Happy Birthday, Mr. President

✯ Day 139 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

With the recent History Channel miniseries about the life and times of the illustrious Kennedy family, titled (aptly) "The Kennedy's", JFK has likely been on a more peoples' minds than usual this spring.

Though I don't profess to be an expert on all things Camelot and am not watching the series very closely, I do happen to know that today was the date, in 1962, when Marilyn Monroe serenaded president John. F. Kennedy's with her sultry, almost haunting, and now rather infamous rendition of Happy Birthday.

 

A great deal has been written - an even greater deal speculated - over the years regarding the turbulent connection that JFK and Marilyn shared, and while perhaps they will be the only two souls who ever really know what transpired between them, there's no denying the fact that they definitely had a relationship.

Both of these mid-twentieth century figures died young under strange circumstances. Both were powerful, rich, successful, cunning and aloof, and it is perhaps these commonalities that drew the 35 president of the United States to one of the most alluring and sought-after actresses and sex-symbols of all time.

In Marilyn's version of the classic birthday tune, she added the words, "Thanks, Mr. President for all the things you've done, the battles that you've won, the way you deal with U.S. Steel, and our problems by the ton, we thank you so much."

Though on the surface these verses may seem like a friendly patriotic nod to Jack's accomplishments, I cannot help but sense that perhaps she was, in her own not-so-subtle way expressing her gratitude to him for the time they'd shared together.

While 49 long years have passed since Happy Birthday had the words "Mr. President" tacked onto it publically by a titillating dressed Marilyn Monroe, the impact that this performance had on the American public has ensured that it remains as much in the spotlight five decades on as it did on that warm May night in 1962 when two of the era's most famous names shared knowing glances across a dark room at Madison Square Garden.

25 wonderful vintage birthday photos

While we may not always relish getting older, it’s hard to deny that a birthday generally puts one in a happy mood. Some smiles are created from the memories we recall, others are born with the new festive activities that unfold on our special day.

Tomorrow is my twenty-fifth birthday and to help celebrate the day I turn a quarter of a century old, I’ve gathered up 25 vintage images that span the birthday spectrum from Hollywood stars to cake decorating ideas, tables of excited children to some real party animals!

Without any further ado, let the good times roll!

♥ ♥ ♥



{Cute as a button, child star Shirley Temple celebrates her ninth birthday with a giant cake.}



{A group of elephants get in the celebratory spirit in this shot from 1926.}



{Which one of these beautiful, girly birthday cakes would you pick? The cotton candy hued, heart shaped pair gets my vote.}



{Now that’s a cake fit for a president! John F. Kennedy circa 1962, to be specific.}



{The cake might be a bit lopsided, but this 1950s woman and her birthday gifts couldn’t look any prettier – despite what her husband’s face seems to be saying!}



{A group of youngsters pose for the camera amidst the festivities at a birthday party in 1956.}



{The Leave It To Beaver style childhood birthday party is portrayed in this pretty 1950s illustration.}



{A birthday card from 1942 depicting a group of Victorian woman sitting around a table calls to mind Gone With The Wind.}



{Relatives gathering round to celebrate a youngster’s birthday in this 1946 photo.}



{What vintage birthday celebration would be complete without a Jell-o cake?}



{Not only do dogs like to gather and pose around the table to play poker, they also love to throw a birthday party! :)}



{I love how happy the little birthday girl looks in this black and white photo.}



{Someone must have been popular in 1957, just look at the size of their crowd at their birthday party!}



{Everyone seems to be helping the birthday girl blow out the candles on her cake. (Don’t the streamers all over the place make you smile?)}



{Two charming children eagerly await a piece of the cake their playmate is blowing the candles out on.}



{A woman snaps a photo of the birthday cake arriving at the table in this lovely 1950s illustrated image.}



{A colourful 1950s birthday invitation – how could you not want to attend any party with such cute invites?}



{I’m struck by how crisp and sharp this 1950s colour photo still is more than half a century after it was snapped.}



{Birthdays were going to the birds in 1956 when this cute cockatoo turned fifty.}



{Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth celebrate the beautiful starlet’s birthday aboard Errol Flynn’s yatch.}



{How sweetly lovely is this birthday girl? Too sweet for words, she looks like a little model!}



{Two junior cowboys rustle up some fun with a boot shaped birthday cake.}



{These adorable children’s birthday cakes from the mid 1960s would help get anyone in a festive mood (or at least in the mood for sugar!).}



{The eternally lovely Marilyn Monroe on her thirtieth birthday.}



{1955 Woman’s Day magazine cover with a group of adorable kids partying it up in fifties style.}

{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}

Aren't these photos, magazine pages and scans a delight to behold? You can practically feel the joy they held or were intended to convey. I love the soft pastel hues, homemade cakes, and the wonderfully pretty party dresses in particular. What jumps out at you as you gaze into these birthday celebrations of the past?