The Revival Chronicles

2012-02-03T16:26:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite magazines, Reminisce, recently featured this article online. It recalls the early days of television when there was no lack of creativity on the set.

Television Director Met His Match in Alfred Hitchcock

January 20, 2012

When I switched careers from radio to television production in 1948, everything was new and untried. There were no lists of things you couldn’t do, so, being too dumb to know any better, we just went ahead and did whatever seemed like a good idea.

At the time, directors like myself were limited only by our imaginations. Early black-and-white iconoscope cameras couldn’t reflect red, for example, so we had female performers wear green lipstick and brown rouge to look “normal” on-screen. Believe me, it took real acting skills to kiss a girl wearing green lipstick!

We also made the first “bouncing ball” for a television sing-along. Was it crude? You bet! I took one of my wife’s hatpins, dipped the end in white ink, then taught the projectionist to “bounce” the hatpin above the lyrics printed on black paper. In those days, everything was live. If you fell on your face (and we often did), you did it in front of everybody. It was an exciting era that will never come again.

In the early ’50s, Hollywood filmmakers decided TV would be a good place to promote their movies. Stars began traveling to make personal appearances at local stations across the country. I was working at WFAA-TV in Dallas when Alfred Hitchcock, actress Anne Baxter and actor Roger Dan came to our station to promote Hitchcock’s new movie, I Confess.

ILLUMINATING APPEARANCE. Famous director Alfred Hitchcock gave Bill Sadler a light at a televised promotion of a new movie. Anne Baxter (second from left) takes in the gag (click on image to view larger).

Hostess Jean Oliver was to handle the interviews, but I had an idea I thought might produce a laugh. Hitchcock was already a legend, well-known for his trademark “walk-on” in each of his movies. So, for our TV production, I suggested that I walk onto the set from the control room while Hitchcock was being interviewed and ask for a light for my cigarette. When this happened, Hitchcock would ask who I was, and Jean would explain, “Oh, that’s our director—he always makes a cameo appearance on each of his shows.”

Hitchcock said he thought it was a great gag. Little did we know he had one of his own in mind. He asked for a candle, so I sent a crew member to the prop room to get one. Hitchcock lit the candle and set it out of sight. We didn’t know what he planned to do with it, and he wasn’t about to tell us.

We found out when I came onto the set for my cameo. Hitchcock pulled out the lighted candle and lit my cigarette with a great flourish. Then he turned to the camera and said, “This definitely proves that Alfred Hitchcock can more than hold a candle to Bill Sadler as a producer/director.”

His comment broke up everyone, including the camera crew and yours truly. That show turned out to be one of the most fun we ever did. I’ll never forget how gracious Mr. Hitchcock was and how thoroughly he seemed to enjoy himself that day.

By Bill Sadler

Brownsville, Texas

2012-01-30T15:27:00.000-06:00

Morse Code Necklaces

I just came across one of the most unique ideas I've ever heard of (it's even better if you love history, like I do). Morse code necklaces can spell out your name or any other word that describes you. My sister Rachel makes jewelry, so I think I'll have her help me make my own. This would be a terrific gift for Valentine's Day...pretty with a bit of historic flair.

2012-01-19T22:04:00.001-06:00

Head over to my Twitter account for a poll I'm conducting on Morse Code. Just scroll down this page a bit, and you'll find the link on the left-hand side. Thanks for participating!

2012-01-08T18:08:00.000-06:00

Tradition of the Month - Hoppinjohn

Hoppinjohn is a dish of black-eyed peas, pork, rice and seasoning, traditionally served on New Year's Day. Today, it is mostly popular in the South. Its origin dates back to Civil War days when food was scarce in many regions. It is said that there were some planters who had only black-eyed peas to eat for New Year's dinner. Their fortunes were later restored, and they associated this "luck" with the New Year's hoppinjohn dish. Below is a variation of hoppinjohn from Civil War Cooking: The Confederacy, by Susan Dosier.

1 cup dried black-eyed peas
10 cups water, divided
3 bacon slices
1 small onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Garnishes: green onion pieces, tomato wedges

Soak peas overnight in water enough to cover by 2 inches. Drain peas and discard water. Bring peas to a boil in 7 cups of water over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven. Reduce heat and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until peas are tender. Cook bacon in a large skillet 5 until crisp; remove and drain on paper towels, reserving the drippings in the skillet. Crumble the bacon. Saute onion and bell pepper in the bacon drippings over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetable mixture, 3 cups of water, rice, and salt to the peas. Cook covered, over medium heat, for 20 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with the crumbled bacon. Garnish, if desired.

The peas represent coins, and the greens served with the dish are the color of paper money. Sometimes coins are placed under each person's bowl or are even added to the pot. In addition to eating hoppinjohn, Southerners set aside three peas on each of their plates - one for Luck, another for Fortune, and the third for Romance. Any hoppinjohn remaining after New Year's Day is symbolic of frugality and is called "Skippin' Jenny," which they hope brings a greater chance of good fortune in the new year. I'm grateful to not have to rely on black-eyed peas to know that my new year will be happy!

~recipe courtesy of yummyeats.com; photo from thetasteplace.com

2011-08-31T20:03:00.004-05:00

Phrases of Yesteryear

A while back, I was browsing through some grade school year books that belonged to a friend's mother during the 1930's. Written throughout the pages were clever notes from the children to their fellow classmates. Here are some of them, ranging from witty to sarcastic to sentimental:

Yours till butterflies.

Yours till the kitchen sinks.

Kisses are germs, so doctors have stated. Kiss me, baby; I'm vaccinated.

