SKGfun5_3

SKGfun
magazine
helping girls navigate the teen years, with big smiles and copious laughter
May/June
2016 ed.
1940s

SKG fun
M A Y - J U N E 2 0 1 6
CONTRIBUTORS
JULIA FINDLEY / SARAH MARGARET / CAROLINE
MILBURN / VIRGINIA HIGUERA / KORBYN GRIFFITH /
JULIA RYAN / EMMA GOLDSTROM / CLARA RYDER / EMMA
BIGELOW / KYLIE JACOBS / AMANDA BROWN / RACHEL
BROWN
Volume No. 5, Issue No. 3
W W W . S K G F U N . C O M

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SKG FUN
THEME: THE 1940S
Remember This Destination Unknown 03
Kids At War 06
The Runway '40s Style
07
Armistice Day Blizzard 11
17
"The Forces Sweetheart"
15
American Involvement
in WWII: How It
Started and Ended
Behind the Movie It's A Wonderful Life 18
A Victory Dinner 20
Wartime Swing 21
Credits 23
Front cover: Girl Wearing a Hat by Rachel Brown
Useless Facts 12
Makeup Bin 14
4 Divine Desserts 16
22
'40s Dictionary
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SKG FUN
EDITOR'S NOTE
Amanda Brown
E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F
Whenever I hear about the '40s, World War II instantly
comes to mind. Growing up, I owned a Molly McIntire
American Girl doll. This historical doll was themed around
the 1940s, and owning her roused a curiosity in me about her
time period. Therefore, I studied the '40s with a hilarious
intensity.
At the age of eleven, I could list all the countries that made up
the Axis and Allies. I also knew all the major world leaders
and the type of government they had forced on their people.
I knew all about victory gardens, Rosie the Riveter, war
bonds, and metal drives.
Well, now it's your turn to learn all about the 1940s. I hope
you enjoy the journey as much as I have!
Happy reading!
Amanda Brown
S K G F U N | 2

REMEMBER THIS
MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
Destination Unknown: A
Look at the 1940s
by Julia Ryan
Beginning Thoughts
I almost regretted taking the job of
writing this article. I wasn’t aware that
putting World War II into words would
be so difficult and depressing. The
death tolls for the Allied armies
(including the United States, United
Kingdom, France, China, and the Soviet
Union) reached 14,201,000, whereas
the Axis death (Germany and Japan) toll
hit 7,674,000.
The men who fought were not the only
men who died.
Civilian allied deaths were 24,042,000
men, woman and children. Germany
and Japan lost 3,080,000 civilian lives.
And, through Concentration Camps
alone, nearly 12,000,000 people died.
12 million.
I wasn’t ready for these facts. I guess the
main jist of my article is let's not forget
about war and death and hatred, but
don’t carry it in your heart.
War destroys people and lives. And yet
ometimes it is necessary to protect our
freedom and goodness from the forces
of evil. But let’s always remember to
“fight the good fight" (1 Timothy 6:12).
The main jist is
let's not forget
about war and
death and hatred,
but don't carry it in
your heart.
"Fight the
good fight . . ."
(1 Timothy
6:12)
S K G F U N | 3

