A Trip Through New York City in 1911

I used to watch old movies like the movies made in the 1930’s and ‘40’s. I noticed that many or most of the men wore suits, so I asked my mom if men really dressed like that in those days with wearing suits or sweaters. My mom told me that they did and she also said that my grandfather, or her dad, worked in a glass factory as a glass blower that made glassware for the rich, mostly. She said that when her dad came home, he would go upstairs, take a bath and change into a nice shirt and tire with a sweater and a nice pair of slacks with shined shoes.

I was in awe and didn’t know if she was for real or not, so I asked my best friend’s mom and she said that my mom was probably right.
 
oldman said:
I used to watch old movies like the movies made in the 1930’s and ‘40’s. I noticed that many or most of the men wore suits, so I asked my mom if men really dressed like that in those days with wearing suits or sweaters. My mom told me that they did and she also said that my grandfather, or her dad, worked in a glass factory as a glass blower that made glassware for the rich, mostly. She said that when her dad came home, he would go upstairs, take a bath and change into a nice shirt and tire with a sweater and a nice pair of slacks with shined shoes.

I was in awe and didn’t know if she was for real or not, so I asked my best friend’s mom and she said that my mom was probably right.
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Love your post, Oldman.

I do know, my husband would have fir in so very well, as he just loves dressing up, even for non-special occasions. Suits, sports jackets, dress slacks, ties, topcoats, overcoats, nice dressy formal shoes, that's him to a T.

He's been trying to talk himself into wearing a hat, and I'm behind him all the way! Hats on men to me look so utterly dashing and handsome!
 

fmdog44 said:
They had to dress like that in the peak of summer. HOT!
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I was thinking the same, but I recall a great aunt telling me that when she was young and growing up, her relatives, specifically her grandparents used to dress-up every Sunday, and they could be found sitting outside of their homes drinking tea and relaxing, and that was at the height of the summers months.

My aunt said that her grandparents claimed that it kept them cooler.

Now, speaking for myself, I was upended by her story, because I can break a bead of sweat just thinking about it, but knowing there were no air-conditioners and things back in those days, I can only imagine the interiors of homes would have been stifling hot, so sitting outside on ones porch would have been a shade cooler, though I am still a hard-sell on all the layers that were worn.
 
My father’s dad (my grandfather) always wore a hat, but outside only. He always removed his hat while walking into a building. When he walked down the street, he would sometimes tip his hat to a lady. I noticed him doing this, so I asked him why did he tip his hat to only some women. He sort of chuckled and told me that it’s proper to tip your hat at women whom you do not know. I never knew that. Whether it’s true or not, I do not know.
 
oldman said:
My father’s dad (my grandfather) always wore a hat, but outside only. He always removed his hat while walking into a building. When he walked down the street, he would sometimes tip his hat to a lady. I noticed him doing this, so I asked him why did he tip his hat to only some women. He sort of chuckled and told me that it’s proper to tip your hat at women whom you do not know. I never knew that. Whether it’s true or not, I do not know.
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I can't say I knew that either.

Yes indeed, hats were removed inside always, which to me is part-and-parcel for the times... a more classy and respectful time.

My grandfathers were hat wearers, too, and how I wish I could have had an old dress hat of there's now.
 
Aunt Marg said:
I was thinking the same, but I recall a great aunt telling me that when she was young and growing up, her relatives, specifically her grandparents used to dress-up every Sunday, and they could be found sitting outside of their homes drinking tea and relaxing, and that was at the height of the summers months.

My aunt said that her grandparents claimed that it kept them cooler.

Now, speaking for myself, I was upended by her story, because I can break a bead of sweat just thinking about it, but knowing there were no air-conditioners and things back in those days, I can only imagine the interiors of homes would have been stifling hot, so sitting outside on ones porch would have been a shade cooler, though I am still a hard-sell on all the layers that were worn.
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Oh, I just wrote the following, but wasn’t going to post it. Every so often on a Sunday, we would go to my other grandparent’s (my dad’s parents) for dinner and my two sisters and me had to dress up. My dad wore his Army uniform, (but not his dress uniform), my mom and two sisters wore dresses and I wore a suit or a sport jacket with nice slacks. On Saturday evening, we went to church and then on that particular Sunday, we would dress up again. On one of those Sundays, I asked mom why did we have to dress up to go to grandma and grandpa’s for dinner. She told me because they were proper people, which back then meant they were well to do.

Once I became older, I told mom that I felt like we were putting on a facade. She told me that it keeps everyone happy. I told her, not everyone. But, I really loved my grandpa and would have done whatever he wanted if it made him happy. He was quite a man. I guess that’s where my dad got his gusto. My grandpa and dad were both a man’s man.
 
oldman said:
My grandpa loved Stetson hats. In the summer, he wore a Panama sometimes.

I could tell a zillion stories about grandpa and me and the things we did together.
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My grandpa and great grandfathers wore felt Fedora hats, with the little colourful bird feather through the hat-band.

Me, too, the stories I have. Sometimes it seems just like yesterday, while other times it seems like 100 years ago.
 
My Mom was born in New York City.. She had to work instead of going to school at 13 years old....My Mom worked in
a factory, in the city....That is how she learned how to make clothes.......She always told me the factory
was so hot in the summer, she would get sunburn inside....Most of her money went to her Mom and Dad....
So when she decided to come over the river her Mom bought a house with her stepfather....UGH!!!
Don't want to say anything about him....Mind you my Mom had 3 brothers and 4 sisters and herself...8 kids..
Not from the stepdad...Mom's real father died young...He even had a fruit truck to peddle his goods...

Her older sister bought a little store....she made gowns...So Mom went to her
sister's store to learn how to sew gowns....I can go on but It makes me cry....
My Mom's sister made my Wedding Gown....They are all in Heaven...
 
peppermint said:
My Mom was born in New York City.. She had to work instead of going to school at 13 years old....My Mom worked in
a factory, in the city....That is how she learned how to make clothes.......She always told me the factory
was so hot in the summer, she would get sunburn inside....Most of her money went to her Mom and Dad....
So when she decided to come over the river her Mom bought a house with her stepfather....UGH!!!
Don't want to say anything about him....Mind you my Mom had 3 brothers and 4 sisters and herself...8 kids..
Not from the stepdad...Mom's real father died young...He even had a fruit truck to peddle his goods...

Her older sister bought a little store....she made gowns...So Mom went to her
sister's store to learn how to sew gowns....I can go on but It makes me cry....
My Mom's sister made my Wedding Gown....They are all in Heaven...
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I am loving everyone's stories so much.

Your mom came from such a large family.

Thank you for sharing with me, Peppermint.

Hugs
 
In the 1950s I worked for a car dealer. There was a man that worked in the body shop doing repairs and paint work. Every day he would come to work in suit and tie, change to work clothes, and at quitting time change back and go home.
 
Manatee said:
In the 1950s I worked for a car dealer. There was a man that worked in the body shop doing repairs and paint work. Every day he would come to work in suit and tie, change to work clothes, and at quitting time change back and go home.
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Warms my heart to hear that. :)
 

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