June 12, 2025 • 28 mins
In this special Flag Day bonus episode, we’re joined by Cynthia Brooks, a renowned flag expert and trusted source for collectors seeking rare, storied, and one-of-a-kind flags.
Cynthia shares how flags carry more than symbols—they hold history, identity, and deep emotional resonance. From 13-star treasures to Civil War-era finds, she gives us a peek into the world of flag collecting, how she helps clients build meaningful collections, and why these textiles deserve a place of honor in the home.
Whether you’re a design lover, history buff, or simply flag-curious, Cynthia’s passion and knowledge bring a soulful new perspective to the stars and stripes.
Street Style Takeaways: Cynthia Brooks on Flags with Soul
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Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Cynthia shares how flags carry more than symbols—they hold history, identity, and deep emotional resonance. From 13-star treasures to Civil War-era finds, she gives us a peek into the world of flag collecting, how she helps clients build meaningful collections, and why these textiles deserve a place of honor in the home.
Whether you’re a design lover, history buff, or simply flag-curious, Cynthia’s passion and knowledge bring a soulful new perspective to the stars and stripes.
Street Style Takeaways: Cynthia Brooks on Flags with Soul
- Collect with Meaning
Just like curating a wardrobe or a room, collecting flags is about finding pieces that tell a story—not just fill space. - Display What Matters
Whether it’s a vintage flag or a family keepsake, put your history on display. Style your space with items that represent your identity. - Respect the Past, Style for Now
Cynthia blends reverence for American history with modern presentation—just like mixing vintage with new in fashion or interiors. - Textiles Tell a Story
A tattered edge, hand-stitched star, or faded hue can hold generations of meaning. Don’t be afraid to embrace imperfection—it adds soul. - Patriotism with Personality
Your home—and your style—can reflect love for country in subtle, personal ways. Think beyond red, white, and blue to a palette of heritage.
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15! Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast where life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style. You
constrol one street at a time, Boulevard Beat proves the
(00:30):
one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome to this special Flag Day bonus episode. We're joined
by Cynthia Brooks, a renowned flag expert and trusted source
for collectors seeking rare, storied, and one of a kind flags.
Cynthia shares how flags carry more than symbols. They hold history, identity,
and a deep emotional resonance. Whether you're a design lover,
history buff or simply flag curious, Cynthia's passion and knowledge
(00:58):
bring a soulful new perspective to the stars and stripes.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So we are here today with Cynthia Brooks from Colorado.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Welcome Cynthia, Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Well, we are very excited because this is a special
bonus episode for boulevard Beat. Here we are two days
before Flag Day, and we thought it would be fun
to talk to you about your business, which is the
collecting of vintage flags.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
I first happened upon your booth at Roundtop.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
During the Antique Fear a few years ago and was
just mesmerized and so captivated.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
By all of the knowledge that I learned there.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
So I thought it would be fun if we shared
your knowledge with our listeners.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Well, thank you, certainly, Cynthia.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
We start off every episode with the same question, and
the name of our podcast, as you know, is Boulevard Beat.
When we came up with this podcast, the idea of
a boulevard of a street, it's so all American and
all America, and as a term that gets thrown around
quite a bit. And you know, I think when you're
talking about streets and boulevards, we all had the idea
(02:07):
of the house with the white picket fence and the
dog an ice cream truck.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
So tell us about the street you.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Grew up on. Well, I grew up in rural Illinois,
very very southern part of Illinois. It's beautiful country. It's
a great place to live if you have a job.
I've done a lot of people didn't have jobs but
it never seemed to bother any of us. Growing up,
I thought I was living in a huge town. There
(02:35):
were four thousand people. I grew up just very traditional.
I had a brother and my parents and play outside
all the time. We ran through the alleys, we knew
all the shopkeepers. We had a skating rate and did that.
And then older I had team town where you go
(02:55):
to dance, and just very traditional. I think almost story book.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
You know, you use the term storybook, and I think
that that idyllic living is what we think of when
we think of quintessential American life. And it's funny how
when you're a child, the world around you, even if
it's only four thousand people, seems very big, and then
as an adult you realize that it's just a mere
snapshot of the world.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Yes, that's correct, and it was a beautiful snapshot, but
it led to a greater thing, so it's a great start.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
So, Cynthia, there are so many categories to consider when
it comes to collecting what launched your community for Old Flags,
we really want to know about your background and how
this business came to be.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
I got mostly interested in homefront World War two homefront items.
I was a stay at home mom, and I love
to go to some museums and look at the war posters,
and I like how they portrayed the citizenship of the name.
I mean, everybody was gathered together, and we were all
(04:04):
working together, and even children had little pencils with flags
on them, and everybody was recycling for the war efforts.
And so I got into that and thoroughly enjoyed that.