Yours till soda pops.

Yours till Niagara Falls.

When you get married and have an old Ford, save me a place on the running board.

Yours till Ivory soap sinks.

The sun shines east, the sun shines west, but on you dear friend, the sun shines best.

I love you little, I love you big, I love you like a little pig.

My pen is poor, my ink is pale, my hand jiggles like a little pig's tail.

Roses are red, violets are blue, so's your old man when the rent is due.

2 y's U R, 2 y's U B. I C U R, 2y's 4 me.

Yours till the table legs wear spike heels.

When you get married and have twins, don't come to my house for safety pins.

Yours till the Statue of Liberty shakes the shimmy.

Poor paper, poor pen, poor writer, Amen!

I never went to college, I never went to school, but when it comes to love'n, I'm an educated fool.

Yours till the bobby-pins quite riding on water-waves.

Times are hard and boys are plenty, so don't get married until you're twenty.

When you get married and think you're sweet, just pull off your shoes and smell your feet.

Remember A, remember B, but most of all, remember me.

Roses are red, buttercups are yellow. You're the gal that stole my fellow.

Yours till the ocean wears rubber pants to keep their bottoms dry.

I love you with my heart, I love you with my liver. If I had you in my mouth, I'd spit you in the river.

Leaves may wither, flowers may die, friends may forget you, but never shall I.

2011-08-14T13:42:00.004-05:00

Coke...Nothing Like It

Has anyone else felt the way the lady does in this picture? A long hard day - shopping can be hard on your feet - and then to have a Coke is absolutely refreshing! Gives you that tingling sensation, doesn't it?

*I don't remember where I found this picture...it has been in my files for a while. My apologies to the owner!

2011-07-24T17:43:00.004-05:00

“SOW THE SEEDS OF VICTORY”
A Scientific & Historical Approach on Victory Gardens “A Victory Garden is like a share in an airplane factory. It helps win the War and pay dividends, too.”
- Claude R. Wickard, Secretary of Agriculture from 1940 to 1945

World War II was fought abroad, yet its effects nonetheless came to America's home-front. Farms were used to grow food for soldiers fighting overseas, thus leaving little room for any other food to be grown. The government proposed a plan to the American people. Start a garden and plant it with fruits and vegetables to be used for the family's consumption. The government didn't expect the results of this proposal to turn out but a handful of gardens, due to disorganization and lack of interest for them in the first World War. They doubted that backyard gardens could produce enough food to make an impact on the agricultural industry. However, the American people showed their resolve and planted 20 million gardens. Some were small and others were large enough to have food for the family and some left to donate to charities. People planted wherever they could, using parks, backyards, and empty lots as their garden-beds. Regardless of expertise, Americans got to work growing their own food, and I have yet to read a memento where Victory Gardens are not remembered with great fondness. If you wanted your home to be a “Victory Home,” you could start by planting a Victory Garden. Not only were you being patriotic by doing so, you were also feeding your family with food that couldn't be bought due to rationing. And if you canned the food you grew, rather than purchasing canned goods needed for “the boys”, you were contributing to saving valuable metal for the war. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt herself planted a Victory Garden at the White House, increasing the idea's popularity. The 20 million plus gardens grown by amateurs and professionals alike, grew a total 40 percent of America's produce yield. The following is a list of some popular foods grown in Victory Gardens:

Beans
Beets
Carrots
Peas
Radishes
Lettuce
Spinach
Chard (a leafy vegetable)
Onions
Cucumbers
Parsley
Kohlrabi (German Turnip)
Summer Squash
Corn
Parsnips
Leeks
Turnips
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
Broccoli
Peppers
Cauliflower
Tomatoes
Eggplant
Endive (leaf vegetable in the daisy family)
Rutabagas

Other things planted were potatoes and even herbs occasionally. The effects of having a Victory garden was not limited to boosting morale and food at your fingertips (blistered from hoeing as they may be). The gardens improved the soil they were planted in. Farm or suburban, growing food enriched the soil, helping plants and food grown later on. The gardens were also an educational experience for children. They not only had hands-on experience helping their family plant and tend to the food as it grew, schools also used this as an opportunity to teach the structure and development of fruits and vegetables from seed to produce. Aside from occasional, but necessary uses of anti-pest chemical sprays, the produce grown in America's Victory Gardens was healthy, fresh and wholesome. They were labeled “vitamin factories” and with good reason, too. After World War II ended in 1945, many Americans stopped having Victory Gardens with the expectation of abundant food supply. Things continued to look up after the historic war despite some food shortages, yet grocery stores were again the preferable choice for purchasing fresh food. Though some continued planting V-Gardens afterwards, this enjoyable war-time duty was destined to become simply a piece of history. But the past holds so much wisdom and wonder. And what a creative way to spend time working with God's creation. Rudyard Kipling explained it perfectly: The Glory of the Garden Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when your work is finished, you can wash your hands and pray For the Glory of the Garden that it may not pass away! Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) I have an inkling we would all save a little money, gain greater health, and feel more full of joy if we spent some time in our garden, however big and wherever it may be. Why not revive the Victory Garden today?

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.”

Free Book Drawing Winners

2011-04-25T21:30:00.002-05:00

The names of the winners for the free book drawing are:

John
Valerie

Congratulations, and thank you very much for your responses. I truly appreciate them!

Book Giveaway!

2011-03-04T09:55:00.002-06:00

Free things are hard to come by these days, but guess what? I have a free offer for you! You will be entered in a drawing for a free book if you will only provide me with feedback on a certain subject matter. I am currently gathering information for my upcoming newsletter, "Time and Again", and would greatly appreciate hearing your opinions. Here's the question, one I'm sure you've pondered sometime or another.

