MUScoop
MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: Benny B on October 13, 2015, 10:54:15 AM
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Sure, the "good land" is no New York City, Paris or Tokyo... but Milwaukee has contributed greatly to American and world culture in its own right.
It's not just goods and services... we're talking about contributions to our way of life: the arts, behaviors, values, communication, knowledge, religion, paradigms, processes, education, etc.
While unequivocally a catalyst for all things cultural, beer itself is not a cultural export of Milwaukee (as it was not invented here, it was merely revolutionized). But even if it were, it would clearly be #1. Think of it this way... there's nothing intellectual about a discussion on who's most influenced MU basketball throughout history; the real debate is who is #2.
So in thinking about who/what from Milwaukee has had the greatest cultural impact on society, I came up with the following. What else is missing from the list? (Kato Kaelin was deliberately left off the list)
People:
Gene Wilder
Spencer Tracy
Liberace
Les Paul
Golda Meir
Bud Selig
Billy Mitchell
Inventions & Innovations:
The Mechanical Typewriter & QWERTY Keyboard
Harley-Davidson
The outboard motor
The commercial airliner
Milwaukee Electric Tool (e.g. one-handed drill, right-angle drill, and reciprocating saw)
The steel automobile frame
Carmex
The modern padlock (laminated steel)
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Sure, the "good land" is no New York City, Paris or Tokyo... but Milwaukee has contributed greatly to American and world culture in its own right.
It's not just goods and services... we're talking about contributions to our way of life: the arts, behaviors, values, communication, knowledge, religion, paradigms, processes, education, etc.
While unequivocally a catalyst for all things cultural, beer itself is not a cultural export of Milwaukee (as it was not invented here, it was merely revolutionized). But even if it were, it would clearly be #1. Think of it this way... there's nothing intellectual about a discussion on who's most influenced MU basketball throughout history; the real debate is who is #2.
So in thinking about who/what from Milwaukee has had the greatest cultural impact on society, I came up with the following. What else is missing from the list? (Kato Kaelin was deliberately left off the list)
People:
Gene Wilder
Spencer Tracy
Liberace
Les Paul
Golda Meir
Bud Selig
Billy Mitchell
Al Jarreau
Les Paul
Steve Miller
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What exactly are the criteria? Not all people on your list were born in Milwaukee.
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The Friday Fish Fry (F3) as cultural artifact
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Oprah
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Candy Raisins
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Milorganite.
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What exactly are the criteria? Not all people on your list were born in Milwaukee.
Sorry... I must have deleted that when I was proofreading. Criteria is people who were raised in the Milwaukee-area, i.e. those who predominantly lived in Milwaukee during their influential years and then went on to have an impact on national/international culture and society.
So someone like Golda Meir who was born in Kiev but lived in Milwaukee from the age of 7 until she was almost 20 is eligible; however, someone like Jeffrey Dahmer who was born in Stallis but moved to Ohio at the age of 6 and didn't return to the area until 21 is not.
Steve Miller would not qualify; Al Jarreau certainly would.
Oprah's an interesting one... she lived in Milwaukee off and on from the age of 6 until her mid teens. However, it seems she was more influenced by her father who lived in Nashville than her mother in Milwaukee.
Milorganite is a great one... can't believe I forgot about that considering I just poured three bags on my lawn last month.
Sure it's popular and has strong traditions, but can Milwaukee really stake claim to the Friday Fish Fry?
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Sorry... I must have deleted that when I was proofreading. Criteria is people who were raised in the Milwaukee-area, i.e. those who predominantly lived in Milwaukee during their influential years and then went on to have an impact on national/international culture and society.
So someone like Golda Meir who was born in Kiev but lived in Milwaukee from the age of 7 until she was almost 20 is eligible; however, someone like Jeffrey Dahmer who was born in Stallis but moved to Ohio at the age of 6 and didn't return to the area until 21 is not.
Makes sense. I raised the question because I knew Meir wasn't from Milwaukee, but you are right that her upbringing in Milwaukee was a pretty substantial part of who she was.
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Sure it's popular and has strong traditions, but can Milwaukee really stake claim to the Friday Fish Fry?
Can one actually pronounce 'Milwaukee' without a Flashingly Fulgent Film of Friday Fish Fry (F5) grease lubricating one's vocal cords?
I think not.
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Ahem.....
Maybe not an export, but....
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So someone like Golda Meir who was born in Kiev but lived in Milwaukee from the age of 7 until she was almost 20 is eligible;
I think we invoke the 0-38 rule when noting that Golda Meir was graduated from what is now UWM.
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Ahem.....
Maybe not an export, but....
I see what you did there.
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Just realized Bob Uecker isn't on the list.
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Sure it's popular and has strong traditions, but can Milwaukee really stake claim to the Friday Fish Fry?
No probably not. It's more of a Wisconsin thing along with the Brandy Old Fashioned.
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Gemütlichkeit
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Well since you have Les Paul who is from Waukesha I would assume this means Milwaukee area.
So then you have Malted Milk for Malts & such (Racine)
Also, Holler House is the oldest bowling alley in the US.
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the 1st automobile made in the US by Gottlieb Schoemer in 1889
Jim Abrahams and the Zucker Bros.
Woody Herman
Jerry Harrison
Bob Kames
Daryl Stuermer
James Lovell
Gena Rowlands
Spencer Tracy
Tom 'Billyjack' Laughlin
Alfred Lunt
Brooks Stevens
Peter Bonerz (come on you dentists!)
Father Groppi
Pat O'Brien
William Rehnquist
Tom Snyder
John Matuszak
Downtown Freddie Brown
Dan Hansen
the Hamm Bros.
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Randy Sprecher
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No probably not. It's more of a Wisconsin thing along with the Brandy Old Fashioned.
So maybe Milwaukee is also an incubator for cultural trends that have died long ago....
Friday Fish Fry
Brandy Old Fashioned
Mustaches (despite the recent resurgence everywhere else this has been going strong for 50 years)
Cut Off Jean shorts
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There is no reason why either fish fries or brandy old fashioneds should have died off years ago.
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Well since you have Les Paul who is from Waukesha I would assume this means Milwaukee area.
So then you have Malted Milk for Malts & such (Racine)
Also, Holler House is the oldest bowling alley in the US.
Good point... so either malted milk is in or Les Paul is out.
the 1st automobile made in the US by Gottlieb Schoemer in 1889
Jim Abrahams and the Zucker Bros.
Woody Herman
Jerry Harrison
Bob Kames
Daryl Stuermer
James Lovell
Gena Rowlands
Spencer Tracy
Tom 'Billyjack' Laughlin
Alfred Lunt
Brooks Stevens
Peter Bonerz (come on you dentists!)
Father Groppi
Pat O'Brien
William Rehnquist
Tom Snyder
John Matuszak
Downtown Freddie Brown
Dan Hansen
the Hamm Bros.
Keep in mind... it isn't a "famous people/things" from Milwaukee list, it's a list of those people/things that have impacted our culture. Some of these names were considered, but I had to whittle it down. William Rehnquist, however, is definitely one I overlooked.
Incidentally, I did give strong consideration to the Jim and the Zuckers, but then I looked at my list and realized the fallacy of putting them there.
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Dude. The Fonz.
Fictional or not, he is a cultural icon
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Good point... so either malted milk is in or Les Paul is out.
Keep in mind... it isn't a "famous people/things" from Milwaukee list, it's a list of those people/things that have impacted our culture. Some of these names were considered, but I had to whittle it down. William Rehnquist, however, is definitely one I overlooked.
Incidentally, I did give strong consideration to the Jim and the Zuckers, but then I looked at my list and realized the fallacy of putting them there.
The Travel Wisconsin commercials that the Zuckers have foisted upon the public should prevent them from every stepping foot in Wisconsin again.
I was going to include Rhenquist, but I'm not sure how much "cultural impact" he has had.
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As Michael Kenyon listed, Brooks Stevens should be on your list. Many of his designs live on today (including the wiener mobile).
