Vogue

Vogue

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It was the forties -
the big band era of swing.

The lean years
of jitterbug and zoot suits,
of pin up girls and jukeboxes.
When Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman
were president
and World War II had come to an end.

It was

Citizen Kane and Casablanca.
When a broad was a woman
and a woman was broad shouldered
and fur clad.
When black and white was in vogue,
and Mildred Pierce was a mystery
told in flashbacks…

and Joan Crawford
was the Mommy dearest

of them all.

photography by fanpop.com

 

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Author's Note

I googled the years in which my parents grew up as teenagers...this is what I came up with!

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Kelly, I was born in 1940.
I am drawn to the old movies and
love Casablanca.
"We'll always have Paris".
Love the big band sound and I
am drawn to The Salvation Army
brass band. I am truly an old soul
with Hungarian in my blood.
I adore your poem. Love, Pat

[Kelly Scheppers]

I adore your old soul...it's what makes you the compassionate person you are! I am thrilled you enjoyed this, Pat...thank you!

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Kelly... You are Cecil De mills' angel
of WritersCafe. truly, Pat

[Kelly Scheppers]

What a lovely thing to say...thank you, darlin!

[BelfastBhoy69]

Loved it, love the music, movies, style, the whole ensemble. Well done!

[Kelly Scheppers]

...thank you so much for visiting!

[ANTO]

I saw a guy on Everybody Loves Raymond wearing a Zoot suit to go jiving - those suits were something else.
"When a broad was a woman
and a woman was broad shouldered" - you mean they were bigger than the shoulders on DALLAS? My word!
This is such a great write about a gentler (socially speaking) time. I love history and I love this Kelly. A wonderful new string to your already glam bow.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Lol, how funny...that was Robert, Raymond's brother who dressed in a Zoot suit!! I saw that!! Don't tell me, you watched "Dallas"? You're so fashion oriented, Anto! Thank you so much!

[ANTO]

How funny was Raymonds crazy dancing - the girl he chose to dance beside said to him - "I think you might have an inner ear problem...!" - Lmao
When Dallas was on we only had 4 - yep 4 ... TV stations - there was nothing else on lol
Your welcome Kelly xD

[Kelsey Ann]

I was just listening to some Glenn Miller! This poem made my day!! Great write! :-)

[Kelly Scheppers]

Oh girl, I love it! I have a CD set by Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra doing those old songs back in the forties. What a thrill it is to listen to...thank you so much, Kelsey!

[Perkele.7885]

I am impressed. Have you got some more! I was just kickin[ back!

[Kelly Scheppers]

...aww, thank you, Raj! I get such a rush when I think of those torch singers back then, standing in front of a full piece orchestra, singing their heart out! I love it!

[Lydia Shutter]

I knew you did not live through those years, but you took us all on a grand tour of the forties with your words and great references. "When a broad was a woman and a woman was broad shouldered and fur clad." Oh yes! I have photos of my mom dressed like this...with a matching hat of course. Wonderful write, Kelly! Lydi***

[Kelly Scheppers]

I adored the "look" that women had back then...the pencil skirts and the shoulder pads, oh my!! I knew this one would rouse you, Lydi! Thank you so much!

[~]

Both of my grandparents fought during WWII and survived. My paternal grandfather's house was actually burned three times by the German army, and my maternal grandparents hid a young Jewish girl in their barn... it was a different time in Albania. We did not get to see any of the Vogue you've mentioned, but I came to learn about it well after communism fell... ahhh.. memories.. memories.. great write my friend!
xoxoxoxo

[Kelly Scheppers]

Oh darlin, I am so sorry!

[...]

excellent reminisce of the 40's, my dear poetess :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

So kind of you to say, Lynn..it was great writing it and bringing it all together! Thank you!

[dan]

Aah, Joan Crawford...she single-handedly almost brought down the entire hanger industry. Just try to imagine 60-70 years from now, which people will be looked back on and included in writes such as this one. It's funny how romanticized the past eras of stage and screen appear to us now, everyone focuses on the good, the F. Scott Fitzgerald-like world of Beverly Hills and Hollywood and Vine. But that's the fun of looking back, is it not? A beautiful newsreel moment revealed. Thanks for that, Kelly. take care...dan

[Kelly Scheppers]

I do believe you're right, Dan! She had to be the motivation behind those molded plastic hangers you see everywhere in dept. stores now. Every time I see a can of comet, it freaks me out!! [...remember the bathroom scene? ] Thank you!!

[CD Campbell]

I love the history of that decade almost as much as the twenties. Growing up, the WWII guys were still relatively spry and full of stories and grit. We're losing them at such an alarming rate now it's sad. But that's time for ya. During the nineties swing was kind of popular. Remember that? It passed way too fast before we could get good at it. I enjoyed this. CD

[Kelly Scheppers]

My grandfather was one of those WWII guys...how wonderful of you to acknowledge their presence in this world today! Thank you so much, CD!

[CD Campbell]

You are very welcome Kelly.