Althouse: "The 5th Freedom! Freedom from unnecessary drudgery!"

September 18, 2010

"The 5th Freedom! Freedom from unnecessary drudgery!"

I love the "Word to the Wives" film short (c. 1955) at this story about modern kitchens.

Grape jelly and light mustard! Continuous ice circles!

16 comments:

Sprezzatura said...: But, who will save us from Drudgedy?; 9/18/10, 1:20 PM
Unknown said...: People tend to forget that a lot of kitchen work was rather hard and/or repetitive labor (churning butter, carrying water, etc.) and, contrary to the copy in the link, would have been the province of a good many middle class women, also.

For many women, it would have been a very real kind of freedom.; 9/18/10, 1:26 PM
Wince said...: Darren McGavin in that film short basically gives us an uncanny preview of his Chistmas Story character that was to appear some 28 years later in 1983 (starting @ 4:45).; 9/18/10, 1:39 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Nothing Drudge does is unnecessary.; 9/18/10, 2:27 PM
knox said...: I am often consciously grateful for my washer.

The idea of doing laundry by hand, and it taking one if not two full days a week... hellish.; 9/18/10, 3:48 PM
Hagar said...: But my sister says that if you really want to cook a great meal for company, there is nothing like our grandmother's woodfired cast-iron range.; 9/18/10, 4:44 PM
Luke Lea said...: Let's see: Hot and cold running water, indoor toilets, incandescent lighting, refrigerators, electric ranges, central heat and air, automatic clothes washers and dryers, automatic dishwashers, the microwave oven, coffee maker, Cuisinart, toaster . . .

Yeah, who needs em?; 9/18/10, 6:41 PM
jungatheart said...: Save us from Drudgedy? We love Drudgedy!

Now, a serious matter. Althouse, it just doesn't feel right if you don't leave us with a picture-cafe as your last post of the evening.

(signed) Seriously Needy; 9/18/10, 7:22 PM
Anton said...: Your picture pops up everywhere!

http://www.businessinsider.com/10-mistakes-you-probably-made-in-your-job-search-2010-9#mistake-9-not-preparing-well-enough-for-job-interviews-9; 9/18/10, 7:51 PM
Fen said...: Oh great. Its only a matter of time now before "drudgery" is considered a human rights violation.; 9/18/10, 8:08 PM
Penny said...: From the article... "When we start cooking, we create mess and disorder..."

You'd best believe that, honey. ;)

Feeling totally confident in predicting that next year's design focus will be on the bedroom.; 9/18/10, 11:26 PM
Penny said...: "Now, a serious matter. Althouse, it just doesn't feel right if you don't leave us with a picture-cafe as your last post of the evening.

(signed) Seriously Needy"

Patience is a virtue, deborah.

Besides, the night is young! ... Or at least a helluva lot younger than our hostess and this fan.

Would you care to sit here next to me? I will wake you when the time comes.

*all of the above is now predicated on TWO old ladies doing what they "usually" do.*

Oh boy! Odds are getting smaller now.

See how this works, deborah?; 9/18/10, 11:46 PM
jungatheart said...: Penny, in lieu of a suitable and witty response, I will dedicate the last song I listened to on youtube, just now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIwzRkjn86w&feature=related; 9/19/10, 12:05 AM
Penny said...: You wouldn't lead me astray, deborah?

Oh heck! Course not!; 9/19/10, 1:45 AM
jungatheart said...: Since John Wayne and Lee Marvin starred in Donovan's Reef, what movie am I thinking of that starred Brian Keith?; 9/19/10, 2:11 AM
Anonymous said...: What about necessary drudgery?; 9/19/10, 8:13 AM