Mid Century Christmas Trees and Gifts

These 1950s Christmas color slides are fun. I still have not identified the family/ies but their Christmases are suburban baby-boomer style and I love it!!

Shiny aluminum Christmas Tree!


I think if you did not have a shiny aluminum Christmas tree, you loaded it down with tinsel!





















"Patty" "Bill"


"Nancy" "Bill"




I really love the vintage ornaments on this tree!



I can imagine how excited these girls were to get brand new roller skates! Their names are possibly Nancy and Patty.


Close ups of gifts under the trees:

Pink poodle toy, bear (wind up?)


Record player (it appears to be sized for 45s), Santa boot with candy cane, salt and pepper set


Airplane, and at least two fire trucks, Cowboy Jr. Cap Pistol

Ballerina doll, Skunk, Cowboy Jr. Cap Pistol, Fire trucks


Record player?, Dolls, teddy bears, mixer?


Lincoln Logs, teapot?, football, toy gun? something with Mickey Mouse on it, Betty Crocker Junior Baking Kit, doctor kit?


JC Higgins Model 20 Pump Acton 12 Gauge Shotgun, clock (radio?) axe



Doll, Kodalite FlashHolder, Cat!, Target shooting game, Monopoly, purse



The Visible Man, red purse, Campus Sweater, sewing machine, wind up bear, typewriter, drill, leather case

Female names in this collection are Nancy and Patty, One of the males is Bill - I assume these are the children but could be the parent names as well? I think they lived in the Puyallup area.

Eleventh Birthday Party

Last year I posted about my Fifth Birthday Party.  I came across these negatives last month (when I acquired my Dad's negatives including the aerials I've been posting).  My eleventh birthday - 40 years ago!  It was rather an awkward stage - but these photos make me smile.


I bet we got a good bargain after Christmas on the cute Gingerbread tablecloth and napkins.



The three girls on the right of this photo are named Kristin, Kristin and Kristine!


I got braces the summer before this.  I recall being the only student in fifth grade wearing them.  My orthodontist said I had a mature mouth.  Dutifully, I did exactly what he asked me to do including wearing my headgear religiously after school until the next morning except for mealtimes.  I think I kept overcorrecting - apparently his teenage patients weren't as diligent about following instructions as a 10/11 year-old so my teeth moved comparatively quicker.

My haul includes a Woodburning set, Hollie Hobbie collector plate "A True Friend is the Best Possession" (in photo "11" above, you can see two decoupaged Hollie Hobbie wall plaques - we were fans . . . ), Craft Master Acrylic Paint-By-Numbers, giant Hershey chocolate bar and red stuffed toy mouse.


There were 13 numbers on the dial on the top of that black-and-white TV behind me . . . we got channels 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 & 13 with those rabbit ears and it seemed like plenty of choices.


My sister (and her perfectly straight teeth without the need for braces . . . ) all ready for a slumber party!


We lived in this house in Eastgate (Bellevue) between 1964 - 1973 - we moved to Woodridge about a month after these photos were taken.

I must have gotten a diary for Christmas a few weeks earlier - these are the entries for the first half of January 1973 - with my creative spelling and all!

January 1: Last night we stayed overnight at the Sebrings house since Janis had to babysit us and their kids. Today we went to grandma’s house and in their basement we found a 1940 and a 1945 paper with the headlines, “Rosefelt Dead”. After dinner I had a surprise party since my birthday is in just eight more days. From my Grandma Hawes I got 10 dollars and from my Grandma Johnson I got four dresses! They gave me my presents today because they thought they wouldn’t be here on my birthday. On the way home we played “Three Coin” and I won most of the games.

January 2: Today was the first day of school from Christmas vacation.

January 4: Kevin O’Brien gave away 1687$ on KJR!

January 5: It snowed last night and we were one hour late going to school. We got our carpet today. Went to Crowders house for dinner and went sleding down there long hill and got back from their house 12:45 AM. *Everet died today

nicest bus driver

January 6: Dad put in are carpet today. The stretcher for the carpet put two holes in the walls.

