Tag Archive | Yakima Washington

Top Of The World

The Carpenters second #1 Hit

December 5, 2023

This song sat on top of the charts for two weeks in early December 1973. You could say the song sat at the “Top of the World.” It was the second number one song for pop superstars Karen and Richard Carpenter and the only song written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis to reach number one on the Billboard Top 40 singles charts.

A catchy tune, it captured the interest of country singer Lynn Anderson who recorded and turned it into a number one Country hit in the summer of 1973.

According to the Infallible Wikipedia Karen and Richard were a bit unhappy that they had not already released it as a single:

*John Bettis (left) and Richard Carpenter met in college and wrote many songs together. Pictured here in the late 1960’s performing at Disneyland.*

“Written by Richard Carpenter (music) and John Bettis (lyrics), ‘Top Of The World’ was originally recorded for and released on the duo’s 1972 studio album A Song for You. The song was initially intended to just remain an album cut, however, when Lynn Anderson’s version, released in mid-1973, was a success, the duo was upset that they hadn’t released their version as a single to begin with. The Carpenters’ version was later released as a single on September 17, 1973. Karen Carpenter re-recorded her lead vocal for the single release as she was not quite satisfied with the original. The new version appeared on the duo’s first compilation album, The Singles: 1969-1973.

Following its single release, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1973, becoming the duo’s second of three No. 1 singles, following ‘(They Long to Be) Close to You‘ and preceding ‘Please Mr. Postman.’”

For my generation you would have had to have lived under a rock to not at least recognize this song.

As my readers know, I loved, loved, loved the Carpenters and their music. Was this song my favorite of theirs? Not by a long shot. Ahead of this one were their more soulful songs (which, I think, took better advantage of Karen’s beautiful voice) such as “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “Rainy Days and Mondays”, “Song For You”, and “Superstar.”

The beauty of this song, in spite of it’s decidedly country vibe, are the upbeat lyrics and the eminently memorable tune.

In the fall of 1973, as a junior in high school, we all knew and could easily sing this song. One of the most important parts of my high school experience was being a part of the nearly 100 member choir. Of course our musical selections were of a more traditional sort, having to sing songs written in Latin and other languages. But those were just part of the deal for the opportunity to participate in the annual musical. One of the rules was that you had to be a member of the Cadet Choir. The other was that in order to try out for a speaking or singing part in the musical you were required to ‘try out’ in front of the entire choir during class.

I finally screwed up the courage to do so during my senior year and I chose “Top of the World” as my song. For weeks prior to the audition I practiced and practiced at home, accompanying myself on the piano. Most of the mid range notes I was fine with since I was an alto.

Finally the big day arrived and I can still see how that room looked with nearly 100 pairs of eyes looking at me as I stood in front of them and gave “Top of the World” my best shot. No doubt my voice cracked a few times. I imagine I went off key a once or twice. My knees knocked together. My hands shook. But I made it through.

Mr. Durado, our teacher, did NOT cast me in a singing role. He did not cast me in an acting role. But he did make me the Director’s Assistant, a job which was definitely more in my wheelhouse. I was not destined to become a singing and acting star of the stage.

*The 1975 Cadet Choir. The author is the last one seated, on the ground, at the far right*

I have never sung solo in public ever again. And I’m good with that. And so is everyone else.

But when I think back on that time in my life, “Top of the World” was sort of anthem. I was 17 years old and life lay before me with unlimited possibilities. Mostly an optimist, I felt as if the lyrics of this song spoke to me and encapsulated how I felt that year:

I suppose that, musically, the song is undoubtedly seen as being a bit simplistic and saccharin. So be it. But I also think that maybe our current society could use a bit more optimism in the world and embrace a feel good song like “Top of the World.”

A couple of links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_of_the_World_(The_Carpenters_song)

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/35343699/Carpenters/Top+of+the+World

I’ve written previous articles on the Carpenters Here:

Just like me, they long to be…

Goodbye To Love

And the musical I auditioned for:

Anything Goes

The Monkees

Sep12

Wildly popular Boy Band of the 1960’s

September 12, 2023

A Tuesday Newsday Classic

The argument could be made that this group – a made for TV boy band – was like the Rodney Dangerfield of rock and roll: “I don’t get no respect.”

*The Monkees always performed a couple of songs every week on their TV show*

And now, 51 years after their TV program debuted, one could also argue that perhaps there was a bit more to them then the critics said at the time.

I’m talking, of course, about the Monkees. The TV show premiered on September 12, 1966 and, in combination with the release of their first single “Last Train To Clarksville” was an immediate hit with girls of a certain age. That age would have been from about 8 to 14 years old.

But back to the critics and how the group came to be. The idea was to put together an American based band of four guys in an attempt to capitalize on, and compete with, the success of the Beatles. The four (pictured here clockwise starting top left – Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith – were all musicians and actors. All took themselves seriously in their pursuit of a career. At the time Jones was a somewhat successful actor having played the role of the Artful Dodger in the musical “Oliver” and with his British accent and good looks was already cast for the TV show. An ad was run in the Hollywood Reporter for the rest of the band.

According to the infallible Wikipedia:

“Madness!! Auditions. Folk & Roll Musicians-Singers for acting roles in new TV series. Running Parts for 4 insane boys, age 17-21. Want spirited Ben Frank’s types. Have courage to work. Must come down for interview.