REMEMBER THIS
MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
Franklin D. Roosevelt
was still president of the United States
of America in the early 1940’s. He had
made a career out of conquering
difficulties. Polio changed his life in
1921, the Great Depression was a huge
obstacle, and now war was ready to
break loose. FDR was the man that
everyone wanted in office – but would
he throw his hat back into the ring for
the third time?
Winston Churchill
was a large part of London’s side in the
War. As friends, FDR and Churchill had
both been naval officers during World
War I, and they both now were
considered heads of state. They
connected on a level of how to bring
out the best during the worst of times.
Churchill saw what danger Adolf Hitler
posed to his country, and he also knew
that the Prime Minister of Britain
wasn’t ready for war – he was a
peaceful man. It took Germany’s
invasion of Norway in the early 40’s for
the honest truth to hit home. Within
months, Winston Churchill became
Prime Minister.
Adolf Hitler
The name that makes everyone cringe.
He, like FDR, loved to talk and stir up
emotions in the people around him.
But, while Roosevelt encouraged good
feelings, Adolf Hitler fed the anger and
hatred of his people. He delivered
speeches that were full of old folk
sentiment, racist slurs, and xenophobia
(DEFINITION: a major dislike for
foreigners) that literally stirred the
Germans into frenzy. Like Churchill
and FDR, Hitler also fought in World
War I. He walked away with an Iron
Cross for bravery, but then joined a
group of unhappy nationalists
(DEFINITION: pro-independence men)
and formed the Nazi Party.
"FDR was the man
that everyone
wanted in
POSTMODERN
PAINTING. Stella
alternately paints in
oil and watercolor
office...but would
he throw his hat
back into the ring
for the third time?"
After being jailed in 1923 for trying to
overthrow Bavaria’s republican
government, Adolf Hitler wrote Mein
Kampf. Basically, it was a book trying to
blame World War I on the Jewish
people and Marxists. Not until 1929
(when a major depression hit Germany)
did this movement become popular.
Hitler was then named chancellor of
Germany.
With swift efficiency, he seized control
over every facet (DEFINITION: side,
aspect, party) of the German state,
instating anti-Semitic laws, and
building concentration camps in hidden
places to liquidate his enemies. Adolf
Hitler was preparing for war.
S K G F U N | 4

REMEMBER THIS
MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
Pearl Harbor
1:40 p.m. on Sunday, December 7th,
1941, the abrupt telegram arrived at the
White House.
“AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR – THIS IS
NO DRILL.”
A Japanese strike force of six aircraft
carriers and a potent support force
began its ruthless and deadly convey of
353 planes. To hold on to that power,
they first bombed where the U.S. planes
were closely held, wing to wing. Then
they swooped down to send merciless
torpedoes down to the Battleship Row.
The brave navy crewmen were stunned.
Aboard the dying West Virginia, an
attendant, Doris Miller, ran topside to
drag his mortally injured friend to
protected cover and then grabbed a
machine gun and shot down four
enemy planes. The attack was so
overpowering though, that within two
hours the U.S. had suffered dreadful
loses. More than 2,400 servicemen
were killed. No less than 347 planes
were destroyed. Eight battleships, three
destroyers and three cruisers were sunk
or damaged.
Since Pearl Harbor (a bay in the
southern coast of Hawaii) was the home
base for the U.S Fleet, the thought of an
attack was a common one for military
planners. How to actually achieve it had
been the question posed to every
graduated class at the Japanese naval
academy since 1931. Additionally, the
U.S ambassador to Japan had been
warned of talk that a surprise attack
may be attempted against Pearl Harbor.
But FDR and Churchill only shortly
considered this. They were busy with
Hitler.
"A Japanese strike
force began its
ruthless and
deadly convey of
353 planes."
On the day after Pearl Harbor was
attacked, President Roosevelt stood
before a joint session of Congress. He
asked “that the Congress declare that
since the unprovoked and dastardly
attack by Japan . . . a state of war has
existed.” Within a few short hours, a
declaration of war was decided on.
Being Shipped Out
When war was declared, countless
young men rushed to join some
military recruiting station. In the first
week after Pearl Harbor, the army, navy
and marines signed up nearly 25,000
recruits. In Detroit, three generations of
the same family showed up to enlist in
the navy on the same day. One
high-school student in Philadelphia
wanted to be a fighter pilot in the Army
Air Corps, so he ate so many carrots
that his skin turned a bright orange.
These men and boys were determined
to protect the country which they held
so dear.
On December 22, Franklin Roosevelt
signed a law that required all males
18-65 to sign up to fight. All four of
Roosevelt’s sons were already officers
in the armed forces and on his own
60th birthday, the president himself got
a draft card.
Recruits were swallowed up by the
world of inch-long needles and
half-inch haircuts, uniforms that rarely
fit, and shoes that constantly needed
attention, as well as the endured night
marches, record breaking yelling
sergeants, and "degrading" duty of KP,
aka “Kitchen Duty."
Marriage rates sky rocketed after the
attack on Pearl Harbor. It is estimated
that 1,000 women a day were marrying
servicemen. Some new wives attempted
tostay close to their husbands by taking
housing near the training stations. But,
too quickly came the day that the men
had to be shipped overseas to battle.
Wives and families could do little more
than wait and pray, trying to imagine
what their loved ones were dealing
with. Everyone dreaded the telegram
that began with, “We regret to inform
you . . .”
On the Home Front
Photo by Ryan McGuire
By 1944, the U.S industry was
producing a B-24 every hour, a jeep
every two minutes, and 50 percent
more weaponry and artillery than the
Axis pwers. For many of the workers,
the payoff was personal.
S K G F U N | 5

