Illinois Valley News

This was the issue in which the publisher (that“s me) would divulge all (well, maybe most, anyway) of his stupidities since reaching the age of reason. However, because that would involve at least three full pages of this issue using tiny type and many abrvtns I“ve decided to skip that idea.

Instead, being a reminiscent kind of guy, the topic this time will be Stuff I Remember That Maybe Some Others Have Forgotten. Something like that. Actually, I was going to comment on our four fur snakes — they who rule our household and keep our clothing well supplied with cat hair — but that subject will keep.

OK, so what do I remember“ First, getting into movie theaters on Saturday mornings for 25-cents, which included two full-length motion pictures, several cartoons, and several serial episodes. The latter included Dick Tracy, Roy Rogers, Flash Gordon, and Commando Cody. Great stuff. And you could buy an immense sack of popcorn for a dime.

Physicians made house calls; newspaper reporters wore their press passes in their hat bands; men and women dressed more formally than now with suits and ties, nice dresses and hats; truckers wore uniforms and there were always two drivers in the cab; dairy products were delivered to your door by “the milk man.“

What else“ Well, TV was sort of in its infancy, as perhaps I was. Programming was limited to a bit in the morning, some in the afternoon, and a tad in the evenings. All programs were in black and white, and most were done live, so if the actors erred, they just had to tough it out. Which reminds me of a Space Patrol episode where Cmdr. Buzz Corry fumbled with dialogue until he could remember what he was supposed to say.

Before my parents got their first TV, a large Emerson console with rabbit ear antennae, we would go to the home of my Uncle Manuel and Aunt Olga (“Call me Auntie!“) Bringas on Sundays, as they had one of the first sets. We would watch Hopalong Cassidy, Sheriff of Cochise, and Toast of the Town with Ed Sullivan.

Ah, memories. And for automobiles, I remember fender skirts, curb feelers, extremely wide whitewall tires, chromed spotlights, and colorful steering wheel knobs. Wow, way cool. Oh, plus twin radio aerials, and only AM stations with low fidelity.

There were automobiles now gone: Hudson, Studebaker, DeSoto, Packard. Not to mention Edsel.

Many out there might also recall those “old-time“ drive-in restaurants. At some, the car hops wore roller skates. “Cruising“ the drive-ins was a favorite pastime once you had a car, could borrow Dad“s car, or bum a ride, and maybe a cigarette from a buddy.

Fun times, according to my memory. But hey, next year what we“re going through now, no matter how tough the circumstances, will be flavored with sugar. In fact, we“ll remember this year as The Good Old Days.

Yep, reminiscing has become a pastime for me. That and plucking cat hair off my clothes.

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