Party Like It's 1933

If you came across these two photos in a shoebox you might not give them a second look. They are grainy, out of focus, and poorly exposed, but they happen to be a couple of my favorite snapshots.

This is December 31, 1933, the depth of the Great Depression. Exactly seventy-five years ago.

But they had more than just New Year's Eve to celebrate. Grandma and Grandpa are just newlyweds, not yet married four months, aged 24 and 28, hosting the party. It would have been too early for them to know it yet but they were also expecting their first child together.

Also, the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution had just been ratified three weeks earlier repealing Prohibiton which had been in effect since 1920. This would explain everyone brandishing their bottles. They were drinking legally for the first time in their lives.





In this photo Grandpa and Grandma (Charles and Cecilia Lavery) are on the left, Aunt Wilma Lillig is next to Grandma partially hidden. To Wilma's left are Laurence and Claudia Lavery, Grandpa's brother and sister-in-law.  Helen Schranz is to the right of the man pouring a drink.  Billy Ryan is on the right and I think Aunt Tootsie Lillig is cut off next to him.


In this one Fred and Wilma Lillig are leaning in on the left, Claudia Lavery is above them.  Billy Ryan and Aunt Tootsie in the middle, Helen Schranz is to the right of them. and Grandma and Grandpa Lavery on the right. That is all that I can identify.