My Newsets Ebay Find

My Newsets Ebay Find

This group of Woman's Home Campanions are my latest Ebay purchase. I am so excited!!! They were sold as a lot and included issues from 1946 - 49. The price was phenomenal!!! less than $6.00 each and NO SHIPPING costs!!! I'm sooooooooo excited. These are very LARGE magazines (about the size of those 'newspaper ad type flyers you get in the mail each week). I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I find most interesting in each magazine. Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd start with the March 1947 issue. I will share the others as time goes by.

I don't know if you'll be able to read the cover titles, but if not they say: "False Honeymoon" by Marian Sims ('A new serial), "Disturb Not Our Dreams" by Hobart Skidmore ('Complete novel'), "Catch Me Before I Kill!" by Albert Deutch ('a vital article'). In the corner is an old icon for the American Red Cross that says "Give".

   

 Things haven't changed in almost 60 years.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, AND SMASH UP, THE STORY OF A WOMAN were 3 movies that Kay Mulvey reviewed while 'On Location'.

Another thing that hasn't changes is that 'a woman's work is never done'... but the tools that she uses does. I think we women of today also look for the cost, the quality, and the time it takes when we have to do those 'chores'.

Along with interesting advertisements like the one above there are short stories as well as numerous articles about social issues that we talk about even today.

 I love the artwork that goes along with the articles! :)

  What woman's magazine wouldn't have beauty....

latest hairstyles....

fashions and...

and SHOES!!!

And NEWS! This is Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip before they were married. They were attending a friend's wedding.

This sounds like it came right out of today's headlines!!! 

Medicine & Wellness

TISSUES! I remember as a child in the 60s we would bring boxes like these to school to put in our desks :)

I've had such fun looking and reading through this issue, I can't wait to see what's in the others. I'll be sharing more later.

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Soap Operas, a thing of the past...

Soap Operas, a thing of the past...

 Vintage SOAP OPERAS

By 1930 Radio Networks and their Advertisers recognized the great potential of the Daytime market. It was reasoned that men would be away from home working, and Children either at school or playing. That left the housewife, by herself and she was a powerful market force.

WGN-AM, Chicago, is credited with the very first soap opera, Clara, Lu, and Em, premiering Jun 16, 1930. The act began as sorority sketch by three friends Louise Starkey (Clara), Isobel Carothers (Lu), and Helen King (Em), at Northwestern University; it was popular enough that friends suggested they take it to radio.The trio approached WGN and did the first shows without pay. Interest soon grew and Colgate-Palmolive soon took sponsorship. Originally broadcast in the evening, the show was moved to daytime on Feb 15, 1932.

The housewife was busy taking care of the home, and would have the radio on as company. Irna Phillips, an actress and staff writer for talk shows on WGN, Chicago, was given the assignment of creating a 15 minute daily show "about a family."The result was Painted Dreams, a story of Mother Moynihan and her unmarried daughter. Although originally un-sponsored, Phillips would add an engagement and wedding to the plot in order to maximize product tie-ins.


Painted Dreams enjoyed a good deal of success, but Phillips couldn't talk WGN management into taking it national. While she was suing for the ownership of the show (CBS was eventually the rights to the program) she created Today's Children for rival station WMAQ, which was an NBC affiliate. When Phillips' mother, the inspiration for the lead character, passed away, Irna insisted the show be discontinued. By now she was ready with Woman in White, the first daytime serial to be centered in a hospital.

Many critics begin by defining the soap opera by its sponsors. Indeed the target audience was the housewife, so marketing household and cleaning products towards her seems a natural fit. What is missing is the Operatic tradition within the name. Stories of wealth and glamour appealed to the housebound wife, and the use of serialization held the interest of the audience from day to day.

As time has gone by, Soap Operas as we use to know them are fading and will soon be gone... except on the 'Soap' Channel (if it's still on air). Replacing this genre is talk and reality... or as 'reality' is portrayed today on TV. 

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The Glenn Miller Story (1954)

The Glenn Miller Story (1954)

What a wonderful American musical legend and WW II hero!

LOVE this movie, not to mention the fantastic MUSIC!!

I watched it on TCM tonight, if you get a chance, be sure to take the time to watch it. If you like his music, you won't be disappointed!

Cast:

James Stewart, June Allyson, Harry Morgan, Charles Drake, George Tobias, Barton MacLane, Irving Bacon, James Bell, Gene Krupa, Marion Ross, Louis Armstrong

Suzianne's Rating:

 

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Location, Location, Location...

Location, Location, Location...

(The 'Airplane Bungalow' above is bigger than the usual bungalow of the 30s & 40s.)

It's been said when deciding on a home to buy that the most important thing is location. I understand this to be true, especially if you've got children and need the resources of the community to help raise children. And also to provide for their safety. I thought that today I would share another part of choosing a house to call 'home' and that is style. Since I'm in my mid-fifties, it's too late for us to purchase a home of our own... but I can dream :) So, today I thought I'd share one of my favorite architectural designs of the early 1900 - mid century, all of which were popular during the '40s & '50s.

 (This 'bungalow' is an example of a Chalet Bungalow.)

The word bungalow is often used for any small 20th century home that uses space efficiently. However there are particular features we associate with bungalow architecture in the USA. 
American Bungalow Features:

• One and a half stories
• Most of the living spaces on the ground floor
• Low-pitched roof and horizontal shape
• Living room at the center
• Connecting rooms without hallways
• Efficient floor plan
• Built-in cabinets, shelves, and seats 

 (This beautiful 'bungalow' is known as a Colonial Revival Bungalow.)

