Hi there! I'm happy to be joining Miss Martha for another look back in time.
Not for lack of material, but I've been coming up empty for TBT content. Then lo and behold, someone on my hometown Facebook page shared an image common to 1950's Americana. Anyone know what this is?
How about now?
My girlfriend Cindy's dad owned a shoe store with a fluoroscope that looked just like that. Never mind that my parents routinely took me to Santa Fe for special orthopedic (ugly) shoes. Anytime we kids had the chance we'd pop into Hall's to x-ray our feet and giggle at 'dem bones.' Funny, I don't recall anyone's parents being particularly concerned about the dangers of radiation!
A few years later. Another back-to-school memory involved something of a more delicate nature.
From an early age, I was besotted by my mother's nylon hose; I could hardly wait for my very own pair!
However, a certain accessory was in order.
Nope! No-one I knew was permitted to own one of these. Or if they did, it wasn't discussed in the girls' locker room.
Instead, my mother consulted with the matriarch of all things lingerie. An appraising once over ... a nod ... then old Mrs. Benner would pull open a narrow drawer from behind the counter and carefully present a tissue-wrapped GIRDLE for inspection.
I sure don't recall going on a Surfing Safari in my new undergarments, but felt really Grown-Up all the same. Can anyone else relate?
All put together, and no place to go. Ha!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Y'all take care!
Hugs,
Myra
{{big grin}} Thanks Myra. I hope you have a beautiful day, friend. P.S. I am having trouble with coming up with any posting, sigh.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda ... you do the same!
DeleteOMG! i never saw the xray machine because Mother ordered our shoes from Sears catalog or when in Savannah bought in Sears store. I never went in a shoe store until the mid 80s when i married Bob. talk about throw back.
ReplyDeleteI did have these girdles and i hated them. never wore one to school, because i hated them. the hose i wore to school i rolled them down above the knees. because when i was in school a skirt above the knees was UNHEARD of..mid calf was all we wore. at age 18 i went against the parents and bought a garter belt and hated it also... 1963 was the last time i wore a garter belt, and mid 70's the last time i wore a girdle.
now lets talk about the real throw back in this wonderful photo of you..TheScreenDoor.. do they make those now? i loved to SLAM the screen door when mad...
Hahaha... you little rebel! I wouldn't dare slam the screen, only on account "What would the neighbors think?". (Ours was a quad/4-plex where everybody heard EVERYthing.)
DeleteI've never heard of an X-ray machine for feet, Myra. How quaint that seems in these days! And stockings? Ugh! Panty hose is bad enough; can't imagine having to wear any sort of girdle. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Quaint, for sure! You know, I'm one of those weirdos who still enjoys wearing hose. Keeps my thighs from sticking together in summer. LOL!
DeleteI don't ever recall seeing or using a fluoroscope and I never got a girdle either, it was all about pantyhose. When my mom passed away she still had her girdles and and hose in her drawer. The surfing safari totally cracked me up!
ReplyDeleteThe advent of pantyhose was the BEST! Given what's shown in print and on TV these days, funny how that 'surfing' ad was considered so racy.
DeleteMy mom talks about the fluoroscopes, but they were before my time. My kids think I'm ancient when I talk about going to the shoe store and the clerk actually measured your foot and helped you try the shoes on. LOL As for girdles, I remember my grandmother wearing them. I'd say I'm glad we don't have to deal with them, but I guess Spanx is kind of the same thing.
ReplyDeleteYep, I remember! All those poor shoe salesmen put out of work. Did you ever wonder if they put Vicks in their nose to ward off customers' smelly feet?
DeleteNever knew about the fluoroscopes! Learned something new today! Great picture of you Myra. My mom had a girdle but by the time I would have gotten one pantyhose came into the scene which is probably a good thing. Not sure I would have maneuvered the garters very well :)
ReplyDeleteGreat TBT post!
betty
Thanks, Betty! I don't know how much actual measuring of feet got done; or, if Mr. Hall just kept it as a gimmick.
