8 January 1955 "some news, some fashion and some bacon fat"

Well, let's start with some news. Here is what hubby and I discussed over breakfast today:

Two Americans return to the free west from a Siberian labor camp and later
report there’s still a third American there. (Pentagon investigators say they have obtained the memoir of a Russian emigre and former prisoner who claims that dozens of American servicemen from World War II and the Korean War were detained in Siberian labor camps in the former Soviet Union. This last bit is from a modern article on it. What is scary is I guess there were some who were never released. Could there still be some there alive now? I shudder to think...)

Chs. Pfizer & Co. announces it has received a patent for the antibiotic drug
tetracycline.

Sarah Churchill, daughter of Winston Churchill is jailed briefly in the County jail in Los Angeles. The charge was common drunkenness.

Fashion news – (this I did NOT discuss with hubby)
Christian Dior comes out against knees, elbows and super sophistication, but he thinks sweaters and pleated skirts are fine. “The knee,” he told the American Woman’s Club of Paris, “is the ugliestspot in a woman’s anatomy.”

As you will recall, gals, Dior gave us the NEW LOOK in 47. It was post war, materials were available, and Rosy the rivertor had to lay down her drill press and be feminine again. I have to say, though, that I adore this look. Here is the snippet about this dress:

"Chérie" exemplifies the "New Look" in all its salient elements: sloped shoulder, raised bustline, narrowed waist, and a monumental volume of skirt falling away from a padded hipline to below the calf. The New Look arrived uncompromised and complete, not as a tentative suggestion or stage in evolution. Here, the skirt is made of the full width of the fabric, selvage to selvage, disposed horizontally. Consequently, at the waist the necessary folding-under of the pleated fullness creates a compressed, thirteen-and-a-half-yard seam allowance, the substantial bulk of which pads the hips. This virtuoso achievement in dressmaking was reached by the compression of vast volume into an adjoining sculptural reduction. Dior prided himself on the handwork in his creations."

Some women actually protested the longer skirt, wanting to show their leg. Really the shorter skirts of the 1940's really developed due to rationing and women also needed the ease of movement that wartime elicted. Prior to the war, the 1930's saw a lengthening of hemlines after the above the knee look of 1926. It is funny how military a look the 40's had with their shoulder pads.

This dress is primarily remembered for having been in the wedding trousseau of Olivia de Havilland (who was married in 1955), this gray wool suit is the transfiguration of the man's suit as an expression of the feminine. More importantly, this suit, long anticipated by Dior's interest in tailoring and in menswear fabrics, is poised on the edge of his move away from the New Look's historicism toward a simpler, increasingly reductive, architectonic geometry. [The essential A-line of the 1960s began here. So says my crystal ball. This would be a good redux to do to an old man's suit from a thrift store. I am not sure if I would do that in 1955, though I would be industrious. I am sure I would have seen it in a magazine of the day as showing a movie stars trousseau would have most likely occured. This does look quite modern. As a housewife I would most likely not afford coture, but as an artistic person I would have copied what I could from my Harpers and my Vogue and let the mouths hang at the club and bridge nights!]

I really like the new look. Since wearing a gridle and finding it secretly wonderful (it can pinch, but it gives more than a corset ever has and I have worn a corset) I would LOVE to get one of these little mini corsets some women wore to get the wasp waist. Some of Diors early New Looks had padding at the hips to help thin the waist and also a version of the 1860s hoop skirt, but these did not take on, as unlike the floor length skirts of their victorian couterparts, the bell like movement with a shorter skirt lenght often lead to revealing more than one wanted. What do you think of this little corselette? What do you think of the new look's feminine soft shoulder, full skirt, small waist, longer skirt? Would you have embraced it or picketed for shorter skirts? Although I do not have kids, I can bet it is easier to move about with a full skirt past your knee with kids in public than the micro-minis that are in the future.

So, today I made homemade pancakes. I came to realize that pancake mix is merely the dry ingredients and the just add water most likely has powdered milk. From scrath, pancakes are quite simple. 1 cup flour, 2 TBS baking powder, 2 TBS sugar ( I added cinnamon too), an egg, and here it is gals, as it read in my 50's cook book (2 tbs oil, melted butter, or BACON FAT). Well, guess which one I chose. I mean, the bacon is there right in front of me frying away. It has become a sort of morning companion of mine. Its sizzle, its aroma mingled with the coffee perk perk perculating away, it's intoxicating I tell you. This moment had a sort of hitchcock movie moment for me. The bacon was snapping away happily in the pan, my finger (nice red nails too) slid down the list of ingredients and bam! I read the words "or Bacon Fat" the music crescendos, I look to the bacon, its inticing hot crispness lures me in. I look back, tremulous, my finger shaking a bit. Did I read write? Could it be? Yes, BACON FAT, it says it right there in black and white. I return my gaze and the camera swoops in "Da Da Daaaahhhhhh" I'm doing it. And I did. They were lovely and yummy. My husband said, after his first mouthful, 'are these homemade?' to which I happily replied, "yes they are, honey". "They are really good" and you know he helped himself to a second stack. I had an image of an old commercial I had seen about coffee where the woman is worried to her neighbor that her husband wasn't happy about how she made the coffee. "he never asks for a second cup at home" she says. So, quitely to myself I thought, 'he always asks for a second stack at home'. And, instead of feeling foolish or silly or unliberated, I actually felt kind of proud. It is these little moments like this when I actually feel I am having a genuine 1955 moment. There is so much modern that I cannot get away from, like this computer I am typing on, but sometimes, when I am at my dressing table curlers in, or in the kitchen in the morning, or cleaning with the loud roar of the kirby in my loafers and rolled dungarees and scarfed head, that I have to stop and say, wait, what year is it?

