1950s Thanksgiving

American Thanksgiving in 1950s Life Magazine ads

The Turkey!
"It's frozen holiday turkey . . . with a tender, new farm-freshness . . . because it's vacuum-sealed in CRYOVAC. Traditional turkey tastes better than ever in new, scientific vacuum package"

November 25, 1957 Life Magazine

"Westinghouse Roaster-Oven cooks everything . . . plugs in anywhere! COOKS HOLIDAY-SIZE TURKEY, HAM OR ROAST, FULL FAMILY MEALS, PERFECT PIES!" "Westinghouse . . .the gift with something extra!" "You can be sure . . .  if it's Westinghouse"

November 18, 1957 Life Magazine

 "BUTTERBALL Swift's Premium Turkey"

Life Magazine November 9, 1959

 "NEW Brush with NUCOA, roast in REYNOLDS WRAP" "NEW GOLDEN TURKEY TRADITION"


Life Magazine November 9, 1959
 "For more than a century of Thanksgivings, Swift has been sharing this thoughtful, pleasant day with American families . . .bringing to their tables the (?) that a bountiful land provides. (May your Butterball bird this year be plumper (?) than ever!) Swift's Premium . . . the two most trusted words in meat. Our 105th year."

Life Magazine November 23, 1959


Cranberries!
"Exciting new Cranberry Surprise . . . this is the place for BEST FOODS"
CRANBERRY SOUFFLE SALAD
1 envelope Knox Unflavored Gelatine
2 tbsp. sugar . . . 1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup very hot water
1/2 cup Best Foods Real Mayonnaise
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 (1-lb.) can Ocean Spray Whole Cranberry Sauce
1 orange or apple, peeled and diced, or one 8 1/2 can pineapple tidbits
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Mix gelatine with sugar and salt. Add hot water. Stir until dissolved. Add Real Mayonnaise, lemon juice and lemon juice and lemon rind. Blend with rotary beater. Pour into refrigerator tray and quick-chill in freezing unit 10-15 min., or until firm about 1 inch from edge but soft in center. Beat until fluffy. Fold in cranberry sauce, fruit and walnuts. Pour into molds and chill until firm. Unmold on lettuce. Top with Real Mayonnaise. 6 servings.


November 17, 1958 Life Magazine

Beverages!
 "Lighten the Fun! For Thanksgiving . . .add Schlitz!" "The beer that made Milwaukee famous"


November 12, 1956 Life Magazine

"Serve the modern the LIGHT refreshment" "Pepsi-Cola refreshes without filling"

November 19, 1956 Life Magazine

"America Pauses to be Thankful!" "Coca Cola: THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES"

Life Magazine November 23, 1959

Rolls!
"Lady . . . Be A Genius in 2 delightful ways . . . in just 6 minutes. Your family and guest will rave about these 2 Wonder BROWN 'N SERVE Perfect Baking Delights"

November 19, 1956 Life Magazine

Family Photos!
"Thanksgiving pictures are easier to take indoors than out. Sylvania outsells all other brands of flashbulbs combined!"

November 18, 1957 Life Magazine

Football!
"They disagree on nearly everything including today's game - The agree (1) that their favorite liquor tastes better in a highball - (2) that highballs are better for them - (3) that the best highballs are mixed with Canada Dry."

November 12, 1956 Life Magazine

Pumpkin Pie!
"even beginners can't miss! Libby's Pumpkin assures velvety-rich, custard-like filling every time."

November 12, 1956 Life Magazine

"Your first taste will tell you it's real whipped cream" "Reddi wip Perfect Partner for Pumpkin Pie. "

Life Magazine November 16, 1959

Happy Thanksgiving!!!
"When you care enough to send the very best Hallmark Cards"

Life Magazine November 16, 1959

Vintage Thanksgiving Postcards

I'd love to know if it was common to send Thanksgiving postcard greetings a century ago.  I have never sent Thanksgiving cards but I sure love to see what was mailed 100 years ago.


"Thanksgiving Greetings" Mailed November 1909


"Best Thanksgiving Greetings"


"Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving"


Thanksgiving Greetings - Mailed November 1916

Be sure to enjoy the vintage Thanksgiving postcards I posted last year!

We Gather Together

Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving 1967. My Dad's Mom, Stella Frederickson Hawes, on the left is holding the hand of my Mom's Dad, Howard Johnson. On the right, My Dad's Dad, Bill Hawes is holding the hand of my Mom's Mom, Lucy Andrew Johnson. My Mom, my (middle) sister and I are in the photo as well - my Dad took the photo.

Looking back I realize how special it was to have us all gathered around the same table. My youngest sister was born more than 10 years after this photo and after Howard had died. But this was my entire family at the time.

A favorite traditional hymn at Thanksgiving "We Gather Together"

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

I hope you will be able to gather together and spend Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

Thanksgiving Greetings

Were Thanksgiving postcards more common a century ago?  Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier every year - I don't know if I've noticed Thanksgiving cards for sale amongst all the Christmas décor. 

Of course I love these charming vintage postcards depicting colorful turkeys, bounty, fall leaves and pilgrims:

"Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving" Mailed November 1907


"Thanksgiving Greetings" Mailed October 1908?


"A Glad Thanksgiving" Mailed October 1912


"Thanksgiving Greeting" mailed November 1923


"Thanksgiving Joys" undated

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Thanksgiving & the Mayflower (Park Hotel)

I recently mentioned my grandfather, Howard Johnson when I posted about a paint-by-number clown he painted for me.

Howard was born 1912 in British Columbia. He began his hospitality career at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC as a boy (pageboy standing on the left)

From Johnson Family

Somewhere in the family collection of photographs is a picture of an even younger Howard in a velvet suit carrying in the boar's head for a Christmas feast at the grand hotel.

Grandpa worked at other hotels in British Columbia before immigrating to Washington in 1951 with my grandmother and my pre-teen mother.  I thought he moved to The States to take a job at the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle - which seems charmingly quaint to me - the Mayflower is what brought my mom's family to America!  However in a conversation over at Vintage Seattle about the Carousel Room, the Mayflower Park Hotel historian mentions my grandfather was General Manager there from 1955-1959.  Perhaps he worked another position at the Mayflower before being promoted to General Manager and I can still think the Mayflower brought my family to America. . . .

Mayflower Park Hotel postcard before my grandfather's era

From Visiting Vintage

From Visiting Vintage

Forward another decade after working at the Mayflower and through several other hotels (he went on to work at the Edgewater Inn - he was employed there when the Beatles fished from the window!) and here we are celebrating (quite seriously) Thanksgiving in 1969 with my grandpa and grandma.  Another of his paint-by-numbers is hanging on the wall.

From Visiting Vintage

That was my grandfather's last Thanksgiving.  He passed away July 1970 at age 58.

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of memories of him but  two of them include hotels - I remember sharing a bowl of ice cream just me and him at the Edgewater and I remember watching a Seafair parade from a window of the Mayflower (he no longer worked there) .  At this Thanksgiving time, among a plethora of my many, MANY blessings, I am grateful that Howard Johnson created a life for his family which in turn contributed hugely to my very fortunate existence.

Very happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.