More Nostalgia

It's that time of the year.

Then There Was Chatty Cathy. Every Little Girls' Dream Gift for Christmas in 1960

First came Betsy Wetsy in 1938, followed by Tiny Tears in the 1950's. In 1959 Barbie was born and in the 1960's  Chatty Cathy. 

Betsy wet her pants, Tiny cried 'real' tears, and Barbie--well she was a sex pot--and Cathy yammered a lot.

I had Betsy, Tiny and Barbie, but no Chatty Cathy.  

If only I'd kept that Barbie I got in 1959.  She was in mint condition when I  finally parted with her--on an impulse.

In a brief moment of good will I gave her to a little neighbor girl.  I'd decided I was too big for dolls.

My loss, her gain.  Original Barbie would fetch a pretty good price today.

Classic Coke Christmas

Another fave Christmas commercial.

Robert Hall

Another favorite commercial here. I've remembered this one for decades.

Etched in my memory is Mom and Dad taking me to Robert Hall and buying me a dressy winter coat for school. I also got some new shoes that day. Red ones.

I was a 'fancy' girl'. But then, in those days girls were not permitted to wear pants to school. And most of the girls did dress up.  The boys were not allowed to wear jeans either.  And shirts had to have a collar and be tucked in.

When the winter weather was frightful you wore a snowsuit over your clothes. Many is the time I've been bound up so tightly in all those wrappings that I could barely put my arms down--think Randy, Ralphie's brother in A Christmas Story. 

Believe you me I ended up freezing all the more so. To stay warm you need 'loose' layers.

Suzy Snowflake

A cute song I enjoy this time of year and perfect for the weather we're having.

KISSES

Don't you just love this commercial? I do.

Weight Loss Update:

I lost the pound I gained at Thanksgiving, plus one more! Total loss to date: 27.

TV Dinner Anyone?

If you're rushing around and pressed for time this holiday season and there's barely time to eat let alone cook, Swanson has the answer to your dilemma.

Speedy Here

Need relief from too much holiday excess? This little guy offers a remedy.  

The lovable Speedy--isn't he cute? 

I grew up with him and never forgot him.

Slinky

The toy I never wanted.  The toy I never understood.

I received one of these in a gift exchange.  I'd seen them on television and they puzzled me.

What did you do with them?  How did you play with them?

There were no stairs in our home, and after you'd juggled them a bit--which took all of ten seconds--what was left?

I knew how to play with my doctor's kit, my dolls, my dishes, my chalkboard, my toy cash register and all my stuffed animals.

My play was elaborate.  Our living room was the waiting room to see the doctor--which was me.  The examining room for my patients was my parents bedroom.  I loved giving my patients shots and telling them it wouldn't hurt.

When my patients finished they could go to my restaurant in the kitchen, where I took their food orders on a real guest check pad.  I cooked the food, served it on my real china toy dishes, and when they finished they paid me with play money which I placed in my cash register.

And while they did all of this their kids were at school, located in my bedroom--complete with child size table and chairs, chalk board, red pencil, foil stars and my own old school papers which I graded while the 'kid's--my stuffed animals and dolls--did their seat work.

As I taught with my Lee press on nails I stood by the chalkboard at the front of the class.

So--how would a slinky fit into this elaborate play scheme?

I never figured it out and that is one of the few gifts--along with play dough, and marbles and kites in the spring--that I didn't welcome or really appreciate.

I could never get a kite to fly, marbles were pretty but the game made no sense--though jacks did--and play dough--it didn't spark any creativity in me.  If anything it limited it.  One can of play dough, one color like yellow.  What can you create with a lump of yellow play dough?

Give me a Mr. Potato Head.  At least he came with a variety of elements and I could create several persona's.

Shoot give me a new fancy dress with a 'can can' slip and a pair of black patent leather shoes plus a pair of ruffled lace top socks.  At least I could wear those and feel like a little princess.

But a slinky?  No thanks.

This May Be Happening at a Mall Near You

Christmas Flash Mob

Random Acts of Culture

Hurrah It's Thanksgiving Day (Almost)

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1964

Like the rest of America I'll be busy in the kitchen tomorrow so I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I am truly blessed and I thank God for all his provisions.

In the background while I'm preparing my feast there will be the Macy's Christmas Parade--which always happens on Thanksgiving Day-- playing on the TV. I don't think I've ever sat down and watched the whole parade, but I always enjoy listening to it. Pure nostalgia.

Laramie

Another favorite show of daddy's when I was a kid. He loved a good western. This brings back some good memories for me.

I Was an Ovaltinie

Yep, I drank Ovaltine when I was a kid. Not sure why my parents fed it to me. I was a pretty scrawny kid. With the influence of the new medium--TV-- my parents probably thought I needed it.

It wasn't to get me to drink my milk either. I loved milk straight out of the glass bottle it came in. Remember the paper caps with the tabs? Or the foil caps that were pleated on the sides?

I loved milk so much that I often drank down a full glass before I even began my meal. Which probably had a lot to do with why I never ate much--I was too full of milk.

Crusader Rabbit

Add this to my lineup of much loved childhood TV shows: Crusader Rabbit, the first 'made for TV' cartoon.

Nice Commercial

The commercial begins after the advert.

Six Days and Counting Down!

This image is from Valdefierro's Summer Wine Gallery.

For all the lovers of The Last of the Summer Wine series, October 13 is the release date for the LSW Christmas 1978-1982 DVD. Mine has been pre-ordered and I can't wait to get it. It is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

At this link you can see the DVD sets that will play on DVD players for the U.S. region. I wish there were more, but --alas --there isn't to date. Some PBS stations feature the show. Also, there had been some episodes on YouTube...though they may have been taken down due to copyright infringement.

LSW has been on the air since the 1970's. Several of the cast have passed on, the most recent being Kathy Staff. I hate to see it come to an end. I guess it can't go on forever but I can dream can't I?

If you're a lover of British Comedy check out this link for more shows.