50's Lifestyle

[laffite]

This thread depresses me. I'm older than most of you and should have a better idea of the 50s. How can anyone born in 1951 have any fresh ideas about the 50s? The decade is nearly over before one is old enough to know anything, yes?

 

Did anyone have a paper route?

 

Did anyone go to square dances and turn petrified when the time came to play patti-cake with the Crush.

 

Did anyone throw a fit and bellow "I WANT TO DIE" when the Braves lost the '58 World Series? (They won the year before but that was the distant past).

 

Does anyone remember the first kiss? (Diane Engel, ca. 1955)

 

Does anyone remember two-cent candy? Root Beer barrels? Those syrupy liquid things encased in wax that you had to chew in order to get the goods.

 

Does anyone remember the Monday 12 Noon (or was it 1pm) siren as a test for nuclear attack?

 

..

 

Excuse the personal rigors of life as a juvenile, personal "traumas" are not the subject of the thread, I added them because I find them amusing (so selfish) but I have diminished them to the background.  But I have to wonder whether some of these reminiscences of yall are pushing a bit into the 60s?

 

[midwestan]

This thread depresses me. I'm older than most of you and should have a better idea of the 50s. How can anyone born in 1951 have any fresh ideas about the 50s? The decade is nearly over before one is old enough to know anything, yes?

 

Did anyone have a paper route?

 

Did anyone go to square dances and turn petrified when the time came to play patti-cake with the Crush.

 

Did anyone throw a fit and bellow "I WANT TO DIE" when the Braves lost the '58 World Series? (They won the year before but that was the distant past).

 

Does anyone remember the first kiss? (Diane Engel, ca. 1955)

 

Does anyone remember two-cent candy? Root Beer barrels? Those syrupy liquid things encased in wax that you had to chew in order to get the goods.

 

Does anyone remember the Monday 12 Noon (or was it 1pm) siren as a test for nuclear attack?

 

..

 

Excuse the personal rigors of life as a juvenile, personal "traumas" are not the subject of the thread, I added them because I find them amusing (so selfish) but I have diminished them to the background.  But I have to wonder whether some of these reminiscences of yall are pushing a bit into the 60s?

 

I didn't have a paper route, but I had some school chums who did.

 

In junior high, we learned square dancing as part of our P.E. curriculum in preparation for the annual Halloween Party, which included...square dancing!  My personal favorite was the Virginia Reel.

 

When the Braves lost the '58 World Series, my Mom was in her third trimester with yours truly!

 

I do remember root beer barrels; loved the flavor, but hated the texture as they tended to cut the roof of my mouth.

 

I loved the wax soda bottles that were filled with syrupy goodness!  They came in a little carrying case of 4 bottles, as I recall.

 

I also liked the wax black mustaches, white fangs, and red lips that usually made their appearance around Halloween.

 

As a kid, I remember we had a silver aluminum Christmas tree and a color wheel that accompanied it.  I'd sit for hours watching the wheel revolve as the tree turned shades of blue, yellow, green, and red.  The bulb on that thing would get super hot in a short period of time.

[Dargo]

Yep, had a paper route, laffite.

 

Yep, learned to do-si-do and alaman left/right in I think a 5th or 6th grade PE class.

 

Yep, I liked the one/two-cent candy, but would usually spend the extra three more cents for a five pack of Bazooka Joe bubblegum.

 

(...and yep, I remember the those nuclear attack sirens being tested on a regular basis, however as I recall, the one near our elementary school would go off on Fridays at 3pm)

[LawrenceA]

We had square dancing in elementary school around here, too. I'm surprised to hear that this went on throughout the country, as I always thought it due to our backwoods country setting that it was taught in school. Even as a 2nd grader I wondered why we weren't spending more time on math or science or even more traditional phys ed activities. 

