By far, the mostvaluable material things in my world are photographs. Sure, I love my old toys and games a lot, too, but nothing is as priceless or irreplaceable as an old family photograph! That's why I'm so pleased to have borrowed a few of my family's old albums from my mom; I can scan and make copies for my own collection. Plus, now I can share some of my personal favorites with you. So if it sounds like fun, just grab a seat next to me and we'll get started...
This is my mom and dad on New Years Eve, 1969, "sealing the deal" in a Las Vegas wedding chapel. They made quite the handsome couple, if you ask me!
Here are the stylish newlyweds, again! Look how very dashing my dad appears in his suit, smoking a pipe. And check out my mom's HAIR! Wow! Actually, it's interesting to note that my mom was about 5 or 6 months pregnant with me in this photo because if I didn't know better, I'd swear she was carrying ME under that HELMET of hers!
Not sure WHAT I DID to deserve THIS... But at least I look happy. And I should, just look at the bottle of port they threw in there with me! Here, I'm about 1-year-old and happy as a clam. A drunken clam.
Did I ever mention that my grandparents were robots?
"Now, what??" Here, I'm about 2 or 3 and quite obviously less than impressed.
Grandpa
Sheesh! You'd think that riding HUGE turtles and carousel horses would make all the little boys smile, but NOOOO, not this kid...
Viva, Las Vegas! I think my mom looks WAY cool, here. She's totally rockin' that retro look and vibe... only it WASN'T retro back THEN! It was the real deal.
"Allo. Parlez-vous francais?" This shot cracks me up every time I see it! And it makes me think of Pepe Le Pew, if he were a little boy and NOT a skunk.
Well, I hope all of that didn't bore you too much, folks. In fact, thanks for indulging me! Until the next 'Retro Photo' session, remember... Today's snapshot could be tomorrow's priceless treasure.
This is just odd. I can't help wondering what could've made this rope jumping record so special and exclusive to boys and men only? And what must occur when, say, a girl or woman happens to overhear a bit of the recording by accident? Does her head explode, or something?
~Image and info taken from the book, 'The Worst Album Covers Ever!' by Nick DiFonzo. Published by Barnes & Noble, Inc.~
I know one thing for darn sure... There's absolutely no way I could ever deny the fact that I was a child of the seventies. I just love too many iconic things within 1970s pop culture, and I figure it's gotta be a direct result of growing up during that era.
One of the decade's more popular and iconic game shows (and easily my all-time favorite) was the star-studded, fun and risque, 'Match Game'. With show regulars Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly on every episode's celebrity panel, you knew you could always count on those two for laughter inducing entertainment. And if the other 4 stars also wound up being funny, well... that was just icing on the cake! The show still runs on Game Show Network, and I discovered only recently that you can buy a 4-disc 'Best of Match Game' DVD w/30 episodes on it. The DVD has been available since 2006, so I'm currently conducting an investigation into why I wasn't properly notified of the original release date. You probably think I'm kidding, don't you? My husband could tell you a thing or two about how nutty I am for stuff like this. It absolutely drives Tommy up a wall whenever I start "talking shop" about Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Lynde, JoAnne Worley (Aunt JoAnne!), etc. with friends who share a mutual appreciation for such groovy '70s pop culture. But that's his loss! So much of that stuff just cracks me up, from the funky fashions to the eccentric and hilarious celebrities... And the t.v. shows, natch!
Having a gay old time!
I have no idea if Brett was a real-life friend to Charles outside of the show, but those two got along so well that she seemed like the proverbial hag to his imperiously prissy fag. And I truly mean that in a good way!
They broke the mold when Charles Nelson Reilly came into this world. Just think about the nerve it must have taken, and the high level of self-confidence he must've had in order to be so freely "himself" as a television celebrity of the day. I mean, we're talking about 40 years ago! Granted, I'm fairly sure he never officially came OUT of the closet, but he certainly didn't hide in there, either! He just was who he was. He didn't try to act a certain way that would be considered more socially acceptable.
He was true to himself, and you either liked him, or you didn't. I admire Mr. Reilly for that, neck scarf and all!
Oh, and I also happen to think he was pretty darn hilarious!
"Write down your best answer to THIS!"
