Beatlemania!

. 1960's, 1960's events, 60's, Beatles, Music, Rock and roll, What's New . 2 Comments
The Beatles

It’s February 7th 1964 and arriving at Idewild Airport in New York City are 4 young moptops who called themselves, The Beatles! with a new sound. 

 Waiting for them were over 3000 thousand screaming fans as they stepped off the plane! Then they went right to a mass of reporters with many questions to ask.

They were set to perform in 2 days on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York City with a screaming kids and a TV performance before a that numbered 73 million viewers! I was one of the 73 million who watched them and it was so exciting and they had like 6 singles in the top 10 list that I remember!

Yes John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, woke up the music world and changed it all and, many kids soon went out to buy guitars and take lessons because of them I already had one as I was in our band playing at dances and backyard parties and we did get to learn a couple of Beatles tunes the best we could.

Yeah it was a great time to see it all happen in 1964 and I brought every album at the time one I still have is the help album from 1965 and I still follow them today and always will!

And it’s just been announced that a new firm project in the works between the Beatles and Sir Peter Jackson involving over 55 hours of never-released footage of the Beatles in the studio in 1969 that produced the Let It Be that was released in May 1970

illustration licensed by:

(c) Can Stock Photo / rockindaddy

New Film Project

Lucky Me!

. 1950's, 1950's Radio, 1950's TV, 50's Events, 50's Summer, Music, Rock and roll, What's New

I was thinking the other day of how aromas can bring you back to a certain time in the past like, the smell of the street after it rains on a hot summer’s day, or the aroma of the air on a crisp fall day and so on. And that got me thinking how music can bring you back to a memory from the past as well!

Besides Elvis, the Everly Brothers had a great sound and tight harmonies and great songs like, “Wake Up Little Susie”, “bird-dog” and more. Rock and Roll was in full swing and my favorite female singer at that time was Connie Francis with her hits” Who’s Sorry Now” Stupid Cupid” playing on the radio.

And that brought me back to the day I ran in at the tavern my Father worked part-time at just around the block from my house, to ask for a nickel or a dime to go the Mom’s next door and Connie was on TV singing “who’s Sorry Now” and I said to myself “she’s the best girl singer ever”! Then ran out the door for my treats .

To me the Everly Brothers were the Beatles of that time, and even they were influenced by them with the wonderful music of the 1950s! It’s funny when I was living in the times then, I didn’t know it was the fabulous 50’s! as It’s now referred to or look around saying wow how great is this!

But there was something about it and you could feel it, it’s only as the years pass you look back and say, Yes it really was a special time! and just imagine I was one of the lucky ones to be there when it was all happening!

Hey Bobby!

. 1950's, 50's Events, 50's Summer, What's New . 4 Comments
Bobby

There was a time where a kid could travel around without a worry this short story reminds me of how I did that from time to from Mom Bruno who owned the candy store around the block from my house.

Every once in while when I went to Mom’s for something, she would yell Hey Bobby! to get my attention before I hurried out the store. I came back to the counter and she would say” Do me a favor I need you to go the the store a few blocks away and pick up a few things and bring it right back and I’ll give you .25 cents you and can pick out what ever you want.

Wow! ok Not quite like hitting the lottery but it was exciting to me so Mom gives me a note with her list of what she needs and I head out to the store I go into the store then hand over the note and money to the owner, who gos in the back and fills the order in about 15 minutes or so, and in a large box there are cartons of cigarettes, boxes of display candies, and othe items, he then ties it up with twine rope so i can carry it the few blocks to Mom’s.

So here I am 10 or 11 years old and walking back to Mom’s without a worry about anyone stopping me or trying to take anything from the box, the items were aways out in the open for all to see as the man never had the top of the box sealed.

But I never once had anyone question me about it so I went right back to the store and mom would say thanks and then she would say ” Pick out what you want Bobby” but like I said once before a kid could get a bit with candy, being 2 for a penny, soda, about 5 to 7 cents, ice cream, about the same I did that a number of times for mom Just wanted to share this!

