When writing Papas’ Bones, I tried to be as accurate as possible. Some of my readers have commented on terms and events that were unfamiliar to them. So, I’ve compiled a small list below:
Adhesive Tape: Since evening dresses were mostly all backless in the 1930s, adhesive tape was a popular substitute if one couldn’t afford special kinds of brassieres.
Charles Lindburg Jr. Kidnapping: The son of famous Charles Lindberg, disappeared from his nursery in March of 1932. It was one of those headlines no one could get away from.
Clap, The: Slang for the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea
Cloche: A bell shaped hat worn by women, usually made of felt, and meant to fit closely around the head.
Crawford, Joan: Probably remembered in pop culture today because of Faye Dunaways’ portrayal of her in the movie Mommie Dearest. In the 1930s, Joan Crawford was the idol for independent flapper women.
Fitch, F.W.: Was a real person. He made his fortune in hair tonic and based his operations in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. His interests both benign and illicit were documented in many sources.
Golf/Clubs: The numbering of golf clubs did not become popular until the middle thirties. Until then clubs were called all sorts of names and golfers could carry as many of them in their bags as they wanted. Tees were just starting to become popular but many still used the old sand and tee molds. Professional golfers, like Walter Hagen, were not idolized like professional golfers today. If one wanted to make a name for them self as a golfer they tried out for the numerous armature titles.
Packard: Were an American luxury car made from 1899-1958.
Prohibition: After the passing of the 18th Amendment, the sale, manufacture and distribution of alcohol became illegal.
Tommy Guns: A sub-machine gun invented in 1919 and made popular by the Gangster Films of the late 1920s early 1930s
Vare, Glenna Collette – Was a popular women’s ameture golfer from the 1920s to the 1930s . She was known for her consistent drives of 250 yards or more. Some comtempories of her time called her the female Bobby Jones. She published two books which are long out of print: Golf for Young Players (Little Brown & Company, 1926) & Ladies in the Rough (Alfred A. Knopf, 1928). Check out her biography at the World Golf Hall of Hall of Fame.
I’ll be adding more as I go along…
L.M. Elm, Historical Novelist 