I have to confess, though, that I did spend some time last evening on the computer. I told myself it was like looking at magazines or reading, and it was to veiw other blogs and such. It is hard to not use it. I would not even mind so much, but it sucked me in so, that when I went to bed I hadn't the energy to do the dinner dishes and there they sat, cold and congealed this morning: A symbol of my housewifery failure. But, let me tell you. I love a dinning room. It used to be that unused space that many people were doing without, but when a wife wants to be a little lazy, a clean ordered dinning room with breakfast all set up and lovely can really make up for that dripping cold faucet of cold congealed fat awaiting one in the kitchen. A happy wave goodbye and then the return to my failings. What is a woman to do? I suppose this happened then, too. There were probably many messy kitchens in the evenings, but this is usually when I do the dishes and hubby helps dry, but we wanted to read last night and I to use the computer. I, however, am not going to make a habit out of it. Can you forgive me my failings, dear readers?

7 january 1955

Famed contralto Marian Anderson made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on January 7, 1955, as Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. She was the first African American to perform with the company. I would love to say we would be there for the opening night, but we have not been too nyc in a few years. I do love opera and cannot wait to go this season in my vintage gowns. We are to see Don Giovanni in April. Believe you me, there will be YARDS of tulle involved and I can wear my 1950's mink cape. It is nice to know that in my time here(1955), things are beginning to change.
Perhaps, while staightening my husbands study today I would have come across a bit of flesh colored paper that would have caught my eye. Maybe I was tidying up his papers and putting his pipes back in their rack. While putting books back on shelves and dusting, an odd bit of paper sticks out of the corner, there, behind that collection of Dickens. I tug, but it seems caught. Well, what is a busy wife to do, I don't have all day and these shelves have not been really thourghly dusted in months. As I take down the Dickens, three books at a time, there it falls at my feet :Paper sex; colored glossy images of bare legs (no stockings perhaps? Hussies). I am greeted by Miss January 1955 herself, Betty Page. The cover looks marvelous. I go in and want to be shocked, looking around first, hoping no snoopy neighbors are peeking in windows unwanted. But, I can't help myself, I must see. I notice the darling haircuts or the pretty gowns, while they are still on, of course. I stand up straight, quickly dust off the empty shelf, carefully replacing my accidental smut, slipping Dickens back in front. I straighten my full skirt shaking myself free of dust, the sound of my crinolines breaking the silence of the room. They sound matronly, antiquated after all that bare flesh. I grab my little wooden cleaning basket and back out, slowly. The door shuts rather hollow on the empty clean room. I feel a little different today, perhaps, a little more of the male psyche is revealed. Oh, I can't be bothered to think on it, I have that cake for the church bazaar to get to today. (or something along those lines, I hope you don't mind my artistic license. I would love to have a copy of this, but this copy sells for a lot now, especially since Page's death)

Last night the hubby and I watched a 1955 episode of Groucho Marx. ( Here is a link to it on youtube. I cannot embed it, as it is not allowed. It is worth a watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQODIqk2BdU )

This is most likely the type of television we would have been watching it on. This is a 1955 version, so I suppose this suggests that my husband bought the latest model. [My hubby and our friend LOVE to mess about with taking modern (2009) technology and mixing it with old. I have been promised a re-creation out of an old computer screen and hidden componets, a tv such as this that would allow me to watch old shows with the technology hidden. It if works, there will be pics and a link to how they did it.]