January 7: Went to Fredrick & Nelsons to get Moms paycheck and then went out for lunch at Jack in the Box. Then went to House of Values and got are own record. I got “The Partridge family at home with their greatest hits” and Kristi got “America.”

January 8: Had an Orthodonist appointment and a doctor appointment today. Then we went to a fabric store and mom got some material to make pants for me. I got to school right in time for lunch.

January 9: Got a new kid in are class at school. They sanded are hill so now we can’t go sledding. My presents today were a Girl Scout knife, pillow and flashlight I also got a minature Raggedy Ann and little reed chairs. I also got pants, vest, origami paper, bath oil, stationary and 2 dollar. I babsat Bunky tonight. Qualey

January 10: Today is Mr. Gaily’s and Becky D Birthday

January 12: After school there was a movie called “The Cat” and we saw it. I had a Birthday Slumber party. I invited Kristin Groundland, Connie Haslam, Kristine Johnson and Shari Yates. From Kristin I got a paint by number set and from Connie I got a stuffed animal and a big Hershey Chocolate bar and from Kristine I got a plate that said, “A true friend is the best possession” and from Shari I got a wood burning set.

January 13: I started my cosins letter today. I bought a bike lock for my bike today and the combination is on the frount of this book.

January 15: Kevin O Brien gave away 1163$ and 95$

January 16: On TV we watched “The Night Strangler” and it was filmed in Seattle.

This was the only year I was decent about keeping a diary which is pretty entertaining for me to go back and read . . . .  life in 1973 Bellevue for an eleven year old girl.  I really do wish my children's ancestors had kept journals or diaries - it would be a thrill for me to catch a glimpse of their ordinary everyday lives.

Tastee Freez

I had not heard of Tastee Freez until "A Little Ditty about Jack and Diane" in 1982.  However, Tastee-Freez was founded in 1950 - I'm pretty impressed they were already affording full page Life Magazine ads in 1956.  From Wikipedia:

Tastee-Freez was founded in 1950 in Illinois by Leo S. Moranz and Harry Axene. Moranz invented a soft serve pump and freezer which enabled the product, and their Harlee Manufacturing Company produced the machines which franchisees would buy and use in their respective locations. Originally stores focused on iced milk and other frozen dairy-based desserts. Expansion of the brand was rapid in the 1950s; in 1952, there were 315 locations, and by 1957 there were nearly 1800 locations.

I wouldn't mind a Tastee-Freez treat on a hot summer's day.

"Special of the month" promotions back in 1956

"Miss tastee-freez, America's Sweetheart Doll.  8" tall. Her eyes close . . . Her head and arms move. She's beautifully gowned. Regular value $1.69. Yours for only 49¢ and this sales card, punched to indicate $1.00 worth of Tastee-Freez purchases."


April 2, 1956 Life Magazine

"$10,000 in Cash Prizes!  It's easy . . . It's fun . . . It's profitable! enter this exciting coloring contest. Try out your artistic skill. Paint color on these white plastic miniatures - charming lifelike statuettes of famous American and National League ALL STAR BALL PLAYERS. You'll enjoy doing it yourself and you may win one of these 266 CASH PRIZES.

Special of the Month ALL STAR SUNDAES . .  with your favorite fruit toppings of flavors, in colorful plastic all purpose dishes - mounted with lifelike statuettes of big league baseball stars"

April 30, 1956 Life Magazine

Special of the month DOUBLE WALL THERMO TUMBLERS. Insulating double walls keep beverages, foods, refreshments hot or cold for hours! Big, picnic size. Leakproof, snap-on cover. Break-resistant thermo-plastic in smart diamond design. Variety of lovely colors. Start your set today! Simply complete Punch Card with $1.00 worth of Tastee-Freez purchases and get your Thermo Tumbler, a regular $1.25 value . . . special offer 29¢"

May 28, 1956 Life Magazine

"Hurry! Enter this big, exciting PRESIDENTIAL coloring contest $10,000.00 in cash prizes. First Prize $1,000.00 - 265 other prizes totaling $9,000.00. Start your collection of all 33 lifelike presidential statuettes. Color one, or as many as you like, to win! ANYONE CAN WIN! It's easy! It's fun! And it can mean a big Cash Prize for you! Think of what you could do with One Thousand Dollars! Or with the 265 other big Cash Prizes! Simply paint colors you think best on plastic, lifelike Presidential Statuettes mounted on the colorful, all-purpose dish your Tastee-Freez Sundae is served in. That's all you do! But hurry! Contest limited! Get started with your entry - today!"

