Behind the Curtain

Tenement Children

Harvard University has digitized a few pamhlets about working tenement children. It is an extremely interesting look at how a rarely documented class lived. Check it out.

Ladies Home Journal, April 1941

Here are some pages from an April issue of Ladies Home Journal. While the fashions shown are specifically for Spring, I think a lot can be reworked for Fall for those up north and can be taken as is for those in the south (you lucky warm ladies). Click to view larger.

I love the split-front overskirt idea!

 

Proof that old advertising still works. After seeing these ads in several 40s LHJ, I went to Etsy and picked myself up a Pyrex double boiler! I absolutely love melting chocolate in it rather than doing it the "modern way" of using the microwave.

Ladies Home Journal, Winter Prep

(I don't endorse furs, but we can definitely look at these for some faux fur inspiration!)

To go with last week's LHJ post, here is some fashion and food inspiration for you all. The fashion is geared more for cooler weather, which I think we are all starting to feel whispers of right now. Click images to view larger.

I swore I posted this before, but a quick search through my archive shows my memory wrong. I love the look of jerkins (quite like vests) and definitely need to add some to my wardrobe.

Warning sign that you read too many vintage magazines: This dessert looks delicious to you.

How America Lives, Ladies Home Journal, April 1941

"How America Lives" is re-occurring editorial in Ladies Home Journal that focuses on the life of one family. They represent all classes and spell out how they spend their money. The rest of the issues normally ties in with the family, for example, sharing their favorite recipes in the cooking section. I've mentioned this feature several times before and am in the process of scanning in all the stories from 1941. For April issue Ladies Home Journal featured two families that share a split home. I've included the pages from the main article below; click to view larger.

The below page are letters to the editor regarding a previous "How America Lives" that focuses on several families living below the poverty level. It is a really interesting and eye-opening article from the series and is the next story I plan on scanning.

Kitchen Cabinet Cookbook

Well, I have a bit of a treat for you. For your cooking a geeking out pleasure, I have scanned the entire Sunset Magazine Kitchen Cabinet Cookbook. This cookbook has recipes ranging from the 20s until the late 30s. And, to add to the awesomeness, it is chock full of illustrations of women cooking. It is absolutely amazing.

Beyond the food and being able to see specific cooking trends (there are a lot of dishes that are"Unusual" or "Different" and they really like foods that are "de luxe."), the illustrations allow you to see how women's fashion progressed. You can also track how home economics technology improved by the utensils and machines used in the panels. For example...

(Click for larger) Note the "manly" outfit on the housewife: tie, v-neck vest, and knife-pleated skirt. Really quite a fetching outfit. But, what is this - are they are going on a picnic? Better wrap that ceramic pot full of chicken legs in newspaper and a towel to take to your destination!

I especially love the illustrations that show the women doing their shopping or at the butcher's because it shows the "current" fashion in hats and coats. This particular woman's outwear...sigh, to have a cloche like that.

The 'ladies luncheon' scene at the end of this strip is great, but what is even better are the "It's a Good Idea" bits they include in the cooking column during the mid-20s. They have some really great tips that are still useful today.

Enough of my babbling on this book, go and view it for yourself. It is best viewed as a slideshow, as you can "flip" through the pages as you would the real thing. I've scanned the page spreads at really high quality so it is easily readable. I also included the dishes that each spread contains in the image description for easy searching. There is a recipe index at the back of the book, so if you are looking for something specific, you can peruse that.

One note of warning about the recipes in this book: DO NOT make any of the recipes for jams, jellies, preserves, etc. These canning techniques are outdated and may cause you to get very very ill. Be especially weary of tomato recipes that want you to can or preserve the sauce - only use canning recipes from 1983 or later!

With that said, I hope you enjoy this cookbook - it really is quite a treasure!

Problem Kitchen, Fixed!

Here is an article from Chicago Daily Tribune June 18, 1950 title "Straight Line' Plan Best for Dishwashing" that I thought you all would like to read. Click to view full-size.

Look After Your Woolens

About this time of year is when our winter clothes are looking a bit run down. Here is a reproduction of a British WWII pamphlet from Make Do and Mend: Keeping Family and Home Afloat on War Rations (ISBN 978-1-84317-265-9). Click images to view larger.

Life: March 13, 1939

Although the last issue we looked at was in November, I thought taking a look at an issue close to the current date would satisfy many of our spring yearnings. 1939's March 13th issue is chock full of stuff. Lets page through some of the interesting bits.

Some of the possible...um...entertainment for adults in the works for the World's Fair in New York. The time line that runs up the side is great. I also think its funny they also squish children's entertainment into this page. Yeah...the two don't really mix.

 

Aerial color picture of the World's Fair grounds. The previous page also has it in black and white with diagrams showing what each building is. A really informative spread.

Ellis Island experience through the eyes of an immigrant. I am so happy my family never had to go through this when they immigrated.

Other interesting Bits...
• First Lady Roosevelt takes lessons to train her voice pgs 6-8. Funny, as she was always made fun of for her high voice.
• Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli becomes Pope Pius XII, starts on pg 12.
• Spring bonnets, pgs 62/63. Holy tall hats!
• Pictures to the editors pgs 78/79. Platypus and New Yorker solves small apt. issue.
• There is a load of World's Fair stuff that is all quite interesting.

Not too much to fill any spring desires, but perhaps some Ladies Home Journal page scans sometime in the next few weeks will fill that quota. Yes, I enjoy teasing.

Clothes Doctor

Another reproduction of British WWII Instruction Leaflet from Make Do and Mend: Keeping Family and Home Afloat on War Rations (ISBN 978-1-84317-265-9) for your viewing & mending pleasure. I really love the idea above for lengthening a dress. Click images to view larger.

November 13, 1939

As I flip through my hard copy of 1939 Life issues, I thought I would keep going with what I did a few weeks ago of virtually "flipping through" the digital issues with you all. Here is Life's November 13, 1939 issue.

World's Fair is closing, wackiness ensues. Pgs 24-25.

I'm loving these recipes by men for Thanksgiving. Only about two of them actually look appetizing to me. Pgs 44-45.

Girls football! Didn't know they had it so early. Article starts on pg 78.

Other Interesting bits:
- Spirit pictures on pg 8-9, 11-12. It may look like cheesecloth, but it is really ectoplasm, we swear!
- Pg 29 - A little insignificant, but I really like the sense of camaraderie and interaction between these ladies. Yes, I'm odd.
- Brits use clothing to stop accidents during blackouts, on pg 31-32.
- Is it just me or is the man on pg 34 of the car ad kind of...creepy? This ad would not make me want to buy that car.
- Close-up on German Generals, starts on pg 38.
- Argentines - Upper Class and peasants, starts on pg 60
- Pg 84 - Holy eccentric family.