Change often produces less benefit than nostalgia. Plastics only became common in the fifties, so mom had to pack up half the kitchen in wicker hampers and old wooden boxes. I can remember being as happy with the new moulded plastic three well plates and aluminum 'glasses', Tartan cooler jug and Coleman aluminium chest cooler, as my folks were. They didn't have to make three trips back to the car to fetch all that heavy crockery, especially since Yerks beach at lake Ronkonkoma, NY, was down a flight of wooden steps.

I can spy a B&M Baked Beans Can among the beer cans on the ground.

The middle aged woman in profile, with her apron, looks so adorable. The mum I'd love to have!

That's an awful lot of dishes there, including saucers for the teacups. Must be before paper plates.

Can anyone read the bottle in back? It looks like Milk of Magnesia to me.

Lordy, but who wore a tie with a tie tack to a picnic? Man, those were the days. Men were men.

Shirt and tie, aprons on the women, good china on the table, beer (or ale) in a glass. Picnics sure have changed. Now it's tank tops, shorts, paper plates and beer and soda straight out of the can.

It's the Yale Pale Ale, I think.

An important pre pop-top accessory sits partially hidden behind the (cloth) napkin in front of the beer glass - a church key can opener! This guy only put one hole in his can. He must still be used to the earlier larger versions of the church key. We always used to put a hole on both sides of the can so air could come in through one.

[There is a big hole and partial smaller hole in each can. - Dave]

I wonder if there'a a connection to Cambridge. Or if there was also a Yale Ale.

You'd really feel that way, if you'd ever driven the Mohawk Trail! It's all twisty & narrow heading up to the mountains. Hard enough sober in those big old cars!

Judging from the pile on the ground next to him, this guy has put back a few ales and is getting ready for some coffee so he can see straight for the long drive home. Beer, beans and coffee. Boy, I sure wouldn't want to be in that car.