1938: THE VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND SCANDALOUS MOTION PICTURE "ECSTASY"

I remember the outrage expressed by many of the population back in the 1930's when the motion picture "Ecstasy" was brought to the screen. It was the talk of the town when the scene shows the very beautifil Hedy Lamar swimming completely in the nude with ripples of the water blurring out any details. There was just enough to be seen to make the movie the talk of the town....(especially with the guys.)

1938: MARIJUANA: AN UNKNOWN DRUG DURING MY TEEN YEARS

I had never heard the word Marijuana used during my teenage years. It wasn't until the Hippies, Woodstockers, and other anti social rebels brought it into society in massive amounts, This front page is a very large graphic and unless you have a larger monitor you will not be able to read it in full. Below is an extract of the graphic only. It was only recently that I saw the now cult movie, "REEFER MADNESS;" which was supposed to scare the viewer with the mind altering ability of a joint or two.

1938: WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY!"

The only weed that I smoke is an occasional "Black and Mild" filter tip pipe tobacco cigar. Like Bill Clinton, I don't inhale (no, I really don't). With the legalization of marijuana in the news and states falling into line to legalize it, the above 76 year old article is quite interesting. Strange that marijuana would be legalized considering the anti smoking crusade that has made a huge dent in the average American's smoking habit.

1950: A BUCOLIC VIEW OF TRENTON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Just stop in your busy day. and take a minute to look at those two bucolic views of the beautiful campus of Trenton Central High School as it was before society's fashionistas decided to wrap up the good grooming package and throw it into the trash can. Girls in skirts and blouses, boys in dress shirts with a tie, or a sport shirt, and creases in their trousers. How I yearn for those years of my youth when good grooming was the order of the day! Even if you were from a poor family as in my personal case, my mom would never let me go to school unless I looked "presentable," as she used to say. Today we see the boys with knees torn out of their jeans, not from actual wear as was the case when I was a boy, but they are actually fulfilling a "fashion statement" dreamed up by a twisted member of the clothing industry who has the unique talent of starting a trend in what I call "rebellion dress code modification." Even a number of female Hollywood personalities are joining in the idiotic trend. It was probably the same genius who decided to get the boys to buy jeans that look like they are worn and torn. "Don't wear that baseball cap in the conventional way, wear it backwards. Only old fogies wear their baseball cap with the peak and logo on the front..." "let those jeans down around your thighs and expose your underwear; you will be cool....you will really be noticed...." "Girls, isn't that blouse a bit prudish? Look at how all those Hollywood gals are revealing more and more of their lovely physical attributes. Why not you? 

Note: The above rant is my personal observation and opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of those who are fast approaching majority status.

Tom Glover

Active Member "Old Fogies Club"

1919: COMMUNIST PLAN TO TAKE OVER AMERICA - SCARY!

The "Reds," also known as Communists, were beginning to take hold in the years following World War I as far leftist Socialists and Communists demanded changes in the American way of life. Their remedy for "change" is list in the 6 phases of the plan to overthrow the American republic. This article is from the November 11, 1919 Trenton Times.

1908: RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

My dear wife of 59 years tells me that I am too "simplistic" when I wonder why they had to remove religion from schools. I would add 1 hour to the daily school curriculum and set up 1 hour classes for the Christians, Jewish, Muslim, or any other lesser religion or non religious group that has members of that particular faith attending school. The Christians could celebrate their Christmas during that in school hour, and the other religions likewise celebrate their religions. We could still have a Christmas tree and an Easter Bunny, and those of other faiths, or non believers could have a "Holiday Tree" at Christmas, and a  "Spring Bunny" at America's Easter season; whatever floats your boat. Simplistic? I guess so. 

I also have a "simplistic" solution to the issue of gun control. In my ignorant simplistic solution, I would rather hear the phrase "criminal control." Simplistic? Yup, and I'm stuck with it.

1975: JACK RAFFERTY HAD IT RIGHT!

Wherever one goes in any town in contemporary America, one finds ugly graffiti scrawled over any surface that these "artists" can "tag" without being caught. Last year, I posted photos of the work of someone who decided it would be fun to scrawl their garbage on buildings adjoining the Kuser Farm property at the Loomis Avenue border. They even succeeded in scribbling their garbage on the historic Kuser windmill. These n'er do well law breakers have no regard for personal property and when caught in the act should be given a brush and graffiti remover to clean it up.
(Note that I also highlighted the word payed in the article. As is the case with music when someone sings off key, an unusual occurrence of a word will sound an alarm in a proof reader. However, when I googled "past tense of the word 'pay,' both are apparently acceptable. Wayne Davis seldom made editorial mistakes!)