Back to the show. It was interesting to watch as it was more real. I mean the contestants were not actors (at least I don't think they were) and the reaction between they and Mr. Marx seemed more accurate to actual conversation. I thought it was the epitome of my time period, as the contestants are a college beauty queen and a college star quarter back with a movie star brother. Mr. Marx's conversation with the girl, though she is of course young only 18, is very child like. A lot of 'sweetheart and honey' that you might not hear today for the fear of sexual harrasment charges. I don't know, perhaps it is my own sequestered and deluded state being all snug here in 1955, where my biggest worry is the reds and nukes, it seems rather sweet. I am sure it would not seem so if she were 35. I discovered it only cost a dime to use the pay phone in this episode. I learned that "Let it snow" was written in 1945 and so on. Here is a commercial that would have been on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhH-e3T7Brg&feature=related It is interesting that "easy off" still exists, but today in a spray can. You can really feel how the beginning of the modern world of consumerism is rearing to go. It would all seem like a brave new world to me, having lived through the depression and WWII. Would I have been disgusted by the amounts of advertising? Would I have not noticed it? Is it becoming such a normal part of my day? Of course, I only watch one show in the evening and somtimes none at all. My magazines are filled with ads, but I only give myself part of the day for that and probably more than I would have had as I am using it as a study time as well. I do have old radio programs I listen to, but I think there would have been more ads then I can find on the radio. My hubby and I are always dissecting the social network in which we live and trying to be aware of it, but having come from the 30's and 40's would we still be that way? Or, is it that we are merely a product of a time when personal analysis is part of your everyday life? In our youth,(1920s and 1930s) if you would have been depressed I believe you would have been told to 'get over it'. It certainly would not have been called depression. Maybe the blues. I read that in the 1930's depression would be referred to as a 'complex' and that they would not use medicine but tell their patients, "Try and be grateful, as well as thankful and appreciative, for whatever good may be in their life, and normally the depressed patient would eventually recover" I wonder, would they actually recover? I wonder what the suicide rates would have been for those who needed medication? Did they need medication or are we just a society more used to using it to solve problems? I honestly don't know. I am sure there were individuals who just had to live with it or end their life, they would not have been recorded as a death due to depression, so we will never know I guess.

On to lighter more personal things. Here are two pics of my friend and I mugging it up 1955 style. My friend is on the left with the veil and I on on the right. She is probably as into vintage as am I . It helps having her as a compatriot. Although she is not living the lifestyle all the time, whenever she visits and we do things together, she is dressed vintage and listens to vintage music with me. It makes a difference and I think the social aspect of couples (her fiance' is the fellow who is working on making an old tv for me with my hubby) coming together for cards and drinks and listening to records. I think I would be even more social in 1955 than I am in my modern life. But, I make do with what I have and am grateful for it.

Here are a few of my vintage things that I use everyday. The first picture is of a sweet little cake tin that I adore. I think this might be 1930's, I imagine this would have come with me from my home. The next Photograph is of my wall in my kitchen. The entire set of dishes I recieved from hubby for xmas for this project. I love them. You can see how the cups are like tea cups, but this is indeed what we drink our morning coffee out of. That leads to picture number three: The perculator. I love this little thing. It takes awhile to perculate but it looks so pretty. Once hubby is in the dinning room before his breakfast I unplug it and bring it in, placing it on a trivet. It stays hot throughout breakfast and indeed, I am sipping at a cup from it now. I am also proud of my wall clock. It is an authentic 1950's kitchen clock (notice the plug). No battery powered repro here, and it is my favorite aqua color. It is useful in the morning, as I need to coordinate my breakfast making and lunch packing. I wonder, as I glance at it each morning, how many years ago did a housewife depend on this little device to get her kids off to school and hubby out the door? Was it a quiet friend, as she finished off her dishes and maybe stole a break with a cigarette, a magazine and a cup of coffee. It ticked away as a neighbor dropped by the back door to the kitchen under the guise of sugar borrowing, to see how spic and span her floors were. Did it witness the local gossip of who did what. How many greasy jelly smeared hands slid across it's face? Did it watch as the children grew, went away to college and their own kitchens and counted down the time when the grandkids showed up, hot cookies and ice cream at the kitchen table while granny puttered about. Did it end up in the back of a closet after the wake dishes were done and the kitchen cleaned up to sell the old house. How long had it sat, dust filled and unloved, in that cardboard box I found it in at the local junk shop? Did it wait for me to bring it back to life? Did it smile, just a bit on its face, when it felt the old electricity run through it again? Now, it keeps me company as I wipe down the dishes or baste the ham one more time before hubby gets home. Will it only end its life in another cardboard box one day? Wondering where I have gone?

6 January 1955 New Senator

We have a new senator from South Carolina, who is shown here being sworn in by our vice-president, Richard Nixon. His name is Strom Thurman and he is a member of the Democratic segregationist party of the south. (did a chill just run through your bones?)

There is talk that when our president runs for another term next year (1956) he will keep Nixon as his running mate. I suppose, as an american with a husband who may or may not have had to be in Korea, supporting the man who is responsible for ending the Korean War (1950-1953) would be the american mind set. His running mate in '51 was Adlai Stevenson. I can't but help to think that with our mind set, my husband and I would most likely have been Adlai supporters. Here is a snippet of his speech at the election at the Democratic National Convention:

"When the tumult and the shouting die, when the bands are gone and the lights are dimmed, there is the stark reality of responsibility in an hour of history haunted with those gaunt, grim specters of strife, dissension, and materialism at home, and ruthless, inscrutable, and hostile power abroad. The ordeal of the twentieth century – the bloodiest, most turbulent age of the Christian era – is far from over. Sacrifice, patience, understanding, and implacable purpose may be our lot for years to come. … Let’s talk sense to the American people! Let’s tell them the truth, that there are no gains without pains, that we are now on the eve of great decisions."

