Happy Thanksgiving
Wow, it's Thanksgiving again! So soon. I'm still eating leftover turkey from the last one! It just keeps getting more flavorful and complex - quite the taste sensation. I am thankful for my small but somehow-loyal audience, all of you make GDB so much more fun than I would have ever imagined. So... thanks!
I have a few vintage photos from Thanksgivings of yesteryear - maybe they will remind you of your own family gatherings. First up is this picture (circa 1962) of a boy with a bow tie. I've never worn a bow tie in my life - I am more of an ascot guy, as those of you who have met me can attest.
The kid is laughing because he wished his family into the cornfield, and now all of the food is his. Can you blame him? The turkey looks magnificent, cooked to perfection in mom's Hotpoint oven. There is a decorative centerpiece with fruit and vegetables that look suspiciously waxy. My grandma used to have wax fruit, and her terrible grandchildren (not me) ruined it because we, I mean they, could not keep their hands off of it. Look how soft the wax is! We, I mean they, could scrape the color right off with fingernails. Grandma also had bunches of soft plastic grapes, it was so fun to pull the grapes off and throw them. Fun for my siblings, I mean, I would shake my head solemnly.
Aw, you know what? It's lonely eating all by yourself. Zoltan has wished everyone back from the cornfield, and you can tell that they are still a bit out of sorts about the whole thing (and have lost their appetites after eating so much corn). I'm trying to work out who's who; that's certainly dad in the middle - and maybe that's mom to his right (our left)? But who's taking the picture? Grandpa? The two older ladies wandered into the house, nobody knows who they are. And I can't tell is the young woman to the left is "big sis" to Zoltan, or "younger sis" to the mom. These things are important.
Next is this photo from Thanksgiving, 1953. I can't tell if that turkey was always small, or if it has been whittled away. Dad is doing a good job, unlike me, to this day I am the worst at carving a turkey or chicken. It is my greatest shame. If you look behind dad, you can see what I believe is a ceramic "Faline" (Bambi's girlfriend) figure by the Evan K. Shaw company.
What do you think?
I hope each and every one of the Junior Gorillas has a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving!
11 comments:
Major-
These images provide a fine assortment of Thanksgiving memories. As you, I was swept-away by that lad's bowtie; and I join you in declaring that I too have never worn one - and I plan to keep it that way. The standout in the 1st image is [somewhat] hiding in the background: that coppertone, mid-50's, Western-Holly double oven - with round windows - unfortunately obscured by the raised counter.
You didn't mention the birdcage in the 2nd image... and just where IS the bird-? (Hopefully, it was spared from joining the turkey for tonight's feast-! Maybe the bird snapped the picture).
Happy Thanksgiving Major, and to all my fellow Jr. G's.
Happy Thanksgiving, Major and all of you Junior Gorillas! I'm thankful for all of you--and especially for you, Major--for all the time and resources you put into GDB, bringing us all together everyday for lots of fun, laughs and time-travels.
I'll check back, later in the day, to see what's happening around the holiday dinner table. That little deer, is adorable, BTW.
1) Yes. I believe that kid would wish his family into the cornfield. But first, he had to wish the cornfield into existence, then the family followed.
Not sure what that white thing is sitting on the pass-through shelf... a radio? High powered laser? Other than the way-too-shiny wax fruit, there isn't much in this household that we had in ours.
2) One of the two ladies that wandered in is wearing a birdcage on her head (Nanook beat me to it!). I have to admit, it does make for a fancy hat! I like the "make do" features of this get-together. For instance, most of the chairs don't match. Why, young Zoltan is sitting on the piano bench!
3) I was gonna suggest that the small turkey is actually a chicken, but it's definitely a turkey (the long legs and the prominent breastbone). I suppose it could be a goose... or maybe a killer swan... or maybe a very deformed rabbit. Bambi's girlfriend on the shelf is definitely a match to your curated image.
I like the maple leaves on the table. They appear to be fake, but it's the thought that counts.
Major, thanks for your well wishes and today's photos and commentary. A very pleasant Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good bite.
That’s neither Big Sis to Zoltan or Little Sis to Mom - it’s Zoltan’s 11th Great Grandmother Prudence who he accidentally brought back from the cornfield with the rest of the family. The giveaway is her Pilgrim dress.
