Harold finds this hysterical. But then, humor was much simpler in 1930.
Entertainment
All work and no play… well, you know. But whatever did they do for fun back then?
Viewer Discretion is Advised
WARNING: The following contains sexual content not suitable for some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.
If music came with the disclaimers we’re used to seeing on our television programs, the 1930 hit by Louis Armstrong, Body and Soul, would have come with the above warning. It was, after all, banned from the radio for almost a year¹ Continue reading
And the Winner Is…
This Sunday (26 Feb 2017) marks the 89th Annual Academy Awards. Shhhh, don’t tell anybody, but I never watch them. Too many long drawn out speeches. That said, I do have my favorites for Best Picture: Lion, Manchester by the Sea, Hidden Figures.
Rose didn’t watch the Academy Awards either. (Of course, she didn’t! There wasn’t TV, dodo!)
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Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day. The day of romance… Great if you’re in a relationship. Often just a painful or awkward reminder for those who aren’t. Charlie¹ sort of feels that pain himself, as you will see… Continue reading
Snow Cream
This diary¹ entry intrigued me:
1929 Thursday January 10
Nice day. Roads were drifted full again. LAS met here today. Not very large crowd but not so bad for the roads. Took in over $5. Snow started to blow about 4:30 and had another blizzard all night again. The wind blew just terrible. Francis, Ruth, and Oscar were here and spent the eve. We made ice cream and played cards. Jack Nolte died this noon. Mama is better.
The new year really wreaked havoc on the midwest in 1929. The diary entries for the first two weeks of the year consistently Continue reading
A Tribute
I recently did a music/movie post, but that was before I noticed that Singin’ in the Rain was a song from Rose’s era. So, in tribute to my favorite movie ever and remembering all three of its stars now deceased—Gene Kelly, Donald O’Conner, and Debbie Reynolds, here is the original version of the song.
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Button Up Your Overcoat
While that’s good advice for a January in the northern hemisphere, this post is not a commentary on winter weather. Rather, I’ve been thinking about popular music that Rose might hum while she works, and Button Up Your Overcoat jumped out of the Wikipedia list of tunes made popular in 1929.
This song was first recorded by Ruth Etting in 1928 but was made famous by Helen Kane’s 1929 recording. Don’t recognize the name Helen Kane? Continue reading
Happy New Year
For a while, it looked like Harold and Rose might go to a local dance to celebrate the close of 1929. But, in the end, they decided on a quiet evening at home. (Harold was pleased by this decision, as he really is not the best dancer.) So, they dialed in this radio special—ending, of course, with Auld Lang Syne—to herald in their 1930.
No matter how you’ve decided to celebrate the end of 2016, we (Harold, Rose, and I) wish you the best for 2017. Happy New Year!
Twas the Night Before Christmas
Rose is listening to Sally Hamlin‘s recording of The Night Before Christmas (c1925) while she waits for Santa. Ho! Ho! Ho!
A Little Christmas Music
Only three more days until Christmas. Are you ready?
Rose is. She finished up Harold’s gift—embroidered hankerchiefs—yesterday, and, today, she and Harold chose and cut their modest pine. Of course, she’s done crafting her ornaments and is settling in, just now, to trim the tree.
Cue the Christmas music. Continue reading
Taylor MacDowell 