WEEK 1: PROMPT # 1
My bedroom was pretty sparse. Remember bean bag chairs and shag carpeting? Did you have a color scheme or posters on the walls? Did you share a room with a sibling? What stuffed animals adorned your bed? Or what did your parents prevent you from doing to your room that made you unhappy?
Stories Submitted
Favorite Outfit - Ruth
could NEVER wear jeans or slacks. We had no school uniform at Spring Valley High
School. We were not clothes conscious the way the kids are now. No one really
commented much on the clothes we wore, fortunately, since many of us did not come
from wealthy homes.
My mom helped pick out my clothes. We went to New York City during vacation times
when I was in elementary school to either Hearn’s or Orhbach’s Department stores. My
two favorite coats were a red winter coat with a black velvet collar and a Kelly green
spring coat. I was upset when I outgrew the red coat. I can still see it now. I really loved
it! Because my dad did not earn that much money, my mom had a limited budget.
The red coat was $30, which was a lot in the 1940’s. The green coat was on sale for $8.
I did not know about Passover, so I dressed up like my friends did, who went to church
on Easter Sunday, but I did not go to church with them.
The women in those days did not work. They were “homemakers.” It was a reflection on
the husband if the wife worked. No woman in our neighborhood worked!
Ah, the “memories” that this brings back!
WEEK 1: PROMPT # 2
My favorite radio show was “Let’s Pretend” at 11AM on Saturday mornings. I still remember eating breakfast and listening to that show on the radio that sat atop the kitchen refrigerator. And running home from school to watch “American Bandstand.” What was your TV or radio like? Where did you sit? Did you have a radio or TV in your room?
Stories Submitted
A Radio Show I Never Missed - Janet
I remember Sunday evening in my house as a very happy time. My daddy had been home all day. My
mommy had washed and dried all the dinner pots, pans and dishes. She would wipe her hands on her
apron, take it off and come into the foyer to sit with daddy and I. We would sit in front of a big radio and
wait in anticipation.. I don't remember my brother there. Either he was not born yet or had been put to
sleep in his crib.
We were all ready to listen and laugh at BABY SNOOKS. She sounded like a lucky little girl to me. She
had a different adventure each week and though she did stuff I wouldn't be allowed to do, she never got in
trouble. The three of us would laugh at her antics. I'm sure that my parents knew but I never knew that she
was a grownup named FANNY BRICE. On the radio show I remember her being 10-12 years old. She
never got older.
I remember how cozy it was to sit with mommy and daddy and laugh together. I always thought she
would get in trouble but she never did. I was about 5 years old as I remember it. After the show it was
wash your face and brush your teeth time. The fun was over till next Sunday at 6:30. Strangely I do not
recall any other programs.
A TV Show I Enjoyed- Lorraine
Born in the age of early television, I clearly recall how I enjoyed watching family shows,
of which my very favorite was “Father Knows Best,” featuring perfect parents Robert
Young and Jane Wyatt with their three lovely children. My enjoyment for the program as
a preteen was built around my perception that this was the ideal family, with a home
filled with love and caring. They lived in a colonial in the Midwest with a picket fence and
a kitchen window overlooking a pretty garden. When Dad came home Mom was
waiting with her little cute apron on, waiting to serve dinner around the kitchen table.
The three children engaged in fun banter and never squabbled. As the children
experienced childhood problems, with the wise counsel of mom and dad, no conflict
was insurmountable and an acceptable resolution was always found by the end of the
half hour.
I remember how , I looked so forward to viewing the show by myself, in front of the living
room TV once a week .It was my own personal encounter with a happy family that left
warm and fuzzy feelings. Maybe part of it was my own fantasy of one day enjoying the
lifestyle of this family!
WEEK 2: PROMPT # 3
As a child I always wanted to take piano lessons. I searched the newspaper every week for used pianos for sale, but my parents didn’t have money for a piano, let alone for the cost of lessons. What about you? Did you play an instrument in school? Did you take lessons? Did you love it or dread it? Who taught you?
Stories Submitted
A Radio Show I Never Missed - Janet
I remember Sunday evening in my house as a very happy time. My daddy had been home all day. My
mommy had washed and dried all the dinner pots, pans and dishes. She would wipe her hands on her
apron, take it off and come into the foyer to sit with daddy and I. We would sit in front of a big radio and
wait in anticipation.. I don't remember my brother there. Either he was not born yet or had been put to
sleep in his crib.
