Views of Life in the 1920's

I was cleaning up some of my shelves over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and had to stop to leaf through some old photo albums I found.  I purchased the albums a while ago, and I have no idea who the folks are in the pictures.  Still, I find old photos fascinating.  They make me think about so many things about life long ago.....

I love this photo of a Christmas gathering.  Those appear to be real candles on the tree, and the person dressed as Santa looks a little frightening.  The kids in the foreground are holding a big pan of popcorn (I think they are making popcorn balls) and a tray of apples:

Two girls inside a general store.  So many things are inside showcases.  Years ago, clerks would handle the items you asked for, instead of the customer grabbing everything off open shelves like we do now:

 

A cute baby posing in a tea box:

I like this playful picture of a mom in the wagon with her three kids.  Toys were so well-built back then:

 "Our Tin Lizzie," also known as the Ford Model T.  This was the first vehicle that middle class folks could afford thanks to Henry Ford's assembly-line production of them right here in Michigan:

Little girls in their play clothes, posing on a rock down by one of the Great Lakes in Michigan:

Proud Boy Scouts, circa 1923:

 Making a phone call on a candlestick phone.  It required two hands, and you had to sit in one spot.  Think of the convenience of cell phones we use now:

A dad clowns around with his son:

A little boy with his faithful companion:

Two cute brothers:

A woman playing a ukulele.  There was quite a ukulele craze during the 1920's.  I've come across a lot of sheet music and instructional booklets for ukulele players:

 

Sisters with their dolls.  Kids had very few toys compared to children nowadays:

 I like this family picture, especially the little boy in the sailor suit:

 Do you ever wonder what kids did to entertain themselves many years ago, before computers, T.V., video games, perhaps even radio?  

 

A high school basketball team, circa 1922.  The uniforms have changed so much:

 

 

Do you wish things were simpler, or are you glad you live in the 2010's?  Personally, I'm on the fence.....

Mitzi

Comments

[Betty]

I always feel a little sad when I see old pictures that no family member was interested in keeping. I did have a man tell me one time that he sometimes found them when he bought the contents of storage units at auctions. He believed the family members might not have even known their relatives had a storage unit. I made sure I put my kids' names, addresses and phone numbers on my contact information at the storage place where I rent.

I could not live where I live without A/C. To me that's a necessity with the humidity here. I also like my automatic washer and dryer. Could I live without a microwave? Probably, but not easily. When we lived overseas we did not have TV and I look back at those days with fondness. We spent more time with friends, played games, and read. Maybe simpler times with some modern conveniences.

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Betty,

Thanks so much for your input! I feel the same way. I could live without many things, but there are a few modern conveniences I would like to take back in time with me if I could......

Mitzi

[Debi C]

Thanks for posting these.I love old photos...I get lost looking in their faces and imagining what they were like, did they chase their dreams? Did they fall in love? Did they have a good life with friends and family to love and support them? I sometimes make up stories about them. I, like Betty, find it sad that there is no family to hold these pictures. I love that little boy in his sailor suit! What a look on his face. haha
Like Betty, I like the electrical appliances that make life easier...the W/D, refrigerator, stove. I love music so love radio/stereo. Could easily do without TV, computer, smartphone, etc.

[Pat schwab]

Mitzi, I really enjoyed looking at these old photos. They tell a great story. I love the boy and his dog and the boy climbing the tree. I think Santa had on a mask and he does look scary. Thanks for sharing.

[Khadija]

I love the simple times but I love internet more. I feel that the times we live in are less racist than before and I wouldn't want to have those days back! Besides, how could I have found your blog in the 20s? :P

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Khadija,

You have some good points, Khadiha!

Mitzi

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Pat,

So glad you enjoyed the old photos. I think they tell a great story too, even in black and white.

Mitzi

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Debi,

You and I think alike! I always hope the people had happy lives......

Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments and for reading my blog!

Mitzi

[Tamara @ Etcetorize]

So sweet! You know these were wonderful memories...for someone. I love the 1st photo you shared. I'd love to know what those kids are thinking. I think we miss what we look back and think was innocence or naivete. But as women, we definitely have things better nowadays. We can speak our minds, we can be educated, we can follow our dreams. We still have a long way to go but not many women had those opportunities back then~

[Mitzi Curi]

Im glad you enjoyed the photos, Tamara. I think you are right.....women didnt have as many opportunities back in those days. They were treated like second-class citizens in many households.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your thoughtful comments!

Mitzi