He was considered by republicans and working-class democrats as having an indecisive aritsocratic air and a know-it-all "egghead". (If I can peer into the future for the moment, not unlike poor Sen. John Kerry) I think, considering our own aims and feelings towards the world, we would have been for Stevenson, but it is hard to tell. I think I would have been college educated, as my family had been then, but it is hard to say.

It looks like there is a new craze for Do it yourself. I guess the increase in family homelife and the family unit and growing home-owners have naturally led to this. I have to say this would be little changed for me in either decade, however the tools might be a little simpler in 1955.

Fashions seem rather sensible, as well as ornamental. I have plans to make more skirts as they are simple to throw on with sweaters and tops that I have. The hats are small and I don't feel that odd wearing them out in public. The other day my friend and I (she too dressed vintage as promised) elicted some stares, but mostly nice, at the grocery store. We recieved two compliments on our hats and I found many women would look at us and then sort of adjust their puffy ski-style jacket or overbig sweater. As if, on some basic level, they felt the need suddenly to 'spruce up'. It makes me wonder, were we all suddenly one season to wear dresses and more fitted coats, would it be normal the following year that we all would. People do seem to have a sheep like 'following' quality.

I promise more pictures in my own clothes. Yesterday I sat all day (well, I didn't do alot of sitting) in curlers. I loved how my hair turned out last night and forgot to have hubby take a picture. He loved the hair, and I wore my new navy swing coat my brown patterened skirt and crinolin, and brown fitted sweater. I really like my hair curled, but coming home so late as we did last night, I didn't set my hair. So, today I have it pulled up in a french twist and I readjusted my curled bangs. As I am only washing my hair once a week, keeping my hair spruced up is not as hard as one might think. In fact, I am finding it quite liberating to not have to wash my hair daily. You can see how the more elaborate curled short cuts of the day were not in fact time consuming, as u often are merely readjusting last nights curls with a few bobby pins and some spray, or if u merely wet your hair with a comb and set it the night before, it really seems easier than the chore of blowdring and styiling your hair everyday. I am now using hair spray, but I think my hair will actually be healthier without having it shampooed everyday.

I thought having stockinged legs exposed in the cold would be an issue, but last night was fine. Of course, I wasn't out building snowmen, but the house we went to for the party last night has a very long drive (U cannot see the house until u make two turns on the drive, that is how long it is!) and most of it was a sheet of ice, so we parked half way down and walked the rest of the way to avoid getting stuck. I am rather used to the stockings and cold air. I think I will be more affected by the heat and stockings, but on casual days I believe I will be allowed to wear pants and shorts. I am not sure if skirts would be worn without stockings if it is summer and u are wearing, say , sandals. If anyone knows, let me know. I will try to research it before summer. I know that during WWII rationing I would have had to draw a stocking line down my leg but in fact I would have been bare-legged, although only out of necessity. I did find out that seamless stockings had been around longer than I thought, but most women chose the seam as the other gave the appearance of a bare leg and that was not the desired 'finished' look.

I was much more prepared for breakfast this morning. I decided to use the dinning room again, although the kitchen was spic and span as of last night, I made sure of that. But, I found it easier to lay out the things that I could right away, the oj and cups and trivets for eventual hot things, the cutlery and napkins (cloth so that adds to the laundry). I set the oatmeal on to boil and the eggs (hubby got eggsalad with bacon today for his sandwich) and continued to prepare coffee and tea and get the other lunch things set. I was able to be at the table with hubby piping hot oatmeal served and ready to enjoy together. I really do want to not be the wife constantly running in and out for things. Having had everything ready, we were able to discuss 'current events' (today it was the above topic of Strom and Nixon). My husband did ask me if it was necessary to sit at either ends of our long dinning table and I told him I liked it that way as it allowed us to look at one another and have a conversation without turning our heads. It also allowed for the breakfast things to be placed comfortabley apart. He then agreed with me. I looked through my Amy Vanderbilts guide and could find no proper etiquette for the dinning room with your husband and yourself.

Today is ironing and bed linens. Vacuuming upholstery and curtains. Cleaning the fireplaces of ash. I want to go out, as well, as I need to purchase some flat sheet sets. My fitted sheets are not only cheating, but impossible to properly iron. I think I would have use of the car, even if we had only one. As I would drive my husband to the train (as in man in the grey flannel suit) and pick him up at the end of the day.

Oh, on the ruined cake front, there was a salvation. Yesterday, after getting hubby off and returning to the dreaded kitchen, I was able to reice the cake and it looked not too bad. There will be a slice a day in hubbys lunch. He said it was delicious.

On the husband front I have to say my husband seems as happy as ever. Last night my friends fiance' was listening to my friend and I ( she loves vintage as well and looked a treat in her grey wool pencil skirt and black silk blouse and horn rimmed glasses) talking about this or that recipe that we wanted to try. He laughed and at first we thought he was making fun of us, he then said, "No, I was just thinking how spoiled we will become with all the food. We will be eating like kings come summer" It made us both smile and for that moment I felt an odd pride. One in pursuing somthing that was exciting for me, but in it's doing brings happiness and pleasure to those we hold most dear. I can see that if you are happy with your spouse and he or she does not mind your being at home, there is alot of pleasure in making them happy through homemaking, if it is also rewarding for you.

