The World Our Parents Made

"You don't know what you've got till it's gone."

If you can put your modern-day complaints aside for a moment, here's a look at the glory days of the postwar era, when American civilization was at its height, a benign colossus bestriding the world without a rival.  As Shakespeare wrote, But me no buts.  Just hush up and watch - and then weep for all we have lost.  It wasn't a perfect country or a perfect world - but it some ways, it was the highwater mark of humanity.

Power Behind the Nation, 1947:

Your Head Trucker remembers well how the tiny tots of this peaceful era - some of them - grew up to hate and despise and cry down "the world our parents made." But now, just what kind of world have we made?  

And in particular, I refer to the 80-year-olds who have, collectively, sat in the seats of power and wealth for forty years now - they were once the golden boys and girls of the sixties.  What have they done with that power?

"We can change the world, rearrange the world" . . . "we" certainly have. For good or ill?  

Are we happy now?

-----

What We're Watching: Miss Polly (1941)

We are sweltering through some mighty hot weather down here in Texas, boys - Tuesday it was 104 degrees, and the heat index was a whopping 119!  The temperature inside the house was 85, even with the a/c system and all fans going full blast.  We had a serviceman come out yesterday who cleaned and recharged the a/c, which helped; and also, the outdoor temp cooled off to a mere 98 degrees.

When we hear of silly-ass people in France or wherever agonizing over whether it is "ethical" to use air conditioning in extreme heat, we just laugh.  The question here in the Lone Star State is:  You want to live or die?  It's that simple.

I hope all my truckbuddies are staying cool and comfortable.  If you need something to take your mind off the weather, here's an amusing B movie from 1941 made by the Hal Roach studios - they also made the Our Gang comedies in the 1930s.  

We like to watch old movies or TV shows during dinner at the kitchen bar; and it seems I have made a convert of M.P., who wasn't quite sure who Zasu Pitts was until I started playing some of her movies.  Now he thinks she's swell.  See what you think.

-----

Waitin' for the Weekend: Gay Swim Party, 1946

From the collection of Harold T. O'Neal, a gay home movie buff who made many films of gay life in California from 1939 to 1989.  This one begins with a well-dressed but rather dull garden party, followed by scenes of several beautiful young men splashing about in various states of undress somewhere along the American River.  A lovely glimpse of what seems a much more innocent time.

Double-click the screen to go full size; hit escape to exit.

Once again, I state what M.P. says, and he ought to know:  if they're only swimming, it's not porn.

-----

One More Time!

It doesn't get any better than this.  Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell tap out a storm in Broadway Melody of 1940:

And here's Eleanor remembering that number in a tribute to Astaire, 1981:

Somewhere on YouTube is the same delightful clip of their dance, but set to "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies. I can't find it today, though. 

-----

Tired Old Queen at the Movies: My Favorite Wife (1940)

 

 Steve Hayes reviews the delightful screwball comedy, starring Irene Dunne and Carry Grant.  M.P. and I recommend it highly.  It was remade by Doris Day and Jim Garner in 1963 as Move Over, Darling, which is also a treat.

-----

Blue Plate Lunch (1940)

Sounds like mighty fine eatin' to me!

Click to enlarge.

Photograph of a truck stop café in Washington, D. C., taken by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration, June 1940.  See full-size photo at Shorpy

-----

Sunday Drive: All the Things You Are

The other day, I tried to express my thoughts here in the BT about the present age.  But the manifest contrast between the corrupted culture of today and this exquisite piece by Artie Shaw and his orchestra from 80 years ago - which, I realize with a shock, was not all that long before I was born - expresses what I was trying to say so much better than any words of mine can.

Just drink it in, beautiful thoughts in a beautiful form - the sheer loveliness of the music. 

Joy.

Sunday Drive: Deep Purple

The 1939 hit, as performed by Artie Shaw and his Orchestra, featuring Helen Forrest:

Alice Barker Sees Herself

A sweet little video about Alice Barker, a 102-year-old dancer who sees film of her younger self for the first time.



Alice passed away about a year after this video was made.

Sunday Drive: It's Magic

Doris Day's exquisite rendering of this lovely tune, featured in the movie Romance on the High Seas, was her breakthrough hit as a solo artist in 1948.

Tired Old Queen at the Movies: My Reputation

Steve Hayes reviews:

Barbara Stanwyck and George Brent make holiday sparks fly when they begin a controversial romance in Curtis Bernhardt’s MY REPUTATION (1946). Stanwyck plays a newly widowed woman with two teenage boys who meets a handsome major on a skiing trip, and much to the dismay of her friends and family, falls in love and must choose between her happiness and her reputation. Eve Arden is on hand as her best friend to offer humor and consolation, and Lucile Watson plays her formidable battle-axe mother. Warm and romantic, Stanwyck and Brent make a wonderful team. Beautifully photographed, the film is also lovingly scored by Warner’s favorite Max Steiner. It’s a holiday romance that you won’t want to miss. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Catch more fabulous movie reviews at Steve's YouTube channel.

How to Be Well Groomed (1948)

Don't let your slip show!

Are You Popular? (1947)

Tip: Don't go parking in cars with boys at night, it will only ruin your reputation. Better to go on a wienie roast with the whole gang.

City Bound (1941)

Filmed during the Blitz, this short film shows the working of London's transportation system, with well-dressed commuters keeping calm and carrying on as usual:

Dear Miss Gloria (1946)

Somehow I never heard of this star vehicle for Gloria Swanson before now:

Look to Lockheed for Leadership (1940)

Lockheed airliner in Delta livery at Dallas, Texas, in 1940.

The triumphant progress and exacting production of the famed Lockheed aircraft are highlighted in this company film.

Behind Your Radio Dial (1948)

An overview of the history and operations of the National Broadcasting Company, including a tour of its studios at Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan. Note: do not adjust your set - the sound doesn't begin until about the 00:30 mark.

Adventure in Telezonia (1949)

Bobby searches for Bounce in this very trippy little film, with the help of telephones and the marionettes of Bil Baird, who also created the "Lonely Goatherd" sequence for the Sound of Music.

What a Way to Go

Today I'm dreaming of a happy voyage somewhere, sometime. These films show how it was done once upon a time, by ship, by train, and by air. Lovely scenes, lovely thoughts - so different from the mad, vulgar, barbaric world we live in now.

RMS Queen Elizabeth, 1948:

Santa Fe's Chief, 1954:

TWA Super Constellation, 1956:



I'm thinking of getting up a little tour group, as soon as my new time-space modulator arrives from Amazon. Who wants to go with me?

Abbot and Costello: 13 x 7 = 28

Some arithmetic exercises to start your day with a chuckle.