The goofily charming and witty host of Match Game, Gene Rayburn, is obviously caught here in one of his more playful moods. I have no clue what he was actually talking about. Although, we can clearly see what it looks like...
(Psst! Get a load of that bow tie on Gene! And is that lady wearing a dark blue denim jacket?)
"Party don't stop till the panties drop!"
Another one of my favorite celebrity panelists, Fannie Flagg, was always upbeat and amusing. Hearing that Southern lilt in her voice was also quite comforting, and somehow added to her comedic flavor.
"Hey, big boy..."
Here, feeling comfortable in its natural environment, we see the reilly creature caught in an act of seduction ritual which is rarely ever witnessed by others.
"I drew a blank! Get it??"
Joyce Bulifant was one of the semi-regular celebs that would come on and be a real hootevery time she was on! She was a bit ditzy, she did have that goofy voice, and she almost always gave odd (wtf?) answers, but there was something quite endearing about her at the same time...
He was suave and debonair, with a nose for fashion...
I never enjoyed Richard Dawson when he hosted The Family Feud, but I did think that he seemed like a pretty cool cat, back on this show! Check out those funky fab styles, too! What must each of those have been called, Purple Plaid Passion and Sailor Boy Chic?!
Unfortunately, it was a much bigger challenge than I had anticipated to find decent enough images online for use here in my post. And that's a bummer because I really wanted to include a few other favorite regular/semi-regular celebs in the gallery such as Betty White, Avery Schreiber, Patti Deutsch, etc. Oh, well. There certainly isn't anything stopping me from doing an update, or a revision, sometime down the road. I bet Tommy would just love that, huh? I know... if/when I do some sort of follow-up post, I'll have to dedicate it to him! Just because I can be a brat that way, once in a while [Insert Muttley's trademark wheezing snicker, here].
Now, I leave you with a little treat. It's quite a funny clip, and a fine example of the sort of uproarious antics they would get into on the show, from time to time. Have fun with it, and prepare to do some snickering of your own...
~All photos and screen captures via Google Images.~
Several years ago, my mom gave me a big box of toys and nursery wall decor that were mine when I was just a wee, little Baby Anthony. My family actually called me Tony (and still do), but I tried to put a stop to that at some point in my teens when I had decided that Anthony sounded more mature. Besides, that is the name on my birth certificate!
Anyway, I know that it must have been a bitter-sweet moment for my mom when she gave me these things because she told me that she had been saving them for the day when I might have a child of my own. Well... back then, adoption by gay couples wasn't as prevalent as it is now (may not have even been legal), and she certainly knew a grandchild wasn't coming by natural means! So figuring it was a lost cause to save it, but also knowing how special it would be to me, my mom went ahead and handed over that magical box of babyhood memories.
It's interesting how I can remember some of the things perfectly, and others not at all. What really amazed me was the smell inside the box and on the stuffed animals. After lo these many years, it all still has a very distinct scent that (((WHOOSH))) instantly takes me back to the nursery. Fascinating, the way our sense of smell is so strongly connected to memories. It can almost evoke more than a photograph. Or, at the very least, the scent of certain things can conjure something that a photograph just isn't capable of capturing. Know what I mean?
Speaking of photographs, the one at the top is of my mom and me. Just thought I should clarify that in case it somehow wasn't totally obvious to everyone. And below you'll see a few that I took of two very psychedelic pieces of wall decor which came from grandparents on my dad's side. I imagine that they probably hung over my crib. The wall hangings, not my grandparents. When looking at them, keep in mind that I was born in the '70s!
Colorful enough for ya? Both wall plaques are likely responsible for why I'm so drawn to color...
This one is my favorite of the two! Not quite sure if it's because of the particular color combo, or that this bear is cuter blowing bubbles with a horn while wearing a nightcap? Probably both.
That is all, for now. I plan to continue sharing the rest of my Baby Box contents as a series of exclusive posts, much like the 'Happy Music' and 'A Boy's Toy Joy' series!
Who would've guessed that a kid could have this much fun sitting down?!
For a young child growing up in the '70s, there was really only one thing that came close to inducing the sensation of a mind-altering drug... and that was none other than the wonderfully dizzying toy for tots, the Sit 'n Spin. Actually, I'm pretty sure that I played with mine long after I was a tot. It was that much fun!