On a more delicate matter, I have to say I really like the underware. I am fairly tall and stockings and garters are a dream. Whenever I wore modern hose, they were never long enough and would always sag in the crotch. I also have to say that I think men, at least my hubby, prefer stockings and garters. Think of how sensual you might look in a tight fitting bodice or cone bra and stocking and garters and now think how you look in traditional pantyhose, particularly if they are control top and of course you would not wear a slip or anything over the modern form. Just an interesting point.

I know it is still early days, but I have not felt put upon or trapped as of yet. I am giving myself time to study and read during the day on the time period and my husband is interested in my findings and brings me what he finds as well. There is enough time in the day, as well, to really care about my appearance. I was sitting at my dressing table yesterday for half an hour putting up my hair and doing my nails and for a second thought, "What am I doing, why am I wasting so much time on this" but then realized before I had that thought, I was truly enjoying myself on a very basic level. The result of that time also elicited positive response from my friends and husband on my hair and how I looked 'so nice'. One could get used to such personal time and such compliments. I do wonder how this will change me by the end of the year. Should I be frightened?

5 January 1955 "Alvis" Presley

Good morning, here we are another day deeper into 1955.

I found an old bill for a show at the city auditorium in San Angelo (not sure what state?) for a show with various singing artists. "Alvis" Presley tops the bill. It was spelled Alvis. I suppose he is just starting to really begin to hit the scene. According to the accompanying article snippet, "in this 1,855 seat auditorium, hundreds of teenage girls rush the stage for autographs." I suppose as a childless housewife, it would be some time before I heard Elvis. On August 15, 1955, "Colonel" Tom Parker became Presley's manager, signing him to a one year contract, plus renewals. Several record labels had shown interest in signing Presley and, by the end of October 1955, three major labels had made offers up to $25,000. On November 21, 1955, Parker and Phillips negotiated a deal with RCA Victor Records to acquire Presley's Sun contract for an unprecedented $40,000, $5,000 of which was a bonus for the singer for back royalties owed to him by Sun Records (Presley, at 20, was officially still a minor, so his father had to sign the contract.

I guess they didn't really promote him until next year (1956). But, I wonder as a young couple would we have listened to Elvis? However, a young couple in 1955 was probably 20. I am not 20, so perhaps I would have stuck by my old standbys. I think rock and roll would probably slip me by, most likely, for a few years. Being a teen in the 1940's I would most likely still enjoy the ole' crooners.

This is an image and small article in my "The American Magazine" magazine, of which I have quite a few from 1951 thru 56. The article tells of this business based on the new fad for matching pets. These two ladies (identical twins) run Poodles by Dana, on NYC smart Madison Avenue. They'll rent you a dog to match your costume. "Supposing you have a red dress and a mink coat and want a French poodle to match," says the article, "Nothing to it. They will dye the dog the exact shade of your dress, encircle its neck with a mink collar, and deliver the pooch to your door." You are also allowed to purchase the pooch if u like him, apparantly, and u can take him back as often as u like to get his hair colored. Funny. I suppose this was the equivalent of the chihuahua/paris hilton dog craze of the 'future'. I wonder, though, as my mother in law has a poodle. On my trips to the city to shop and look chic, would I have borrowed him and had my had at it. I can see the mess in the bathroom now, pink food coloring all over my clean bathroom floor. They do look a treat, I have to say.

Well, tv is definitely a part of our culture here in 1955 as seen by this comic in my jan 55 magazine. I watched an episode of I love Lucy, which has been on since 51, on the 3rd of January. This was the day it actually aired. I know I am being anal about the dates, but I am sure this will loosen as I move forward just out of necessity. It was the episode in which Ricky purchaes a new car and teaches Lucy how to drive. It is still funny to me. I guess Lucy really sort of created what was to become the 'formula' for modern sitcoms.

Last night we went to 'the movies'. This involved five of us at our friends house. They have a projection tv that fills the wall, so it is really like going to the movies. Everyone dressed 'up'. I wore a dress, sensible flats and a cardigan. Even though we were at someone's home, it was meant to be a 'going out to the movies'. So I took out my 1954 copy of Amy Vanderbilts "everyday etiquette". I could find nothing about what to wear to the movies only actual theatre. I did wear a hat, as did my two female friends, mostly as we think it is fun to show them off. I suppose I would have worn a hat a gloves to go out.

Amy suggests, "when in doubt, wear a hat and gloves. If you arrive at any gathering and find everyone hatless, you may always remove your hat." She also goes on to say that wearing gloves in a hot climate or season can be uncomfortable, but it is better to at least carry them. She says that in NYC she wears white gloves on even the hottest day as she would rather have the discomfort than the grime of the city. That is funny, because it is the first time I really thought of that aspect of gloves. Not just the proper attire, or to complete an ensemble, but to protect yourself from grit and germs. It does make sense. I did wear gloves, as it was cold, but of course took them off for our stay. I have to say my girdle does pinch, but I sort of feel comfort in it as well. It causes me to be more aware of my posture, which in turn forces me to sit more upright and therefore I have not had a backache yet!

