Imagine waking up Christmas morning to the sounds of Perry Como on the record player, a tube television set in the living room and a Hopalong Cassidy doll under a shiny aluminum tree.
For some, that may be a long-forgotten memory; for others, it’s as strange as a trip to Mars. But for visitors to Naper Settlement, it’s a chance to journey back in time through a new exhibit showcasing some of the 60-year-old traditions that helped shape America.
“Home for the Holidays: Christmas in the Fabulous 1950s” debuts Tuesday and runs through Dec. 24 in the Heritage Gallery in the Pre-Emption House on the museum campus at Aurora Avenue and Webster Street in Naperville.
“I think holidays and pop culture are really important components of what we do when we help people understand their place in history and the community,” said Rena Calabrese, Naper Settlement’s president and CEO.
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The temporary exhibit features a display of classic ’50s artifacts that includes such items as toy trains, reindeer figurines and Barbie dolls. Calabrese said many items are on loan from the Golden Glow of Christmas Past, a national group of collectors who are passionate about the holidays.
“So much of what’s good in us as human beings comes out this time of year,” Calabrese said. “I think it really taps into the humanity of who we are — our hope, our inspiration, our sense of family, that ambiance of giving and receiving and being rejuvenated about the human spirit.”
The exhibit focuses on the cultural turning point, when the Great Depression and World War II were over and Americans were enjoying economic prosperity and moving to the suburbs, said Jennifer Bridge, curator of exhibits and interpretation for Naper Settlement.
“In the ’50s, Naperville was a farming community but with the expansion of Interstate 80, it became more of a suburban community,” Bridge said.
“New post-war holiday traditions were centered around children and families moving to suburbia. Christmas took off and became a bigger, brighter holiday. People could afford decorations and presents. Decorating the exterior of a home with lights really took off. Metallic trees were a big trend.”
The exhibit’s centerpiece is a typical 1950s living room at Christmas, complete with color wheel shining light on an artificial tree, plastic ornaments and cardboard mantles ordered from a catalog.
It also includes Naperville ads and newspaper articles, such as one about the 1959 holiday parade in which an actual Nike Hercules missile road on a flatbed truck alongside traditional entries featuring Santa, vintage cars and marching bands.
“That’s about the most Cold War thing I ever heard,” said Bridge, with a laugh. “We have photos of it. There’s some really great images from the Naperville Sun that didn’t run in the newspaper.”
The missile likely came from the nearby army installation in Naperville at the time, she said.
“Doing exhibits like this allows us to engage our community and tell our story, because these people are still living and made a difference in how you live because of decisions that they made,” Calabrese said.
“It’s important to talk about what life was like. It’s an impetus for families to get to know their own families better. That conversation promotes a sense of identity and understanding your roots. If we can engage, we’ve done our job.”
The holiday exhibit is free for guests who visit during Christkindlmarket Naperville, which starts Nov. 24 and runs on select days through Dec. 24.
On days when the market is not open, the cost is free for Naperville residents and Naper Settlement members and $4 to $5.25 for nonresidents/nonmembers, depending on age. For more information, go to www.napersettlement.org.