Contact: Ellen Pincus, Public Relations Manager
Office 608-264-6566, Cell 608-770-2013
ellen.pincus@wisconsinhistory.
Joe Kapler, Curator
264-6552
Joseph.Kapler@
Wisconsin Historical Museum Welcomes the Holiday Season with the
Largest Public Exhibition of Evergleam Aluminum Christmas Trees
Top Selling Wisconsin-Made Novelty Stirs Seasonal Nostalgia
MADISON, WI- Vintage silver, pink, gold and green aluminum trees spotlighted to sparkle, along with accessories such as rotating tree stands and colored light projectors, are on view this holiday season at the Wisconsin Historical Museum in an exhibition of the largest collection of Evergleams ever available to the public. ’tis the Season, on exhibit November 26, 2013 through January 11, 2014, welcomes visitors to stroll the Evergleams and explore their origin and development by Wisconsin’s Aluminum Specialty Company.
Even though it’s been over 50 years since the Evergleam aluminum Christmas tree burst on to the holiday decorating scene, today’s retro, Mad Men inspired nostalgia is renewing popular interest in the strikingly different holiday tradition. The Aluminum Specialty Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin made the Evergleam tree, by far the most popular brand in a crowded marketplace. More than one million Evergleams, in a variety of colors and sizes, made their way to American homes in the 1960s.
Aluminum Specialty stopped making the trees in the early 1970s, but many of their trees remained integral to family Christmas traditions. Today the space-age era trees are in high demand at antique stores throughout Wisconsin and online auctions command substantial prices.
Success, however, came with scorn by critics who proclaimed aluminum trees symbols of the commercialization of Christmas. In the television special A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), Lucy wanted “the biggest aluminum tree [Charlie Brown] could find, maybe even painted pink.” Charlie ultimately selected a real, but skimpy tree because it better reflected his view of the true spirit of Christmas. Today, “The pink trees are the holy grail” says ’tis the season curator Joe Kapler who continually grows the museums collection. Kapler has not seem one surface on the market since 2005.
“The aluminum Christmas tree is a huge Wisconsin story” says Kapler. “It’s about a Wisconsin manufacturer creating a national design trend and becoming a breakthrough success. What started as a space-age departure from tradition is ironically, today, an evoker of nostalgic Christmas memories.” ‘Tis the season to welcome the holiday in all its ever gleaming wonder at the Wisconsin Historical Museum on Madison’s Capitol Square.
Links to More Information
Wisconsin Historical Society article on the Evergleam Tree: http://bit.ly/1cBt31p
Wisconsin Historical Museum Holiday Events: http://bit.ly/10xStf8
Wisconsin Historical Museum Facebook page with
Evergleam posts and memories: http://on.fb.me/18Fj2xr
About the Wisconsin Historical Museum
The Wisconsin Historical Museum is located at 30 N. Carroll St. on Madison’s Capitol Square and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation: $4 per adult, $3 per child or $10 per family. The Museum features four floors of exhibition space and a unique museum store. Call (608) 264-6555 for more information, or visit us online at www.WisconsinHistoricalMuseum.
For high-resolution images or interview requests, contact Ellen Pincus at (608) 264-6566, ellen.pincus@wisconsinhistory.org
