We will never forget

We have all heard songs in our lifetime that we will never forget. The lyrics and the melody are there forever. The minute you hear them you immediately can join in and a big grin comes across your face. Let’s see; let’s try this one. “Here I come to save the day! “ or how about “M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E” or “Say kids, what time is it?” If you guessed Mighty Mouse, Mickey Mouse Club and Howdy Doody and you find yourself grinning then you grew up in the 1950s.

  When television came on the scene in the 1950s, it became a source of family entertainment in the evenings. They were by all means considered a luxury. A 14-inch screen in a cabinet could cost as much as $100. There was only black and white and to talk about color was just something to dream about, ‘cause it would never happen. There was also the concern of what effect it could have on one’s health. I can remember getting into trouble ‘cause I was always sitting too close and my folks, like all other parents, were convinced that sitting too close and watching too much would absolutely ruin your eyesight. Thus the appearance of the yardstick; laid out on the floor four feet from the television set as a gentle reminder not to cross over. Television viewing for kids was limited.

The argument was that too much was not good for us, and we needed to be outside playing games, rolling skating, riding bikes and breathing fresh air. We somehow pleaded our case well enough that on Saturday mornings, with the promise of being outside for the afternoon, we got to enjoy Saturday morning cartoons or take in the adventures of Hop-a-long Cassidy, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Sky King, Annie Oakley, The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid and of course Sgt. Preston of the Yukon. These adventures later would prove to be fodder for our imaginations when outside riding our bikes, which became trusty steeds.

After the supper dishes were done our family, like other families, would gather around and watch such timeless shows as “Dragnet,” “Boston Blackie,” “The Shadow,” or “Your Show of Shows” with Sid Caesar and Imogene Cocoa.

If you were in the mood for a good laugh then “Red Skelton,” “Milton Burle,” “I Love Lucy,” “Jack Benny” or “Jackie Gleason” were must-sees. There were a few variety shows that offered the newcomers a chance to debut to thousands such as “Ted Mack Amateur Hour,” “Arthur Godfrey,” “Perry Como” or the “Ed Sullivan Show.” “The Ed Sullivan Show” was the gateway for Elvis Presley and years later the boys from Liverpool made their grand entrance to the American culture there.

A lot of criticisms followed Elvis’ debut.

 There were way too many hip gyrations even though the camera never showed him from the waist down. This was not at all in keeping with family entertainment. Dick Clark brought rock and roll into the hearts of every teen with his “American Bandstand”

There was also a show called “Your Hit Parade” that counted down the top 10 songs for the week. Out of this came the ever popular must have sissy blouse. Ladies remember? Rows and rows of narrow gathered lace on the front and it had to be topped off with a small black bow at the neck. Locally, there was a show called “Bandstand” with John Bilyeu,  featuring local kids from area high schools. You had to be chosen. I remember how excited I was to be in one of those groups representing my high school.

Before you became part of the high school scene, kids anticipated after school TV. We teenagers did too; we just wouldn’t admit it to anyone. There was no better way to enjoy your after school snack of homemade cookies and milk then to relax with the antics of “Kukla, Fran and Ollie,” “Howdy Doody” with Uncle Bob, Clarabelle the Clown and the boys’ personal favorite character Princess Summer Fall Winter Spring.

In the years ahead, long after Howdy left the airwaves, Clarabelle lived on as Captain Kangaroo now creating good memories to the next generation. There is no question that the absolute favorite of all time was “The Mickey Mouse Club” regardless of your age. We all secretly wanted to be Mouseketeers like Annette Funicello and Tim Considine and own our very own mouse ears. And of course we secretly vowed that whatever happened in life that we would indeed always “hold our banner high high high.”

Television did indeed open a new world to us kids. I hope these few words about some of the memories I hold in some small way generated good thoughts for you. There’s only one thing left to say, “Happy trails to you, till we meet again.”