"If you could go back in time to some point in America's history, where would you choose to visit? What would you want to do while you were there? What makes this time stand out in your mind from all the other eras?"

That's it! Simply leave your answer in the comment box between the days of 3/4/11 and 3/18/11. Four people will be chosen in a drawing Saturday the 19th. The winners will be notified through a subsequent blog post, and can send a mailing address to time_and_again@rocketmail.com if their name has been listed as a winner. If you are one of them, you will receive one of these titles in the mail, two of which are appropriately historical fiction, and personal favorites of mine.
If your name is drawn, one of these titles will be sent to you! "Even Now" & "Ever After" two-in-one, Karen Kingsbury - "Fit to be Tied", Robin Lee Hatcher - "A Matter of Character", Robin Lee Hatcher

2010-08-06T18:59:00.001-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be."
~John Wayne

2010-08-06T18:55:00.001-05:00

God & Country - the Key to Keeping Christ in America,part 3
In continuance and conclusion to July's "God and Country" theme, I would like to dedicate this post to patriotism. Patriotism to some people means community service every now and then, perhaps giving to a worthy cause or even donating blood. These things display care and concern for your fellow citizen. Other people aren't quite sure what patriotism is. Perhaps it is complying with the government in issues such as paying your taxes and filling out your census form. These things, though mandated, also show a healthy respect for the government's authority. Actions are good - in fact, America needs more of its citizens to start executing their patriotic intentions - but it's what lies at the citizen's heart that really matters.

I will be the first to admit that America has digressed from her former moral glory, and even though I feel that way, it doesn't mean I don't care about my country any more. Patriotism is not loving your country and ignoring the bad stuff, rather it's loving your country in spite of the bad stuff, and working to remedy those flaws. You see, while I know America has problems, I understand that there are still people willing to work on them. As William Faulkner put it, "We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it." Abraham Lincoln defined that more deeply by stating, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." This was fitting, as Lincoln led the Union during America's years of civil war, but we must continue to practice freedom today (freedom, not tolerance). The freedom our roots are embedded in, is a gift from the One who made us, and it is our privilege and duty to fight for the life of that freedom. It doesn't take a doctor to give CPR, and it doesn't take a politician to get the heart of our nation going again. The fact that freedom must be exercised is recognized, but what do you believe to be the heart of America? I would be most grateful to hear your thoughts. Until next time...

2010-07-22T21:23:00.000-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!"
~Thomas Jefferson

2010-07-22T21:18:00.002-05:00

God & Country - the Key to Keeping Christ in America,part 2
In the first post of this series, I asked, where does God fit into a government that claims freedom of worship? In order to answer this question, we must first define freedom of worship. In a recent video clip, Chuck Colson aptly pointed out that there is a distinct difference between freedom of worship and freedom of religion. They are not one in the same. Freedom of religion is a gift from God, because He made us to have free will. By His grace we can choose to either follow Him or refuse Him. No government can grant or take away freedom of religion. Freedom of worship, on the other hand, is something we as a nation are blessed to have been indoctrinated with during our founding years. In most other countries, the government either mandates worship of the "official" religion, or demands that God be eliminated from the state entirely. In both cases, there is subjugation, which is the absence of freedom. America has many civil disagreements, some of which I will address just a bit down the page, as well as in the rest of the series. The point is though, our nation was born of, for, and with freedom of worship. The problem is that many of those in government today are blurring the line between the freedoms of worship and religion. While we can celebrate that, for the most part we are free, we cannot settle for a faded version of the rights God created us to embrace.

Most believers acknowledge our Christian heritage. Those who do also understand that while our founding fathers certainly were not all believers, they, as well as the public, felt a gratitude towards God. During the Union's infant years, believers and nonbelievers alike recognized the Divine Hand of Providence so clearly evident in their lives. Even those who rejected God knew He existed, or else what were they rejecting? This is where God fits into our government. Freedom of religion - a God-given choice - allows you to say yes or no to Him. Freedom of worship allows us to practice that belief without the fear of persecution. This is the defense the concerned believer can arm himself with when confronted with the question of God and government. With the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution among the many proofs available, we can reply that the Founding Fathers (with the exception of Thomas Paine) felt and openly displayed their gratitude to God. It is a shameless, undeniable answer.

Truly, many today are trying to take God out of the American equation, even attempting to erase every trace of Him from our roots. Next week, I'd like to post more on that subject, but for now, here is a befitting quote you might find interesting.

"Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and intertwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally impossible for us to figure for ourselves what life would be like if these standards were removed. We would lose almost all of the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals; all of the standards towards which we, with more or less resolution, strive to raise ourselves."
~ President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910 message on The New Nationalism

2010-07-04T19:33:00.001-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me."
~Lee Greenwood

2010-07-04T19:27:00.002-05:00

God & Country - the Key to Keeping Christ in America,part 1
In honor of the day on which the United States was declared independent from tyranny, I'd like to share with you a poem I wrote for the holiday that American patriots call the Fourth of July.

Never Forget
“Early to bed, and early to rise,
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
“But,” Ben resolved, “On this historic day,
“Our efforts were worth my lost sleep, I must say.”

Night had long fallen; it was '76;
There were tears and joy and prayer in a mix.
No tongue could describe, no word could convey,
The feelings those men had just felt on that day.

They declared independence and now they were free;
But there was a cost paid for liberty.
John Adams, the chairman, stood up and he said,
“Men, this moment has doubled the worth of my head!”

