photo #8845813

(Pic 1, 12/05) Pretty papers, ribbons, and bows, oh, my! (Front cover of the December 1933 Fortune magazine; credit: Plan59.com) (Pic 2, 12/06) It was December 1945, and many servicemembers were in transit home or to other deployments to assist with rebuilding war-torn areas. Factories and other businesses were switching from war work back to consumer goods. Add to this all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, and the telephone system of the day would easily have been overtaxed if seemingly everyone made phone calls willy-nilly. The Long Distance lines had to be kept clear for necessary calls. (Image from a 1945 Bell System ad; credit: Plan59.com) (Pic 3, 12/07) A Christmas to remember. It was the first in many years over which the cloud of war did not hover. Many families celebrated with loved ones returning or on leave from the military; others, sadly, were not as fortunate. Rationing of some consumer goods would continue for awhile longer, but those shortages would eventually be alleviated. (Image from a 1945 Studebaker ad; credit: Plan59.com) (Pic 4, 12/08) “Do you think it will fit?” “In the garage, or down the chimney?” (Image from a 1946 Chrysler Corporation ad; credit: Plan59.com)