San Clemente Rotary USO Dance June 1945

Did You Know? - Just prior to the onset of America’s involvement in World War II in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to unite several service associations into one organization to lift the morale of our military and nourish support on the home front. Those entities – the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association, Young Women’s Christian Association, National Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board - became the United Service Organizations or, the USO.

Today, the USO has continued to support our nation’s military and their families for over seven decades as they defend our country and its freedoms. By providing support to our servicemen and women as they perform their most challenging duties around the world, our credo is to be always by their side.

Did You Know? - Cost of Living 1946

Did You Know? - The General Assembly of the United Nations holds its very first meeting during January of 1946. The fifty-one original member states met at the Westminster Central Hall in London, England. Representatives for the member states met to discuss the procedural rules that they would follow in subsequent meetings. They also adopted their first resolution which dealt with the new issues related to atomic energy and nuclear weapons.

Did You Know? - Swing music, or simply swing, is a form of popular music developed in the United States that dominated in the 1930s and 1940s. The name swing came from the 'swing feel' where the emphasis is on the off–beat or weaker pulse in the music.

Swing bands usually featured soloists who would improvise on the melody over the arrangement. The danceable swing style of big bands and bandleaders such as Benny Goodman was the dominant form of American popular music from 1935 to 1946, a period known as the swing era.

The verb "to swing" is also used as a term of praise for playing that has a strong groove or drive. Notable musicians of the swing era include Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, and Artie Shaw.

Did You Know? - Lindy to the Jitterbug1943 August 23 "Life" Features the Lindy HopThe Lindy had been around since 1924, "named" in 1927 at Savoy Club in Harlem 1927.

Did You Know? - The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of allegiance to the Flag of the United States and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Colonel George Balch in 1887, later revised by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954 when the words "under God" were added.

Did You Know?

1. Tupperware is introduced to U.S. consumers during 1946.
2. The innovative plastic food containers were developed by Earl Tupper out of a type of plastic that he had created in 1938.
3. Tupperware became a new alternative to storing food that weighed less than glass and was less easy to break.
4. It was also made with an airtight design, allowing a longer time for storage before the food went bad.
5. Originally, Tupperware was not very popular as a product in retail stores because people did not know what it was or how to use it.
6. In 1948 the Tupperware company began hosting Tupperware Home Parties where the products could be demonstrated and tested in front of potential buyers.
7. They were often sold by homemakers directly to other homemakers, creating a unique career opportunity for many women after World War II.
8. The early popularity of Tupperware reflected a changing American society as suburban life became the norm and the need for quick and easy food solutions increased.
9. Sales boomed throughout the next decade as the brand became a household name and a staple in many kitchens.
10. Tupperware has also adapted to changing household needs since the 1940's and 1950s. It has been re-invented into items that are the most useful for families or individuals as the way households operate has been constantly changing since its creation.

Did You Know? - The BBC restarted regular television broadcasts during June of 1946. The BBC had begun regular television broadcasts during 1936 but when World War II began in 1939 the broadcasts were abruptly ended. They ended the television service during the war due to fears that bombers might be able to use the signals to attack. TV was also thought of as an extravagance during the war and was cut off so that resources could be diverted to more important causes and that engineers could focus on more important jobs. After seven years, the BBC resumed their broadcasts with a re-airing of the Mickey Mouse cartoon that had been the last program shown before the war.

Did You Know? - Swing blended with other genres to create new styles. In country music, artists such as Jimmie Rodgers, Moon Mullican and Bob Wills introduced many elements of swing along with blues to create a genre called western swing. Gypsy swing is an outgrowth of Venuti and Lang's jazz violin swing. In the 1970s, and 1980s, fans of big band music attended swing music performances at supper clubs. In the late-1980s (into the early 1990s) a trendier, more urban-styled swing-beat emerged called new jack swing, spearheaded by Teddy Riley. In the late 1990s and into the 2000s there was a swing revival, led by Squirrel Nut Zippers, Brian Setzer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Lavay Smith. In Canada, some of the early 2000s records by The JW-Jones Blues Band included swing revival elements.