 

Our square dancing training all led to large public performances during our annual Civil War Battle of Olustee festival and battle re-enactment. I can't imagine the appeal of watching a bunch of elementary school kids performing badly-choreographed square dance routines in period dress. Oh well, simpler times. I think they stopped with the square dancing around here in the 1990's. At least, I think they did, but I don't attend the Olustee festival at all, so maybe it's returned. There's been a lot of "heritage" renewal around here the past 8 or so years.

[Sepiatone]

Yep, had a paper route, laffite.

 

Yep, learned to do-si-do and alaman left/right in I think a 5th or 6th grade PE class.

 

Yep, I liked the one/two-cent candy, but would usually spend the extra three more cents for a five pack of Bazooka Joe bubblegum.

 

(...and yep, I remember the those nuclear attack sirens being tested on a regular basis, however as I recall, the one near our elementary school would go off on Fridays at 3pm)

 

My elementary school had a little store across the street from it.  Called "Urban's" due to Urban being the owner's name.  So, you too, probably remember those treats and items we all used to covet.  Some "retro candy" places and makers still get them out, but their heyday was back then....like:

 

NIK-L-N I P S

 

Also those long wax tubes with the same kind of syrup in them.

 

PIXIE STICKS

 

and the bane of all grade school teachers---

 

WAX LIPS! 

 

SNAPS

 

GOLD NUGGET BUBBLE GUM  (came in those little cloth sacks)

 

Gosh, I can't remember all of them!

 

 

Remember the "air raid drills" we had where we'd all huddle under our desks as if THEY made us safe from nuclear warheads!

 

We even had "tornado drills" where we's file out to the hall and crouch down at the point where the wall met the floor.  My school didn't have lockers, we hung our coats and jackets on hooks located about 5 or so feet from the floor.  The school was built in 1918, so what'dja expect?

 

 

Sepiatone

[Emily Dean]

My elementary school had a little store across the street from it.  Called "Urban's" due to Urban being the owner's name.  So, you too, probably remember those treats and items we all used to covet.  Some "retro candy" places and makers still get them out, but their heyday was back then....like:

 

NIK-L-N I P S

 

Also those long wax tubes with the same kind of syrup in them.

 

PIXIE STICKS

 

and the bane of all grade school teachers---

 

WAX LIPS! 

 

SNAPS

 

GOLD NUGGET BUBBLE GUM  (came in those little cloth sacks)

 

Gosh, I can't remember all of them!

 

 

Remember the "air raid drills" we had where we'd all huddle under our desks as if THEY made us safe from nuclear warheads!

 

We even had "tornado drills" where we's file out to the hall and crouch down at the point where the wall met the floor.  My school didn't have lockers, we hung our coats and jackets on hooks located about 5 or so feet from the floor.  The school was built in 1918, so what'dja expect?

 

 

Sepiatone

Oh just mentioning the candies brought back memories of my favourites: Necco Wafers, Mary Janes, Chuckles, Black Jack Chewing Gum, Bit o Honey and horrors upon horrors, candy cigarettes. 

 

Don't forget while we were hiding under our desks during air raid alerts we were also remembering what we were taught in our Civil Defense Films.  And yes when tornado warnings were sounded we too left our class room and crouched in the hall. 

 

In my gradeschool we didn't have lockers either but each classroom had a cloak room to the side so when you walked into class you hung your coat up and left off your rubber boots.  I believe the cloakroom was one incentive for the mittens/gloves on a string.  That way the gloves stayed in your coat when you hung it up.  We said the pledge of allegiance each morning and up until the third grade we took naps on our desks or at least rested our eyes.  Remember the smell of the mimeograph machine and poster boards with seasonal and holiday theme school/art work. And don't forget the pencil boxes and fountain pens that leaked. I learned to read with Spot, Dick and Jane and the Puff the cat.  Added to my Dick and Jane books were a series of Golden Books that I got at home to read by myself. 

