Hi,

If you're here and reading this, you must be a fan of the show.
I grew up in the 60s, and so much of the show feels very familiar.
My wife and I are hooked on this new series, and I hope you'll join
and chime in, often.

Best,

Derek

Thanks for joining the group. I hope we'll begin to have some good
conversation about the show, which has probably connected with a lot
of Baby Boomers, like myself. (I'll be 48, this year.)
So far, I'm not only intrigued by the story of the characters, but
amazed at the attention to detail in its production.
From the first few minutes of the first show, I was hooked.

Best,

Derek

Love the show!!!
Can't wait for Thursday nights.
I like to record it the day after
from on demand, no commercials.I have
to watch each show at least twice.

That's my least favorite thing...the commercials!  I don't have On
Demand, but I Tivo the show, then fast-forward through the
commercials.  Still, the little "break in the action" is a bit
annoying.  I thought it was interesting that they went with AMC,
instead of HBO or Showtime.
I've been watching it twice, as well, recording it onto a DVD the
second time, so that I can share it with friends who don't have cable.
Don't you notice new things with each viewing?

Best,

Derek


--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "xr_767" <apex53@...> wrote:
>
> Love the show!!!
> Can't wait for Thursday nights.
> I like to record it the day after
> from on demand, no commercials.I have
> to watch each show at least twice.
>

"acjobson" <acjobson@...> wrote:

My husband and I have watched the show from the first epi.  We love
it.  Both of us were born in the '50s, so we remember growing up in
the '60's.  We have a lot of fun reminiscing about ads, fashions,
etc.  We have noticed some inconsistencies, or simply things that
would not have occurred. But other than that, we enjoy the show.

Do you notice some parallels with the opening and a couple of
Hitchcock movies? (think Vertigo and Spellbound).

Annie

Hi Annie:

I'd love to hear about the inconsistencies you noticed - I haven't,
as yet.
I can remember my sister and I (me?), riding in the backseat of our
station wagon, with or without seatbelts.  Sometimes, I'd sit on the
floor.  Who knew I should've been strapped down in a child seat?
LOL!  I think it was in the second show that Don's wife, Betty,
crashes the station wagon as her hands go numb.  She jumps out of
the car, and opens the rear car door to see if her kids are hurt.
She finds them on the floor, laughing.  That could have been us!
An older friend of mine, now in her mid-60s, told me many times that
when she and her friends were pregnant, they smoked and drank like
there was no tomorrow!  So funny to see they've captured that on the
show.

Yes!  I thought of those two Hitchcock movies immediately, as well.
I just love the entire production, music included.

Derek


--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Derek" <realtorderek@...> wrote:
>
> "acjobson" <acjobson@...> wrote:
>
> My husband and I have watched the show from the first epi.  We love
> it.  Both of us were born in the '50s, so we remember growing up in
> the '60's.  We have a lot of fun reminiscing about ads, fashions,
> etc.  We have noticed some inconsistencies, or simply things that
> would not have occurred. But other than that, we enjoy the show.
>
> Do you notice some parallels with the opening and a couple of
> Hitchcock movies? (think Vertigo and Spellbound).
>
> Annie
>

I recalled the scene where a man approaches Don on the morning train
to work, but I didn't remember hearing the man call Don, "Dick
Whitman".  Does anyone else?

Intriguing...I wonder where they're going to go with this...?

Derek

I remember the event.  It think it will all connect once the writers
bring Don's character altogether - his past with his present.  I
can't wait for tonight.  It has to do with his pondering over his
purple heart, not voting, etc.

There is a Bogart movie where he is on a train returing from WWII, I
think he ends up in San Fransisco, and ends up with a dead guy in his
room.  I can't recall the name.  But it has to do with an old friend
possing under another name.  The name switch started in college.  Or
maybe he switched his name.  It has been a long time since I have
scene the movie, so I have forgotten a lot of it.  Does this ring a
bell?  I'll look up Boggie's name and see what I find.

I still say the writers are borrowing from Hitchcock, and maybe
others to formulate some of their story lines.

You asked about the inconsistencies.  One that I picked up on was at
the little girl's bday party.  One of the mothers said something
about "doing bday cake".  I don't think that figure of speech was
coined in 1960.  My reaction was immediate.  It really stuck out to
me.

Am I the only person that likes Betty?  I think she is a sweet and
loving mother/wife!

Another one, and I called my mother on this, was in the first
episode.  Peggy was having her gyno exam.  The doctor was smoking
when he examined her.  My mom (born in 1930) was a nurse.  She said
that that would have been completely out of place.  The docs and
nurses all smoked in meetings, etc, but never during patient
contact.  It just would have been inappropriate - not to mention
thought of as somewhat unclean.

Also, my dad - a business man in 1960 - said the overt way the men
speak to the women is exaggerated as well as the sexism.  It was
definatly there, but it was much more subtle.

They brought out a point - the writers, etc are probably younger than
me (not born in 1950's) so they are exaggerating to make a point to
make good TV - and that's OK.

That said, we are enjoying the show - the ads (because we remember
them, the fashions, just the atmosphere of everything.  It is fun to
go down memory lane for one night a week.  I want them to do the
Noxema ad with Joe Nameth (sp) and the stripper music - I know this
did not come until '68 or so, but it was great!

Annie

Hi Annie:

Gotta hand it to the writers.  If they're going after Hitchcock,
they've been influenced by one of the best!  The more I think about
it, the more I realize how observant you are.  There are many
Hitchcock-esgue details: the show's opening (VERTIGO, which we
talked about), the camera angles, the sense that there is something
more sinister behind the "apple pie" images; even the dialogue and
banter between the ad men remind me of the scenes in ROPE.
Your reference to the Bogart picture sounds familiar, though I too
cannot recall the name.  Let me know if you find it.
Are you getting the impression that viewers don't like Betty?  Betty
reminds me of the sympathetic character Julianne Moore played in THE
HOURS, and I can't wait to find out the source of the problem with
her hands.  I think she's feeling constricted by her role as
mother/wife, and confused by her feelings of depression in the face
of "having everything a woman (then) could ask for".  She probably
knows Don sleeps around, but feels powerless to do anything about
it.  She doesn't want to end up like her new neighbor.
Of course you're right that the producers and writers are
exaggerating things for dramatic effect, and like you, we just love
the overall style of the show.  I was born in the late 50s, and many
of the elements of the show I still remember first-hand.
LOL - I also remember that ad with Joe Namath and Noxema!  And who
can forget the commercial in which he wore pantyhose?

Derek


--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "acjobson" <acjobson@...> wrote:
>
> I remember the event.  It think it will all connect once the
writers
> bring Don's character altogether - his past with his present.  I
> can't wait for tonight.  It has to do with his pondering over his
> purple heart, not voting, etc.
>
> There is a Bogart movie where he is on a train returing from WWII,
I
> think he ends up in San Fransisco, and ends up with a dead guy in
his
> room.  I can't recall the name.  But it has to do with an old
friend
> possing under another name.  The name switch started in college.
Or
> maybe he switched his name.  It has been a long time since I have
> scene the movie, so I have forgotten a lot of it.  Does this ring
a
> bell?  I'll look up Boggie's name and see what I find.
>
> I still say the writers are borrowing from Hitchcock, and maybe
> others to formulate some of their story lines.
>
> You asked about the inconsistencies.  One that I picked up on was
at
> the little girl's bday party.  One of the mothers said something
> about "doing bday cake".  I don't think that figure of speech was
> coined in 1960.  My reaction was immediate.  It really stuck out
to
> me.
>
> Am I the only person that likes Betty?  I think she is a sweet and
> loving mother/wife!
>
> Another one, and I called my mother on this, was in the first
> episode.  Peggy was having her gyno exam.  The doctor was smoking
> when he examined her.  My mom (born in 1930) was a nurse.  She
said
> that that would have been completely out of place.  The docs and
> nurses all smoked in meetings, etc, but never during patient
> contact.  It just would have been inappropriate - not to mention
> thought of as somewhat unclean.
>
> Also, my dad - a business man in 1960 - said the overt way the men
> speak to the women is exaggerated as well as the sexism.  It was
> definatly there, but it was much more subtle.
>
> They brought out a point - the writers, etc are probably younger
than
> me (not born in 1950's) so they are exaggerating to make a point
to
> make good TV - and that's OK.
>
> That said, we are enjoying the show - the ads (because we remember
> them, the fashions, just the atmosphere of everything.  It is fun
to
> go down memory lane for one night a week.  I want them to do the
> Noxema ad with Joe Nameth (sp) and the stripper music - I know
this
> did not come until '68 or so, but it was great!
>
> Annie
>

Another terrific episode.
Didn't you feel terribly sorry for Adam Whitman, Don/Dick's younger
half-sibling?  I don't know if it was the actor who portrayed Adam, or
the way his part and lines were written, but I started to suspect he
was a gay ex-lover, rather than an estranged little brother.  Silly me.
Loved the references to the popular magazines of the time: Atlantic
Monthly, Look, and the one I read from cover to cover, Boy's Life, LOL.
So far, my least favorite character has got to be Peggy.  She should
judge the men?  After sleeping with Pete Campbell just before his
wedding?

Derek

I have to watch it on comcast.  My hubby gets up at 3:30am.  We live in
Atlanta - don't know what you know about traffic patterns in Atlanta -
but morning commutes are terrible.  So he leaves early so he can leave
the office early to get home at a decent time.  His bedtime is 8:30 or
so.  So I wait for him to watch it together. I work from home (contract
legal work for insurance defense firms) so I don't have to worry about
Atlanta traffic!
I can't wait to see it. - I know this one reveals a lot about the
personalities.  I think Pete asks his wife to sleep with someone so
that he can get a favor. What a creep!  Not that we did not know that
already.

By the way, have you checked out "Unbound Edition"?  It is a parody
script of the shows.  It is hysterical.  Last week's episode was the
best.  The writer(s) are so creative.  But we are kind of those people
that can vote for a political candidate and also laugh at the jokes
about them...so if you are like that, you will enjoy this...It you need
the full web site, let me know.  It is somewhere in the AMC Mad Men
Blogs as well if you want to search through them.

How is the real estate business right now? You can answer me at my
personal email if you want.  I understand it is bleak for both seller
and buyers.


I'll get back with you after we watch it.

Annie

Annie,

That's terrific that you wait for your husband so you can watch it,
together.

I have some friends who are complaining that some of the Mid-century
furnishings and such are misplaced.  I'm not going to be so
picky...unless I see a Toyota parked in front of Sterling Cooper,
LOL.

No, I haven't heard about "Unbound Edition", but it sounds like it's
right up my alley - thanks!  I'm sure I'll find it.

The real estate market in San Francisco is a little different, thank
God, than most of the country.  We're finding it pretty stable
here.  Many first-time buyers are a bit nervous about the spike in
interest rates and the shakiness of the mortgage industry, but those
with excellent credit scores and sizable down payments seem to be
buying without hesitation, as long as the property fits their needs
and is well-priced.  We're actually still experiencing multiple
offers, here - just not on everything, as before.  I think the
general downturn will last a while - perhaps a few months, perhaps
longer.  I've seen a lot in my 23+ years in the business (Third
generation Realtor), and as with anything, there are ups and downs.
One saving grace - people need a place to live, and San Francisco is
a relatively small city and is still a destination town for many.

Best,

Derek




--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "acjobson" <acjobson@...> wrote:
>
> I have to watch it on comcast.  My hubby gets up at 3:30am.  We
live in
> Atlanta - don't know what you know about traffic patterns in
Atlanta -
> but morning commutes are terrible.  So he leaves early so he can
leave
> the office early to get home at a decent time.  His bedtime is
8:30 or
> so.  So I wait for him to watch it together. I work from home
(contract
> legal work for insurance defense firms) so I don't have to worry
about
> Atlanta traffic!
> I can't wait to see it. - I know this one reveals a lot about the
> personalities.  I think Pete asks his wife to sleep with someone
so
> that he can get a favor. What a creep!  Not that we did not know
that
> already.
>
> By the way, have you checked out "Unbound Edition"?  It is a
parody
> script of the shows.  It is hysterical.  Last week's episode was
the
> best.  The writer(s) are so creative.  But we are kind of those
people
> that can vote for a political candidate and also laugh at the
jokes
> about them...so if you are like that, you will enjoy this...It you
need
> the full web site, let me know.  It is somewhere in the AMC Mad
Men
> Blogs as well if you want to search through them.
>
> How is the real estate business right now? You can answer me at my
> personal email if you want.  I understand it is bleak for both
seller
> and buyers.
>
>
> I'll get back with you after we watch it.
>
> Annie
>

Sorry to hear your least favorite character is Peggy.  I have a
feeling this shy and naive character will learn to know the inner
workings/ secrets bethind close doors at the agency.  Just a slight
hunch that could change in time.  I think you are on to something in
regards to his brother.  What could be the worst family secret ever
for someone to want to change their identity? That's a scary
thought.

--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Derek" <realtorderek@...> wrote:
>
> Another terrific episode.
> Didn't you feel terribly sorry for Adam Whitman, Don/Dick's younger
> half-sibling?  I don't know if it was the actor who portrayed Adam,
or
> the way his part and lines were written, but I started to suspect
he
> was a gay ex-lover, rather than an estranged little brother.  Silly
me.
> Loved the references to the popular magazines of the time: Atlantic
> Monthly, Look, and the one I read from cover to cover, Boy's Life,
LOL.
> So far, my least favorite character has got to be Peggy.  She
should
> judge the men?  After sleeping with Pete Campbell just before his
> wedding?
>
> Derek
>

Maybe I'm being too harsh on Peggy.  You're right in that her
character serves the purpose of bringing the audience into the
picture of the ways things worked in the big-city, corporate
environments of the time (or so the producers would have you
believe).  And when I think about it further, my least favorite
character may really be Pete; though he's such a pathetic little
man, you almost feel sorry for him.
As for the brother, it would make sense, for sure!


--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "schwakster2001"
<candice.schwake@...> wrote:
>
> Sorry to hear your least favorite character is Peggy.  I have a
> feeling this shy and naive character will learn to know the inner
> workings/ secrets bethind close doors at the agency.  Just a
slight
> hunch that could change in time.  I think you are on to something
in
> regards to his brother.  What could be the worst family secret
ever
> for someone to want to change their identity? That's a scary
> thought.
>
> --- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Derek" <realtorderek@> wrote:
> >
> > Another terrific episode.
> > Didn't you feel terribly sorry for Adam Whitman, Don/Dick's
younger
> > half-sibling?  I don't know if it was the actor who portrayed
Adam,
> or
> > the way his part and lines were written, but I started to
suspect
> he
> > was a gay ex-lover, rather than an estranged little brother.
Silly
> me.
> > Loved the references to the popular magazines of the time:
Atlantic
> > Monthly, Look, and the one I read from cover to cover, Boy's
Life,
> LOL.
> > So far, my least favorite character has got to be Peggy.  She
> should
> > judge the men?  After sleeping with Pete Campbell just before
his
> > wedding?
> >
> > Derek
> >
>

Just caught the last episode.  I felt for both Don and Adam.  My
husband thought he was going to pull a gun out of his bag.  I said it
was money - but was not expecting $5k!.  Present dollars would
be...what...?  $50k or so?  I have to know what the dead mother did
to those kids that would make him want to cut all ties like that.  So
where is Don/Dick's mother?

Do you think the real Draper was a close friend of Dick's during the
War?

I would like to see some loose ends addressed.  Why would the
psychologist tell Don about his wife's progress, yet during her
sessions sit there like a bump on a log while Betty clearly needs
feed back from him?

Did Pete really expect his wife to sleep with Charly to get him
published in the New Yorker?  What slime.  Bet Trudy is regretting
her choice of husbands now!

Derek - Yea, I caught the reference to Look magazine.

I can't wait to see some of the housewives watching daytime TV while
they are ironing (everying had to be ironed in 1960!).  It was
rampant during this era! "Days of Our Lives", "The Doctors", etc.
Also - we need to hear some references to "I Love
Lucy", "Honeymooners"... stuff like that.

Annie

Hi Annie:

Yes, I thought he was going to pull a gun out, too. (Don being a war
vet and all - when he was home and opened his drawer with a key, I
thought for certain it had to be for a gun.)
I like the questions you've posed, and I hope the show has a chance
to reveal the answers.
I know the "Dick Van Dyke Show", and "Bewitched" (the early, black
and white version) didn't come on till years later, but when I
watch "MadMen", I can't help but notice the similarities in
style/dress.  Don Draper, meet similarly dark-haired Darrin Stevens;
Roger Sterling, meet similarly white-haired Larry Tate! :-)
I hope the show lasts long enough to span at least a decade (though
I know that's wishful thinking); it would be fun to see the
tremendous changes that took place in America during the 60s,
through the show's eyes.

Derek

--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "acjobson" <acjobson@...> wrote:
>
> Just caught the last episode.  I felt for both Don and Adam.  My
> husband thought he was going to pull a gun out of his bag.  I said
it
> was money - but was not expecting $5k!.  Present dollars would
> be...what...?  $50k or so?  I have to know what the dead mother
did
> to those kids that would make him want to cut all ties like that.
So
> where is Don/Dick's mother?
>
> Do you think the real Draper was a close friend of Dick's during
the
> War?
>
> I would like to see some loose ends addressed.  Why would the
> psychologist tell Don about his wife's progress, yet during her
> sessions sit there like a bump on a log while Betty clearly needs
> feed back from him?
>
> Did Pete really expect his wife to sleep with Charly to get him
> published in the New Yorker?  What slime.  Bet Trudy is regretting
> her choice of husbands now!
>
> Derek - Yea, I caught the reference to Look magazine.
>
> I can't wait to see some of the housewives watching daytime TV
while
> they are ironing (everying had to be ironed in 1960!).  It was
> rampant during this era! "Days of Our Lives", "The Doctors", etc.
> Also - we need to hear some references to "I Love
> Lucy", "Honeymooners"... stuff like that.
>
> Annie
>

I watched the original, and always the best, Cape Fear (1962) this
morning while I was summarizing a deposition.  I noticed some
interesting things.  BTW, this is about the 5th time I have seen this
film.

First, the actors are much more comfortable in their 1960's "skin" vs
the Mad Men actors.  The reasons are obvious - they really are 1960's
people.

I was reminded of how the cars had such hard surfaces inside -
dashboard, everything.  I can remember as a kid actually standing up
in the front seat so I could see "what was coming".  I think my
parents would tell me sit down "because it was not safe" - as it that
would matter in a headon!

Mitchum and Peck are real men.  They ooz sex appeal.(I did not need
to be reminded of that!)

Mitchum's character called an older black gentlemen "hey daddy".  I
do recall this was a slang way that young hoodlums addressed the
older generation.  Swell was not used one time by any of the people -
not even the teen daughter.

The architecture.  My dad was in retail management from the mid
1950's until he retired in the late 1990's.  I was fortunate enough
to be born in the late 50's and a kid in the 60's, so I recall the
times of a booming downtown era - when one would shop downtown.  I
can remember running up and down the stores (after  hours) and the
elaborate displays that were in them.  Dark, heavy mahogany furniture
display cabinets and trim, etc.  It made me think of Rachel's store
in Mad Men.

I do think that Mad Med have done a good job in capturing this time.
It is hard to nail it to perfection - especially if the actors were
not alive during that time.  No amount of looking at photos or old
movies is going to give them the kind of comfort level that I see in
Peck or Mitchum or other actors who appear in films that were
actually done in that time.  It would be like be trying to understand
what living in the depression was like.  I just can't.

Well, that is it.  I do enjoy the show, regardless, because it
reminds me of my childhood and because the storyline is interesting.

Annie

Hello, MMers-

I've completely fallen for this show, as I'm sure you all have, and
I'd count myself as an addict. I had caught only parts of some
episodes, so I've downloaded a few from iTunes to get caught up.
I can't add much more to what's been said about the show. I'm a child
of the 50's, and it does bring a lot back, but from the perspective of
an adult brought up in a different world. It's hard to believe how
much some things have changed, and others not at all.
Even though I've been up since 5:00am, I'll be fighting to stay awake
through "Babylon" tonight.
Thanks, Derek, for starting the group!

Ray in Davis, CA

So good to have you here, Ray!
Like Annie, I was born in the late '50s ('59), so I grew up during
the sixties.  We lived in a "family neighborhood" (though not quite
the suburbs) away from the center of the city.  Heading downtown to
shop and eat was a big excursion.
At my increasingly "advanced" age, LOL, I have to admit I miss some
of the formality of that time - formality of dress, manners,
protocol.  Also, I think we've become so overprotective, we've darned
near taken the "fun" out of things.
I had to laugh at the scene where Betty Draper catches their daughter
with a big plastic bag over her head - she's playing 'space man' or
something - and Betty says, "If I find my drycleaning on the floor,
young lady, you'll be in big trouble!" - something to that effect.
Hilarious.  Of course, I'm not advocating plastic bags over kid's
heads...

Well, not for most kids.  ;-)

Derek

--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Keck" <raykeck@...> wrote:
>
> Hello, MMers-
>
> I've completely fallen for this show, as I'm sure you all have, and
> I'd count myself as an addict. I had caught only parts of some
> episodes, so I've downloaded a few from iTunes to get caught up.
> I can't add much more to what's been said about the show. I'm a
child
> of the 50's, and it does bring a lot back, but from the perspective
of
> an adult brought up in a different world. It's hard to believe how
> much some things have changed, and others not at all.
> Even though I've been up since 5:00am, I'll be fighting to stay
awake
> through "Babylon" tonight.
> Thanks, Derek, for starting the group!
>
> Ray in Davis, CA
>

Derek-

I was just telling a friend about the dry cleaner bag, and the kids
climbing around the car. I guess it's a miracle we survived the lack
of safety and the second-hand smoke!

I was born in '57 and, even though I grew up in the Bay Arrea of
California, I can relate to Mad Men on many levels. I guess we were
the last generation to dress up to go downtown, the women in gloves,
the men in executive=cut overcoats. It is, in many ways, a shame
that formality is all but gone in our society, but it cuts both
ways.

I look forward to checking in tomorrow and reading reaction to
Episode 6. Time for a stiff scotch and a Lucky Strike!

Ray



--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Derek" <realtorderek@...> wrote:
>
> So good to have you here, Ray!
> Like Annie, I was born in the late '50s ('59), so I grew up during
> the sixties.  We lived in a "family neighborhood" (though not
quite
> the suburbs) away from the center of the city.  Heading downtown
to
> shop and eat was a big excursion.
> At my increasingly "advanced" age, LOL, I have to admit I miss
some
> of the formality of that time - formality of dress, manners,
> protocol.  Also, I think we've become so overprotective, we've
darned
> near taken the "fun" out of things.
> I had to laugh at the scene where Betty Draper catches their
daughter
> with a big plastic bag over her head - she's playing 'space man'
or
> something - and Betty says, "If I find my drycleaning on the
floor,
> young lady, you'll be in big trouble!" - something to that effect.
> Hilarious.  Of course, I'm not advocating plastic bags over kid's
> heads...
>
> Well, not for most kids.  ;-)
>
> Derek
>
> --- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Keck" <raykeck@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello, MMers-
> >
> > I've completely fallen for this show, as I'm sure you all have,
and
> > I'd count myself as an addict. I had caught only parts of some
> > episodes, so I've downloaded a few from iTunes to get caught up.
> > I can't add much more to what's been said about the show. I'm a
> child
> > of the 50's, and it does bring a lot back, but from the
perspective
> of
> > an adult brought up in a different world. It's hard to believe
how
> > much some things have changed, and others not at all.
> > Even though I've been up since 5:00am, I'll be fighting to stay
> awake
> > through "Babylon" tonight.
> > Thanks, Derek, for starting the group!
> >
> > Ray in Davis, CA
> >
>

SPOILER WARNING!

Well, I think this episode lays to rest the issue of Dick / Don's
Jewishness, not only because of the flashback scene but because of his
curiosity about Israel, the Exodus, etc. I think meeting Rachel for
lunch was an excuse to talk Judaism and try to charm his way into her
lovely pants, more than talking tourism ads. Sounds like Rachel is
goinf to take her sister's advice and go for it. How is Don going to
balance a wife and TWO mistresses?

As for Roger and Joan... just wow. I loved the scene with them standing
apart, both waiting for cabs, virtual strangers in public.

Just a quick "Glad to have you here" to our recent members.
I like reading the AMC blog, but I've always found this Yahoo Group
format to be a little more interactive and easy to follow, certainly
with regard to specific topics.

There are some who only get these posts through email, so do us all a
favor - If you're responding to a particular post, perhaps you can
respond to the specific topic, and delete the rest of the "thread", so
the emails won't be too long.  Otherwise, have at it!

Looking forward to sharing thoughts with all of you - Thanks for
joining us!

Derek

Finally caught the show last night (had to wait for my wife!).
This series is so well written, isn't it?
I thought the same - Don is quite the stud, having the energy to
accomodate three women.  Physically, is one thing, but emotionally it
will prove draining in no time.  You get the sense he cares about all
three, albeit in different ways.
Ray, great scene at the end with Roger and Joan - totally agree.
On a different subject, did they really have push-button phones (for
different lines) like those in 1960?  I remember them in my dad's
office, and that was in the late '60s, so I guess that could be.
I'm guessing most corporate offices DIDN'T have one-way mirrors, LOL!
The blatant sexism and chauvinism displayed on the show is TOO MUCH.
Wow.
I also laughed at the beatnik-club scene.  "You probably spent more
time on your hair than she did, this morning", and "I sleep on a bed
of money".  Great comebacks.

This one hour show feels like only a half-hour show.

Derek





--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Keck" <raykeck@...> wrote:
>
> SPOILER WARNING!
>
> Well, I think this episode lays to rest the issue of Dick / Don's
> Jewishness, not only because of the flashback scene but because of
his
> curiosity about Israel, the Exodus, etc. I think meeting Rachel for
> lunch was an excuse to talk Judaism and try to charm his way into
her
> lovely pants, more than talking tourism ads. Sounds like Rachel is
> goinf to take her sister's advice and go for it. How is Don going to
> balance a wife and TWO mistresses?
>
> As for Roger and Joan... just wow. I loved the scene with them
standing
> apart, both waiting for cabs, virtual strangers in public.
>

Details, details...

Wasn't that '60s Italian actress Claudia Cardinale on the cover of the
Jewish magazine cover, that the Mad Men were ogling?

Derek-

I dunno, but the same suggestion was made on the MM blog. If Claidia
wasn't Jewish, that doesn't make a lot of sense in the context of
how "attractive" Israelis are, according to the story line.

Hey, I've watched "Babylon" again, and it seems that Rachel's sister
calls Rachel "Barbara" not once, but twice. Then calls her "Rach'".
Confused me a little.

Considering how much press Mad Men is creating, and the apparent cult
following that it's developing, I'm a bit surprised that you and I
just have each other to talk to here! Maybe you should drop a link on
the AMC blog.

Ray


--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Derek" <realtorderek@...> wrote:
>
> Details, details...
>
> Wasn't that '60s Italian actress Claudia Cardinale on the cover of
the
> Jewish magazine cover, that the Mad Men were ogling?
>

I was thinking the same thing.
Hopefully, all of the new members here will join in soon.

Derek

--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "Ray Keck" <raykeck@...> wrote:
> Considering how much press Mad Men is creating, and the apparent
cult following that it's developing, I'm a bit surprised that you and
I just have each other to talk to here! Maybe you should drop a link
on the AMC blog.
>
> Ray

Just joined this group, and glad to be a part of it.  The first episode
of Mad Men really grabbed me and I've been hooked ever since.  I grew
up in a suburb of NYC (not Ossining), was in the 5th grade in 1960.  I
think they're portraying life at that time quite accurately.  On the
surface everything looked fine--at the birthday party Draper says to
one of the other guys "we've got it all"--but underneath there was
discontent festering.  I think that set the stage for the "cultural
revolution" that took place in the mid to late 60s.  I really like the
way the characters and story lines/themes are developing.

The sets and props seem pretty authentic, there might be a gaff here
and there but overall I think they've done a good job recreating the
home and office, the cars, and most important the attitudes of 1960.

Bob

A few things about the Babylon episode that really caught me after
watching it for a second time last night:

1.  Betty (when in bed with Don) and Roger (in bed with Joan) both
acknowledge that they've "waited all day for this..."  which I find a
fascinating parallel given how completely opposite the two characters
are in just about every way.

2.  I also agree with another post that talked about the power of the
final shots while the "City of Babylon" song played in the background.
  Rachel with the ties, Betty and her daughter with the lipstick, and
Roger and Joan's departure from the hotel were powerful visual messages.

3.  Finally, I thought Rachel's two definitions of Utopia was quite
interesting and I still seeking how the writers will that the idea of
"a place that is good" and "a place that you want to go to" forward.

I've not been this fascinated by a television series in quite some
time.  It's subtlety and complexity is brilliant.





--- In MadMenAMC@yahoogroups.com, "maninsync" <maninsync@...> wrote:
>
> Just joined this group, and glad to be a part of it.  The first episode
> of Mad Men really grabbed me and I've been hooked ever since.  I grew
> up in a suburb of NYC (not Ossining), was in the 5th grade in 1960.  I
> think they're portraying life at that time quite accurately.  On the
> surface everything looked fine--at the birthday party Draper says to
> one of the other guys "we've got it all"--but underneath there was
> discontent festering.  I think that set the stage for the "cultural
> revolution" that took place in the mid to late 60s.  I really like the
> way the characters and story lines/themes are developing.
>
> The sets and props seem pretty authentic, there might be a gaff here
> and there but overall I think they've done a good job recreating the
> home and office, the cars, and most important the attitudes of 1960.
>
> Bob
>

I am a new member of this group, but I have watched the show since
the start and I am fascinated by it.

I am interested in the different relationships that Don has.  He has
a barbie-doll wife. I want to know why he is married to her when she
is so different from the other women in his life.  If he was trying
to hide from his past and start a new life, maybe she was a logical
pick.  She is WASPy and apparently from a somewhat affluent
background.  That life might be very different from where he came
from.

But Betty is really a prop in his life.  I don't sense any real
feelings for her. She is the facade for a life that appears like the
middle class executive lifestyle he wants to belong to.  She is
predicable and he doesn't have to work very hard on his relationship
with her.

I don't understand his relationship with Midge.  It appears to be
only physical, yet he seems to want to spend a lot of time with her.
But they don't really do anything together beyond sex. Her life is
very different than his and he wouldn't fit in her life. But maybe
she is from the life he is hiding from.  They haven't explained where
he knows her from.  Maybe he knew her from when he was someone else.
But their relationship seems very superficial to me.

He seems to be strongly attracted to Rachel.  She is very
independent, sort of a metaphor for the new woman that will emerge in
the next decade.  I sense that Don is challenged by her. She is not
the free-spirit of Midge or the predictable Betty.  He is not sure
how to win her over.

I am so glad I found this group.

Derek,
A big New York ad agency WOULD have a one way mirror room.  They would use the
room for
conducting focus groups, as they did with all the secretaries testing the
lipsticks.  Of course,
the agency where I work has to rent this kind of room to conduct our research.  
(We don't
have a big tobacco account to cover our overhead!)

MarLyn