Saturday Snapshots: November 27, 2010

Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough. ~ Emily Dickinson

{Identified as “Marilyn Crocker, Jeanne and Leanne”, this trio of elegantly dressed young women was photographed in November of 1951. Though I don’t know where this shot was taken (does anyone recognize the large white church in the background?), the roof top skyline makes an especially neat backdrop for these three beautiful young women to pose against.}



{I have such a soft spot in my heart for vintage wedding photos. I love to look at them and imagine the lives that lay ahead for a given couple, to ponder how their marriage unfolded, if it lasted, and if they turned out to be each other’s soul mates until the very end. The romantic in me likes to think this was always the case, but of course the realist knows that not every marriage was a bed roses. I don’t know the tale that became this incredibly dapper looking couple’s life after this photograph was captured, but I like to think that they remained as radiantly happy for the rest of their lives as they looked on their wedding day in 1938.}



{This darling pair of youngsters have been hard at work (most likely with mother’s assistance) and have created a positively scrumptious looking, large gingerbread house to help them celebrate the holidays. Tell me you don’t adore the sweet, spunky grin of the little boy as he mischievously attempts to pluck a candy wafer from the house’s edible roof?}



{Ohhhh, how immensely cool would it be to know what these two beautifully attired 1930s women were looking at on those reels of film? Were they staring at frames filled with the likes of Shirley Temple, May West, Errol Flynn or Greta Garbo, or was it something a little less thrilling like a news reel? Either way, they seemed to be enjoying their task and having a great time posing outside in their lovely spring or summer dresses.}



{A large American Italy family gathers around a small kitchen table in 1948 to celebrate one of its young relative’s First Communion day. As someone with a very small imitate number of immediate relatives, I love images like this through which I can various live out my desire to come from a generously size family. (For anyone who’s interested, the person who posted this photo has identified the names of the folks, who are his relatives, in this great shot.)}



{Doing his best “Bark-thoven” impression, this precious vintage poodle entertains onlookers as he paws adorably away at the piano keys (looking every bit as though he really is reading the sheet music perched in front of him!).}



{In the picturesque golden sunlight of an autumn day in 1957, a family enjoys a simple picnic together in the fresh air (note the wonderful large wicker basket and iconic 50s style thermoses, both of which add to the charm of this fun family snapshot).}



{At first glance it might appear as though this was just a simple street scene of a parade, but upon closer inspection there is much to observe about this lovely shot taken during 1960. From the wood paneled station wagon (complete with suspender and bow tie adorned little boy leaning out the driver’s side window) to the flag carrying veterans, and the ironically wonderful barber shop there is such a wealth of American history wrapped up in this one terrific shot.}



{Three Texan sorority sisters take a break from the demands of collage life, as they sport jeans and enjoy a tipple, in the great outdoors. I wonder if the gal on the left was simply tired or if she’d had a smidge too much to drink and was now leaning on her smiling girlfriend to help her keep her balance?}



{Standing outside of “Antoinette’s Sweet Shop”, an adorable little blonde haired girl appears to be taking a small packet (perhaps of candy) from a man’s hand, as a gorgeously dressed woman smiles on for the camera in this appealing 1930s street photograph.}

{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.}


It’s been a staggeringly long time since the last edition of Saturday Snapshots (June 5th of this year, to be exact). Okay, granted it’s not been decades, but still far longer than has ever passed between editions before! I’ve sincerely missed putting together this post more frequently, perusing with great intent the realm of vintage “real world” photographs – peering to the lives and worlds of those who lived 60, 70, 80+ years ago and selecting ten particularly engaging shots to share with you.

Though I know the multitude of reasons why it’s been nearly half a year since this post last appeared (chief amongst being the state of my health this year) – and I know that I won’t be able to go back to putting up a new edition every week at this stage in time – I sincerely hope that nowhere no as much time will elapse between today and the next Saturday Snapshots post!