June 25, 1956 Life Magazine

"Special of the month.  'Swing-Tassel' Clown Shaker. Youngsters will really go for this happy, laughing Clown Shaker with the big, rolling eyes. The 'tassel' swings up for inserting straws. Bright red 'cap' comes off . . . to use it as a colorful, fun-making serving glass. Simply complete Punch Card ($1.00 in Tastee-Freez purchases) and this REGULAR $2.00 VALUE is yours for ONLY 29¢"

July 23, 1956 Life Magazine

"Special of the month - Handsome Gift Box. 3-Piece Thermo Set. Distinctive diamond design. Double-wall plastic construction keeps all kinds of refreshments cold or hot for hours. Get several sets, for yourself or for Gifts. Simply complete Punch Card ($2.00 in Tastee-Freez purchases) and get this big, REGULAR $2.95 VALUE for ONLY 79¢"

August 20, 1956 Life Magazine

"Start Your Gift Collection of these lifelike, beautifully-gowned 'Personality Dolls'. Dressed in beautiful, fashion-right clothes in authentic colors and designs. Each doll is over 8" tall, with eyes that open and close, movable arms and legs. Back of Gift Carrying Case features exciting variety of 'pin-on' Child Achievement Award Medals. Start now to get a complete set of these lovely Dolls, to give as Xmas Gifts or to cherish for your very own. Get FREE Doll Punch Card at your Tastee-Freez Store. Simply complete it with $2.00 in Tastee-Freez purchases and get . . . Regular $2.49 value only 99¢"

September 17, 1956 Life Magazine

Some of these promotion items can currently be found on E-bay!

Dickie's Fourth Birthday

Happy Birthday to my Dad!  He grew up in Bremerton, Washington and I just came across these photos from his fourth birthday party taken at their house on High Ave. in August 1940 (I thought they'd complement my Fifth Birthday Party and my sister, Kristi's Third Birthday party quite well)

"Who's four years old today?!"  "Yer lookin' at 'im!"



"Eat your sandwiches before we cut the cake!"

My Dad's brother, Billy, is two boys to the right from my Dad. I know he was allergic to eggs for part of his childhood.  I don't know how long, but it might be why there are two cakes on the table for nine boys.  My Grandmother, Stella Fredrickson Hawes, gave me this recipe when I learned my own son had life-threatening allergies to milk, eggs, peanuts, and treenuts, (among other things)
Crazy Cake
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons soda
6 Tablespoons cocoa
Sift all together. Make three holes. In one put 1 Tablespoon vinegar, in another 1 teaspoon vanilla and the last 5 Tablespoons oil.  Over whole thing pour 1 cup cold water. Mix until smooth. Bake in moderate oven. 





A birthday coin!


Child sized garden tools


And one of my favorite photos.  A birthday parade!



Obviously this is a few years later (twenty six to be exact) - but we're back in Bremerton at his parent's house on Preble Street celebrating my Dad's thirtieth birthday. Mom made all our shirts.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Fifth Birthday Party

I'm celebrating a milestone birthday today. I suppose it makes me even more nostalgic than other times when I decide to visit vintage.

My fifth birthday party. Classic games like London Bridge



and pin the tail on the tiger (?)


Bubble pipes for party favors.  The cake stand was a music box, you turned the plate to make it play. I believe my crown says "Happy New Year"

Some of my gifts:
Jumpin' Mrs. Potato Head!

and I remember the rubbery brown "wig" on top of the piano here

And I still have a book I received that birthday - Dr. Seuss' Happy Birthday to You!  I read it several years to my kids on their birthdays.

From Visiting Vintage

You can peek inside some of the pages on Amazon.

Too many birthdays to remember them all but old photos sure help.