IT’S ALL ABOUT... An important Centennial

July 4th this year, 2022, will be a most special event celebrated in the life of our family. My dad, Charles, had he lived a mere year longer would be 100 years old on the 4th of July. This fact gave me pause to ponder the 100 years of inventions he had witnessed throughout his exceedingly long and healthy life. As many of us do today utilizing the internet, I sought items that actually grew up with dad and were born in the same year as his birth, 1922. Nice surprise that some of the goods we have today are still around and just as old!

• One of the first amazing and amusing items turning 100 this year is “Readers Digest”. I was not aware that 31 articles are STILL published in each edition, one for each day of the month’s reading pleasure. (The things you learn!) When, Shawn Larson, the editor of the Cass County Citizen’s Journal-Sun, and I were initially discussing my going forward with publishing a book of “Suzanne’s Corner” columns, he, not wanting to offend me, said it could be like a “Reader’s Digest” bathroom addition! Each column would be a short, daily experience. Well, if “Readers Digest” could make it 100 years, wonder if “Suzanne’s Corner” could withstand 100 years of reading?

And, while we are thinking about printed publications, the old “Time Magazine” is right up there turning 100 as well.

• Another century old product, which many of us could not have done without, is Maidenform. Bras were originally built into dresses, however women started requesting separate brassieres! I’d be willing to bet in every single woman’s life, we wore at least ONE Maidenform. Had no idea they were that old, did you?

• How about a blender? It was patented in 1922 with a spinning blade in the bottom, but was put under the Waring name in the 1930’s.

• For years our holiday dinners were graced with Stouffer’s dressing. If Granny didn’t make it then Stouffer’s did! 100 years old this year too.

• In the dessert category, chocolate covered ice cream “pops” were first invented a century ago. The story goes that a kid in an ice cream shop couldn’t decide if he wanted a chocolate candy bar or an ice cream on a stick. The owner of the shop decided to invent a combination of the two and actually patented his invention as the first Eskimo Pie.

• While folks were munching on their ice cream treat, they were watching skywriting, also first on the scene in 1922.

• We have come a long way in technicolor movies. If you thought everything was black and white until “The Wizard of Oz” in the 1930’s, guess what, you’re wrong! The first successful “technicolor” (color mixed) movie using hues of orange-red and green blue was in 1922; entitled The Toll of the Sea, and premiered in NY City.

• Radio was coming onto the scene with the first radio commercial being aired in 1922. Queensboro Realty was the first, paying $100 for a 10-minute spot! Radio was taking over and the first football games were aired. The White House had it’s first radio and President Harding was the first President to utilize the radio in an address, all in 1922.

• As a kid growing up in the 1950’s mom used to dress us in Tom McAn shoes. Maybe there weren’t very many choices, but ole Tom McAn could be found in almost everybody’s closet. The original store opened in New York City and sold a pair of “quality” shoes for $3. 100 years later they are still making those shoes but are only sold in Sear’s stores, if you can find one of those, or on line at Sears.com. Today $75.00!

• In 1922, USAA was started when 25 Army officers decided to insure each other’s cars. Today they are still in business and serving millions of customers with multiple types of financial services. Another century old insurance organization still surviving is State Farm.

• There were a multitude of sports happenings a century ago; the NFL was officially named; 1st professional Women’s soccer team in the USA; Centre court at Wimbledon; 100-meter freestyle swimming minute barrier broken by Johnny Weissmuller; The Rose Bowl; Yankee Stadium; Vanderbilt Stadium and an American won the British Open…plus, plus, plus

• Dad was the same age as so many famous movie stars and personalities including: Judy Garland, Charles Shultz, Betty White, Doris Day, Bea Arthur, Jack Klugman, Redd Foxx, Veronica Lake, Jackie Cooper, Cyd Charise, Sid Caesar, Telly Savalas and Ava Gardner…to mention just a few. He outlived 99% of them!

• And one final meaningful item for dad, the Navy’s first aircraft carrier, the USS Langley was commissioned in 1922.

The list of centennial products, companies, personalities and inventions can go on and on. It’s fascinating to realize, yet hard to believe, that some of our every day items have been around for 100 years. In one breath a century sounds so old, yet as time flies by, the centennial birthday may not be so out of reach for many of us! Nevertheless, our remaining family will have the biggest 100-year, centennial honorary birthday celebration for a most special dad. He was planning to attend, in fact, he was planning it! No doubt he’ll be looking down at an amazing party knowing he will always be remembered, especially on the 4th of July!

Thanks to the “Reader’s Digest” and the internet for a wealth of researching information.