But that also led to flags, because I would buy
(04:24):
a box of stuff and there'd be a great little
flag in there, and then I started noticing the flags
were not the same. They just looked so different. You
can even have the same number of stars and they
would look different. And so I just sort of evolved
that way, coming from home front World War two. And
(04:48):
I love integrity. I love the country and the flag
and what it symbols, kind of God, Mom, in our country,
like the men of that generation and the women and
who went to war, they went, they did their job,
they came back and went to their regular everyday jobs
without all the fanfare. I mean, it was just a
(05:10):
service to be done. I grew up in a very
service oriented family, not necessarily military service, but doing for
your country.
Speaker 6 (05:18):
Well sint it.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
That was really fun and interesting to hear about the
history of that as well. As we all know etiquette
reigns really high when it comes to flags and the
way you display them and how you get rid of flags.
What does the inventory look like for old flags now,
because I know there are fewer of them in circulation
and some of these relics are available to collect, which
(05:41):
is hard to find as well. And how has that
affected the price points of flags?
Speaker 5 (05:46):
People are finally understanding that the flag holds so much
history and it's a great piece of art, and many
times it's more along the category of folk art. And
since the appreciation is going up with the American flags,
especially the older ones, the price goes up and it's
(06:09):
much much harder to find them. And even antique road
shows made it very difficult for antiquers because people would
have something similar to what they saw on the antique
road show and they would think, oh, I better save
it because it's worth so much money. But it's not
(06:30):
exactly like the one I saw, but I better save
it just in case. And so it took a lot
of inventory out. I mean, people thought that that helped
the business, and it did for knowledge, but it caused
people to save much more because they might have that,
(06:51):
you know, five thousand.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Dollars piece, the little gem in there that they're hoping
it will turn into something great.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Yes, yes, so the prices have gone up, and it's
good and it's bad. Yes, it's very difficult to find flags.
But I'm really happy that people are appreciating the American
flag well.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
And you mentioned that earlier, and I agree. They're a
great item to display. They have just a great sense
of history to put on your walls and just you know,
have a lot of impacts that way. And also with
the color, you know, they can add a lot of
color to the space too. You know, as a designer
we can also be a little bit nitpicky about how
colors look.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
And I know there's a lot of.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Nuances with flags of how they vary in color and
how they're not all consistent. I'd love to hear a
little bit of the background of the colors of the
flag and how older versions different than the colors that
we are familiar with.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Now, well, that's interesting, you would say that, And that's
what got me into this field, because the flags do
look so different, especially the older ones. The government had
first said the flag red, white, and blue. Well, some
people like robins a blue, and you know, some people
(08:08):
like the traditional blue. So there was no regulation. And
also some of the dyes back then were different. Some
of the reds actually turned orange. They were originally red,
but then they became orange because of the iron content
and the dye. So you're going to get all sorts
(08:30):
of colors. The government finally made a standard. It's almost
like in nineteen twelve when the forty eighth State came about,
President chap must have thought enough is enough. It wasn't
going to have a standard. So that nineteen thirteen or
six months later about they came up with the standard,
(08:53):
and that's the blue that you see and the red
and the white. And also it's set the configuration of
the stars because you could put those stars anyway you wanted.
You just had to have a certain number of stars.
You could skill them, you could put them in rows,
you could put them in circles, you could put them
(09:15):
however you would like. And so the even the forty
eighth star flag, I really that's a great flag to
start out with because I think it has more history
than most of the other flags. Because both wars were
(09:39):
under the forty eight star flag. That's when the configuration
was set. Well with the forty eight, who there's a
short period of time you can find many different kind
of forty eight's not the one with the block pattern,
you know, an eight across and six down. I mean
I've got one that sits across an eight down, So
I know that was nineteenth twelve. And also it was
(10:01):
the longest period of time with a set number of
stars on the flag until the fifty they're pasted it,
you know, a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
So really up until the forty eighth flag, the stars
as well had a lot of variations to them.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Yes, the manufacturer to put the stars anyway he wanted,
and the stripes, you know, just had had the correct number.