Out of 437 applicants, the other three chosen for the cast of the TV show were Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz. Nesmith had been working as a musician since early 1963 and had been recording and releasing music under various names, including Michael Blessing and ‘Mike & John & Bill’ and had studied drama in college. Of the final four, Nesmith was the only one who actually saw the ad in Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Tork, the last to be chosen, had been working the Greenwich Village scene as a musician, and had shared the stage with Pete Seeger; he learned of The Monkees from Stephen Stills, whom Rafelson and Schneider had rejected as a songwriter. Dolenz was an actor (his father was veteran character actor George Dolenz) who had starred in the TV series Circus Boy as a child, using the stage name Mickey Braddock, and he had also played guitar and sung in a band called the Missing Links before the Monkees, which had recorded and released a very minor single, ‘Don’t Do It’. By that time he was using his real name; he found out about The Monkees through his agent.”

No doubt the four must have felt as though they hit the jackpot. Their success was almost immediate as their music resonated with the pre-teen group especially, catapulting them to the top of the music charts. As it turned out it was their music – and not the zany TV show – which proved to be the foundation for their success.

The entire Wikipedia article is worth a read if for no other reason than to gain a better understanding of the almost unbelievable story of the Monkees and their quest to be taken seriously: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkees

Monkeemania gripped me when, as a pre-pubescent 9 year old in the fall of 1966, all my friends were enthralled by the group. My mother, however, was appalled and banned my sister and me from watching it. But that didn’t stop us. Somehow we managed to show up at our neighbor Diane’s house at 7:30 p.m. on the appropriate week night to watch the contraband program.

Our little neighborhood group was so gripped by Monkees fever that we even pretended to BE the group. Diane – our ring leader – was Davy Jones; my sister, Susan, wore a stocking cap and assumed the role of Michael Nesmith; our year younger neighbor, Andi, was Micky Dolenz; and, because of my straight blonde hair, I was assigned the role of Peter Tork. I was not thrilled with that assignment as, like most of the girls, wanted to be Davy, THE one we thought was the best. But then again I did get to be a member of the band!

Although the TV show only ran for two seasons, the Monkees music still resonates today. I think you could argue that it was Nesmith who seized the opportunity to make the band more than a silly sitcom. He pushed and fought for legitimacy his entire career. And although there are still naysayers it’s hard to argue with the band’s success:

First music artist to win two Emmy Awards.
Had seven albums on the Billboard top 200 chart at the same time (six were re-issues during 1986-1987).
One of the first artists achieving number-one hits in the United States and United Kingdom simultaneously.
The only recording act to have four No. 1 albums in a 12-month span.
Held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard album chart for 31 consecutive weeks, 37 weeks total.
Held the record for the longest stay at No. 1 for a debut record album until 1982 when Men at Work‘s debut record album Business As Usual broke that record.
Received their star on the Hollywood Walk of fame in July 1989. All 4 members were present for the ceremony.
In 2008, the Monkees were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
In 2014 the Monkees were inducted into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame.
The Music Business Association (Music Biz)honored the Monkees with an Outstanding Achievement Award celebrating their 50th anniversary on May 16, 2016.

*Getting their star on the Holloywood Walk of Fame 1989*

As my friend Roger pointed out, the Monkees had great songwriters assigned to the show: Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce, and Bobby Hart. Like the Monkees, they were under contract and did their part to make sure the music was at the center.

Whatever the combination of talent, it worked, catapulting the Monkees into stardom.

The First Tuesday in September

Sep5

September 5, 2023

On Saddle Shoes and Pee Chee Folders

A Tuesday Newsday Classic from 2019

The first Tuesday of September was always a day which struck fear in my heart. In fact, no other day of the year caused more anxiety and distress than this one.

The reason, of course, was due to the fact that when I was growing up school always started on this day.

Unlike in today’s world, where we are inundated with back to school ads for supplies and equipment beginning in late July, in the 1960’s and 70’s, we didn’t much think about going back to school. That is until one day in late August my mother would ominously announce that school started the next week.

So off we would go to get things. Our back to school supply list included Pee Chee folders, notebook paper, #2 pencils, and BIC pens. That was it.

For clothing, I was lucky to get one new outfit for the first day of school. And the most evil of all footwear ever invented: saddle shoes.

I’ll get back to those in a bit. First off, however, I imagine you are wondering about the Pee Chee. What is a Pee Chee? And why do so many people my age wax so nostalgic over a folded in half piece of cardstock? I knew it deserved Tuesday Newsday status. Since I couldn’t find the official day they were introduced, the first Tuesday in September seemed the perfect date to learn about them. From the Infallible Wikipedia:

“The yellow Pee-Chee All Season Portfolio was a common American stationery item in the second half of the 20th century, commonly used by students for storing school papers. It was first produced in 1943 by the Western Tablet and Stationery Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Pee-Chees were later produced by the Mead Corporation. (snip) These inexpensive folders are made of card stock with two internal pockets for the storage of loose leaf paper. The pockets are printed with a variety of reference information including factors for converting between Imperial and metric measurement units, and a multiplication table. The folders had fallen out of general use by the 2000s, but are available from Mead as of 2014.”

Note the words “multiplication table.” This was probably the most valuable thing a Pee Chee provided as we were expected to memorize this table. By the time you got up to the twelves, it got a bit difficult. The handy dandy Pee Chee came to your rescue. Of course our teachers knew this and we had to put our Pee Chee’s away during test time.

When I walked home from elementary school I only carried a Pee Chee and rarely any books unless it was one checked out from the library. By the time I was in Junior High and High School, books were part of the equation. Along with the Pee Chee of course.

That brand new, unmarked, non-dog-eared Pee Chee was the best part of being forced to go back to school. And paper, pencils and BIC pens, of course. Oooh, and Flair pens starting in Junior High!