The space-efficient floor plan of bungalow houses may have also been inspired by army tents and rural English cottages. The idea was to cluster the kitchen, dining area, bedrooms, and bathroom around a central living area.

(This bungalow is an example of one that 'stuco' was used as an exterior medium.) 

The first American house to be called a bungalow was designed in 1879 by William Gibbons Preston. Built at Monument Beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the two-story house had the informal air of resort architecture. However, this house was much larger and more elaborate than the homes we think of when we use the term Bungalow. Two California architects, Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, are often credited with inspiring America to build Bungalows.

Follow these links for floor plans:

• Sears & Aladdin Mail Order Floor Plans
• Historic Bungalow Plans
• One-Story House Plans
• The Bungalow Company
• Ashmore/Kessenich Design

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Cabin in the Sky (1943)

Cabin in the Sky (1943)

Vincente Minnelli's directorial debut stars Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Little Joe Jackson, a man torn between his devoted wife (Ethel Waters) and a sexy seductress (Lena Horne). When Joe is seriously injured in a barroom brawl, the General of Heaven (Kenneth Spencer) and Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram) engage in an epic battle for his soul. This all-black film based on the hit Broadway musical received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

Genre: musical

 

I loved this movie... the story, the acting, the singing, I especially enjoyed Ethel Waters. What a great talent! I also LOVED that she was a plus sized actress and her clothes were so stylish. I want ALL of them :)

 

Suzianne's rating:

 

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Symbols of Hope and Love

Symbols of Hope and Love

"Sweetheart jewelery, gifts and souvenirs are such a charming way to remember and preserve a little piece of love and history. Servicemen in the WWII era passed out these little bits of their heart to their loved ones during the time of their sacrifice. Women on the home front, or in the service themselves, were proud to wear and show the world their patriotic symbols of hope, love, duty, courage and patience." Syd Divine.

 During WWII it was a practice with some of the service members to present their "Sweethearts" with a locket and photo as a token of their undying love.

I love this idea for another vintage collection. My imagination would run on overtime thinking about each piece of Sweetheart jewelery or small gift there is a love and life story to be told. Did he return? What was made of their life together? Who wouldn’t want to own a little piece of that sentimental journey?

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Creating a 40s Hairstyle

Creating a 40s Hairstyle

I have always loved Jane Wyman's short do that she wears in most of her movies. So I went about the internet searching how I could re-create that style to make it my own. I'm not sure if my hair is long enough yet to do the pin curls, but I'm hoping.

This is how I envision the back to look.

Here are a few tips that I found on creating pin curls:

Of all the 1940’s hairstyles, this is probably one of the most stylish.  Begin by washing hair the night before and letting it air dry until it is damp. To set your hair in pin curls, comb damp hair and part into small sections. You’re going to pin each curl with a standard bobby pin, so sections must be small. Wind each curl around your finger smoothly. Pin each curl in place with a bobby pin. I have also read that you are to make one curl clockwise and the next counterclockwise.

Gently tie a silk scarf around your hair before going to bed. Sleeping on pin curls will take some getting used to, but the results are worth it. In the morning, remove pins and gently finger comb your hair. If you use a hairbrush, don’t overdo it, or you’ll brush the curl out.  Letting pin curls fall loose from a side part was one of the sexiest 1940’s hairstyles. 

As soon as my hair grows out just a little more I'll post photos of how this style looks on me :)

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It's the shoes that makes the dress

It's the shoes that makes the dress

 When I saw these 40's ads for shoes I knew I had to share them with you.

 These are from a 1942 fashion magazine.

I could see any of these with the dresses of the day.

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A Great Ebay find

A Great Ebay find

I was so excited when I opened the mailbox this morning and found a package. Inside were 6 vintage patterns. I got all of them for $.99!!!

These are my favorites:

I love the necklines of these dresses:

 I am very happy with my find!

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Let's Dance (1950)

Let's Dance (1950)

Raising her young son in New York City, former USO entertainer and war widow Kitty (Betty Hutton) runs into her old showbiz partner Donald (Fred Astaire), and soon, the two hit the stage with their crowd-pleasing song-and-dance act -- and strike up a smoldering romance. But as the pair reignites their old magic, they must fend off Kitty's snobbish former in-laws who want custody of her boy. Norman Z. McLeod directs this vintage musical extravaganza.

Cast:

Betty Hutton, Fred Astaire, Roland Young, Ruth Warrick, Lucile Watson, Gregory Moffett, Barton MacLane, Shepperd Strudwick, Melville Cooper

Genres:

Musicals, Romantic Movies  

SUZIANNE'S RATING: I LOVED THE FASHION IN THIS MOVIE!!!!  My favorite Fred Estaire movie :)

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Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

One of the best things about working with people you like is that more than often you have things in common. Today Elizabeth, Iris, and I found out that all our "baby girls" look more like triplets than 'dogs of a different mother'. Elizabeth's Bailey was born in Singapore, Iris' Maka was born here in Hawaii, and my Coco Chanel was born in Washington state.


<<< This is my Coco Chanel (she's a Pekingnese-Morkie (Maltese/Yorkie)

This is Iris' Maka (she's a Maltese). >>>>

Elizabeth's Bailey isn't here yet, but when I'm able I'll be sure to put her photo shoot up as well.

Aren't our 'baby girls cute'? We think they are!

We are so glad that BAILEY could join the party today!!! She's another sweetie pie :) She has chosen to leave her hair long... she's a fashionista!!!
Thanks Elizabeth for sharing!!!! 1/13/2012

Can you guess which breed was the most common pet during the '40s & '50s?

It's the American Cocker Spaniel!!!

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