Collaborative site for collectors, dealers, & anyone interested in our history.
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
and National Geographic has been a part of it.
Merry Christmas to all at the 'Corner,
Tom Wilson
Views: 252
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Scott T. Shier on
-
Nice message - absolutely agree!
(I almost was going to post George Bailey with his NGM today too)
: - )
-
Permalink Reply by Pece Kocovski on
-
Merry Christmas everyone!
I saw this fantastic film for the first time on Christmas this year and was very excited when I saw the National Geographic mention! Apparently it is the October 1919 issue according to this link:
https://www.replicapropstore.com/products/national-geographic-magaz...
Based on George Bailey's age in the film during the mention of the National Geographic, it makes sense.
Happy Holidays everyone.
-
Permalink Reply by George Thomas Wilson on
-
Pece,
Thank you for the interesting link, and Happy Holidays.
-
-
I've always tried figuring out which issue it was, I knew it was 1919, but the month is scratched out in the film copy. When I try and zoom in on the cover's content text, it gets so de-pixelated, I cannot discern any titles....
Thanks Pece !
-
-
The October 1919 issue had the lead article "A Vanishing People of the South Sea" by John W. Church. It contains an iconic full-page nude "A Daughter of a Dying Race."
No wonder George Bailey wanted to sail to the South Seas.
-
-
Good evening,
So, on New Year's Eve (last night) I was watching "It's A Wonderful Life" -- such a classic! I love how later in the film, George's brother Harry gets off the train and says something like "How's my adventure-explorer brother?" as he goes to play-punch him in the gut.
Also, earlier this week, I was reading Gilbert M. Grosvenor's new book (13-Sept-2022), and on page 383, he writes,
Membership meant more than mere subscription. It had cachet that won loyalty. A man once walked across the island of Sri Lanka just to show me his framed membership certificate. Ernest Hemingway's short story "Homage to Switzerland" is about two strangers waiting for a train who discover that each is a member of the Society.
In It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, holds up a copy of the magazine and exclaims, "I've become a member of the National Geographic Society!" It sounds corny, but membership mattered. It mattered to collector's too, who salted away every publication and product we ever released. And it certainly mattered to the gentleman who placed the following ad in the Denver Post: "SHELIA: Please return my National Geographic Collection. You may keep the engagement ring."I love that Mr. Grosvenor shared this.
- - Scott S.
-
Permalink Reply by george warren on
-
Such eloquence, as ever!
Then again as the good man said:
"In August 1909, the NG Advertising Manager referred to his 50,000 Members as "well-to-do and cultured".
-
-
Very true, good quote George!
And also, George, I had recently sent you some messages in December, so be sure to check your Inbox.... I know the Ning site does not always send email alerts when messages are received.
Happy New Year!
Legal notice about this site
Community Rules and Legal notice about this Site
Note: Management of this site has been transferred from the National Geographic Society to a third party (the Host). Any sales or trade arrangements are solely between users of this site (the Site). The Site’s host and/or The National Geographic Society is not a party to and does not endorse or promote any particular sale or trade arrangements between collectors, dealers, or others and bears no liability for such transactions.
This community was created to facilitate communication between collectors, dealers, and anyone interested in the history of National Geographic publications. Please use the forums area to buy, sell, trade, and swap stories and information.
A member can be removed from the group for inappropriate, pornographic or offensive, or otherwise objectionable content. The Host may also edit or entirely remove such posts from the group.
Due to the immediate nature of this medium, the Host also does not review, censor, approve, edit or endorse information placed on this forum. Discussion boards on this Site are intended to be appropriate for family members of all ages. Posting of indecent material is strictly prohibited.
The placement of advertisements or solicitations or SPAM unrelated to National Geographic also is prohibited. The Host shall review information placed on this forum from time to time and delete inappropriate material that comes to its attention as soon as it is practicable but cannot guarantee that such material will not be found on the forum. By posting material on this discussion board, you agree to adhere to this policy prohibiting indecent, offensive or extraneous advertising material, and to legally assume full and sole responsibility for your posting.
Engage in dialogue respectfully. We encourage open and candid discussions and debates. However, all communications should be respectful. Differences of opinion are okay; personal attacks are not. Comments or content that are violent, threatening, abusive, sexually explicit, obscene, offensive, hateful, derogatory, defamatory, or are racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable content will be removed.
Stay on topic. Comments, questions, and contributions should be relevant to the topic being discussed. Keep in mind that this is not a place for unsolicited personal or commercial solicitation or advertising (e.g., “Win a free laptop”, etc.).
Keep it legal. Participating in, suggesting, or encouraging any illegal activity is cause for immediate removal and termination of a member’s use of and registration in the group.
Observe copyright and trademark law. The posting of copyrighted videos, photos, articles, or other material beyond what is protected as fair use is prohibited, and the Host may remove such posts from the group. Provide appropriate credit for any media and resources that you share.
Respect privacy. Keep personal or any other information that you do not want made public, such as phone numbers or addresses, confidential. You may choose to share this information via direct message or email. Please also respect the privacy of other members of the group and do not share information about them (but of course it’s fine to repost or share content they have already posted). Any information you post here will be subject to the platform’s privacy policy.
Let us know. We do monitor posts, but we may miss something. We encourage members to flag content which they feel violates any of the above Community Rules so we can review and take the appropriate action.
© 2025 Created by Richard Kennedy.
Powered by
