Jennifer's the hostess with the mostest this week as she celebrates the season and visits Christmases past. She introduces tonight's show by once again stretching the bounds of an audio-only podcast to give a tour of both her home—all decked out for the holidays in vintage decor—and her hors d'oeuvre table. Eat up and be merry! This spread is all in your head and calorie free! As you settle in by the fire, you'll meet our celebrity guest: the abundantly talented (and long-deceased) Fats Waller. You'll then help Jennifer wrestle with the question of whether it's OK to give thrifted Christmas gifts to friends. And speaking of shopping...Jennifer unearths a recording that once played for Christmas shoppers over the loudspeaker at Kmart back in the day, and ponders why stores no longer play Christmas music. We take a peek at the news from the Christmas season of 1920 (includes a crazy riot of kids making a grab for presents). Finally, we toast the season at Duffy's Tavern, where "the elite meet to eat." You're an honored guest at this little party, so take off your coat and stay awhile before Jennifer ultimately says goodbye to Circa 19xx Land until February, 2021.
New Yorker article by John McWhorter, "In Search of a Lost Fats Waller Musical"
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/in-search-of-a-lost-fats-waller-musical
NPR Profile: Fats Waller, "The Joint is Jumpin'"
https://www.npr.org/2011/06/20/4172768/fats-waller-the-joint-is-jumpin
Kmart Christmas recording
https://archive.org/details/KmartDecember1974ReelToReel
Explore Circa 19xx Land:
Jennifer's the hostess with the mostest this week as she celebrates the season and visits Christmases past. She introduces tonight's show by once again stretching the bounds of an audio-only podcast to give a tour of both her home—all decked out for the holidays in vintage decor—and her hors d'oeuvre table. Eat up and be merry! This spread is all in your head and calorie free! As you settle in by the fire, you'll meet our celebrity guest: the abundantly talented (and long-deceased) Fats Waller. You'll then help Jennifer wrestle with the question of whether it's OK to give thrifted Christmas gifts to friends. And speaking of shopping...Jennifer unearths a recording that once played for Christmas shoppers over the loudspeaker at Kmart back in the day, and ponders why stores no longer play Christmas music. We take a peek at the news from the Christmas season of 1920 (includes a crazy riot of kids making a grab for presents). Finally, we toast the season at Duffy's Tavern, where "the elite meet to eat." You're an honored guest at this little party, so take off your coat and stay awhile before Jennifer ultimately says goodbye to Circa 19xx Land until February, 2021.
New Yorker article by John McWhorter, "In Search of a Lost Fats Waller Musical"
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/in-search-of-a-lost-fats-waller-musical
NPR Profile: Fats Waller, "The Joint is Jumpin'"
https://www.npr.org/2011/06/20/4172768/fats-waller-the-joint-is-jumpin
Kmart Christmas recording
https://archive.org/details/KmartDecember1974ReelToReel
Explore Circa 19xx Land: