RIP Jane Russell

RIP to one of the greats, Jane Russell. What a sweet, strong, classy, fabulous lady. No one out there like her, and never will be.

Jane, her 4 brothers, and their broods in 1954

1933 Necessary Kitchen Utensils - Part 4

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933
Part 4
Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

31. 1 Knife Sharpener

32. 1 Kitchen Cutlery Set

33. 1 Cutlery Rack

34. 1 Set Biscuit Cutters



35. 1 Bread Box (if not part of cabinet)



36. 1 Cake Box (if not part of cabinet)

37. 2 Pie Plates, 9"

38. 1 Potato Masher

39. 1 Electric Beater

Or 1 Food Preparer

*Personally, I don't think I could choose. I adore my black Kitchen-Aid mixer and could never give it up, but my Foley Food Mill is great for certain things like applesauce and mashed potatoes.

1933 Necessary Cooking Utensils - Part 3

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933
Part 3
Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

21. 2 Sets of Muffin Pans (6 - 8 in set)

22. 1 Square Cake Pan (8" x 8")

23. 1 Oblong Cake Pan (5" x 10")




24. 2 Layer Cake Pans (8" or 9")




25. 1 Cooky Sheet (14" x 10")

26. 1 Roasting Pan (10" x 15")

27. 2 Wire Cake Coolers

28. 2 - 3 Casseroles

29. 1 Egg Beater

30. 1 Pair Kitchen Shears

Weird Wednesday - Bette Davis Getting Some Sun

Bette Davis gets a Suntan in her backyard in 1940. I guess some people will go to extremes to get a tan. Since this device looks like it is made from bars and cloth, I'm guessing it is for privacy rather than amplification of the suns rays. Looks more like a coffin to me. Does anyone know what the purpose of this contraption might be?

1933 Necessary Kitchen Utensils - Part 2

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933

Part 2

Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

11. 3 Stirring Spoons (at least 1 Wooden)

12. 1 Bottle Opener

13. 1 Can Opener


14. 1 Jar Opener




15. Flour Sifter




16. 1 Cake Turner (If you don't have a Bread Spatula)

17. 1 Chopping Bowl and Chopping Knife

18. 1 Bread Board

19. 1 Utility Tray

20. 1 Rolling Pin

1933 Necessary Kitchen Essentials - Part 1

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933

Part 1

Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

1. 2 Standard Measuring Cups

2. 2 Sets of Measuring Spoons


3. 1 Set Storage Jars

4. 1 Nest of 5 Mixing Bowls

5. 6 Custard Cups or Ramekins

6. 1 Set of Graters

7. 1 Pastry Blender

8. Fruit Juice Extractor

9. 1 Coffee Making Device

10. 2 Teaspoons for Tasting

Anne Francis in Hollywood - Day 2

On Anne's second day in Hollywood, she was invited to lunch with Miss Mildred Kelly from the MGM publicity department. But when Anne arrived at Miss Kelly's office who was at her desk but none other than Van Johnson or "The Dream" as Anne referred to him. Van was there reading his fan mail. Radio Mirror says that "Anne was too weak to remain standing so she sat hastily in the nearest chair and told him her name" (Radio Mirror, March 1947). They ended up talking for 45 minutes!

And when Miss Kelly asked if Anne wanted a photo of Van - of course she said yes! Anne kept the photo on her bureau. The inscription reads: "To Anne Francis. Good luck always from your friend Van." (Radio Mirror, March 1947). Lucky girl!

Anne Francis' First Day in Hollywood

Lovely Anne Francis was all of 16 years old when she left New York for Hollywood. She was signed by MGM in 1947. Anne (born Ann Marvak on September 16, 1930 - January 2, 2011) had been "in the business" since age 6 in New York modeling, on stage, and on radio.

Day 1 was spent settling into their hotel with her mother, Edith Albertson Francis.

Brown Derby 1947 Menu


Anne had a celebration breakfast at the famous Brown Derby Restaurant

Up next - Day 2. A power lunch and meeting a blond male Hollywood heartthrob actor. Can anyone guess who it was?

Weird Wednesday: Kelpidine - the "Miracle" Diet Candy

(From Movieland: February 1955)

Kelpidine Candy allegedly could help you lose 25 pounds in 25 days. What this ad does not say is that since you are on only a 1,000 calorie a day diet with this "diet plan", you are probably starving and still probably won't lose weight. Lucky for us, this candy made from seaweed did not have a lot of scientific research backing it. Naturally, lawsuits followed this product through the years because of it's wild claims. Since it's mostly made of iodine, the product wasn't safe for people with blood disorders such as diabetes or heart trouble. For a fun take on this ad, check out one of my favorite blogs Kitchen Retro.