Vigo County Historical Society

Christmas tree of tinsel popular in the 1950s, early 1960s

Christmas trees down through the ages have changed very little in appearance. Most are some kind of live or artificial evergreen.

But in the 1950s through the early 1960s, a "modern" looking tree became popular. It was known as the aluminum or tinsel tree. The fad died quickly and not many are used today.

This Christmas, you can find three tinsel trees on display in the Vigo County Historical Museum’s "Celebrate the Century" exhibit.

After you assemble a tinsel tree, decorating is quite easy. Most tinsel tree owners did not use decorations, but those who did, used balls in only one or two colors. Because the tree is made of aluminum, no lights can be strung on it. They are lit by aiming a multicolored rotation spotlight at the tree, which reflected the lights.

Several tinsel trees have been given to the museum. Of the trees on display, little is known about the 6-foot tree, but the four-foot tree is a Fairyland Tree made by Crafthouse Trees Corp. out of Chicago. It was purchased at People’s for $5.88.

The 2-foot tree is named "The Sparkler" by Pom Pom Aluminum Christmas Trees, Star Band Co. Inc., out of Portsmouth, Va. It was purchased at Woolworth’s for $1.98.

Helen Osmon donated one of the trees along with a Spartus Rotation Color Wheel that lights up our tinsel tree display.

Be sure to stop by the museum and see what Santa left under the many trees as we "Celebrate the Century" at Christmas.