Even with the stripe sometimes you were normally the blue
fits on a white stripe. But during some of the
Indian Wars, like around the thirty eight when Colorado came in,
(10:42):
occasionally you'll find a flag that the field, the blue
part sits on a red stripe. And so that kind
of was signifying wars that it was more of the
Indian wars.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Well, and Cynthia, wasn't there a dancing star.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Yes, that star, it's really trying to do it. So
that's the stars are skewed, and so it looks like
the point of a star fits in to the next
star the indentation, and so it's called a dancing couple
(11:15):
star configuration. When the stars the points kind of go in,
they're kind of skewed. Right now, you have to have
the point straight up. That's the standard and it's a
five pointed star. But sometimes you will find the old
ones where they're skewed, meaning one stars kind of turned
(11:41):
a bit, so it would if you push them together,
it would fit into each other. They have that you
have medallions. You'd have when the stars are in a circle,
and that's called them medallion. A fun one to get
is really difficult is when the stars make a star,
and so that's a great stars configurations. You can have
(12:02):
the stars like in two I got one with too
long ovals and that's called a thetar configuration because they
look like there's coop of cigars.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
So many configurations.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Cynthia, and I do remember when you pointed out the
dancing stars to me in your booth, and they really
did look like there was.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Movement to them.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
They weren't sort of structured and soldier like like the
stars that we know now. They had a jovial spirit
to them for sure.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
So, yes, exactly, and that's why you know, they just
have a great look. And you have fat stars, and
you have skinny stars, and you have stars that are
real tiny. It almost looks like they didn't have enough
white fabrige, and so you have just tiny stars in
(12:53):
this blue field. But there's so much to me, a
high interest in the flags when they're different like that.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
It's so interesting, Cynthia, that people took great liberty, no
pun intended with the design and the creativity when it
came to this icon that we know now.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
And they were very frugal. So you can find especially
the sonon stars, and you'll find that two stars were
added or one star was added when the next state
came in. They didn't want to throw away their flag.
They just added a star and that was perfectly fine.
Speaker 6 (13:34):
It's interesting, yes, well, Cynthia.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
When it comes to collecting, value always plays a role
in it. It's part of the process, if not at
the beginning of when you start searching for something.
Speaker 6 (13:46):
What are some of the hallmarks.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
That collections are searching for when collecting old flags. I'd
also love to hear you share some of the rarest
examples that you've had in your inventory.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
The rarest one I had, and of course out which
they do. You get those prayer ones and almost money
is not an object, but it's when they were hand
sowed and the stars made a star and it was
thirty five stars, so it was not only had a
(14:19):
great star, but it was also civil war. So when
you're looking for the flags, when the star configuration is different,
that's very important. It makes a difference whether there ones
are printed. Those are things you look for.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Which is more valuable printed?
Speaker 5 (14:39):
The hand pone ones are the most valuable, but they're
being reproduced, so you have to be real careful. But
the funny thing I always do and I always liked,
but I don't buy a lot online. I like to
find them because you need to smell them. You cannot
(14:59):
reap that funky smell, the smell of age, for sure. Yes, yes,
Whether the gramas are zinc or brass or handsongs, whether
the stitching like machine stitching, the treadle sewing machine, you
can tell that one because depending upon how fast you
(15:22):
puff your foot would determine the width of the stitch,
and you don't find that in the industrial throwing machine.
It's just with the trettle that you can find that.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
That's such an interesting fact and oh my gosh, so
many details to consider when collecting these flags. I think,
what's so interesting about an antique fares? And that's where
I first came across you. It's like walking into a
museum itself. It's it's full of all of these little facts,
and I imagine that you really are so passionate about
(15:57):
this and enjoy educating the visitors that come through about
these national treasures. So what are some other fun facts
that we should know about vintage flags? I remember you
telling me something about there wasn't a flag issued every
time a new state joined the Union?
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Is that correct? Because some were issued in the same year,
some joined the Union in the same year.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Yes, it's really interesting with the stars coming in and
flags becoming official. The flag becomes official on the fourth
of July following the year that the state came in.
So if whose states come in, whose stars are at it?
(16:45):
And that's an official flag, you will sign many times
several unofficial flags because in preparation of a state coming in.
The manufacturers would make many different flags, you know, because
they wanted to sell them. So the thirty nine star
(17:08):
is really interesting because when you look at the old maps,
it says Dakotas. It does not say North Dakota and
South Dakota. It says Dakota's. So there never was a
thirty nine star flag because Dakotas came in. It's two,
not one.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
So interesting.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
So again, so many facts and you know, details about
this beloved symbol of our country. So do you have
a do you have a favorite example? You must have
a favorite example of a wonderful flag display. I don't
know if you ever are sent pictures from those collectors
who have purchased from you, But do you have a
(17:53):
favorite display that you can share with us and our listeners.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
I have obviously a little collection, but I love the
little parade flags and I've put them in vintage frings
and so they look so unique all together. And I
even have like a seven star because of the centennial,
you know, you would have thirteen stars flags. Well, the
(18:21):
Union never took stars off, and so whomever made the
seventh star was sympathetic to the South, to the Confederacy,
and so I have a few examples of that. I
have several examples of forty eight, not just the block patterns,
(18:41):
but I have a flag with six across an eight down.
I have a flag that's perfectly square. They also set
the dimensions when they set the standard, and it's one
to one point nine, and so there's skewed stars, there's
six pointed stars. It's just really interesting when you get
(19:02):
a whole collection to see how people presented their flags.
Another interesting collection that I've seen altogether and have is
the first fourth of July after Pearl Harbor was July
of forty two, Virtually every US magazine had a flag
(19:27):
on its cover. Gourmet had one with a jello mold
that was red, white and blue and little flags around.
