Tuesday, March 5, 2013

THEATER OF THE MIND

My low bid on EBay won a radio.  When I unpacked it a few days later I got a fast ride on the Wayback Machine. Suddenly I was sitting on the floor at my grandma’s house in front of the big Motorola consol radio listening to Fibber McGee and Molly.  My new acquisition was a replica of that radio from my childhood.  It would go with my collection of vintage dollhouse furniture. 

It’s weird how I can remember whole radio commercials from that era for products like Hallo Shampoo, Ajax the Foaming Cleanser, Jello-Jello-yum-yum-yum, Plop, plop, fizz, fizz Alka-Seltzer and Cream of Wheat, yet I can’t remember the number on my own cell phone.

Speaking of Cream of Wheat, I remember hurrying through my Saturday chores so I could listen to “Let’s Pretend” on the table model radio at home.

Our radio had a place in the kitchen where it sang out the latest hits for mom, and the farm market report for dad.  In the evening my sibs and I would listen to “Bob and Ray,” “The Lone Ranger” and “Suspense;” to name a few shows.  I’ll blame all that theater of the mind for my vivid and overactive imagination.

We didn’t get a television until I was almost in high school.  My poor brothers and my sister and I had to read every book we could haul home from our library.  Those were hard times.

 How about Hallo Shampoo or Jello Pudding or Cream of Wheat or Pepsi Cola.  Thanks for going along with me on my Wayback Machine ride.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have a Stromberg Carlson tube radio the spitting image of the one I had in my room as a kid.....great memories of the wonderful hum and crackle....sitting with grandad in his big chair listening to the Lone Ranger....mom singing along with Patsy Cline and Rosemary Clooney...and everyone had best be super quiet when the news was on after supper.

Ann Simiskey said...

Wow! 12 whole ounces that's a lot! Listening to the mp3s with her majesty, she says how come there is no picture? It's just music? Then she asked,did they have hatred in the old days?

Leenie said...

To Her Majesty: Sadly hatred is as old as Adam and Eve, but good music makes it take a back seat.

Linda Sue said...

Leenie, you have such a good memory! We listened to radio- no TV until I was about ten and then it was really lame! I cannot remember a single jingle . Love radio, still prefer it to television- I am such an old dog. I love your furniture so much I want to shrink and live there! You've got the really good stuff- and a TELEPHONE!!! WOW! So cool!LOVE

Linda Sue said...

Oh I take that back I remember paul parrot.
The shoes you want to buy!

Leenie said...

What about Buster Brown Shoes? "I'm Buster Brown! I live in a shoe! Here's my dog, Tige! He lives there too!" Funny, my Buster Browns didn't have anything living in them except some cruddys. I looked.

Alica said...

I remember spending evenings at my Grandpa and Grandma's house when my parents were away, and they'd be sitting each in their special chairs...Grandpa in his recliner and Grandma in her rocker. The radio would be on to the local :old fashioned" Christian radio station...I don't remember hearing any of those particular commercials that you mentioned on that station, but I clearly remember the droning of the man's voice as he preached, and the acappella singing! :)
No tv at our house either, but books...lots of books!

joeh said...

You'll wonder where the yellow went...

Buttons Thoughts said...

Pop Pop fizz fizz yes the good old days. I we old?
I am so happy you acquired that old radio it is very cool.
I loved the radio and the commercials on the radio made you use your imagination and yes I do not remember my cell # but oh yes I remember the important stuff. Pop pop fizz fizz:) Hug B

Joanne Noragon said...

After supper my parents took their coffee to the living room to listen to the news. We kids went to the kitchen to do the dishes. We were done at 7:30, in time to listen to the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy or whatever program. But until you mentioned them, I didn't remember the commercials. Of course there were commercials. The one I cannot forget: Bucky Beaver. Brusha brusha brusha, get the new Ipana. That was on television.

Therese said...

You are the coolest person I've ever met. I have a small obsession with antique replica dollhouse furniture too, but only in the abstract.

I listened to Fibber McGee and Molly the the internet a bit ago. It was...it was just terrible.

Jack Benny tho...that guy was funny.

Anairam said...

You have the best dolls and doll furniture, Leenie - what a cute little radio!
PS Re the paper making - water colour paper will make the most lovely sheets, I'm sure - my teacher uses up all her failed etchings (on lovely paper) by turning them into handmade paper - you have to try it some time!