UK/Ireland thing, sometimes it can still be found, such as in the Belfast Hostel Paddy's Palace in 2008:
As you can see, the electricians didn't want to touch the plaster crown moulding and just ran the individual conductors exposed.