Those fifty-six signers, those fifty-six men,
For them life would never be normal again.
They were lawyers and merchants; some owned plantations;
They risked their own lives to begin a new nation.

Adams continued, “Let us designate,
A day every year to commemorate
America's birth and to reflect on God's grace,
The sole thing that's brought us to this place.

Let's give thanks to God, have parades on the street,
Play games, eat food, and dance with our feet.
Let us increase and prosper, and still better yet,
Let us always remember and never forget.”

~Alyssa Marie Bentham

* Each week during July, I will be writing on the topic of God and our country. Where does God fit into a government that claims freedom of worship? What defense can a Believer arm themselves with when confronted with such a question? This subject is of great concern to me and I pray this and the following posts will provoke in your heart a similar passion. *

2010-07-01T21:50:00.000-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do."
~Henry Ford

2010-07-01T21:47:00.001-05:00

The Key of Old-Fashioned Writing, part 4
How many ballpoint pens have you thrown away in your lifetime? Looking in or on your desk, how many pens can you foresee lasting five, or even ten years from now? There is hardly a modern pen - unless infrequently or never used - that will not eventually run out of ink. In this conclusional post for my series on old-fashioned writing, I'd like to share why I feel vintage pens (particularly fountain pens) are so exceptional. My first reason derives from the evolution of quill to ballpoint. You see, long before you chucked your first plastic ballpoint, men and women in 17th and 18th century America were chucking their worn out feathers. Quills, once the ends were sharpened into a point, could be written with by dipping the pen in ink. The stiff tip created a scratching noise when contact was made with the with paper, yet produced smooth lines to form letters and words. Penmanship in those days was done in the aforementioned Copperplate style. Though a quill effects a charming script, its inflexible tip caused the letters in words to be somewhat broken up, rather than fluent as our cursive is today. Quills also required sharpening when the tips wore down, and when completely worn, a new one was cut. The pen's writer preferred his/her quill to be sharpened in a certain manner, since it molded into the position in which the writer held and used it.

Steel pens, successor to the long-used feathers, were slightly more convenient, and undeniably more modern-looking. Steel pens - which bore the shape of the pen as we know it - mainly had wooden bases with an attachable steel nib. No sharpening was needed; when your nib became dull, it could simply be replaced by another one. Stores sold these nibs in small tins or cardboard boxes, and you could choose the style you wanted, be it elementary school type or a finer point for letter writing. With these steel nibs (also manufactured in bronze and gold), pens could produce a beautifully flowing script called Spencerian, developed by Platt Rogers Spencer around the mid 19th century. People loved Spencerian, but they loved a simpler hand even more when the Palmer Method was introduced in the late 1800's and heavily instituted in early 20th century schoolrooms. In the latter period, fountain pens were also beginning to replace the past writing utensils.

The name fountain pen stems from the act of ink, stored in the pen's body, flowing to the nib and out onto the paper. The ink could be replenished upon running dry through one of the various mechanisms pens were made with (i.e. plunger, lever, snorkel, etc.) Rather than constant dipping after a sentence or two, fountain pens allowed the luxury of filling after an entire letter, or two letters, or three! My personal feelings hold that fountain pens are an investment. Buy one of fine quality, keep it well, and it will serve you longer and cost you less than all the ballpoints you can use in twenty-five years. Ballpoints, especially upon their initial introduction in the 1910's, wrote poorly due to the thick ink. For the same reason, a fountain pen creates much smoother lines with its liquid ink than the ballpoint can with it stickier, thicker ink. In addition to quality, a pen can also express ones personality. In the 1920's, fountain pens were like an identity. Throughout the decades, initials have been engraved on pen caps and people still collect these styluses today. I have a green Sheaffer, and while it needs a little restoration, I look forward to filling it with my vintage ink and sighing with a dreamy sensation of retrotality.

Fast Fact:
Ballpoints were first sold in the US for $12.50 in 1945 at Gimbels Department Store, New York City. The American public dubbed it the rocket.

2010-06-22T19:38:00.001-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun."
~Benjamin Franklin

2010-06-22T19:34:00.001-05:00

The Key of Old-Fashioned Writing, part 3
One of my utmost passions is writing, and I take special interest in the tools once used for this form of communication. I admire the elegant simplicity of a quill pen, and adore both the class and durability that a vintage fountain pen offers. Our technetronic society, along with functionality, has driven the exercise of these writing utensils into history. While I enjoy the freedom of pre-filled pens, patriotic appreciation of our nation's most paramount documents urges us to discard our notions of primitive impracticality. After all, it was that long white feather that fashioned the words of America's core beliefs in God. The writing in the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution are fine examples of the script we call Copperplate. President Abraham Lincoln used a steel pen - also called a dip pen - to compose such documents as the Emancipation Proclamation. Along with steel pens, whose history I will detail in next week's post, was developed a new script for handwriting. This was called Spencerian, and I find it to be a very charming script, particularly since the Coca-Cola logo I love so much is written in Spencerian. The Palmer Method became the preferred style of writing in the 1920's. A well-known sample of Palmer will be difficult to find, since machines have compelled 20th century writing so heavily. In addition to this, the use of handwriting continued to decrease as children were taught printed manuscript before cursive to allow freedom of written expression at an earlier age.

Each of the three writing methods - Copperplate, Spencerian, and Palmer - were created to improve writing efficiency for use in business and school. It is evident still, despite the simplification throughout the years, that time and care were invested in each word penned by the author of yesterday. A glimmer of that care lives today. What great delight we receive upon being mailed a handwritten letter. Hallmark is nice, but what brings a wider smile to your face - opening a letter filled with manual script and time spent on you, or reading a card with words that many others have already seen? These cards have their place in the world, but I attest to the fact that handwritten thoughts are often much more powerful. If you enjoy the pleasure of receiving a handwritten note - and I'm sure you do - try sending one yourself. You might be surprised how rewarding it can be.

*This is part three of my Old-fashioned Writing Series. Check back next week to discover the history and delight found in pens of the past.*

2010-06-02T18:01:00.000-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."
~Thomas A. Edison

2010-06-02T17:56:00.001-05:00

The Key of Old-Fashioned Writing, part 2
For the second installment in my writing series, I promised a survey on the revolutionary history of typewriters. Revolutionary might not be the immediate word that comes to mind upon thought of a typewriter. As you read this on the internet, it's quite easy - and certainly natural - to think of them as old-fashioned chunks of metal. Yet, as is the case with other inventions, these machines were once innovative, contemporary devices; and in this instance, it's one that transformed the way things were written.

Imagine you are sitting at your desk in another century. The time is early 1870's, so you would use a dip pen to do any writing. Letters, school reports, short notes...that can be handled with paper and ink. But in an office, records were kept and reports were written mainly by hand. There had to be a way to automatically print type on paper. London had already granted a patent to engineer Henry Mill for his writing machine in 1714. One hundred and fifty years later, give or take a few, the time finally arrived for typewriter's invention. Post Civil War America saw industrial production boom, and the time was ripe for the development of such a writing machine. Attempts had been made throughout the previous years and in countries such as Russia, Italy, and France. However, it was Christopher Latham Sholes, a Milwaukee printer, who designed and built the first mass-produced typewriter. He and his associates worked on dozens of models for many years before the production finally began at the Remington & Son arms factory in 1874. Since Remington manufactured sewing machines, the first Sholes & Glidden model was built onto a sewing machine table, complete with a treadle to operate the carriage return. The metal body was also embellished with designs used on sewing machines. This brand, which was later renamed "Remington," also gave us the QWERTY keyboard in addition the letter-capitalizing "shift" key.

Several other writing contraptions were created, either in imitation of the typewriters being produced, or before the Sholes and Glidden was introduced. One of these concoctions was the Hansen Writing Ball, first produced just years before the Sholes & Glidden. This writing device had letters on metal stands protruding out of a ball-shaped figure. Paper was placed underneath, and a metal wheel turned the paper as type was stamped upon it, while a button executed the carriage return. Other examples are index typewriters. These were usually smaller than the more expensive full keyboard versions. Created for home and personal use, many were intricate and ingeniously designed. However, as the equivalent of a palm pilot today, they were often useless due to their complexity and minuteness.

As typewriters were further developed, they undoubtedly improved the efficiency and comfort of writing. Yet, it was also revolutionary in another way. Women began to work in offices with the invention of typewriter. Secretaries, professional writers, and others workers in such professions found it to be one of the greatest inventions of their time. Eventually typewriters were a part of everyday life for persons of all ages. Over the years, manual typewriters led to electric ones which led to word processors and finally to our present-day computer. We owe much to those who looked at their pen, then at the work to be done and said, "There's got to be a better way." To the ones who labored and found that way, thank you.

Trivia from About.com
- Pellegrine Tarri made the first typewriter proven to work in 1801 and invented carbon paper in 1808.
- In 1829, William Austin Burt invents the typographer, a predecessor to the typewriter.
- George K. Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee patented the typewriter ribbon on 9/14/1886.
- The first electric typewriter was the Blickensderfer.
- Mark Twain enjoyed and made use of new inventions, he was the first author to submit a typewritten manuscript to his publisher.
- In 1944, IBM designs the first typewriter with proportional spacing.

*This is part two of my Old-fashioned Writing Series. Check back next week to read more about dip pens, as well as their predecessors and successors.*

2010-05-27T22:56:00.000-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"The biggest obstacle to professional writing is the necessity for changing a typewriter ribbon."
~Robert Benchley

2010-05-27T22:52:00.003-05:00

The Key of Old-Fashioned Writing, part 1
If I had my way, this blog would be written on a typewriter. Of course for internet-based blogs, a typewriter is not really an option. Still, I can't help but dream of churning out my thoughts on one of them someday. You can't delete words on a typewriter; you can't change font size, type or color; and you certainly can't format the page. But regardless of the technical features they don't have, I value what they do have. A typewriter's ink might smudge and the ribbon eventually wears out, but ink-jet printers can smudge too, and it's a lot more expensive to buy a new belt than to fix a major computer problem. There's also the way that typewriters make you think. Before correction fluid was widely available several years after its invention in the 50's, there was no way to delete sizable quantities of text. Thus it was necessary to type deliberately, with exact thoughts and accurate spelling in mind. I admit that, having grown up using computers, I am one of many people today who are in regular use of their delete and backspace keys. Spellcheck has also made frequented appearances on my screen. All these are obviously quite helpful components in writing, but I believe I'd choose what I wrote more carefully when paired with the option of starting over again.

I remember using a typewriter once when I lived in Arizona. Since I was young, the sheer novelty appealed to me. Still, it was also exciting to use something people relied on till the computer boom gave us word-processors. Does anybody else have fond or not-so-fond memories of typewriters? I'd enjoy hearing either of them!