Ice water in fancy glasses and a dish full of olives on the table. This could have been our family’s Thanksgiving table. Well, except it doesn’t look like our house, nor do any of the people look familiar. But other than that, it’s exactly the same.
Note the ivory-colored Western Electric 500 phone at the end of the counter, just to the left of the birdcage.
I give thanks for this community and the daily joy it brings. Thank YOU, Major, for making it all possible. May you all have a joyous Thanksgiving!
……besides the wax fruit … Aunt Elenor is ALSO made of wax. How people of the 50’s and 60’s got a nutrients is beyond me .. with all that wax fruit and glass grapes.
Major : that does appear to be an Evan K Shaw “Bambi line” piece. Shaw , Hagen-Renaker And Vernon Kills also sold many of the Disney line ceramics as generic non-Disney figures with slight variations to the coloring or finishes. For decades - even until recently Hagen-Renaker sold characters from Disney molds from 101 Dalmatians , Bambi , Lady & The Tramp and Sleeping Beauty as generic dogs, deer, rabbits and birds etc. something Disney collectors despise .
Remember the most common food served at the firsts Thanksgiving was fish and lobster!
HAPPIEST OF THANKSGIVING 2024 everyone!
……besides the wax fruit … Aunt Elenor is ALSO made of wax. How people of the 50’s and 60’s got a nutrients is beyond me .. with all that wax fruit and glass grapes.
Major : that does appear to be an Evan K Shaw “Bambi line” piece. Shaw , Hagen-Renaker And Vernon Kills also sold many of the Disney line ceramics as generic non-Disney figures with slight variations to the coloring or finishes. For decades - even until recently Hagen-Renaker sold characters from Disney molds from 101 Dalmatians , Bambi , Lady & The Tramp and Sleeping Beauty as generic dogs, deer, rabbits and birds etc. something Disney collectors despise .
Remember the most common food served at the firsts Thanksgiving was fish and lobster!
HAPPIEST OF THANKSGIVING 2024 everyone!
You all crack me up with sharp wit and fun info every day - Major-ly. THANKS!
MS
I guess I’m the exception, I had a little clip-on bow tie, when I was the age of the boy in the pic. I sat on the piano bench too, as did my nieces years and years later.
Major, I remember wax fruit, and those weird rubber grapes too. If you were careful, the grapes could be pushed back onto the stems so you wouldn’t get in trouble.
I think I see pickled peaches and crabapples in the dish. These folks were well-off, look at that fancy kitchen with walnut(?) cabinets, silver service on the sideboard, and modern appliances. Mom has expensive jewelry and quite the eyebrows to go with her terrifying stare. Cross her at your peril.
In photo 2, Leonard is whacking up that bird without getting too far from his rye highball. I still have our brass plate charger like the one on his wall, mine in is my office by my computer desk. I had no idea these were a thing. Good eye on the porcelain deer, Major. The coffee service looks familiar too, but ours was powder blue, not avocado.
Major, GDB is a big deal for me, I am very grateful for these Cracker Barrel chats in the internet Market House, for the friends I have here, and for you, making it all possible. Best wishes to all for the holiday.
JG
Happy Thankdgiving to everybody! Everybody, everywhere!
Ah 1962! I was actually around then! But I was also two months old, so I only ate a ten pound turkey. And three pumpkin pies. With whipped cream. Yum!
Growing up we had to large brass chargers on the wall of our big dining room …. Most of my relatives in North Carolina and Virginia also had dining room wall chargers … my grandparents in California ( formerly of New York ) were all modern in style once on the west coast - except for some select colonial pieces in the 70’s. Those brass charges in modern times were mostly decorative, their origins are ancient Roman : when celebrating a battle , Roman Cesar’s and Generals would take the blood splattered shields used by the ROMAN CHARGERS ( infantry) , turn the shields upside down and use them to hold meats , fruits and other delicacies for the banquet celebration . It was desirable to have as much blood on the banquet shields so most often animal blood was sprinkled on for dramatic effect .
Happy Thanksgiving, Major, and to all the Jr. Gorillas! As others have shared more eloquently before me, I am so truly thankful for this community and for the daily trips back in time. Best wishes to you and yours!
Post a Comment