Christmas In Hollywood Homes (1946)

From the pages of Modern Woman magazine, volume 15 number 7, 1946, two pages of vintage movie star holiday Q & A. Specifically the famous Hollywood folks were asked to name:

1) Favorite Christmas Story
2) Favorite Christmas Song
3) When Gifts Are Opened
4) Best-Remembered Gift

The celebrities included are, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Ray Milland, Betty Hutton, Jack Carson, Alan Ladd, Joan Caulfield, Peggy Ann Garner, Lon McCallister, Lynn Bari, Peggy Cummins, Victure Mature, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Robert Hutton, Martha Vickers, and Bette Davis.

As to be expected, I suppose, the most named Christmas story was Christmas Carol. My favorite was Jack Carson’s answer:

A story translated from Norwegian — doesn’t remember the name.

Maybe it was a translation of the Norwegian translation of A Christmas Carol.

My favorite answers were the ones naming their best-remembered gift.

Van Johnson’s:

His first fan, a mid-western Scandinavian grandmother, sent him a pair of Arguyle socks she herself knit. Because of his grateful thanks, she has kept his supplied with socks ever since.

Lucille Ball’s:

About ten years ago she was seriously injured — paralyzed — in an automobile accident. At Christmas everyone gave her gifts for an invalid — except her mother. Mother Ball gave her a new bicycle, and with it the assurance that she would walk again.

Jack Carson’s:

A puppy, part collie and part German shepherd. He was eight years old and living in Milwaukee. “I’ve never had a gift that thrilled me more.”

For what it’s worth, Bette Davis had “no specially-remembered gift.” Neither did Victor Mature — however, he was “emphatic about what he wants this Christmas; a new house! Victor, like thousands of other Americans, is desperate for a home.”

The whole this is as post-war American as pie.

The photo used on the first page is of Margaret O’Brien and “Butch” Jenkins who appeared together in Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, discussing “the possibility of Santa getting down the Jenkins chimney.”

Jane Powell, Roddy MacDowell, George Murphy (and son Denny with train set), and Diana Lynn appear in photos on the second page.

Weird Old Spanish Miniatures

While researching miniature toy maker Charles Hall, I stumbled into the following gems at this toy soldier collecting site:

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this was a member of the Ku Klux Klan! In fact it’s 54mm plastic figure of a hooded penitent from a holy week procession. Made is Spain but maker unknown, probably sold as a souvenier to raise funds for charity rather than a toy.

Would you believe this came from a nativity set? made by OLIVER of Spain.

Leftover Vintage Christmas And Dames & Dogs #23

Because Blogger no longer allows you to host your own blog, Kitschy Kitschy Coo made the switch to WordPress in April of 2010, as a result any comments posted at the old blogger archives do not actually get posted — but people are still talking at/about our previous kitschy posts.

Like Betty, who left a batch of comments at the end of November; the emailed notices of which were stuffed in my spam. Arg! Betty, I feel so badly that I cannot contact you or publish your comments where they belong, so I’m going to hook you up here.

(The rest of you, just consider these your holiday leftovers to enjoy.)

Betty left the following comment at Thirteen Kitschy Christmas Crafty Things:

What! They didn’t coordinate the hairspray can with the toothbrush sleeve in leopard print?? My parents owned a craft shop in the 60s and even in the 60s some of these crafts were hard to swallow. Folks also loved to decopage and bejewel those wooden purses! Whooo hoooo 60s. PS. I’m doin some serious thinkin about that colored water in jars castle and if its the last thing I do this Christmas I AM making a foil angel for the table! Thank you so much. What a fun site you have. Betty

At Thirteen More Bits 0 Paper Scans:

The snowball fort and war was priceless. Adding the poem and this must go up on my wall somewhere.

With the exception of warmer parts of the US, hasn’t everyone had at least one snowball fort fight as a kid? It usually meant snow down the neck of our underdesigned outerwear, cold wet feet, and the unfortunate icy snowball in the face, glasses and all. Livin in TX today. Maybe, maybe it’ll snow again this year. Please, please, please.

At Buying A Christmas Tree?:

Aluminum tree, covered chair, plastic drapery. Keeping it clean for baby Jesus (under the tree.)

At Old Christmas Tree Lot:

I have that Santa Claus. I could live without the dangling greens but I would so love to have the signage!!! Betty

At Thanks For The Reindeer Sweater:

This sweater is flat out fabulous!

This sweater ROCKS!! And, it happens to look extremely good on the model. I’d buy it and if it didn’t fit…I’d frame it. Very, very cool. Betty