 

Oh yes...how could I forget I took home economics in the 7th grade and it was mandatory.  However in junior high I got my own Royal typewriter....was I impressed but I also used up a lot of those erasers with brushes as there was no white out. 

 

Believe it or not but we went home for lunch everyday.  I don't know how long we had for lunch but we walked home and back but those were the days when the larger majority of mothers were at home.  Best days lunch was tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich, otherwise it was usually left overs from dinner the night before. 

[Tikisoo]

Even though I was born in '61, I had 2 older brothers so was exposed to their interests as well. Thank goodness or I would have never watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan as a toddler. The hoopla in the room was memorable.

 

The school "cloakroom". Just a small thing, but so important. Learning to hang your coat in an appropriate room. Nowadays, there aren't even provisions made for your coat in a restaurant. Your coat can't be left out of sight! There's thieves everywhere just waiting to take advantage!

 

And yes, we were taught square dancing in school. Mr Tiki & I talk about it all the time, as we think it was good for kids to learn for historical reasons. For me, it was awkward just having gym class with boys. And we had to pick a partner!

There was a boy with long hippie hair and a wooden leg that everyone else thought was weird. He was actually brilliantly smart & super polite. He & I always chose each other for partners! 

 

Wax soda bottles & lips! They were nasty as I recall, just a novelty. Our local indie movie theater owner who screened Rocky Horror on Sat nights would buy wax lips in bulk. He'd hand them out instead of tickets. This was the late 70's early 80's before it became a big party thing.

 

But there is a huge "vintage candy" following. There have even been books written on the history of vintage candy. Many are still available & can be found in specialty stores. The store I work in carries Neccos, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews (my personal favorite)

Mallo Cups, Neopolitan Coconut Bars, Moon Pies, burnt nuts and (yuk) Circus Peanuts.

[Sepiatone]

Ah, YES Emily!

 

Going home for lunch.   And the milk program.  The start of every semester we'd get slips to take home and have our parents sign( or just my Mom in my case) and return them with the money to cover the semester.  I always chose chocolate.

 

"Nap time" in Kindergarten.

 

Raising your hand in class with either one finger held up, or two fingers to let teacher know you "had to go" #1 or #2.

 

In the "Lavatory".  Not allowed to say "bathroom".

 

My school's foray into square dancing didn't come about until around 1960.  I didn't do well enough to join the other kids who got to go to CKLW-TV in Windsor Ont. and dance on "The Popeye Show" starring CAPTAIN JOLLY (Windsor radio personality TOBY DAVID in some kind of "old sea captain" disguise, placed in a wharf setting and showed old POPEYE cartoons.)

 

My school also had a sort of gymnasium that doubled as it's auditorium (with a stage and all) and we'd have "assemblies" in which a Lincoln Park police officer, Lieutenant  Wilde, would draw "safety lessons" on a huge pad of paper on an easel, and sometimes a big black lady would come dressed up as "Aunt Jemima" and sing Gospel tunes and talk about the "Golden Rule" and good behavior. 

 

We once had a few members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra show up to explain the different instruments in the orchestra and show us how they sounded.

 

Remember "safety boys" and "safety girls"?   Standing on each corner near the school with their arms outstretched and we all had to wait until THEY said so before you could cross the street.  With their bight orange or yellow belts strapped "gestapo-like" across their chests, those kids became drunk with power REAL quick!

 

 

Sepiatone

[lavenderblue19]

Assembly Day- we had to wear white blouses, a blue small scarf as a tie. the boys also had to wear a white shirt and of course a tie. Is the Pledge of Allegiance still recited before class began and at Assembly?

 

Did anyone mention bubble gum baseball trading cards? I'm still waiting to read if anyone had their skate key on a piece of string around their necks. Neighborhood Ice Cream trucks in the afternoon. My mom would throw down change in a paper bag so I could buy Ice Cream from Clem who drove the Bunglaow Bar Ice cream truck. Sometimes the Good Humor Guy would show up in his truck.

