Saturday, August 23, 2014

Photos of Adelaide in the 1950s.


I ran across this website story while trying to find out what the event at the town hall might have been.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/photos-of-everyday-life-in-adelaide-in-the-1950s/story-fni6uo1m-1226983270157?nk=816965287d4502f2fdc1f44f44842c03
Wonderful old photos, and filled with memories. Sorry if not all can see them. Seems that you have a limited number of 'free' articles that you can read. :(
It's one of the first references I've seen to the Koala zoo. It was in the parklands, a bit north of the zoo. It's there that I rode an elephant, I'm sure.
I remember the city baths (swimming pool) but know that many avoided it because of catching something 'nasty'. How true that was, I don't know.
I love the Royal show photos, was such an event. I loved everything about it. Show bags, Fairy Floss, sample size bottles, animals and more.
Sunday drives with picnics, thermos of tea was a 'must have'. That first photo was like so many. So typical.
Charlesworth nuts was a 'must' to visit each time one went to the city.
And it's amazing to see how close some got to the Queen, when she visited.

Page 4 of my miniatures - some are from South Australia.

The landscape is the Dry Creek wetlands, north of Adelaide, and the sunsets are local Adelaide, South Australia beaches. I'm doing an archive of all my art (no easy task). Currently working on my dollhouse miniatures. I'm up to page 4.
This is a link to this page on my 'artistjillian' website:
http://www.artistjillian.com/miniature-art-dh04
Graphic shown above is a pictorial summary of the 10 original paintings on that page. The page includes painting details. All are 1:12 scale.
Some of these were done for themed work for miniature enthusiasts (Paris/Tuscany) specifically for their dollhouses/room boxes.

Dancing for the Mayor of the City of Adelaide - Adelaide Town Hall

I think this is the first time I ever was in such a grand building. It was the Adelaide Town Hall. I'm not sure of the occasion, but there were a lot of us 'fairies'. I think I got to be there because of St. Agnes church in Grange, but not sure. They used to have dancing and calisthenics in the adjacent hall (as well as wedding receptions, sales, etc.).
I know much preparation went into it. I don't know if the dress was hand made, but know the sequins were sewn on by hand. The fairy wings were coat hangers, shaped, and covered in tulle. With sequins sewn on it. The wand and headband with star was cut out carefully from cereal boxes to a pattern, then covered in foil. This was all a fascinating process to me, and I know I helped out.
I don't remember much about the performance. The building was big, the curtains were deep red velvet and very heavy. It was cold. I had a heavy coat on over my costume. There seemed to be a lot of confusion, and a lot of kids. I know it was a very special occasion, but have no memories of what it was about. I do remember the audience being very enthusiastic in their applause. It was thunderous to me. I was only used to the meager clapping in local town hall and church halls in and around the Henley and Grange area.
I hated getting the eyebrows drawn on, and look so fake. I am sure I probably wasn't standing very still for it. I remember the lipstick, making 'cherub' peaks in the middle. It was bright red, and had to purse and contort my lips for this process. I never did take much to wearing lipstick, and never red or any dark colors. Though loved the shimmering pale pink lipstick I got for my 'big' thirteenth birthday when I was deemed to be a 'big' girl.
I haven't marked the photo as copyright. But it is. Please don't use without my written permission. Thank you.