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This is really difficult topic, as it is defined. I am not going to research whether any of this or these people meet your criteria. Folks don't associate Spencer Tracy or Golda Meir with Milwaukee.
Not being in Milwaukee for a long time....I get to hear from outliers what they associate or credit Milwaukee with around the country, Here is what I've mostly heard.
What is Milwaukee known for around the country and the world?
Beer
Cheese
Sausage
Germans/pro German sentiment (yes..pre WWII)
Big machine shops, heavy manufacturing- Harley Davidson, Briggs & Stratton, Milwaukee Tool, Harnishfeger (sp?)
Happy Days/Laverne&Shirley /That 70s Show
George Speidel/Milwaukee Zoo Set the stage for natural diorama animal presentation in zoos worldwide
Mitchell Domes Unique Urban effort at Horticultural study and presentation and Milorganite
Socialist Mayors--- yes socialism functioned successfully in the running of a US City
Summerfest-- yes its known fairly broadly
Architecture: The new art center, Annuciation Greek Orthodox church (FL Wright), and City Hall (see laverne and Shirley)
People?
In older days:
Houdini
Hildegard
Alfred Lund
Fighting Bob Lafollette/progressivism
Joe McCarthy/ McCarthyism
Generals Arthur MacArthur, Douglas MacArthur, Billy Mitchell (most outliers know of that because of airport name)
Teddy Roosevelt/Geo Wallace shootings , and yes Jeff Dahmer
The Brewers, Robin Yount, Bud Selig Bob Uecker
The Bucks, Lew Alcindor, Oscar Robertsons championship, Don Nelson, Sidney moncrief.etc
Marquette, BB, Al McGuire D. Wade
Your lists of the other uber famous sometimes comes up...or, respectfully, and more often I will point it out.
The general impression is:
Clean city, friendly people, lots of parks, River and Lakefront areas are nice. Cold winters Beautiful summers Lots of Bars Almost all have nice things to say.
To me that is the "influence" of the city...and its generally quite favorable Kudos
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Fighting Pittsburgh for the title of the nation's best blue-collar city
(http://media.jsonline.com/images/28007169_blueshirt.jpg)
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People?
In older days:
Houdini
Hildegard
Alfred Lund
Fighting Bob Lafollette/progressivism
Joe McCarthy/ McCarthyism
Generals Arthur MacArthur, Douglas MacArthur, Billy Mitchell (most outliers know of that because of airport name)
[/quote]
Houdini is from Appleton
Hildegard is from New Holstein, but did some time at Marquette
Bob LaFollette is from the Madison area
Arthur McArthur is from Milwaukee, but Doug really isn't
Joe McCarthy is also from Appleton, but of course graduated from Marquette
Alfred Lunt...yes.
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People?
In older days:
Houdini
Hildegard
Alfred Lund
Fighting Bob Lafollette/progressivism
Joe McCarthy/ McCarthyism
Generals Arthur MacArthur, Douglas MacArthur, Billy Mitchell (most outliers know of that because of airport name)
Houdini is from Appleton
Hildegard is from New Holstein, but did some time at Marquette
Bob LaFollette is from the Madison area
Arthur McArthur is from Milwaukee, but Doug really isn't
Joe McCarthy is also from Appleton, but of course graduated from Marquette
Alfred Lunt...yes.
Reading my post....I explained...up front... that I would make no effort to research the odd Milwaukee centric rule compliance . So...sorry there.
Les Paul is about as much Milwaukee as Orson Welles, though.
The person who qualifies best on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.
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Reading my post....I explained...up front... that I would make no effort to research the odd Milwaukee centric rule compliance . So...sorry there.
Les Paul is about as much Milwaukee as Orson Welles, though.
The person who qualifies best on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.
How many years did Oprah actually live in Milwaukee?
Just by a quick search, it looks like she moved there from Mississippi when she was 6 (1960), and then moved to Nashville when she was 8 (1962). Can't quite tell from Wiki exactly where she went next (maybe back to MKE for a bit??), but they talk a lot more about Nashville than Milwaukee.
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The person who qualifies best on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.