We were all ready to listen and laugh at BABY SNOOKS. She sounded like a lucky little girl to me. She
had a different adventure each week and though she did stuff I wouldn't be allowed to do, she never got in
trouble. The three of us would laugh at her antics. I'm sure that my parents knew but I never knew that she
was a grownup named FANNY BRICE. On the radio show I remember her being 10-12 years old. She
never got older.
I remember how cozy it was to sit with mommy and daddy and laugh together. I always thought she
would get in trouble but she never did. I was about 5 years old as I remember it. After the show it was
wash your face and brush your teeth time. The fun was over till next Sunday at 6:30. Strangely I do not
recall any other programs.
A TV Show I Enjoyed- Lorraine
Born in the age of early television, I clearly recall how I enjoyed watching family shows,
of which my very favorite was “Father Knows Best,” featuring perfect parents Robert
Young and Jane Wyatt with their three lovely children. My enjoyment for the program as
a preteen was built around my perception that this was the ideal family, with a home
filled with love and caring. They lived in a colonial in the Midwest with a picket fence and
a kitchen window overlooking a pretty garden. When Dad came home Mom was
waiting with her little cute apron on, waiting to serve dinner around the kitchen table.
The three children engaged in fun banter and never squabbled. As the children
experienced childhood problems, with the wise counsel of mom and dad, no conflict
was insurmountable and an acceptable resolution was always found by the end of the
half hour.
I remember how , I looked so forward to viewing the show by myself, in front of the living
room TV once a week .It was my own personal encounter with a happy family that left
warm and fuzzy feelings. Maybe part of it was my own fantasy of one day enjoying the
lifestyle of this family!
WEEK 3: PROMPT # 5
Spanking was not uncommon when I was a child. It might be for doing something I was forbidden to do or for telling a lie, or just for extreme misbehavior. What did you get in trouble for? Any excuses that got you out of it? What kinds of punishments did you receive?
Stories Submitted
Being Punished - Andrea
were naughty. I can still feel the sting of her ring on my cheek
My mom was at a school meeting and my father was in charge. He told me that an important
client was coming over so just play nicely in your room. The client arrived and my dad shouted
from the living room "It is time to get ready for bed. Please go in like a good girl and TAKE A
BATH”.
I must have been about seven years old and was totally embarrassed that this strange man knew
that I would be naked in the bathtub. Soooooo... I closed the bathroom door, turned on the bath
water and got in the bathtub. I sat there sulking and the water ran and ran and ran and ran. My
father and the client were having their meeting when suddenly daddy noticed something strange.
The floor in the hall and foyer were all wet. He came slouching on the wet floor and opened the
bathroom door. There I sat in the overflowing tub with the water still running. My dad for the
first and only time that I can remember lost his temper and gave me a hard spank on my wet
bottom. He wrapped me in a towel and carried me to my bed.
I found out later how upset he was that he had hit me. The client, I assume, was sitting there
laughing. By the way, my dad was more upset than me and I certainly deserved that spank.
WEEK 3: PROMPT # 6
Stories Submitted
Favorite Outfit - Ruth
could NEVER wear jeans or slacks. We had no school uniform at Spring Valley High
School. We were not clothes conscious the way the kids are now. No one really
commented much on the clothes we wore, fortunately, since many of us did not come
from wealthy homes.
My mom helped pick out my clothes. We went to New York City during vacation times
when I was in elementary school to either Hearn’s or Orhbach’s Department stores. My
two favorite coats were a red winter coat with a black velvet collar and a Kelly green
spring coat. I was upset when I outgrew the red coat. I can still see it now. I really loved
it! Because my dad did not earn that much money, my mom had a limited budget.
The red coat was $30, which was a lot in the 1940’s. The green coat was on sale for $8.
I did not know about Passover, so I dressed up like my friends did, who went to church
on Easter Sunday, but I did not go to church with them.
The women in those days did not work. They were “homemakers.” It was a reflection on
the husband if the wife worked. No woman in our neighborhood worked!
Ah, the “memories” that this brings back!
Did you wear a school uniform? Did your Mom choose your clothes for you? What did you wear after school when you went out to play? Whether it was something from when you were little or the hottest thing in high school—what was your favorite piece of clothing you never wanted to give up?