Neon signs flash through the darkness on a rainy night in the city. Halos form above dimly lit street lamps. From the rooftop ballroom of the Club Dahlia in 1940′s downtown Miami, you’re listening to the sweet sounds of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
By the 1940′s, stockings had become an essential part of a woman’s attire. At the time, silk stockings were expensive and didn’t last, neither cotton or wool were dressy, and rayon sagged. Nylon stockings hit the shelves of New York... Read More »
January 1942. In another fascinating piece of the puzzle to assure victory in World War II, a freeze order banned the sale of all new cars until a rationing program could be worked out. Our government quickly followed up with an order to stockpile al... Read More »
New to the 1940s.org site is a small section devoted to everyday life in the 1940s, through photos. Over time, this section should grow quite large. When World War II ended in 1945, the United States embarked upon an unprecedented period of economic ... Read More »
oldsouth posted an update in the group 1940's films 1 day, 13 hours ago
Letter to Warner Brothers: A Night in Casablanca
Groucho Marx
Abstract: While preparing to film a movie entitled A Night in Casablanca, the Marx brothers received a letter from Warner Bros. threatening legal action if they did not change the film’s title. Warner Bros. deemed the film’s title too similar to their own Casablanca, released almost…[Read more]
escotjs became a registered member 1 day, 18 hours ago
paul commented on the post, Jilted WWII Soldiers And The First Brush-Off Club 1 day, 21 hours ago
I know!.. the publication was written by the enlisted rank only and was the most widely read magazine in the history of the U.S. military. Insightful stuff.. and great feature photos too.
retrogal commented on the post, Jilted WWII Soldiers And The First Brush-Off Club 2 days ago
Hahaha! I love this!
paul wrote a new post, Jilted WWII Soldiers And The First Brush-Off Club 2 days, 14 hours ago
From the pages of Yank, The Army Weekly – China-Burma-India Edition January 1943:
AT A U.S. BOMBER BASE, INDIA – For the first time in military history, the mournful hearts have organized. The Brush-Off Club is […]
oldsouth posted an update in the group 1940’s Food and Drink 2 days, 19 hours ago
GOOD VEGETABLES
I was lucky growing up – not only was I often in my family grocery store and surrounded by the personal chefs of the rich and famous, but my mother’s family were farmers…. old southern and half French. I was never one of those kids who hated eating vegetables. In fact, I loved them! When I was barely able to walk or talk, I…[Read more]
kristineh became a registered member 3 days, 18 hours ago
Rooftop ballrooms, inviting a soldier to dinner, the percussion of high heels across a heavy wooden floor, film noir. Lips as red as the law will allow, walking slowly on a misty morning, the buzzing of old neon. The torch song, boats made of mahogany and toy prizes made of tin, pride in appearance, Gene Tierney’s angelic glow. Black satin opera gloves, friends that sign your autograph shirt, Lux Radio Theater, riding in the rumble seat. The melody in music, handwritten letters from home, halos above street lamps in the rain, Winston Churchill. Radios as big as appliances, grilled cheese sandwiches with a dill pickle spear at Woolworth’s, the soul of our nation. Stickball, the magic of Fred and Ginger, a silver dollar from grandma, picnics in the park, letting the good guy win. Dressing up for the movies, the warmth of Christmas morning, an evening next to the radio, Bogie and Bacall. Squeezing into the photo booth with your best friend, kissing goodbye at the train station, Kilroy, the dance hall. Saturday mornings at the barber shop, sounds of children playing tag, leaning over the fence to talk to our neighbor, meeting a date at the soda fountain. The allure born of mystery, riding our bikes in the summer rain, grandma’s medicine chest, searching for four leaf clovers. Dancing until your wingtips glow, staring through display windows downtown, glass milk containers, the 1946 Wurlitzer. Making flour and water paste, a teen’s jalopy, time standing still, sending box tops for decoder rings, Sunday dinner. Hide and seek at dusk, big bands, Hollywood elegance, Superman on the radio, the lunch counter at the 5&10, fedoras.
Don't throw that water away! Keep the pot of water in which you blanched your vegetables covered, on a cold burner at the back of your stove or in the refrigerator. Every day or two blanch more vegetables, of any kind, in the same water. Each vegetable will absorb some of the salt and impart flavor and nutrients to the water. At the end of…[Read more]