Fast Fact:
The inventor of correction fluid, Bette Nesmith Graham, was a divorced typist who often made typing errors in her job. Using a blender at home, she concocted a white paint fluid to cover the mistakes. Graham's kitchen and garage became the laboratory and factory for what she would call "Mistake Out." Other office workers began to buy the product, but when the creative typist offered it to IBM, they declined. Graham changed the name to "Liquid Paper" and continued to sell the home-based merchandise for another seventeen years. Gradually, she was able to reap a profit from its sales. In 1979, the Gillette Corporation purchased Liquid Paper for $47.5 million, plus royalties. Graham may not have been a great typist, but her business skills helped remedy mistakes for people everywhere. And success ran in the family, as her son - Michael Nesmith - came to be member of the Monkees.

*This is part one of my Old-fashioned Writing Series. Check back next week for a summary on the revolutionary history of typewriters.*

2010-05-18T21:53:00.001-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it."
~Henry Ford

2010-05-18T21:43:00.007-05:00

Survey Conclusion: Classic Auto v. Modern Auto
This week, I'd like to post one of the answers I received in response to my classic car survey. It's from my grandfather, Bill Johnson, who gave some interesting points to the question: "Do you (or did you) feel safer traveling in a vintage car or in a modern one?". Included in his response were pictures of his first and second cars. As you will read, he's having me guess the make and model of each, as well as which one he owned first. I won't reveal what I've figured them to be, in case you'd like to take your own crack at it. Here is what he said:

In reply to your automotive questions:

* Safety
A lot of work has gone into making today's cars safer, and I believe they are. Seat belts, airbags, and basic construction with the addition of door braces, etc. serves to absorb impact in crashes and protect the occupants.

* Better aspect of vintage cars

One thing better in some respects in the "old" clunkers was the material used was a heavier gauge metal, so was sturdier. However, comparing to today's cars, it is likely a good trade-off that more plastic/fiberglass is used to lessen the weight and the potential of rusting. Less weight, more mpg. Less rust, less replacement of parts. Not forgetting though, that there is more replacement of parts due to a collision, because they are not as "sturdy". As you can see (maybe study further), the economics must be evaluated carefully, since cost of repair vs. replacement may not be the best option.

* My first ... and ... second ... cars

As far as my first car goes ... or as it sometimes didn't! ... I expect it was one of the most unsafe cars. I won't tell you what it was, but am including pictures of my first and second cars ... if you can guess which was first and which was the second, and the make and year of each ... you win ..... a banana split! (Remember that ... in the "old" days ... a banana split was a real treat ... sitting at the soda fountain counter on a stool!)

Now that first car ... burned a quart of oil to each tank of gas ... the floorboards rusted out ... then the driver's side door rusted out ... so eventually I had to lock the door closed and enter and exit only from the passenger side door. That actually turned out to be very "convenient" ... on a date ... when I and 'date' had to exit together through the passenger side door! Whoopee!!
I'd say "the old rust bucket" was rather unsafe ... at any speed!
And ... I painted (the old rust bucket) with a brush by hand ... which left quite a few brush marks in the finish. Oh well ... I only paid $100. for it!

That second car (double the money at $200. ... double the problems) had its idiosychoncies also ... the water pumps leaked so bad I had to replace the engine (they also were the motor mounts); had to drain the water every night in the winter so the engine block would not freeze and crack; I couldn't afford to keep putting anti-freeze in it, so refilled it only with water.
the trunk would not lock ... however, who would have wanted anything in it anyway ... a worn out spare tire?
it was common in cold weather to have the door locks freeze, so had to "heat" the handles to thaw them out;
the steering linkage was so loose you had to turn the wheel a quarter turn before the car began to turn ... very exciting on a steep crowned road;
the shifter linkage was worn and would lock up in 3rd gear, so had to get out of the car, open the hood, and release the locked linkage by hand;
there was a problem with the battery shorting out, so if the car stalled you had to sometimes get out, get a large screwdriver from the (unlocked) trunk, open the hood, and jam the screwdriver between he battery post and the cable connection. Uncle Bobby and I had this down to a real science as a two man team! However, at times it generated a little more angst ... when late one nite about midnight it stalled on Main Street in Buffalo, NY, and two City of Buffalo police department detectives came upon us wanting to know what we were doing "tinkering" under the hood of the car. They believed our hair-brained story though, and even pushed us with their car to get it started ... and off we went back to the base ... waving to them in the moonlight!

Sooooo ... someday I'll tell you about car number 3 ... 4 ... etc... more excitement!...but right now I wouldn't want to exit car number 1 through the passenger side door; and I wouldn't want to "jump start" car number 2 with the screwdriver!!!!

Based on this and the others comments posted, I would say the quiet controversy of vintage versus modern automobiles continues. There are pros and cons to both of them; and while I doubt that the cons of modern cars will turn everybody into classic car drivers, it is just as likely that safety issues in the classics will change the minds of vintage enthusiasts. Despite my essential conclusion to this topic, please feel free to write your own opinion on the matter at any time. I would truly appreciate the feedback!

2010-05-10T21:40:00.002-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
“It is fun being in the same decade with you.”
~FDR in a letter to Winston Churchill, 1942

2010-05-10T21:03:00.008-05:00

The Key of Primary Sources
The following is a nonexistent interview I wrote between a fictitious reporter and Christopher Gist, who is an actual character from history. Mr. Gist served as Major George Washington's guide in 1753, after the future president was sent to Ohio Country by Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie with a message . It was an order for the French to leave, since their presence prohibited growth of British colonies. The journey took place on the brink of the French and Indian War.

The purpose of this interview is to highlight the importance of primary sources, meaning original documents, letters, and newspapers from that time. Although what I've written is not a primary source, the information has been gleaned directly from the journals of Washington and Gist, which were recorded while on their mission. I have tried to mirror actual newspaper articles and grammar of the day (mid-18th century). I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I took pleasure in writing it.

