Vintage – Page 83 – I Don't Get It

Forbidden Fraternization

During WWII, American soldiers were forbidden from fraternizing with German girls, no matter how comely or eager. Corporal Harold Goodden could hardly resist this mannequin, replete with German officer’s cap and lustrous locks. Surely she was not harboring Nazi tendencies.

But rulebooks be damned. By 1949 (four years later) over 20,000 German war brides had emigrated to the United States to join their charming US serviceman (and to get the H out of Europe).

Italy was also the enemy, but no matter to stationed soldiers. No less than 412 brides were all aboard the liner Algonquin in this shot. Clearly there was more than “fraternization” going on.

Women from many nations soon found the US to be home. An estimated 100, 000 UK women, 1,500 hundred New Zealand women, and 15,000 Australian women married American soldiers and moved to the US as well.

Ireland was neutral during WWII, and evidently Irish lasses were not immune to the charms of American soldiers. Exactly one year after the above picture was printed, these Irish war brides set sail for a new life in New York, where their babies would be introduced to their American fathers.

Double Bull Fiddle

Nameless pretty girl and P.O. Fryklund, curator of the Roseau County Historical Society in Minnesota, test the sound of the “bass viol for two.” I can’t imagine them making beautiful music together but you never know.

Gingham Parasol & Modest Beachwear 1910

Double Antiques

Today I read on Pollie Bland’s site that an “antique” is something made 100 years ago or more (like the still-going Olivia de Havilland and Kirk Douglas), “retro” refers to anything that looks out of style for the current time period, like 1999 light rinse jeans (not technically vintage), and “vintage” is something 20 years or older, like most of your memories. So the 70s can’t be called “retro,” because they are actually twice vintage.