Remember When: Are you planning to take your mother to a movie?
Ann Reeves Jarvis is given credit for choosing a day to honor mothers in 1908. President Wilson then made Mother’s Day officially the 2nd Sunday in May in 1914. Have you remembered what today is? Are you planning to take your mother to a movie for Mother’s Day 2023?
“More than 100 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette carriers and their mothers were Sunday guests of the newspaper at a Mother’s Day party held at the Palace Theatre and Hotel Lancaster,” explained an article that appeared below a photo of this crowd in front of the Palace Theatre in the 11 May 1942 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. The photo caught the attention of this writer some months ago, and it was saved for a 2023 Mother’s Day story--81 years later.
To honor the boys and girls who delivered the local newspaper, Walt Disney and the E-G arranged a Mother’s Day theater party for all the carriers at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 10, 1942. Mothers were invited and were presented with free carnations from Pearl Jenkins of Lancaster Greenhouse. After the movie, E-G publisher R. Kenneth Kerr treated everyone to ice cream sundaes and cookies at the Hotel Lancaster.
The film was Fantasia. “Walt Disney’s exiting new full length feature…is the most daring, the most original, the funniest, the most charming motion picture ever to come out of Hollywood,” stated the E-G 11 May 1942.
Another similar “movie event” was held on Mother’s Day 1950. Preparations were underway for publishing the LARGE Sesquicentennial Edition of the E-G on June 3, 1950. All E-G carriers were invited to the E-G to have their pictures taken for this special issue. After the photo was taken, the carriers and their mothers were invited to the Palace to see the movie “Mother Didn’t Tell Me,” featuring Dorothy McGuire and William Lundigan.
It appears that Mother’s Day 1942 was very similar to 2023. Just as we are reminded to “shop local” today, an ad appeared in the May 5, 1942 E-G stating: “You wouldn’t hurt Mother for the world—so of course you’re glad to be reminded that Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th, and that there are dozens of stores right here in town, where you can pick the gift that will say for you…here’s a small token of my love. Helpful suggestions appear each day in the Eagle-Gazette.”
Looking through newspapers from 1914 to 1942, it “unofficially” appears the top gifts for mothers were: flowers, candy, and jewelry. Times have changed though in many ways. In 1922 the Daily Eagle ran an Ohio Bell ad suggesting you call your mother: “Talk to Mother by Long Distance on Mother’s Day May 14th. Station to Station Calls are Cheaper.” By May 2, 1960, the ad for Ohio Bell was suggesting you use “Direct Distance Dialing for ease and economy.”
J. C. Penny Co. was offering a great service in E-G May 6, 1940: “All Mother’s Day gifts boxed and wrapped free of charge.” One of the most unusual gifts was reported May 13, 1940: “Mrs. Feres Beatty, 69 years old, had her first airplane ride Sunday, a Mother’s Day courtesy from her son Tom Beatty.”
If you forgot this special day in 2023, it’s not too late to do something for your mother.
Readers may contact Harvey at joycelancastereg@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Remember When: Are you planning to take your mother to a movie?
