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| New Idea 13 November 1963 |
New Idea
Magazine came into being in 1928, although it was published under
other titles as early as 1902. It has always been a reflection of
the times.
The “101 ways to be
a Happy Housewife” promised on the cover of this edition are
wide-ranging. Some are strictly practical (E.g. No 88 “Cut down on
the washing up while the children are home on holidays by using paper
plates.”) Many more are dedicated to working on one's outer
gorgeousness whilst still completing the housework. E.g. No 82
“....Do a beauty chore when you're doing something else – such as
straightening up your posture when you're on the phone.” Another
tip involved developing “hand grace” through clenching the
fists....I wonder why the happy housewife would be doing that?!
The attention to detail
was, by today's standards, truly awesome (E.g. No. 55 “It is quite
a timesaver in the long run if you put in a few quick stitches of
white thread to mark the extra-soiled spots before washing.”)
If anyone is in doubt
as to how far Australia's cuisine has come since the sixties I refer
you to the instructions for “A Quick Dinner Dish” (No 80) “Heat
a 12oz can corned beef, remove from can, put into a baking dish.
Spoon over top a mixture of juice of ½ orange, ¼ cup brown sugar
and ¼ teaspoon dry mustard. Stud top with a few cloves, cook in
moderately hot oven about 10 minutes.” You'll have to take my
word for it that this was not the worst recipe in the list!!
Amongst the ads found
elsewhere in the magazine, the reader might be tempted by a parcel of
Apron length fabrics “gay boil-fast prints” for 17/6, the
“Slimassor” from Paris which guaranteed to trim off an inch of
fat in three days for a mere 99/6, or Golden Circle tinned fruit
salad which promised to be “as exciting as a tropical holiday.”
Oh and there is just so
much more!!!!!!
