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Downtown 1958

Downtown 1958

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Safety Magic

March 3, 1966, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I know I'm slow but it took me a while to ascertain what the Deputy was holding in his hand.  After a few more readings of the caption, I decided it was a magic wand, which fit with the whole theme.  Knowing how mandatory assemblies go, I'm sure a grand time was had by most but I'd bet a number of the audience would have been happy if he'd used that wand to make them disappear.  

Monday, February 27, 2023

Bridge Fiasco



 February 24, 1966, Twin City News-Record

Things are bad enough at rush hour but when the word doesn't get out in time that part of the bridge will be closed at noon for maintenance, then the scenes shown above are likely to develop.  

Friday, February 24, 2023

Ping Pong

February 7, 1950, Appleton Post-Crescent

Decades before President Nixon's trip to China in 1972 popularized table tennis in ways never seen before, most rec rooms had a ping pong table and we all were familiar with it.  Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988.   Trivia:  "table tennis" as a term for the sport grew into favor because the commonly used name "ping pong" was copyrighted by a British manufacturer in the early 1900's and in the 1920's by Parker Brothers who had marketed the game to American consumers.  

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Scouts Rule

February 7, 1950, Appleton Post-Crescent

The set-up is just too tempting; I'm sure some smart aleck made comments in the letters to the editor page in the days to follow.  Be it known that city government never ran smoother than when it was in the hands of the Boy Scouts as opposed to the locally elected officials, etc., etc.  Well, be that as it may, I'm sure civics or other equivalent merit badges were awarded to all involved  after this experience and all benefitted, to include our local government.  

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

New Orpheum Opening

February 26, 1916, Menasha Record

This is actually the "new" Orpheum theater, replacing the old one that had been founded five years before.  A pretty fancy showplace, it eventually evolved into the Valley Theatre.  

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

More on Washington

February 22, 1924, Menasha Record

Probably more about George Washington than you'd ever want, at least in the context of this blog!  But I found the whole birthday discrepancy issue fascinating.  I had forgotten about the calendar shift in the 1700's.  I'll bet most people don't even know about that.  

Monday, February 20, 2023

Washington's Tea Party?

February 20, 1941, Appleton Post-Crescent

We've met some of these young ladies in a previous post last week as they were part of the cast for the play "Little Women" at Menasha Junior High.  A Happy Washington's Birthday to you!

Friday, February 17, 2023

Street View

      
Here's an interesting street view, based near the Racine Street bridge.  I'm guessing this was taken some time in the 1950s, based on the car parked on Main Street.  Notice how small Drucks is at this point, before it expanded to the east.  This photograph I obtained had no information other than what you can ascertain from the photo itself.  Compare this with the store in the 1960s....

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Duck!

 February 17, 1969, Twin City News-Record

Menasha police work wonders with their amphibious "duck" in retrieving a stolen car caught in the ice.  I can only imagine what the driver looked like after this ordeal.  

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Young Yogurt-Tasters


February 13, 1969, Twin City News-Record
I just couldn't resist this, coming from a day when yogurt was some exotic dairy concoction from a health food store, not the $10 billion dollar industry it would later become in the US.  I recall in the 70;s, when Dannon was first marketing yogurt to the US, they featured a TV commercial that highlighted the life span longevity of some of the yogurt consumers who lived in Soviet Georgia.  These 100 year olds attributed their longevity to their yogurt consumption.  Of course, they were eating the same product these sixth-graders were trying.  It would take the introduction of fruit to make yogurt hit the stratospheric heights of today.  I'm sure the kids of 1969 would have loved it if there had been strawberries awaiting their spoons at the bottom of the carton.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Valentine Queen

February 14, 1969, Twin City News-Record

February 5, 1969, Twin City News-Record

The Twin Cities' local business community used to sponsor local high school women to be the "Valentine Queen" for each city.  Ballots were printed in the newspapers and the candidates were sponsored by local merchants.  In the case shown here, Ms. Remmel was sponsored by Linsdau Florists.  All the sponsoring businesses would feature their candidates in their ads.  As you can see above, Christine was victorious and "reigned" over the city of Menasha, at least for one day.  Valentine's Day!

Thanks to Wendy Remmel for bringing this to my attention.  

Monday, February 13, 2023

Upset

February  27, 1960, Twin City News-Record

Everyone is ecstatic at Menasha beating highly ranked Kaukauna 55-44.  MHS scored 22 against Kaukauna's 9 points in the last quarter to take the victory.  Menasha finished at 8-6 that year.

Friday, February 10, 2023

The Brin Lays Down the Law

February 14, 1942, Menasha Record

Just in time for your Valentine's Day, the "New" Brin declares it won't be undersold on its ticket prices.  Why, the Valley can do whatever it wants, says the Brin.  But hey, says the Valley, for an extra charge, you can smoke in our loge seats.  Decisions, decisions.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Plinkies

                                         

February 3, 1960, Twin City News-Record

I just had to share this ad, proving that ingenuity transcends all eras.  Imagine, repurposing a pliers to sell at a premium to discerning ladies.  In 1960, that pliers probably cost 79 cents in the local hardware store, but add a few flowers or mold it in a garish gold color and you've got yourself a hit!   Plus a chance to up the price considerably.  The photo appears to be a later iteration of the product, with the flowers as an integral part of the tool, not just pasted on.  With Valentine's Day around the corner, fellas, here's a great idea.  Check that toolbox of yours. I'm sure there's one in there you can part with, lol.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Changing Times

February 1, 1972, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Menasha High students get a chance to earn money using the work-study program.  I found it interesting to read that the girls were harder to place than the boys with no reason given.  Of course, this was 1972 and attitudes were sometimes hard to change about what women could do. Perhaps a lack of inside office type jobs might have been the reason, since i would think that was where most of the girls went.  I can sense the resistance against allowing girls to be "lot boys" or working at a gas station or car wash.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Free and Easy

February 17, 1961, Appleton Post-Crescent

In keeping with the shopping center's jingle: "Free and easy parking, too, the shopper's paradise come true, It's fun to shop, at Fox Point Shopping Center!" as heard ad nauseum on WNAM and other local radio stations.  

Monday, February 6, 2023

Our Cast

February 11, 1941, Appleton Post-Crescent

Proving that classics are timeless, we present the cast of Little Women, shown here in early 1941.   The book has been translated into numerous languages, and has been frequently adapted for stage and screen since its publication in 1868.

Friday, February 3, 2023

St. Blaise Day

February 4, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

Today is St. Blaise Day; time to get your throat blessed.  I'm sure COVID affected this practice in past years, with a general blessing offered in lieu of individual blessings, so hopefully this has been restored for this year..  

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Hearts on Their Minds

 February 19, 1941, Appleton Post-Crescent

This "day after Valentine's Day" luncheon should get you in the mood for what is coming later this month...that annual day for lovers of all sorts.  What more could spark your interest than girls wearing Valentine hearts on their heads with a snowman watching the proceedings?  Of course I jest, but how much more wholesome a photo could we generate if we tried?  Puppies and kittens frolicking with toddlers?  Perhaps, but a band of young Girl Scouts will have to do today.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Like a Sturgeon

                                                                           February 22, 1982, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

One man's fish story.  I'm sure a fisherman could work off of this one for years, especially if it was on display at the Waverly Beach tavern.  Imagine, toasting the trophy fish with your cohorts at the bar, at the conclusion of the story....