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Steve Puckett '65

Our first TV was like the one in the ad, with dinky 17" screen + radio + phonograph.  It was 1952-54, after we moved to the new house in 1952 but before KTRK started in 1954.   The TV got 99% of the use, especially by the neighborhood kids sitting directly in front of the screen.  We were one of the first in the neighborhood so we had a dozen or so kids at our house watching Saturday morning TV.

Dad got hooked on Gunsmoke, Lawrence Welk, etc., so in a few years we got a bigger TV.  We got a color TV in the early 1960's, apparently a little earlier than most households (mid to late 1960's).

Steve Puckett '65

I loved seeing Milkdrop Moe, wondering how he worked.  I later found that a little guy was inside.

Milkdrop was played by Bobby Lauher (aka Larr), from SW Houston.  Bobby acted in a lot of TV.  Here he is with Ernie Kovacs (Bobby is seen first).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tgjkq-xmO8  Also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRrM_rlAkTM  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDdOigiSMt8  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDcxHP41a84  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX1Dx-OFje0   I loved the Ernie Kovacs show!

Teddie Jordan

Steve, I got into ol' Milk Drop Moe pretty good in the 50's too and actually think I joined his club. A few years later I enjoyed watching the Looney Auction every Saturday morning, which was based on saving the Looney Bucks printed on the little round cardboard cap that was on the top of each Carnation's glass milk jug. Different sized bottles  and the smaller products had different denominations, and once you had saved enough you could go on the show and bid on things. I was saving them hard to bid on a bicycle, but when they went off the air I still didn't have enough to get much of anything. I still remember that Glenn Smith, class of '65 and our Judy's husband, somehow accumulated enough to successfully bid on and get a new bicycle. I asked him a few years ago how he ever amassed that many and he couldn't remember. He must have had everybody on his street saving them for him, and I should have thought of that. But when I saw him on his shiny new bike after school at Oak Forest one afternoon and learned how he had gotten it I was green with envy, but happy for him too! I really do still have my Looney bucks around here somewhere, just waiting for them to come back on the air.

We probably got our first TV in the '53-'54 time frame. Before we did we would drive around to the shopping center on 43rd behind our house and pull up in front of an appliance store and watch the TV they had set up in the front window at night after they closed. And I can remember other families doing the same.

We lived at 1223 Overhill and our good neighbors were the True family. They always had the latest of everything including cars, and when they got their first TV they invited our family over the first Saturday night to watch either the Hit Parade or the Lawrence Welk show. We really enjoyed it. The next Saturday afternoon I asked my mom if the Trues had invited us over again for that night and she said no she hadn't heard from them. So you can bet about 7:00 o'clock that night we were all looking out through the blinds on our front windows to see who they had invited over to watch it with them that night, and a family we didn't know pulled up in a car and went in.

Funny stuff when I look back but pretty serious back then. Truly another era, and I wouldn't take anything for the experience or the memories.

Lloyd Pond

At a Christmas party Friday night, I talked with a man who told me that each morning he would meditate on 10 things. One topic was childhood remembrance. So see, without even knowing it we have been meditating! gasp! Of course, this man grew up in Rural New York so  lots of different memories from old Houston . Wood burning fire, deep snow, horses with icy beards, and trying to get the car out of the snow! Keep meditating.

one of the Judiway mechanics were the Wells brothers

Teddie Jordan

In New York his are all about snow and icy horses, whereas in Houston ours are about window air conditioners.

I guess it's all about latitude. Reminds me of a Jimmy Buffet song! "Changes in latitude, changes in attitude........", shoot ol' Jimmy must be a meditator!

Lloyd Pond

This one is for all you girls. My grandaughter, Zazie, has been in a running program this fall. She ran a 5K race last weekend! I have friends whose daughters will get scholarships for volley ball, basketball and softball. Of course the USA girls Olympic soccer team are a amazing. All of these things are in stark contrast to my memory of girls activities of yesteryear. Jacks, skip rope, OK, but running? Jumping? Throwing? Were you girls just sandbagging or has the DNA of the Y chromasone challenged populace been altered by aliens in the past 50 years? 

