Northwestern Reviewing Stand: Can We Grow Old Gracefully? – July 22, 1951 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
Growing old gracefully – a question that has plagued every generation that has ever occupied any part of the planet since humans got started. Although most likely Neanderthals didn’t spend much time thinking about it – it was when we morphed into being civilized – had wars – bought stuff – acquired things – achieved status or obscurity; it’s only when those issues became part of our human experience that we wonder about our time on this rock, and how were we going to be when we ceased to “be vital”, as some have put it.
It’s an issue, and clearly by the tone of this 1951 broadcast discussion, it’s been cause for a lot of sleepless nights for a lot of people. Although in 1951 we didn’t have implants (dental or breast) – didn’t have botox – didn’t have liposuction – didn’t have Viagra. In 1951 we just let the sands of time overtake us and carry us off into the proverbial sunset.
But if you’ve ever looked at a 1951 High School yearbook, those photos of 16 year-olds don’t look a day over 30 by todays standards. We hadn’t yet become obsessed with Youth Culture – that was something the 60s would give us in giant economy-sized portions.
In the 1950s we were still coming to grips with our mortality and the plain and simple fact we weren’t destined be here forever, no matter what we thought. By the 1960s the phrases “fountain of Youth” and The Come Alive Generation became mantras and virtues, not fantasies. We were actively proclaiming not to “trust anyone over thirty” and those over thirty were loathed to admit it and fought tooth and nail to prevent anyone from knowing.
Even now, it is perfectly respectable to shave anywhere from 10-20 years off your birth certificate age and conveniently feign ignorance that anything in the 60s you were actually witness to.
So in this episode of The Northwestern Reviewing Stand, the discussion is on whether or not Americans in 1951 were aging gracefully and what was being done about it. The concerns were more on the order of “what do we do about Mom and Dad?” – the pressure on children to take care of their parents and at least supply them with some stability during their final years. Retirement Communities were only in the talking stages in 1951 – it was pretty down to the kids – if of course you had kids. If not, it was the big mystery and the concept of “rest home” came into play. Today they call them “elder care” or “Assisted Living” or anyone of a number of non-traumatizing labels. Of course, here in 2023, the current state of the economy is so appalling that most members of Gen-Z are opting to stay at home and live with Mom & Dad. out of sheer indigence.
But this discussion is from 1951 and almost none of the issues we had then are issues we have now. But the core problem is still the same – growing old gracefully and what to do about it.
On July 22, 1951 it was worthy for debate on this episode of Northwestern Reviewing Stand from Mutual.
