Happy Monday!
DH's phone rang at 3:45 a.m. ... and again at 4:20 a.m., so I've been up awhile. I often wonder what life was like before 24 hour business. He works for an international company, so if something goes down in China, and it's a system he supports, then we get called no matter the day or time.
It's one of those good news bad news things, I suppose. There are many benefits to a world that's working at all times, but other stuff not so great.
Recently, DD and I were listening to a song called "I Watched It All On My Radio" by Lionel Cartwright:
There's a verse that says:
And 'round about midnight some preacher came on
To tell me what's right, to tell me what's wrong
And there was a test at the sound of the beep
'It was only a test' the voice would repeat
And the National Anthem would sing me to sleep
DD asked what he meant about the anthem.
I told her that TV and radio used to go off the air at midnight and they'd put a picture of the flag and play the National Anthem and then ... static.
Remember those days? Before cable? Before 24 hour news and weather and music videos? We had five channels: NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and a UHF station (ours was channel 40). And WOW! The excitement when a SIXTH channel arrived: FOX
Those were the days when the TV season started in September and ended in June, not all the funkiness there is now with maybe 10 shows in a season that starts in October, goes on hiatus in December, returns in March and stops in April.
In the summer, when the regular stations were showing repeats, our Channel 40 station showed all the classic movies for 40 nights. The summers were when I found "Cat Ballou" and "Singing in the Rain", where I learned that "West Side Story" was both beautiful and tragic and realized that I was already a hopeless romantic when the ending of "Casablanca" depressed me.
There was no MTV or VH1 or CMT. I relied on "American Bandstand" and "Solid Gold" and eventually "Friday Night Videos" to show me what was hot in the music industry.
Our telephones had cords and no call waiting. I reheated my leftovers on the stove or in the oven.
You couldn't buy movies on video.
And we didn't get phone calls at 3:45 a.m. calling my step-dad into work.
In the spirit of looking back, I give you one more video, "19-Something":
Oh man. Did you see all that stuff? Wax lips! Atari! ... ah, memories...
What are some things you remember?
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You Are the Dog |
 Like a dog, you are a completely loyal and devoted friend. People can count on you. You are brave and a good leader. You like belonging to a pack, and you get restless if you're alone for too long. You tend to accept and love everyone no matter what. But when someone is a bad seed, you know it right away. You have a bad temper occasionally, and you're protective of the ones you love. You will stand up and fight to make sure no one gets hurt. |
Mostly right, though I really do like my solitude.
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10 comments:
Man, I love those days! It was so simple! I remember my sister and I listening to the radio at night, I can't remember the program, but it was scary stories (the name will come to me mid day I'm sure). I remember the Christmas that my dad bought my mom our first microwave. And when we got a vcr. There was one video store in the area and that was about 15 miles from home. I remember getting on my horse and riding with friends, never knowing where we'd end up or when we'd be home and no one had to worry about us.
Sometimes I just want to go back to that.
I didn't even have TV while growing up. I remember when I was a senior in high school, a friend got a TV. I was really impressed. It was very small and came with a glass that stood in front of it to magnify the picture.
When I was young it was the radio. I listened to Lets Pretend every Saturday morning, and during the week it was Captain Midnight. On sunday we all had to be quiet at 1 in the afternoon while my mother listened to One man's Family.
As a young mother, bread was 20 cents and gas was 24 Cents a gallon. I bought a package of 6/1.00 ice cream bars at Luckys. Is there still a Luckys grocery store anywhere? I could go on, but it is beginning to get depressing thinking about how much stuff costs now
**Sigh** The magic has gone, hasn't it? I always love taking a step back in time.
Good post.
I remember how innocent things were. We played outside with games that challenged us physically. We could go Trick or Treat without worrying that someone put something in our candies or apples. We watched great children's programming (Zoom, Wonderama, Bozo, Romper Room). It was such all simple.
You Are the Rabbit
Like a rabbit, you are quick on your feet and fast to act. You don't procrastinate or dilly-dally.
You are ambitious, and likely very lucky when it comes to money. You know how to work hard when the time is right.
You are conservative in your decisions and actions. You want to protect and defend what's yours.
You are a kind and polite person. You make sure not to step on any toes, and if someone is mad, you get out of his or her way.
Mostly accurate.
Have a great Monday.
I remember fighting over who had to get up to change the channel. And it was a dial, not push buttons!
Have a nice day, and hope you aren't too tired having to get up so early!
I remember the test pattern with it's row of colors and signal and then static. I remember when I could walk a block to a friends house and my mom wouldn't worry. Having art, music and PE in elementary school.
I am the Dragon: Like a dragon, you are fiery and short-tempered. When you need to get something off your chest, you really roar.
You are a very unique creature, and you don't relate too anyone. You feel a little lonely in your life.
If someone takes the time to get to know you, they realize you are brave, strong, and even sensitive.
You are a much better creature than anyone ever gives you credit for. You could destroy the world if you wanted to... but you don't.
Hmm, pretty accurate except for the short tempered thing. But, when I do get angry? *G*
I hope you're having a lovely day and getting some rest.
I remember when phones not only had cords but you had DIAL the numbers because push button phones were a thing far into the future. And our TV stations sometimes had a test pattern with the head of an Indian chief.
Remember Casey Kasem's Top 40 Countdown on the weekends?
Thank you for visiting my blog today and then taking me down this memory trip! I remember so much of what you said and then more!! LOL I would love to have fewer TV channels and no remote!!
Wow, Marianne, you made me so nostalgic.
I remember the drive-ins so well. I used to love to go until we got a new car. Part of the fun was stopping at the deli for big sandwiches for dinner. Once we got the new car no sandwiches were allowed. :(
I remember BEGGING my parents for my own phone extension (no luck). Now all the kids in my class have cellphones.
Speaking of my 4th graders, last year we were reading a test prep passage about the Mercury Theater and Orson Welles and War of the Worlds. They were curious so I found a download of the old radio show. I thought they'd be interested to see what it was but they actually begged to listen to the whole thing.
I just watched the first video. I had a pair of bear foot slippers just like that kid had. In college.
I also had a pair of carrot slippers. Hard to walk up stairs with them on.
I remember when I lived in Minneapolis my friends and I walking to a little theater and watching movies for a dollar. And penny candy was actually a penny.
Can we go back?
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