Comments on: The Kitchen, Florida 1960 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/ God Bless Americana! -- Books, Slide Shows, & Field Trip Tours Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:56:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Diane http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-39638 Diane Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:17:25 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-39638 And, let's not leave out the 8" Revere Ware frying pan - de rigeur for 1960, certainly. Those utensils would have wobbly, painted wood handles. Eventually, the whole outfit dries out so much that the lead paint chips off into the scrambled eggs. Ahh...don't you yearn for days when not a thought was given to what was "safe" or "good for you?" And, let’s not leave out the 8″ Revere Ware frying pan – de rigeur for 1960, certainly. Those utensils would have wobbly, painted wood handles. Eventually, the whole outfit dries out so much that the lead paint chips off into the scrambled eggs. Ahh…don’t you yearn for days when not a thought was given to what was “safe” or “good for you?”

]]> By: jennifer http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-12639 jennifer Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:25:45 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-12639 Mid-century "American Gothic" Mid-century “American Gothic”

]]> By: Abbey http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1534 Abbey Fri, 29 Sep 2006 21:19:41 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1534 Hey Charles, I love your slides and have passed your site on to my mom. But hon, you mispelled *kitchen* on the slide itself :) LVX, Abbey Hey Charles, I love your slides and have passed your site on to my mom. But hon, you mispelled *kitchen* on the slide itself :)

LVX,
Abbey

]]> By: San Rafael Bruce/Black Sands Beach http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1510 San Rafael Bruce/Black Sands Beach Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:43:07 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1510 Oh those wonderful memories of 50's kitchens. Also note the black electrical cord (for deep fryer) thats draped on the wall and surely plus into the one or two outlets that were supplied on elctric stove tops. One electrical wall outlet was the standard in the 50's.......I am sure they didn't have a Princess phone either.... Oh those wonderful memories of 50′s kitchens. Also note the black electrical cord (for deep fryer) thats draped on the wall and surely plus into the one or two outlets that were supplied on elctric stove tops. One electrical wall outlet was the standard in the 50′s…….I am sure they didn’t have a Princess phone either….

]]> By: Tim Severs http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1495 Tim Severs Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:18:23 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1495 It's Ma and Pa Kettle! Hey Charles, read your new book. It's great. I'm going to be asking for some of your books for Christmas. Keep up the good work. It’s Ma and Pa Kettle! Hey Charles, read your new book. It’s great. I’m going to be asking for some of your books for Christmas. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Charles Phoenix http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1466 Charles Phoenix Sat, 23 Sep 2006 04:34:41 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1466 Oooops! I neglected to mention what looks to be a sticky fly catcher strip hanging as the centerpiece of the room. Hanging from the light fixture its so well lit! Oooops! I neglected to mention what looks to be a sticky fly catcher strip hanging as the centerpiece of the room. Hanging from the light fixture its so well lit!

]]> By: Mark http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1460 Mark Fri, 22 Sep 2006 23:28:05 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1460 Maybe Pa's missing finger was the result of eating from Ma's plate once too often. Really. Blow up the photo and you'll see that's industrial Crisco in the gallon size with a handle! Maybe Pa’s missing finger was the result of eating from Ma’s plate once too often. Really. Blow up the photo and you’ll see that’s industrial Crisco in the gallon size with a handle!

]]> By: Jim Eads http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1459 Jim Eads Fri, 22 Sep 2006 23:12:17 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1459 Say it isn't so! So there is another Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Arlon! At least this is who these two remind me of. Ironically, Uncle Arlon worked at an orange growing ranch his entire life;Gertrude was the young love of his life. They are long gone but the picture reminds me of their simple life and surroundings. Maybe we don't really want to know what the Crisco was used for. TMI... TMI!!! Say it isn’t so! So there is another Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Arlon! At least this is who these two remind me of. Ironically, Uncle Arlon worked at an orange growing ranch his entire life;Gertrude was the young love of his life. They are long gone but the picture reminds me of their simple life and surroundings. Maybe we don’t really want to know what the Crisco was used for. TMI… TMI!!!

