Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...
The history and traditions of the holiday.
The décor that filled our homes.
The toys that defined each decade.
The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).
Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.
Welcome to Christmas 1955. This is a year when the Cold War is bubbling, the Civil Rights Movement is in full swing, and Elvis is about a month away from appearing on live television for the first time.
In April of that year, Ray Kroc opens his first McDonald's franchise, and the polio vaccine is announced as safe and effective. Disneyland opens in California that summer, and the television set is now an American staple, owned by more than 50% of homes.
A decade beyond the end of World War II, the "Golden Age of Capitalism" finds the United States producing nearly half the world's goods, television ads bring new products directly into our homes, and what will become known as the midcentury modern style introduces exciting and new decor and furnishings. Check out this book for more about the midcentury kitchen.
Photo credit: Heinz History Center
Mr. Potato Head, introduced in 1952, is a popular toy in 1955, and holds the distinct honor of being the first toy advertised on television. Originally, inventor George Lerner designed Mr. Potato Head as a kit of plastic pieces that could be added to any kitchen vegetable. His plastic body would not hit the market until 1964.
Photo credit: The Henry Ford Museum
Another desired toy for Christmas is Silly Putty. Invented by General Electric while they were seeking ways to combat the rubber shortage during World War II, this stretchy, bouncing material became famous thanks to an article in The New Yorker.
Thanks to the prosperity families experience after the war, adults are curious to find ways to make their lives easier.
Photo credit: AbeBooks
The happy homemaker might enjoy this cookbook to go with their new handheld electric mixer. Perhaps, the well-dressed man will request a new wool coat or fedora. And with Rock and Roll gaining popularity this decade, a new Philco portable phonograph might be just the thing to play your records.
Looking for midcentury holiday trends? Check out Midcentury Christmasby Sarah Archer.
Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...
The history and traditions of the holiday.
The décor that filled our homes.
The toys that defined each decade.
The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).
Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.
Happy Sunday! How is your February going? With Christmas 313 days away, I am bringing you along on a journey through some popular toys of my childhood--some I owned, and others I only hoped for. After this post, you will understand why Gen Xers are so tough.
Lincoln Logs
Much to my mother’s horror, I was that kid who kept wandering into the “boys’ toys” aisle. See this 1976 Lincoln Logs ad where the one girl is being “helped” by a man (presumably Dad), while the boys are off building solo? How subtle. Lincoln Logs were already decades old by then, but they made a comeback in the 60s and 70s. I asked for a set every year, but my mother would buy me another doll in the hopes I would enjoy them and forget about those "other" toys.
So, I waited until our girls were born, and spoiled them with the Lincoln Logs I never had. They played with those Lincoln Logs constantly, creating their own buildings despite the included instructions with photos.
Hot Wheels Race Tracks
The only thing I wanted more than Lincoln Logs was a Hot Wheels race track set. Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars were sold singly for under a dollar back then, so I had a nice collection. As you can tell by these commercials, though, race tracks were not meant for girls in those years. In fairness to my mother, I'm not sure we had enough room for some of these sets, but that little detail didn't stop me from asking regularly.
Sesame Street Plush Toys
I grew up on Sesame Street. We only had like five TV stations, so PBS was on a lot. I loved Big Bird, and my sister loved Grover. This was way before Elmo came on the scene. I had this Big Bird toy, whose photo I grabbed from an Etsy listing. For some reason, Big Bird's beak was made out of firm, rubbery plastic. Who thought that was a good idea?
Now, maybe it was just my family, but when the kids got out of hand, they swung things at each other. While Grover's cardboard mouth, which opened and closed, could sting a bit, Big Bird's plastic beak hurt like heck when someone hit you with it.
Clackers
Photo credit: cavdu.shop
Speaking of toys that hurt like heck. Does anyone remember Clackers? With the proper flick of your wrist, you would get those balls hitting one another up and down with a nice "clack." If not, they would whack you on the wrist. I recall many black and blue bruises on my arms. I guess, at least mine never shattered and took out my eye. There are numerous reports about them being pulled off the market for that very reason.
Big Wheels
Photo credit Mikesvintagetoyz as featured in Car & Driver
This is another toy I had, which amazes me that no one was concerned about. I guess the vibrant primary colors could say, "Hey, look out, little kid ahead," but at under 24 inches, no one was likely going to see you. The hard plastic wheels had no traction, so if I had been allowed to take this for a ride outside of my yard, I would have gone flying down the hill we lived on, pulled the blue brake lever, and tumbled out into the street when it toppled over. Ah, good times!
