This month’s entertainment: How observant are you?

Submitted by Lana Sue Jones          

Our March 11 meeting was held with Sherry Wiseman hostess and Sue Jones as so-hostess. President Glenda Ware called the meeting to order. The minutes were read and treasurer report given. There were no committee reports.

Old business was to decide on a place for our May meeting. Everyone agreed on the Rusty Duck in Appleton City where the group had been previously. New Business was a monetary donation to the Hope Center.

Members will sign up at our next meeting for positions in our year book. Next year’s theme will be famous Missourians, preferrable women.

Kay Sewell prepared the opinion on the dangers of using anything plastic. The materials in plastic can be a health risk. A study in England showed that a poison can come when plastic is heated.

Sherry Wiseman had the entertainment which was a contest to see how many questions we could answer right out of 25. The questions pertained to “How Observant Are You”? Two examples were; which stripe red or white is at the top of the flag? And, on which side of a women’s shirt left or right is the buttons? We could not have ANY HELP, by looking or asking.

The program was presented by Sue Jones on the 40’s. War and its aftermath dominated the scene of the 40’s. Men were enlisting in the service and women were becoming “Rosie-the- Rivitor” in munition plants. The baby population reached 30 million during 1942-1949 and from 1945 on this was called the baby boomer generation.

I complied a time line of the war years starting at 1040 and the happenings in each year from beginning to end in 1945. 1941 Japan attack Pearl Harbor, U.S. declares war on Japan. 1942 Battle of Midway a major turning point in the Pacific War. Churchill summed up 1942 by saying “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning”.1943 Historic Battle of Guadalcanal with a victory. 1944 Allies land in Normandy, Paris liberated. 1945 President Roosevelt our 32 president dies. Harry Truman takes office. May 8 VE Day, the final surrender and victory.

The war did halt production of cars, houses and farm equipment. Wages and prices were controlled and meat, butter, gasoline, rubber and sugar were rationed creating a black market. With the war over, people started to enjoy life again. Music was thought of as swing, big band, jazz, Latin and country. Frank Sinatra took over as best vocalist with hits of “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home to, Old Black Magic. Night and Day, and I’ll Never Smile Again. The Andrew Sisters and Bing Crosby were popular during this time. Glen Miller was the King of Swing and had the best band. Rogers and Hammerstein had the most popular musical, “South Pacific”. Some songs on the radio was Boogie Woogie Bugle  Boy, I’ll Be Seeing You, and I’ll Be Home For Christmas.

Sports were making a comeback. Popular authors were George Orwell who wrote “1984” and Ernest Hemmingway “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. The toys were depicting the war for boys and domestic for the girls. Fashion was seamed stockings, bolero jacket, sailor pants, trench coats, floral dresses and victory rolls for the hair style. The look was clean, slim, sharp, and trim and somewhat military look. The clothing was rationed and fashion was on a budget. The automobile style of 1946 was the convertible  by Mercury, Cadilliac, and Chrysler. 1946-48 Lincoln continental and Volkswagen Bettle gained more popularity in the 40’s.

Most popular actors and actress were Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Katherine Hep urn, Elizabeth Taylor, Humprey Bogart, Cary Grant, John Waune and James Stewart. Best movies were Casablanca and the Philadelphia Story.  People were using more processed and frozen food which was easy to prepare. They had very few ingredience for their food and had to get creative and improvise to make a little go a long way. The United States population endured and made it through a major event in history. We must never forget the lives that was lost in the war years.