The Happy Gang recently released a video featuring eighteen residents of Carlyle who were interviewed about their recollections from the 1930's.
The Rusty Relics Museum came up with the idea of an oral history video, based on life in Carlyle in the 1930's in order to receive a Young Canada Works grant. Caitlin Fowler, a fifth year University of Regina student at the time, interviewed 18 residents with memories of the 30's over the summer or 2010. This previous summer, Jesse Twietmeyer edited all the interviews into an interesting and memorable video.
The project was time-consuming and fairly expensive, but the grant from the Young Canada Work's program and a $2,000 donation from the Lions Club in both the summer of 2010 and 2011, made the notable video possible.
The video was a great success, and those who were interviewed were the first to view the video at a screening held by the Happy Gang on Nov. 8. May Hume spoke positively of the video, and felt it turned out "wonderful, I think it was very realistic." The video really captured the aspects of life in the 30's, as humorous and enlightening stories were shared.
There were recollections of one-cent tubes of popcorn, three gallons of gas for a dollar, getting strapped at school, starting work before the age of 12, and not having any electricity. A lot of the interviewers described first getting a radio in the 30's and how they used horses and buggies to travel into town, or just walked. One man said he'd never even seen a 20-dollar bill until he was 21-years-old!
It's quite intriguing to hear that in the 30's, no one really realized they were poor, because they were all the same, especially considering the tremendous focus placed on wealth in today's times. It just was they way it was, and money wasn't a central factor back then, "I think we were happier," remarked May Hume, when speaking of the simplicity of the times.
It really is an interesting video to view, for all generations. It offers perspective and reminders of the ways of life years ago, and just how drastically things have changed. For anyone who wishes to obtain a copy of Carlyle in the 30's, contact Ron Paul. It's quite engaging to hear the stories of such a different time by members of the community who have spent their lives here in Carlyle. It is definitely worth watching!
