Category: 1950s

“When Your Throat Feels Scratchy As An Old 78”

LIFE597Up003

LIFE597Up004

To be honest, I had a 7-Up for breakfast (my tummy was unsettled), and I have to say that this colorful ad was more refreshing than the actual drink. The taste was meh at best (fake lemon-limey), and several hours later, life is certainly not a song. Unless the song is that “I’d like to teach the world to sing” ditty for Coke. I drank a Coke for lunch and feel infinitely muchor mejor.

But this ad is such fun. Her sassy response to his implied inquiry (“Actually, I do know how to work the hi-fi, thank you…), the conversation behind closed doors, her poofy braid pony, the Glenn Miller album askew on the wall, his tolerant look (like he should just humor her until the sun goes down and it’s time to trade green soda bottles for brown Hamm’s beer bottles), how his wool sweater looks as scratchy as the throat the ad references, and all the woody orange-yellows! Cheers!

En Route To Inspiration Point

Pontiac Bonneville Convertible LIFE 1959
Pontiac Bonneville Convertible LIFE 1959

Such pretty blues. I really like the artwork on this one. I also enjoy how the ad boasts (with exclamation points) of its “perfect proportion,” “supple suspension,” and “swayless stability.” Somebody likes alliteration…

As Italian As Naples

GoodHousekeepingFeb58009

No need for expensive airfare or pushy bellhops when Chef Boy-Ar-Dee can transport you to Naples with its “zippy pizza sauce.” Go ahead and scratch the Amalfi Coast off your bucket list altogether. Why bother when you can taste Italy in your mouth?

Fun Fact #1

The company itself was founded back in 1928 by Italian immigrant Ettore “Hector” Boiardi in Cleveland, Ohio. You know, where Drew Carey is from. Taking note of Americans’ incapacity to pronounce highfalutin foreign words, Boiardi named his products Boy-Ar-Dee. Boy, are dey stoopid. 

Fun Fact #2:

http://www.chefboyardee.com/
http://www.chefboyardee.com/

Though he passed in 1985, his likeness remains on the cans to this day. Buon appetito!

Now My Phone Can Do This

Life Nov 4, 1966
Life Nov 4, 1966

In this pic, Guidance Counselor Homer Gammons (right) visits the lab of Western New England College, where municipal water problems are being studied on an analogue computer.

Actually, 50 years later, my phone may not be able to do that. What do I know?

The wisegeek.org tells me that an analog computer works in parallel, which means that it can carry out multiple tasks simultaneously. A digital computer, even though it may work considerably faster, can only perform one calculation at any one instant…The second difference is that an analog computer handles continuous variables, while a digital computer works with discrete numbers. The difference between these is that continuous variables can include every conceivable number, even irrational numbers, such as Π (pi).

That makes my head hurt. Here’s one used at NASA for space and stuff.

http://www.wisegeek.org/
http://www.wisegeek.org/

And this one was used for airplanes. Ain’t she sittin’ pretty?

http://vm136.lib.berkeley.edu/
http://vm136.lib.berkeley.edu/

“Huge Electronic Brain, ten tons of it, which is destined to monitor the design, development, and testing of jet engines of the future, even before they are built, left San Francisco International Airport today (July 6) for Indianapolis and the Allison Division of General Motors. A product of the Berkeley Division of Beckman Instruments, Inc., the analog computer system was loaded on an American Airlines DC-6A Airfreighter, grouped in 29 metal cabinets, six feet high and spanning a width of nearly 60 feet. It is scheduled for arrival tomorrow before noon.” Call Bulletin Library, 7/6/56

Cripple Creek Pre-Hipster Barbershop ‘Staches

Life 08-22-55
Life 08-22-55

What is going on here? Guests of the melodrama Flying Scud were given cardboard mustaches upon admission to the basement theater of Cripple Creek, Colorado’s Imperial Hotel. Once disguised, they were encouraged to jeer at the villain as he tried to sully the honor of an innocent maiden. In that 1955 season, more than 20,000 people donned faux ‘staches in those seats.

The theater closed in the early 1990s when the Imperial was converted to a casino. The theater, however was left intact in the basement of the hotel, and in 2009, life was restored to the Imperial, including the Gold Bar Theater. Perhaps you could find yourselves seated at one of those checkered tablecloths, too!

Beverage Station

Gladiator 1957
Gladiator 1957

We’re hosting Christmas this year, and I’m already thinking about what part of kitchen counterspace will be designated as the beverage station. There will be hot coffee, freshly-brewed from freshly-ground beans, and half & half available. No one but my husband and I will use it, as my family curiously prefers their coffee black. Iced tea will be an option, so various sweeteners will also be at the ready. It’s important to have enough cups, glasses, and teaspoons. And if you make iced tea, make sure you have fresh wedges of lemon or lime. I’m no Martha Stewart, but that’s basic. Nothing worse than patronizing a home or restaurant that offers you a beverage and lacks the standard accoutrements.

Sooners 1964
Sooners 1964

Of course, they won’t be allowed to smoke inside, like these fellows (no one in the family smokes anyway), but there will be plenty of beer and wine to help the turkey and dressing go down.

Colorado 1955
Colorado 1955

And what about hot tea? I had some this morning (and then I had coffee), but it doesn’t sound good with Christmas dinner. I won’t offer that.

Comet 1951
Comet 1951

But like a good waiter, we’ll keep the pitchers full, and there will be plenty of ice for Lipton and Cokes because who knows? It was 80 degrees on Friday. It may be warm on Christmas, and we’ll need cool refreshment. The goal is to make everyone as happy as these ladies.

Cactus 1955
Cactus 1955

 

Future Homemakers Of America

Gladiator 1957
Gladiator 1957

I present to you the FHA of Italy High School. Not that Italy. The button-nosed one covering up the last syllable of America is so cute, I could eat her up.

Per www.vintagekidstuff.com, both the Future Homemakers of America  and the New Homemakers of America (NHA) officially began in June of 1945, working to combine and unify hundreds of home economic clubs in high schools across the US. Boys were allowed to join during the mid-1970s, although why they would want to, I do not know. Perhaps they wanted to promote international good will, as #5 suggests.

purposes

But back in 1957, the only purpose a male served was as a manly mascot, the “beau” of the association. I wonder what he did to earn that title?

Gladiator57012

There he is, jeans cuffed, center stage. Like a shepherd with his sheep. Way to go, Jerry!

If there was an FHA (or even a Home Economics class) in my high school, I was not aware of it. As I only wanted to go to dance clubs and hear trendy tunes, learning to make a home was not my top priority. Little did I know, all I would be making in my 40s was a home. I’ve done dishes, laundry, folding, prescription pick-ups, and bill-paying this morning, and the chicken is defrosting in the sink. And that’s fine. It sure beats working in a fluorescent-lit cubicle.

01324-Housework-Rules-Posters
http://coilhouse.net/

How about you? Did you ever take Home Ec or join the FHA? Do you do all your own housework? I guess everyone who lives alone is a homemaker.