Category Archives: History
Christopher Columbus- America Dreaming
Next to July 4th Columbus day was the most sacred American Holiday in my mid-century childhood. After all, Christopher Columbus embodied the very spirit of a founding father. Or so the story went. Skillfully weaving fairy tales with the deftness
Christopher Columbus- America Dreaming
Next to July 4th Columbus day was the most sacred American Holiday in my mid-century childhood. After all, Christopher Columbus embodied the very spirit of a founding father. Or so the story went. Skillfully weaving fairy tales with the deftness
Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer for Hipsters and Hi Society
Who would have guessed Pabst Blue Ribbon that iconic working class beer ironically embraced by hipsters has a pedigree more blue blood than blue-collar. 75 years ago Pabst positioned itself to appeal to the “gay, smart modern set” hoping members
Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer for Hipsters and Hi Society
Who would have guessed Pabst Blue Ribbon that iconic working class beer ironically embraced by hipsters has a pedigree more blue blood than blue-collar. 75 years ago Pabst positioned itself to appeal to the “gay, smart modern set” hoping members
Join the Army See the World
No matter the season, mid-century Americans in unprecedented numbers were venturing out into the cold war world traveling abroad as never before spending billions of dollars on fun for all vacations. But tourists weren’t the only ones packing their passports
Join the Army See the World
No matter the season, mid-century Americans in unprecedented numbers were venturing out into the cold war world traveling abroad as never before spending billions of dollars on fun for all vacations. But tourists weren’t the only ones packing their passports
Envy and the American Dream
Screen Envy Happy days are here again… the new iPhone is out! An uncharacteristic hush descended on my local Starbucks today as a wave of envy swept through the coffee-house. As if in unison, covetous coffee drinkers looked up from
Envy and the American Dream
Screen Envy Happy days are here again… the new iPhone is out! An uncharacteristic hush descended on my local Starbucks today as a wave of envy swept through the coffee-house. As if in unison, covetous coffee drinkers looked up from
Teddy Roosevelt Empire Builder
America has a long history of flexing our formidable global muscles, confident that our take charge performance, and American ways would be gladly received wherever we went. If the American Century began in earnest in post war America it had
Teddy Roosevelt Empire Builder
America has a long history of flexing our formidable global muscles, confident that our take charge performance, and American ways would be gladly received wherever we went. If the American Century began in earnest in post war America it had
Urban Outfitters Makes a Bloody Mistake
File this under bad taste. If one is to believe Urban Outfitters, famous for their controversial items, nothing says vintage-fun like a blood spattered Kent State sweatshirt; a nostalgic reminder of those crazy collegiate antics of the 1970s. The hip
Urban Outfitters Makes a Bloody Mistake
File this under bad taste. If one is to believe Urban Outfitters, famous for their controversial items, nothing says vintage-fun like a blood spattered Kent State sweatshirt; a nostalgic reminder of those crazy collegiate antics of the 1970s. The hip
Remembering The World Trade Center
News of the 9/11 tragedy found its way to me through the antiquated airwaves of a vintage Bakelite radio. Only days before, I had moved from the New York I loved to one of its leafy suburbs. Without cable or
Remembering The World Trade Center
News of the 9/11 tragedy found its way to me through the antiquated airwaves of a vintage Bakelite radio. Only days before, I had moved from the New York I loved to one of its leafy suburbs. Without cable or
Nuclear Family Vacation in the Nuclear Age
Vacationing was a real blast in the Atomic Age! For a merry-go-round of real nuclear family fun, no trip out west was truly complete without a visit to the Nevada Test Site for a bird’s-eye view of a genuine
Nuclear Family Vacation in the Nuclear Age
Vacationing was a real blast in the Atomic Age! For a merry-go-round of real nuclear family fun, no trip out west was truly complete without a visit to the Nevada Test Site for a bird’s-eye view of a genuine
The Missiles and Sandcastles of Summer
As eyebrows are raised as Russia tests a new ground launched cruise missile, my thoughts drifted to those pre-test treaty times when the sight of a truck toting a missile was just part of Cold war summer fun. Summer beach
The Missiles and Sandcastles of Summer
As eyebrows are raised as Russia tests a new ground launched cruise missile, my thoughts drifted to those pre-test treaty times when the sight of a truck toting a missile was just part of Cold war summer fun. Summer beach
An Atomic Fairy Tale
1950 was Cinderella’s year. My mother Betty knew it was an omen. After 6 long years of waiting, Disney’s much anticipated movie, Cinderella was finally opening and now Betty Joseph’s days of waiting were over too- she was getting
An Atomic Fairy Tale
1950 was Cinderella’s year. My mother Betty knew it was an omen. After 6 long years of waiting, Disney’s much anticipated movie, Cinderella was finally opening and now Betty Joseph’s days of waiting were over too- she was getting
Envisioning The American Dream 