Category Archives: American Way

Victory Gardens

 In urban areas across the country vacant lots are filled with sights of neighbors pulling weeds, planting seeds and tending heirloom tomatoes. Overnight city rooftops have sprouted lush gardens. “Tarbeachs” once reserved for city sunning, now produces organic vegetables for

Victory Gardens

 In urban areas across the country vacant lots are filled with sights of neighbors pulling weeds, planting seeds and tending heirloom tomatoes. Overnight city rooftops have sprouted lush gardens. “Tarbeachs” once reserved for city sunning, now produces organic vegetables for

Hiroshima at Home Pt. II

This past week Japan marked the somber anniversary of the worlds first Atomic bomb attack with a ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Park. Among the 50,000 attending the memorial service near the epicenter of the blast was a grandson of former

Hiroshima at Home Pt. II

This past week Japan marked the somber anniversary of the worlds first Atomic bomb attack with a ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Park. Among the 50,000 attending the memorial service near the epicenter of the blast was a grandson of former

WWII vintage ad illustration fe,ale beauty

Beauty Bait During Wartime

In the fall of 1944 my mother Betty was a college freshman who had more on her mind than musty old history dates; it was dates of another sort that troubled her. However due to the war, she and the

WWII vintage ad illustration fe,ale beauty

Beauty Bait During Wartime

In the fall of 1944 my mother Betty was a college freshman who had more on her mind than musty old history dates; it was dates of another sort that troubled her. However due to the war, she and the

American History Amusement Park

  Freedomland Fun Foiled Besides my copious visits to El Patio my grandmothers suburban beach club, my summer staycation in 1960 was to include a visit to the newly opened Freedomland. Although Disneyland in California remained the holy grail of

American History Amusement Park

  Freedomland Fun Foiled Besides my copious visits to El Patio my grandmothers suburban beach club, my summer staycation in 1960 was to include a visit to the newly opened Freedomland. Although Disneyland in California remained the holy grail of

Hiroshima Hits Home

On a hot summer morning on August 6, some 67 years ago, the first Atomic Bomb blasted over Hiroshima ushering us into the Atomic Age. In that great American tradition of forgive and forget, only ten years later in May

Hiroshima Hits Home

On a hot summer morning on August 6, some 67 years ago, the first Atomic Bomb blasted over Hiroshima ushering us into the Atomic Age. In that great American tradition of forgive and forget, only ten years later in May

How to Keep Your Cool in The Cold War

Hot Summer…Cold War Pt V The first cracks in my mid-century American dream appeared some 50 years ago this summer.  Raising the heat of the Cold War a tense President Kennedy appeared on National television 51 years ago this week

How to Keep Your Cool in The Cold War

Hot Summer…Cold War Pt V The first cracks in my mid-century American dream appeared some 50 years ago this summer.  Raising the heat of the Cold War a tense President Kennedy appeared on National television 51 years ago this week

Vintage ad 1960s man barbecueing meat

Licensed to Grill

Hot Summer… Cold War Pt. IV  With the pungent whiff of sizzling meat in the sixties summer air these cowboy cold warriors got into a heated discussion about the threat of Thermonuclear War and President Kennedy’s cry of a Missile

Vintage ad 1960s man barbecueing meat

Licensed to Grill

Hot Summer… Cold War Pt. IV  With the pungent whiff of sizzling meat in the sixties summer air these cowboy cold warriors got into a heated discussion about the threat of Thermonuclear War and President Kennedy’s cry of a Missile

1950s men at suburban barbecue

Wag The Dog

Hot Summer…. Cold War Pt III As the world poised for a showdown between those 2 cold warriors the USA and the Soviet Union, the risk of military conflict between the 2 heated up the summer of 1961 over the

1950s men at suburban barbecue

Wag The Dog

Hot Summer…. Cold War Pt III As the world poised for a showdown between those 2 cold warriors the USA and the Soviet Union, the risk of military conflict between the 2 heated up the summer of 1961 over the

(L)Vintage Ad Beer belongs 1950s (R) Vintage illustration Atom Bomb blast

Hot Summer Cold War

The steamy summer of 1961 may have been sweltering, but the Cold War had moved into a deep freeze by July putting a glacial chill in the balmy summer air . Hovering right beneath the surface of that sunny glow

(L)Vintage Ad Beer belongs 1950s (R) Vintage illustration Atom Bomb blast

Hot Summer Cold War

The steamy summer of 1961 may have been sweltering, but the Cold War had moved into a deep freeze by July putting a glacial chill in the balmy summer air . Hovering right beneath the surface of that sunny glow

Sun, Sand and JFK

The  Presidential race that dominated the sizzling summer of 1960- a spectacle of pure showmanship filled with hoopla and chutzpah, showboating and glad handling – paled in comparison to my grandmothers beach club, itself crawling with glitter and glamor. In

Sun, Sand and JFK

The  Presidential race that dominated the sizzling summer of 1960- a spectacle of pure showmanship filled with hoopla and chutzpah, showboating and glad handling – paled in comparison to my grandmothers beach club, itself crawling with glitter and glamor. In