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Downtown 1958

Downtown 1958

Thursday, March 31, 2022

The Better Kind

March 30, 1934, Menasha Record

Whether or no smaller hams are a better buy isn't so much an issue to me as the mother-daughter drama portrayed above.  Maybe Jane had a large dinner party that demanded a larger ham.  Sure wish she had consulted Mother first.  Or maybe the Hopfensperger Brothers.  They'd have set her straight.  The butcher shop in Menasha was located at 216 Main Street.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Turkey Lunch


 April 10, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent
In the long standing Wisconsin tradition of having a "lunch" at night, comes the "turkey lunch."  I recall having many a "fish lunch" on given Friday nights at the Broadway, but the turkey version is a new one on me.  And why the use of the word "lunch" for a nighttime meal?  I guess I'll have to do a bit more research on that one.    

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Pressing On

March 31, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent

Elaborate state-of-the-art infrastructure was what it was all about, making efficiencies count in the day-to-day world of publishing.  Banta's was no slouch when it came to modernizing its presses and bindery machines.  .  

Monday, March 28, 2022

Costumed Elegance

 March 14, 1983, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Starting the week with some wee ones, looking so into their role playing of their favorite fairy tale characters.  Today, it'd be called "cosplay," I guess.  In my day, we would have called it playing dress up.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Still a Vivid Memory



 March 21-22, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
With the publication of these stories, it is true that it WAS still a vivid memory to many Menashans, some of whom were likely taken back in time by remembering where they were thirty years earlier when the event occurred.  We've examined and re-examined the Menasha High School fire in blog posts past and it only became apparent to me now how muddled and confusing those first weeks after the fire must have been for students and faculty alike, trying to coordinate the resumption of classes and picking up the pieces.  Imagine trying to restart the teaching process by memory, knowing that your notes, lesson plans, and test materials were destroyed.  It is a testament to the professionalism of Menasha High's faculty and staff that this all came off as well as it did.  

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Young Mother Hubbard

 March 25, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

With the impending Easter holiday on the horizon, Wanserski's takes it upon itself to ensure the Menasha consumer has the options of the Easter Ham or the Easter Kielbasa.  (I must say the idea of an Easter Kielbasa was new to me; but I did the research and learned it is a Polish tradition.)  And now I want some...and the homemade potato sausage, too.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Huge Success

 March 31, 1956, Appleton Post-Crescent

Drucks Electric imitates a newspaper by appearing as a newspaper within a newspaper.  How meta is that?  But really, the photo of the old time appliances in the "used appliance center" truly makes the grade, right down to the wringer washers, of which I am familiar, having commandeered one with my mother on washdays growing up.  .  

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Feed Your Piggy Bank With Your Savings

March 29, 1954, Appleton Post-Crescent
Touted as a "value" beer, Gem enjoyed popularity around the Fox Valley until the brewery closed in 1956.  It was around this time that Walter Bros. tinkered with the recipe and began emphasis on its "all grain" composition, even touting it's lack of sugar as a selling point:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/08/gem-beer.html.

Monday, March 21, 2022

"Cream Fluff" and a Big Spring Showing

March 21, 1949, Menasha Record

These ads are a testament to how pervasive the businesses were around Main Street in former years.  Car dealers, appliances, cleaners, the local dairy...they all once commanded the attention of the Menasha buying public.  Over time, with the more acceptance of auto travel and the lure of discount prices in large big box stores away from the downtown, the Mom and Pop era eventually eroded into the conditions we face today, sparse downtowns and sometimes what planners called "food deserts" where there isn't even a local grocery to shop at.  

Friday, March 18, 2022

A Most Delightful Event

 

March 18, 1919, Menasha Record
We celebrate Friday with the report on the reaction to the big 1919 St. Patrick's Day program.  Without any specifics, one wonder if this was even attended by the reporter, though I'm sure the Ladies' Sanctuary Society was pleased by the coverage.  

Thursday, March 17, 2022

A Study in Contrasts

March 17, 1919, Menasha Record

March 17, 1919, Menasha Record
What a difference thirty years makes-- a formal dignified program held in 1919 by the St. Patrick's church ladies' society vs. an event that is representative of the prankish tenor of things that St. Patrick's Day has become by 1949.  The solemn celebration of the Irish heritage has evolved into the green beer, corned beef and cabbage bacchanalia we experience every March.  No judgements here...it's now just leprechauns and beer rather than the solemn formalities of the Old Hibernians.  

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Specials

March 16, 1981, Appleton Post-Crescent

Oh yes, we have a definite theme going here, save for Shakey's which (thankfully) didn't come up with a corned beef pizza for the occasion.  I have to hand it to them though, the shamrock green soda likely would have been a hit with the "little leprechauns."  And kudos to the Grog for the authentic Irish beer instead of simply food coloring a pitcher of Miller Lite.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Just the Way You Like It!

March 14, 1978, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Giving even more of an international flavor than usual, diners at the Peking Palace can now enjoy Irish Coffee with their beef chow mein.  I think I'm at a loss for words.