LET'S PLAY MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
One seaman named Elgin Staples
wrote that his life belt had saved
him from drowning when his ship
sunk. He later found a stamp on the
belt informing him that it had been
made in his hometown – and
inspected and packaged by his own
mother.
With so many men overseas, the
women of America stepped up to
the need of factory workers and
rocked the house. Between 1940 to
1944, the number of woman
employees raised from 12 million to
18.2 million.
"Elgin Staples wrote that
his life belt had saved
him . . . he later found a
stamp on the belt informing
him that it had been made
in his hometown and
inspected and packaged
by his own mother."
Many of those ladies were
encouraged by the “We Can Do It!”
poster. However, many people gave
these hard working women a
difficult time, saying that “a woman
is a substitute, like plastic instead of
metal.” Despite the horrid
criticisms, these women proved the
government workers wrong.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The atomic bomb had been an idea
for a long time. The origin dates
back to a letter FDR received from
Albert Einstein in 1939. The idea
was if atoms were split “the element
uranium may be turned into a new
and important sort of energy.” The
project was so secretive that Harry
Truman didn’t even know about
it until the day after he was sworn
into the Presidential Office.
Within a few short months,
Truman was ready to end this
war. On August 6th, at 8:15 a.m.,
the atomic bomb known as Little
Boy was released. Nearly 100,000
people were killed that day.
Perhaps double that would die
later due to burns and the effects
of radiation.
When the Japanese leaders didn’t
respond to the attack, Truman
ordered the release of the 2nd
atomic bomb called, Fat Man on
August 9th. The immediate death
toll reached 35,000 in an instant.
Those bombs did such terrible,
terrible damage.
The End
Emperor Hirohito was done.
After the devastating bombing
from the United States and Russia
neither he nor his country could
continue their arrogant struggle
against freedom. He intervened
with his Supreme War Council
and said, “The time has come, we
must bear the unbearable.”
The U.S agreed to the Japanese
offer of unconditional surrender
with the emperor remaining on
his throne. On August 14th,
President Truman made the
declaration to the world.
Kids At War
B y E m m a B i g e l o w
In the 1940s, America was at war.
Therefore, military planes, troops,
and news of bloody battles wasn't a
stranger to the kids who lived
during this time period.
Most boys considered the
sea-battling troops to be heroes.
They loved to pretend to be pilots
of planes like Kittyhawk or
Lockheed Lightning.
For girls, dolls and other toys were
scarce, except for those passed
down from older children. Some
girls even pieced toys together
from wood, buttons, and other
small items.
Sometimes kids had to hide under
a bomb shelter for long hours
before clear. This was scary
because many children were afraid
of the dark and loud sounds. In
addition, it was difficult for
children to watch their parents
deal through the tragedy of war.
But through the years, children
remained children, and God
remained God, and that’s what’s
important.
S K G F U N | 6

'40S
STYLE
THE RUNWAY
The 1940s were a very innovative time for women’s fashion
because of World War II.
Flip the page to discover the style of the '40s.

THE RUNWAY MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
B y R a c h e l B r o w n
I l l u s t r a t i o n s b y
R a c h e l B r o w n
Dresses/skirts
Because of the extra fabric that
was needed for the war, most
skirt hemlines were raised to
the knee. Almost all dresses
were fitted with shoulder pads
and slightly puffed sleeves to
create boxy shoulders, while the
bottom featured an A-line skirt.
In the early years of the decade,
most dresses were extremely
simple, with no pockets, sashes,
or extra fabric added anywhere
to the dress because of the
rationing of fabric. However,
towards the end of the 1940s,
pockets, sashes, and other
elements were added back to
many dress styles.
to Welcome
'40s the
The 1940s were a very
innovative time for
women’s fashion because
of World War II. Because
the military needed a lot of
wool and cotton, many
women had to be
resourceful and make use
of the other types of
fabrics they had, such as
rayon and American
cotton.
Typically, the clothes were
styled to emphasize or
create the hour-glass
figure, with broad
shoulders, narrow waists,
and full hips. Shoulder
pads, cinched waists, and
A-line skirts helped
achieve this look.
S K G F U N | 8

