Fascinating time capsules.
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Glessner House is part of the Prairie District in Chicago:
Some background on Frances Glessner Lee:
Her very detailed work on observing various insects and birds at her summer home were a precursor to the detailed work she did in the crime scenes.
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We had a 1960 Plymouth Belvedere back in 1974-1975; unfortunately, the master cylinder for the brakes died, and we couldn’t find another one, so… 
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A friend at college had a Dodge Dart with a push-button gear shift. When I thought of the complexity required it really made me wonder why the manufacturer thought it was a good idea. I had a '66 Dodge Dart that thankfully had an automatic with the typical PRNDL sliding gear shift lever, between the bucket seats. (By 1975, the vinyl seats were so cracked that I covered them with duct tape. A friend called it “luxury appointments.”)
Had that car till 1979 – 130,000 miles. It was fab.
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Today the Rankin and Bass Christmas special Frosty the Snowman came to mind. I can’t explain why.
In that TV special, whenever Frosty comes to life he exclaims “happy birthday!” This never made any sense to me as a kid. It made no sense to my older brother either. Now that I am an adult, it still doesn’t make any sense.
Then I had a moment of enlightenment. I will bet in the original script he says a different four-syllable expression — “Merry Christmas!”
They must have been far along in production and had the animation finished. Someone pointed out that there is no religious aspect to the original song. It’s a winter song, like Jingle Bells, but not a Christmas song. Apparently snowmen do not feature anywhere in the Bible. You’ll alienate half your market. So they did the easiest thing and had Jackie Vernon rerecord that one line.
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Also, could he not be commemorating his own birth? Or maybe…the last time the hat was worn, it was someone’s birthday?
I was five when it came out, and I’d already watched so much old comedy that him saying “Happy Birthday!” was like a goofy thing a funny character says, you know?
And here I am, in 1969!
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Because today’s the date it was released back in 1969, mebbe?
Gosh, lots of theories out there, but here’s two:
More than interesting, it’s great!
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@RAvery
this was always my assumption, he’s saying it to himself because the hat makes him come alive
love that picture
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Thank you!
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What a story…
A couple surprise dogs though, from the ship footage.
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Note to self: Be very, very careful in trees.
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And more about the Swedish trash bins:
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There’s a lot more stories about this in the US. True? dunno. The 1800s here were terribler here in a lot of ways than the 1700s in London.
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