#project1945

[project1939]

Project 1945: Materials

Films: 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 

The Picture of Dorian Gray 

Without Love 

A Royal Scandal 

It’s in the Bag 

Valley of Decision 

Thrill of a Romance 

The Clock 

Conflict 

The Story of G.I. Joe 

Anchors Aweigh 

Lady on a Train 

Christmas in Connecticut 

State Fair 

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes 

Mildred Pierce 

And Then There Were None 

Fallen Angel 

She Wouldn’t Say Yes 

Lost Weekend 

Detour 

The Bells of St. Mary’s 

Leave Her to Heaven 

Spellbound 

Scarlett Street 

Why We Fight: War Comes to America 

Brenda Starr, Reporter (Serial) 

** Yes, technically there are more than 25 here. I added two more films because one is a “serial” broken up into short sections, and the other is part of a propaganda documentary series made by the U.S. government to show to enlisted men before they were sent off to war. Neither of them are conventional narrative films.

Radio Shows: 

Suspense 

Lux Radio Theater 

Jack Benny 

Fibber McGee and Molly 

Vic and Sade 

Bergen and McCarthy 

Fred Allen 

Mr. and Mrs. North 

Duffy’s Tavern 

Burns and Allen 

Baby Snooks 

The Shadow 

Magazines: 

Good Housekeeping, August 1945 

Modern Screen, August 1945 

Front Page Detective, October 1945 

Paperbacks: 

Claudia and David, Rose Franken, Pocket Books 

Atomic Energy in the Coming Era, David Dietz, Avon 

Cookbook:

Just for Two: A handbook of cookery for the small household, Lily Haworth Wallace, 9th printing, 1945

78 rpm Record: 

Gene Krupa (Anita O’ Day) Chickery Chick/A Little Fond Affection, Columbia 36877 

Music Streaming Playlist:

At the moment, this has 150 songs on it. I'll add more if I find it, but to give you an idea of some of the artists of the time, we have: Harry James, Gene Krupa, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Xavier Cugat, Duke Ellington, The Ink Spots, The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Louis Jordan, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf... some damn good stuff!

[project1939]

Project 1945: Rules 

“Rules” has a more relaxed meaning here, because this is not going to be anything like my 1939 or 1952 projects. For those, I used continuous comprehensive daily immersion for weeks, structuring each day around a specific variety of chronological media- films, radio shows, television, magazines, books, and music- writing daily about my general experience and all the media I consumed. This is going to be a kiddie pool version, by contrast! 

With that out of the way... the “rules” are: 

I do not have to totally immerse myself in the media of 1945. I can also read, watch, or listen to anything from any other year I fancy. 

I do not have to watch a film every single day or post something every single day. I will watch 27 films, in chronological order, and I will write about each one as I go along, but I will pace myself whatever way works best for life balance. 

I will write about each film the way I did with the 1952 films- a general summary, the good, the bad, and any other insights. 

I will listen to radio shows in chronological order as I go along. I have a list of a dozen different shows. I'll aim for 27 episodes- pairing at least one episode with each film.

I will read three magazines, in chronological order as well. I will post some interesting ads or articles if I feel so inclined. 

I will read two paperbacks. 

I will listen to one 78 rpm record. 

I will listen to every song on my 1945 playlist at least once and add more if I come across it. 

Recipes! I can't forget the recipes! With a Good Housekeeping magazine and a 1945 cookbook, I will try making several vintage recipes. Maybe even a crazy Jello Mold? Or five? Those things are so weirdly addicting!

I will probably do a “best and worst” type of thing at the end. 

There is no deadline! But I hope to finish in a couple of months. 

[project1939]

"Oh for Pete’s Sake! Are you about to start another project now? Before I can even get this cigarette rolled?"

Yes! It's time, Gloria! (Are you a Gloria? You look like a Gloria.) Let’s grab our Lucky Strikes and our "Victory Red" lipstick, and we’ll listen to Harry James and do the Jitterbug! Cause we’re headed for 1945, baby!

Project 1945 Begins!

Why 1945? 

I previously covered 1939 and 1952, and guess what year is smack dab in the middle? 1945. Easy-peasy.

So what’s the deal here? Is this going to be like the other two projects? That insane? That immersive? That long?

No. This one will be on a much smaller scale and not fully immersive. The length will be variable, because I’m not going to hold myself to a strict daily schedule. I plan to make it somewhat like the final 100 films I watched after the official Project 1952 ended. I'll watch and write about films as time allows. It’s a mini-project! (At least relative to my last two gargantuan endeavors.)

Why do this, then? What's the point?

Because I have something even more immense planned for the future, and this is kind of a litmus test. I want to see if watching 25 films from one year in Hollywood history will give me a solid enough idea of what the year was like overall. How much of a flavor will it give me of 1945? Will 25 films be enough, or will I want something more comprehensive? One can only find out by trying! 

So here we go; we're officially airborne! Up next: Materials and Rules!