 

Some girls had these round gold Pins. The pins were called "Virgin Pins". If they were pinned on the blouse or sweater on the right side it meant they were a "Virgin". My sister was older than me and had one. Ankle bracelets were worn if you were going steady. I still have mine, also a girl's boyfriend would give her his Silver ID bracelet if they were going steady. Gold charm bracelets, every girl had one. Penny Loafers. We'd put a shiny gold penny in the little slot in the front of the shoe. Boys always had to have their PF Flyers sneakers.

 

I remember cardigan sweaters turned backwards so that they would button down the back. Belts were also turned so the buckle would either be on the side or in the back ( I think the tougher kids did that) LOL

[DownGoesFrazier]

Assembly Day- we had to wear white blouses, a blue small scarf as a tie. the boys also had to wear a white shirt and of course a tie. Is the Pledge of Allegiance still recited before class began and at Assembly?

 

Did anyone mention bubble gum baseball trading cards? I'm still waiting to read if anyone had their skate key on a piece of string around their necks. Neighborhood Ice Cream trucks in the afternoon. My mom would throw down change in a paper bag so I could buy Ice Cream from Clem who drove the Bunglaow Bar Ice cream truck. Sometimes the Good Humor Guy would show up in his truck.

 

Some girls had these round gold Pins. The pins were called "Virgin Pins". If they were pinned on the blouse or sweater on the right side it meant they were a "Virgin". My sister was older than me and had one. Ankle bracelets were worn if you were going steady. I still have mine, also a girl's boyfriend would give her his Silver ID bracelet if they were going steady. Gold charm bracelets, every girl had one. Penny Loafers. We'd put a shiny gold penny in the little slot in the front of the shoe. Boys always had to have their PF Flyers sneakers.

 

I remember cardigan sweaters turned backwards so that they would button down the back. Belts were also turned so the buckle would either be on the side or in the back ( I think the tougher kids did that) LOL

Baseball cards were one of my first interests, like when I was 6 years old. I went crazy for the 1954 Topps series, with the big photos, and "inside baseball" on the back.

[ElCid]

Started school in 52 and we did not do square dancing in school.  Did have a May dance in 6th grade and then did the Maypole thing.  In HS, had a joint dance class with girl's PE class maybe 3 times, but still no square dancing.

As for sirens, the fire department tested the siren once per week, but had nothing to do with nuclear attacks.  It was just a test to make sure it worked as it was how they notified the volunteers to come to the station.  Town I live in still tests their siren once per week.  Of course, now it is used to notify of a tornado warning. 

In high school, we had one week of religious indoctrination, so to speak.  This was the public high school.  There would be assemblies where a "minister" of each religion would speak to us.  I have no recollection of what any of them said. I assume the rabbi for the synagogue spoke as did the priest from the Catholic church.  The Catholic school only went through the 8th grade (maybe 6th).

There were also the assemblies where they showed the documentaries on how bad driving will kill you.  As well as the "educational" ones where boys went to one and girls went to another.  

[Sepiatone]

Baseball cards were one of my first interests, like when I was 6 years old. I went crazy for the 1954 Topps series, with the big photos, and "inside baseball" on the back.

 

Yeah, I stuck many of them in my bike's spokes over the years.  And would always do battle with the slab of ceramic tile like "bubble gum" that came with them. 

 

 

Sepiatone

[Emily Dean]

To you avid 50's posters:  Thanks for the memories as each time you post or respond to a post you bring back other memories that flit through my mind. 