]]> By: Miss Sharon http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 Miss Sharon Fri, 22 Sep 2006 20:48:57 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1453 Top-Shelf Decorator Charles! How I love that tiny vest! Mr. Short Vest is a delight -- his facial expression really speaks about his personality: fun, frivolous, and a bit silly. Adorable! I regret to say that Grim Granny perhaps doesn't impart such cheer and happiness with her visage, but she has been tethered to a marriage that has clearly defined itself along the lines of "deep fry everything, dear" so I'll forgive her. I would also like to think the jaunty spatula display is her doing. Grandpa Tiny Sweater isn't the only joker in the house! When I see such an inspirational couple taking risks with their design choices, I am reminded to visit again the _Ladies' Home Journal Book of Interior Decoration_ (1957). What finery awaits the reader on its glossy pages! And what fine advice! This book is a rigorous trip through the history of decoration and design yet it is also a guide for the everyday homemaker, like Grandma Happy Housedress, who wants to elevate her interiors to emulate the frippery of the country's wealthiest citizens! Looking at the opening paragraphs, in fact, I'm convinced that Crisco Lover, And What's It To Ya? most definitely has this particular design guide in her home library. Let's take a look: "Today, we are all kings and noblemen, patrons of the arts, educated and cultured personages. Anything that happens anywhere in the world is known to us in a matter of minutes. We learn the history and traditions of other peoples, ancient and modern, as well as our own, in our childhood. Magazines, books, manufacturers, advertisers, the radio, television, and movies bring new ideas, inventions, materials, and conveniences to our attention every day. The problem becomes one of making a choice among this wealth of possibilities." I might interject here that I believe the wealth of possibilities (and the inability to choose between them!) are reflected in Spatulas and Doodads' "Cabinet of Hanging Knickknacks". Why pick one crocheted pot holder when you can have two? One fish? How about four? It's an understandable problem given the goods we're speaking of! "Suddenly we realize that we have no more excuse for drab, uninteresting houses that just grew. We want to make our homes attractive, inviting, and pleasant. What to do? Our common sense, which is the most important ingredient of interior decorating, tells us to find out everything we can about how to improve our homes and then get to work." We certainly don't have a drab or uninteresting house here! Plus, I bet you Granny Stern and Firm is probably an excellent cook (given the evidence just in this slide!) and thus she fills the house with two kinds of good taste. And an abundance of it! Oh am I inspired to do some decorating myself this weekend. Where in the devil is my crocheted toaster cozy? And where are my slotted spoons? Whither my kitchen doll? xoxo! Miss Sharon Top-Shelf Decorator Charles!

How I love that tiny vest! Mr. Short Vest is a delight — his facial expression really speaks about his personality: fun, frivolous, and a bit silly. Adorable! I regret to say that Grim Granny perhaps doesn’t impart such cheer and happiness with her visage, but she has been tethered to a marriage that has clearly defined itself along the lines of “deep fry everything, dear” so I’ll forgive her. I would also like to think the jaunty spatula display is her doing. Grandpa Tiny Sweater isn’t the only joker in the house!

When I see such an inspirational couple taking risks with their design choices, I am reminded to visit again the _Ladies’ Home Journal Book of Interior Decoration_ (1957). What finery awaits the reader on its glossy pages! And what fine advice! This book is a rigorous trip through the history of decoration and design yet it is also a guide for the everyday homemaker, like Grandma Happy Housedress, who wants to elevate her interiors to emulate the frippery of the country’s wealthiest citizens!

Looking at the opening paragraphs, in fact, I’m convinced that Crisco Lover, And What’s It To Ya? most definitely has this particular design guide in her home library. Let’s take a look:

“Today, we are all kings and noblemen, patrons of the arts, educated and cultured personages. Anything that happens anywhere in the world is known to us in a matter of minutes. We learn the history and traditions of other peoples, ancient and modern, as well as our own, in our childhood. Magazines, books, manufacturers, advertisers, the radio, television, and movies bring new ideas, inventions, materials, and conveniences to our attention every day. The problem becomes one of making a choice among this wealth of possibilities.”

I might interject here that I believe the wealth of possibilities (and the inability to choose between them!) are reflected in Spatulas and Doodads’ “Cabinet of Hanging Knickknacks”. Why pick one crocheted pot holder when you can have two? One fish? How about four? It’s an understandable problem given the goods we’re speaking of!

“Suddenly we realize that we have no more excuse for drab, uninteresting houses that just grew. We want to make our homes attractive, inviting, and pleasant. What to do? Our common sense, which is the most important ingredient of interior decorating, tells us to find out everything we can about how to improve our homes and then get to work.”

We certainly don’t have a drab or uninteresting house here! Plus, I bet you Granny Stern and Firm is probably an excellent cook (given the evidence just in this slide!) and thus she fills the house with two kinds of good taste. And an abundance of it!

Oh am I inspired to do some decorating myself this weekend. Where in the devil is my crocheted toaster cozy? And where are my slotted spoons? Whither my kitchen doll?

xoxo!
Miss Sharon

]]> By: William Gubin http://www.charlesphoenix.com/2006/09/the-kitchen-florida-1960/comment-page-1/#comment-1450 William Gubin Fri, 22 Sep 2006 16:53:33 +0000 http://www.charlesphoenix.com/?p=205#comment-1450 Why no comments about Mother's, aka The Knitter, thoughtful choice of dress to complement Mr. Short Vest's plaid shirt? Why no comments about Mother’s, aka The Knitter,
thoughtful choice of dress to complement Mr. Short Vest’s plaid shirt?

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