I think Esquire had one with a camping and it
had a flag pole. But virtually every US magazine had
a flag on its cover on July forty two, and
that makes a great collection also to see the flags.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
All of those covers that had to be so incredible
and en mass anything is impressive and impactful for sure.
So speaking, look, Megan and I are both in the
world of interiors. Megan is a designer. I'm an editor
of a design magazine, and from an American perspective, look,
(20:12):
we have our own design contributions in this country, for sure,
that is American design that know and loved, But so
many of the influences from the decorative world are inspired
and informed by European design. The exception to that is
from a modern day perspective, mister Ralph Lauren, who has
(20:36):
made again what is already an icon for anybody in
this country, has brought it to the mass level and
has really brought it into design and has made it
iconic with his flag sweater that so many of us own.
Ralph Lauren really is about celebrating American design, whether it
(20:59):
is sitting living, whether it is Palm Beach, the mountains
of Colorado, desert, and so much more. So talk about
his influence if you can. Sorry, I'm just bringing this
on you, and I know that so you know much
of his his own design and showrooms and stores that
(21:20):
Megan and I have both had the pleasure of visiting
show off some of those vintage flags.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Well, that's really nice you say that, because they have
purchased a great deal of flags from me. They like
to put one over another, over another, just to make
this collage of flags, and they would put those in
the stores. And his interview, oh, several years ago with
(21:50):
Oprah and his tower ride home, the flags and the
furniture and that not the whole rugs were purchased from
our boath. Of course, I love what Ralph Floranda, because
we have a very Americana look, you know, with both
(22:14):
the Native Americans, the flags, the old hickory, we even
have buffalo shoulder mounts, and it's just a warm and
coz Look.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
We are here.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
We are two days away from flag Day. And yees,
not only are we two days away from flag Day,
but we are, if I'm counting correctly, fifty five weeks
from this country semi quin centennial, which is a mouthful
to say, but one hundred and fifty years we are.
(22:48):
Just you know, time goes quickly, as we know, and
that celebratory moment that all of us will only you know,
it's the biggest that will.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Ever celebrate in our lifetimes. It's something that.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Every human in this country will share at the same time,
and we'll never get the opportunity again.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Probably, So what do you think that's going to look like?
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Next year with all of the celebrations and I'm sure
merchandise to mark this very special time for the United States.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
Yes, and it should. I mean, I think it's a
great time to celebrate what we have personally, how blessed
we are as individuals and as a country. I mean,
there's so much to be thankful for. I hope I
just see flags flying all over the place. It's kind
(23:41):
of like almost a Christmas where people talk to people
and they're kind of excited, and you know, there's picnics
and there's you know, a lot of like you said, celebrations.
I hope that just focuses people on the common good
that we have. I mean, there's so much in this country.
(24:05):
There's so many beautiful places, there's so many interesting people,
and maybe we can celebrate all that diversity as one.
You know, That's that's kind of what hope. I'm hoping
it brings us together to see that how everything just
(24:25):
sort of like a melting pot, the classic melting thought.
We all came and this is who we are now.
We have a country to be proud of, we have
communities to be proud of, and we have families to
be proud of. So that's what I hope. I hope
it goes that vain and I'm feeling like it probably will.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
Yeah, well, I think it'll be an exciting time for
all of us. And like I said, a once in
a lifetime experience for all.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Of us, Yes, for sure, because these.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Years, you know, we only get to experience them usually
once and so and you know, what a great time
to be alive. So, Cynthia, we have a couple of
final questions before we wrapped this episode up.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
What is the beat that keeps you going?
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Again?
Speaker 3 (25:09):
We're called Bulevard Beat, and you know we're about the
daily luxuries of life that exists.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
So what's the beat that keeps you going?
Speaker 5 (25:19):
My mother always said I all hands are the Devil's workshop.
So I'm just and I volunteered a lot before when
I was a stay at home mom. And I just
I like people, and I really just enjoy going and
doing just seeing something new, meeting some new people, enjoying
(25:42):
the people that I've known for a million years. It's
just staying busy. I just I really like to stay busy.
A rolling stone.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Gathers the moss and Cynthia, finally going back to the
name of our podcast one last time. I'm celebrating the streets,
the boulevards that exist in this great country.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
What does the perfect boulevard look like to you?
Speaker 5 (26:07):
The perfect boulevard, I guess to me I grew up
with there were more deciduous trees, such a variety, and
we had elm trees that just made a canopy over
the street. And I love that look. And I love
these small little neighborhoods. I live in a very unincorporated
(26:29):
town and you just walk down to the coffee shop
and there's trees and there's flowers, and people are out
and they're walking their dogs, they're riding their bikes. That's
my idea of the perfect little boulevard.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Well, that sounds quintessential and wonderful to me. Cynthia, thank
you so much. This is a different kind of episode
for Megan and me, but we are both in the
world of design, and this is a symbol that is
more iconic than any other symbol that we see, and
it becomes a part of design, whether it's outside waving
(27:05):
on hoisted at the top of a flagpole, or as
we discuss, some people have wonderful displays throughout their interiors
so we thank you and we wish you in a
couple of weeks a happy Independence Day and fourth of July,
and you know, maybe maybe we'll talk again in fifty
fifty six weeks to reflect on all of them. Unlike
(27:27):
quin Centennial celebrations, I'm going.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
To learn andy that work fast.