Jarts (lawn darts, javelin darts)
Photo credit: KQED
Nothing spells F-U-N like weighted lawn darts with metal ends that you toss in the air. Jarts was an outdoor game that I played with and without my parents around. The goal was to get your lawn darts inside one of the two plastic hoops set up at opposite sides of the lawn. To win, you had to be the first player or team to score 21 points. Because of the number of injuries caused by Jarts, they are banned in the US and Canada. In all the years we played them, we were lucky enough not to have any issues.
Drowsy Doll
Photo credit WorthPoint
My mother scored big with the Drowsy doll. It was the one doll I remember playing with all the time. Maybe it was her bowl haircut, her whining for another drink of water, or that creepy laugh when you pulled her string. I thought her eyes actually closed, but it looks like her eyes are painted in a half-shut position. She had a variety of sayings. I have no idea where mine ended up. I wish I had her now, but I am sure she would need a makeover.
What are some toys you remember from your childhood? Were any of the toys you played with banned or considered dangerous in later years? What is one toy you wish you still had?
Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...
The history and traditions of the holiday.
The décor that filled our homes.
The toys that defined each decade.
The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).
Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.
The American Civil War raged from April 12, 1861, until the most recognized surrender at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. Though the country would be well into the summer of 1866 before President Andrew Johnson declared the hostilities over. With an estimated 620,000 dead, families torn apart and grieving, and the assassination of President Abraham still tender, this Christmas brought with it reflection, healing, and hope for a way to move forward toward reconstruction.
Due to the economic devastation, Christmas gifts were simple and homemade, and the meals were more humble. Christmas in 1865 was filled with private and public remembrances.
Church services memorialized President Lincoln and the war dead.
Lit candles appeared in windows to symbolize lost loved ones, soldiers who had not yet returned home, and as a tribute to Lincoln.
Though Memorial Day had not yet been established, townspeople decorated the graves of lost soldiers.
As a way to honor President Lincoln's legacy, families donated to charities that supported widows and orphans, disabled veterans, and Freedman relief organizations.
Though President Lincoln had declared the final Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, it would be December 1865 before the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, was ratified, ushering in the first Christmas as freed people to formerly enslaved African Americans. Close to 200,000 African American men fought for the Union, and nearly 40,000 lost their lives.
Two well-known Christmas songs have origins in the 1860s.
In 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem "Christmas Bells." The widowed poet's oldest son was almost paralyzed during the war, and Longfellow wrote the words that would later be set to music and known as "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."
After being relieved of his pastoral position due to his love of teaching children with music, Ben Hanby opened a singing school. Because he couldn't afford sheet music, he made up his own songs and lyrics. One of those songs was "Up on the Housetop" in 1864. It is widely recognized as one of the first secular Christmas songs.
The upheaval caused by the Civil War made the holiday more significant, reminding Americans of the importance of home and traditions, which is stated by historian David Anderson in this article. In 1870, Congress passed the first federal holiday law, making Christmas an official holiday.
Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...
The décor that filled our homes.
The toys that defined each decade.
The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).
Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.
If you haven't guessed by now, I am part of Generation X. Always interested in history and nostalgia outside of the last 50+ years, traveling through Gen X decades brings me the most joy.
I would never know how my mother dressed me for the holidays when I was toddling around, but Mom ordered twice a year from the Sears Catalog--at back-to-school and Christmas. It's possible I had something like this.
I found this image on Pinterest. WishbookWeb.com seems to be defunct now. Check out the plaid, the lacy collars, and the patent leather shoes! It's hard to believe that tights and nylons are mostly a thing of the past now.
Older girls in 1967 might have had one of these fashions. Christmas.musetechnical.com has an amazing list with images from past catalogs. More plaid, and lovely white, red, and green colors that symbolize the winter holidays.
Even now, I am a fan of velvet. I just bought a long velvet dress for an event. Look at the Peter Pan collar on that red and white dress on the left side of the page. I'm not sure I ever had a dress with streamer ties, but they were popular in the late 60s. Reading the ad copy, it appears they included the tights with the dress order.
Hope you enjoyed this dip into late 1960s Christmas fashion for girls. Which year would you like me to cover for Journey through Christmases Past?