The worst part? From first grade through sixth I was subjected to torture by being forced to wear saddle shoes. Whoever invented this shoe should have been required to wear a new pair every week for their entire lives just so they would know what pain they subjected multiple generations of girls to endure.

My mother would take me and my sister to Nordstrom’s Shoe store… in the 1960’s in Yakima that’s all it was… a shoe store. We would bypass all the beautiful shiny black patent leather shoes and the cute Mary Janes and go directly to the rack of clunky saddle shoes. There they sat, big, bulky, and ugly. They had brown soles thicker than a slice of French toast. Across their beige bodies was a second strip of stiff brown leather, with laces through the holes, just waiting to cinch your foot into bondage. Heaven forbid that you got shoes which fit… no, they had to be a bit big so you’d grow in to them and not grow out of them before the following June.

We would wear them around the house for several days before school started in a futile effort to ‘break’ them in. It never worked. The first few weeks of school our feet bore witness to the horrors of saddle shoes; oozing red blisters were covered with adhesive tape and we’d limp through the day. Eventually the leather softened and the blisters abated… usually by October. Kids today just don’t realize how lucky they are to have been spared the scourge of saddle shoes.

Even now the first week of September is my least favorite time of the year; despite the fact I do not have to go back to school nor do my children.

Note the saddle shoes on Marla – the girl in the plaid shirt; and also on Rinda in the plaid dress. The author is to the left of Marla and I wasn’t smiling because my feet probably still hurt even though it was spring. Kelly, on my right, was always happy because she always wore cute patent leather Mary Janes.

I am, however, very, very tempted to go hang out in the office supply store and indulge myself in the smell of paper and ink and the plethora of notebooks, papers, pens, and paperclips. Anyone who has seen my office knows that I have stacks of spiral notebooks, hundreds of colored paperclips (many with decorative tops), and a collection of G-2 pens of every hue. In fact, just writing about it inspires me to head to my nearest Office Depot Max to see what’s on sale. Unlike saddle shoes, office supplies never go out of fashion!

As always a couple of links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pee_Chee_folder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddle_shoe

Yes, it is true. In 1960 Nordstrom’s only sold shoes. The store in Yakima was one of only 8 stores at the time.

https://shop.nordstrom.com/content/company-history

2022 Update: In honor of school starting, I ordered presents for my printers! Yes, shiny new ink cartridges. And, yes, printers as in I have two in my office. One can never have too much ink.

2023 Update: Today feels fully like Fall. But at least I don’t have to wear saddle shoes OR start school. It’s going to be a great year!

The Refrigerator

Aug8

One of my favorite appliances

August 8, 2023

A Tuesday Newsday Classic Updated

This invention, which was patented on August 8, 1899, ranks right up there with my two most favorite inventions: electricity and flushing toilets.

Refrigeration revolutionized how our food is processed and stored. Without this invention – which includes the freezer – people would still be spending up to 8 hours a day in the preparation and storage of food. But refrigeration has freed up hours and hours of woman and man hours that can now be devoted to other pursuits.

The Infallible Wikipedia, of course, has much information on its history including this information which highlights some of the challenges of early home models:

“The first refrigerator to see widespread use was the General Electric ‘Monitor-Top’ refrigerator introduced in 1927, so-called, by the public, because of its resemblance to the gun turret on the ironclad warship USS Monitor of the 1860s. The compressor assembly, which emitted a great deal of heat, was placed above the cabinet, and enclosed by a decorative ring. Over a million units were produced. As the refrigerating medium, these refrigerators used either sulfur dioxide, which is corrosive to the eyes and may cause loss of vision, painful skin burns and lesions, or methyl formate, which is highly flammable, harmful to the eyes, and toxic if inhaled or ingested.”

Obviously that refrigerator was not ideal.

Personally, I love the refrigerator because it makes it harder for those two miscreants, Sam and Ella, to hang out at my house and wreak havoc. But also because I can put things in the fridge and they’ll stay there for months and months before my hubby cleans out the really old stuff to make room for wonderful fresh food! It’s magical really. Kind of like the magic table in this clip:

No matter how many times I view this it makes me laugh. That poor guy probably never knew what happened.

Growing up, my family had the very latest in a refrigerator. Yes, the always popular avocado green model. I’m not really sure why people loved that color, or harvest gold, but it was a thing in the 1970’s. We also had the avocado green range. I can’t recall on the dishwasher. I do know my Mom’s first dishwasher was a portable white one which was rolled over to the sink and attached via hoses to the faucet. Seems like when that one failed the one which replaced it was avocado green.

Capturing a moment in time… August 1980 in the kitchen of the home where the author grew up. You can see the side by side avocado green fridge on the far side of my Mom (in the yellow) and by best friend from 9th grade talking to her. Behind my sister in law you see the matching avocado green stove and tea kettle.

*Kenmore brand portable dishwasher ad from the 1980’s*

When the hubby and I bought our fixer upper house in 1981, there was not a dishwasher. So we did what any young couple with a house but zero money for anything else did: we went to the Sears Roebuck scratch and dent store. It was located in the basement of the building which is now Starbucks headquarters on First Avenue South in Seattle.

And just like my mom’s kitchen a portable dishwasher was needed. We had to buy a skinny minny sort of model so it could fit in the small space available. Just like Mom’s, it was avocado green with a butcher block top. Double duty! Not only did it wash dishes but it served as a cutting board. It looked something like the one pictured here, but much, much smaller.

Man, we were livin’ the dream! Had fridge AND a dishwasher too.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator.