Speaker 5 (27:31):
That would be perfect, that would be nice. I will
be celebrating in a few weeks.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
If you enjoy this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
so you never miss an episode, And of course, follow
your hosts on Instagram at Megan bloom Interiors, at CHRISA.
Speaker 6 (27:54):
Rossbund, and at Liz Legit.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
We'll be back next week as we take a stroll
down another boulevard Bapa
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast where life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style. You
constrol one street at a time, Boulevard Beat proves the
(00:30):
one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome to this special Flag Day bonus episode. We're joined
by Cynthia Brooks, a renowned flag expert and trusted source
for collectors seeking rare, storied, and one of a kind flags.
Cynthia shares how flags carry more than symbols. They hold history, identity,
and a deep emotional resonance. Whether you're a design lover,
history buff or simply flag curious, Cynthia's passion and knowledge
(00:58):
bring a soulful new perspective to the stars and stripes.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So we are here today with Cynthia Brooks from Colorado.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Welcome Cynthia, Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Well, we are very excited because this is a special
bonus episode for boulevard Beat. Here we are two days
before Flag Day, and we thought it would be fun
to talk to you about your business, which is the
collecting of vintage flags.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
I first happened upon your booth at Roundtop.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
During the Antique Fear a few years ago and was
just mesmerized and so captivated.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
By all of the knowledge that I learned there.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
So I thought it would be fun if we shared
your knowledge with our listeners.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Well, thank you, certainly, Cynthia.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
We start off every episode with the same question, and
the name of our podcast, as you know, is Boulevard Beat.
When we came up with this podcast, the idea of
a boulevard of a street, it's so all American and
all America, and as a term that gets thrown around
quite a bit. And you know, I think when you're
talking about streets and boulevards, we all had the idea
(02:07):
of the house with the white picket fence and the
dog an ice cream truck.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
So tell us about the street you.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Grew up on. Well, I grew up in rural Illinois,
very very southern part of Illinois. It's beautiful country. It's
a great place to live if you have a job.
I've done a lot of people didn't have jobs but
it never seemed to bother any of us. Growing up,
I thought I was living in a huge town. There
(02:35):
were four thousand people. I grew up just very traditional.
I had a brother and my parents and play outside
all the time. We ran through the alleys, we knew
all the shopkeepers. We had a skating rate and did that.
And then older I had team town where you go
(02:55):
to dance, and just very traditional. I think almost story book.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
You know, you use the term storybook, and I think
that that idyllic living is what we think of when
we think of quintessential American life. And it's funny how
when you're a child, the world around you, even if
it's only four thousand people, seems very big, and then
as an adult you realize that it's just a mere
snapshot of the world.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Yes, that's correct, and it was a beautiful snapshot, but
it led to a greater thing, so it's a great start.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
So, Cynthia, there are so many categories to consider when
it comes to collecting what launched your community for Old Flags,
we really want to know about your background and how
this business came to be.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
I got mostly interested in homefront World War two homefront items.
I was a stay at home mom, and I love
to go to some museums and look at the war posters,
and I like how they portrayed the citizenship of the name.
I mean, everybody was gathered together, and we were all
(04:04):
working together, and even children had little pencils with flags
on them, and everybody was recycling for the war efforts.
And so I got into that and thoroughly enjoyed that.
But that also led to flags, because I would buy
(04:24):
a box of stuff and there'd be a great little
flag in there, and then I started noticing the flags
were not the same. They just looked so different. You
can even have the same number of stars and they
would look different. And so I just sort of evolved
that way, coming from home front World War two. And
(04:48):
I love integrity. I love the country and the flag
and what it symbols, kind of God, Mom, in our country,
like the men of that generation and the women and
who went to war, they went, they did their job,
they came back and went to their regular everyday jobs
without all the fanfare. I mean, it was just a
(05:10):
service to be done. I grew up in a very
service oriented family, not necessarily military service, but doing for
your country.
Speaker 6 (05:18):
Well sint it.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
That was really fun and interesting to hear about the
history of that as well. As we all know etiquette
reigns really high when it comes to flags and the
way you display them and how you get rid of flags.
What does the inventory look like for old flags now,
because I know there are fewer of them in circulation
and some of these relics are available to collect, which
(05:41):
is hard to find as well. And how has that
affected the price points of flags?
