Film Strip Friday-More Dates for Kay

Just in case you didn't get enough Valentine's dates you could try Kay's rather aggressive techniques.

Film Strip Friday-Are You Ready For Marriage?

It's been a long time since I've done a film strip Friday post but I feel that with Valentine's Day around the corner no time is better then to view this Coronet Educational Films classic:

Fim Strip Friday-Let's Be Good Citizens at School

It's been a long time since I shared a film strip Friday post with an educational film strip, but with it being back to school season this seemed the perfect time.  Here is Let's Be Good Citizens at School from 1953!

Film Strip Friday-Are You Ready for Marriage?

A hilarious 1950s educational short from the Coronet company, Are You Ready for Marriage? 

Film Strip Friday-1950s Family Prepares for Halloween

This is a very odd ball 1950s film strip I found while browsing you tube.   I'm not sure how this is educational, but it appears to have been produced by one of the educational film strip makers in the 50s.  The strange film just shows the family just going through the basic pumpkin carving and costume making rituals, and unfortunately the long suffering dog Shep is included in the festivities.   After watching it all I could think was poor Shep, and then I remembered I am much crueler, after all Shep is not wearing a costume.  I thought this odd ball would be a good inclusion to film strip Fridays, a series I have been neglecting on this blog somewhat.

On another note I'd appreciate some positive vibes.  Norbert has been having some bed wetting issues.  At this point we think its just a regular age related thing.  His bloodwork was normal and he has recovered from his UTI.  At his age though I am always worried about his kidneys.  We may recheck his urine in a few weeks though it was normal a month ago.

Good News Update and a Film Strip Friday!

Proof that internet juju and well wishes work, Norbert will be ok!  On Friday we took Norbert to Ridgewood Vet hospital.

For a specialist consult.  The vet we saw, Dr. Travis Cerf, is an expert in canine bladder issues.  He told us there were two possible outcomes, infection or cancer.  Infection is very rare in male dogs so given Norbert's age and gender he was concerned.  He performed the ultrasound quickly and within 25 minutes was able to tell us Norbert does not have cancer!  He has an e coli infection that  that came from his outer male parts and climbed up his urethra to his bladder an caused his bladder to become very inflamed.   He may have had the infection for months or years with it going undetected, despite regular vet care and urinalysis, because until it reached the bladder and flared up it was likely very low grade.   Dr. Cerf has almost never see this before in male dogs and he is an expert.   The only issue now is what antibiotics to use to treat it.  He has been on clavamox for so long the infection may be resistant.  We did a culture and will know in a few days, Norbert will need to be on high doses of antibiotics for 6 to 8 weeks, but after that he will be fine.  I was so happy I nearly hugged the doctor...and of course I can't stop hugging Nobert who really is not too happy about that.

Who can blame me, I love my big guy and I love the Ridgewood hospital. We are going back July 5th for an acupuncture consult for Norbert's arthritis.  Now we just have to get through Tubby and Ping's Saturday exams for their old age issues and we will be home free.

Now in honor of the end of the school year, though I will be working summer school, an educational film clip from Coronet films 1950, about a teen with a crippling fear of the water, good campy fun!

Film Strip Friday-The Home Economics Story

March is women's history month and I this clip always makes me laugh.  Its from Mystery Science Theatre Three Thousand:

Disclaimer: I want to add I have complete respect for home make, and I think home economics should be taught, to both sexes, but this video still makes makes  me laugh like crazy.

Film Strip Friday-Whenever You Eat

After seeing this educational film strip I really want to take a time machine back to the 1950s, even if I  just stay for dinner.   A time when buttered peas, steak, cheese, and ice cream were part of the balanced meal!  Yes please!  Of course this film strip was produced by the National Dairy Council

Film Strip Friday-Dating Do's and Dont's for Teens

Todays film strip a 1950s educational film about an awkward teenage boy learning how to ask a girl out on a date.  All I know is I want to go to the Hi Teen carnival!

Film Strip Friday-Are You Popular?

Continuing our series of educational film strips from the 1940s, 50s and 60s here is Are You Popular?    A late 1940s gem this film explores the dynamics of popularity and dating, apparently parking is a no no but skating parties and weenie roasts are great ideas.  My favorite line "Why is Caroline so popular......because she seems as interested in girls as in boys."

Film Strip Friday-How To Be Well Groomed

The 1950s are a fascinating decade for any history enthusiast and are viewed by many as  halcycon days of domestic bliss, economic success, and hopefullness for the future.   While I don't share that idealized view of the decade, I never the less have a bottomless love of cultural artifacts from the era, and to my mind no cultural artifact embodies the hillariously sunny and conformist attitude of the 1950s more then the educational film strip. 

Now by the time I was going to school in  the 1980s and 90s, the film strip was already a dinosaur and I can't  remember ever being shown one in class.  However, my father often regaled me with tales of the hilarious educational films he had viewed in his youth, and as he had previously worked as a film librarian he even had a few old film strip reels that he showed me over the years.  I remember him laughing until tears ran down his face no matter how many times he viewed them.  With the dawn of you tube my father  was delighted by the plethora of educational film strips available for viewing and would often send them to me.   January tenth was the second anniversary of his death and I thought a fitting tribute on my blog would be to share a vintage film strip each Friday.   Every time I see one I am reminded of my father and how he inspired my love of all things vintage, retro and kitsch.   

The following film is an instructional guide on how to be well groomed made by Coronet Films in 1949.