I enjoyed playing baseball and softball. My Dad played softball 3 nights a week sometimes. Now I guess softball is the exclusive domain of the ponytailed. Don't get me wrong, I love to see the girls compete.

So let the feminine mystique speak

Pat Brantley (Ross)

The ncaa ruling stating that girls' sports get scholarship money is what changed for women.  Of course girls could always play sports, but high schools didn't invest in girls' programs because they were a dead end.  Then the ruling that all the money made from football in college had to be spread out over male and female sports programs.  My older daughter was a scholar, but she didn't get any money for college because we earned too much.  Her friend got a full volleyball scholarship with average grades and rich parents.  As we were all taught - "life is not fair.  Get over it" and we did.  Do any of you remember pat Bryan '63?  She could have gotten a baseball or volleyball scholarship.  So could Trudy King.  We had athletes.  I was never one.  I think it's great that girls are competing.  It still seems new to me that our San Antonio Spurs have a female assistant coach and the NBA has females referees, but it's fine.   Our coach is an asset.   

Teddie Jordan

Beau, I saw your post and then it was gone. Hang in there ol' buddy and do what the doc and Diane say, and you'll be feeling better in no time.

Bill Traill

To all my old Classmates, I am traveling this XMAS, and I want to be one of the first to wish and every one of you a wonderful Christmas season and a great New Year and my wishes personally to each and every one who has had some sadness this year. My heart will be with you this season. God Bless.

Larry Reid '63

and a Merry Christmas to you as well. Have safe travels!

Teddie Jordan

Amen Larry and thank you Bill. 

And from Fran and I Merry Christmas to all!

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...

Yeah Teddie, I put it on the forum, and then thought better of it and deleted it. It always sounds like a complaint, but really is just information.   I have reinjured an old injury, rib/spine, and most days find me flat on my back. Went to the sawbones and they saw nothing but degenerative problems on the Xrays....Have an MRI scheduled for Monday or Tuesday, whichever comes first!   Am junqued up on drugs when it gets more than I can stand!   Using an old prescription of Hydrocodone (2012 ) and some muscle relaxers.  Got a gnu prescription for hydrocodone, but everyone is out....imagine that!   Must be a lot of folks in pain out there!

I have remarked to myself in the past, "man, wish I could just lay around!)...Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.    I dont know whats worst, the actual injury pain, or the mental pain of not being able to put this house in some sort of order. Not allowed to pick up anything heavier than a coffee cup or whiskey bottle. Cant move furniture around, which is just killing me!   I see how something should go, and cant do it. My beloved is too small to move the stuff around, plus I dont want her back to get hurt!

Anyway, most all chores and tasks have now fallen to Diane as I am toooo wimpy to help.  Which just kills my soul also.  Plus our internet is just not working out. Gotta figure out something else.

Guess I will sign off and see if this will post...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.....

Johnny Sheffield

At this time I would like to wish all of my 

waltrip friends a very merry christmas

and happy new year. I hope and wish for 

good health for each and everyone for 

2015. Have a safe holiday. 

Johnny

Linda Webster '65 (Jennings)

I want to wish all my fellow Waltripians and their families a Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year....

Linda Webster Jennings

Linda Webster '65 (Jennings)

This is my second time to post this but here it goes again. Unclear why it didn't post the first time..

I want to wish my fellow Waltripians and their families a very Merry Christmas and a very healthy and Happy New Year....

Linda Webster Jennings

William "Butch" Ginder

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

BUTCH GINDER

Henny Banning

Dear...Wishing my Waltrip friends a wonderful Holiday Season...May your Christmas be one of  joy and peace.

May your New Year 2015  be that of  health and strength.  So special seeing everyone during our -50th- sorry that I missed seeing some of you!!!

Thank you for your expressions of love, support, during recent months, as I recovered from surgical procedures.  Meant more than I can express.

Wishing you God's richest blessings, during our Holy Season.

Love, Henny (Roric too)

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hello classmates. I am at Beau and dianes up in the mountains of Chappell Hill. It is so cool here. I have taken over beaus computer and will be sending you updates on the forum. 

Hope to see yall soon. 

