September 18, 2010

"The 5th Freedom! Freedom from unnecessary drudgery!"

I love the "Word to the Wives" film short (c. 1955) at this story about modern kitchens.  

Grape jelly and light mustard! Continuous ice circles!

16 comments:

Sprezzatura said...

But, who will save us from Drudgedy?

Unknown said...

People tend to forget that a lot of kitchen work was rather hard and/or repetitive labor (churning butter, carrying water, etc.) and, contrary to the copy in the link, would have been the province of a good many middle class women, also.

For many women, it would have been a very real kind of freedom.

Wince said...

Darren McGavin in that film short basically gives us an uncanny preview of his Chistmas Story character that was to appear some 28 years later in 1983 (starting @ 4:45).

Jason (the commenter) said...

Nothing Drudge does is unnecessary.

knox said...

I am often consciously grateful for my washer.

The idea of doing laundry by hand, and it taking one if not two full days a week... hellish.

Hagar said...

But my sister says that if you really want to cook a great meal for company, there is nothing like our grandmother's woodfired cast-iron range.

Luke Lea said...

Let's see: Hot and cold running water, indoor toilets, incandescent lighting, refrigerators, electric ranges, central heat and air, automatic clothes washers and dryers, automatic dishwashers, the microwave oven, coffee maker, Cuisinart, toaster . . .

Yeah, who needs em?

jungatheart said...

Save us from Drudgedy? We love Drudgedy!

Now, a serious matter. Althouse, it just doesn't feel right if you don't leave us with a picture-cafe as your last post of the evening.

(signed) Seriously Needy

Anton said...

Your picture pops up everywhere!

http://www.businessinsider.com/10-mistakes-you-probably-made-in-your-job-search-2010-9#mistake-9-not-preparing-well-enough-for-job-interviews-9

Fen said...

Oh great. Its only a matter of time now before "drudgery" is considered a human rights violation.

Penny said...

From the article... "When we start cooking, we create mess and disorder..."

You'd best believe that, honey. ;)

Feeling totally confident in predicting that next year's design focus will be on the bedroom.

Penny said...

"Now, a serious matter. Althouse, it just doesn't feel right if you don't leave us with a picture-cafe as your last post of the evening.

(signed) Seriously Needy"

Patience is a virtue, deborah.

Besides, the night is young! ... Or at least a helluva lot younger than our hostess and this fan.

Would you care to sit here next to me? I will wake you when the time comes.

*all of the above is now predicated on TWO old ladies doing what they "usually" do.*

Oh boy! Odds are getting smaller now.

See how this works, deborah?

jungatheart said...

Penny, in lieu of a suitable and witty response, I will dedicate the last song I listened to on youtube, just now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIwzRkjn86w&feature=related

Penny said...

You wouldn't lead me astray, deborah?

Oh heck! Course not!

jungatheart said...

Since John Wayne and Lee Marvin starred in Donovan's Reef, what movie am I thinking of that starred Brian Keith?

Anonymous said...

What about necessary drudgery?