DIY tip: Don’t do the twist jerk while using scissors, please
Popular accent colors for kitchens in 1968
First, for the purpose of readers looking for advice on what was popular in 1968 kitchens, let’s capture the colors that Westinghouse was promoting. The decorator panels were available in:
- Supreme Walnut
- Rattan
- Catawba Cherry — Note, Early American, still popular in 1968!
- Astro-Glo Bronze
- Surftex Black
Oh, and there was lots and lots of blonde hair color going on, too, it seems.
In addition, homemakers could make their own panels. The parts of the film meant to generate ideas are the best. Hey: Remember our recent story about Kathy, who made her own dishwasher panel from an enlargement of her grandmother’s Betty Crocker cookbook? Such a great way to add vintage pizzazz — inexpensively and creatively. Tip: Don’t do the twist while using scissors.
Back to the film — 1968 a very bad year
I used to work in the car business, and these kinds of films were commonly created to set the scene for the new product lines being introduced to the dealers. The purpose was to get them all psyched up to sell.
But, oh my: 1968. In contrast to the let’s party mood (although there is a seamy darkness) of this film, the year 1968 was one of the most tragic and divisive (help, I am not a historian, not even sure what words to use) in America’s political history. Martin Luther King was assassinated. Robert F. Kennedy, assassinated. The Vietnam War was under way, with the Mai Lai massacre, Tet offensive, draft dodging and more dividing the country. Richard Nixon was elected president. Hmmm, unemployment was 3.3 percent. Yikes. I am not an expert on film history, but I took a class in college and this Westinghouse video makes me recall the 1966 film Blowup by Michaelangelo Antonioni. Films like this — which are considered “ephemera” and were not really meant to endure — are so interesting. Thank you, Jackie and Todd, for this discovery.
Frank says
Very Timothy Learish.
Wendy M. says
First, I’m really glad I didn’t watch that last night when I saw the link…I think it would have led to some pretty strange dreams!
Second, having watched it in the light of day, it was really entertaining. I can see how that product could be appealing.
Third, having missed the ’60’s by just a couple of years, this is how I would like to think it was then…one continuous party, where even diy projects were fabulously exciting. My mom insists on ruining this fantasy by reminding me about all the things you listed in beginning of your post. I guess it’s like kids now liking everything ’80’s because they didn’t live through it the first time. 🙂
Dale says
It’s too bad they didn’t do a video to go with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye-XZ4Ukl08
Everyone was doing huge broadway-ish productions for corporate meetings and the dealer network back then. The owner of the Solo Drink Cup Company sponsored and produced a television special starring – his wife! Though in her 60s, Dora Hall had several albums out of pop covers. Her TV special starred Rosie Grier, Phil Harris, Frank Sinatra Jr, Oliver and Rich Little! Despite all the applause there was no audience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KGL6gbhlD0
I suppose none of this is any different than the Coke logo all over American Idol or a big Geritol sign behind Ted Mack.
pam kueber says
holey moley fabulous album! i neeeeed it.
pam kueber says
Yowza, Dale. I think I had heard of that album before, but I never really took note til now. I found it on etsy: Now mine. Can’t wait. Many thanks!
Dale says
Wow – instant gratification! You may want to get this one for your cocktail parties as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz-3A9R8irY
Chutti says
I love Prelinger Archives! And Jam Handy, also Jerry Fairbanks industrial films are great. He always weaves some kind of story in.
Loads of these for free on the Pub D Hub channel.
I’ve been meaning to plan a visit to Prelinger for hands on fun, but Wednesdays are hard to block out. Gotta get there. I love this stuff!
Jess says
This instantly reminded me of a print ad for Kelvinator Originals that I found in an issue of “The American Home” from 1965. Found a version of it here… http://www.goantiques.com/kelvinator-meets-the-681972
Will says
Hey Pam/everyone, Have you explored the Prelinger Archives? Great for vintage public domain. They have several vintage appliance movies mixed in (try searching the different manuracters). I personally recomend the ones about ‘futurism’ like the GM Frigidaire Kitchen’s of the future from 1956/1961… I also enjoyed ‘homes of today and tomorrow’ house plans, Charade with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant and more. Just thought I’d share the resource for the blog.
Will says
Nevermind, I see that’s where you pulled the video from. Great videos there!
Dulcie says
Ok, so 1968 WAS a bit sucky, but this great film and I both came out of that year, so it wasn’t all bad. 🙂 I loved the clothes, but you’ve got to be hopped up on something to want to/be able to dance that frenetically while cruising around your refrigerator.
Jeff says
Hi Pam, thanks for posting this super groovy video!
I noticed in the credits that it was a “Jam Handy” production……we’re very familiar with Jam Handy in the Detroit area, since this Detroit production house did many of the product information films for the auto industry, and most chamber of commerce videos of the 1950’s and 60’s.
They were the go-to shop for promotional, product, and propaganda films of the times.
I have seen this 1968 mode Westinghousel fridge in estate sales, recently, in fact, with various different panels, obviously home made. Don’t see as many Westinghouse fridges around anymore in general, so I think the last year or so of estate sale-ing was a fluke, most old fridges here are Frigidaire or GE…… Great fun!
Stacey says
I think it deserves a RetroRenovation Emmy for oddest decorating film of the year. Of that year. Whatever.
I like it in a strange way — it reminds me of the movies I see on late-night digital tv (I’m too cheap for cable). Like a lot of things from the 60s that weren’t really hip, the film’s music throws in every musical cliche from the period: Beatles, Doors, Beach Boys, Chubby Checker, and a little bit of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Do you hear references to these guys in the music?
Re Janet’s comment: I remember distinctly styles beiing a few years behind in films such as this. Probably was made by someone over 30; you can’t trust them, you know.
I don’t remember anyone every matching their mood, wallpaper or hobbies to their fridges. Did anyone ever really do that back then?
DeeGee says
OMG – they matched EVERYTHING back then. EVERYTHING.
I remember my Mom insisting I wear this outfit she made me; along with a homemade PURSE and bow like hat out of the SAME MATERIAL….
You notice I’m still traumatized by this event?????
Really though. Check out Samsonite luggage ads – EVERYTHING MATCHES…. ok, I need to go take something for my flashbacks…….
Janet Switzer says
Rarely if ever, but everybody thought everybody else was doing it. That’s because the idea was so hyped in the media, as if an ad campaign couldn’t be sold unless it contained the word “mood” somewhere.
James says
My father worked for Westinghouse for nearly 40 years, an electrical engineer who designed appliance motors, like the kind that powered these refrigerators. I had no idea Westinghouse was such a groovy enterprise! I recognize our family’s fridge model from that era, the one with the french doors on top with the bottom freezer drawer. Alas, no psychedelic panels in our early american kitchen…
midmodms says
Wow! The pantsuit. And I think the dance they were doing was the Watusi.
Now I’m imagining what I can cover my fridge with.