Your frien and brother in classmate

Robbie Boswell....

Here is a picture of the wild bunch. They will back me up.

Wayne Lake

Don't Shoot, Robbie.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Good Health and Prosperity to All!

A Christmas tradition origin you may not be aware of…………..

‘Along time ago at the North Pole, when four of Santa's elves got sick a couple of weeks before the big day, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure.

Then, Mrs. Claus told Santa her mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

That same year when he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went into the house for a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had drunk all the rum and only cider was left.
 
In his frustration he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and an irritated and very sober Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a sweet little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.
 
Not a lot of people are aware of this bit of history and now you know the real story.’

From Lake Wobegon where it is raining and nearly 40 F but snow is predicted for Tuesday for a promised white Christmas,

wtl

Teddie Jordan

Wayne, I'm a little slow and I confess I had to read it a second time, before it hit me and made me laugh out loud!

And Robbie, we should have known the calvary would arrive to help. I'd say you are the perfect medicine to both make him behave, but also bring him back to good health and spirits. God bless you all!

Beau Wann, Jr.

Seeing Rober T was soothing salve to the spirit.  Hated to see him leave.  Looking forward to his next visit, and a visit from any and all mine classmates O mine!   

Be heading for the MRI first thing in the morning, or AM, whichever comes first.

Grandson downloaded Google Chrome for an alternative browser, and it is worse than Explorer. Just cant hold a connection, even though the thing says we are on line.

We finally, well Diane finally got a tree decorated, and stockings hung by the chimney with care.  I just layed around and encouraged her efforts.  Some of the family want to have Christmas here on Waltons Mountain, I'd rather not, but my grandaughter asked nicely if we could.  How could I refuse. We're really not up for it, so all we are serving is a big caldron of chili!  

We have bluebirds up here ! ! ! No kidding. saw about half dozen of the little blighters!  Put out two bird feeders, with a plethora of seeds, and not one bird has visited either feeder. Did see one bird sitting on the top, but flew off before sampling our smorgasbord of seeds!   Whas up with the country birds? Guess they've never had folks feed em before! Oh well, you can lead a horse to water but you cant carry your lunch to school!  I just love those old sayings, dont you!

Speaking of old sayings, our angel fell off the top of our tree. We have a plethora of angels, but none will sit on the top!  The whirld has just gone cockeyed. Well, why not!  The wheels have come off, and everything is sideways here on mount hoochecooche!   I'll swannie if the poltergists are not running amok and with reckless abandon up here. And oncet you have swannied, then thats all she wrote!

Ok, lemee see ifin this will post. Last 9 or 6 would not post because of the furshlerginer browser or wifi connection....

Gloria Hornick (Walker)

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy new year.  Have a great 2015!

Also want to share that SyFy network is having a Twilight Zone marathon starting this Tuesday, at 7 a.m., I think.  Several of us were talking about Twilight Zone at Fudds in the past.  Some of those were real classic shows.   

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Thank you, Gloria.  My favorite twilight zone episode is the one in which the man wants to be left alone in peace so he can read.  He ends up on the steps of the New York city library all alone, but his glasses are shattered.  I used to love sitting on the floor in the heights library in a quiet nook where I could read for hours and stay cool regardless of the heat outside.  We rode the bus down there.  It was wonderful to live in oak forest (aka Mayberry).  

Bunny Paine (Clemes)

My creativity book (February 2015) is now available for preorder from Amazon and from 4th dimension press: http://www.arecatalog.com/ProductCa…/…/6897/Creative-Synergy

I'm excited!  Bunny Paine-Clemes

Steve Puckett '65

Ah, the wonderful Heights Library!  I spent happy hours there in the coolness and surrounded by books and that peculiar smell I associate with libraries and lots of books.  Mom took me there when I was 10 or so to be part of the summer reading program. The librarian asked me what kind of books I liked to read.  I probably told her that I liked Superman and similar comics!    Anyway, she introduced me to the wonderful world of science fiction. I read all I could get my hands on, begging Mom to take me back so I could get more books.  She finally told me that I needed to go outside and play, that I was spending too much time reading!