1910-1920

Hey folks, it's Friday, so here at DR, that means another edition of the Decade Spotlight Series...this time around it's 1910-1920. One of those decades that isn't really covered all that much, this era is mainly known for one thing: World War 1 (or as it was known then, the Great War) and this poster

became legendary. This was also the time when the first motion pictures were made. Black and white and silent, they starred legendary ladies like Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, and Theda Bara who all got their starts in this decade and movie studios began springing up in LA and New York City. Musically, Barbershop, Dixieland and Ragtime still reigned. Towards the end, things really started to change...the old Victorian society began to crumble as did the many European empires, and more women began to join the suffrage movement during this period.

 And in TV, those interested in this era should definitively check out the new series Downton Abbey, which airs on PBS (ITV 1 in the UK) and follows the lives of the well to do Crawley family, their servants, and their fight to keep their inheritance. Season one was filled with hidden romance and plenty of back biting so I can't wait to see what happens in season two (due to start this Sun. on ITV 1) now that war has broken out and changes have begun. Any books, films or TV series you know of set in this period? Please spread the wealth in the comments section! That's it for this week, next up: the 1920's!

Promenade Through the Park Barbie

For music links, please see the previous post for 1900-1910.

Buy

Rebecca series

September/October, 1914

November 8-13, 1914

December 9-11, 1914

April 3-5, 1915

Summer, 1915

August 29-September 6, 1915

Late summer, 1915

April, 1916

Summer, 1916

Summer, 1916

October 8-12, 1916

History Mysteries

1914

1918

Dear America series 

Recommended nonfiction:

1900-1920

"1900-1910, concentrating primarily on the war years"

9-11-01

As I know everyone's aware, today marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks in NYC, the effects of which are, of course, still being felt in innumerable ways. And while I'm sure many more eloquent memorials will be made today than this, as an American reflecting on that day, I just wanted to add my voice in a small way and finally tell my own story. I was 20 and living in Anaheim not far from Disneyland (my mom worked there and still does). I was asleep and remember being woken up by my mom coming in and going to bed later that morning. Since she worked graveyard, she'd already heard about it after she got off. We were rooming with a coworker friend of hers and that lady's husband who, not too long after my mom had fallen asleep, burst into our room exclaiming it was going to be world war three and we should all "head for the hills." Naturally his wife came and calmed him down and mom and I went back to sleep. When I woke up, it was all over the TV and radio, and all amusement parks and federal buildings were closed. That in itself was odd, as Disneyland, it was said, had only been closed once previously...the day JFK was shot. The other odd thing to me was how quiet it was. No planes, no helicopters. Nothing. Because you don't notice just how many times over the course of a day you see them until the day they're no longer flying. Life continuing on as it does, I became hungry and went to McDonalds...I know, pretty much one of the most American things you can do right? Have a hamburger and fries at good ol' Mikkey D's. On the way, there were people handing out free copies of the OC Register with all the known details and I got one. I still have it. Another thing I'll always remember: I'd been fired from Disneyland having only worked there a month the day before (long story) and how upset I was about it. The thing other than the heightened security that I have had to deal with for myself every year since then is a sense of conflicting emotions. I live as far from NY as you can get and still be on the mainland. I have no family there. So while I acknowledge the terror, loss, and anger on that day, and sincerely feel for all those who died and those that know someone that did, I feel an uncomfortable wedge of aloofness because of that fact. It's like I have a sort of inner fear that if I don't take it as hard as others, it's I'm being sacrilegious. I know that's not true, but I guess that's the part of this day I'll have to deal with as time goes on. My little piece of the tragedy to carry. Is there anyone else that has this feeling or something similar? Have any 9-11 memories, thoughts, and/or feelings? Feel free to share yours below. As for me, I will mark it in my own way and send my thoughts, prayers, and energy into helping folks heal. To all those we lost and helped out at the scene that day: always know that the world will never forget...

1900-1910

A new addition I'd like to add to this here blog is a little thing I'm calling "Decade Spotlight Series" where, just for fun, I give a little love for a particular decade from the 20th century in the good ol' U S of A...because I've found something I like in each of them, and think it's a nice switch-up as I tend to dedicate earlier eras to Europe. This week it's 1900-1910, or "the Edwardian Age". This decade  is known for ragtime, barbershop quartets, and dixieland of course, as well as art nouveau posters such as this for example:

(another one of my favorite things btw? Absinthe lol). It was also known for medical and technological advances. Although Queen Victoria died in 1901, a lot of Victorian customs still held sway and carried over into the new decade. Then there was the Gibson girl who set the model for hair and fashion:

Music Links:

Accuradio.com: Dixieland

Radio Nightingale: Ragtime

Buy

Buy

Buy

Buy

Buy

Samantha series

Summer, 1904

September-October, 1904

December 9-25, 1904

May 26-June, 1905

Summer, 1905

January-February 14, 1906

March-May, 1906

Winter, 1904

December, 1904

March, 1905

Spring, 1905

May 1-5, 1905

April 15-22, 1906

November, 1906

Early winter, 1907

January, 1907

Winter, 1907

Summer, 1907

History Mysteries

Spring, 1904

April, 1906

April, 1908

Dear America series 

My America

1903

1903

1903

Recommended nonfiction:

1900-1920

Over 100 full-page, royalty-free illustrations document what well-dressed American men wore in early 1900s: checked and striped business suits, sporty knickers and jackets, elegant formal wear, long fur-trimmed coats, and more. Includes variety of accessories: canes, gloves, spats. Images have been selected from rare issues of The Sartorial Art Journal, published between 1900 and 1910.

"roughly 1890-1905"

Mid Century Madness

Barbie and Ken do Mad Men

It's no secret that I LOVE the 60's...the clothes, the music, the culture, and it seems that lately there's been a resurgence of interest in that time...in TV at least. Thanks to one of my favorite shows Mad Men, not one, not even two, but three new shows this year are set in the 50's or early 60's. First there's the BBC show The Hour which contains two things that intantly got me: the 1950's and London...1956 London to be exact and is about an aspiring, up and coming news team (is it me or does lead gal Bel look a bit like Drew Barrymore?). I've yet to see the first episode, but I will tomorrow, and will deliver my verdict after I do. Next up is NBC's The Playboy Club which has it's series premiere next month on the 19th. For those that haven't yet seen the ads that have been airing relentlessly on the network, the show takes place in the early 60's in one of the infamous Playboy clubs founded by Hugh Heffner. From what I've seen from those ads so far, a murder is involved along with plenty of back stabbing and intrigue I'm sure hahahaha. Last but not least, there's ABC's Pan Am which premieres the following week on the 25th. For this one, we take to the skies as we follow a group of Pan Am stewardesses in the early 60's. Another thing I find awesome? That it stars one of my favorite actresses Christina Ricci. While I love her in her darker roles, I'm interested to see how she'll take this one. Of course, I can't wait for the return of M M, especially since the premiere episode will be directed by Don Draper himself, Jon Hamm. Needless to say, I'll be digging out my garb inspired by and books  about the era and enjoying the view...if only I'd been quicker on the walk on part on M M draw though...

Barbie does Pan Am, 1966

The Hour:
BBC America site
Mad Men:
AMC site
Pan Am:
ABC site
The Playboy Club:
NBC site
Happy Viewing!

The Turn of the Year

Yesterday was my birthday...in other words, I turned 30 and survived (lol)! So now that I've gone over the hill relatively unscathed (only just...j/k) and lived to tell the tale, what have I gained over the course of the past 12 months? Hmmm...well, other than that whole spilled milk thing I discussed earlier, I guess the biggest thing I feel I've taken away from this year is that I have way more questions than answers. For example: why is my life nothing like I thought it would be like 5 or 10 years ago? Why is it I sometimes feel I can't seem to have a "normal" relationship? Why is it sometimes I don't feel I want one at all? Is road A (the a fore mentioned "normal" relationship, a house, kids) the right road for me to take, or should I go route B (remain single and keep my prized freedom, travel). At times I feel I want A, but then I somehow hesitate and think about B. An example: I've been in a complicated (understatement) relationship for about 6 years long distance. This person and I last saw each other physically in Dec. '08. Some weeks ago, he put forth the idea to come over for about a month in Dec. again. The problem? Not being too keen on the idea of spending pretty much 24/7 with someone for that long and believe it or not, being "physically intimate" with them. The other problem (other than not exactly being able to tell him this)? It got me wondering if it's him specifically that is bringing this on, or just the idea in general. I'm still sorting this one out. Thank the gods the issue has been dealt with (at least for now), but to bring it back to the matter at hand, if there has been a theme to my 29th year (other than the usual waiting for the bus lol), it's been question everything. It hasn't exactly been easy or pleasant, but for now, the theme is hope: hoping things fall into place, hoping they are for the best, but also not too stressful, hoping I can finally move forward somehow and break the feeling of suspension I've had for ages, etc. On the plus side, I've learned I can get lucky and find a magic quill and that Kindles are freakin' awesome! Here's to being the big 3-0 and to hoping it's way better than being 29!:)