This week’s quote, by the intensely insightful Emily Dickinson, is one of my all-time favourites and also one that has resonated strongly throughout my life – at perhaps not time more so than throughout 2010.

These words, simple yet profound, on the one hand obvious, on the other sage-like in their wisdom, remind us all to step back from our worries, to stop dwelling on what we think we need to buy, find, or do to achieve happiness. To stop chasing the unobtainable, stop beating ourselves up over regrets and impossibilities, to strip away the hustle and bustle of the rat race, to return to simple pleasures, and to extract a sense of purpose from the amazing fact that we are blessed to be alive. Or at least that’s what this beautiful quote says to me when I reflect on its words, written in a time so incredibly different yet also timelessly similar to our own.

Life will always come part and parcel with a myriad of reasons why our happiness may lie on line (it did for the folks in the photographs above and it still does for us today), yet – and I can attest to this firsthand – sometimes it is remarkably invaluable to step back and realize that the fact you are here, in this moment in time, drawing breath, feeling the cold November air, creating your own destiny each day, is more than enough reason to be, at a deeply rooted level, happy.

Celebrating the holidays with vintage Christmas songs

Few things get me excited about the magic of the holiday season like Christmas songs. Before I’ve even blown out the candles in my jack-o-lanterns, I’m usually humming a few bars from Frosty, Rudolph or Silver Bells. There’s something thrilling wonderful about having songs that we (by and large) only get to hear and sing for a few short weeks a year.

When I was growing up my parents were very keen on Christmas tunes, playing a menagerie of festive records, tapes, and later CDs, each a smidge different from its music shelf neighbours. Many were rich in old school tunes, others were very of the moment, some fell in between and others were a delightful jumble of songs from many eras and crooners.

As such my taste in Christmas music is rather diverse, yet the warmest spot in my holiday tune loving heart is reserved (naturally) for vintage Christmas songs, those beautiful classics that were performed by some of the best artists of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. These are the songs that have become soundtracks for the world’s holiday season, played as often in Hollywood movies as in shopping malls, at gala parties and as the background music at countless holiday dinners.

They’re the songs that I associate with the gripping chill of frosty nights, the taste of piping hot apple cider, the unmistakable rustle of wrapping paper being portioned off the roll, and the simply joy of a multi-coloured string of twinkling lights strung around a freshly chopped fir tree. These are traditional tunes that I poured over the lyrics of in our family’s well-thumbed copy of the Reader’s Digest Merry Christmas Songbook, never tiring of imagining that I was an old fashioned caroller.

Reflecting fondly on those sweet, joyful memories of youth and celebrating the bounty of holiday favourites that I cherish in my heart today, I thought it would be delightfully fun – and festive! – to gather up twenty beautiful Christmas songs sung (or preformed) by artists and groups from our beloved mid-twentieth century era.

Below you’ll find YouTube videos of some of the best holiday songs of all-time. These are some of the tunes that radiate an endless sense of Christmas cheer, of festive goodwill, and the happiest of tidings. Given the unpredictable nature of how long music videos stick around on YouTube sometimes, I can’t guarantee that all of these videos will still be up until December 25th, but most of them should be, and moreover the selection itself is a great starting point for your Christmas playlist.

So don your coziest red vintage sweat, gather in the light of a glowing fireplace, and join me in listening to the following selection of timelessly fantastic vintage holiday songs.






~ The Christmas Song ~


{Also known as “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”; a 1944 jewel of a song written by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells, preformed by the endlessly wonderful Nat King Cole.}



~ I’ll Be Home for Christmas ~


{Scores of crooners from Perry Como to Dolly Parton have covered this 1943 holiday classic, though few could do it as soulfully as Elvis, whose version appears here.}




~ Santa Claus is Coming to Town ~


{You can hear history itself reverberating in the notes of this song – which was first joined the holiday music ranks in 1934 – as Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra play a richly melodic version of it here (tell me you don’t just love the recording crackling in the background?).}



~ Baby, it’s cold outside ~


{The perfect holiday tune for romantics, this delightfully fun duet from 1944 is a favourite of both my mother and I, who agree that few versions can compare with the recording above from ’49 by Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark.}



~ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ~


{Exquisitely sung by the silken voiced songstress Ella Fitzgerald, I find this upbeat version of a mid-40s to be a great tune for lively holiday cocktail parties classic (side note: this song first appeared in the 1944 film Meet me in St. Louis with Judy Garland).}



~ I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm ~


{A lively holiday song that was penned by Irving Berlin in 1937, this delightful tune is perfect for the whole winter, especially when sung by a charming voice like that of 1950s darling Kay Starr.}



~ Marshmallow World ~


{A delightfully fun holiday tune that always put a smile on my face (and makes me crave marshmallows! :D), this playful song was written in ’49, and preformed here (in the 60s) by the endlessly wonderful duo that was Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.}



~ Jingle Bells ~


{There are few more iconic Christmas songs in the world than this timeless number. First published in 1857, the version here is a purely instrumental big band version by Benny Goodman and his orchestra.}



~ The Night Before Christmas ~


{Admittedly, this a spoken poem/story, but this version by Louis Armstrong is so immensely lovely that listening to it is something that I always try to in my holiday festivities. If you have any children in your life, gather them ‘round and share in the reading Dickens’ traditional tale together, it’s too fantastic not to listen to as a family.}



~ The Little Drummer Boy ~


{This serene song (which was originally called “Carol of the Drum”) was written in 1941 by Katherine K. Davis, though it is the iconic version above that was recorded nearly two decades later by Harry Simeone that many of us most associate with this deeply touching Christmas song.}



~ Frosty the Snowman ~


{A favourite of children (and the young at heart) since its 1950 debut, this darling song about a snowman that magically comes to life, is extra delightful when enjoyed by the first group to record it: Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys.}



~ Silver Bells ~


{If the holiday season had but one song to launch it on its merry way each year, this would unequivocally be it for me. Though many think of the lovely version by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards when calling this tune to mind, I have a soft spot for the original 1950 recording by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell.}



~ Here Comes Santa Claus ~


{A Christmas Eve anthem for little girls and boys for generations now, this charming song first appeared in 1947 and was quickly covered by numerous artists in the following year – including a sweet gal named Doris Day in 1949, whose version is included here.}




~ Winter Wonderland ~


{Upbeat and flat-out fantastic (if you ask me), this song is one of those dear tunes that instantly sets the holiday mood for me – especially if it’s the chipper version by those swing era enchantresses, the Andrews Sisters.}


~ Mistletoe and Holly ~


{This late 1950s Christmas song is one that I think deserves to get more play. It’s a light-hearted, wholesome tune with a simple message of holiday cheer that really sparkles when sung, as it is here, by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself.}




~ Away in a Manger ~


{Harkening back to the 19th century, this serene song has a lullaby-like quality (particularily when sung by Nat King Cole, as it in this version) that I can’t help but associate with being sleepy as a child, my belly full of eggnog and shortbread cookies, on Christmas Eve night as I hung up my stocking, feeling as though an eternity would pass before I’d be able to take it down and retrieve my gifts from its fuzzy interior.}



~ Let It Snow ~

{When the first tissue thin flakes began to fall here last week, this was the song that I ran to play. Beautifully sung by Rosemary Clooney, this vintage version is sure to warm you up with happiness on even on the chilliest of snowy days.}



~ Sleigh Ride ~


{This fantastically lovely instrumental burst onto the Christmas song scene in 1949, and to this day no one can top the classic Boston Pops version above that has helped make this tune a holiday mainstay for over six decades now.}



~ White Christmas ~


{No roundup of vintage Christmas songs would be complete for me without the endlessly beautiful version of White Christmas that Bing Crosby sang in the tune’s namesake movie. To me this song is the embodiment of everything that is right, ageless, and amazing about vintage Christmas music.}


~ What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? ~


{This elegant, romantic holiday song is the perfect number to play during the span of festive days between Christmas and New Year’s, especially if it’s the stellar version by none other than the beautiful Lena Horne.}




The selection of marvellous holiday songs above is but the tip of the festive tune iceberg. Thanks to the fact that many Christmas carols and songs are decades (and in some cases, centuries) old, a great deal of them have been recorded by a vast array of artists over the years. Many singers that tie in with our beloved vintage era – such as Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby – even recorded whole Christmas albums over their own over the years, meaning that there’s a decent chance that you can find many more of your holiday favourites by fantastic yesteryear music stars.

I hope that you enjoyed this festive playlist, it is chalked full of some of my favourite holiday classics (it was tricky to limit this list to just twenty, as I could have easily kept going to fifty or more!). I would love to hear about your most beloved Christmas songs – be they vintage or modern renditions – as I’m always looking to expand my repertoire of holiday tunes.

Can you feel what I feel?

The holidays, the holidays are right around the bend!* And I for one am already bubbling over with excitement about this fact! How about you, my lovely friends, as the days zip past like snowflakes in the chilly winter November breeze, are you starting to hum Christmas carols, feel the urge to sport more red and green (festive sweaters entirely optional), and jump into the merriment of the season?

It’s a little odd actually, often in the years (such as this one) when I know that I’m going to be having a very low key Christmas on a modest budget, that I find I’m filled most with the holiday spirit.

Perhaps when many of the stresses that come with planning a large scale Christmas celebration, shopping for scads of presents (and often dreading the bills you know will arrive in January for said purchases), attending more functions than you can shake a stick at, and wondering how on earth you’ll find time to bake fifteen different batches of cookies, are removed (or at least lessened), there’s more freedom and time to sit back and soak up the beauty, inherent peace, and simple splendours of the season.

I’m feeling Christmassy at the moment in a way that I haven’t for a few years. It’s a blissful, almost child-like feeling that makes me want to throw a holiday parade, string lights on everything from my cat’s condo to my laptop (being an apartment dweller who’s not allowed to hang or put anything on our deck, any decorative light fantasies I may have need to be played out indoors), and invite everyone in town over for a humble feast of holiday classics.

This week, despite further work being done in our apartment building (bathroom repairs on our floor are slated for later today), I’m feeling like Christmas can’t get here fast enough. Yet at the same time, I’m very grateful for the fact that the holiday season isn’t just a day or two, instead it’s weeks of celebrating, embracing the spirit of Christmas, and finding festive reasons to smile all through November and December.

I’ll soon be mailing out my Christmas cards, decking the halls (and counters, desks, tables – any surface is far game!), and hopefully be able to figure out what to get my husband this year (he’s one of those folks that are rather tricky to shop for, but in a way I quite enjoy the challenge) – just as I know many of you will as well.

To help celebrate this splendid time of the year, most of the posts that I’ll be putting up here over the next few weeks will be holiday season themed in some capacity. I hope to be able to post some favourite Christmas recipes, bring back the vintage holiday gift guide for a second year, and share oodles of great old school vintage images with all of you.




{1. I see stars, 2. Pink Heaven, 3. Deer head, 4. Vintage Holiday , 5. my favorite pink Christmas tree!, 6. Untitled, 7. Blue Christmas, 8. old things, new things, 9. Vintage Christmas Cards, 10. Plunged Into Christmas Contemplation, 11. Pink Bulbs, 12. Vintage Sugared Christmas Bells, 13. A Christmas Cuppa}


On that note, the collection above is a roundup of delightfully fun vintage Christmas images with a gentle, soothing pink theme running through most of them. I hope that these pretty photos help inspire – or further bolster – your own feeling of wintery happiness and holiday cheer! :)


*Sung/said to the tune of "Do you hear what I hear" (my favourite version of which is the one that was eloquently preformed by Bing Crosby).