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Lean Years

If I ever get around to writing that series on “Is That Still Funny?”, we will look into what different generations regarded as taboo. As we have moved, in the last thirty years from “Nothing inoffensive is funny” to “Nothing offensive is funny”, this will be a mere side issue, but one which willContinue reading “Lean Years”

Seven-Five

I discovered that somehow, in the rush of the mad social whirl that is my existence, I had failed to observe the seventy-fifth anniversary of “The Lottery”. This was a subversive, controversial story which is probably still one of the top ten items which caused people to cancel their subscriptions to The New Yorker. Continue reading “Seven-Five”

Screen Scrooges: Belle Again

But the relentless Spirit pinioned him in both his arms, and forced him to observe what happened next. They were in another scene and place: a room, not very large or handsome, but full of comfort. Near to the winter fire sat a beautiful young girl, so like the last that Scrooge believedContinue reading “Screen Scrooges: Belle Again”

Bratty Sells

In the interest of fair play and equal time for opposing views, something I am very serious about if it will bring me another subject to write a blog about, I thought we might consider postcards which present another side of childhood than the cute, well-dressed, well-behaved tots we considered in our last column.Continue reading “Bratty Sells”

Cute Sells

Any sort of cheap entertainment reflects the interests and dreams of the buying public for whom it is made. As such, postcards show us what appealed (or what the publishers hoped would appeal) to the greatest number of potential buyers. And ONE thing that amused Mr. and Mrs. Consumer was children dressed up. Continue reading “Cute Sells”

Screen Scrooges: Belle Once

This was not addressed to Scrooge; nor to anyone whom he could see, but it produced an immediate effect. For again Scrooge was himself. He was older now, a man in the prime of life. His face had not the harsh and rigid lines of later years; but it had begun to wear theContinue reading “Screen Scrooges: Belle Once”

Optional Advertisement

If anyone within traveling distance did not already know, you should be visiting the Newberry Library Book Fair this weekend, at 60 W. Walton Pl., Chicago (about six blocks west of the John Hancock Building.) It is an improvement over last year’s Covid-afflicted venture and open from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. There may beContinue reading “Optional Advertisement”

Hitting the Beach

So we are in full vacation season now, in spite of heat and smoke and the decision whether to boycott states which are too blue or too red in their politics. People are flocking to places where they can kick back and forget about that alarm clock telling them to get dressed and goContinue reading “Hitting the Beach”

With Banners Flying

If you have been following along (and why should you?) you will recall our discussions of the role of postcards in the life of the general public. Originally regarded as the text message of the day, they could be used to issue or accept an invitation, let someone know you’d gotten home safely, etc. Continue reading “With Banners Flying”

Screen Scrooges: Fezziwig’s Christmas

Although they had but that moment left the school behind them, they were now in the busy thoroughfares of a city, where shadowy passengers passed and repassed; where shadowy carts and coaches battled for the way, and all the strife and tumult of a real city were. It was made plain enough, by theContinue reading “Screen Scrooges: Fezziwig’s Christmas”