Happy New Year!

Madeline's Memories would like to wish you a very happy and healthy 2011!

And whoever this lady is, she wishes you a happy new year for 1916!

What I've Been Up To

We took a little trip last weekend to pick up the last load of "Madeline's Memories".  My brother-in-law was graciously storing this last load at his home since April.  It was a little sad for me to know that this is the last time we will bring her memories to our home, but it's also probably a good thing, as we are beginning to run out of space to store it all!  Here are some photos of the treasures which will show up here in 2011. 

A silver punch bowl full of old letters and photos.

The punch bowl sitting on my father-in-law's Washington & Lee chair.

That's a 48 star flag in a box containing an old metal doll house.  (I have to put it together!)

I've nicknamed this guy "Ebenezer" because we don't know who he is (yet!).

A great old wood crate and another family bible. 

 

A great old table with bowl and pitcher.  We put a plant in the bowl.

This rocking chair was in what was called "the best living room", which we only gathered in on Christmas to open presents.  I always thought it was stiff and uncomfortable, but now it's in our family room and I'm starting to like it a lot.

A photo of her father's chicken farm, with sign. 

I want to wish all readers of Madelines Memories a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  When it's all over, I'll be back on a regular basis.  I'm planning to start 2011 with one of Madeline's diaries.  They may have to have a blog of their own. 



Vintage Christmas Cards

In honor of receiving our first Christmas card yesterday, from our good friend Edward Jones, I pulled out my folder of Christmas cards from Madeline's memories.  Greeting cards are the only category that I have an organization/storage system for.  That is number one on my New Year's Resolution List:  to organize all of  Madeline's memories.  I hope you enjoy these old cards, mostly from the 40's and 50's. 

Inside of the bunny card.  I thought it was funny to use bunnies for Christmas!

Verse inside.  I love how sentimental it is.  And didn't my father-in-law have beautiful handwriting?

Back of the card.  So sweet!

Some cards never change.  I think this captures Christmas.

A Christmas telegram from her parents and younger brother.

This card is like a little book.

Merry Christmas to everyone!



"My School Day Autobiography"

Although the cover says this little book is an autobiography, Madeline used it more as an autograph book.  You may recall the previous post I did on her grandmother's school autograph book. 

The first pages are a list of her teachers and classmates.  (Click on pic to enlarge.)

Here are some of the autograph pages:

World's Fair: A Message for Hotel Guests & Billy Rose's Aquacade (with some fun advertising)

It's been a while since I did a post on the 1939 World's Fair.  Here are two more memories that Madeline saved from her visit there.  The first is a card from her hotel which gives guidance on how to navigate the city during the fair:

Actually these rules apply today to travel in New York City, especially #3.  Many times I've almost been run down while trying to cross the street by a taxi wanting to turn.  Good thing we only travel to NYC once a year!

This is the program from Billy Rose's Aquacade, a big show at the 1939 World Fair.  Billy Rose was quite the showman in his day.  To learn more about him, read this.

Aquabelle Number One:  Eleanor Holm, who later married Billy Rose.

The girl who swam the English Channel.

Here is a little piece of the show that I found on "You Tube":

This is the back cover of the program.  There are more great advertisements in the book:

Pepsi, as it was in 1939.

The official watch of Billy Rose's Aquacade. 

An ad for a Broadway show starring Fredric March.

An ad for Noxzema for sunburn.  It's great for your face, too, you know.  Check out the ad underneath it for the "all-purpose" dress with an invisible culotte.  So sensible!

An ad for the New York state exhibit.

I've saved the best for last:

Do you believe it?  Gloves with a pocket for your cigarettes!!  How stylish.  I did a little research on the designer Merry Hull.  I'm not fond of wikipedia, but here is some info on her.  Apparently she redefined the glove for us.  (I'm learning so much here at Madelines Memories!)