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| Ray with Bertha late 1920s |
FASHION
After our venture into World War II memories, I really began thinking about what the world our parents (grandparents) grew up in looked like. Of course we've all seen pictures of those years, but it was fun to learn about it all through Aunt Grace's eyes. In the photo above, Aunt Bertha was obviously dressed in the fashion of the "Roaring 20s," when she was around 17 or 18. Compare her dress to those worn by Aunt Grace and Aunt Marge in the early 1940s below.
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| Grace & Marge for Marge's Confirmation circa 1941 |
Dresses were normal attire at all times for the Zielke girls growing up. Even barn chores were done in dresses, although the older ones were worn for barn chores and their newer dresses or skirts were saved for school and church. Just imagine climbing up into the silo to throw down stinky silage while wearing a DRESS!!! Dress length was closely monitored until the late 1960s when mini-skirts were the norm. Aunt Grace remembered that she and Marge shared all their clothes in high school to double the number of outfits each had to wear. They each had 4-5 skirts with blouses and sweaters to match.
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| Grace, Mary Ellen & Dorothy Hill at Lake Geneva (Dorothy was Mary Ellen's younger sister & Grace's birthday twin) |
Grace's outfit in the photo above (pinkish bib overalls worn with a blouse underneath) was her first pair of pants. She got this outfit when she was about 16!
Saddle shoes were also already popular, although no one is wearing a pair for their Lake Geneva outing. Grace said that she and Marge would save their babysitting money to buy their own shoes for about $7.99 for a good pair. They could be purchased cheaper at Kresge's (an old 5 and Dime precursor to KMart).
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| Random people in 40s fashion. |
While women today think nothing of waxing their whole bodies to eliminate body hair, you may be surprised to find out that the Zielke girls didn't learn how to shave their legs properly until Dorothy went to college, in the early 50s, and learned from a roommate!!! Initially when Aunt Grace said this, we thought she meant they didn't use shaving cream or soap... nope. She meant they didn't shave at all! What a simpler life that would have been!!!
Pin Curls and Pompadours
These hairstyles weren't easy to come by! George would take Grace into Aurora twice a year to get a perm. Between perms, Grace and Marge cared for their hair by washing with Suave shampoo (that they also purchased with their babysitting money) and a vinegar rinse for shine. Styles were created by pin curls where they would wind their hair into desired curls and hold in place with clips or bobby pins.
Pompadours made a great fashion statement in both men's and women's hairstyles. Male heart throbs of the day: Clark Gable, Cary Grant & Jimmy Stewart set the trend for the "pomp" in men's hairstyles. Admittedly, it was the wave in Ray's pomp that weakened Mary Ellen's knees.
FADS: MUSIC, MOVIES & RADIO
Since the Zielke family didn't have money for frivolities, a record player (or victrola) was not a feature in their home. The Zielke kids were only exposed to music of the day when visiting friends or listening to the juke box in select diners or restaurants. Some hits Aunt Grace does remember though are: Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," "Mairzy Doats" and "I'll be Seeing You" by Dick Haymes (Talk about a heart throb! Check out the wave in his pomp! Bet he made my mom swoon.)
Going to the movies was not a normal pastime for the Zielke kids either. Aunt Grace remembers Grandma taking them to see a Shirley Temple movie at the Parmount Theater in Aurora in about 1935-36 and Ray gave Grace and Marge the money to go see "Gone with the Wind" in the theater. She also remembers that several phrases from the movie became popular in conversation.
They did offer free movie night in downtown Oswego on Wednesday nights in the summer. She remembers the movies all to be westerns, probably starring such greats as Tom Mix or Hopalong Cassidy. Casual dress was the best for free movie nights as they all sat on the grass. When they went to the theater, dressier clothes were in order, movie previews were accompanied by newsreels reporting on the war effort and popcorn was not a treat they indulged in.
The Zielke family did own a radio and all gathered around when President Franklin D Roosevelt gave one of his Fireside Chats. The chats were well publicized so no one would miss them and, as Grandma stayed up to date on current events, she made sure all were able to listen to the broadcasts. Church dinners were another means of interacting with the community.
FANTASIES
Remembering my own teenage dreams, fantasies and celebrity crushes, and those of my children, I wanted to get Aunt Grace's take on her dreams or which celebrities of the day might have held her interest. Her thoughts for a career were simple. Had it not been for the war and had she not become a homemaker and helpmeet for Uncle Austin, she may have pursued her education a bit further and become an English teacher.
As far as teenage crushes go, that was a folly she didn't really have time for or access to. She does remember all the girls swooning over Frank Sinatra and crooner, Bing Crosby. If she had to choose one celebrity to consider teenage fantasy, she would probably choose Don Ameche. She thinks she imagines herself choosing him though, because her Home Ec teacher always talked about him! 😁 As she thought about it, though and remembered going to see "Gone With the Wind," she did have a second thought about one of the male stars she might have had a little bit of a crush on. I won't say who, but she never did understand all the hubub over Ashley!
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| Clark Gable or Leslie Howard? Rhett or Ashley? Who would YOU choose? |
was getting a good education. And she and Marge were forever grateful that Grandpa had chosen to buy a farm close to town and that they always had INDOOR PLUMBING! It helps put life into perspective and makes me wonder if our children and grandchildren have the same appreciation for all of the blessings and advantages they have in their lives today. I don't know that I truly appreciated all that I had, but, in retrospect, I do appreciate it all now. Even more than an appreciation for possessions and opportunities, I have a far greater respect and appreciation for our Zielke heritage and the opportunity to learn more about that heritage from the most amazing, loving matriarch a family could ever wish for.
