This bit of news hits home about our living in the atomic age. 4th January, 1955 : The U.S. had conducted hydrogen bomb experiments in the Pacific for about a year prior to this date. On this day (January 4th, 1955) the U.S. paid out $2,000,000 towards the loss of life and property which occurred on March 1, 1954. In 1954, one fisherman had been killed and several other individuals were sickened. Furthermore, the fish located among local Japanese fishing operations were contaminated.
It's funny to think of Japan now and what it must have been after the war. I do know that during the 50's we used Japan much the way we use china now. Many cheap goods came from them as they were trying to rebuild their war-torn country. I also understand the fear (tho I am sure not to the same level they must have) of an impending bomb attack. Thus, bomb shelters etc.
On a lighter note (though I am sure this car was anything BUT light) :New versions of Packard Company automobiles were being manufactured as of this date. The Packard Caribbean was one of the most noted automobiles produced by this company on this day. It was this company’s first V-8 engine vehicle, and it competed against cars such as the new Corvettes and Thunderbirds being made at this time. 
I would adore such a car and the color is so wonderful.
I would adore such a car and the color is so wonderful.This one is pertinent to todays high paid celebrtites. Television celebrity Jackie Gleason signed a $5,000,000 contract with the CBS television station. That was an incredible amount of money in those days. I am able to watch the Jackie Gleason show and have been watching it, apparantly, for three years as it began in 1952. Although, perhaps we merely bought our first tv this year?
Now, some of you asked about cooking and cleaning plans. You also asked about children. My husband and I do not have children at present and have not made plans for any yet. I am sure had I had a child it would make the project much harder. Would I inflict upon him 1955? Would I swap his joystick and killing video games with a cowboy hat and plastic pistol to go kill some imaginary indians? I honestly don't know. Tough call, one that I luckily do not have to make.
Now, for cooking, right now I am using both magazines and these two primary cook books. The first was published in 1955, though I think the second might be later 1950's but alas, I will use it. I do know it was a republish from 1951, so very similiar I am sure.
The Better Homes cook book has this lovely image in it that inspires me for this year. It is very inviting to me as the woman is wearing my favorite color and look what she has prepared and all she has put aside in the canning in the background and yet her clothes are clean and pressed and nails done. I am a little disturbed by her not having a head in the pic. Telling image for my upcoming year, the perfect prepared faceless household automaton? Most likely any woman in 1955 who had this book would have felt as I do, that they should live up to her, but also realized they had curlers in their hair in their robe cleaning up the bedroom.
I know someone asked about cleaning schedule and if I had a book I was using for that purpopse. I am actually setting up my cleaning schedule for the house today. I do not have a specific book to help me to know what would have been done. I would like to get such a book and have the hubby scouring ebay for me now for such a thing. I believe my days will involve making beds, cooking then cleaning up, vacuuming dusting etc. I may play it by ear, as maybe a housewife would. Oh, I do want to show off my vintage housekeeping TOOL. It is a tool as well, because my vintage Kirby vacuum has attachements for EVERYTHING, including spray painting and an attachement for sharpening knives. My kirby, I believe, is actually from 1958-9 but close enough. I love how it looks. And it is green, tho I have no idea what that term means yet, as there are no bags, u merely empty out the inner liner in the cloth bag. Here is a pic of me in action with it. I will show all its attachement in a pic in a future blog. I love the sound it makes.
Yesterday, I was off with two friends antiquing. We found some lovely vintage items and I even found a new navy swing coat I adore. Here is a pic of my friend and I dolled up for yesterdays shopping spree. I am on the right my friend on the left. We are both wearing our 'furs'. They have little eyes and their mouths grap onto their tails to hold them on. I think I look a bit like a grandma here. I will get better pics in outifts, I promise. I am lucky to have a few friends who love vintage and promise to 'dress accordingly' when shopping with me and visiting. We even ate our lunch at this wonderful authentic 1950s diner and I had a malted and bread pudding for dessert.