The Ice Cream Sundae

Jul25

I Miss the Iconic Farrell’s

July 25, 2023

A Tuesday Newsday Classic Updated

No doubt July 25^th is an extremely important day for ice cream lovers everywhere. Yes, it’s the ‘official’ National Hot Fudge Sundae Day!

You might think something like this would be controversy free. You would be wrong.

According to the Infallible Wikipedia the invention of the Ice Cream Sundae is disputed. The town of Two Rivers, Wisconsin asserted the concoction was created as follows:

“Two Rivers’ claim is based on the story of George Hallauer asking Edward C. Berners, the owner of Berners’ Soda Fountain, to drizzle chocolate syrup over ice cream in 1881. Berners eventually did and wound up selling the treat for a nickel, originally only on Sundays, but later every day. According to this story, the spelling changed when a glass salesman ordered canoe-shaped dishes. When Berners died in 1939, the Chicago Tribune headlined his obituary ‘Man Who Made First Ice Cream Sundae Is Dead’. Two Ithaca High School students, however, claim that Berners would have only been 16 or 17 in 1881, so it is therefore ‘improbable’ that he would have owned an ice cream shop in that year. They also state that the obituary dates Berners’ first sundae to 1899 rather than 1881.

Residents of Two Rivers have contested the claims of other cities to the right to claim the title ‘birthplace of the ice cream sundae’. When Ithaca, New York, mayor Carolyn K. Peterson proclaimed a day to celebrate her city as the birthplace of the sundae, she received postcards from Two Rivers’ citizens reiterating that town’s claim.”

The rival towns who also claim they were first are Buffalo and Ithaca, New York and Evanston and Plainfield, Illinois.

So how did it come to be called an Ice Cream Sundae? Mostly it can be traced back to the “Blue Laws” which were in place in the 1800’s. Carbonated Soda water – like alcohol – was considered inappropriate for consumption on the Sabbath. Because Ice Cream Sodas could not be sold on Sunday in, particularly, Evanston and Plainfield Illinois, the inventive soda fountain owners began selling ice cream with the chocolate syrup poured over it – sans the soda – and thus created the first ice cream sundaes in that state. Rather than call it a ‘Sunday’ which was considered shocking, the spelling was changed to the now instantly recognizable ‘Sundae.’

I’m not sure who decided to pour hot chocolate over ice cream and create the hot fudge sundae, but it’s a good thing they did. Nothing quite says summer like a couple scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, and whipping cream with a cherry on top!

Back in my teen years a real treat was to go to Farrell’s – an ice cream and burgers restaurant which hearkened back to the days of the Soda Fountain. This was a special event for this kid from Yakima. We did not have anything nearly as cool as a Farrell’s. I looked forward to the rare expeditions to Seattle because it often meant gorging on ice cream at Farrell’s. A trip to Farrell’s was more about the experience than the food. The staff would sing happy birthday if you were so lucky to be there on your big day. Heaven help you if you ordered the ‘Pig Trough’. It featured a dozen scoops of ice cream and the rule was that YOU had to eat it all by yourself! Finish it and you were awarded a badge which said “I made of Pig of myself at Farrell’s.” The staff would parade through the restaurant with great fanfare, kazoos playing and drums pounding, to bring the trough to the person who ordered it and then do the repeat parade if that customer was able to finish it.

*Mrs. H shows off her fork balancing skills*

Going to Farrell’s capped off, a number of times, the annual summer convention where a few thousand Washington and Idaho Rainbow Girls and their chaperones would gather each year. On the last night of the event, literally, hundreds of us would descend upon the Farrell’s in Tukwila Tacoma or Spokane. (I cannot recall the exact locations any longer!) and take over the restaurant. Truly, the staff did not know what hit them.

One of my favorite memories was in 1977 when one of my adult advisors taught us all how to balance a fork on our noses. That was the sort of silliness we enjoyed whether at Farrell’s or, as I think was the case based on the artwork behind her, at Sambo’s in Spokane.

Sadly, the last Farrell’s location closed a number of years ago. I rather doubt any one would open a restaurant like Farrell’s in today’s world. It was sure a lot of fun and I imagine the kids of today would love it as much as we did.

For more information about ice cream Sundaes and their many variations and history click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundae

Or for a brief history of Farrell’s click here: http://oldlarestaurants.com/Farrell’s/

Fireworks!

Jul4

A 4th of July tradition since 1777

July 4, 2023

By the time darkness descends on July 4th, the skies of communities across the country will be filled with brilliant bursts of red, white, blue, purple, orange, and green fireworks, a visual feast to behold. Truly, fireworks are the symbol of Independence Day.

The first recorded mention of fireworks for a July 4^th celebration was in 1777 to mark the one year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Infallible Wikipedia shares this:

“America’s earliest settlers brought their enthusiasm for fireworks to the United States. Fireworks and black ash were used to celebrate important events long before the American Revolutionary War. The very first celebration of Independence Day was in 1777, six years before Americans knew whether or not the new nation would survive the war; fireworks were a part of all festivities.

*Fireworks photos from 2018 show in Puyallup*

In 1789, George Washington’s inauguration was accompanied by a fireworks display. George Marshall was an American naval hero during the War of 1812 and other campaigns. He was a Master Gunner and pyrotechnics specialist who wrote Marshall’s Practical Marine Gunnery in 1822. The book outlines chemical formulas for the composition of fireworks. This early fascination with fireworks’ noise and color continues today with fireworks displays commonly included in Independence Day celebrations.”