Speaker 5 (05:46):
People are finally understanding that the flag holds so much
history and it's a great piece of art, and many
times it's more along the category of folk art. And
since the appreciation is going up with the American flags,
especially the older ones, the price goes up and it's
(06:09):
much much harder to find them. And even antique road
shows made it very difficult for antiquers because people would
have something similar to what they saw on the antique
road show and they would think, oh, I better save
it because it's worth so much money. But it's not
(06:30):
exactly like the one I saw, but I better save
it just in case. And so it took a lot
of inventory out. I mean, people thought that that helped
the business, and it did for knowledge, but it caused
people to save much more because they might have that,
(06:51):
you know, five thousand.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Dollars piece, the little gem in there that they're hoping
it will turn into something great.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Yes, yes, so the prices have gone up, and it's
good and it's bad. Yes, it's very difficult to find flags.
But I'm really happy that people are appreciating the American
flag well.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
And you mentioned that earlier, and I agree. They're a
great item to display. They have just a great sense
of history to put on your walls and just you know,
have a lot of impacts that way. And also with
the color, you know, they can add a lot of
color to the space too. You know, as a designer
we can also be a little bit nitpicky about how
colors look.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
And I know there's a lot of.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Nuances with flags of how they vary in color and
how they're not all consistent. I'd love to hear a
little bit of the background of the colors of the
flag and how older versions different than the colors that
we are familiar with.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Now, well, that's interesting, you would say that, And that's
what got me into this field, because the flags do
look so different, especially the older ones. The government had
first said the flag red, white, and blue. Well, some
people like robins a blue, and you know, some people
(08:08):
like the traditional blue. So there was no regulation. And
also some of the dyes back then were different. Some
of the reds actually turned orange. They were originally red,
but then they became orange because of the iron content
and the dye. So you're going to get all sorts
(08:30):
of colors. The government finally made a standard. It's almost
like in nineteen twelve when the forty eighth State came about,
President chap must have thought enough is enough. It wasn't
going to have a standard. So that nineteen thirteen or
six months later about they came up with the standard,
(08:53):
and that's the blue that you see and the red
and the white. And also it's set the configuration of
the stars because you could put those stars anyway you wanted.
You just had to have a certain number of stars.
You could skill them, you could put them in rows,
you could put them in circles, you could put them
(09:15):
however you would like. And so the even the forty
eighth star flag, I really that's a great flag to
start out with because I think it has more history
than most of the other flags. Because both wars were
(09:39):
under the forty eight star flag. That's when the configuration
was set. Well with the forty eight, who there's a
short period of time you can find many different kind
of forty eight's not the one with the block pattern,
you know, an eight across and six down. I mean
I've got one that sits across an eight down, So
I know that was nineteenth twelve. And also it was
(10:01):
the longest period of time with a set number of
stars on the flag until the fifty they're pasted it,
you know, a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
So really up until the forty eighth flag, the stars
as well had a lot of variations to them.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Yes, the manufacturer to put the stars anyway he wanted,
and the stripes, you know, just had had the correct number.
Even with the stripe sometimes you were normally the blue
fits on a white stripe. But during some of the
Indian Wars, like around the thirty eight when Colorado came in,
(10:42):
occasionally you'll find a flag that the field, the blue
part sits on a red stripe. And so that kind
of was signifying wars that it was more of the
Indian wars.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Well, and Cynthia, wasn't there a dancing star.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Yes, that star, it's really trying to do it. So
that's the stars are skewed, and so it looks like
the point of a star fits in to the next
star the indentation, and so it's called a dancing couple
(11:15):
star configuration. When the stars the points kind of go in,
they're kind of skewed. Right now, you have to have
the point straight up. That's the standard and it's a
five pointed star. But sometimes you will find the old
ones where they're skewed, meaning one stars kind of turned
(11:41):
a bit, so it would if you push them together,
it would fit into each other. They have that you
have medallions. You'd have when the stars are in a circle,
and that's called them medallion. A fun one to get
is really difficult is when the stars make a star,
and so that's a great stars configurations. You can have
(12:02):
the stars like in two I got one with too
long ovals and that's called a thetar configuration because they
look like there's coop of cigars.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
So many configurations.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Cynthia, and I do remember when you pointed out the
dancing stars to me in your booth, and they really
did look like there was.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Movement to them.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
They weren't sort of structured and soldier like like the
stars that we know now. They had a jovial spirit
to them for sure.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
So, yes, exactly, and that's why you know, they just
have a great look. And you have fat stars, and
you have skinny stars, and you have stars that are
real tiny. It almost looks like they didn't have enough
white fabrige, and so you have just tiny stars in
(12:53):
this blue field. But there's so much to me, a
high interest in the flags when they're different like that.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
It's so interesting, Cynthia, that people took great liberty, no
pun intended with the design and the creativity when it
came to this icon that we know now.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
And they were very frugal. So you can find especially
the sonon stars, and you'll find that two stars were
added or one star was added when the next state
came in. They didn't want to throw away their flag.
