See It, Hear It, Get It!

I bet this brings back some memories! Remember
falling asleep with that earplug dangling out of your ear listening to rock and roll  under the covers?
The Regency TR-1 was the first commercially sold transistor radio. It was designed and manufactured in the United States. For just one year in 1954, about 100,000 were sold for $49.95. That was alot of money back then, but that radio was a must have.
The transistor was invented years earlier at Bell Telephone Labs but the non-military application was limited to the hearing aid market. So, in 1954, the sweet innovative radio, the first of it's kind hit the streets.
This little radio could fit in your pocket and how cool it was to ride your bike and listen to tunes. This invention was a significant achievment since it included a high fidelity, high volume speaker and a single battery supply! Designed for AM broadcasts only as FM was not in the picture.
The four colors, black, cloud grey, mandarian red and ivory were the standard colors. For a little more money, you could get the pearlescent colors like lavender, pearl, white, turquoise, shell pink and lime. The optional earphone was an extra $7.50, but we all know we had to have that.
Regency president, Ed Tuder had a market stategy for these radios. He figured that wilth the cold war going on and the fear of a nuclear attack (the bomb) from the USSR, these transistor radios were going to be an essential life survival item. I suppose you could get a good signal while sitting in your bomb shelter.
I don't think we stuck that earplug in our ears to hear the news of the bomb. We just wanted our rock and roll. We became "transistorized." We could play our music and our parents couldn't even hear it!
Walter Brahaun, the co-inventor of the transistor, complained that his only regret was that it stimulated rock and roll.

Go Ahead, Play With Your Food!

      In 1949, George Lerner invented Mr. Potato Head and Hasbro distributed the
toy. Originally, it was produced as plastic parts to be stuck into a real potato.
Lerner would take potatoes from his mothers garden, used other fruits and vegetables as facial features and make dolls for his sisters to play with.
His toy idea was controversial with the war and food rationing fresh in the minds of Americans. The toy was considered wasteful and irresponsible. So, the toy companies rejected Lerner's idea.
Later, George sold the toy to a cereal company who planned to use the pieces as a giveaway in cereal boxes. As luck would have it, a toy company, later to be Hasbro bought Mr. Potato Head from the cereal company. This is the start of one of America's greatest toy stories. 
In 1952, you could by the 30 piece set for under one dollar! Imagine that! Mother's were facing a loosing battle. Every kid poked holes and made funny faces in every piece of produce  imaginable. X Box? Nintendo? What's that?
Finally, in 1953, Mr. Potato Head found the love of his life! Mrs. Potato Head was introduced to the world and they had "eyes" for each other at first sight. They became the envy of vegetables everywhere!
The change came, though in the 1960's. Mr. Potato Head became Mr. plastic Potato Head. Government regulations forced Hasbro to round off the points in the face pieces and they just didn't puncture food very well after that. ( I want my Jarts back, too!)  So, now a kid could only put the pieces in predetermined places in the plastic head. Goodbye creativity, hello plastic. At any rate, the line expanded into all sorts of characters, became the first toy advertised on TV and the kids didn't mind. Either did Hasbro.          
                                              
                                  

                                               

                                     

It's Fizzie Time!

I bet you remember Fizzies! Dropping a tablet into water and watching it fizz was so cool. Better yet, I bet you put them on your tongue and let them fizz away. Your mouth got all foamy and your mother freaked out and told you your stomach would explode. Am I wrong?
The Emerson Drug Company who made Bromo-Seltzer, wanted to create a tablet that when added to water, would create a soda pop drink. The chemist, Lem Billings invented the idea in 1950 and name it Fizzies. At first though, they were only
marketed locally.
In 1962, the Emerson Drug Comapny was bought by Warner Lambert and they took Fizzies national. In 1968, the sales volume of Fizzies more than doubled that of Kool-Aid.
I bet you had a favorite flavor. There was strawberry, root beer, grape, orange, lemon lime, cherry, and sometimes cola.
The formula for these little drink tablets changed because the artificial sweetner being used was banned by the FDA. Go figure. Cyclamates were linked to cancer. The last pack rolled off the line in 1969.
In the mid 1990's, Fizzies made a short comeback and was marketed as an "Instant Sparkling Drink."
Nutra Sweet was used and the tablets only had 10 calories, vitamin C enriched, and great in milk.
I don't think so.
Fizzies are being made today, once again. Sucralose, a natural derivative of sugar is being used as the
sweetner. By the way, the Jones Soda Company has come out with their version of a Fizzie called Jones Soda Candy.
I say, by a box of fizzies and put a tablet or two on your tongue, and let your kids or grandkids know what being a baby boomer is all about!

The Toast Of The Town

I bet you remember the Ed Sullivan Show. It ran from 1948-1971. Every Sunday night,
it was a ritual. Who would be on next? The whole world was in your living room. There
were opera singers, ballet dancers, circus acts, popular artists, comedians, and much much more.
Other than the guests, there was that little Italian mouse, Topo Gigio. How can anyone forget him? The Ed Sullivan Show was the first exposure for foreign performers to the American public.
What a ritual that show was for American families gathered around he television screen.
We had loads of snacks and just waited for the show to air.
I remember watching Elvis for the first time. I sat there with a mouth full of unchewed and unswallowed popcorn fixated to the TV screen. I don't think I even said one word. I was either in shock or in love.
At first, Ed Sullivan vowed never to have Elvis on his show. He didn't want to have him in front of a family audience. He changed his mind, though, realizing his ratings would go down. But even then, he only wanted Elvis to be shown from the waist up. That didn't happen, as his gyrating body was shown as big as life. I couldn't speak.
In 1964, I got to see the Beatles for the first time. The audience were hysterical screaming teenagers. That show was thought to have 73 million viewers.
Ed really had it together. There were very few opportunities for African-American performers on national television at that time. He was the champion of black talent and launched many careers by presenting them to national TV. There was no bigotry on that show and we got to see great singers. Some of them were the Supremes, Pearl Baily, Harry Belafonte, James Brown and a whole lot more.
There isn't any show today that compares. Thank you  Ed! And now, right here on our stage, it's a really big shoe!

Peter Cottontail

 I bet you remember this one! Your mother probably sang it to you. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!
If you don't celebrate Easter, then have a beautiful spring day! And my words of wisdom for today are: Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.

I'm Strong To The Finish Cause I Eats Me Spinach!

Popeye is a good hearted character and only fights when pushed to the breaking point. Created by E.C. Segar in 1919, the cartoon was the Thimble Theater Comic Strip published in the NY Journal. The original cartoon featured Olive Oyl, her brother Castor Oyl, her father Cole Oyl and her boyfriend Ham Gravy.
Ten years later, Segar needed a sailor to help Castor pilot his ship. Popeye made his debut January 17,1929. An odd shaped sailor man with one squinty eye and a pipe in his mouth, Popeye had huge forearms with tattoos of anchors. He was a true hero winning over the villian.
Bluto is your typical school yard bully from everyone's childhood. He always pushes Popeye to the brink and thanks to his can of spinach, Popeye is transformed into someone with powers. He is a forerunner to a superhero such as Superman.
Olive Oyl, the woman of  Popeye's dreams is just as odd looking as him. She is shaped like a bean pole with a nose like pickle and big clod hopper shoes. These two, so unusual in their appearance made them much more appealing to their fans. Their romantic exploits were unglamourous, but we embraced them.
Remember Wimpy who was obsessed with hamburgers and Swee'Pea, Popeye's adopted son?  This comic strip was so popular over the years, that we were able to see cartoons, comic books, commercials and movies.
Chester, Illinois, Segars hometown is the spinach capital of the world. The cartoon was very good for the spinach industry. I remember trying to choke down canned spinach just to see if it would work for me. Chester is home to Allen Canning which markets the Popeye brand spinach.
On the weekend after Labor Day, the Popeye picnic is held in the town. Fans from all over the globe attend.
I just might think about going this year since it's a day trip for me. So, enjoy the cartoon, I'm going to make myself a spinach salad.

This Boomer Turned 60!

Can you believe it! Well, neither can I.  I must say, I was a bit apprehensive about this day. When our parents were sixty, they were old, for sure.We measure events on this planet by minutes, hours, days, months and years. It's quite restrictive, you know. I like to think of being 60 as a third trimester of pregnancy. That makes sense to me.
At any rate, I had a great day! I cruised around my old stomping ground, Bowling Green. I visited old friends, the shops and of course the bars. There was a surprise around every corner. The best thing was, I documented the whole day with my camera and journal. If I loose my mind someday, then at least I can look at the pictures.
So, my words of wisdom to you are, "Life is not measured by the number of breathes we take, but by the moments that take our breath away!"
Sixty and lovin' it!

If I Had A Nickel For Everyone Of Them, I'd Be Rich!

I'm talking widom here. You know, those immortal sayings that taught us valuable life lessons? Words of wisdom passed down through the generations to you. And I bet you caught yourself saying the same things to your kids. " Just wait 'till your father comes home" or "Go ask your mother."
I'm wondering if through the years, some of these sayings have changed because our world has. For example, "You better eat everything on your plate. There are starving children in Korea." Do parents now say the same things to their kids except change Korea to Africa?
I suspect these quirkey expressions become part of our DNA and then one day, these valuable words just automatically leave our lips to be passed on to some unsuspecting child. I have made a short list of some from my memory bank. I am sure you will recognize many of them. So, I am asking you, in your comments to share some of what you remember.  Why? Because I said so!
"You made your bed, now lie in it."
"Smooth move Ex-Lax!"
"If the shoe fits, wear it."
"Don't kiss the boys or you will get pregnant."
"If I have to stop this car...."
"Were you born in a barn?"
"Two wrongs don't make a right."
"If they jumped off the bridge, you would too."
"Children should be seen and not heard."  (would Dr. Spock object to this?)
"If you had another brain it would be lonesome."
"You're so far back in the woods you can't see the trees."
"This too shall pass."
"Waste not want not."
"Don't be a tattle tail."
"Close the door, I don't pay good money to heat the outdoors."
"Either in or out."
"Money doesn't grow on trees."
"If you cross your eyes they will stay that way."
"Wear clean underware in case you have to go to the hospital."
"Be home before the street lights come on."
"If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all."
"Your eyes are bigger than your stomach."
"You would loose your head if it wasn't attached."
"Don't take any wooden nickels."
OK,  you're it, now it's your turn.....

Duncan Hines..The Man And His Mixes

This is such a great picture. Imagine that! A man actually standing by a stove in the fifties and not the barbeque grill. This is the cover of a cookbook advertising the Estate range. Why, it's none other than
 Duncan Hines!
Duncan Hines was born in Bowling Green Kentucky in 1880. He was a traveling salesman. During his travels in 1935, he had eaten alot of good and bad food on the road. "I run less risk driving my way across country than eating my way across." During this time, there were no interstate highway systems and only a few chain restaurants in the populated areas, so good food for travelers was found in the local restaurants.
Hines and his wife began putting together lists for their friends of good restaurants across the country. These lists resulted in a paperback book called, "Adventures in Good Eating." It was a must have for any traveler. This book was so popular, that another one was written called, "Lodging For The Night."
In 1952 Duncan Hines introduced bread through the Durkee Baking Company. This was his first step to baked goods mixes. Hines sold the rights to use his name and the title of his book to Roy Park which then was transformed into Hines Park Foods. This was the license to many food related businesses that bore the Duncan Hines name.
In case you are interested, there is a museum in Bowling Green Kentucky honoring Duncan Hines:
http://www.duncanhinesmuseum.com/
"Whipped cream has it's place, ripe olives have theirs. Pickles are nice, but let's be reasonable."
"Have you ever tried a few drops of worcestershire sauce on bacon before broiling? It does things to it!"
If you would like to read the story of the man and his mixes, click the link below. Otherwise, let's bake a cake.
Duncan Hines: The Man Behind the Cake Mix

Enjoy Better Living With Your Crosley Shelvador Refridgerator!

Now that you own the beautiful new 1951 Shelvador, you are going to find that your food will keep better and meals will be so much easier to prepare. For those special occasions, when there are going to be guests for dinner, luncheon, or supper, it will be much less tiring than it used to be.
You'll  be surprised at how much food you can store in this new refridgerator. So many things can be kept on the shelves in reach, in sight! And there is plenty of room for frozen foods too. You can shop ahead and save money and shopping time. You will be able to serve more healthful and nutritious foods with your wonderful new Crosley Shelvador!