Rake Those Leaves

September 30, 1974, Twin City News-Record

Ah, the joys of Autumn!  Raking leaves, falling temperatures, but fun is what you make of it and these kids had the right idea.  Living in the south now, I sometimes get confused about how early fall arrives up north.  (And in a state where the leaves don't really fall until February, it isn't hard!)  But then an article like this jolts me back to reality.  Jumping in leaf piles is as American as Charlie Brown trying in vain to kick the football every season.

Halloween Movies

October 28, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

I remember only too well the excitement of the special Halloween shows at the local movie theaters, as well as the regular Saturday matinees that were so affordable and gave Mom and Dad a break from the kiddies.  I'm not sure I would have had the patience to work in one of those theaters with all the craziness of kids running around, but I'm glad someone was able to pull it off.  It was a more innocent time, before all the things we take for granted now came along and took our attention away from those cheesy ghostly effects on a large screen that made us cringe somehow. Those were some days.

A Good Bracer...

October 30, 1905, Menasha Record

An interesting ad for Menasha's own Walter Brothers Beer, featuring a woman.  One would think that ads of this era would not utilize women but surprisingly, that isn't the case.  Around this time, and, undoubtedly, more well-known, Miller High Life introduced its famous "girl in the moon" logo.  But that was mere eye candy for its time.  This ad seems to be marketing the beer to women, instead of just using them as an attractive companion to their beer, as was the wont of brewers for years afterwards.  And though the message is that the beer will be a "tonic" of sorts, to bolster the weak "constitution" that women were shown to have in many, many early ads, it is still noteworthy for a Menasha brewer to do this.

Mystery Photos

October 14, 1939, Neenah-Menasha News-Times

 

October 23, 1939, Menasha Record

 

October 27, 1939, Appleton Post-Crescent

History often presents itself with many unanswered questions and leaves the researcher with unfulfilled frustrations.  This is one of those cases.  How wonderful to be able to view such a treasure trove of pre-World War II photographs, if only one knew if a) it still existed, and b) where it was kept.  The news article implies it is still photographs, even though it is billed as "motion pictures."  I suspect it was still color photos put on film, perhaps with music and narration, again, implied by the phrase "...sound commentated throughout, in much the same manner as other news reels you have seen."  But when it was all over, what happened to it?  Did the Brin keep it and it was lost or forgotten over the years?  Was it given to the local historical society?  Was it kept by Mr. Clayton, the director, or Life Newsreels? It is so frustrating to learn about the existence of such resources but have no idea about whatever happened to them.  Apparently, this was an ongoing thing, as a little more research revealed an article from July 1939 about filming a similar type newsreel in Kokomo, Indiana.  I can see how such a vehicle could be quite the civic morale booster and a thrill to theater patrons to see oneself and one's friends and family on a local big screen.  I just wish we could all share in this thrill, though some eighty years later.

Voting Machine

September 16, 1968, Twin City News-Record

This is a timely piece, as elections are only weeks away.  I recall the first time I saw machines like this was as a small boy, accompanying my mother to Jefferson School so she could vote.  I was intrigued, to say the least, especially by the swipe of that final big lever which cast the vote and simultaneously opened the curtain.  What a marvelous contraption!  So, just get out and vote.  Maybe you'll get a similar thrill, or perhaps some other method will have to do, depending where you live.  But nevertheless, do your civic duty. 

Sweet Spot

October 17, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Be it Halloween items or getting a head start for Christmas, the Menasha Sweet Shop had it all well in hand for the consumer. And the stuffed animals on display were a veritable menagerie of toys to please kids of all ages, to include the owner, Mr. Steidl.  

Fire Safety

October 10, 1975, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This week is Fire Prevention Week and Menasha firefighters ensured the younger folk of the city knew the ins and outs of fire safety with school visits and demonstrations.   National Fire Prevention Week is observed in the US and Canada, during the week (from Sunday to Saturday) in which October 9 falls. In the US, the first Presidential proclamation of Fire Prevention Week was made in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge.  Growing up in the Menasha schools, I'm sure all our readers can recall the inevitable fire drills that October brought.

October 10, 1975, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern