December 25, 2012

Did you get what you wanted?

Like I did, back in 1958:

Christmas 1958

43 comments:

Quaestor said...

Young Althouse isn't blond!

(oops! Am I allowed write that?)

mishu said...

I like how Dad is enjoying a frosty beverage for Christmas.

mishu said...

Oh! And a pack of Lucky's too. This picture is great.

pm317 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shouting Thomas said...

Oh, my God!

Heteronormative indoctrination alert!

I see girls holding dolls! God help us! Somebody gave those girls dolls for Christmas!

MikeR said...

I think I did, though I'm Jewish - my daughter is getting engaged tonight.

And maybe this is a good occasion to say goodbye, at least for a while. I am trying to cut down on my web presence, and get back to the rest of my life. Not sure I'm changing the world with my comments as fast as I had hoped... Anyhow, this is one of the last blogs I'm still frequenting, and it's been a pleasure. You are a lovely group, and The Professor is all neat ideas. Thanks for all the fish.

MoonPie said...

Yes.

My nine-yr-old daughter gave me one more year of believing in Santa. This certainly the last Christmas for that, but she will always be one with the Christmas.

My Dad passed away 16 months ago, and my Mom is finally in a place where she can enjoy Christmas again, thanks to my extended in-law family, who are a blessing. Yeah, my in-laws are great; I am indeed blessed.

So, yeah, I got what I wanted.

KCFleming said...

Heaven must needs be adorned like that photograph.

FleetUSA said...

A touch of Americana. Like seeing A Christmas Story .

Thank you for all your work this year.

MoonPie said...

"one with the Christmas spirit."

I'm in a hurry, they're hustling me over to the living room for the opening of the largess.

Merry Chritmas to all lurking in Althousia. I am thankful for the vast majority of all of you.

Wince said...

Reminds me of my childhood home.

From the hideous curtains and upholstery, TV tray with the cigarettes and beer, to the half asleep father...

What was that, standard issue in the late 1950s - early 60s?

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

Yes. Coming to you live from my shiny new Nexus 7. :-)

Kids are happy and healthy and thrilled with their modest gifts. Church was beautiful last night.

Our Savior is born, alleluia!

chickelit said...

Your son Chris appears to look like his grandfather. At least from the photos you've posted in the past.

Merry Christmas, All'house

Mark O said...

Great picture.

bagoh20 said...

I'm with Mom and my two sisters together for Christmas for the first time since 1967, so yes, I definitely got what I wanted.

Charlie Currie said...

Wow! This is what my memories look like. So un-PC. Love it.

Merry Christmas Everyone.
May your days be merry and bright.

Cheers

rhhardin said...

Drudge: "POPE CALLS FOR GOD IN MODERN WORLD."

It's another power grab.

rhhardin said...

Nobody else likes being alone?

Maybe it's just mathematicians and physicists.

pm317 said...

Ann, you should put up Chip Ahoy's fantastic work on your Christmas Eve pic.

garage mahal said...

I got a watermelon printed ukelele for Christmas.

Super Mario Theme on ukelele.

Ann Althouse said...

"Young Althouse isn't blond!"

Young Althouse is a redhead. Here's Young Althouse in color.

My older sister was always a blonde, however, but you can't much tell from that photograph.

john said...

... right before Bumpus's dogs upended the TV tray.

pm317 said...

Here's Young Althouse in color.

Meade, watch out for those lecherous men commenting on flickr..

edutcher said...

I'm assuming you're the one in white - no missing that pout.

And your Dad (who looks done in by the morning's festivities) looks a tad like...

Hmmmm.

I got what I wanted and so did The Blonde, as well as some nice surprises.

Ann Althouse said...

"lecherous men"

I'm only 16 in that picture.

Michael K said...

I was at my son's house last night for their annual Christmas Eve party. That's when they open presents. He had to work so missed it this year but I have worked on so many Christmases that it is no big deal. At one point about 30 years ago, USC went to the Rose Bowl almost every year so I would work Christmas to have New Years Day off for the game.

Tonight, I will have Christmas dinner with my kids (except the same son) and grandkids, and my ex-wife. That way I don't have to cook.

