BettysAttic.com Blog

Monday, June 29, 2009

Coca-Cola®: Quenching Our Thirst For 125 Years

It’s summer, it’s Florida, and it’s HOT! While so much of the country looks forward to participating in outdoor activities this time of year, here in the south we do our best to stay inside. We live in air-conditioned houses, drive air-conditioned vehicles, work in air-conditioned offices, shop in air-conditioned malls… Oh, there are those who enjoy working up a good sweat, but for the most part, the way to get through a typical summer day in these parts is to sit back and refresh yourself with an ice-cold soft drink.

Of course, one can’t even think about soft drinks without the iconic Coca-Cola brand coming to mind. Ever since pharmacist John Pemberton came up with the formula for his “brain tonic” back in 1885, America has been hooked! The sweet taste on your tongue, the cool rush in your throat, the bubbles that tickle your nose… they all combine to make the experience of drinking a Coke® one of the best ways to quench your thirst any time of the year.

But Coke’s success isn’t based entirely on its taste. There are some very memorable marketing campaigns in its 125-year history that have helped Coke firmly establish its place in our culture. Who hasn’t seen an image of a rosy-cheeked Santa hoisting a bottle of Coke and recharging himself during his rounds? Or the lovely ladies from the pages of those pin-up calendars suggesting that all vibrantly happy women drink Coke! Remember those familiar scenes of kids gathering at the soda fountain after school, when sharing a Coke with friends was the high point of the day? Coca-Cola has made itself a household name not only in the US, but all over the world—a fact reinforced by the campaign featuring the multi-ethnic hillside congregation singing “I’d like to buy the world a Coke…” back in 1971!

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And while we’ve quenched our thirst for refreshment, we’ve worked up a thirst of a different kind. Collectors snap up old and new items such as salt & pepper shakers, clocks, calendars, glassware, clothing, linens, signage, and other miscellany bearing the familiar red and white design—the older, the better. At Betty’s Attic, we’ve gathered some unusual and useful products just like these to add to your collection. Go ahead—enjoy!

Monday, June 22, 2009

A Star Trek For Every Generation

When Gene Roddenberry created the sci-fi television series Star Trek in 1966, he couldn’t have known the immense impact and tremendous popularity the show would have on pop culture! The series ran for only 3 seasons, but developed its strong following through the reruns. The series spurned 5 television series, and inspired 11 full-length feature films, with a 12th in current production. The most recent release in May 2009 gave us a new and alternative look at how the crew of the USS Enterprise first came together to boldly go to galaxies unknown. The movie is proving to be a commercial success, garnering Trekkie fans from yet another generation.

What is the secret of Star Trek’s appeal? Why have we been so compelled to watch these characters spend light years traveling the multiverse, confronting, battling, and befriending other species, then moving on to the next frontier? The episodes were like mini morality plays, as current now as they were in the 60s: man’s physical battle between good vs. evil, and his inner conflict between emotion vs. logic. Almost every storyline could have been subtitled “Live and Let Live—or, Why Can’t We All Just Get Along in Deep Space?” But social commentary aside, generation after generation of loyal viewers would never be drawn to watch a sci-fi program about different species “just getting along!” Therefore, the battle rages on—could it possibly last another 45 years? We hope so!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Happy Birthday, Marilyn Monroe – Your Star Still Shines

Whenever I hear the lyrics to the Queen anthem, We Are The Champions: “You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, and I thank you all. But its been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise…” I always think of Marilyn Monroe. Born on June 1, 1926 to an unmarried, mentally-ill mother, she bounced around foster homes from the time she was just a little girl until she was 16 years old. She had the proverbial deck stacked against her from a very young age, yet she never let it keep her down. She was always picking herself up, dusting herself off and reinventing herself, eventually becoming one of the most famous people the world has ever known.

What was it about Marilyn Monroe that has kept the memory of her persona alive, almost 50 years since her passing? She was not the most respected of actresses. She wasn’t a particularly gifted singer. Obviously she was unlucky in love, having been divorced 3 times. Both her personal and professional lives were subjected to harsh criticism at every turn. But despite all that, Marilyn remains an icon, remembered not just for her alluring sex appeal and her talent for entertaining, but also for her vibrant spirit, her determination to beat the odds, chase her dreams, and maintain her passion for life. She once said, “I just want to be wonderful.” To her credit, Marilyn tried to keep in perspective what she felt her fame really was – a fleeting moment in the spotlight. Little did she know, her moment would be anything but fleeting. And she was indeed wonderful.

Marilyn has influenced many of today’s top talents. You only have to look as far as Madonna’s platinum-blonde phase, Britney Spears’ Rolling Stone shoot, Christina Aguilera’s album cover art, Lindsay Lohan’s fashion line, and Megan Fox’s tattoo to see the impact Marilyn still carries in Hollywood. Her untimely death, all alone at age 36, was such a tragic end to her stellar life. The star is gone, but the bright light she cast has yet to fade. May it continue to shine!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Celebrating 100 Years Of Kewpie Cuteness

In this age of technology, do little girls still play with dolls? What’s the latest doll craze these days? What kind of tricks do they do now? Once a doll-loving little girl myself, I owned (and coveted) dolls that cried, wet, talked, walked, crawled, slept, sang, grew hair, grew taller, and I can’t even remember what else. For the most part, they were just passing trends and didn’t really have much staying power. But there is at least one very notable exception.

