In Honor of
National Comic Book Day
September 25th
SOON IT WILL BE NATIONAL COMIC BOOK DAY, a day to remember the thrill of owning, borrowing, trading for, and reading a new 4-color mini-book that guaranteed entertainment.
As we enjoyed ourselves with our comic books, controversy erupted over the effects they were having on America's youth. Dr. Fredric Wertham, M.D., a highly distinguished psychologist thought comic books were bad for kids. He publised Seduction of the Innocent in 1954, and maintained that in his studies with children, he found comic books to be a major cause of juvenile delinquency. Today's scolars believe that his assertion was based mostly on guilt by association. The vast majority of kids in those days read comic books, including the ones who became delinquents. But according to Dr. Wertham, comic books caused the children to become delinquents.
Wertham felt comics went much further than just turning kids into juvenile delinquents. They were giving kids wrong ideas about the laws of physics because Superman could fly. He also charged that comic books were implementing and re-enforcing homosexual thoughts because Robin was drawn with bare legs, that were often wide open, and that Robin seemed devoted and attached to only Batman. Dr. Wertham also stated that Wonder Woman was giving little girls the 'wrong ideas' about a woman's place in society.
The answer to the Wertham's criticism -- the subsequent Congressional hearings and the mass burning of comic books -- led The Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) to devise a code of ethics and standards for the comic book industry. This was called the Comics Code Authority (CCA). Self-regulation was deemed preferable to government intervention. Among the many new restrictions to published content were the protection of police, judges, and government officials so as not to foster disrespect for authority along with the banning of excessive violence, and illicit sexual relations. The old horror standards such as vampires, werewolves, and other ghouls were also deemed unsavory and not allowed.
The history of the comic book industry has been portrayed in an excellent ninety minute program by the History Channel. You can find it, divided into nine parts at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdEP1_njs6w.
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Video Starts Here
UPDATES
GROWING UP IN THE 40S & 50S
Our new series will continue on its own page. Look for its title about a quarter of the way down the column to the left of this HOME PAGE.
9/18 Post: "Flashback to 1954"
STREATOR AS IT WAS IN 1937
Enjoy a video of Streator made in 1937 and found on Youturbe. It's posted in STREATOR: BEFORE OUR TIME.
STREATOR: BEFORE OUR TIME & DURING OUR TIME
Both have new photo entries you're sure to enjoy so click on STREATOR: OUR HOMETOWN (in the list to the left of this HOME PAGE) to take a trip through of life before and during--us, that is.
HOW I GOT WHERE I AM
It's time for you to write your "story" of where and why you're living where you are. Some have chosen to write a lengthy narrative, which has been wonderful; but I fear it's frightened off others.
Please just share what made you choose your hometown to retire in; or if you're still working, please tell us where and what keeps you going. We'll take stories of any size - we just want to catch up on YOU!
You can email them to me at indianamackey@aol.com or post them on "What's New!"
You'll find the answers we've received so far - How I Got Where I Am - listed to the left of the HOME PAGE about half way down and just before "Special Series."
THE REVIEW
Classmates can now share photos on any topic they feel the rest of us would enjoy in picture galleries. And, they can add as many gallaries as they wish. Simply:
- Click on "The Review" in the column on the left side of the home page.
- Click on an existing photo group to enter a gallery someone else created.
- Go to the last page of pictures in the gallery and click on the "Create Your Own Photo Gallery Here" button at the bottom of that page.
- Follow the directions on screen to create your gallery of photos.
Remember, as always on this site, you must be able to find where the pictures are on your computer. In other words, what file they are in; most will be in "My Pictures."
Only you can add photos to galleries you create, and all photos you add will be credited to you inside your gallery!
Well, it's not quite "The Review" we knew in high school, but it can be a wonderful way to share photos of your families, trips, old high school pictures, and other stuff that interests you.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BUT ARE
TOO SHY TOO ASK
We didn't have the "computer advantage" when we were growing up so many of us are a little timid when approaching this newfangled contraption. With that in mind, a new forum section entitled "All You Need to Know But Are too Shy to Ask" has been created.
The new feature has directions for many of the skills needed to take full advantage of our web site. It even explains how to print those directions so you can have them in front of you as you navigate into new territory.
A second feature explains exactly how to obtain additional help with any problem which may come up. It's really simple: just email me, as site administrator; and I'll get the answer straight from the experts at Class Creator.
So now, with a little bit of determination, you can fully explore the site, send emails, reply to survey questions, comment in forums, and load pictures. Just click on the link below.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BUT ARE TOO SHY TO ASK
or copy and paste the following into search
http://www.thestreatorhighschool1958.com/classforums_threads.cfm?fid=6385
A NOTE TO NEWCOMERS
Glad to have you online with us!
Please register and choose a password so you can explore the complete site we have created. It's filled with classmates' memories, pictures, updates, information on the Fifties, and more.
So Welcome to the World of Streator High School 1958!
PROFILE UPDATES
| • | Marsha Turner (Hill) 9/20 |
| • | Carole Fanizzo (Mackey) 6/11 |
| • | William Schallhammer 2/23 |
| • | Bruce Mackey 1/27 |
| • | Kamell Abdnour 6/8 |
| • | Carolyn Erler 6/7 |
| • | Jon Sampson 6/7 |
| • | Robert Brewer 6/5 |
| • | Gayle Lahman 2/16 |
| • | Janice Corrigan 10/7 |
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