 

• Crosswalk safety monitors:  I was one for a while and had a white belt that wrapped around my waist and crossed over one shoulder.  We were issued a long pole with a white flag at the end and posted across the street from each other.  When traffic slowed down we would motion to each other and then place our flag poles across each lane and signal students to cross...however I didn't equate it with being a position of power but one of honour...you had to apply and earn the position
• I remember Kindergarten naps...our parents sent us off the first day with a rug that rolled up.  When it was nap time you went to your assigned cubicle pulled out your rug and laid down and then at the end re-rolled and returned it to your assigned cubicle.
• Every winter the basket ball court was turned into an ice skating rink very similar to the ones in "The Bishop's Wife" and "The Man Who Came to Dinner".  We would return to the rink in the evening or on the weekends by ourselves and skate.  I seem to remember benches for putting on skates and usually someone had a fire going in some sort of container.  Never once did I remember being afraid of walking home.  Skates were usually a holiday present. I remember my first grown up white pair with blade protectors. 
• Assemblies were a big deal...as said in other posts concerned with safety issues, visiting dignitaries or a program put on by the school orchestra/band etc.
• Report cards were paper and you carried yours home and parents went over it and then signed it.  My parents kept some of mine, I discovered them after they had passed away along with other odds and ends. 
• Cardigan sweaters worn backward were frowned upon and signified you were not a "good girl".  I remember the round pins but don't recall them being tied to the topic of virginity...I don't believe I learned about that particular topic until I was well into Junior High...when your parents began to instill dating instructions as they prepared you for high school.  I know I wasn't allowed to date until I was a Senior and then the privilege came with curfews, your dates being interviewed by your father and the giving of a detailed itinerary before you left the house.

Sepiatone:  I believe we grew up rather close to each other if you lived in Windsor, I lived in Jackson and Grand Rapids MI for the first 12 years and just a PS, my Dad was in the RCAF during the War.

 

Happy New Year all you Baby Boomers

[Vautrin]

My mother kept all the winter footwear at the bottom of a closet

where we had to dig it out. All that stuff was a pain in the neck

and they were just one more thing to lose. I remember as a kid

playing out in the winter cold for two or three hours without

getting very uncomfortable. Today I'd be back inside after about

30 minutes. 

 

I'm sure we had to do the square dance thing in school, but I

don't really remember it. Dodge ball was more fun anyway.

There was a humorous/poignant episode of The Wonder

Years that dealt with the subject. 

 

Our school must have been relatively laid back because we never

wore uniforms or special clothes for assembly, or had religious

figures giving sermons. I do recall there were unofficial enforcers

who got angry if you made fun of the school or the sports teams. 

I still have all my report cards, which show a 12 year record of

academic mediocrity or worse. We were lucky to have a river

across the street for ice skating. I enjoyed that until I broke my

arm one year.

 

 

[DownGoesFrazier]

My mother kept all the winter footwear at the bottom of a closet

where we had to dig it out. All that stuff was a pain in the neck

and they were just one more thing to lose. I remember as a kid

playing out in the winter cold for two or three hours without

getting very uncomfortable. Today I'd be back inside after about

30 minutes. 

 

I'm sure we had to do the square dance thing in school, but I

don't really remember it. Dodge ball was more fun anyway.

There was a humorous/poignant episode of The Wonder

Years that dealt with the subject. 

 

Our school must have been relatively laid back because we never

wore uniforms or special clothes for assembly, or had religious

figures giving sermons. I do recall there were unofficial enforcers

who got angry if you made fun of the school or the sports teams. 

I still have all my report cards, which show a 12 year record of

academic mediocrity or worse. We were lucky to have a river

across the street for ice skating. I enjoyed that until I broke my

arm one year.

I still remember a teacher"s comment on my report card....."Down Goes Frazier must learn to be prepared at all times". Prepared for what? Nuclear attack?

[Vautrin]

I still remember a teacher"s comment on my report card....."Down Goes Frazier must learn to be prepared at all times". Prepared for what? Nuclear attack?

Maybe a flurry of Ali jabs. Many of mine were along the general

lines of does not work up to potential. You got that right honey.

But their handwriting was very good. Imagine having to do those

for hundred of kids a few times a year. Yuck.

