The Betty Mystique (A film by Susan Marks) Screening

Save the date! December 3, 2009 at the Mill City Museum at 7pm in Minneapolis, MN.

Almost every damn day someone asks me when they can see my documentary film on Betty Crocker. Your one and only chance is likely this December. Don't live anywhere near the Mill City Museum you say? Book your flight now and do your X-mas shopping while you are in town. How about the Mall of America? A lot people shop there and get all excited about it.

Or better yet, head over to St. Paul and shop at Common Good Books or at the Mill City Museum gift shop. It's really your call.

So come and get your Betty on and quit your crying! ;)

Did I mention it's free? A free event that is open to the public. You're going to wonder how you got so lucky.

Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow

I love your Betty Crocker scholarship stories. Keep 'em coming! Were you a Betty Crocker scholarship winner? At your high school? And did you make it to finals? Did you win the national scholarship? How did it impact your life?

Funny, I've heard from so many people that they won at the high school level, but were not interested in Home Economics. More often than not, I hear that the winner was just "good at taking tests."

I just have to share this photo with you. It was one the favorites in my private collection and was given to me by a former Crockette. (the one writing in the book) This is from the first Betty Crocker Kitchens in downtown Minneapolis. Don't you just love it? It's so overly posed that it's charming.

Historic Photos of Minnesota Has Successfully Launched!

Thanks to everyone who made it to Common Good Books for the book launch of Historic Photos of Minnesota. What a night! Garrison Keillor was a wonderful host and everyone was all smiles. Standing room only - a book loving crowd. Happy to be a part of it!

Of course there was a cake - shaped like Minnesota - made from Betty Crocker cake mixes.

Book Launch - Historic Photos of Minnesota

What could be more Minnesotans than having a book launch at Common Good Books with none other than Garrison Keillor? I can't wait. I hope you can join us on July 9, 2009 at 7:30 pm for an evening of Minnesota history and a very special Minnesota cake.

From Common Good Books' website:

Common Good Books favorite, Susan Marks, author of the Finding Betty Crocker and Historic Photos of Minnesota is joined by special guest host Garrison Keillor. Garrison Keillor will be on hand to interview Susan about her new book.

There will be cake. The Event is Open to the Public and Free to All.


A little bit about Historic Photos of Minnesota:

Minnesota's past is defined by its remarkable natural resources, and shaped by its native peoples and early settlers. From the fur trade and the establishment of Fort Snelling, to harnessing the power of the Mississippi River as a means to fuel emergent logging and milling industries, Minnesota's history is that of a land like no other.

Pioneering Minnesotans embraced everything that the sprawling prairies, rich farmlands, and more than 10,000 lakes offered. Boomtowns and small towns sprang up and were connected to the thriving metropolises of Minneapolis and St. Paul through a great labyrinth of railways. From the time photographers first started pointing their cameras in the direction of Minnesota's land and people, crystallized moments from the state's history were captured, and stories preserved.

The archival images collected in Historic Photos of Minnesota offer unique insights into the state's not-so-distant past. Spanning more than 100 years, this book documents everyday lives and significant events in Minnesota's extraordinary history.

Do you want to see some photos from the book?

Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow

I love hearing your Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship stories. Keep sending them my way!

I'm also still hoping to hear from a state or national winner. Recently, I paged through this test to see how I would fair. And I say without the least bit of modestly that I would have failed. This test is tough! I've heard over and over again from winners (at the high school level) that it was an easy test. I'm mystified. I think the winners are smarter than they realize.

But still, some questions are fairly easy. Here is a sample question:

A homemaker will enjoy her housekeeping task more if she:

A. has the right equipment.
B. has someone to talk to while working
C. does the task systematically and regularly.
D. has a working plan suitable to herself and her family.


I'm guessing the answer is "D". I say this because I don't have the answer key - just the questions. This was a timed test, so the participants could not spend too much time on one question.

Do any of you remember the questions from the test? Do you remember your answers?

Happy Mother's Day!

In lieu of getting a tattoo...Happy Mother's Day to anyone who mothers anyone or anything.

And to my own mother, Alice Lucy Springer Marks - a woman who could give Betty Crocker a run for her money - I want to share a few words of wisdom that you have imparted upon me. These words have profoundly shaped me and I thank you for that.  Two of my favorites:

I was nine years old and unbelievably seriously about everything. I told you how I was unfairly treated by a neighbor girl and I was crushed that I thought of a good retort... the next day. Sympathetically, yet almost laughing, you told me, "Is that the worst? Oh well, life is full of 'I should of's." Boy, you're weren't kidding. I can't tell you how many times your words helped me let go.

Another thing that you said that rings in my ears happened when I was 18 or 19. I thought you went overboard with decorating for some minor holiday (I think it was Flag Day) and I didn't hesitate to tell you so. You shrugged and smiled and said, "There's so much sadness in this world, I'll take any opportunity to celebrate." At that moment, I was struck by how wise you are.

On this day, Mother's Day, even though your kids are far away, I know you are celebrating in style.

Just when I thought Betty Crocker didn't live here anymore...

I spent seven years of my life devoted to Betty Crocker - researching, writing, interviewing, baking, looking for her - in a sense. Sometimes I was even heartbroken in the process.

I wanted to so much to tell the story about the mythical side of Betty - the archetypal need she filled in so many people's lives. Like the Greek Goddess, Hestia - Keeper of the Hearth and Home. But my lofty connections didn't fly with my publisher, nor academia, nor did it really fly in my film. (Although I blame lack of funding on why it didn't fly in the film)

I let it go. I moved on. Started new projects. I declined some speaking engagements, pulled my website, failed to mention my "involvement" in Betty Crocker when I met new people - even when I had a freelance writing/producing gig at the Betty Crocker Kitchens last year.

But suddenly, a few months ago, Betty Crocker found me. Emails started pouring in, people want to talk about Betty Crocker, read the book, see the film, connect with something...

Honestly, I believe it has nothing to do with branding, marketing, cake mixes, etc. I think Betty's mystique was set in motion back in the 1920s. She (through her staff) was there for people during the uncertain times of the 1930s and 1940s. (See the letters in my book) And now, in these uncertain times, people are looking again to that comforting figure - not the corporate version of Betty, but the Betty of the past - the Betty that meant something to their mothers, and grandmothers.

It's too early to go public, but this renewed interest in the mystique of Betty Crocker has granted me the opportunity to finally tell the story I've always wanted to tell.

Thanks everyone, for telling me your personal stories about Betty! Have a beautiful weekend.