Talkin 'Bout My Generation Archives

McDonaldland

September 21, 2022 Holly Talkin 'Bout My Generation 20 comments

McDonalds McDonaldland Specification Manual
McDonalds Corporation
1975

Submitter: There are many wonderful gems in our vertical file collection that really make no sense on why we collected them. This is one of them. It’s a 1975 booklet on the McDonalds characters. I love this quote “Ronald McDonald is a CLOWN. The fact that he is a corporate spokesman should not overshadow his ‘clownness.’ He is all the good things that come to mind when thinking of clowns.” I see that this booklet has been digitized in a few places and they will allow us to let this one go.

Holly: Nostalgia at its finest! I had a birthday party at McDonalds when I was about eight. I was a cool kid for that one day. Best. Day. Ever. But yeah – why is this still in a library collection? And I’m genuinely curious – who still has a vertical file? We do, but it’s mostly local history.

Old fashioned Manners

July 25, 2022 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation 12 comments

What to do
Everyday guides for everyone
Bendick and Warren
1967

This one looks a bit sad. Highlighting and a few damaged pages make this weed worthy. I am happy to report that this book was sent to the bindery so the ugly cover is in pretty good shape. Those old bindery covers could probably withstand a nuclear explosion. That said, I think 1967 etiquette rules are probably due for some updating.

The phone advice is comically out of date. We are still over a decade from even having portable phones, let alone smart phones. Individual phones were just not a concept. In my high school, if you had more than one extension in your home, you were living the good life. I am also surprised there wasn’t a comment about calling “late” or tying up the phone by talking too long. This was a HUGE issue when I was a teen. If any of my friends called past 10 pm, I was in trouble!

Groovy Teen Decor

October 18, 2021 Mary Kelly Home and Garden, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 19 comments

New Young Ideas in Decorating
Walton
1970

Groovy teens everywhere will want to get their own rooms in shape…just like Grandma. All the decorating fads of the late 1960s and the early 1970s are here. Street signs? Check. Beaded curtains? Check. Gauzy drapes? Check. Peace sign? Double check. In 1970 this would have been nice choice for the young adult collection. The entire book reminded me of Rhoda’s Minneapolis apartment from the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Boy Today, Man Tomorrow

April 29, 2020 Holly Health and Safety, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 14 comments

A Boy Today, a Man Tomorrow
Hayes
1959

Submitter: I found this 1959 puberty manual when cleaning out an old closet at a public library in North Carolina I worked at a couple summers ago. It had long been weeded–I brought it home to read aloud to my 12-year-old, who was sufficiently horrified!

Holly: What were they saving it in the closet for?? It warms my heart to know it got a second life through your tween.

Are you a blob?

March 23, 2018 Mary Kelly Department of God, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 9 comments

Sometimes I Feel Like a Blob Barrett 1965 Are you a Christian teen looking for answers? Are you a blob? This devotional is for you. As devotionals for teens go, this isn’t too bad. There is a lot less judgment

Don’t let sex ruin your life!

January 23, 2018 Mary Kelly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 13 comments

What Teens Want to Know About
Love Dating and Sex
Eager
1989

This Christian-oriented teen book spends page after page on the “don’t have sex” message. I am okay with a no sex message, but the slut shaming is awful. If you are a girl, your life will be ruined if you have sex. In addition, you will probably die alone or commit tons of adultery. By the way, it is also implied that girls have to be the moral one in this scenario since boys evidently can’t control themselves.

There is very little substance other than pages and pages of disasters about losing your virginity. Mr. Eager (don’t you love that name!) says you can prevent rape as well.

Insider Secrets About Boys

November 13, 2017 Mary Kelly Life, Death, Love, and Marriage, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 10 comments

What Girls Want to Know About Boys
Unger and Berman
1962

Figuring out boys evidently is a topic for the ages. I remember my teenage daughter asking me why they are so stupid and I remember asking my mom the same thing back in the 1970s. So, here are all the questions you want to ask. Too bad a good chunk of the answers are pretty awful. In this book you can learn:

boys are much more emotionally “controlled” than girls
boys are aroused by just about anything and girls often don’t even know they are being “provocative”
boys are much more in touch with “reality” than girls because they will eventually have to support a family
boys need girls to hold them in check, sexually
boys like girls to be well groomed and have manners
boys think being feminine is the same as being helpless, and girls take advantage of that

Teen-Age Vice!

December 21, 2016 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation, Vice Patrol 14 comments

Teen-Age Vice (original title: Designs in Scarlet) Cooper 1939, revised 1957 How about a read on the hows and whys of teens in trouble? From my brief skim, this book is more about titillation rather than informational. Who wouldn’t want