Posts Tagged: suburbia
Plugged into the American Dream
In 1956 happy homemaker Helen Watson didn’t give a hoot about leaving carbon footprints; in fact if one were pointed out to her she’d most likely plug-in her powerful Electrolux vacuum and sweep it all away. Was she concerned
Plugged into the American Dream
In 1956 happy homemaker Helen Watson didn’t give a hoot about leaving carbon footprints; in fact if one were pointed out to her she’d most likely plug-in her powerful Electrolux vacuum and sweep it all away. Was she concerned
Back to School Shoes
It was the day before Labor Day 1957 and the countdown had begun for the end of summer and the new school term. From Long Island to Little Rock, crisp black and white marbled composition notebooks were hastily purchased, and
Back to School Shoes
It was the day before Labor Day 1957 and the countdown had begun for the end of summer and the new school term. From Long Island to Little Rock, crisp black and white marbled composition notebooks were hastily purchased, and
The Beat of the Suburbs
The suburbs of postwar Long Island silently simmered in a preordained sameness, no more so than in the summer. Summer days were metered out in predictable beats. Smoky backyard barbecues were a ho-hum summer staple of mid-century suburban life, but
The Beat of the Suburbs
The suburbs of postwar Long Island silently simmered in a preordained sameness, no more so than in the summer. Summer days were metered out in predictable beats. Smoky backyard barbecues were a ho-hum summer staple of mid-century suburban life, but
When Good Humor Ruled the Suburbs
Growing up in mid-century Long Island, no sound was more welcome than the suburban siren call of summer – the seductive jingling bells of the Good Humor truck. Normally at the first ring of that irresistible ding-a-ling-ling, slippery tots would
When Good Humor Ruled the Suburbs
Growing up in mid-century Long Island, no sound was more welcome than the suburban siren call of summer – the seductive jingling bells of the Good Humor truck. Normally at the first ring of that irresistible ding-a-ling-ling, slippery tots would
All American Barbecue
The Smell of Democracy in the Air Every July 4th our split level development would be shrouded by the smoke of burning charcoal, the sizzling smell of democracy was in the air. Besides a parade, nothing was more quintessentially American
All American Barbecue
The Smell of Democracy in the Air Every July 4th our split level development would be shrouded by the smoke of burning charcoal, the sizzling smell of democracy was in the air. Besides a parade, nothing was more quintessentially American
Selling the Nuclear Family
Has the selling of the 1950’s nuclear family finally reached it’s expiration date? In a consumer culture of unlimited choices, Madison Avenue has long sold only one brand of the American family…and it is now a bit shopworn. Never was
Selling the Nuclear Family
Has the selling of the 1950’s nuclear family finally reached it’s expiration date? In a consumer culture of unlimited choices, Madison Avenue has long sold only one brand of the American family…and it is now a bit shopworn. Never was
Post War Pesticides on Parade
Breathe Easier Mid Century America was the golden age of pesticides and it was love at first sight. Any thoughts about Earth Day and the environment lay far in the future. Thousands of new chemicals were put to use in
Post War Pesticides on Parade
Breathe Easier Mid Century America was the golden age of pesticides and it was love at first sight. Any thoughts about Earth Day and the environment lay far in the future. Thousands of new chemicals were put to use in
The Occidental Oriental
My Mom was one smart cookie…fortune cookie that is. When my mid-century Mom wanted to go exotic..she’d go Oriental and thanks to Chun King canned chow mein it was cantoneasy ! Like many mid-century housewives, when she wanted to add
The Occidental Oriental
My Mom was one smart cookie…fortune cookie that is. When my mid-century Mom wanted to go exotic..she’d go Oriental and thanks to Chun King canned chow mein it was cantoneasy ! Like many mid-century housewives, when she wanted to add
Decorating With DDT
Just as mid-century garden nurseries were busy preparing for spring, filling their shelves with packets of seeds and cans of DDT, so American parents were diligently decorating their baby nurseries with happy-go-lucky wallpaper coated with protective DDT. No April Fools!
Decorating With DDT
Just as mid-century garden nurseries were busy preparing for spring, filling their shelves with packets of seeds and cans of DDT, so American parents were diligently decorating their baby nurseries with happy-go-lucky wallpaper coated with protective DDT. No April Fools!
A Post-War Primer on Mother Nature
Birds and the Bees First day of spring conjures up a childhood filled with the anticipation of blooming flowers, budding trees and a haze of pesticides being sprayed across my suburban neighborhood. Talk about March Madness! By the time I
A Post-War Primer on Mother Nature
Birds and the Bees First day of spring conjures up a childhood filled with the anticipation of blooming flowers, budding trees and a haze of pesticides being sprayed across my suburban neighborhood. Talk about March Madness! By the time I
Envisioning The American Dream 