[Dargo]

I still remember a teacher"s comment on my report card....."Down Goes Frazier must learn to be prepared at all times". Prepared for what? Nuclear attack?

 

Now, WAIT a second here, Hal.

 

IF my math is correct here, Cosell didn't come up with your moniker around these parts until years AFTER you graduated high school!

 

And so, how did.....

 

(...oh...wait...that wasn't an exact quote from your teacher there, huh...sorry...never mind)  

[Dargo]

Btw, and speaking of those old candy and gum brands...

 

You folks know of course that the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain carries of a bunch of that stuff in their front entry room, doncha?!

 

(...whenever I feel like having a big starchy calorie-filled breakfast or lunch and I go there, I'm always sure to purchase at least one pack of Beemans chewing gum as I pay my bill)

[Janet0312]

Ah, YES Emily!

 

 

Remember "safety boys" and "safety girls"?   Standing on each corner near the school with their arms outstretched and we all had to wait until THEY said so before you could cross the street.  With their bight orange or yellow belts strapped "gestapo-like" across their chests, those kids became drunk with power REAL quick!

 

 

Sepiatone

I was one of those safety girls. I still have my safety belt.

[Janet0312]

I remember quite a lot of the same things. The grammar school I went to was a very old brick building with wooden floors and wooden staircases. The bathrooms were in the basement. Very spooky place. The stalls were made of wood and the toilet tank was above your head and you had to pull a cord to flush. Wow, am I old. I can't recall when or why, but there were times they used to show movies in the basement. That was where I saw many of the 50's sci fi flicks that I love so much today.

[Dargo]

I also remember at age 10 (in 1962) and after my family moved a few miles away(and yes, as the old joke goes..."I eventually found them again") and to a different suburb of L.A., I was the new kid in school.

 

I'll never forget that day all the boys were herded into my new elementary school's auditorium and for the purpose of selecting teams for when during recesses and lunchtime and during PE classes the playground games played during those times of the school day, the boys would be on designated "teams".

 

Because I was an "unknown" as to my athletic abilities, I sat there almost to the very end as each "team captain" would pick a kid for his team. As I recall, there were about four team captains and were those boys who had previously shown themselves to the best little athletes out there in previous years.

 

And that's when I made my mind up to show 'em all after this took place and once we were out there playing dodgeball, kickball, handball and every other of those kids' games, exactly how good a little athlete I had had the reputation of being on my old school's playground.

 

(...and I did, as the NEXT time this little self-esteem crushing process took place, I WAS selected as one of those "team captains"...and I still remember feeling sorry for the kids being selected last)

[ChristineHoard]

I also remember at age 10 (in 1962) and after my family moved a few miles away(and yes, as the old joke goes..."I eventually found them again") and to a different suburb of L.A., I was the new kid in school.

 

I'll never forget that day all the boys were herded into my new elementary school's auditorium and for the purpose of selecting teams for when during recesses and lunchtime and during PE classes the playground games played during those times of the school day, the boys would be on designated "teams".

 

Because I was an "unknown" as to my athletic abilities, I sat there almost to the very end as each "team captain" would pick a kid for his team. As I recall, there were about four team captains and were those boys who had previously shown themselves to the best little athletes out there in previous years.

 

And that's when I made my mind up to show 'em all after this took place and once we were out there playing dodgeball, kickball, handball and every other of those kids' games, exactly how good a little athlete I had had the reputation of being on my old school's playground.

 

(...and I did, as the NEXT time this little self-esteem crushing process took place, I WAS selected as one of those "team captains"...and I still remember feeling sorry for the kids being selected last)

 

Loved your story, Dargo, we are from the same time.  I was a terrible athlete and ALWAYS picked last for teams - even the chubbiest kids were chosen ahead of me.  The exception:  one day, a new girl in class was chosen to start the team-picking and she picked me first because I had been nice to her.  Of course, everybody laughed and I suggested to her from then on who to pick.  Since we had second picks then and I was on the team, naturally we lost.  One day playing softball in school, I actually hit the ball and would have made it to first OK but was so excited I tried to stretch it to a double and, of course, I was out.  

