Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Mystery History


Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win a fabulous prize!

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

13 comments:

chris said...

"Beer or? boys" ?? They look like the Women's Christian Temperance Union gals who protested at bars around the country, especially in Pasadena, in the 40's. Or maybe they're that evening's live karaoke. The bartender likes them.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

The gals are wearing signage claiming"beer or broads" The men folk have chosen beer and turned their backs on the broads. The disappointed ladies went to a lot of trouble with those eye catching hats. The bartender is amused.

Cafe Observer said...

Actually, these elderly ladies wear a sign that says, "Beer or Boys!" Just another sign of the more liberal women & times back then.

We might still have a couple of loco women of that type around here. But, now they wood bee wearing signs saying, "Wine or Boys"

Petrea Burchard said...

Chris has got to be right. It's too late for prohibition, those dresses are dangerously short.

Joseph said...

Chris is right (definitely about the WCTU; uncertain about the karaoke). As a beer-loving Fuller graduate, this photo encapsulates a couple of my specailist subjects. If it's of any help, it seems to be from 1947, and the Life Magazine archive shows the same scene from the reverse angle - http://www.life.com/image/50509358 . Other photos of (seemingly) the same ladies in action can be found mid-way down the page here - http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=4640973 . I'd hate to be the blonde that had to face up to them!

Joseph said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joseph said...

Sorry to have a deleted post. I commented prematurely!

To follow my earlier comment, Googling "WCTU Pasadena" (leave out the quotes) revealed a couple of other nuggets of information. The date of the confrontation seems to have been 1 May 1947, and Life Magazine (indexed on Google Books) from 19 May has an article with photos. It also has a delightful quote from Bessie Lee Cowie, 86, the leader of the women: "Again and again girls have told me that their fall began with a glass of wine."

The Ottawa Citizen (again via Google) also has a write-up. I especially like the following paragraph: ""Hey, bartender," a youth in a natty brown gaberdine suit shouted, "Gimmie a beer.""

Coincidentally, this is how I dress when stepping out for a drink.

Bellis said...

Joseph, people will think you're from a Monty Python sketch (the one with the aggressive old ladies) if you dress like that.

One of those ladies is a dead ringer for my English granny - I remember those stockings and shoes from my childhood. She loved her half pint of beer in the pub every evening. Good memories.

Petrea Burchard said...

Wonderful pictures at Joseph's links. Thanks, Joseph.

Joseph said...

Bellis,

When I said, "This is how I dress . . " I meant in a "natty brown gaberdine suit," but I fear that you know this and am just winding me up!

Anonymous said...

March, 1938. Pole dancers unionize and lodge first age-discrimination suit against Pasadena area bar.

pasadenapio said...

Joseph, you're giving away my source material! There's no reason for me to do the big reveal.

Cafe Observer said...

Great research, Joesph!