They just added a star and that was perfectly fine.
Speaker 6 (13:34):
It's interesting, yes, well, Cynthia.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
When it comes to collecting, value always plays a role
in it. It's part of the process, if not at
the beginning of when you start searching for something.
Speaker 6 (13:46):
What are some of the hallmarks.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
That collections are searching for when collecting old flags. I'd
also love to hear you share some of the rarest
examples that you've had in your inventory.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
The rarest one I had, and of course out which
they do. You get those prayer ones and almost money
is not an object, but it's when they were hand
sowed and the stars made a star and it was
thirty five stars, so it was not only had a
(14:19):
great star, but it was also civil war. So when
you're looking for the flags, when the star configuration is different,
that's very important. It makes a difference whether there ones
are printed. Those are things you look for.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Which is more valuable printed?
Speaker 5 (14:39):
The hand pone ones are the most valuable, but they're
being reproduced, so you have to be real careful. But
the funny thing I always do and I always liked,
but I don't buy a lot online. I like to
find them because you need to smell them. You cannot
(14:59):
reap that funky smell, the smell of age, for sure. Yes, yes,
Whether the gramas are zinc or brass or handsongs, whether
the stitching like machine stitching, the treadle sewing machine, you
can tell that one because depending upon how fast you
(15:22):
puff your foot would determine the width of the stitch,
and you don't find that in the industrial throwing machine.
It's just with the trettle that you can find that.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
That's such an interesting fact and oh my gosh, so
many details to consider when collecting these flags. I think,
what's so interesting about an antique fares? And that's where
I first came across you. It's like walking into a
museum itself. It's it's full of all of these little facts,
and I imagine that you really are so passionate about
(15:57):
this and enjoy educating the visitors that come through about
these national treasures. So what are some other fun facts
that we should know about vintage flags? I remember you
telling me something about there wasn't a flag issued every
time a new state joined the Union?
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Is that correct? Because some were issued in the same year,
some joined the Union in the same year.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Yes, it's really interesting with the stars coming in and
flags becoming official. The flag becomes official on the fourth
of July following the year that the state came in.
So if whose states come in, whose stars are at it?
(16:45):
And that's an official flag, you will sign many times
several unofficial flags because in preparation of a state coming in.
The manufacturers would make many different flags, you know, because
they wanted to sell them. So the thirty nine star
(17:08):
is really interesting because when you look at the old maps,
it says Dakotas. It does not say North Dakota and
South Dakota. It says Dakota's. So there never was a
thirty nine star flag because Dakotas came in. It's two,
not one.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
So interesting.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
So again, so many facts and you know, details about
this beloved symbol of our country. So do you have
a do you have a favorite example? You must have
a favorite example of a wonderful flag display. I don't
know if you ever are sent pictures from those collectors
who have purchased from you, But do you have a
(17:53):
favorite display that you can share with us and our listeners.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
I have obviously a little collection, but I love the
little parade flags and I've put them in vintage frings
and so they look so unique all together. And I
even have like a seven star because of the centennial,
you know, you would have thirteen stars flags. Well, the
(18:21):
Union never took stars off, and so whomever made the
seventh star was sympathetic to the South, to the Confederacy,
and so I have a few examples of that. I
have several examples of forty eight, not just the block patterns,
(18:41):
but I have a flag with six across an eight down.
I have a flag that's perfectly square. They also set
the dimensions when they set the standard, and it's one
to one point nine, and so there's skewed stars, there's
six pointed stars. It's just really interesting when you get
(19:02):
a whole collection to see how people presented their flags.
Another interesting collection that I've seen altogether and have is
the first fourth of July after Pearl Harbor was July
of forty two, Virtually every US magazine had a flag
(19:27):
on its cover. Gourmet had one with a jello mold
that was red, white and blue and little flags around.
I think Esquire had one with a camping and it
had a flag pole. But virtually every US magazine had
a flag on its cover on July forty two, and
that makes a great collection also to see the flags.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
All of those covers that had to be so incredible
and en mass anything is impressive and impactful for sure.
So speaking, look, Megan and I are both in the
world of interiors. Megan is a designer. I'm an editor
of a design magazine, and from an American perspective, look,
(20:12):
we have our own design contributions in this country, for sure,
that is American design that know and loved, But so
many of the influences from the decorative world are inspired
and informed by European design. The exception to that is
from a modern day perspective, mister Ralph Lauren, who has
(20:36):
made again what is already an icon for anybody in
this country, has brought it to the mass level and
has really brought it into design and has made it
iconic with his flag sweater that so many of us own.
