Everyday Women of the Golden Era

[HadleyH]

people were horrified by that then.... people are horrified by other things now.... people will always be horrified by things.... yawn...[huh]

 

[Amy Jeanne]

What slobs, Hadley. Obviously Photoshop. lol

Both from 1944:

 

[HadleyH]

^^^



wearing her brother's trousers!

1943

 

[matrioshka]

Nan and Granddad on their wedding day:

What an interesting photo. Do you know much about your grandfather's service?

M

 

[Amy Jeanne]

My grandmother (just celebrated her 82nd birthday in November) told me she used to wear her older brother's clothes all the time in the 40s.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Such dressing was a major teenage fad in the mid-forties -- with dads and older brothers off in the service, daughters and sisters saw no reason not to take full advantage of their abandoned civvies. There's an episode of the March of Time newsreel series from mid-1944 that takes an in-depth look at "Teen-Age Girls in America," and includes much footage of teens in jeans-and-untucked-men's-shirts, and goes out of its way to demonstrate that they're actually perfectly nice, responsible kids at heart.

 

[HadleyH]

Absolutely right Lizzie and Amy Jeanne!

girl in Paris during the occupation, 1940s

 

[AdrianLvsRocky]

What an interesting photo. Do you know much about your grandfather's service?

M

Thank you! I do know a fair bit about his service. It's often discussed. We still have his log book in our possession which makes an interesting read.

These are some facts that spring to mind:

*He was a rear ***ner and wireless operator in a Lancaster Bomber and held the rank of Warrant Officer.
*He lied about his age in order to sign up. He wasn't quite 18.
*He learned to drive in the RAF by driving a lorry down a runway.
*He took part in the dawn raids of Dresden and Berlin and wrote a beautiful poem about it.
*He had frost bite in his hands where he leaned against the inside of the plane without his gloves on.
*The average number of missions undertaken by a Lancaster crew was 3. He made 13 - all accounted for in his log book.
*He wanted to carry on serving after the war but my Nan wouldn't let him. We think this was the cause of their constant bickering for the rest of their marriage!
*He had a whale of a time during the war. Parties in London - no doubt surounded by beautiful women!

My Granddad was quite a character and "a bit of a boy" as we say here in the UK. I truly admire what he did for me and so many others and always think of him as a hero.

 

[ThePowderKeg]

Over Christmas, I stopped in to visit my great aunt, who is 94, still lives by herself, and is perfectly capable of doing so. She still shovels her own driveway! She explained that she'll go outside and shovel a little bit, then go inside and rest when she's tired, then go back out and do a little more until it's all done. She got married in 1935, when she was 18. She's a truly remarkable lady. She bowls twice a week - her partner is 97, and occasionally they beat the men who are considered the best bowlers in the league. She's got such a great attitude, she's really one of my role models.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

More rue?

This is film actress Ruth Hampton:

And this is my husband's grandmother:

 

[rue]

You flatter me way too much missy

Your husband's grandmother was beautiful!

 

[matrioshka]

AdrianLvsRocky,

I can see why you're proud of him. And be thankful you know as much as you do. I wish I knew as much about my grandfather's service, he died when I was little.

M

 

[Amy Jeanne]

 

[Stray Cat]

*note to self:
MUST get sweater like those! Way too adorable!

..front row, second from the right.. reminds me a little bit of someone.. (DARN! I can't remember her name.. an actress..) Anyway, LOVE her skirt!

AND the shoes on the third from the left.

 

[SteveAS]

..front row, second from the right.. reminds me a little bit of someone.. (DARN! I can't remember her name.. an actress..) Anyway, LOVE her skirt!

Christina Ricci?

 

[Stray Cat]

No...
Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Here, in the middle:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1709807872/tt0304415

 

[Amy Jeanne]

If you copy and paste the URL in a new window the picture will get twice as big

 

[Amy Jeanne]

College kids, about 1940

About 1954

Probably "unsavoury ladies." lol 1940s police photo!

About 1945

Atlantic City, 1935

 

[LizzieMaine]

That is a *great* pic. The second gal from the left in the front row is a dead ringer for my mother.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

My grandmother with her grandfather, 1948