Life Magazine: Grand Rapids, Michigan Represented the Best of Both High and Low Brow Culture in 1949

A fascinating chart that appeared in Life Magazine in 1949 detailing the best of both high- and low-brow culture in America of the era amazingly has several mentions of Grand Rapids - perhaps low-key saying the West Michigan city was the epitome of American culture.

The chart shows what is 'High Brow' down to 'Low Brow' culture with higher and lower middle class worked in through several categories like clothing, furniture, food and music. Check out the cart below.

High-Brow and Low-Brow Tastes According to Life Magazine in 1949
byu/noisymortimer inTheWayWeWere

Scanning the illustration eagle-eyed Grand Rapidians will see no less than three nods to the city. Not surprising, giving the city's furniture industry there are two mentions to the city. The best furniture for those who live a high-brow lifestyle is an Eames chair. The chair is a product of Herman Miller.

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However, in a lower middle-brow tier, the favored piece of furniture is a "Grand Rapids Chippendale chair." While many manufactures made Chippendales, one of the better known and mass-produced was from the Grand Rapids Furniture Company.'

A third nod to the city comes again in the high-brow category and it's under the category of 'Sculpture.' Those in the upper crust of society, Life Magazine said in 1949, would tend towards owning a piece from the artist Alexander Calder. Of course, Grand Rapids, is home to one of the best known and prominent public works by the artist, La Grande Vitesse.

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So, thank you, Life Magazine, for nodding to Grand Rapids contribution to several facets of American mid-Century life.