THE RUNWAY MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
Suits
With many women going to work in the
1940s, the need for dressier and more
practical wear arose; thus, the women’s suit
was invented, often called “the Victory
suit.” Most outfits consisted of a suit coat
on top, with a cinched waist and shoulder
pads; an A-line skirt, flaring out slightly
from the hip to the knee; and sometimes a
blouse underneath, although it wasn’t
necessary to wear one under the suit coat.
Although it looked better to have a
matching suit coat and skirt, most women
wore them mismatched because that was
all they could afford.
Pants
Because of the need for a more practical
and comfortable wear, pants gradually
became acceptable for women to
wear. When the war first started, women
would wear their husband's old pants to
work; however, as the times wore on,
designers made pants specially designed
for ladies. They were often made of cotton,
denim, or wool; had high waists; and flared
out slightly at the bottoms. Eventually,
women would start wearing pants even
after work hours, just for fun!
S K G F U N | 9

Accessories
THE RUNWAY MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
Hats
Hats were still very popular in this era, with
the fedora becoming a big trend. Most
fancy hats were largely decorative and
had big flowers, while scarves were
used to tie up hair during work. Most
of these hair scarves were made of silk
with hand-painted patterns.
Coats
Surprisingly, coats were big and boxy
during this time, with huge bell sleeves.
Fox was the “must-have” material for
coats!
Shoes in the 1940s were a lot less detailed
than in the previous decades; however,
because leather was needed for the war,
many shoes were made with exquisite
materials, such as reptile skins, velvet,
mesh, and even wood. The shoes were
made chunkier with short, thin heels
(pumps).
Shoes
S K G F U N | 1 0

WHETHER WEATHER MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
The Armistice Day
Blizzard
B y J u l i a R y a n
The Armistice Day Blizzard took
place in the Midwest area of the
United States on November 11-12 of
1940. This intense early-season
winter storm covered 1,000 miles,
flying through the middle of the U.S
from Kansas to Michigan.
The morning of November 11
brought oddly warm temperatures
across the affected areas, reacing up
to the mid 60s F. As the day
progressed on, the temperatures
dropped drastically and the winds
became stronger. Soon, sleet
followed rain and then snow began
to fall from the sky. A strong low
pressure system had moved from
the southern plains into westerns
Wisconsin, bringing the Gulf of
Mexico moisture from the south and
freezing air from the north.
The mixture brought a raging
blizzard that would continue on into
the next day. Snowfall records hit 27
inches as winds reached 50 to 80
mph. Seeing 20-foot snow drifts was
common, and 50 degree
temperature drops occurred in
Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, South Dakota, and
Michigan
Medical transportation and
communication between
people was nearly impossible,
making it difficult to find the
injured and dead. In Lake
Michigan, 66 sailors died due to
the freezing temperatures. In
Watkins, Minnesota, two people
died after two trains collided in
the blinding white snow.
Along the Mississippi River,
several hundred duck hunters
took advantage of the warm
weather, which provided
for perfect fir duck hunting.
Since the weather had not
predicted any sort of nasty cold
storm, they hadn’t dressed for
bad weather.
As the storm began, many
hunters tried to seek shelter on
small islands. The 50 mph
winds brought 5 foot waves to
them. Many men became
stranded on the islands and
died to the single digit
temperatures. The duck
S K G F U N | 1 1

USELESS FACTS MAY/JUNE 2016
accounted for nearly half of the 49
deaths on Minnesota alone.
Two brave men, Max Conrad (a pilot
and flight school owner) and his
friend John Bean, flew up and down
during the storm, finding survivors
and dropping survival supplies to
them. Both men were nominated
the Carnegie Medal for their
heroism.
Additionally, 1.5 million turkeys
meant for Thanksgiving dinners
within the next few weeks, perished
due to the cold weather exposure.
No joke.
Useless Facts
C o m p i l e d b y C l a r a R y d e r a n d C a r o l i n e M i l b u r n
Warning! This article contains
unbelievable information so get
ready to sit on the edge of your seat
and be amazed.
1940
A Wild Hare, a Bugs Bunny film,
releases
Ladies' nylons are introduced
1941
Captain America and Superman
comic books release
M&M’s, jeeps, and cheerios invented
1942
T-shirt invented
1943
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical
Oklahoma! opens
1944
Ballpoint pens invented
1945
Slinky and microwave oven
invented
First computer built
1946
It’s a Wonderful Life premieres
1947
Polaroid camera is invented
Dead Sea Scrolls are discovered
Jackie Robinson joins the Dodgers,
becoming the first black baseball
player in the Major Leagues
1949
Silly putty is invented
Airplane flies around world (no
stops)
S K G F U N | 1 2

