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It's a Wonderful Christmas: The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965 | 
 enlarge | Author: Susan Waggoner
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $8.89
You Save: $8.06 (48%)
New (26) Used (12) from $7.99
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 21809
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 104
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 7.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 1584793279
Dewey Decimal Number: 394.2663
EAN: 9781584793274
ASIN: 1584793279
Publication Date: October 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Even now that we're all grown up, we can't help but look back on our childhood holidays and hope to recapture that elusive spirit of joyful anticipation. Celebrating Christmas is so often about nostalgia. With a nod and a wink to the days of Christmas past, It's a Wonderful Christmas presents classic images of the Yuletide icons of mid-20th-century America.
Bubbler lights and glow-in-the-dark icicles. Catalogues crammed with toys. Norad bulletins tracking Rudolph's red nose through the nighttime sky. Along with hundreds of such quintessentially American illustrations, author Susan Waggoner stocking-stuffs her lively text with fascinating bits of information, lore, and lists. Wonder what the all-time most popular Christmas song is? How the tradition of the department store Santa got started? The answers are here. Loaded with images of vintage Christmas cards, wrapping paper, magazine ads, Lionel toy trains, and more, all in full color, this charming book will appeal to anyone who associates Christmas with home movies, "The Chipmunk Song," and Santa relaxing with an ice-cold bottle of Coca-Cola. AUTHOR BIO: SUSAN WAGGONER is the author of several illustrated books, including Vintage Cocktails (STC). A native of Minnesota, she currently lives in New York City.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
It's sure is Wonderful! January 8, 2009
I wouldn't change a thing about this book - except...for the ending! It is a wonderful book filled with tons of pictures, fun retro Christmas facts and info, but it ends flat. I turned the last page expecting some sort of closing remarks and it was over **poof** The last sentence describes the Life Saver Candy Book and then...nothing..it was a bit odd and disappointing BUT - that being said, the rest of the book is sweet, kitchy, filled with memories of a time when Christmas was so very special. Kudos to Susan Waggoner for a gem of a book!
 Nostalgic Christmas visit back in time January 4, 2009
This is a nostalgic book, looking back at Christmases from 1940-1965. Part of the attraction of this book is "the look," the art and artifacts of that era, with the unique feel going with it. The pictures capture the typical ad look of the era.
There are also cool trivial factoids scattered throughout--such as Christmas songs that came out each year. Some examples: 1942-"White Christmas," 1944-"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," 1949-"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," 1950-"Frosty the Snowman," 1957-"Jingle-Bell Rock," 1963-"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."
Included in this cornucopia of the season and the era are toys, trees and trimmings, Santa, and so on.
The inside cover gives a sense of the book's coverage, as it says: "Bursting with visual icons and images, trimmed with sparkling and informative text, 'It's a Wonderful Christmas' celebrates the era in high style."
This is a lot of fun, and for those who grew up celebrating Christmas between 1940 and 1965, this represents a jolly trip back in time and triggers all manner of memories.
Great Memories January 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this book for my mom (81 years old), and it brought back amazing memories for her from her teenage years through the first 20 years of her marriage. The package of ornaments shown on page 11 is the identical one my parents had bought (which we still have - most of them, anyway!). She (and I) enjoyed it so much, I also got copies for my aunt and a family friend of the same age as my mom. They both loved the book, and talked of all the memories it brought back for them, as well. It's a fun book that wil bring back memories for anyone who lived through those years.
Lovely Rememberance of Christmas Past with Terrific Photos January 6, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this book last year and again this year sat down to enjoy the wonderful photos. It brought back wonderful memories of a time before consumer advocacy when we used lead and fiber glass all over our homes, and especially during the holidays when we pulled out the painted ornaments (and ashtrays and candy dishes and ceramic figurines of Santa and the Baby Jesus) and angel hair for the tree. I can still feel the itching as I write this :-)
I highly recommend this book for anyone who remembers Christmas anywhere between 1940 and 1965. It brought back some lovely memories (aside from the itching).
It's A Wonderful Christmas: The Best of the Holidays 1040-1965 December 24, 2007
This is a great book!! The stories are a wonderful collection for anyone who was a child OR adult during this time frame. If not read it anyway, it's very enjoyable to read. I took this book on a flight to Denver and had many people as me where I got it.
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