Ralph Lauren really is about celebrating American design, whether it
(20:59):
is sitting living, whether it is Palm Beach, the mountains
of Colorado, desert, and so much more. So talk about
his influence if you can. Sorry, I'm just bringing this
on you, and I know that so you know much
of his his own design and showrooms and stores that
(21:20):
Megan and I have both had the pleasure of visiting
show off some of those vintage flags.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Well, that's really nice you say that, because they have
purchased a great deal of flags from me. They like
to put one over another, over another, just to make
this collage of flags, and they would put those in
the stores. And his interview, oh, several years ago with
(21:50):
Oprah and his tower ride home, the flags and the
furniture and that not the whole rugs were purchased from
our boath. Of course, I love what Ralph Floranda, because
we have a very Americana look, you know, with both
(22:14):
the Native Americans, the flags, the old hickory, we even
have buffalo shoulder mounts, and it's just a warm and
coz Look.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
We are here.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
We are two days away from flag Day. And yees,
not only are we two days away from flag Day,
but we are, if I'm counting correctly, fifty five weeks
from this country semi quin centennial, which is a mouthful
to say, but one hundred and fifty years we are.
(22:48):
Just you know, time goes quickly, as we know, and
that celebratory moment that all of us will only you know,
it's the biggest that will.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Ever celebrate in our lifetimes. It's something that.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Every human in this country will share at the same time,
and we'll never get the opportunity again.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Probably, So what do you think that's going to look like?
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Next year with all of the celebrations and I'm sure
merchandise to mark this very special time for the United States.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
Yes, and it should. I mean, I think it's a
great time to celebrate what we have personally, how blessed
we are as individuals and as a country. I mean,
there's so much to be thankful for. I hope I
just see flags flying all over the place. It's kind
(23:41):
of like almost a Christmas where people talk to people
and they're kind of excited, and you know, there's picnics
and there's you know, a lot of like you said, celebrations.
I hope that just focuses people on the common good
that we have. I mean, there's so much in this country.
(24:05):
There's so many beautiful places, there's so many interesting people,
and maybe we can celebrate all that diversity as one.
You know, That's that's kind of what hope. I'm hoping
it brings us together to see that how everything just
(24:25):
sort of like a melting pot, the classic melting thought.
We all came and this is who we are now.
We have a country to be proud of, we have
communities to be proud of, and we have families to
be proud of. So that's what I hope. I hope
it goes that vain and I'm feeling like it probably will.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
Yeah, well, I think it'll be an exciting time for
all of us. And like I said, a once in
a lifetime experience for all.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Of us, Yes, for sure, because these.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Years, you know, we only get to experience them usually
once and so and you know, what a great time
to be alive. So, Cynthia, we have a couple of
final questions before we wrapped this episode up.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
What is the beat that keeps you going?
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Again?
Speaker 3 (25:09):
We're called Bulevard Beat, and you know we're about the
daily luxuries of life that exists.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
So what's the beat that keeps you going?
Speaker 5 (25:19):
My mother always said I all hands are the Devil's workshop.
So I'm just and I volunteered a lot before when
I was a stay at home mom. And I just
I like people, and I really just enjoy going and
doing just seeing something new, meeting some new people, enjoying
(25:42):
the people that I've known for a million years. It's
just staying busy. I just I really like to stay busy.
A rolling stone.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Gathers the moss and Cynthia, finally going back to the
name of our podcast one last time. I'm celebrating the streets,
the boulevards that exist in this great country.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
What does the perfect boulevard look like to you?
Speaker 5 (26:07):
The perfect boulevard, I guess to me I grew up
with there were more deciduous trees, such a variety, and
we had elm trees that just made a canopy over
the street. And I love that look. And I love
these small little neighborhoods. I live in a very unincorporated
(26:29):
town and you just walk down to the coffee shop
and there's trees and there's flowers, and people are out
and they're walking their dogs, they're riding their bikes. That's
my idea of the perfect little boulevard.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Well, that sounds quintessential and wonderful to me. Cynthia, thank
you so much. This is a different kind of episode
for Megan and me, but we are both in the
world of design, and this is a symbol that is
more iconic than any other symbol that we see, and
it becomes a part of design, whether it's outside waving
(27:05):
on hoisted at the top of a flagpole, or as
we discuss, some people have wonderful displays throughout their interiors
so we thank you and we wish you in a
couple of weeks a happy Independence Day and fourth of July,
and you know, maybe maybe we'll talk again in fifty
fifty six weeks to reflect on all of them. Unlike
(27:27):
quin Centennial celebrations, I'm going.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
To learn andy that work fast.
Speaker 5 (27:31):
That would be perfect, that would be nice. I will
be celebrating in a few weeks.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
If you enjoy this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
so you never miss an episode, And of course, follow
your hosts on Instagram at Megan bloom Interiors, at CHRISA.
Speaker 6 (27:54):
Rossbund, and at Liz Legit.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
We'll be back next week as we take a stroll
down another boulevard Bapa
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