Post #213370 by Gigantalope on Tue, Feb 7, 2006 11:45 PM

I don't believe the allure of the past has much to do with reality...considering how things really were, just makes the little happy icons of that era seem more enticing and collectible. I know some old folks who adored the depression...they collect crazy stuff from that era...archetectual pieces, cabooses, toys, furniture...anything that reminds them of unencumbered youth, and simplicity of childhood life.

There is no limit to eras of reminiscing of course, Walt's "Mainstreet" (sans horse poop) being a slice of the 1890/1914 is typical of his generation. I find it interesting that about the same amount of time has elapsed from that era to Disneylands opening, as has Disnelyand's Opening to now. I wonder if Walt were in his heyday, if he would cling to the '50s, and create that sort of mainstreet?

Maybe it's not just the sentimentality, coupled with a bt of dread for the future...maybe too it's the pervasiveness of media, advertising and products have packaged and tried to sell the past?

The most freekish reminicers (In my opinion anyway) do so from from times they didn't even live thru...Reinactors who would give anything to live thru a day at Hastings, Bannockburn, or Gettysburg.