One doll has never been out of production since she was first created back in 1913. I’m talking about Kewpie, of course! Created by Rose O’Neill, Kewpie started life as an illustration that appeared in the pages of Ladies’ Home Journal in 1909. The charming drawings of the smiling winged cherub were introduced as paper dolls in 1912 and were so popular, it was decided that Kewpie should become a real doll. A year later, the first Kewpie doll was produced. Over the years, Kewpies have been crafted in bisque, soap, celluloid, Wedgewood, porcelain, plaster composition, cloth, and vinyl. They have been produced in sizes ranging from 1” tall to over 3 feet tall. But through all the incarnations, Kewpie has remained popular without having to do any “tricks” – no wetting, no crying, no walking. So what is the appeal? The pointy little topknot of sculpted hair? The chubby baby-like features? The impish grin and side-glancing eyes? I say, all of the above! Amazingly, Kewpie has captured the hearts of collectors all over the world for a century, just by being cute! Now I ask you, what other doll can lay claim to that feat?

Monday, May 18, 2009

Humor Goes Down In Smithsonian History!

Last week, comedian Carol Burnett and fashion designer Bob Mackie donated a costume from “The Carol Burnett Show” to the National Museum of American History. The dress joins other culturally significant items on display, such as the ruby slippers from “The Wizard Of Oz,” Irving Berlin’s piano, Muhammed Ali’s boxing gloves, and the signpost from “M*A*S*H™.”

The costume donated is none other than the curtain dress used to parody Scarlett O’Hara’s iconic green velvet dress from “Gone With The Wind.” In the classic film, as you know, Scarlett fashions her fabulous dress from drapes she pulls down from the windows.

Carol Burnett’s Mackie-designed dress was worn in the comedy sketch entitled “Went With The Wind,” first shown on her variety show on CBS in 1976. When Burnett descended the staircase, the drapes of her dress were still attached to a brass curtain rod across her shoulders! The hilarity of the scene reached it peak when Burnett said, “I saw it in a window and I had to have it!” This scene reportedly got one of the longest recorded laughs on television. If you’ve seen the sketch, you’ll remember how hysterical it was. If you’ve never seen the sketch, well, now you’ve missed a part of history!

Museum Director Brent Glass said of the dress, “… (it) is a symbol of the nation’s rich comedic history.” What a great country we live in when our history museum includes artifacts from the best moments in comedy, don’t you agree?

Monday, April 20, 2009

Our Fascination With Trains Is Still On Track!

While visiting relatives this past holiday weekend, I was captivated by one of my young nephews who was absolutely fascinated with a miniature train set. Our elderly uncle had brought it out for the little guy to play with, patiently helping to set it up and get it working. He shared with us that it had always been his favorite childhood possession. Together, the two spent hours placing miniature figures and foliage here and there, and watching the train travel the tracks; backward, forward, in and out of tunnels. It made me think of my favorite cousin Dennis and his elaborate model train setup in his family’s basement,. My sibs and I spent many hours down there, watching the locomotive puff along, loading and unloading its cargo, then sending it back out on its way around the track. Looking back, the fact that Dennis let us play with his amazingly cool train set was probably the reason he was our favorite cousin!

Another fond train memory I have is class field trip taken in elementary school--a scenic ride on the Arcade & Attica railroad across western New York. Entering the historically-preserved station and bouncing in the seats of the antique steam locomotive was like traveling back in time. It was inspiring and exciting to realize that we were riding along the very same rails that were spiked down by pioneers in 1881.

Trains are such an integral part of our country’s growth. Can you imagine the excitement back in 1859 when the first train to cross the mighty Mississippi River made its way across the bridge from Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa? And ten years later, in Promontory, Utah, when the Union Pacific tracks were joined to the Central Pacific tracks--the 2,000-mile journey that once took overland pioneers 4 to 6 months was reduced to 6 days!

Hopefully, in another 150 years, family gatherings of uncles, cousins and nephews will still be appreciating and sharing the rich history and timeless adventure of trains.

Monday, April 13, 2009

I Read The News Today, Oh Boy…

Here’s something I was thinking about… Being that there are only so many days in the year, it stands to reason that on each day, somewhere in history, something really inspiring, significant, or amazing took place. Take any random date--April 15, for example.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color line when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers to wear #42. He scored the winning run in his debut, further securing his spot in sports history. In a fitting tribute, Jackie Robinson’s number was retired on April 15, 1997.

April 15, 1865 is the day that our 16^th president, Abraham Lincoln, died from the gunshot wound he received the night before at Ford’s Theatre. It was a monumental tragedy during a very turbulent time in our nation’s history.

The RMS Titanic sank to the bottom of the frigid Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Over 1,500 lives were lost at sea. Even though the 1996 movie revolved around a fictional romance, it helped us comprehend the magnitude of the disaster.

On April 15, 1955, Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. Today, there is hardly a person alive in the civilized world who isn’t familiar with the name McDonald’s, the golden arches, or the phrase, “Would you like fries with that?”

The song “We Are The World,” recorded by USA for Africa, reached the #1 spot on Billboard Magazine charts on April 15, 1985. Almost 25 years have passed since more than 40 of the biggest celebrities in the music industry lent their voices to the recording, which raised over $60 million for famine relief.

And that’s just ONE DATE on the calendar! (P.S. - If, after reading this, the only thought that comes to your mind on April 15^th has to do with taxes, you need to bring a little more “retro” excitement to your life—and I know just the place to find it!)

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