I was going to go to Chicago to spend it with my sister and her family but the fares were too high and I don't like huge crowds. I'm glad I skipped it. I'll visit in January.

Anonymous said...

16?! Do you mean 6? Are those Madam Alexander dolls? I gave my oldest granddaughter a collection of vintage Madam Alexander world dolls several Christmases ago. I got them on eBay.

Mercy Christmas Ann and Meade and Althousians one and all.

Spending Christmas Day with my family at one of my daughters home, last night was at a daughters inlaw, the theme was French, all things French from decorations to dessert. Delicieux!

Anonymous said...

Mercy me, that should be a Merry Christmas! Some of you may need some mercy from liberal family members at dinner today;) .

Anonymous said...

Ah I see the 16 year old pic now, very pretty!

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas all.

Garage,

Google ukelele Bohemian Rhapsody. Incredible.

rhhardin said...

Rush is playing his traditional favorite Christmas music show, certain that it's a gift to listeners.

I traditionally don't record it and replay a random saved Mark Steyn show instead.

1500s rap music Trombocino with what sounds like two lutes; a toe-tapper doesn't need a drum.

Astro said...

I'm spending Christmas with my son and daughter on law, so I'm having a great Christmas.

Both pictures are lovely.
Which doll is the plaintiff?

DADvocate said...

I have 4 great kids, ages 41 to 16. Yes, I got what I wanted for Christmas, again, great kids.

There's probably a Super 8 mm movie of Christmas in 1958 laying around my parents house somewhere. Some years, it was the only event my father would film. A light bar with several flame throwing spot lights attached to the camera. Looked a little like a reindeer's antlers glowing like the sun. You could feel the heat 10 feet away.

sakredkow said...

How a little baby boy
Bring the world so much joy
Son of a carpenter
Mary carried the light

Kevin said...

Young Ann invented MySpace Face, apparently. Always thinking ahead, aren't you?

[patiently stares, waiting for her to invent something else that will be relevant in 40 years]

Palladian said...

There's probably a Super 8 mm movie of Christmas in 1958 laying around my parents house somewhere.

Super 8mm was introduced in 1960 and wasn't in wider use until 1965, so I'm sure your Christmas film of 1958 is in 8mm format instead.

I shot maybe one of the last rolls of freshly-made regular 8mm film in 1992. Thank God Super 8mm film is still being made.

Ann Althouse said...

"I'm assuming you're the one in white - no missing that pout."

It was probably pink. And I'm the one who thought when a camera is pointed at you, a performance is called for. You were supposed to entertain. No one else even looks at the camera!

I'm the only one who thinks celebrating Christmas means "celebrate" in the sense of celebrate, good times, come on!

Ann Althouse said...

I've got a lot of 8mm film from that era. I need to get it digitized. Any advice?

Ann Althouse said...

"Are those Madam Alexander dolls? I gave my oldest granddaughter a collection of vintage Madam Alexander world dolls several Christmases ago. I got them on eBay."

Those are Jill Dolls and Ginny Dolls. We had an elaborate all-female family set up in a multistoried house that was just a bookcase.

McTriumph said...

The Professor was ahead of her time, at 6 she invented the 'duck" pose so popular among young women today. Kidding aside, great photo of a great time to grow up in this country.

edutcher said...

Ann Althouse said...

I'm assuming you're the one in white - no missing that pout.

It was probably pink. And I'm the one who thought when a camera is pointed at you, a performance is called for. You were supposed to entertain. No one else even looks at the camera!

I'm the only one who thinks celebrating Christmas means "celebrate" in the sense of celebrate, good times, come on!


You and The Blonde.

The last place I worked, she told people the only reason she let me work there was because of the great parties they had.

chickelit said...

"I've got a lot of 8mm film from that era. I need to get it digitized. Any advice?"

Costco converts to DVD format. Maybe you can ask for different formats.

Darrell said...

You give it to a grad student in the film or broadcasting department you can trust and use university equipment and resources. Work out some sort of credit--legal (digital) archiving. Make sure they sign a confidentiality agreement and an agreement not to withhold material/pass on to anyone else. Let them know what will happen if they do.

How else do uni professors get what they what below cost?