Oprah spent a significant amount of her childhood in Nashville-perhaps as much time (or more) as she she spent in Milwaukee. I am pretty sure she considers Nashville her home town.
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How many years did Oprah actually live in Milwaukee?
Just by a quick search, it looks like she moved there from Mississippi when she was 6 (1960), and then moved to Nashville when she was 8 (1962). Can't quite tell from Wiki exactly where she went next (maybe back to MKE for a bit??), but they talk a lot more about Nashville than Milwaukee.
Jinx. From what I can tell, Oprah does not look back on her time in Milwaukee very fondly. She live in a very rough part of town, her mother did not provide a stable home. She was sexually molested by relatives. She went to Nicolet High School as part of Upward Bound, where she was mocked and bullied because of her poverty. When she went back to live with her father in Nashville, she really blossomed.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Milwaukee
Everyone and Anyone connected to Milwaukee
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There is no reason why either fish fries or brandy old fashioneds should have died off years ago.
Hasn't died with chick and I. Anytime we find a supper club north of the cheddar curtain on Friday when we get an opportunity to return to God's country.
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Arguably the world's foremost economist, Raj Chetty, spent quite a bit of time in Milwaukee. Not sure how we are defining "raised." He was born in India, but I believe moved to Milwaukee as a kid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Chetty
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/renowned-economist-chetty-draws-on-his-expiences-as-former-area-resident-b99135781z1-230742771.html
He has a LONG list of accomplishments (all while under 40), yet still lists University School of Milwaukee on his CV.
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Hasn't died with chick and I. Anytime we find a supper club north of the cheddar curtain on Friday when we get an opportunity to return to God's country.
Love it! The lookout tower of which, would be the Mars Cheese Castle, I suppose.
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Beer, brats & bowling.
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a supper club
Uniquely Wisconsin
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Tony Romo
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Hasn't died with chick and I. Anytime we find a supper club north of the cheddar curtain on Friday when we get an opportunity to return to God's country.
List?
Some of mine right over the Cheddar Curtain in SE Wisconsin.
Of course the one closest to MU is 5 O'Clock/Koerpers, Hob Nob in Racine, Stagecoach Inn near Ft. Atkinson.
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List?
Are you familiar with the "holy land" area of Fond du Lac and Calumet counties? So called because of the number of religious named towns?
(Calvary, Mt. Calvary, Marytown, St. Anna, St. Cloud)? Loads of supper clubs:
http://www.travelcalumet.com/i/f/files/Supper%20Club%20Fish%20Fry%20Map%202013.pdf
I recommend Blanck's and Schwarz's.
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Found this...great documentary listed.
http://www.wisconsinsupperclubs.net
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Sir
You beat me to the punch. Brooks Stevens most definitely belongs on that list. He really was special and love looking at his work.
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Reading my post....I explained...up front... that I would make no effort to research the odd Milwaukee centric rule compliance . So...sorry there.
Les Paul is about as much Milwaukee as Orson Welles, though.
The person who qualifies best on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.
I saw your disclaimer, but I think you're missing the point... It's not about spreading Milwaukee's influence or who/what is most associated with Milwaukee, but who/what - that originated in Milwaukee - went on to have the greatest cultural impact on society. Part of the fun is that many people don't know these people, inventions, product, etc. are from Milwaukee.
As to Oprah, the response was simple... she was not predominantly raised in Milwaukee. Moreover, as mentioned, I'm sure she wouldn't consider Milwaukee anything more than a transitional period in her life.
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I saw your disclaimer, but I think you're missing the point... It's not about spreading Milwaukee's influence or who/what is most associated with Milwaukee, but who/what - that originated in Milwaukee - went on to have the greatest cultural impact on society. Part of the fun is that many people don't know these people, inventions, product, etc. are from Milwaukee.
As to Oprah, the response was simple... she was not predominantly raised in Milwaukee. Moreover, as mentioned, I'm sure she wouldn't consider Milwaukee anything more than a transitional period in her life.
Oh My.
Well , you have patrolled and arbitrated the other responses as sole owner and ruler of the thread....all hail to your Threadness. I'll move on,sir