My earliest memories of 4^th of July fireworks are from when I was four years old. Actually, it’s my earliest memory of ANYTHING in life. My family lived in Clarkston, Washington, that summer. I can see in my mind’s eye the fireworks exploding overhead as we sit on a picnic blanket in a park, little bits of debris raining down on us. That night I found a star shaped piece of cardboard lying on the ground after the show. Of course I carried it home as a treasure which, undoubtedly, my mother disposed of a short time later after it was forgotten.

Most years did not involve going to a professional display, but I always went with my Dad to a stand and help pick out those fireworks which our family would set off. My favorites were always the sparklers. There was something exciting and dangerous about holding a metal stick in one’s hand while Dad lit the end and it erupted into tiny exploding sparks. My sister and I would dance around using the sparkler as if it were a colorful pen writing letters across the night sky.

It was in the 1980’s, however, when I was introduced to a completely different level of fireworks mania. My hubby, and his brother Wayne – as kids – were enamored with fireworks, riding their bikes out to the Native American reservations where they would purchase firecrackers and other contraband, often returning with enough to supply every explosion loving kid in their neighborhood.

For Wayne it was a passion he has embraced throughout his life. When I asked him how he got started in the business he did not hesitate: “It would have to be so I could legally play with bigger and better pyrotechnics.”

To do that required him to have pyrotechnics training and certification. The first show he ever helped with, once that certification was obtained, was Salty Sea Days in Everett in 1980.

Wayne has produced 4^th of July fireworks shows all over Washington State. He did the City of Yakima show for 15 years in a row; the hubby and son were able to be on site there one year in the late 1990’s for the up close experience, while I stayed with our young daughter and we watched it from a bluff in Selah. Wayne’s shows have taken him all over the state including Blaine, Pasco, Renton, Everett, Omak, and Puyallup.

*Wayne and his daughter review the roadmap, aka the schematic, of what shell belongs in which tube.*

While most people love seeing the fireworks, few truly understand the time, training, and effort it takes. In 2018, I witnessed what goes in to the set up while the hubby helped Wayne prep the show. The half dozen members of the crew spent hours stringing wires between the tubes where the fireworks were staged; packed sand around the tubes; and had to carefully follow the schematic of what goes where. For my untrained eyes, it all seemed very chaotic for a very meticulous job which requires extreme care so that one does not blow themselves and others up.

Wayne is, perhaps, the most proud of his safety record. In the 44 years in a row doing a 4^th of July show, no one on his crew has ever had a fireworks related injury or burn. In fact he made me promise to highlight the dangers of, literally, playing with fire. In the box on the side are his reminders, a defacto Public Service Announcement to all.

It was my understanding that 2023 was the year Wayne was going to retire but when I reached him for this story, he was headed to Yakima with his daughter, my niece. She too has the pyrotechnic bug and had lamented his impending retirement more than once the past few years. But it’s more like a partial retirement. This year he’s going to be on a crew run by one of the women who worked with him on the shows for many years; he’s going as a consultant to, as he said, ‘make sure no one does anything stupid.”

*The reward of all the hours setting things up… getting to run the electronic ignition board.*

And while there have been some scary moments when something didn’t happen as it should, he waxed poetic about the last year he did the Everett fireworks show in 2017. Everything was set up on a large barge just offshore and the crew, as always, had spent all day getting it organized, making sure all was safe and ready.

*Wayne with his daughter at one of the shows. “Generational pyromania’ was the title on this Facebook photo.*

That night, when the first ball rocketed into the air, exploding in a shower of sparks, it was the beginning of something special. “The show itself was the most perfect show we’ve ever done,” Wayne said, “Three hundred to four hundred shots and only two shells which did not fire. That’s very rare. It’s not uncommon to have half a dozen or more shells which never fire.” It was also the first show which his daughter, who turned 18 that year, could help with.

So while he’s given up being the guy in charge, he’ll be with a crew all day on the Fourth, embracing his lifelong passion for fireworks and the thrill of getting to play with the bigger and better pyrotechnics. Way cooler than sparklers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireworks

Drive-In Movies

Jun6

Where shenanigans happened

June 6, 2023

A Tuesday Newsday Classic – updated for your reading pleasure

June 6 is an important day in US History. But since we all learned about D-Day in our US History classes (or you can pick up my friend Irene Fernandes wonderful novel ‘Long Time Passing’ for a firsthand account of a war-bride in England during WWII) I have instead chosen another ground breaking event for the subject this week.

Yes, it was 90 years ago on June 6, 1933, when the first commercially successful drive in movie theatre opened in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The father of the drive in movie was one Richard Hollingshead. From the Infallible Wikipedia:

“Hollingshead conducted outdoor theater tests in his driveway at 212 Thomas Avenue in Riverton. After nailing a screen to trees in his backyard, he set a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car and put a radio behind the screen, testing different sound levels with his car windows down and up. Blocks under vehicles in the driveway enabled him to determine the size and spacing of ramps so all automobiles could have a clear view of the screen. Hollingshead applied for a patent of his invention on August 6, 1932, and he was given U.S. Patent 1,909,537 on May 16, 1933.”

The American public, already in love with the automobile, also loved the drive-in movie. They reached their peak of popularity in the 1950’s and early 1960’s when some 4,000 Drive-ins existed throughout the United States.

The phenomenon was not without its detractors, however, and drive in movies – which allowed people to view films from the privacy of their car – were labeled ‘passion pits.’ Teenagers, particularly, adored them as it afforded an opportunity to, well, you know.

Speaking of which, there were several drive-in movie theaters in my hometown of Yakima, Washington. One evening my sister and I and two of our friends decided to go to the Fruitvale Drive-in (sadly, no longer there). The tank, er, car my sister drove was a 1950 yellow Cadillac with a red roof; a hand me down from our grandparents. When the grandparents bought it new it had all the whistles and bells popular in 1950 including a gauge which told you how good your driving was.

Ok, not really, it had to do with gas mileage. I have a distinct memory as a child of about six who was enamored of my grandfather and fascinated with the device in that car. It was a round gauge with an arrow that pointed to words like ‘poor’, ‘fair’, ‘good’ and ‘excellent.’ My grandfather, in his affable way, told me that the gauge let him know how his driving was. We are driving the roads up near their cabin at Rimrock Lake and I’m watching that gauge and announcing every time it changes. Seems like it was often pointing to poor but that didn’t deter grandpa from driving. A few years later he turned the driving over to my grandmother who, apparently, agreed with the device.

*The Cadillac featured a vacuum mileage meter similar to this one*

That’s just an aside as, most important of all, the Caddy featured a movable spotlight affixed to the car just outside the driver’s side window. There was a handle inside the car to control the light. I guess it was there to find dead things on the side of the road or assist in deer hunting. The more common reason, and a lot more mundane, is that the spotlight allowed the driver to find house numbers at night. Who knew?

But then there was the infamous incident at the Fruitvale Drive In. On this particular night my sister, and her best friend Wendy, were in the front seat and me and my best friend Pam were in the back. For anyone who has ever been to a Drive In, you know that the movie cannot start until dusk at the earliest. While I don’t recall the exact day it was likely July 1972 and the sunset mid month is just before 9 p.m. The movie starts. No idea what movie we watched. Our options were limited as we were all under the age of 17. It must not have been a great movie because our attentions were soon drawn to the activities taking place in the backseat of the car parked in front of us. We watched with intense teenage curiosity as the silhouetted heads of the couple descended lower and lower until they were no longer visible. Now THIS was getting interesting (unlike the movie whose name I forget. A search of PG movies the summer of 1972 turns up a single one that it probably was: ‘The Candidate’ starring Robert Redford.). We, of course, giggled and speculated on WHAT exactly might be going on in that car and then my sister remembered ‘the light.’

*My grandfather standing next to his 1950 Cadillac. Photo taken in Golden, British Columbia, 1957*

“Do it!” we encouraged. We debated for several minutes as to the advisability of such an action. But eventually peer pressure won out. So she did. A moment later a blaze of floodlight swamped the erstwhile lovers and you never saw feet flail or heads snap up so fast! We descended into paroxysm of laughter. The light was off a moment later but then we worried that we would be in trouble for the illumination during the movie. A few horns honked in objection to the movie being disrupted and we two residents of the back seat ducked down so as not to be seen. Our prank, however, was not exposed and I do believe the lovers in the other car spent the rest of the movie upright. Talk about coyly ‘interrupt-us’.

If you want to know more about the rise and decline of the drive-in movie theater click on this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in_theater

And a couple other links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Candidate_(1972_film)

World Turtle Day

May23

Protecting them since 2000

May 23, 2023

Occasionally a topic comes up which triggers a long forgotten memory. Such is the case for May 23. Today is World Turtle Day; a day which, since the year 2000, has been designated to bring awareness of the need to preserve and rescue turtles and tortoises.

*It’s a thrill to swim with the Hawaiian Green turtles when snorkeling. This photo is from Hawaiianpaddlesports.com*

First, a bit about Turtles from the Infallible Wikipedia:

“Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked turtles), which differ in the way the head retracts. There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles, including land-dwelling tortoises and freshwater terrapins.”

Granted the scientific information does not really do the animal justice. Turtles are truly fascinating creatures due, in my opinion, to their exoskeleton bone cover which gives them a look unique to other creatures.

Turtles can be gigantic, like the huge leatherback turtle, which can be almost 9 feet in length and weigh more than 1,100 pounds, or as small as the Speckled Cape Tortoise. Native to South Africa it measures no more than 3.9 inches and weighs less than 6.1 ounces.

But back to the long ago memory. It is September 1966 and the long anticipated Central Washington State Fair. In those years, there was one weekday afternoon when every elementary aged school boy and girl was released at noon for “Fair Day.” Oh what a glorious event that was. The horde would descend upon the midway and rides filled with screaming children; cows, goats, and other livestock were terrorized by thousands of small hands all seeking to pet the animals; and the carnival barkers collected every last cent the kids had to spend.

This particular year – and to this day I’m not quite sure HOW it came to be – my sister and I happened upon a booth which was selling turtles. Incredibly cute and tiny turtles. Each one probably cost the ~~victim~~ buyer 50 cents but those turtles instantly became a ‘must have’ item. So we each got a turtle which, if I remember correctly, was put into a plastic bag partially filled with water and then ‘inflated’ to give the creature air, for us to carry home.

I also cannot recall my mother’s reaction but I imagine she was less than thrilled as a space had to be found for our two new residents. A large round avocado green tub was acquired and an ‘island’ was built inside for the turtles.

*The author and her sister in the summer of 1967, saying goodbye to Gilligan and the Professor*

My sister and I named our two turtles Gilligan (mine) and the Professor (hers) after two characters from one of the most popular and favorite TV shows of the time “Gilligan’s Island.”

My childhood memory is that we dutifully fed our turtles and took good care of them. No doubt the chore fell mostly to my mother who didn’t want the turtles in the first place.

