I always love finding other’s home movies on YouTube. To think, those bashful or show offs, the unsuspecting and those who loved the spotlight, that they might be fodder one day for strangers dreams and imaginings. I ma sure at the time that father or uncle or even Mother had the camera pointing at them they thought at most the resulting film would be for the enjoyment of their own family. Or that at the very least be simply an annoyance Grandfather drug out once a year forcing the youngsters to marvel at their previous gatherings. Yet, such films are an important part of our history. This history of the common man set down on celluloid, made possible by the modern machine age to now be digital fodder for our imaginings and study.
There is much in these wordless images. We can garner the fashions worn, see how one celebrated, even glimpse how homes were really decorated compared to what the glossy magazines of the day show us how they should have been. Even, sometimes, they can give us a glimpse or a repreive from the modern shopping, traffic headache of a modern holiday. Consider times when stores were open until 5, closed on Sundays and no endless lines of people trampling to get the latest electronic toy while having forgot, already, about what it was they wanted so bad the previous Christmas.
Along these lines, you will notice in the first film from 1939, two of the coveted and most likely expensive gifts shown on the table. The typewriter and the pressure cooker. The camera returns to them often, both alone and being used (well the typewriter at least). What is something to think about is that these items may very well be around today and still working. My husband collects antique typewriters and uses them almost every day. And my own pressure cooker is actually from the late 1930’s as is my waffle iron. They are both going strong. What can we say about gifts we received over the years. I know old computers will simply be land fill fodder today.
The later films are 1950’s and you can see more gifts are apparent and with the use of color and the more casual form of dress of the younger set. While Grandfather and Grandmother are dressed up fine, the younger generation parents are tie less and one even wears dungaree bib overalls. Times they are a changing as the young ins here will soon see when the 1960’s and 70’s hit.
I hope you enjoy, as do I , perusing these old clips of lives past but lived in happiness with less. I hope all are having a lovely Christmas season and as always, Happy Homemaking.