2013: REST IN PEACE, MY FAVORITE RADIO COMMENTATOR

It isn't easy being a senior senior citizen in this year of 2013. America's social values have changed drastically since the years of my youth. Back in the 1960's when I was "on the road," one of my favorite radio segments were those inciteful observations of Paul Harvey whose signature sign off was, "Paul Harvey, Good Day," If you click on the link below which is from the "CRIME, MORALS, SOCIAL VALUES" folder, you will be amazed at the incredible accuracy of the 3 minute broadcast.

http://stg.do/9LDc

"Snopes" and "Urban Legends" are two on line source to either verify or deny what some might consider controversial content, whether "politically incorrect" of fact. Below is the source of this Paul Harvey audio which was deemed as a "mixture" by Snopes. The audio was an excerpt of a column Mr. Harvey wrote for his syndicated newspaper columns.

 

1968: THE END OF THE CITY OF TRENTON AS I KNEW IT

The venerable old Colonial town of Trenton was changed forever on that fateful April of 1968. Gone were honest, respected businesses that had survived in the downtown Trenton for decades. Convery's Dunham's Elsie Gallivan, and many other anchor stores fled the city to the more civilized suburbs as their stores were looted, burned and destroyed. Innocent business owners' buildings were decimated, valuables looted and Trenton was left in chaos. The carnage was ll done as vengeance for an unspeakable incident with which those downtown merchants had nothing to do with.  The scars remain after these 44 years as Trenton has morphed into an impersonal city whose anchor stores have been replaced with glass encrusted state office buildings. 

1932: POLICE DESTROY ILLEGAL SLOT MACHINES

Over the years, there were numerous articles detailing the confiscation of slot machines. One I remember is an arrest of white Horse's Andy Gropp for having a few units in his establishment. I love to play the slots, but I don't; knowing that I would become addicted to that tempting possibility of hitting it big.

1935: CRACKDOWN ON "THE OLDEST PROFESSION"

"Red Light Districts:" They have been around since time immemorial. They can still be seen walking the streets of Trenton. Here's an article where the problem of prostitution was beginning to be a problem with the city fathers. Capt. Bill Dooling set about rounding up the female sirens. For obvious reasons, the name of one of the first offenders has been deleted.

1906: "LA MANA NERA;" THE DREADED "BLACK HAND"

Trenton had its share of illegal activities back in the first decade of the 20th century. Today we know of it as the Cosa Nostra or perhaps the Mafia. In what was apparently its infancy, law abiding Italian immigrants in Trenton were victims of the extortion and physical attacks of a group known as "The Black Hand." Like today's non Italian gangs, they had a language all their own. The article tells of the Black Hand method of communication with each other, while we are all familiar with the various hand and finger manipulation engaged in by today's street gangs.

1911 TRENTON "GANGS" A CENTURY AGO

I smiled as I read this article that exudes innocence from a more innocent era. It goes back to a social era that was far different from this year of 2012 when vicious gangs proliferate and drive by shootings have turned Trenton into the OK Corral East. Each day brings another account of a shooting, or multiple shootings.

1926:" SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD"

This very interesting article has been languishing in my "SCHOOLS-MISCELLANEOUS" folder for many years. As I go through some of these little known articles, I realize how much our society has changed over the years. I wonder if those who approved of the "capital punishment" via a rubber hose found a change in behavior of the student who was disciplined with that hose.

1992: MY COLUMN ANSWERED A FELLOW COLUMNIST'S CYNICISM

Back when I was a weekly columnist for the late, great "MERCER MESSENGER" I wrote a column bemoaning the fact that America was rapidly sinking into a "cultural war" that was raging, and indeed, is raging to this day. The word "wholesome" is seldom heard in today's society. One of my colleagues wrote a "cutesy" column, obviously directed to my negative outlook on social morality. She reminded me of all the negatives of past generations: disease, segregation, crime, and numerous other human transgressions. I reminded her that I considered the glass "half full" while she saw a half empty glass. As I re-read that long forgotten column, I realize that I agree with that Tom Glover guy. In fact, I would probably update that column and write it today from that same point of view; but then again, what do you expect from a die hard "Social Conservative?"

1902: TRENTON POLICE: "WHAT IS A 'YEGG'?"

This is a soon-to-be 100year old article that gives a number of revealing and interesting insights to the history of the Trenton Police Department of a century ago. These kinds of articles are particularly interesting when 100 years later we witness the sad state of Trenton's financial and social problems.

