Influential American: Samuel Goldwyn

Famed for his relentless ambition, bad temper and genius for publicity, Samuel Goldwyn became Hollywood's leading "independent" producer. Goldwyn was an American emigrant from Warsaw who found his way from New York's Garment district to Hollywood California. 

He produced 193 films, and was best known for his films, Guys and Dolls, Wurthering Heights, and The Best Years of Our Lives. Here is the full list of titles. 

Goldwyn died in 1974 at the age of 94.

Get Cranked

Are you cranked?

Our music boxes at the American Treasure Tour are hand-cranked ~ music before electricity!

Don't be cranky, come visit the American Treasure Tour!  You'll go away with a smile on your face for sure!

Young American Treasure: Vinnie Ream

Vinnie Ream was the first woman, and the youngest artist ever to receive a commission from the United States Government. At the age of 18 in 1866, she was awarded the commission of a full size marble statue of President Lincoln which still stands in the Capitol Building.
Vinnie was from a Pennsylvania Dutch family who emigrated from Germany to central Pennsylvania in 1717.
She worked in the United States Post office during the Civil War and later a stamp was created in her honor.

A talented writer and singer as well, Vinnie Ream gave concerts in Civil war hospitals and helped wounded soldiers write letters. 

Today's Treasure: The Simpsons

The Simpsons show holds the title of the longest running American animated program, and the longest running sitcom on television. Even though we are still used to seeing the iconic family on TV, the oldest episodes are nearing the age of vintage, possibly even "classic" TV. 

A Simpsons trivia question: Where does Marge hide the Christmas money? 

*scroll to the end of the post for the answer*

This likeness of the Simpson family larger than life: notice the convertible top of one of our classic cars in the background to get an idea of just how big they are. Come by the American Treasure Tour to visit them in person!







Marge hides Christmas money In Her Hair

American Inventor Elias Howe

Elias Howe worked tirelessly on a design for the modern sewing machine. Although he was not the first to conceive of the idea that sewing could and should be done by machine, he was the first in the US to obtain a patent for a machine performing a lockstitch which uses two threads and one needle...the beginning of sewing machines as we know them today.
These three factors were unique to his design:

• a needle with the eye at the point,
• a shuttle operating beneath the cloth to form the lock stitch, and
• an automatic feed.

So here's to Elias Howe, a real American Treasure from Massachusetts who invented a world-changing device. 

Funny Friday

Here are some automobile related Friday funnies:

comic courtesy of funfluster.com

Today's Treasure: The Concertina

Today's treasure is a hand-held instrument. Similar in function to the accordion, the concertina is a free-reed instrument with bellows to produce sound. the horns on this German style concertina amplify the sound.

Young American Hero: Mary Jane Dilworth

Mary Jane Dilworth was among a group of pioneers travelling west through the un-searched United States in the early 1800's There were many children in the caravan of wagons headed west, and they proved difficult to wrangle. Mary Jane decided to organize a school like atmosphere for the youngsters. She was so successful at keeping their attention that she was asked by Joseph Smith to open a schoolhouse when the group arrived at their destination. At the age of 16, Mary Jane Dilworth opened the first school in Utah. The year was 1847.

Fist Pump Friday

Today's Treasure: Airplanes in the Rafters

Americna Treasure: Frederick Douglass

Great American Orator Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot county Maryland circa 1818. After a handful of unsuccessful attempts to escape from slavery, Douglass succeeded on Sept. 3, 1838. He had met and fallen in love with a free African American woman in Baltimore who helped him get identification and a sailor's uniform. He boarded a train for Havre De Grace, MD. as a free sailor, and continued on to a safe house in New York run by David Ruggles

Douglass married the woman who aided his escape, and they participated in the abolitionist movement together. Douglass spoke at meeting halls across the Eastern and Mid-west states. His speeches were powerful, and he was frequently accosted by those who were opposed to his passion for freedom.

The achievements of this man are too many to number, he joined the fight for women's suffrage as well. He wrote autobiographies about his life in slavery and subsequent escape. He became the most famous black man in America before the civil war and conferred with Presidents Lincoln and Johnson on the topic of African American suffrage.

Later in life, Douglass was appointed United States Marshall. At the 1888 Republican National Convention, Douglass became the first African American to receive a vote for President of the United States in a major party's roll call vote

What an amazing American!