The Vintage 1950s American Aluminum Christmas Tree

An example of a aluminum table-
top Christmas tree
by EverySpoon.

       Aluminum Christmas trees were first commercially manufactured sometime around 1955, remained popular into the 1960s, and were manufactured into the 1970s. The trees were first manufactured by Modern Coatings, Inc. of Chicago. Between 1959 and 1969, the bulk of aluminum Christmas trees were produced in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by the Aluminum Specialty Company; in that decade the company produced more than one million aluminum trees. At the time they were produced in Manitowoc the trees, including the company's flagship product the "Evergleam", retailed for $25 and wholesaled for $11.25.

       The first aluminum trees could not be illuminated in the manner traditional for natural Christmas trees or other artificial trees. Fire safety concerns prevented lights from being strung through the tree's branches; draping electric lights through an aluminum tree could cause a short circuit. The common method of illumination was a floor-based "color wheel" which was placed under the tree. The color wheel featured various colored segments on a clear plastic wheel; when the wheel rotated a light shone through the clear plastic casting an array of colors throughout the tree's metallic branches. Sometimes this spectacle was enhanced by a rotating Christmas tree stand.

• See this historic artificial tree illuminated by color wheel at the Johnson County Museum.
• More history about aluminum specialty products . . .

1950s Ornament Types Hung on Artificial Trees:

• Shiny Bright baubles: with 'Saturn Rings', glitter stars, snowcap tops, greetings (Silent Night, and Merry Christmas), reflector balls, ombre color blends, bells, pinecones, tear drop shapes, atomic shapes, space age themes
• Silver tinsel floss
• Shredded snow or flocking - This was asbestos so we don't use that today, use paper folks.
• Color wheel alternative to string lighting for an Aluminum Christmas tree
• Bubble Lights
• Plastic novelty ornaments were also popular
• Spike or spear shaped glass tree topper made by Shiny Bright too
• General Electric large bulbs

Very Helpful Youtube Video:

• Making the vintage Christmas tree of my dreams by Kayla Payne - Wow. This lady alters two trees to create an authentic looking tree with fewer branches. 
• The Wellness Homesteader shares information about 1950s Christmas
• Man collects vintage aluminum trees by KPRC 2 Click2Houston
• The "Deadly" Bubble Christmas Light Explained by Silver Cymbal

Examples of ornaments available from the Shiny Bright company in 1958.
These glass ornaments came in brilliant colors and were a cheerful addition
to any Christmas tree in America.

Shiny Bright ornaments sold in catalogues and the "Wishbook" by 
Sears in 1956. Shiny Bright garlands and novelty ornaments are 
also illustrated here: boot, stars, snowmen, trees, reindeer, birds
Santa figures, bells etc...

In "The Bleak Midwinter" Carol

        "In the Bleak Midwinter" is a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti. It was published under the title "A Christmas Carol" in the January 1872 issue of Scribner's Monthly, and first collected in book form in Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress and Other Poems (Macmillan, 1875). It has been set to music several times. Two settings, those by Gustav Holst and by Harold Darke, are popular and often sung as Christmas carols. 

       Holst's is a hymn tune called Cranham, published in 1906 in The English Hymnal and simple enough to be sung by a congregation. Darke's is an anthem composed in 1909 and intended for a trained choir; it was named the best Christmas carol in a 2008 poll of leading choirmasters and choral experts.

1872 illustration of Poem by Rossetti.

Lyrics written by Christian G Rossetti (1930-1894) In the bleak midwinter, Frosty wind made moan; Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow; In the bleak midwinter, Long ago. Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, Nor earth sustain, Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Angels and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air. But His mother only, In her maiden bliss, Worshipped the Belovèd With a kiss. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him— Give my heart.

The First Snowfall Frame

        This printable stationary illustrates a frame of rocks, forest and a mountain cabin nestled in the snow. Write the first paragraph in a special letter for your loved ones this new year.

       So few people send precious handwritten letters anymore. Letters may be read over and over and make wonderful additions to family albums and scrapbooks. 

       Old letters, photos and cards are frequently kept tucked away among many people's most valuable possessions. I have letters that belonged to my grandparents that have become the only tangible pieces of their lives left to me now. 

       Take the time to write your loved ones this year and leave a thoughtful voice from their past that he or she can read them quietly, time and time again.

The winter cabin stationary.

