Forty Things from the 1970s You Probably Won't Find in Today's Homes-- Part 3: Oh That Typewriter

21.  Radios*   I also have a bunch of boom boxes with radios.

22.  Funky lights  (colored lights)   Do Christmas lights I leave up in the bar year round count?

23.  Pod chairs  (ball or egg chairs)

24.  Popular pottery*  (Some of our lamps are pottery)

25.  Chrome finishes

26.  Typewriters*   Even though I haven't seen it in years, I know we have an electric one somewhere.)

27.  Pyrex dishes   (with color)

28.  Record players   (Hey, we still have three of them.

29.  Dark tones  (red, gold & avacado)  Our first home had an orange countertop in the kitchen.

30.  Exposed brick

Stuck in the 70s.  --Cooter

How 25 Christmas Traditions Started--Part 4: Wonderful Life, Lights, Santas, Fruitcakes & Cookies

16.  IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Frank Capra's Christmas classic debuted in 1946 with Jimmy Stewart playing George Bailey, a suicidal man who was shown what life would have been like if he had never been born.  It wasn't nice.  It was a flop at the  box office when it premiered, but did get five Academy award nominations, but no wins.

It wasn't until the owner neglected to renew the copyright that statins started showing it and that's when it took off.

My 3rd favorite Christmas movie and favorite non-comedy one.

17.  CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Edward Hibbard Johnson, a friend of Thomas Edison, came up with the idea of stringing lights around a Christmas tree in New York in 1882.  Now over 150 million sets are sold in the U.S. each year.  (I still want to know why I usually have one half of the lights go out in a string and then can't get them relit.)

18.  DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA

Dates back to 1890 when James Edgar of Brockton, Massachusetts, had a Santa suit made for himself  at his dry goods store.  Some say Macy's has had one since 1862.  (Still my favorite department store Santa was the one at Higbee's.)

19.  MAKING FUN OF FRUITCAKE

A favorite of the British (and me), but the subject of a long-running American joke.  Manitou Springs in Colorado has an annual Fruitcake Toss Day.

20.  COOKIE SWAPS

For over a hundred years in America.  I don't exchange.  I want them ALL!!!!

Ho, Ho, Ho!!  --RoadDog

In 1985, Johnny Carson joked:  "The worst Christmas gift is a fruitcake.  There is only one fruitcake in the entire world and people keep sending it to each other."

Quiz: Just How Well Do You Know Movie "Christmas Vacation"-- Part 2: Aunt Bethany

Answers below.

6.  What does Aunt Bethany recite when others ask her to say grace before the Christmas meal?

7.  How many lights does Clark use on his house?

8.  What kind of vehicle does Cousin Eddie drive?

9.  What classic holiday movie is Clark's son Rusty watching on TV when the in-laws arrive?

10.  What does Clark do to amuse himself while he is stuck in the attic?

Answers below.

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6.  The Pledge of Allegiance


7.  25,000   I missed this one.


8.  RV


9.  "It's a Wonderful Life"


10.  Watches home movies.


"Four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking."

We're Gonna Do This Big.  --CootEddie

Wrigley Field in 1945-- Part 2: Original Lights Taken Out By World War II

The last time the Cubs were in a World Series Before this year.

OUTFIELD:  Under Bill Veeck, ivy was planted along the outfield walls in 1937.

CLUBHOUSES:  The old Cubs' tiny clubhouse was located under the left field mezzanine.

LIGHTS:  P.K. Wrigley assigned Bill Veeck to lookinto lighting options for Wrigley.  The team ordered parts in 1941 but Wrigley donated the steel to the World War II effort after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

MARQUEE:  The famous Wrigley Field marque was installed in 1934 and was originally green, and then was painted blue a couple years later.  Of course, it is now red.

--Cubter