The movie we saw came out this year (1955). It is an Hitchcock film, "The Trouble with Harry". In the opening scene a young boy playing with a toy gun in the woods (foreshadowing I suppose) stumbles across a dead body. I couldn't help but think he looked familiar. It was the Beave, from leave it to Beaver, of course this show does not exist yet. You would think I would have noticed his name in the beginning credits, but I was too captivated by the opening credit images. They were so modern, simple line drawins with a very stark and sharp angle. They had that swedish modern feel much of the furniture 'today'(1955) has. I really liked the movie myself, perhaps more mild than other hitchcock films. There was pretty scenery in the opening shots as well.

Now, on to how I have been coping: Due to our having to go out last night and my deciding to make a 'burnt sugar cake' to take with me, I had to leave the kitchen messy. I am sure this must have happened to wives who poorly planned their time for the day, or did, as did I , attempt a recipe not realizing the amount of time involved. The cake and then frostening both needed caramalizing. It takes some time to heat up dry sugar over the stove to a melting point, then adding boiling water, etc. And this is the first frostening I have ever made from scratch. It turned out great, but I made that fatal error with cakes and tried to ice the cake hot. MISTAKE. The top layer proceeded to slide off the botton and the whole mess melted onto the kitchen table. I was left sad and upset. I had spent so much time on this only to have to leave the house empty handed and to know of the mess I must face this morning. I was too exhausted to do it last night and besides I needed time to run upstairs and touch up my face and slip into clean clothes.

I was able to put on a fine breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast (not at the table today) and fresh squeezed oj this morning despite the mess in which I had to do it. I served it in the dinning room (hence no toaster) and therefore saved my husband the necessity to see the messy kitchen. While we chatted over 'current events' with our coffee this morning, my mind kept wandering to the mess I had left and how I was antsy to get back to it. I hope my obsession with the home won't lull me away from caring about discussing topics at breakfast. I suppose this is all the more reason to make sure the kitchen is clean BEFORE breakfast, so I can have a civil discussion with my husband before he is off to work. I have to admit, as I was fumbling around with breakfast, a mess in the sink, the kitchen table a shrine to last nights cake failure( I swear to God, that cake stood like an ornament to my mistake, all lopsided and congealed drips of frostening. The table with a sticky mess!) I could not but help think of the clean dressed and aproned headless woman in my cookbook. Everything ordered and done properly. Rather than feel a failure now, however, I feel I want to work towards such a household. Clean, organized and comforting, so when I want to enjoy a good read or conversation with husband and friends I can. We shall see if it is possible. I do know not having the tv as a distraction helps immensely. I didn't watch a lot of it before, but now I never touch the thing, unless we are going to watch 'a show together'. I do feel like it has given me extra hours in the day.

Another period moment happened this morning too, I found myself humming a Doris Day tune. Just singing along to the song in my head. I have not missed 'modern' music as of yet, but we shall see. I find alot of the current music (1950s) is fun to sing along with. My friends and I were belting out the Doris Day tunes together in the car the other day on our shopping trip.

Well, that is enough computer time for me. I have laundry to do and iron. I clean bathrooms today. ( I am using comet and sponge and a mop and an old wringer bucket. I don't know if they had spray bathroom cleaners.) I am wearing my 'dungarees' and a head scarf covering my curlers (we are going out tonight so I need good hair) and a gingham check shirt, white socks and penny loafers. I hope I am not dressed too much like a teenager, but I am not planning on seeing anyone until tonight, and I don't think any neighbors will drop by for sugar. IF they do, they had better knock hard to be heard over the Kirby.

Have a great day everyone.

4 January 1955

Well, there were some wonderful comments on my last blog. I want to get to the answers, but first the news:

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.

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.

yesterday, 2 january 1955, a president died

So, yesterday the second on January 1955, The president of Panama was killed. He was shot down by machine gun fire at a panama city race track.

It is interesting, this death, as two years ago (1953) he negotiated the panama canal treaty with our president, Dwight D. Eisenhower. This raised the annuity to panama form the us from $430,000. to $1.9 million. So, we see a communication with our countries resulting in an increase for them. It is a wonder who should do such a thing, and I cannot, tho it is not very american of me, wonder if it was not one of us? It was probably those filthy reds.

Today the movie "Panther Girl of the Kongo" was released. Never heard of it, but might like to see it, as my husband does love scifi. Though, I wonder, would this have been an adult film, or that type of film that the kids would have gone to on a saturday afternoon?

Breakfast was old fashioned oatmeal and toast (made at the table of course, the toast NOT the oatmeal). I wanted to make my own bread, but I think in 1955 sliced bread would have been appropriate. I think I may need to switch to white bread as well.

I will blog again later today with more info, as I have to go out soon. I am sitting with curlers in my hair in my robe and my gal pals will be here in half an hour to go antiquing. I need to squeeze into my girdle, fasten my stockings, brush out and pin/spray my hair, get my 'face on' etc. A gal has to look put together to go out. I am wondering how my shoes will fare with the snowy ice. I am determined to find an old pair of golashes that fit over high heels with little fur caps, as I have seen in the magazines. Thank goodness those treacherous spike heels that we have now were not really around until late 50s early 60s. At least us gals, firmly placed smack dap in the middle of this decade, have the sense to wear a thicker heel and a rounder toe, quite comfortable. Yesterday I noticed myself having better posture. Funny what heels a dress and stockings and a girdle can do for a gal.

Later today pics, I promise.

Also, question to anyone who cares: I wonder if I should 'spruce up' this page with images. I had thought to do so, but then thought maybe more spartan is better and it does leave me off the computer more, as I really don't want to be on here all the time, it's not very period. Let me know if u can if I should add a nice header, colors etc.

Off to put on my many layers of undergarments!

First breakfast 1955!

Well, first off, thank you for all your comments. I think I shall do my own computer posting. It does make sense, as I can just pretend I am writing in my journal for the day. But, I am going to try and NOT use the computer for any other purposes. Even with the old tv and commercials, my husband has seen fit to copy many onto dvds for me, so I will stick with that and then when I begin to run low, defer to him. See, I am already becoming a 1950's wife in that I first think, "well, I shall ask my husband".

I have to confess, tho I am only really two days in, that there is a secret part of me that sort of likes the idea of being 'taken care of'. I mean, certainly I am going to be providing food, clean clothes and house, nice environment for my husband, but I LIKE being home and do not relish driving to go to work for 8 hours a day. Perhaps this will change, we shall see.

Now, this morning I got up at 7:00 am with my alarm. Padding downstairs to prepare breakfast. I have to say, I do this already, but usually, if I am making bacon, I use the micro as it always comes out perfect. But, alas, there is no microwave. I mean it is hidden away in the bowels of the basement with other items that have yet to be invented (except for the dvd player. I do hope u will forgive me that, but I am ONLY using it for shows and commercials of the time). So, it was pan fried bacon and then eggs fried in that lovely bacon grease. I am sure this will elicit gasps of horror and clutching of the heart from all of you, but you know what? It was GOOD! There is alot to be said for animal fats for cooking. YUM!
So, it went off without a hitch. Freshly squeezed oj from my electric juicer (it is vintage photos to follow I PROMISE) eggs, toast, jam. I even decided to use more dishes for the morning. Rather than have a jug of milk on the counter, I put it in a creamer. I am also 'decanting' my milk in some repro milk bottles in the fridge for accuracy, plus it looks nicer. It felt quite 'real' this morning. The table set with actual dishes and my 50's cups and saucers (they hold much less coffee than we are used too!) the fresh perculated coffee pot on the table. I even had the toaster on the table, as I have seen this in varioius photos and magazines, and u know I made the toast as we sat to eat. It did mean having to wait for it to finish to have with our eggs, but it seemed authentic. I wonder, would they have had the toast made before sitting down, but then why the toaster on the table? You see, these are the things that will be occupying my time, so don't hold your breath for too much excitement readers! (As an aside, I was just about to make a smiley face with the colon and the paranthesis button, but realized this concept has not been invented. I thought u would like to know the sort of modern thought processes that will pop up and how I will slowly let them slip aside)

I am determined to NOT be only mindful of what to wear and what to cook. This, I am sure, was an important factor in a 1950's housewives life, but many of these things would have been second nature to her. I need to also keep up on 'current' events, read magazines (so I can see what to 'ask' my husband for, hint hint come June I would like it to be the dishwasher!)and fiction. Right now I am just starting "The Genius and the Goddess" by Aldous Huxley. This came out in 1955, so I don't know if I would have it by 2 january, but it is the right year anyway. I think I will use brackets to insert any moment when I would have done a modern thing in my blogging. So [ After I typed in the title of the book I am reading, my first initial response was to add a link to a page that would describe the book, maybe a pic of the cover, etc. But, I did not. I think it is these little moments of modernity that really bring home the project. I like to think of what I take for granted today that would have been unthinkable in the 1950s. If this becomes annoying, dear readers, do let me know and I will stop. I do become enamored of the simplest things!]

Oh, so back to my day, yes. I am, today, laying out a plan for the week. This will include what days the bed linens are to be changed. I hope not everyday, tho it would be nice, I don't think I can stand ironing bed sheets everyday! How many days to clean bathrooms etc etc. I will have a time in the evening, where my hubby and I will watch a 50's show together, then probably talk about 'current' events. He is also a history nerd, so this will be of interest to him. My first "50's night" is planned for next wednesday. This gives me time to practice making petite fors and brushing up on my bridge. OOOH and I can use the new cocktail shaker set I got for christmas! By the way, ALL of my christmas gifts were geared to this being 1955. I asked for only things appropriate to this project. It actually has quite helped me, as it has given me a good reserve to start off with. Magazines, dvds, old appliances, dishes, skirts, crinoline etc.