DeleteI cannot relate since I've never worn garters of girdles. Now I guess it is pantihose nylons instead. How fashion changes. Men used to have a type of garter to keep their socks up. And an elastic band thing to keep long shirt sleeves rolled up. And plastic bits to put in the shirt collar to keep it stiff. I read all this in a papyrus paper encyclopaedia my parents inherited from their parents.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
My father used to have those sock garters! Oh wow, I'd totally forgotten about that. Not sure, but I think those collar 'stays' are still a thing?
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI did not know about the flouroscope. I do remember going to the shoe store and having the salesman measure my feet for school shoes. I also remember my Grandmother joking about her girdle. I was happy they came out with pantyhose. The surfer girls photos is funny. Take care, enjoy your day!
I wonder whatever became of those black and silver measuring thingies the salesmen used. Probably gone the way of the abacus. LOL.
DeleteThankfully I never had my feet, put into those contraptions.
ReplyDeleteGirdles! Yes, I remember! And absolutely no need for such, back then!!!!! Silly us.
The garter belts were an *easier* way, to keep stockings up. But weren't they weird things too?
And.....
Shushhhhhhhh...
How about those *unmentionable* sanitary pad belts???!!!??? A-W-F-U-L!!!!!!
🍁💛🍂💛🍁
U-G-H! I'd totally spaced those belts. (Double UGH). :)
DeleteI have forgotten about that girdle - thank God it doesn't exist anymore or does Spanx take their place? I knew that first thing had something to do with the eyes but didn't know it was shoes!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Spanx, but pretty sure you're right. Both are e-vil!
DeleteHello. I'm here to visit from the linking Martha has on her throwback thursday which you added yours as I did mine today also
ReplyDeleteGirdles...funny. Just the other day hubby and I wondered if they still made these!! They were suffocating in a way. and those little gizzywhiches used to hook
the hose on. Remember the seams on the hose?! Oh goodness you've aged me in front of everyone. Hope you can find time to come over and read my throwback memory.
I don't recall the seams, except those seen in old movies. LOL-ing about 'gizzywhiches' ... that's a good one!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I chuckled lots! Girdles, ugh! Last time I wore spanx at Jeremy's wedding. Oh Lord, what an uncomfortable time getting in and out of that contraption!Great answers and shares for TBT! I'm at both blogs today although blogger won't let me see them on the readers list ugh
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to check out those spanx-thingies! Ya, I hate that Blogger keeps re-arranging my friends' posts. And sometimes I can't find your "Cottage" at all.
DeleteBlogger is starting to sound like FB. They all are so rude and hateful and mean. But I do what I love so I try to put up with their baloney. THey took me off their reading lists for both blogs. Ack! Have a great week. HUGS across the miles XO XO
DeleteI remember fluoroscopes. I think I only used one once, but it was so exciting. I still remember the excitement but now it's mixed with horror.
ReplyDeleteWoo-hoo!!! Clapping my hands that somebody actually remembers using a fluoroscope. (Little things make me happy.)
DeleteI've never seen that shoe contraption, but I remember when the shoe salesman would measure my feet to see what size I wore. And then I'd have to try on the shoes to see what they looked like in the shoe mirror....those were the days...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 3 or 4 years old I remember being fascinated by the X ray machine in the doctor's office.
Don't know anything about "girdles", but I HATED it when we boys were forced to wear jock straps in gym class.
"Those were the days, my friend; we thought they'd never end ....."
DeleteCome to think of it, I can't think of anything I didn't hate about gym class. :)
I barely remember the shoe thingy. I do remember the garter belts and advertising on billboards or painted on buildings in downtown Chicago. However that garter belt also reminds of feminine napkin holders. Remember those?
ReplyDeleteHave to ask Tom if he remembers those advertisements in downtown (Chicago). Those napkin holders were awful!
DeleteI will try again. I always love reading your stuff. I make comments and Blogger says 'publishing' but nothing shows up. We are still settling in. Mark brought is a table and chairs, just the right size. Also a BR suit we had years ago, minus the mattress. We hope to get one tomorrow and then sleep in our new trailer.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and the rest.
Love from Leesburg, FL
Sherry & jack