Thanksgiving Football

February 25, 1904, Appleton Post-Crescent

Wisconsin is a football-centric state, as we all know, so I found this article questioning the appeal of playing football games on Thanksgiving to be of great interest.  Now granted, this is 1904 and there is no television.  For that matter, there is no radio, so anybody wanting to see football must trudge out to the actual football field in person to view the game.  Moreover, there is no NFL and colleges are the hit with the football crowd.  At least for the upcoming season, after Lawrence University decided that Thanksgiving was out, it added further to the debate about ANY game being more important than the holiday.

But as we all know, football won out and now we have multiple pro games on Thanksgiving.  Weren't there three NFL games last Thanksgiving?  But now, the average fan can have his turkey and eat it, too, and never miss a down.

Happy Birthday, Sister!

February 15, 1963, Twin City News-Record

What a lovely gesture for Sister Evangelus.  It does the heart good to do things for others.  I'm sure the values instilled by the good Sister in her students came back a hundredfold that day.  

Sad Boiler

February 25, 1965, Twin City News-Record

Here's a foundation principle of Advertising 101:  People react more favorably to an anthropomorphic product than not.  Readers seek out connections to themselves, and a friendly or sad face can invoke an emotional response to the ad.  That can spell the success between a lucrative ad campaign vs. one that just fizzles out.  Books have been filled with advertising images from decades past and the popular ones of today- the Geico Gecko, Tony the Tiger, the Michelin tire man, for instance, all have lenghty legacies that bring this principle to validity.  (Yes, I know, not much Menasha history today, although our fair city's retailers and service companies WERE willing partners in this advertising experiment in past years.)

Two Stories

 Neenah Times, February 20, 1904

 Appleton Post-Crescent, February 25, 1904

Young love, particularly in the month of Valentines, is especially valued as an ideal; what could be a better subject?  Meanwhile, long-standing moral invectives against alcohol abuse are readily apparent in this missive.  It is hard to overcome this prejudice as these were values engrained in people for hundreds of years before alcoholism was finally recognized as a disease in the 1950's.

Presented today, we see two decidedly different human interest stories, one to cheer about with another to wince at.  

Greatest...Values in Our History

 

February 12, 1932, Menasha Record

A good use of the colonial theme in the Grove's ad above.  Seeing that it's February and all good retailers know that that's the time to invoke George Washington's name or likeness or dress or whatnot, Mr. Grove does not disappoint.  

Field Trip

February 24, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

These same third graders who were enamored of the post office trip were the same kids who paused to watch the street crew pave the street in front of their houses and  who pestered them with questions all the while.  "Young at heart" is not just a phrase; it's a way of life.  

Excitement!

February 13, 1954,Twin City News-Record 

I came across this photo and was taken by the excitement shown from these Menasha fans, as captured by the TCNR photographer.  Now granted, the "catch you in a blink of an eye" camera shutter can immortalize the worst expressions a person can conjure up, but this group fared pretty well, showing their true emotions at a particular Menasha rally during the game.  

Favorite Son

February 10, 1947, Appleton Post-Crescent

With the new baseball season just around the corner, it's high time we feature Dave Koslo, Menasha's premier pitcher for the New York Giants.  Menasha's Koslo Park was named in his honor.  

Washington's Birthday

 

February 22, 1924, Menasha Record

Interesting information about our first president in honor of his birthday.  Outside of that, yes, it appeared in the Menasha newspaper but there's no other Menasha connection I can see.  So forgive me my indulgence, lol.  Happy Presidents Day!

Post Party Report

 

February 14, 1914, Menasha Record

I just love how the old time newspapers used to provide social commentary on the events of the day, be it the grandest catered affairs or the simplest party being given.  It seems especially kind to the younger set, which seems sweet in retrospect.  

Educator Shoes

 

February 15, 1916, Menasha Record

Rice & Hutchins, Inc. was a shoe manufacturing and wholesaling company based in Boston that began as a partnership in 1866 and was later incorporated in 1892.  By 1916, the company was considered to be among the largest shoe manufacturers in America, with sales that were nationwide and in several countries in Europe, Asia, and South America.  The corporation was dissolved in 1929.

The "Educator" was advertised as an othropedically correct shoe for men, women, and children with prices starting at $1.35.  More below in the accompanying ad:

Valentine Ideas

 

February 13, 1941, Menasha Record

February 12, 1931, Menasha Record

February 7, 1941, Menasha Record

Menasha retailers were agog with ideas for Valentine's Day in the 30's and 40's.  From the standard candy and flowers to something exotic like a beauty makeover, our local merchants had it covered.  And of course, every pharmacy and variety store had cards galore for the Valentine's shopper.

Your Invitation

February 12, 1936, Appleton Post-Crescent

Sometimes I wonder how the Menasha Walter Bros. product was viewed compared to the George Walter beer brewed in Appleton.  Were Menasha drinkers loyal to their local beer?  Which would win in a taste test?  Was it a friendly family rivalry between the breweries or was the competition more fierce than that?  After all, we're talking about people's livelihoods.  

A Marvel of Simple Tuning

January 31, 1927, Menasha Record

In 1927, radio was just hitting its stride.  The first commercial broadcast station had only begun seven years earlier in 1920.  In 1923, only 1 percent of U,S, households owned a radio, while a majority did by 1931 and by 1937, 75 percent of Americans had at least one radio in their homes.  And of course, as with any technology, advertisements touted the latest and greatest in tuning, signal strengths, etc. to capture the elusive consumer dollar.  

Fairy Tales Come to Life

 

February 13, 1964, Twin City News-Record

Tommy Tucker may have sung for his supper, bu the young man portraying him looks absolutely aghast at being in the midst of all those female characters.  Now granted, he IS only in first grade, but give him a few years and he might decide his fortunes are not so bad after all.

I Dub Thee...

February 7, 1970, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

For those not in the know, the pecking order was pages, squires, and knights.  Pages were taught by the squires, who in turn, served the knights, those noble warriors at the top of the chain.  Intriguing that all the participants here are of the female persuasion.  

Lenten Season

February 10, 1910, Menasha Record

The author is optimistic that things will be more quiet during Lent.  Or was that just the norm for 1910?  Not so for this year, with Ash Wednesday being on Valentine's Day, of all days.  Methinks any Lenten sacrifice might be waiting a day for the bulk of observers this go-round.

Of Its Time

February 18, 1977, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

When is the last time you saw the phrase "male chauvinists" in print?  This caption is a function of its time, for it wasn't that long before this 1977 photograph that women's athletics simply did not exist and certainly not in the form in which we see them now, awash with popularity and thriving in ways that rival men's sports.  You can thank Title IX for that.

Hazy Shade of Winter

February 10, 1970, Twin City News-Record

By this time, spring fever has to be coming around to certain folks and surely, photos like this do not make it any easier.  Leave it to the ol' blogmaster to put this up instead of sunny skies and palm trees.  Granted, Menasha has a dearth of palm trees, but hey, anything would be an  inspiration, at least for the start of the work week.  

Window World

 February 10, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This was obviously taken from inside the Grove Clothing store.  What interests me about this photo is not so much that it deals with a window contest but that it shows a small portion of a downtown Menasha we seldom see.  Kudos to the photographer for being innovative and taking the picture from inside the store.  We get to see a portion of Main Street that doesn't exist anymore, except in our collective memories.  

What follows is the details fo the contest.

Cherry Pie Time!

February 4, 1970, Twin City News-Record

I guess due to the connection with Washington's Birthday, it becomes cherry pie time in February.  At least you couldn't beat that price.  Wow!