As has been explained with thorough detail in Major Washington's journal, the journey he has just returned from was a treacherous one. Yet, with unmatched bravery and fortitude, Major Washington and his guide Christopher Gist delivered the French response to Virginia Governor Dinwiddie's objection which Major Washington had been carrying. Here I sit and share with you, in writing, the curious interview afforded me by Mr. Gist. I first thanked the good man for the kind recital which I was about to receive. He replied in a most pleasant manner, saying his service to major Washington was not a labourous duty at all, despite his frequent illnesses during the journey, but was rather a service to himself from Washington, as he holds the Major in high regard.
"Yes," he began, "It was a perilous journey. I cannot recall all the bears we were obliged to kill and that dreadful encounter with natives where both of us nearly expired. We ran in such a fashion that even those ancient Grecian Olympians could not compete with the likes of us that night. By the grace of God, night fell into a deep thickness and it rained. By day, we deemed our Enemies no longer with us, and thus felt a bit more secure; that is, only until we arrived at the Conhaway River where the ice had quite frozen over, though only about 50 yards from each shore. We managed to cross halfway to a large island where we then lodged for the night. The next morning, on the 8th day of May, the Major and I found the ice had broken up and was driving in vast quantities down the River."
"What did you do?" I asked, caught up in the rapture of his narration.
"We found it impossible to cross in these conditions and set about constructing a raft of loggs. We had but one poor Hatcher to work with and thus finished just after Sun setting, after a whole day's work. We had not yet come half way across the River when the ice jammed our raft and we felt certain that we would both perish, most especially Major Washington when, after he thrust his setting pole against the ice in an effort to let it pass, was thrown out into the Water. Yet he recovered himself and held onto a raft logg. We were forced to make our way in the icy waters, about 10 Feet deep, to another island and soon after to mainland where we continued on our way."
"Should you like to mention if you were frightened?"
"Frightened, yes and most assuredly cold. The cold was so severe that all my fingers and some of my toes were as frozen as the waters. But that is another story."
"Yes, indeed, Mr. Gist. I say, you have had an unforgettable experience. Thank you for your service to the Major and to Britain, and for the wonderful recital you have been so generous to give."

I'd love to hear your opinion on this post. Was it informative? Did it peak your interest, whereas you might find a regular report of history more dull? Please feel free to share your thoughts - positive or less positive - in the comment box. I appreciate the advice of my readers!

2010-05-05T16:24:00.000-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"Quality means doing it right when no one is looking."
~Henry Ford

2010-05-05T16:20:00.001-05:00

The Key of Class & Quality
I love my family's Dodge Durango. It has been our main source of transportation for nearly a decade, taking us to Mississippi, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, California and beyond. Our Durango has been a faithful old truck, but its age is beginning to show. The exterior and interior look tip-top for the most part; it's the works that are expiring. While, they've done their job well, the saying "They don't make them like they used to" rings true. It makes me ponder the way automobiles are manufactured now. Massive metal arms turn this way and that, constructing machines that will eventually hit the road. Gone are the days of man-powered assembly lines. I can certainly see how auto companies benefit from current methods, but will the wheels rolling off the lines today still be rolling down the road fifty years from now? Henry Ford's Model T's - the earliest ones are over 100 hundred years old - have stood the test of time. There are several in existence that not only function - with the aid of restoration - but they are also quite popular among young and old enthusiasts alike. On a technical basis, I don't care much for modern autos. They may be "green", but neither style nor safety ratings could change the way I feel about vintage cars.

Automakers have given us airbags, anti-lock braking systems, and seatbelts. Undoubtedly, numerous lives have been saved because of these features. Yet there are also more built-in distractions nowadays, such as GPS and satellite radio. When combined with an abundance of electronically-run components in modern vehicles, many cars have more control than the driver, causing him to be less observant of road conditions. Yes, this is coming from a person who does not yet drive, but I am keenly aware that the above stated facts have some merit. And while I have neither driven nor ridden in a vintage car, mechanically-speaking I personally think there would be a greater sense of safety in operating one of them. They were built to last, and in the words of my Dad, "They're tanks!". Fortunately, in the process, they turned out dashing and full of class.

I cannot say enough about a vintage car's classic elements. From the elegant length of an early 1930's Cadillac, to the the tail fins that graced dozens of mid-century models, the identity of each decade is embedded in vintage automobiles. The 1950's is my particular favorite era for cars. I adore a convertible Thunderbird, a space-age Galaxy, and the utterly charming Coupes. You know old cars are exceptional if even the pick-up trucks are adorable! I could dream of vintage wheels all day, and I eagerly await the day I can restore a set of them myself. I realize not all people hold the admiration for them that I, as well as others do. Yet, to own an antique car is a precious possession of history. The design and quality of manufacturing is superb, and their looks are timeless. Next time you pass an oldie on the road, envision the person that once sat behind the wheel in days gone by.

NOTE TO READERS:
I am conducting a survey on the topic of vintage auto safety. Here's the question: "Do you (or did you) feel safer traveling in a vintage car or in a modern one?". Please leave a comment below this post to participate.

For an article on the history of auto safety visit:
http://www.answers.com/topic/car-safety

For more information & a graph on the history of automobile safety (1840 - 2010) visit:
http://www.google.com/search?q=history+of+automobile+safety&hl=en&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=08vhS7XhH464Nd7m9LsD&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CEgQ5wIwCg

2010-04-27T15:53:00.000-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
“Before man reaches the moon, your mail will be delivered within hours from New York to Australia by guided missiles. We stand on the threshold of rocket mail.” ~Arthur Summerfield, U.S. Postmaster General under Eisenhower, 1959.