MAKE
UPBIN
GET THE 40S LOOK
Written by Julia Findley
Illustrations by Rachel Brown
Although the '40s were a war time, women still used their makeup.
Red lipstick kisses could be found on a letters to sweethearts fighting
overseas. Flip the page for a peek into a '40s makeup bag.

MAKEUP BIN MAY/JUNE 2016
A bright red lipstick, or a peachy
natural shade. Some went for a matte
color.
Nail painting was
not as popular.
Keeping your nails
filed to a point was
more important.
A dark eyebrow pencil filled in the
natural arch. This look is very
different from today's, which is
more squared off and plucked into
“perfection” or “fleek”.
Mascara came back
into use, and it was
bigger than ever!
During this time,
winged eye liner became
popular. Typical 40s eye
shadow was more subtle
but accentuated eye
color. When going out
at night, most women
went for a smokey
eye.
A foundation that was a
shade darker than your
natural skin color made you
look healthy and young, as
if you had been out in the
sun. Rosy blush added to
the healthy look.
This was when the
smokey eye look
became popular, and it
is now one of the most
used looks.
S K G F U N | 1 4

BATTLE BITES MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
IN WWII
why it started and how it ended
By Virginia Higuera
While every war has its major battles, perhaps the most important
ones are the first and the last--the first conflict, to show why a
war began, and the last, to see how it ended and if it was worth it.
History repeats, and it’s the job of those in the present to
examine the events of the past and learn from them. And in the
case of WWII, there is a lot to be learned.
Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941
The attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was the act that
finally brought the United States into World War II.
Before that fateful day in December, the majority of
Americans were against joining the war.
Unfortunately, there was a powerful man in
America who did everything he could to ensure the
American people getting involved: President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). After several of
his actions intended to provoke Germany failed to
change the American people’s stance on war, FDR
turned his attention to the east.
While the conflict between China and Japan was
mostly separate from the fighting in Europe, Japan
joined the Axis powers so that they could
attack—and conquer—European colonies in East
Asia. In order to incite the Japanese, FDR froze
Japanese assets, banned oil trades with Japan, and
refused negotiation. The Japanese were left with
two choices: submit to the unfair demands of the
American government or fight to regain those
needed resources. The Japanese Prime Minister,
General Tojo, chose the latter and decided to make
the attack swift and deadly. On a quiet Sunday
morning, the American naval forces stationed at
Pearl Harbor were suddenly attacked by
Japanese aircraft. Less than two hours later,
twenty-one ships, 188 planes, and nearly three
thousand Americans were destroyed. With
Congress’ approval, FDR declared war on Japan and
the American people joined forces with the Allies.
Normandy Invasion (D-Day)
June 6, 1944
While fighting with Japan raged in the Pacific,
German forces were slowly losing their control of
Europe. The Allies came up with a plan to finally
defeat Germany. The plan of attack, code named
“Operation Overlord,” was to land on the beaches in
Nazi-occupied France.
It was the largest military strike ever made against
the German forces. The Germans would then have
to fight the American and British soldiers attacking
from the west in addition to Russian troops from
the east. Under the command of General Dwight
Eisenhower, more than five thousand ships and ten
thousand aircraft were sent to the beaches in
Normandy.
Although the main attack came from the sea,
paratroopers played a key role in the invasion of
S K G F U N | 1 5