 

[laffite]

Good thing your mother wasn't watching the game. We wouldn't want her traumatized while giving birth. You have a lot to be thankful for.

 

I don't remember square dancing being associated with P.E. The dance was held every monday evening and we went just for fun. There must have been some instruction there but I don't remember that. "ohhhh, johnny, ohhhhhh..." My favorite partner was Judy P. We were going together then but she ended up hating me by Junior High (Middle). There was nothing wrong with me, of course, she was just stuck up.

 

I remember but vaguely Bazooka bubble gum, what comes to mind instead is Fleer's.

 

Necco wafers? Or Necco candies, little multi-colored round discs and so delicious. That was my fave candy back then. But when I found myself with just five cents for goodies at the movie theater, I went for Jujubes. They last forever. I think I still have a box that I haven't finished yet.

 

We couldn't go home for lunch but we could leave the premises and it seems odd to me that they would allow that for grammar school kids. You wouldn't see that today. We went up three blocks and bought 15cent hamburgers at Mel's Root Beer. They had a soft drink which was called a "suicide" that we all loved. It was a cola but with a funny taste. I think now that they must have added a drop or two of Dr. Pepper or something to give the suicide tang.

 

I grew up in California so we were able to say "bathroom."

 

We had mats we put down for naps. Those naps were agony. Who here actually fell asleep?

 

I remember the assemblies but what comes to mind was the sixth-grade All School Show. I loved that show. My crush was Dee M (who hated my guts) had a violin solo at the end of which she had to hit a real high note. It was drama because she probably was an intermediate player. But she did it ... though she loved me not, I was glad for her. It's her loss.

 

I'm glad someone mention the Maypole thing. This was Grade one or two. Do I remember giant boxes of Kellogg cereals? What was that all about? The Maypole activity is not a memory, just a fragment.

 

Oh, the ice cream trucks. Reminds me of the Peter Wheat truck with the weekly cartoon update. I think there might have a Peter Pan truck as well. They sold bread (I think).

 

Not only baseball cards, but boxing. My older brother and I coveted already the unseen as yet Jack Dempsey card. One day we each bought a package with the gum and five cards. I got Jack Dempsey. My brother (three years older) took it away from me and said that he got it, not me. I wailed to Mom and he got into trouble. Nobody takes my Jack Dempsey.

 

..

[midwestan]

At the municipal pool where I grew up, I'd occasionally get a 'suicide' prior to going home.  The concoction consisted of a splash of Coke, Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, Orange, and 7-Up. It tasted great!

 

Good posts here about being picked for teams during recess.  At best, I was a mediocre pick when it came to baseball and basketball.  I was a popular pick when it came to volleyball and kickball.  When I was 'on', I was seen as quite formidable at the tether ball pole!

 

When it came to playing 'tag', we'd often mix it up by playing variations like candy tag, cigarette tag, TV tag, cartoon tag, and a personal favorite of mine...freeze tag!

[laffite]

My best friend Terry L was the best at tether ball. I was not very good. Tough game. You had to have great coordination to play that. If you were on offense with the high arc going you had it to hit it just right to maintain velocity as it came around. The mad scramble for the winning hit was a messy affair. I longed to play that well but never did. Being really good at that was looked upon as an honor because there so few good players.

 

I don't remember another one-on-one game like that. We had four square but no one played just a two player version. There was no such thing as two square.

 

Marbles were big in grade 5 and 6. Purees were considered prize possessions.

 

I don't know any of those different kinds of tags. We didn't really play tag much.

 

Flag football was an organized sport among the school system. Fond memories there. One game the other team fielded eight players instead of six. A new rule. We sent out the tackles to level the playing field.