Hats & Gloves, SoCal, 1962
These fine folks look like they are all related except for the breakout star of this portrait, Beavis and Butthead’s grandma, down on the left. It must be June. Junior has graduated. His gown and tasseled cap go almost unnoticed next the other fashion statements in this front yard family photo. Conservative high-necked dresses, cut in solids, prints and polka dots are generously accessorized with earrings, pearls and brooches. Obligatory hats and gloves complete the ever-so-civilized look. Proper ladies do not leave the house without them.
Speaking of fancy hats last Saturday I unexpectedly discovered the California Millinery Supply while walking up Spring Street in the heart of old downtown Los Angeles. The next thing I know I’m inside the store surrounded by a wonderland of vintage hat making supplies. On one side of me a rainbow wall of rare ribbons and floor-to-ceiling shelves overflowing with fancy feathers, fake fruits, flowers and leaves and everything else you could ever dream of trimming a hat with. On the other side an unexplainable variety of hypnotizing hat forms hanging from the ceiling and stacked in spectacular antique oak display cases. Virtually speechless I managed to form a short sentence and ask the very nice lady behind the counter what year this place began. “1939” she replied. Little has changed since. All I could do was just stand there mesmerized turning around in circles thinking “what-decade-am-I-in?” It was wonderful!
California Millinery Supply is located at 721 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA
213-622-8746. Make sure to tell them I sent you!
Here’s to hats and gloves, Beavis and Buttheads grandma, California Millinery Supply and YOU!
Is it just me, or are all the fine folks in the picture not exactly related?? Come on now…
For this weary working woman, it was certainly a treat to see a line-up of such finely turned-out ladies. Nothing soothes the heart and soul like a properly worn pair of gloves and a festive hat set just-so! I might also mention the fine, firm grip with which those purse handles are being clasped — good for you, ladies! You never know what kind of funny boy at the graduation will try to pull a runner on you as make your way over to the punch bowl.
Speaking of punch bowls and funny boys … I must use this space to address Junior. With all those fine pearls and hats and gloves, our ladies need no help finding the correct path in life, but what of the young master in the middle? Those doughy, innocent cheeks telegraph loud and clear: “things have been soooo easy for me, that I just can’t imagine the rest of my life will be very difficult!” Oh, but Junior. How it might be if you don’t know the proper rules to better living. It’s not all cheese sandwiches and corn chips, buddy. Life can be tough without a road map. And today, that road map is titled, _Finding Yourself_(1960) a pamphlet for teens prepared by the American Medical Association. Pretty official stuff, Junior. So you better take it on the level.
The final chapter of this helpful guide to dating and marriage contains a section called, “Managing Your Urges Through Better Living,” and I think we all know what urges the good doctors mean. The main point is that avoiding, uh urges, is easy when your life is exciting and complete. Let’s take a look:
Sex tensions are not likely to be a serious problem to you when life is full and satisfying, and when most problems can be met pretty well from day to day. Here are a few suggestions for improving your friendships, your recreation, and your personality, and for avoiding some pitfalls. You might like to check those which would be particularly useful to you.
Do you need to improve your friendships by:
– Breaking up a friendship where petting is the chief or only attraction, or else putting the friendship on a different basis? (If Junior needs help with this, I hope Funny Face Grandma boxes his ears!)
Do you need to improve your recreation by:
– Planning your dates so that you have something interesting to do and talk about, instead of petting?
– Reading good fiction or other books that help you to clear up your ideas of the kind of person you want to marry, the kind of home you want to make and how families should work, play, and live together? Your English teacher, or the librarian may suggest books of this sort. (I suggest Junior go to his room and think about what he’s putting Great Aunt Ida through!)
Do you need to improve your personality by:
– Learning to be skillful in something that is worthwhile doing, and that makes you feel like a worthwhile person? Many creative hobbies and sports are helpful along this line. (Somebody roughhouse with Junior, he looks restless.)
Do you need to improve your ways of solving problems by:
– Getting together with a group of your friends, and their parents and yours, to agree on a code which both parents and young people accept. (Let’s just stick to the women in your family, sonny. There are enough gloves and hats in that crowd to keep you on the straight and narrow.)
There you have it! The checklist for success! Don’t you think Brown Polka Dots has followed such sage advice? And she’s definitely passed it on to Pinky Polka Dots! Junior, on the other hand, has a lot of pearls and hats to catch up with! Get going, boy. Find yourself the accessories of your dreams — but only those that aren’t too stimulating, of course!
xoxo!
Miss Sharon
Charles! I’m surprised you didn’t mention that B & B’s grandma and the lady in the polka dots seem to be wearing the same hat, although each in her own inimitable style.
Crouching grandma on the left was obviously taken out of the institution only long enough for the obligitory group photo. She steals the show! I wonder where they lunched afterward? Possibly the fabulous Clifton’s? Let’s hope so. Oh Charles, you’re incouragable!
Beavis and Butthead’s grandma! Uuuuuuuhhhh, heh heh… LOL.
RIP Jerry
all they need now are the right shoes – I can just see these girls as backup dancers here …
youtube.com/watch?v=tYnn51C3X_w&mode=related&search=
This picture can’t be from 1962! That “lady” in the lower left corner is the comic Gilbert Gottfreid in drag!!! What’s with granny on the right? Must not have had her prunes that morning. I do love this slide. Really a great picture of 1962 fashions.
Don’t they all look prim and proper. You’re right. That woman does look like Beavis and Butthead’s grandma. Heh heh…heh heh. My dad graduated from South High School in Torrence, Californa in 1963. That’s cool you discovered California Millinery Supply. Take care.
WHEN are hats going to come back in fashion?!
Oh cousin Charles you do have the best family photos!
How I miss all my long gone relatives when I see such group photos.
Thanks Charles for keeping the timewarp alive & thriving in my head!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Straigt out of Central Casting!