If you somehow missed out on experiencing this virtual "krack 4 kidz" firsthand, let me describe it for you. Obviously, you sat down on the thing. But you had to sit with your legs crossed (a.k.a. the now politically incorrect, Indianstyle position) for maximum effect. Then, much like the teacups ride at Disneyland, you would grab onto the middle disc and spin yourself silly, using every bit of your wee might and determination until you fell over! The resulting sensation truly was mind-altering, and very addictive. Had the television show Intervention been around back then, I would have made quite a suitable candidate!
There's been many iterations of this toy over the years, and I understand that Playskool is now making it, but both the quality and fun do not measure-up to the original. Lots of parents who knew the joy of Kenner's version when they were kids, now complain that the newer ones they've purchased for their children are made of cheap, thin plastic. And worst of all, they don't spin like they used to! Something in the current design seems to purposely prevent any wild and dangerous, seated spinning frenzies... I guess I was among the lucky ones who just narrowly escaped this rotating death trap!
I guess that I should have titled this post, 'It WAS Christmas in July at Santa's Village!' because it is, sadly, no longer there amongst the pines of Skyforest, California. Well, technically, it does still exist. Only, it hasn't been open since 1998 and what's left is falling into total ruins! The parking lot IS being used for a lumber yard, however. I wonder what they call that, Paul Bunyan's Village? It really is heartbreaking that after 43 years of bringing the enchantment of Santa Claus and the wonder of Christmas to life, it all just ended. Closed for business. Will return at... never o'clock! They just walked away and left it sitting there, discarded like some old worn-out shoe. It somehow seems even more depressing that it wasn't torn down, but was instead left for vandals and the elements to slowly devour.
Having been to Santa's Village only twice, once as a child and another as an adult, I am especially grateful for those memories now. The park's Grand Opening took place Memorial Day weekend in 1955, only 6 weeks before Walt opened the gates to Disneyland. But I didn't come along until the 1970s. I can just imagine how fresh and magnificent it all must've looked in the '50s... Still, I thought it was pretty great my first time. I know that somewhere there are old snap shots of me on many of the Christmas-themed rides, and I'm pretty sure that there's at least one shot of me screaming through tears while seated on Santa's lap. I WAS loving absolutely everything, EXCEPT that jolly old elf!
I can remember, as a little boy, thinking the place seemed truly magical. It looked alive with color, and the surrounding mountain air felt charged with an exciting sense of "anything-is-possible". I mean, I was frolicking around the place where Santa LIVED, after all! With all of his elves and reindeer, no less! Not to mention it looked as if you were in a fairytale, what with the storybook architecture of shops and houses populating the village. Also, those gigantic patterned mushrooms... WOW! I don't know how such a park would be perceived by the seemingly jaded young children of today, but back then, it certainly made an impression on me. Quite a happy one, too!
"Well, missy, you've got two choices. You can either hang out with Blitzen, by that North Pole... Or you can reach into these velvet pants and visit my SOUTH Pole!"
A couple of elves on their way back from the parking lot, having just "caned" someone for not buying a souvenir.
This was the Whirling Christmas Tree ride. You hopped into a giant ornament, and away you went!
Here are just a few random facts about Santa's Village in Skyforest, California:
The park was created on 15 acres of wooded land.
It cost $1 million to build.
In 1955, Children 11 yrs. & under got in FREE, Juniors 11 to 18 yrs. paid 40 cents, and Adults paid $1.00 (Federal Tax included)
At first, the park was open 364 days a year, and CLOSED on Christmas Day.
Glenn Holland, the park's creator, insisted that in order to help sustain the theme and illusion of a Christmas fantasy land, money was never to be exchanged inside the park at any of the shops or eateries. Instead, a small passport ticket was used to keep track of the guest's expenses, then checked out and paid for at the end of the visit in the exit shop. He felt strongly that children's belief in the myth was paramount.
When the park closed in 1998, all movable goods were sold at public auction. Today, the pastel-colored toadstools, Santa's sleigh, giant candy canes and a clock with months instead of numbers decorate homes and stores all around the mountainous area.
Elves communing with precious 'Bim the Burro'. He only LOOKED harmless...
The Good Witch's Bakery. This was where nice little children got cookies & donuts, but the ill-behaved ones got stuffed into an oven! Guess she wasn't always so "good", after all.
I don't remember seeing any scary clowns. They probably caused that cute boy to eventually become a serial killer!
Doesn't this just look like the ideal toy & doll shop?! Well, this was where you bought 'em...
...but this was where Santa's helpers made 'em! It's the Mill Wheel Toy Workshop.
"Tickets! Get your tickets here!" Eager children line up for a ride on Santa's Magic Train.
I don't remember seeing this Jack Pumpkinhead, either. But I do know that if I had, I would've RUN the other way!
I'm afraid that my follow-up to this post won't be as fun. In fact, it will be a bit sad as I'll be sharing a few examples of this park's slow deterioration into obscurity. But until that smack of reality, I hope you continue to enjoy this nostalgic look back at a true pop culture classic!
There is just something about the inimitable JoAnne Worley that I find very endearing. Of course, I have no idea what her demeanor is like in real-life, but if she's anything like her public persona I would love to know her! Heck, I'd have her to all my family functions. "That kooky Aunt JoAnne...", we'd say. "She's such a hoot!"
Worley was born in Lowell, Indiana on September 6th, 1937 as the third of five children. Even back in high school, she was developing a reputation for being funny as she was named the 'School Comedienne' by her peers. After studying drama in college, she went on to do many professional theater productions, including musicals. It wasn't until 1968, when JoAnne landed a regular spot on 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In', that she really broke into the main stream and became a star. After about 2 years on 'Laugh-In', Ms. Worley moved on to making movies and continued to spread her distinctive personality around the T.V. landscape.
Isn't she... pretty in pink?
Growing up in the 70s, I can remember seeing JoAnne (and hearing her trademark laugh) on many a television show. Why, she was on everything from 'Love, American Style' to even 'Love Boat' in the 80s. Then there were also several game shows of which Ms. Worley was a regular on, such as 'Hollywood Squares', 'Match Game', 'Password', and even 'The $10,000 Pyramid'. I would've "bet my sweet bippy" that she had also appeared on 'The Liar's Club', but I couldn't find any record of it. I must have dreamed about that the same night I dreamed an evil Billy Barty was injecting a couple of helpless young ladies with a syringe full of terror...
As a child, I didn't always understand what everyone was laughing about, but just hearing her laugh or suddenly break into operatic song was enough to make me giggle. And the clothes she would usually wear, with all the feathers and/or boas were certainly attention-grabbing! Not to mention, she was obviously a fan of the bouffant. Quite fashionable, really!
I think Big Bird had something to do with this!
Looks like JoAnne's sharing an operatic
moment with Goldie on 'Laugh-In'.
In somewhat recent years, she's done voice work for animated productions such as Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' (she was the Wardrobe/Armoir character) and even the Sony Playstation 'Kingdom Hearts' video game. She's also played both, the role of the Wicked Witch of the West in a stage musical of 'The Wizard of Oz', and Madame Morrible in the huge hit 'Wicked'. And most recently, she even played a bit part on Disney's T.V. show 'Wizards of Waverly Place'. I think JoAnne must have a thing for Oz and wizards!
Perhaps the best thing Ms. Worley has been doing, is her work as the President of Actors and Others for Animals. It's an organization that is dedicated to the promotion of humane treatment of animals. They say their main mission is to try and curb the pet overpopulation problem by subsidizing spay/neuter surgeries, but they do so much more. Please, use the link to see all that they do!
As a kid, I dug everything about JoAnne Worley. Today, especially since I know of her efforts toward helping animals, I really admire her! Now, if we could just have her over for our next family dinner night...
There is probably only a handful of toys that I can fondly remember playing with as a child growing up in the 1970s. I plan to feature them one at a time, so as to give them the attention I feel they deserve.
The first toy that I would like to "focus" on is the Fisher-Price Movie Viewer. Its design was suggestive of an old movie camera and it even hand-cranked like one. The main difference, of course, was that you used it to watch movies, not film them. The movies that I can remember viewing with it were all animated cartoon shorts. And there were only two of those that I used to watch again and again.