BATTLE BITES MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
Normandy. Soldiers wearing parachutes and
dummies dressed as soldiers were dropped from
airplanes behind enemy lines. These soldiers were
meant to secure important exit locations, while also
confusing the Germans and distracting them from
the larger, maritime assault. At the end of the day,
the beach was theirs. It came with a high price:
more than five thousand Allied soldiers lay dead.
This first battle, called “D-Day,” was the first in a
series of battles for France and marked the
beginning of the end of German power. Not long
after, Russian soldiers marched into Berlin and
Germany surrendered, ending the war in Europe.
Bombings of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki
August 6 and 9, 1945
they prevented many more years of American
blood being shed. No one can dispute the atomic
bombs’ efficiency, however, as Japan surrendered
just five days later. WWII was over, once and for
all.
Even after the Germans surrendered, the Japanese
continued fighting. The war had dragged on for
years, and the Allied leaders were desperate for a
quick end.
Back in 1941, at the start of American involvement
in the war, scientists were experimenting with a new
weapon: a bomb that would split atoms, creating a
giant explosion. When they successfully built an
atomic bomb, scientists tested it in New Mexico.
One scientist described the scene: “a tremendous
cloud of smoke was pouring upwards, some parts
having brilliant red and yellow colors, like clouds at
sunset.”
They delivered news of their success to President
Truman and he gave his approval for the use of this
deadly bomb on Japan. The first target was the
Japanese city of Hiroshima. Immediately after the
bomb hit the ground, thousands of people died.
Before then, no one had ever seen a bomb with
such power. No one had ever seen a bomb that
could flatten an entire city.
Americans dropped a second bomb, earning the
same results as the first. There is still debate on
whether it was right to use the atomic bombs and,
consequently, kill thousands of civilians. Some
would argue that the bombings were justified, as
S K G F U N | 1 6

GIRL NOOK
SKGFUN.COM MAY/JUNE 2016
"The Forces Sweetheart"
By Clara Ryder
The early 1940s and the call to arms meant
poverty and heartbreak were never far
away. But the nation of England’s spirit
never faltered, strengthened in particular
by one young woman who provided the
troops of World War II with
encouragement and support. Her music
provided a connection to home and
inspiration to keep defending their
country.
This brave young woman was Vera
Margaret Welch, born in East Ham,
London, in 1917 to Bertram and Annie
Welch. She started performing at age 7
and took her grandmother's
name, Lynn, as her stage name. She
preformed in restaurants and clubs
throughout her high school years until her
first radio broadcast with the Joe Loss
Orchestra when she was 18 years old. This
led to her being featured on records of the
Joe Loss Orchestra and Charlie Kunz.
In 1941 during the darkest hours of World
War II, Vera began her own radio show
called "Sincerely Yours" where she sang
songs soldiers most often requested. Two
of the most popular songs were "The
White Cliffs of Dover" and "We’ll Meet
Again."
Vera also took messages from young
mothers to their husbands overseas and
broadcasted them. During this time, she
visited Egypt, India and Burma to
entertain and preform for the troops,
providing them with encouragement and a
connection to home. The soldiers loved
Vera Lynn, and she was ranked the most
favored musical performer among the
soldiers during the war. They came to
know her as “the Forces Sweetheart.”
That same year, Vera married Harry
Lewis, a musician who played saxophone
and clarinet for many London bands. A
few years later she had her first and only
child, Virginia Penelope Anne Lewis.
Although she had started a family, her
musical career continued. Now, however,
she was not only known for her music. She
starred in a number of movies and TV
shows such as “Rhythm Serenade”, “One
Exciting Night” and "We’ll Meet Again”,
the latter based loosely on Vera's life as a
singer.
Vera recorded many more songs such as
“Auf Widerseh’n Sweetheart,” “It Hurts To
Say Goodbye,” “My Son, My Son,” and
many more. In the 60s and 70s, Vera
continued to preform and also became
involved with several war veteran social
causes. In 1953, Vera Lynn established the
cerebral palsy charity for children, known
as the SOS (The Stars Organization for
Spastics), for which she became
chairperson and later the president. To
recognize all the effort she had invested in
England through the war years, Queen
Elizabeth made her a dame in 1975.
Vera sang for the Queen and in
Buckingham Palace several times, such as
when she sang at the ceremony marking
the golden jubilee of VE-Day.
Dame Vera Lynn, currently age 99, lives in
Sussex England. She has given up her
musical career and has taken up the craft
of watercolor. Her life still shines to others
around her, reflecting pride for her nation,
love and compassion for others, and the
things she taught the world about
humanity, war, joy and love.
“I never claimed
to be a great
singer, but I’ve
always given my
best, and I’ve
loved what I’ve
done, and had a
very good life.”
S K G F U N | 1 7