Speaking of clothes, here is a pic of my underpinnings. This little deadly I wiggle into everymorning so far and fasten my stockings onto the garters. The first
picture is of my crinolin over it, of course I chose to take a pic of it on my bedroom rug, as opposed to myself!
Well, there are some pics to get this blog started properly. I am going to 'decorate' the page of my blog sometime this week, but I do not want to spend too much time on the computer in one day.
Hello, I am a hold-over from the other 50's blog and I'm really enjoying your posts. My family had that same vacuum cleaner all through my childhood. It could clean like nobodies business, but it sounded like a jet engine taking off!
ReplyDeleteI adore the way the bag inflates, slowly, then bam! It means business and away we go. I am really impressed how this cleans. I use the attachement for the upholstery and it works wonders and it dusts really well. I haven't got my nerve to use the 'handi-butler' attachement which sharpens knives yet.
ReplyDeleteOK, I am just feeling really old now.
ReplyDeleteI, too, had that vacuum cleaner the whole time I was growing up. My DAD bought it. In fact, he bought everything except our clothes, including groceries.
And I agree--that vacuum was the best vacuum I've ever experienced. Quiet it is not!
Roxanne
I just wanted to say how much I love your shoes in that pic! :D They're awesome
ReplyDeleteI see you are getting to that "redecorating." It's like having an extra room in your house, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteDitto on the shoes. Are they comfortable for housework?
Roxanne
Ah, that vacuum...I had not the same one (I'm in Italy, so maybe there was a different model here) but a really similar one when I was a child. That too had an attachment for everything...it could be used even as an hairdryer!
ReplyDeleteWOW! A hair dryer! This vacuum even has another head with spinning bristles for capets. It does work really well, as it pounds up all the dirt, I suppose what ur maid in the old days would have done for you.
ReplyDeleteThe shoes ARE comfortable. I have large feet, at least for 1955, so they are they hardest part to come by for my wardrobes. I have to make do with shoes that look close to what they would have worn.
Sorry about posting so many times, but I thought of another question. Do you find that you're more ready to get right to work because you get dressed first? I'm still in my PJs while typing this and I STILL haven't gotten started on my work. I was up at 6:30 and did the breakfast thing, but now I'm "playing" on the computer LOL!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go and get dressed now. I want shoes like yours.
Roxanne
I do find myself becoming more organized. It is because I want to, but also I feel the need, sort of naturally. This morning, as u will see in my recent post, I am girdless as I am cleaning in my dungarees. I don't know if I am suppose to wear my girdle with them, I can't imagine I would if I am at home today. Here it is, however, 10 and I am on here. I am trying to limit my computer time to the morning after my husband leaves and the kitchen is all put in order. Of course, I am dressed by then. I don't know if this answers your question or not?! Thanks for reading.
ReplyDeleteHey! I presume you're getting comment notification on these?
ReplyDeleteYou know, if you really were living in the '50s, chances are very good that you'd be active in a church (almost all decent people were) - and at that point, none of the mainline Protestant denominations had come out in support of contraception. The Anglican/Episcopal church was the first to give in, then not until the late 60s did the other Protestant denominations begin to follow suit.
Families who did practice contraception did so very much in defiance of religious authority at the time, and very secretly. The general consensus was that children were a product of marriage, and that you took them much as God gave them to you.
Boy, attitudes and expectations sure have changed a lot, eh?
Lovely blog - great, thoughtful observations. Thank you so very much for it!
- Laura -
I agree with the above comment thats why as a child of a 40's born father and 50's born mother I have 8 Aunties and 1 Uncle and each of them is married except for my Uncle who passed at the age of 21 it makes for very large family gatherings
ReplyDeleteI too am a housewife, I don't have children though and often find people expect me to, when I say I am a housewife as how could I possibly fill my time without children, but I do.
ReplyDeleteI think the headless lady is likely wearing her hair in curlers!