Monday, March 14, 2022

Glancing Backward

 March 14, 1990, Twin City News-Record
Thanks to the News-Record and its archives, from time to time we can look back in increments of years as to what was affecting the Twin Cities and the Fox Valley.  News of war, local pranksters, and trends in home decoration fill this page.  Plus a photo we featured in the blog way back in 2013.  Here's the link to see a better quality photo:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/05/valley-plumbing-heating-supply.html.

Friday, March 11, 2022

Gazing Into the Future With An Eye on the Past

March 14, 1983, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
We end the week on a hopeful note.  Though this photo is almost forty years old, this scene could be pictured at any time.  Nothing is more heartwarming than a parent and child sharing a special moment together, be it the child asking one of life's big questions or the two of them simply spending time together admiring the scenery.  

In such tumultuous times, it behooves us to embrace these little moments, wherever and whenever we can, despite the blatant discord and rumblings of angry people and nations around us.  The world is in disarray, though it always seems to be that way, in some shape, manner, or form.  How we negotiate that commotion is the key to our happiness and well-being, as we'd slowly go mad otherwise.  So here's to you two, some forty years ago, capturing what's important if only for a moment, and letting the world go by on its own course.  

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Man to Man


March 11, 1974, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Well, the outcome wasn't the desired one as the team lost its first round game (to the eventual tournament winner, by the way) but also the consolation game.  Still, it couldn't quell the outpouring of support and well wishes from the local merchants and other supporters of the Zephyrs after the team returned home.  With an eye to the future, the Zephyrs would live to play another day, and make another visit to State the following year.  But that is a story for another day.

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Off to State

March 8, 1974, Twin City News-Record

I'm in that auditorium somewhere during this event and I recall the trip to Milwaukee only too well.   And despite the hoopla surrounding the whole "going to State" circumstance and the fact that our high school just had its first winning record in 13 years, the whole experience transcended the game itself.  It was so exciting.  I don't want this to come across like a "Wonder Years" rerun, but suffice it to say, it was a special time.

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

The Day the Music Died

February 3, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent

I missed this anniversary in February; I think I was concentrating on getting the blog going again the week after it, due to my recent eye surgery, but leave it to me to provide this a month or so later (better late than never).  It's not often that most of us have a brush with history, even of the tragic kind.  I'm sure many Menasha rock and roll fans had looked forward to seeing Buddy Holly and the others at the Cinderella, but it was not to be.  One has to wonder if things might have been different if they'd gone ahead with their schedule and ventured down to Appleton to play instead of heading for Fargo after the Green Bay date.

Monday, March 7, 2022

Wildcat Power

March 9, 1965, Appleton Post-Crescent

Now available at Gibson's on Main Street.  I was all prepared to tell you about this little number until I caught wind of the full ad with text the Gibson Company failed to include (see below).  I was confused for awhile because the Wildcat was a Buick model in the 1960's, but the ad copy tells me that this LeSabre had a Wildcat V-8 engine, so that explains the tag line.  

March 9, 1965, Kentucky New Era

Friday, March 4, 2022

Excitement! Adventure! Thrills!

March 9, 1965, Twin City News-Record

In the doldrums of Winter, when Spring is just around the corner (we hope), we always look for a diversion to help get us through the season.  For the local outdoorsman, this is it!  A movie trip to the Arctic to hunt moose and bear, fish in pristine streams, and experience the outdoors in ways we cannot imagine, at least in our imaginations.  Travelogues and other pictures like this are always a good bet for niche audiences and this one fit the bill perfectly.  

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Lenten Special

                                                         

                                                                                           March 7, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

Seeing as how yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, my eye was, naturally, drawn to this ad.  Perhaps this offer was at odds with the whole idea and the  "Lenten Special" was really a tongue-in-cheek dig at the custom, who knows.  Still, I found it a refreshing respite from the usual 1950s take on starchy, serious public mores for its time.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

First Run Triple Feature


 March 7, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent
What's playing at the Brin this night in 1958?  A triple feature of varying degrees- a shlocky "drive-in quality" film to start with, an installment of a B-movie series (and destined to join tens of others of its pedigree on Saturday morning television), and what seems to be the winner in third place, or at least something akin to the American classic book most of us read.  How could the Menasha crowds stay away from this?

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Electronic Self-Tuner


March 22, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

Back when televisions were real pieces of furniture, this beauty sold at Drucks for $289.   In 1958 dollars the price would have been $2,615.25 today, according to one inflation calculator I found.  But fear not, for state of the art fine tuning was just around the corner with the remote that allowed you to not have to get up to change the channel among other things!  Such luxury my boyhood psyche could not imagine!  It would be many, many years before anything so fine crossed my childhood threshold, let alone a color set.  In the meantime, I'd have to satisfy my television hunger with simple black and white viewing of my favorite cartoons.  And making a groove in the carpeting between the easy chair and the TV set, in order to change the channel.