BEHIND
THE
THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE MIGHT NOT HAVE
BEEN IF FRANK CAPRA HADN'T READ THE ORIGINAL STORY, "THE
GIFT" (WRITTEN BY PHILIP VAN DOREN STERN) AND SAW ITS
GREATEST
POTENTIAL.
WRITTEN BY SARAH MARGARET
FLIP THE PAGE

NOW SHOWING
SKGFUN.COM MAY/JUNE 2016
“Strange, isn't it?
Each man's life touches so many other lives.
When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? ”
RKO Pictures had previously tried to make
a movie based on the story, and had
created three unsatisfactory scripts before
shelving the planned movie. Therefore,
RKO was anxious to unload the project.
In 1945 they sold the rights to Capra's
production company, Liberty Films, for
$10,000 and threw in the three scripts for
free. Capra along with his writers polished
the script and combined useful material
from the three scripts into a screenplay
Capra would rename It's A Wonderful Life.
The movie starred Jimmy Stewart and
Dona Reed, who both came from small
towns. Donna Reed proved this by
winning an impromptu bet with Larry
Barrymore when he challenged her to
milk a cow on set.
Filming started on April 15, 1946, and
ended on July 27, 1946. The film went into
general release on January 7th, 1947, and
was placed 26th. $3.3 million was made in
box office revenues for 1947. In
comparison, the film recorded a loss of
$525,000 at the box office for RKO.
It's A Wonderful Life is a Christmas classic
that everyone enjoys, adults and children
alike.
S K G F U N | 1 9

SCRUMDIDDLYUMPTIOUS SNACKS
SKGFUN.COM MAY/JUNE 2016
A Victory Dinner
By Kylie Jacobs
Back in the 1940s, World War II was just ending. Many stay-at-home moms where up late preparing
meals for their children, dreaming of the day when their husbands would come home. Many of these
meals we can still cook today! Why don’t you pretend you are cooking a meal waiting for your
husband, but instead cook it for your parents! Here is a meal plan for dinner tonight!
Cola Marsh Ice
Ingredients
- 24 marshmallows
- 2 cups cola beverage
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
1. Place marshmallows and 2 tbsp. cola in saucepan.
2. Heat slowly, folding over and over until
marshmallows are about half melted.
3. Remove from heat and continue folding until
mixture is smooth and fluffy.
4. Cool slightly, then add remaining cola, salt, and
lemon juice.
5. Blend thoroughly.
6. Pour into ice tray and freeze until firm, stirring
2 or 3 times while freezing.
(Serves 4 or 5)
Sweet-Sour Carrots
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Pepper
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 cup hot water
- 4 cups cooked carrots
Instructions:
1. Brown butter, blend in flour, and continue browning,
stirring constantly.
2. Add seasonings.
3. Combine sugar, vinegar, and water and add gradually;
cook slowly until thickened, stirring constantly.
4. Pour over hot carrots.
(Serves 6 to 8.)
Deviled Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 broiling or frying chicken
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup fat, melted
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup hot water or soup stock
- 1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp tomato ketchup
- Paprika
Instructions
1. Allow 3/4 lb. chicken per person. Cut chicken into serving portions, season with salt and pepper, and brown in
melted fat; remove from pan.
2. Stir flour into fat; cook until mixture browns and thickens, stirring constantly.
3. Add hot water or soup stock and next four ingredients to cooked sauce.
4. Place chicken in sauce, cover pan, and simmer until tender, about an hour.
S K G F U N | 2 0

TUBULAR TUNES
SKGFUN.COM MAY/JUNE 2016
Wartime Swing
By Korbyn Griffith
–
–
Bing Crosby
Only Forever
Choo Glenn Miller
Choo Chattanooga
–
–
Bing Crosby
White Christmas
Smile Again Frank Sinatra
Never I’ll
– Me In Bing Crosby & The
Don’t Fence
Sisters Andrews
–
–
Star Bing Crosby
Swinging on a
Sunshine Jimmie Davis
My Are You
–
–
Your Land Woody Guthrie
This Land is
Pearls Glenn Miller
of String A
Auld Lang Syne – Guy Lombardo
S K G F U N | 2 1