On it went and then, in the summer of 1967, it was decided that Gilligan and the Professor had outgrown their avocado green paradise and needed to find a new home. That new home, it turned out, was Sportsman Park just east of the Yakima River.

It was a hot summer day when my Dad, sister, and me took the turtles to the designated release spot. My grandmother – Dad’s mom – was along with us and took two pictures that day. On the back of one she wrote “Goodby turtles! Swim Happy! 1967” So my sister and me said our goodbyes, placed them on the ground and watched as they eagerly ran to the water and slipped into the pond, swimming away.

*At Sportsman Park about to set the turtles free*

I imagine I was a bit sad watching Gilligan leave but being that I was barely 10 years old, I got over it.

Fast forward to 2013, maybe 2014, and the hubby and I are Geocaching at Sportsman Park in Yakima. As we are walking along a path, I notice there are signs which tell about the various wildlife which lives there. We stop at this one pond and depicted there are pictures of turtles… which look just like Gilligan and the Professor.

I imagine there were other children whose parents also sought new ‘homes’ for turtles which had been brought home as a prize from the fair; I doubt ours were the only such creatures who found a new home in that pond.

On the other hand, while it was common practice to sell animals at fairs in the 1960’s, as a society we’ve come to appreciate that the introduction of non-native species can have a negative effect on the native species and the new habitat. Unfortunately, we didn’t know any better back then. The practice of selling turtles at fairs ended in the mid-1970’s.

So celebrate World Turtle Day through admiration of these amazing creatures and by leaving them alone to be, well, turtles.

For more information, a few links:

https://www.worldturtleday.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle

9 Types of Turtles in Washington State

Liddle Kiddles

Mar14

A “Gotta Have It” for little girls in 1966

March 14, 2023

Dolls. As a child, I loved dolls. And I had many of them. Not as many as I would have liked, and I was always angling to find a way to acquire more.

*The original 10 Liddle Kiddles. I always wanted No. 3, Calamity Jiddle with her rocking horse.*

Enter this tiny doll, introduced by Mattel in 1966, which captured my imagination. The doll series: Liddle Kiddles.

A few days ago I mentioned to the hubby that I was considering writing about Liddle Kiddle dolls for this week’s post. He shook his head and said, “I’ve never heard of them.”

Well, all you Tuesday Newsday readers who are in the same category as the hubby, you are about to learn something new.

We turn to the nearly Infallible Wikipedia to find out more:

*Liddle Diddle in the original packaging*

“Kiddles were made of soft vinyl with painted facial features and rooted, brushable hair. The first, second, and third series (called ‘bigger bodies’ by collectors) ranged from 2¾ inches to 3½ inches, while the Skediddle Kiddles were 4 inches tall and had a special mechanism inside the body which allowed them to walk, wave, and ride vehicles with the push of a child’s hand. The Kola and Kologne Kiddles were 2 inches, and the mini Jewelry Kiddles were ⁷⁄₈–1+¹⁄₁₆ inches. (snip)

*The Holy Grail for children everywhere: The Sears Christmas Catalog*

The bigger bodies (the first ten dolls) were designed to resemble typical neighborhood children at play. The name Liddle Kiddles was taken from the words ‘little kid’. Each of the first 24 dolls had detailed clothing and accessories that perfectly matched their theme and size. Wire skeletons inside the vinyl bodies enabled the dolls to be posed and re-posed realistically.

The first series of 9 Liddle Kiddle dolls plus 1 special doll set was available only through the Sears and Roebuck Christmas Catalog (SRCC). It was conceived in 1965 and released to toy shelves in 1966.”

*Peter Paniddle with Tinkerbelle, Alligator, and even his shadow*

No doubt I got my first Liddle Kiddle that year at Christmas. The SRCC was THE Holy Grail. Forget Google and Amazon, we would pour over the SRCC, creating our Christmas lists and dreaming of those things we hoped to see on Christmas morning.

My mother got the message and the adorable Liddle Diddle was under our tree. To be sure, I would have liked to have gotten every single one of the ten original dolls but, alas, there was only one.

The next year I received my second Liddle Kiddle, Peter Paniddle; part of the Storybook Kiddles series.

*Marketing genius at work, appealing to the target audience*

Since it was the 1960s and smart phones were not available for entertainment while eating our morning cereal and milk, we had to resort to reading the backs of cereal boxes. Clever product marketing people figured this out and kids everywhere were enticed to pressure their parents into buying more Post Super Sugar Crisp and Alphabits to earn the number of box tops needed to earn ‘free’ giveaways.

Which is how I more than doubled my Liddle Kiddle collection. Sort of. It took seven box tops to get one of three ‘knock off’ dolls being offered. These were StoryKins Doll sets: Cinderella – complete with a pumpkin carriage! Sleeping Beauty- she had her own pink canopy bed! And Goldilocks – with an adorable little bear!

Our family must have eaten a whole bunch of Post Cereal because I did get ALL three sets. I was a determined child.

The poor dolls – both the actual Liddle Kiddles and the StoryKins – were played with all the time. With the exception of the Snow White doll, none of the sets are complete and all are dingy, many with the wires which made it possible for their arms and legs to bend, protruding.

Now, if I was in need of a little cash, a quick look on Ebay reveals that some of these dolls are worth a fair bit. Take Peter Paniddle for instance. He came with the cutest green alligator and a tiny Barbie with Tinkerbelle wings. Just the Tinkerbelle alone sold on Ebay last month for fifty bucks! A set with the pieces I have (sans Peter’s shirt) went for $125.