Walt Disney's 'Lonesome Ghosts' was my all-time favorite. It starred Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as ghostbuster/private eye types investigating an old haunted house. They even had on hats like Sherlock Holmes wore, and a magnifying glass, I think...
My favorite sequence was when they were already inside the old house and Mickey opens a door, only to be nearly drowned by a HUGE wave of water that comes rushing in! And four "spooky" ghosts come-a-floating on that very tidal wave. One of the neatest things about the viewer was that, because you powered it by hand-cranking the red dial, you could make it go as fast or slow as you wanted. Even frame by frame or BACKWARDS! So, the whole water sequence alone had a myriad of possibilities and could keep me fascinated for hours. The tale concludes when the three bumbling "detectives" are being chased by the ghosts and crash into a stack of flour barrels. They are then covered head-to-toe in white powder and end up scaring the ghosts away!
The End.
This was my 'Blade Runner'
at the tender age of 4!
My second favorite was Walt Disney's 'Three Little Pigs'. Now, I don't have to tell the story of that one, do I? Again, the thing that I loved to do was watch it in slo-mo or throw it in reverse when the Big Bad Wolf blew down the pigs' houses. I also enjoyed all the happy pig dancing and laughing in this one!
Their houses would get blown down, then rebuilt again and again...
Thanks to a retro toy seller, I can now crank-up these gems whenever I feel like remembering some of the simpler joys of my youth. There ARE others, but I'll save those for another time!
(Above title should be sung to the 'Circus Vargas' theme.)
When I was really little (much like Mr. Barty) I saw something on the T.V. that scared the crap out of me! It's one of those visual memories that are permanently burned into your mind, never to be erased by the passing of time. It would have been in the early 1970s because I'm pretty sure that I was just a toddler. And I'm not certain if it was in a movie or on a T.V. show, although my feeling is that it was probably a movie.
O.K., here's the scene: Mr. Barty was playing some kind of deranged scientist or something, in a white lab coat, holding a big syringe menacingly. Before him sat either one or two young girls (I think) that were his victims. The room around them was all dark and it seemed like they were underneath a very bright light. His victim/s were very upset and crying because they didn't want to be injected. Needless to say, it was a VERY intense moment. I can see all of this so clearly in my head that I want to know how accurate it actually is. And if it would still creep me out, today.
I've only just begun to do research in the hopes of finding this "little" gem. No luck, so far... If anyone reading this KNOWS what that scene is from, please, tell me!
Recapturing things like this from my childhood is important to me. Just as meaningful to me are toys that I remember playing with, as well. I have several ongoing missions to acquire such fond nuggets of my past.
He looks ready to conduct my circus.
Another less scary memory of Mr. Barty is his role as Hugo on the Krofft Superstars' T.V. show 'Dr. Shrinker'. Hugo was the Dr.'s evil sidekick, if memory serves, and he assisted in trying to capture the 3 "shrinkee" teenagers that had already been shrunken and since escaped. The show had a catchy theme song, too! But don't ask me to sing it.
I'm an adult who isn't the least bit ashamed of my love for toys. I also enjoy board games, art, music, photography, laughter, and just about any good old-fashioned circus. But I really dig pop culture, and that's the main reason I do this blog. I hope that you enjoy the show and come back once in a while to see what's new!
I've got your button, right here! Please, feel free to copy and use as a link from your own blog. I'm sure it would just look terrific!
KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS!
Now see, this nice little girl totally "gets it"! And she also proves a point that I feel very strongly about. I believe children are born completely innocent, with open hearts and open minds. Then, as a child grows and encounters more of their surrounding world, he or she just accepts things and people as they are because the child isn't aware of any reason to feel differently. Unless, of course, they have ignorant, narrow-minded parents who raise them to view our world with hatred and discrimination...
FAMILY FUNHOUSE
You've gotta check this out! Awkward Family Photos.com is such an entertaining website, and real addictive! We ALL probably have at least one or two awkward photos like this in our albums, right?! Click on the "happy" family above for more fine examples of visually documented discomfort...
"STOP CLOWNING AROUND!"
... and visit my husband's website! He's both a writer AND an artist! He's Tommy Kovac!
HERE'S A TASTY TREAT...
Strap on your moon boots and hop in the time machine 'cuz you're gonna be taken on a trip!