Christmas Trees at "The People's House"

       The story of the White House is the story of America. In its rooms and gardens and ceremonial spaces can be read the development of the nation, from the founding of Washington in 1791 to its sacking by the British in 1814, through the Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, and many other foreign and domestic crises. Within its walls Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his “Fireside Chats.” Its gleaming façade has provided a symbolic backdrop for suffragettes, freedom riders and anti-war protesters; on its sloping south lawn children gather for Easter egg rolls and to watch the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. In good times and bad, the White House is "America's House," the most potent symbol of the nation's democratic ideals. It is the only home of a head of state regularly open free to the public, offering ordinary citizens a glimpse of how their leaders live and work.

"In the late 1700s, it was decided that our country needed a capital city. Many people felt that it
should be located in New York; others thought it should be in Philadelphia. Our first President,
George Washington, finally picked the site - on the Potomac River, midway between the northern
and southern states. It would come to be called Washington, District of Columbia."
All photos here are available at Wikipedia under the Creative Commons.

       Probably the best known Christmas trees are the ones lighted annually by the President of the United States at appropriate cere- monies in Washington, D.C. This Christmas Eve program was first begun in 1923 when a fir tree shipped from Vermont was set up on the steps of the Capitol. In 1924, a 35-foot living Norway spruce provided by a New York nursery under the supervision of the American Forestry Association, was planted in the square south of the Treasury, near the White House. This tree was dedicated to the Nation as a National Living Christmas Tree. Later it was replaced with another living tree of like size and species. In 1934, the ceremonies centered around a living Norway spruce in Lafayette Park north of the White House. From 1941 to 1953 the National Christmas Tree was one of two oriental spruces thriving on the south lawn of the White House. By coincidence, 9 of the first 12 cut trees supplied by various States were also spruces. 

       Beginning in 1954, various States have supplied the National Christmas Tree, which is set up on the Ellipse between the White House and the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The President of the United States, at a prearranged ceremony, presses the button to turn on its lights.The States are also represented by 50 smaller trees, all set up on both sides of a promenade leading to the big tree.

• Every Year, The White House posts it's Christmas Decorations
• See a slide show of White House Christmas photos here.

The library decorated for Christmas. Many U.S. presidents have delivered speeches from this room.

"Over the years, the Green Room has served as a card room, as a sitting room, and, recently, as a 
parlor for small teas, receptions, and meetings. The walls were covered with green silk during
Thomas Jefferson's Presidency."

"James Hoban designed the blue room as an oval at the request of President Washington. Today,
it is used as a reception room for foreign dignitaries. During the holiday season, the chandelier
is removed, and the White House Christmas tree stands in the middle of the room."

Ornaments made by Americans everywhere were hung on the Blue Room's tree in 1975.

During many Christmas holidays, gingerbread is crafted by the official pastry chef.

A tree decorated in the colors of the American flag at the White
House.

Christmas tree in the Blue Room in 2016.

"In good times and bad, the White House is "America's House," the most potent symbol of the nation's
democratic ideals. It is the only home of a head of state regularly open free to the public, offering
ordinary citizens a glimpse of how their leaders live and work. Instead of a remote architectural 
monument, it is a living symbol of government's accessibility, to the extent that we routinely 
speak of it as having moods, attitudes and distinguishing features. The White House is said
to possess ''dignity" and "stature," to appear "concerned" or "jubilant," to have a voice
that "declares," "defends" or offers "no comment."

Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot Christmas Tree Controversy

       By 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt was the President of the United States, there was a tremendous amount of alarm among naturalists and conservationists regarding the indiscriminate cutting of evergreens for Christmas trees. When the press asked Roosevelt if he was going to continue with the traditional White House Christmas tree he responded with a resounding "no". He believed that the rate at which trees were being cut for Christmas would destroy what was left of America's forests. 

      However, his sons Archie and Quentin didn't agree with their father and secretly smuggled a tree into a closet in Archie's room. When Roosevelt found out about the tree on Christmas day he was embarrassed. After lecturing the boys he sent them to see his friend and cabinet member, Gifford Pinchot (who later became the first Chief of the Forest Service). To Roosevelt's surprise Pinchot told the boys that cutting a Christmas tree, if done right, was actually good for the forest. Pinchot believed it was forest fires and not Christmas tree cutters that were the real threat. 

      After that Roosevelt continued with the official policy of no Presidential tree - but secretly allowed Archie to put up a small tree in his own room. 

"The Importance of Trees" 

(At the turn of the 20th century, there had been massive deforestation. It was for this reason the national forest reserves were established in 1891 and later became national forests in 1905. Today, at the turn of the 21st century, we now have too many trees. Research indicates that prior to European settlement, ponderosa pine forests had an average of 40-50 trees per acre. Today these same forests have 400-500 trees per acre. The excessive build-up is largely a result of fire suppression and the cause for large catastrophic wildfires).

• Getting Christmas Dinner On a Ranch by Theodore Roosevelt