WORD NERD
SKGFUN.COM MAY/JUNE 2016
'40s Dictionary
By Emma Bigelow
The 1940s was very interesting when it came to words that they used. There was a wide variety
of slang—such as
"Khaki wacky" (boy crazy)
"Doll dizzy" (girl crazy)
"Eager beaver" (ready to help; this
one is still around!)
"Snap your cap" (get angry)
"Stompers" (shoes)
Motorized freckles (bugs/insects)
Some words that were added to the dictionary in the 1940s included
this one makes me want
to laugh!
Baby blues
Airlanded
Autoload
Cassoulet
Con (which can be used as "He's a con
artist" or "he went to a con," as in
convention")
S K G F U N | 2 2

CREDITS MAY/JUNE 2016
SKGFUN.COM
The SKGfun magazine only comes
out bimonthly . . .
B u t t h e r e ' s m o r e f u n a t
skgfun.com
Two weekly blog posts to
encourage and inspire
Access to previous SKGfun
e-magazines
Beautiful review videos with real
opinions
Fun wallpapers
Opportunity to share your writing
in SKGfun
Learn about SKGfun's purpose
Meet other writers like you
Credits
a.k.a, boring stuff
Battle Bites
Bauer, S. Wise., and Sarah Park. "The Second World War and The End of
World War II." The Story of the World. from Victoria's Empire to the End
of the USSR. Charles City, VA: Peace Hill, 2005. 305-27. Print.
History.com Staff. "D-Day." History.com.
A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"Paratroopers." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Woods, Thomas E., Ph.D. "The Approach of World War II." The Politically
Incorrect Guide to American History. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Pub.,
2004. 174-81. Print.
"USS SHAW exploding during the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor."
December 7, 1941. 80-G-16871.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Declaration of War against
Japan, December 8, 1941. 79-AR-82.
Girl Nook
http://www.biography.com/people/vera-lynn-21229673
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Lynn http://www.telegraph.co.uk
/culture/music/10739326/Dame-Vera-Lynn-interview-People-usedme-to-achieve-something.-I-was-just-doing-my-job.html
Scrummdiddlyumptious Snacks
https://delishably.com/food-industry/A-1940s-Menu-Food-in-the-1940s
Disclaimer
a.k.a, slightly less boring stuff
SKGfun is not responsible for any inaccurate information in its magazine
pages or on the blog. We strive to share accurate information, but it’s
always possible to miss something. Additionally, we are not responsible for
plagiarism on the part of our writers. We accept their work assuming that it
is their own writing. Please contact us if you have any problems.
Current reading material in our world today has been tainted and
darkened. In our pages, we strive to share clean and positive articles that
leave readers feeling blessed.
We will not stand down for our faith; however, we will not push our beliefs
on others. You are free to accept or reject things we say, and we will not
discriminate against you for any reason. Additionally, just because our
pages are filled with positive articles does not mean we will not stand up for
what we believe in. However, we believe that at this time it is best to look at
the glass as half full.
All photos were checked to ensure they to not infringe copyright laws. Any
laws infringed were done so unknowingly. Please contact us if you have a
problem. Such sources as Photobucket and Unsplash were used in this
particular issue.
S K G F U N | 2 3

#artsy
BEHIND THE SCENES MARCH/APRIL 2016
SKGFUN.COM
Behind
the scenes
This issue's cover (bottom right) was inspired by this vintage
magazine (left) from the 1940s! Every issue, editor Amanda
Brown finds a vintage magazine cover on Pinterest and sends
it to our illustrator, Rachel Brown. Rachel then uses our issue's
color scheme and recreates the cover (top right), adding her
own unique twist.
S K G F U N | 2 4
S K G F U N | 1 3

Next issue
1950s
C. S. Lewis | The Space Race | Judy Garland | Television | Polio Vaccine | Buddy
Holly | NASA | Sleeping Beauty | Cinderella | Peter Pan | Doo-wop | Elizabeth
Taylor | Audrey Hepburn | Saddle Shoes | Rock-n-Roll | Charlotte's Web | All this
and more, coming your way soon!
skgfun.com