Anonymous said...

Did you ask this once before? For some reason I remember finding that it was traced to the name of an actual culprit and or, there may be a reference to this in the Pinkerton's history? Skip So, the answer would be that it became for a short while slang for a burglar or thief, extracted from a real name?

Thursday, August 04, 2011

I may have asked about the source of the "Yegg" word some time ago, Skip; I often wondered about that term which I have heard numerous times over the years. As to the Pinkerton connection, I would have to research that and will at some time, or perhaps a visitor can Google and answer.

Tom Glover

1902: 109 YEARS AGO IN TRENTON - "THE OLDEST PROFESSION" PROLIFERATES

It's known far and wide as "The Oldest Profession." It has been with mankind since Eve talked Adam into taking a bite from that apple. The above article from the "Daily True American" is drawn from the "POLICE-TRENTON" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection. The "Bing" map pinpoints the intersection referred to in the 1902 article that had the police and local citizens up in arms.

SJBill said...

Lawyers?

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Tom Glover said...

No Bill, but you are getting closer. These folks predate lawyers. Tom

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

1909: TRENTON'S WILKINSON PLACE STREET CARNIVAL

During Trenton's "Golden Years," neighborhoods were much different from what we see in cities all over the country. Back then, as seen by the photo illustrating Wilkinson Place's "Street Carnival," friends and neighbors worked together to maintain a clean and orderly community. The Bing photo I borrowed from the Bing website shows that Wilkinson Place still maintains the strip of land which at one time was occupied by many row homes. The homes in the 1909 news photo can still be seen in the upper right of the Bing photo.

1886: GUNS PROHIBITED FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 15!

"...under the age of fifteen years..?"

An interesting comment from Skipper, telling of our innocent years. He wrote:

I am not sure how long that legislation was in effect but I remember shooting at a very young age. In my mid teens my pal and I would walk down the streets of Trenton on our way to the "wood lots" across the border in Ewing where we hunted. Never a complaint from a neighbor, the breech being open and chamber empty and never being stopped by an officer.Tom, it is not imagination when we discuss how much things were better or the world more trusting then. It was.Can you remotely think of any car dealer leaving the keys in the cars at night and over the weekends? Well, McCafferty and the other dealers along South Broad Street sure did. Cold winter evenings would find us warming up a car to sit in while we munched those treats from that newly opened McDonald's place on Broad. Listen to the radio and don't leave a mess but pretending we were cool "driving" and who would ever dare do that today?At 12 I begged for my first gun but Mom would not hear of it. Dad was on the fence but in order to keep some sense of balance and harmony, Christmas morning found me taking the bow off my first genuine shotgun. A late 1800's flintlock "fowling piece" and she is a real beauty. I imagine in her day she did real well too. The following year I got a spiffy (but used), J.C. Higgins pump, not the Ithaca Featherweight that I used to visit at Lombardo's Capital Sporting Goods.Skipper

Sunday, July 10, 2011

2011: THE ATLANTA TEACHER-PRINCIPAL SCANDAL

Today the outrageous news that certain teachers and Principals in the Atlanta school system are being charged with allegedly "cooking the books" by changing and correcting wrong answers in student test pages in order to give the school an acceptable student performance record. When I saw this on TV this morning and read about it in today's newspapers, it occurred to me that the idea of the above ladies ever even considering such gross dishonesty would never be considered. We had to earn each and every A, B, C, D, and yes E and F!

Anonymous said...

I seem to remember a scheme in Georgia that would reward each student who maintained a "B" average with free tuition and open admission to any of Georgia's public colleges or universities. You just knew that suddenly every student in Georgia would become an overnight scholar. Skip

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Randolph said...

I think we might be fooling ourselves if we think this type of thing doesn't go on more frequently than is even reported, and probably by local teachers we've all had and loved. Some (college or high school) schools, teachers, administrators have been known to give fake good grades to athletes or to kids they just don't want to deal with. I'm sure the vast majority of educators don't participate in such foolishness, but there's bound to be a healthy handful who are up to no good.

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Anonymous said...

There was a occasional "Gentleman's C" that I am sure was handed out when deserved but even the athletes were expected to study unlike today. To attest to the hard attitude back in the 50's and 1960's we had two young men driving to grammar school. It took them a few extra years but they made it. They were allowed to drive but had to park a few blocks from the school. I met one of them a few years ago and he retired from the Army having done quite well for himself. Skip

Thursday, July 07, 2011