Trailer Parks?

[PrettySquareGal]

Is it correct that trailer parks were more socially accepted as part of middle class living in the 1940's and 50's? Anyone have any pics?

 

[Fletch]

I would think that in 1946 and '47, young couples where the male was newly separated were thankful to find any kind of living space. Housing was at a real premium, as were new (or even good used) cars.

 

[Sweet Leilani]

I think the whole idea of trailer living was the ability to pick up and move whenever, wherever. I'm not sure if that ever was a "socially acceptable" concept, and especially not in the 40s & 50s. However, in the immediate postwar years, Fletch is right, housing was at a premium and a trailer was better than living in your car (if you could get one of those, either)! But I think it was always considered more of a temporary necessity; as soon as you could you wanted to move up. I'm sure the same could be said of 90% of those living in trailer parks today, as well.

A funny take on trailer living in the 50s (travel trailers, that is) is the Lucy/Desi movie, "The Long, Long Trailer".

Personally, I would love to have a vintage 30s-50s trailer to use as a guest house. I know a lot of people that use them as hunting & fishing camps, and they still have a lot of original features, like wood paneling and built-ins.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I think the whole idea of trailer living was the ability to pick up and move whenever, wherever. I'm not sure if that ever was a "socially acceptable" concept, and especially not in the 40s & 50s. However, in the immediate postwar years, Fletch is right, housing was at a premium and a trailer was better than living in your car (if you could get one of those, either)! But I think it was always considered more of a temporary necessity; as soon as you could you wanted to move up. I'm sure the same could be said of 90% of those living in trailer parks today, as well.

A funny take on trailer living in the 50s (travel trailers, that is) is the Lucy/Desi movie, "The Long, Long Trailer".

Personally, I would love to have a vintage 30s-50s trailer to use as a guest house. I know a lot of people that use them as hunting & fishing camps, and they still have a lot of original features, like wood paneling and built-ins.

Interesting...

I agree, I wouldn't mind having a 1950's trailer. I'd use mine as an office.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

They were socially accepted. My dad lived in a trailer which he loved in Atlanta. Yes, within the city limits, downtown if I remember correctly. Was it in his friend's parents' yard? I'll have to ask my mom. My dad's dream was to live in a little trailer again. But then where would he have put his 5000 books?
My mom's cousin who was a junior bridesmaid at her wedding runs a top-notch chemistry (or should it be chemical?) business from a trailer in Louisiana.

 

[Grace]

Yes, I think it was socially accepted. My mom comes from a middle class family and grew up in one in Nevada.

 

[Paisley]

Many of my relatives live in trailers (or mobile homes). They keep them neat as a pin. A trailer is all they can afford, I suppose.

My parents lived in a trailer when my father worked construction as a boomer (he worked at various big construction jobs).

 

[Absinthe_1900]

There was a popular book on the subject, that was turned into a movie.

http://www.trailerite.com/clintontwiss.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long,_Long_Trailer

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I'll have to see that one.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

It's a scream, and the recent DVD is a pretty good transfer.

"Trailer Brakes!" Trailer Brakes!"


The original Clinton Twiss book, is quite expensive on the collectors market if you can find a copy.


You can download a PDF of the original book at Archive.org:

http://www.archive.org/details/longlongtrailer001201mbp

 

[PrettySquareGal]

It's a scream, and the recent DVD is a pretty good transfer.

"Trailer Brakes!" Trailer Brakes!"


The original Clinton Twiss book, is quite expensive on the collectors market if you can find a copy.


You can download a PDF of the original book at Archive.org:

http://www.archive.org/details/longlongtrailer001201mbp

Say, was this the flick where they are driving up a long winding road on a mountain, and then have to turn around? If so I have seen portions of it.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

That's the one, it's a nice enjoyable movie.

 

[Mojito]

Steinbeck discussion his impressions of trailer parks and their inhabitants at some length in Travels with Charley. He was clearly fascinated by them, and reports at length a conversation with a man who argues the pros of this lifestyle. If anything, although not something I suspect he would like for himself, Steinbeck seems to have found these people quite dynamic and proactive - as mentioned above, it provided a means of following available work. I found his observations an interesting contrast with how trailer park inhabitants are often viewed today.

 

[Bebop]

I lived in trailer parks across the western U.S. for a year in 03'-04' and still do for months at a time. Trailer parks are a bit different than mobile home parks. I think mobile home parks were more popular in the 40's and 50's than trailer parks.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I lived in trailer parks across the western U.S. for a year in 03'-04' and still do for months at a time. Trailer parks are a bit different than mobile home parks. I think mobile home parks were more popular in the 40's and 50's than trailer parks.

How do you distinguish the two? I know an RV park is for people on the go, but I always thought of mobile home and trailer parks as pretty much the same...

 

[BegintheBeguine]

I really need to wear glasses

Duh, I just read the title of the thread AND the first question, so I realized my comment wasn't relevant. Please excuse.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Please excuse.

No.

 

[Bebop]

How do you distinguish the two? I know an RV park is for people on the go, but I always thought of mobile home and trailer parks as pretty much the same...

Now that you mention it........ It may be that I think of trailer parks as RV parks. I see mobile home parks as places where there are trailers that have no wheels. Maybe trailer parks are mobile home parks and what I am talking about is an RV park. I suppose I am calling RV parks, trailer parks. There are some mobile home parks that have spaces for RV's. It sometimes is the same place. All this trailer talk is making me dizzy!

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Now that you mention it........ It may be that I think of trailer parks as RV parks. I see mobile home parks as places where there are trailers that have no wheels. Maybe trailer parks are mobile home parks and what I am talking about is an RV park. I suppose I am calling RV parks, trailer parks. There are some mobile home parks that have spaces for RV's. It sometimes is the same place. All this trailer talk is making me dizzy!

Me too! But everyone needs some trailer talk now and again.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

An Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode (perhaps the first? I have it but I'm on my way out the door and can't check) featured a trailer park with Frances Bavier as a neighbor. And Vera Miles as the wife. Classy trailer park denizens.