2010-04-27T15:49:00.003-05:00

The Key of Homemade & Heartfelt
Monday nights, whenever I don't work, my sister Rachel, often does. My Dad and other sister, Autumn, play volleyball at the church gym. This gives me time to work on the sewing machine, with my ever-patient Mom always willing to show me how to do something I thought I'd already learned. Perhaps if I'd been more committed, I wouldn't still be working on the same apron since last year. It isn't that I don't want to sew, because I'm dying to be able to make the clothes that stores don't anymore. Below my sewing table is a collection of old patterns just waiting to be used again, and I fully intend to master my machine difficulties to create them.

I also collect vintage clothing, which is a delight to wear. I have looked at several of these vintage pieces, searching the inside for a tag; only to find there is none. I've discovered that a majority of all this clothing was sewn by the women who once wore them. It used to be normal to visit your favorite store and pick up a new pattern. A woman could completely customize her clothing by size, color, pattern, decoration and so on. A fine seamstress could make her clothes look chic, vogue, and store-bought. I'm sure a factory can turn out hundreds, even thousands of clothing items per day. Yet, from America's earliest history and even into the 1970's, women bought, cut, pinned and stitched together her family's clothing. An abundance of this clothing lasts to this day. Presently - while a store sells things that an amateur seamstress like myself could not sew - there is something charming and greatly rewarding about making one's own clothes. There is also assurance of quality and again, the privilege of customization. I understand that sewing is certainly not for everyone; but upon your next visit to the department store, ponder the time and care poured out by your mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. It might seem like a small thing, but tonight - as I rev up my own grandmother's Kenmore - I will reminisce...and try not to stitch my fingers to the apron.

A note to those not quite interested by this rather feminine subject: Next week I plan to write about automobiles of the past. Tune in Tuesday for a drive down Memory Lane!

2010-04-19T21:12:00.001-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
"We have reached the limits of what is possible with computers." ~John Von Neumann, 1949

2010-04-19T21:01:00.002-05:00

The Key of Curiosity
This week, I'd like to engage you in some of the "fascination of what has been," as was mentioned in the last post. What do I find so stimulating about history? What is it that makes me smile so much I can't stop? It is the pieces of the past that still live today which give me that sprightly passion. It happens every time I play Glenn Miller, the Beatles, or an old Edison on my red Crosley phonograph. Whenever I use my grandmother's sewing machine, talk on my turn-dial telephone, or lug my Samsonite hard-case suitcase down the hotel hallway, an unexplainable thrill sends tingles down my spine. I can envision myself in another place in another time. I am immersed, for a few brief moments, in the wonder of some particular era. Then, of course, I come crashing down into reality, which is often followed by a sort of wistful depression. After belaboring over why I wasn't born fifty years ago, accompanied by some of my sisters' prodding to live in the 21st century, I come to a conclusion. I tell myself that "now" might not be where I want to live, but it's where God wants me - perhaps to help you, reader, discover those marvelous times, as well. Despite the fact that I've come to this conclusion a hundred times over (when will I ever learn?), I am slowly learning to be content. After all, the 21st century does have its advantages. Movies in the comfort of your home, personal computers, and the ability to delete pictures on a camera if you're not the best photographer like myself. These are certainly all benefits, but look at what we've lost: the lovely social affair of dancing, immediate recognition of a boy or girl, and really good music. Does any of this spark the tiniest interest in you? I'd enjoy hearing what you do and don't like about the events and happenings that comprise the past. There are so many things that I'd like to share regarding this fascination, and I look forward to doing so in the weeks to come.

2010-04-12T20:23:00.001-05:00

A Peep Through the Keyhole:
“The ordinary 'horseless carriage' is at present a luxury for the wealthy; and although its price will probably fall in the future, it will never, of course, come into as common use as the bicycle.” ~Literary Digest, 1899.

2010-04-12T16:01:00.004-05:00

Keys to Unlocking the Door of the Past
The purpose of this blog is to explore America's culture of yesteryear. But why should we unlock the door of the past? Why not keep shut what has ended? Is there really anything we can learn from history, or is the wisdom from preceding generations out-of-date? I'd like for you to share your opinion on this. I'd also love to explain my own, so we can compare and perhaps learn from each other's views.

I believe the answer to this question is, why not? Why not poke through the cobwebs and dust off the veil of mystery? Since I'm sure no one living in our present day experienced life for example, in the Civil War era, how do you know that something can't be learned about life from that time? Think about it: 1769 was once present day. The 1850's were once modern times, as were the years of 1911, 1943 and all the ones in between and after. By studying political and economical history, such as the stock market crash of '29, we can gain insight on how to treat issues that are relevant today.

For me, there's also the culture of each era. Studying the people, places, pastimes, and apparel of the past takes me back visually and longingly to what I believe was a much more winsome time. Call me old-fashioned, but there's a certain class about America's former days that I can only describe as wonderful. And I mean that in the full sense of the word: "of a sort that causes or arouses wonder; excellent; marvelous." It would be my delight to know how you feel on this subject. Should we keep closed the door of the past? Or should we seek to discover the fascination of what has been?

2010-03-29T13:22:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Revival Chronicles, a blog devoted to sharing ideas about American freedom and discovering what needs to be done to protect it. While I think we all agree that our country needs a little work, personally I feel blessed to live here, considering it a privilege to have inherited such an honorable history. No matter what your political view, I invite you to explore with me people and events of our nation's past. If you, like myself, treasure your American heritage, please leave a comment about your view of this great union, both today and yesterday.