Category: 1940s

Sadie Hawkins Glory

1943 Recall

I have enough 1940s yearbooks to confirm that Sadie Hawkins dances, based on the then-popular L’il Abner strip, were a HUGE DEAL. Nowadays, not so much. In fact, my son’s high school had one scheduled earlier this month, and it was cancelled due to low ticket sales. Eight tickets, to be exact. And keep in mind, all the other dances have been packed.

What does that say about today’s youth? Aren’t women enlightened enough to ask boys to the dance? That’s the whole point of it. Or is it an outdated concept altogether, since boys now ask boys and girls ask girls? Every high school around here has its share of transgender kids who were named Katie in 8th grade and now go by Collin. Or perhaps teens just don’t like donning hillbilly garb–although I think they nixed that part long ago. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen anyone in overalls in a few decades.

In any event, the times sure have changed.

1943 Campus Cuties

’43 Cactus

I’m guessing this was taken at a Mexican restaurant that happened to have a tree inside it.

Can you imagine a 19-year-old dressing like this for a track meet?

Even minus the heels, in penny loafers and socks, Betty is dressed to impress.

Surely those soldiers were trying not to stare at Trebie.

Budgie knew how to hit the books.

Pat re-enacted her Gone With The Wind fantasy.

These fellows tried to get their attention after the photo shoot. Good luck!

Getting Old Beats The Alternative

Mrs. TJ Vaughn (Horace’s Aunt Cap) Dec 49, San Antone

1935 San Antone

Cactus 1978
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Cactus 79-Pioneer Farm Fall Fest, Eula Denver
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Getting Cheeky

credit: Peter Martin

Ladies use to LOSE THEIR MINDS over Frank Sinatra back when Old Blue Eyes was a lithe young crooner. Swooning bobby-soxers did not concern themselves with invading his personal space, as you can see in this 1943 image. I can’t imagine interrupting a celebrity to ask for an autograph or a selfie; I find that incredibly tacky and self-serving. So the thought of planting a kiss on The Chairman of the Board, basically attacking his face, disturbs me.

Let him come to you.

giphy.com

Flu Season

LIFE: A Century of Change

No, these women aren’t sick; they’re aspiring “counter girls.” You know, the ones at department stores, trying to sell you overpriced cosmetics. These ladies are just a few of the 2,500 women that took Helena Rubinstein’s 1941 one-week “epidermal consultant” training course. Here, they are learning the art of dabbing a powder puff.

Dandified First Mate

National Geographic 1/49

“Dandified first mate” are the words printed in the magazine, and you can see why. He’s getting the full diva treatment. Stephen Johnson receives a shave by Louise Stewart, and gets his nails done by Meg Young. Arthur Johnson (far right) turned 12 that day, and faced a rather odd visual of impending manhood.

Aboard the same Brigantine Yankee‘s deck, more grooming takes place, as Miss Booth gives Alan Pierce a haircut out in the fresh sunshine.

Meanwhile, Miss Stewart knits, and Mrs. Johnson eats her banana.

You Must Never Break The Chain

Miami Herald

With so many men overseas during WWII, women filled the vacancies in a number of jobs, including painting power poles for Florida Power and Light. In Reminisce: Pictures from the Past, the husband of Virginia Kompe (right) explains how Virginia and her sister, Shirley, spent the winter of late ’44 into early ’45 “raising ladders and hoisting the housings for the bases of the poles. They also served as grunts for the linemen.”