*My authentic Liddle Kiddle collection (left to right) – Peter Paniddle and friends, Funny Bunny, Locket Kiddle, and Liddle Diddle in what’s left of her crib.*

*The StoryKins Trio offered through Post Cereals: Goldilocks, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty*

A few years ago my brother found a couple of the StoryKins sets and a Liddle Kiddle doll and bought them for me. So now I have a second Cinderella and carriage, and a second Goldilocks and her bear, and a second Liddle Diddle. I see how this might work. A collector in search of a missing item from one of the sets has to buy several sets to make a complete one. It gets kinda pricey rather quickly.

For me, I love my dolls the way they are: some have pieces of their original clothing missing and now wear a child created shirt or dress. Goldilocks and Cinderella are both missing a shoe. Liddle Diddle’s crib is broken and her blanket is long gone.

Even so, there is a magic when I open the small bin which houses these childhood toys and a small part of me is transported back to those simpler times and I can enjoy my dolls once again.

A couple links:

https://www.fashion-doll-guide.com/Vintage-Little-Kiddles.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liddle_Kiddles

The Valentine Card

Feb14

A tradition born in Great Britain

February 14, 2023

*The earliest Valentines were often hand made of ribbons, lace, and buttons.*

Today is, of course, Valentine’s Day. A day when hopes and expectations far exceed reality. When I was in elementary school, Valentine’s Day was probably THE biggest day of the year. We looked forward to getting our red construction paper folders filled with the cute greeting cards from our classmates; the afternoon always meant cupcakes and cookies provided by one of our parents.

It was, however, the introduction of the Valentine’s Card which propelled the holiday to what it is today. From the Infallible Wikipedia:

“In 1797, a British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained scores of suggested sentimental verses for the young lover unable to compose his own. Printers had already begun producing a limited number of cards with verses and sketches, called ‘mechanical valentines.’ Paper Valentines became so popular in England in the early 19th century that they were assembled in factories. Fancy Valentines were made with real lace and ribbons, with paper lace introduced in the mid-19th century. In 1835, 60,000 Valentine cards were sent by post in the United Kingdom, despite postage being expensive.”

Oh those crazy for love Brits!

Eventually the idea made its way across the Atlantic and sending Valentine’s Day cards became all the rage in the US also. Although the statistics are from a few years ago, it is estimated by the US Greeting Card Association that “approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children. When the valentine-exchange cards made in school activities are included the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines.”

That’s a whole lot of paper.

Valentine’s Day at my house when I was growing up consisted of each child getting to purchase a package of Valentine’s to give out in their classroom at school. For several days before the big day, I would painstakingly decide which of the cards (each box usually contained several different sentiments) would be given to which classmate. Their name would be written on the envelope and the card inside signed by me.

Each year I seemed to ‘like’ one of the boys in my class and would obsess over which card to give him.

Finally, on February 14^th, we would arrive at school, our fistfuls of valentines in tow, and wait for the announcement from our teacher that it was time to distribute our Valentines.

Up from our seats we would spring and then drop our cards into the folders hung around the room. Sometimes they were taped along the window and at other times at the front of our desks. There was an unwritten rule that if you gave a card to one then you had to give a card to everyone. While this was going on, some dedicated Mom would be there, setting out delicious baked goodies (my mother was often that person!). At last we were allowed to open the swollen folders and read our cards.

*A typical ‘kids’ Valentine card. The card is about 2 1/4″ wide and 3 1/4″ high. No idea WHY I had this in my card box but it was there when I needed it for this article.*

Now, there were ALWAYS some lame boys who didn’t give out Valentines. Or they might break the rule and give out a few but only to certain people. Undoubtedly it was one of those boys who I had a crush on who either didn’t do it or only gave it to the most popular girl, who wasn’t me. It was usually Kristin. Everybody loved that girl! Which takes us back to how expectations exceed reality.

After school I’d go home to a big family Valentine’s celebration. Or not.

As on any other day, my mother fixed dinner and served it right at six p.m. It was after dinner, however, when my Dad would get up, produce a Valentine’s gift for my mother, and present it with a flourish.

Every year. Not just some years. But every year. Always the same gift.

It would be wrapped but we all knew what it was: a box of Russell Stover’s chocolates.

*The 24 oz. box of Russell Stover Assorted Chocolates.*

My mother would open it, exclaim how much she liked it, and then would kiss my dad and thank him for it.

Each of us children would be allowed to choose one piece of candy. I hated when I accidentally got the coconut one. Yuck. (Pro-tip: the coconut ones were sometimes hidden as round ones. Best to pick a rectangular one)

That box of candy would last for a week or two with one piece of candy allowed after dinner each day.

Yep. That was it. There were a few Valentine’s Days over the years when I was the recipient of some romantic gesture. But for the most part, once our kids reached elementary school, I simply carried on the tradition of letting my children pick out a package of cards to give to their classmates; I also became the mom who brought the treats. One year I baked heart shaped sugar cookies, frosted them in white, pink, and red frosting and wrote EVERY child’s name on their cookie. Yes, I was that crazy. I also noted that most of the kids didn’t eat their cookie but instead told me they were taking it home to show their Mom. Hah!

Now, I love sugar cookies but unless I have someone who wants to help me decorate them, I don’t do them for all the holidays like I once did. So forget those. And forget Russell Stover’s. The easiest and best Valentine’s gift in my opinion are Sanders Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels (see my story on these here)… or even Dove Dark Chocolates… oh, who am I kidding, OR whatever chocolate. Just so long as there’s no coconut.

The links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day

History of Valentine Cards

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/valentines-day-ideas/a26863/valentines-day-facts/