Well, I suppose this is a good start for me. This morning I kissed my husband good by at the door in my penoir (it is actually a 1950's nightgown and dressing gown and horror of horrors it is nylon. I guess it was the new wonder fabric as it needed no ironing. Tho I am slightly disgusted today, I am sure a month down the road, when I have ironing piling up, I will be begging for all things made of nylon. Good ole petroleum industry. See, this is where it all began folks, the good ole days.)

Let me know if there is anything that any of u would like to know as I do this project. Back to the happy quiet day of january 2 1955.

Happy New Year! 1955!

Well, here I am, January 1 1955. Well, at least that is what I am going to tell myself.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to choose a particular year. In fact, I may find I need to use things up to 1959, merely due to the quanity of items I can find. But, for all intents and purposes it is 1955. I think by trying to ground myself into that year, it will allow me to have a sort of solid framework to each day. I can read magazines up to that time and anything from that year I can imagine they are now just happening, the news if u will.

I see from some research that this month in 1955 will result some of the following: Scrabble will be introduced this month. We will see our president, Eisenhower, for the first time televised. Russia will end it's 'state of war' with Germany. The submarine Nautilus will begin its first nuclea- powered voyage. The "Ballad of Davy Crockett" becomes the number one hit in march. Churchill resigns as British Prime Minister to be replaced by ANthony Eden. Ray Kroc starts McDOnald's chain this year in Illinois in April. In May Micky Mantel will hit three consecutive home runs. The list goes on. Perhaps with this research I can mention what is of 'note' for a day that I am blogging to coincide with 1955. IF that would be of interest to anyone?

I also have a quandry. I, obviously have to use the computer to blog, but am wondering if I might not be wiser to have my husband type it in for me. Oh, yes, someone asked if my husband was on board, and yes he is. He is quite supportive in all things. He currently works while I stay home, so that will be the same. I will be preparing ALL meals and doing all laundry and housework, unless he wants to pitch in, but honestly I am going to probably only have him help occasionally with drying dishes. I often saw this done on 'leave it to beaver', not that that is a very accurate portrayal of the 1950's, but in my magazines I have also seen that a husband would have helped to be nice. Many men were around the home more in the 1950's. Another cultural phenomena. I am going to watch any relevant 'tv' on a dvd player on our small tv. I have burned copies and also bought copies of various shows. I have also burned copies of old commercials from tv, as I think the advertising of the time was rather important. It was really the beginning of such propaganda that still exists into today.

I want to share photos as well, but not sure how much I should do that. I do realize it will be more interesting with such things, so I think I will again, defer to my husband. He can take a photo of anything I want and then insert it into the blog for me. I will type up my blogs on an old 1950's manual. I have an electric typewriter as well, but I am not sure if it is from 59 or not, so I will stick with the manual. That will help with the technology part of it. I think not being able to browse online will affect me more than tv, which I rarely watch. As far as magazines, I will keep with the mags I have at present and my husband has said he will buy more for me on ebay as I need. (He is a sweetheart if u haven't guessed.)

All my cooking will be done with old appliances. I think my next blog will be pix of the various appliances I will be using. I am torn on my dishwasher. I think I will leave off for now, tho I know that dishwashers were available, and then I think mid-year enjoy the novelty of having one. It would be as if my husband has surprised me with the new appliance and I will appreciate in a way that a 1950
s wife would have. Let me see, Oh, I even have a vintage iron, and tho I NEVER iron now, it will become part of my routine.

My clothes will also be as vintage as I can afford. Mostly new things made with vintage patterns, tho I can sew new thigs with these patterns as the year progresses, as sewing was an affordable source for a middle class housewife. No Old Navy to pop down to with 10 dollar skirts for me!

Wow, this seems all over the place. I should enjoy this as this is the (hopefully) only post I will be doing on the computer.

Oh, yes, I also do not want to feel that I am alone in an unpeopled world of 1955, so I have a couple friends who are into the 1950s. We have been wanting to have 50's nights for awhile and now they have promised me to TRY to do one night a week that is 1950's. We will gather, dressed appropriately (of course I would be anyway) and play bridge or any board games relevant, listen to old records, drink (of course) etc. This will allow me to still feel relevant as an indivual.

Well, I seem to be all over with this blog, do let me know if u would like me to try or to explain any paritcular aspect of this project. I am off to plan my weeks menu and have my husband take some photos of my 1950's appliances.

Happy new year, Tomorrow is the first night of the 'new' Bob cummings show. I will let you know what I think of this new television program.

Ready for the new year

I have to come realize this blog I registered actually had belonged to someone else. I was also surprised to see that she was going to do the same thing I am going to do starting jan 1, that is live a year as a 1950's housewife.
I hope any who find me will stick around, as I see, poor thing, it kind of got to her after a while. I hope I can handle it, but we shall see. I really like her blog and hope I can make one as intersting for any of you who want to follow me along on my project.
It is a very busy time right now and I have to enjoy my 21st. century a little more. As, come Jan 1 it will be 1955. At least, I think that is a good time to start and then allow myself any new things to come up until 1960 as the year progresses. We shall see.
I hope u come back and check it out.
Thanks and merry christmas!