Pie Eating Contest,
Manchester County Fair,
New York, 1950
A spotty line of spectators watch the action at a distance. Two grown up girls either are judging or cheering or both. One wears her denim cut full and rolled. The other parts her hair Rita Hayworth style. The contestants seem to be all young men and one young lady. She is second from the right. One is bigger than all the others. Everybody but the sunglass-and-straw-hat-sporting photographer has their hands beside or behind them. They wear denims and dungarees. Shirts not required. Get ready, get set, go!
Some say life is a big rat race. I say life is more like a big pie eating contest. Enjoy it one sweet bite after another.
Part of that sweet life is going to the county fair. The Los Angeles County Fair, the country’s largest, begins today. Epic in story, size and stature it is an all you can eat buffet of Americana culture sold sugared, salted and deep-fried in flavors sure to impress even the snootiest of taste buds. www.fairplex.org
UPCOMING SLIDE SHOW PERFORMANCES
IN NEW YORK – Tuesday October 10th:
CHARLES PHOENIX’S AMERICANA THE BEAUTIFUL
A Retro Slide Show Celebration of America’s Golden Era, the Space Age
… 5-4-3-2-1 BLASTOFF!
Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Ave
New York, New York 10003
Tuesday October 10th 8 pm
$20 – Tickets at the door one hour before showtime
www.anthologyfilmarchives.org
IN HAWAII – Thursday, September 14
CHARLES PHOENIX’S RETRO VACATION SLIDE SHOW TOUR OF THE USA
Thursday, September 14, 7:30
McCoy Studio Theater
Kahuimi, Maui
Here’s to the pies, the contest, county fairs and you!
Ahh the fair ! We must go ! Some of my happiest memories were our annual school trips or I should say “field” trips to the fair. We actually had to participate in the judging of the animals as well. Of course everyone was really there for the funnel cake ! This shot makes me feel like summer is here ! But sadly it is almost over. Well Mr. Phoenix enjoy Maui and toast ol Red on the 11th. I have decided to be in Pasadena (my birthtown) rather than the Standard Downtown. But as you would say Charles, life is what is happening wherever you are at! We make it a party!
Howdy Sweet-as-pie Mr. Charles!
The arrival of the fair is truly exciting — cute lil’ animals, fun rides, and delish food. In the spirit of the fair, I will relax my etiquette rules and allow all attending the freedom to eat ice cream from a cone, to point at wonderful things with wild abandon, and to sit and stand in various states of slouching and leaning with no 45 degree foot angles to adhere to! It gives me a shiver to embrace so much freedom, but the opportunity to eat funnel cakes and admire a darling goat only come once a year. At least in my house.
This slide ALSO gives me a bit of a shiver. The shirtlessness, the likely fruity residue on faces, the potential of bodily unpleasantness when the competition is over … it all makes eating a flaky crust a lot less appealing. But I will persevere in my pie themed entry. Today I consult “Aunt Jenny’s 12 Pies Husbands Like Best Recipe Book” (1952). Oh Aunt Jenny! She’s so crazy about “Spry’s ‘Water-Whip’ method” that she dedicated a whole cookbook to using the shortening in the favorite pie styles of men. I prefer to think of lovely Aunt Jenny as a passionate Spry fan and not a shortening shill.
I know it seems doubtful that all men everywhere would like the same 12 pies, but listen to Aunt Jenny: “Any one of these recipes is sure to be pie to his liking — they were chosen because they’re the pies that surveys, research, letters in my mail show most men like best. So begin anywhere — run your own popularity contest — see which pie wins him!” What are these miracle pies, you say? Let’s take a look and see:
Regal Cream-on-Chocolate Pie
Deep-Dish Blueberry Pie
Heritage Pumpkin Pie
“His Favorite” Apple Pie
Dreamy Banana Cream Pie
Old-South Butterscotch Pie
Crumbly Top Apple Pie
Luscious Lemon Meringue Pie
Cherry Trellis Pie
Best Coconut Custard Pie
Coronation Peach Pie
Hot N Hearty Steak Pie
Oh. Where did that last one come from? I’m sure it’s delectable. Out of place. But wonderful. Steaky! Hearty! Piey!
So there’s the list! Is your favorite on there? Have a date this weekend, ladies? Make him the Hot N Hearty Steak Pie for dinner and maybe Dreamy Banana Cream for dessert! Mmmm. Pie.
xoxo!
Miss Sharon
oh, manchester, so much to answer for
I love that Rita Hayworth style!
Charles, you are the greatest.
As I poked around in Los Angeles Thrift Shops I always wondered why all those little slides were going to waste.
You are a hero of unknown description for resurrecting them, commenting about them, sharing them.
We are thrilled with your work and hope you will continue with great success.
And, thankyou so much for sharing.
It looks as though the first day of The school fair is moving along quite smooth.The “Art of Personal Living ” class is doing their demonstration for “Please your Partner Week”! The whole idea seems to have been orchestrated by the devious Miss Ballard,(The Teacher in the center).She seems to be enjoying this way too much.
Looks like fun. I bet it got messy afterwords.
Is it just me, or does the gentleman (judge, maybe) in the backround look like Mr. Phoenix???
Get aload of the woman on the right, with her bowling shoes and want-be capri pants.
i love this
Charles, my friend. I like this picture too. I remember my childhood, my best time of peace and innocence. Thanks for the memories. Please, carry on always!