Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: August 24th, 2007
Happy Anniversary, Somewhere, USA, 1959
Happy smiles paint the faces of a plain wrap married couple. He half-heartedly wraps his arm around her and lifts a ladle full of artificially colored and flavored lime punch topped off by what I wish I could call a floating and melting lime ice cream-berg (but I can’t because its sherbet). This is their Kodak moment.
For the momentous occasion she wears a scoop neck, short sleeve, self-belted cotton housedress cut in the plainest of prints. He sports his well-worn and wrinkled work clothes.
The “good dishes”, mass produced and printed with decals depicting early Americana scenes, are displayed sitting and standing in a bias cut, built in knotty pine corner shelf. A male/female pair of airbrushed ceramic pheasants are centered on the bottom shelf. The knotty pine continues just below the room’s waistline. What’s not covered with pine is covered with mass-produced wallpaper printed with a mild modern motif, offering more depth than design. The shiny bright brass wannabee wallhangers have an earth/moon relationship.
On a bleached but unpressed table cloth almost perfectly placed forks and spoons sit at attention before a quarter sheet cake frosted in a crowd pleasing, creamy-dreamy combination of white lard and powdered sugar. Pretty pale pink roses and silver foil leaves provide elegance and sophistication not only to the cake but to the entire occasion. A lone gift wrapped hobo-style in several layers of white tissue tied with fancy silver ribbon curls sits up against the wall. Glass cups, ready for service, are scattered beside their mother ship the all mighty punch bowl.
Luscious Lime Punch
- 1 gallon of seven-up
- 1 pint of lime sherbet
- 4 drops green food coloring
- 1 drop of yellow food coloring
- 2 dozen ice cubes
Serve in chilled punch bowl with American pride! And may you be as proud of it as they are! ENJOY! Oh, and one more thing SPIKE IF YOU LIKE!
Here’s to them, the punch, the punch bowl and YOU!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
August 2007
13 Comments on “Happy Anniversary, Somewhere, USA, 1959”
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August 24th, 2007 at 8:03 am
So many opportunities at the Marry-go-Round, be thankful, what still makes it your holy grail? So many dive in to the shiny pool only to find their crucible. Monty Python at the Rialto or DVD, a new lease on life. Want to watch it or simply blend a Luscious Lime Punch without the blessed ceremony. The pool is open for midnight’s swim, no longer a gaping hole. Simply delicious.
August 24th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Judging from their clothes, it was probably a surprise party. You’re getting a little judgmental in your descriptions.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I just wanted to say, even though you’ve heard it a thousand times, that your commentary on the slides it spectacular. I find myself constantly amazed at how much you get from a picture. I have some old slides I’m going to try to send you, one is a family group shot from the 50’s that I always thought was kind of boring except for my grandmother’s fabulous dress, but I would love to see what you will get from it!
August 24th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Believe the “good china” is Colonial Homestead created by Royal China of Sebring, Ohio circa 1950 and advertised in Sears catalogs through the 1960’s. I wonder if they chose lime punch to coordinate with the china???
August 24th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Looks like a nice happy couple that love each other. Brings me back to my earlier days when I would go visit my cousins in Virginia. I have several aunts and uncles that this picture reminds me of….
August 24th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I love this slide but more so the narrative you added. I am going to guess that this was a suprise to the happy couple, hence their plain drab.
anyhow love the slides!
August 24th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
The ladies dentures appear poised to eject…like an 8 track cartridge from a 70s tape player.
August 24th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I don’t know…there’s something sweet and simple in this picture that’s, in it’s plain sorta way, charming. The woman looks so happy with even the simplist celebration. These were times when people appreciated what they had which, for the most part, was more than their parents. I see on the other side of this picture some loving family celebrating this simple couples happy day. In the long run isn’t that the most important thing? Although, the green punch has gotta go!
Feeling nostalgic,
Pamela
August 24th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Would you believe my father made one of those exact corner shelf units?! It stood in our dinette for years. Fortunately, my parents were a little more animated on their 50th anniversary (and more stylish, too!)
Thanks, Charles!
August 25th, 2007 at 9:31 am
I would loved to have seen the wedding picture of this couple. They were probably fresh off the farm and met each other at a church social. At the time of the picture, she would have a few cutting flowers and he would be bragging about the tomatoes by now, as they set off to visit the state fair.
August 26th, 2007 at 5:22 am
Charles - usually you see the good and interesting in your old photos, today you are seeing the faults and blandness. I hope you are ok.
On another topic, do you ever do slide shows or tours for private events?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:57 am
C.P.
I’m a Los Angeles who went insane and moved to Colorado (I will be leaving by 2008, the goddesses willing!) Your slide lecture at the Denver Modernism show this weekend made me proud to be a southern Californian. You go girl!
August 29th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I agree with many of the comments. I don’t find your description to be very generous; just very judgemental. They look sweet, happy and excited to me.