A History of Halloween-- Part 3: A Depression, A War and a Baby Boom

In the United States, by the 1920s, pranks had become the Halloween activity of choice for rowdy young people.

The Great Depression seemed to make this pranking even worse.  Some people say this pranking led to  the current community-based traditions of trick-or-treating in the United States starting in the 1930s.  However, World War II  meant sugar rationing  and there were fewer treats to hand out.

At the height of the Baby Boom after the war. Halloween activities came back stronger than ever.  It quickly became standard practice of millions of children in America's cities and booming suburbs. No longer constrained by sugar rationing, candy makers capitalized  on the lucrative ritual.

Today. Americans are estimated to spend $2.5 billion on candy during Halloween.

And, the day itself has become the nation's second-largest commercial holiday.

--CootCandy

How the Jungle Gym Was Born-- Part 1: OUCH!! Stay Off Those Monkey Bars

From the November 29, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Christopher Borrelli.

You can see what is regarded as the first jungle gym in the U.S. in the backyard of the Winnetka Historical Society in Illinois, (north of Chicago).   "A monolithic, caramel-color 7-foot-tall cube of deliberately spaced sharp angles...  It looks as punishing as contemporary playground equipment is welcoming...  It's only concession to safety is the sandbox of wood chips beneath it."

Children, however, are not allowed to play on it.  But they do.

Boy, I sure remember jungle gyms, especially the one in Herman Park in Goldsboro, N.C., across from my grandparents' house.  And, yes, there were the occasional painful fall.  And, hitting the ground, as bad as that was, was further worsened by hitting bars on the way down.  A double, triple battering if you will.

Only, we called 'em monkey bars.

And, it IS the First, the VERY FIRST jungle gym.

What was that Bill Cosby used to say about playground items that he never saw adults on?

But Fun, Real Big Fun.  --Cooter

Proposed Museum of Suburbia

From the October 10, 2012, Yahoo! Finance "Suburban Dream: Museum of Suburbia" by Jim Carlton, Wall Street Journal.

Overland Park is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri.  Johnson County officials are proposing spending $34 million for a National Museum of Suburbia which will feature a ranch-style home along with lawn furniture to be built in a former bowling alley.

They expect to draw 60,000 visitors who will pay $6 each to see it.  Having grown up in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, I sure would pay a visit.

--DaCoot