There is no doubt that television has had a huge impact on shaping consumer activity; it is a primary function of the medium. Like virtually everything, television can be used for good or bad. TV’s power to shape our culture could have been harnessed to inspire awareness of history, cultivate the ability to discern between quality and crap, and instill an appreciation for both history and quality. However, the television networks have chosen to promote a consumerist platform which emphasizes replacement rather than conservation and continues to do so even as awareness of environmental concerns becomes more mainstream; it is, of course, all about the money and fueling the economy.
The sad irony is that conservation of our resources can also drive the economy; people who protect historic buildings and the environment also make purchases in order to do so. Infotainment television continues to promote the ludicrous notion that the first thing every new homeowner needs is a sledgehammer. It glamorizes the gutting of entire interiors which are no where near the ends of their lifespans by repeating the process ad nauseam in numerous TV programs. As the old saying goes, “They don’t call it programming for nothing!” Americans have been programmed to be indifferent toward their history, remain in ignorance of it, and even pay to replace it with whatever their television convinces them is the next coolest thing to do.
Scenes like the one below are far more commonplace than they once were; I cringe every time I see a dumpster or trailer piled with building materials which have been needlessly discarded – only to add more material to grind into the earth at the local landfill. I drove by this scene yesterday – what was obviously a mid-century modern ranch house of quality design and construction had lost an original bathroom. Probably built in the early 1960’s, the house had a bathroom which featured custom millwork made of birch – a highly desirable hardwood which is too costly to be used extensively today. Along with the discarded millwork were vintage plumbing fixtures – a cast iron sink with porcelain finish and matching toilet. Both were intact, at least half a century in age, and capable of lasting twice that long. The door and cabinet hardware were similarly of high quality.
I’m not alone in my outrage; a fascinating web site, Save The Pink Bathrooms, not only calls attention to this needlessly wasteful phenomenon but also helps to educate people and offers links to resources for people who retain their historic bathrooms. These fixtures, while not Mamie Pink, have been just as disparaged. Despite the growing reach and power of the internet, organizations advocating for conservation and historic preservation are largely ignored. As another old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink!”
What will this bathroom be replaced with? Given the limited options available today, it will likely be something that looks a lot like a display at the nearest Big Box home “improvement” center – and, not surprisingly, a lot like what one sees on television programs promoting such replacements.
Say “Goodbye” to another victim of aggressive marketing posing as sage advice:
Brake-slamming scene: Trailer loaded with demolition debris in front of a distinctive Mid-Century Modern ranch house.
All kinds of good stuff going to the dump… solid birch face frames, casing, birch veneered doors, hardware, plumbing fixtures…
Just look at the finish on this 50-year-old lockset – the chrome is as bright and reflective as when it was new.
Same for this playful cabinet pull – mid-century hardware and chrome go great together!
The underside of the cast iron sink, miscellaneous drawers, and the bottom of the bathroom door revealing solid-core construction.
Sink, toilet, face frames and casing.
A birch medicine cabinet lays beneath a part of the broken countertop. Was it fun to play like you were on a TV show?
Off to the landfill where it will contribute to nothing.
Ugh, just another good reason not to watch television. I freed my mind 18 years ago when my favorite show on HGTV was “Extreme Homes” – with unique, original designs. Now I’m hooked on watching restoration and Tiny Home videos on YouTube and reading architectural blogs online. At least I can seek out the good stuff somewhere. Thanks guys!
It’s very flattering to be included in your select line-up of mind-improving media… thank you! I’ll do my best to provide you with good info! (BTW, I abandoned my TV over 20 years ago. One of the smartest things I’ve ever done!)
Ugh – agreed! What a mess. I don’t think I would have been able to leave that medicine cabinet behind.
It’s always iffy to cart stuff off without asking, even if it is obviously being discarded. If I was driving the truck, I probably would have taken a few things. I was ready to go after getting photos but, thankfully, Jim insisted on saving the drawer and cabinet pulls. They will be installed in the bathroom I am going to build this summer!
Whew! Glad to hear that. I am afraid I am turning a bit into a hoarder of architectural salvage. Glad you have a use in mind, and that you grabbed them. Hate to see them trashed.
Millennial Pink! Guessing these bathroom fixtures would be snapped up pretty quick if sold online.
That’s the irony of it; there IS a demand for these items… just not in flyover country! Regardless, it’s insane that our culture still thinks it appropriate to take perfectly useful items to a landfill – that kind of waste is inexcusable at this point in our history. To add insult to injury, many jurisdictions now prohibit people from salvaging items from landfills! By criminalizing re-use in this manner, people are forced to buy new – again in an effort to prop up the economy (at the expense of the environment and our history). The world continues to go mad. Thank you for caring!
Yes, very sad. It’s frustrating that most of the items I’m searching for to restore our house are things previous owners threw away, yet it takes me months to years of searching, and considerable expense to replace it.
I hear you! I’ve recently been talking to someone who just purchased an old house to use as a rental property and have been trying to get him to see the value of historic and architectural integrity. Fortunately, he’s receptive to listening but not likely to embrace everything. I guess something is better than nothing, however. Sigh.
be truthful now – your faithful readers know you hauled it all home – an architectural junkie can’t resist.
(Shhhhhhhhhh…..!)
I would have backed my truck up against the flat-bed trailer, hooked it up, and driven off.