Rehearsal Process Q&A
Answer: A handshake was what appears to be most common.
Question: Could we get more information about "Neewollah"?
Answers:
A Brief History of Neewolah
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Began in 1919 in Independence, Kansas as an effort to provide positive activities for kids of all ages in place of the typical Halloween pranks.
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In Neewolah’s earliest years, activities focused on all-day parades on October 31st
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People could vote for the Queen of Neewolah for a penny, which helped raise money for the town.
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Neewolah took a break during WWII, but it was brought back in the 50’s as a 3-day celebration
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Today it is the largest annual celebration in Kansas
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10-day celebration
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Town grows from 10,000 to 75,000 the week of Halloween – tourists flood Independence
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Three parades: Doo Dah Parade (adult Kiddie Parade), Kiddies Parade, Grand Parade
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Chili Cook-off
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Hometown musical performances
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Queen’s pageant
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Great Pumpkin Contest
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And more!
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Queen’s parade is very extensive – full talent section, Q&A, beauty contest – the works!
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Check out the website to see 2016’s Queen of Neewolah and other fun stuff! http://www.neewollah.com
Question: Could we get more information on the pronunciation of "either" in this period and location?
Answer: It is pronounced ee-ther in Kansas.
Check out http://www.dialectsarchive.com/kansas for more information on pronunciation.
Question: Could you look into the history of Juanita and the role of the Latino community in this period and location?
Answers: There was a lot of Mexican immigration to Kansas city in the 40's and early 50's because of job opportunities. On July 11, 1951 there was a massive flood in Kansas City which caused Mexican immigrants whose homes were destroyed to disperse to surrounding areas. This documentary discusses the treatment of Latinos in the midwest during the early 1950's.
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http://pastdaily.com/2016/09/06/immigration-1950s-latinos-kansas/
Question: Could you look into how ladies would have greeted each other when meeting for the first time in the fifties?
Question: Makeup routines for ladies in the 50's, specifically "powdering arms?"
Answer: "The way we look exerts so much on the way we feel, and the way other people view us."
Powdering one's arms, neckline, and chest prevented the glistening of sweat. Today, women still use baby powder under the arms to prevent sweating.
For taking off makeup, see 13:30
For putting on makeup, see 15:35
For hairstyles, see 18:38
Good Grooming For Girls (1956)
Question: Was Picasso well known at this time?
Question: What is the relationship between older teenagers to younger (i.e. Hal and Millie)?
Answer: Workin on it
Question: What was the Harry Dexter White Case?
Answer: Harry Dexter White, a U.S. Treasury Department official in 1945 and 1946, was "accused of being a
Soviet Agent of Influence" while in office." He passed sensitive information to the Soviets on numerous occasions, and deliberately attempted to sway policies toward Soviet
Check out this website: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no1/html_files/harry_dexter_8.html
Question: At what point in time did men stop lifting their pants at the knees when they sat to keep the folds from flattening?
Answer: As boys' pants grew baggier and and guys started wearing more jeans and fewer "nice" pants, the ritual started to die out. I still see men lifting their pants at the knee before sitting down today, but they are often either older men, or younger preppy men who have money - people who know the value of a pair of pants.
Question: Popular gardening of the 50's? What kind of flowers did people like?
Answer:
- Annual flowers in the summer, cut grass in the off-season
- Popular flowers included...
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The Day Lily! (left)
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The Rose Thrift! (below)
Astilbe!
Something that was also popular for gardening were assortments of lawn ornaments, be they garden gnomes, lantern holders, or the now politically-incorrect black jockey statues (pictured left).
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Check out these websites for more information and inspiration!
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/1950s-inspired-garden.htm
