The sunflower clock on the wall would wind down to 7:30 precisely as a signal for The Monkees to make their appearance. We liked to watch Daktari, I Dream of Jeannie, Flipper, Gilligan's Island. It was a special treat to stay up to watch The Wizard of Oz or Peter Pan. When Jackie Gleason said "And away we go!" it meant bedtime (very clever Mom!). I remember hating having to go to bed so early especially when it was daylight but I can understand Mom and Dad needed a break. I also understand that was probably pretty standard at the time--even so, I think we had a pretty early bedtime.
Mom liked to watch the soap operas, though I don't know which ones. I would sometimes help her put the rollers in her hair so I could sneak a peek at the forbidden shows. There was no such thing as turning on the TV in the morning before school or work.
There were only the network channels to watch after careful adjustment to the rabbit ear antenna so no small wonder you didn't have it on very much. I put this picture up because one of my memories is that the TV was in this corner where the hutch is at one time--though that doesn't really make sense. Mostly I remember it was in the corner where the Christmas tree usually was (where did the TV go when the tree was up?). The clock was on a wall in a different room because I can remember kind of leaning around the doorway into the den/Mary Jane's room to count down the second hand. That doesn't make much sense either but that's how I remember it.
I remember watching JFK's funeral on that TV on Dennison Road; the prisoners of war returning home from Vietnam on the TV in the den on Buffalo St but nothing historic comes to mind for Walton. Mom liked to watch Mannix and Kojak and I liked watching them with her. Today, Ryan and I watch movies together and I hope this will be one of his fond memories.
I suspect our children will remember coverage of September 11 as it was certainly a turning point in our history--you knew it as you watched it unfold. I am surprised at how closely television is tied to childhood memories and how it evokes certain feelings.
3 comments:
THE CAKE PLATE THAT IS IN THE LAST 2 PICTURES IS HERE WITH US. THAT COMES UP IN A LOT OF THE PICTURES FOR ANY OF OUR BIRTHDAYS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I ENDED UP WITH IT BUT IT'S HERE. CHRIS
That's a nice cake plate...I wonder where Mom got it.
I remember that we didn't get a color TV until we were in Walton. That was a big thing.
I also recall watching Robert F Kennnedy's funeral on television on Dennison Road. I was very young and didn't really understand, and REALLY wanted to watch something else, or go outside to play. But Mom said I'd be glad I watched it, and to sit down, be quiet and watch. It is one of my earliest memories.
I sat with my boys watching the news in my apartment at Mountainview when the US started bombing for Dessert Storm. It was scary. Then 9/11... Yes TV is linked to our memories.
I always thought it was Doc Tari...Huh.
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