New Music Added!

. 1950's, 1950's Radio, 1960's, Music, Retro Dance, Rock and roll, The Jukebox, What's New . 2 Comments
Dancing to the hits

Hi! I added the following songs to the jukebox, The Loco-Motion by: Little Eva, Breaking up is hard to do, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Calendar Girl, Oh! Carol by: Neil Sedaka, Chances are, It’s not for me to say, by: Johnny Mathis!

Sears and Roebuck

. 1950's, 1960's events, 50's Events, What's New . 3 Comments
Shopping at Sears

Sears and Roebuck stores were the place to shop when growing as a kid and the place I got my first line of credit in 1968 buying a beautiful wood stereo radio console with a turntable included!

The store in my city had 3 floors with an elevator that took you to living room furniture, bed and bath, electronics, appliances, and the store even had an auto service in back of the store!

I even went there in the 50’s with my Mother to see Santa and give him my list! Sadly Sears had to request bankruptcy in October 2018 and Sears announced on January 16, 2019 that it had won its bankruptcy auction and would shrink and remain open with about 400 stores.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

. 1950's, 1950's films, 50's Events, Rock and roll, What's New . 3 Comments
Elvis 1957

Happy Birthday To Elvis Presley today! Elvis was born on Jan, 8th 1935in Tupelo, Mississippi.

I’m glad to say I was there when he began was on the radio with songs like, Love Me Tender, Don’t be cruel, Teddy Bear,

Jailhouse Rock and saw the movies at the time He was Rocking the Country, What great Rock and Roll Artists and Groupes there were 1950s!

Elvis Home

Elvis was born in this house in 1935In Tupelo, Mississippi. built by his father, Vernon Elvis Presley, in preparation for the birth. In November 1948, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.  Elvis received only a C in music in eighth grade. When his music teacher told him that he had no aptitude for singing, he brought in his guitar the next day and sang a recent hit, “Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me”, in an effort to prove otherwise.

Elvis signing autographs

During his junior year, Elvis Presley began to stand out more among his classmates, largely because of his appearance: he grew his sideburns and styled his hair with rose oil and Vaseline. he competed in Humes’s Annual “Minstrel” show in April 1953. Singing and playing guitar, he opened

with “till I Waltz again with you”, a recent hit for “Teresa Brewer” Presley recalled that the performance did much for his reputation:

“I wasn’t popular in school … I failed music—only thing I ever failed. And then they entered me in this talent show … when I came onstage I heard people kind of rumbling and whispering and so forth, ’cause nobody knew I even sang. It was amazing how popular I became after that. The rest is history as you may know..

Keep the Change!

. 1950's, 50's Events, 50's Summer, 50s Winter, What's New
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com

Back in the winters and summers of the1950’s my father worked part time around the corner tavern, and every once in a while he would wake me at 6:am and say, Do you want to come with me I have to open up and get the tavern ready for the day? I said ok so as we opened up he would say to me, take this flashlight and look under the wood plank on the floor behind the bar and any money you find you can keep I’m like wow a treasure hunt!

So I did just that and after about 30 minutes or so I added up my finds and at times it would add up to a couple of dollars, and a kid could buy a bit of candy then as most were 2 for a penny, and soda a dime or less, chips were about 5 cents, ice cream about 5 cents so you get the point I’m making here.

Yes what a treat it was to have 2 dollars at one time then you felt like you were rich! The money was gone in like no time because you would wind up buying things just so you can. And there were times I would go the 5 and dime store “Woolworth’s” just about 3 blocks from my house and once there I had a pick of things as the prices were low enough to buy a Duncan yo-yo, or a water pistol, a hi-bouncer ball, from Spalding and a number of other great little toys and gadgets and still have enough for candy!

Merry Christmas!

. Christmas, Holiday Greetings, What's New . 2 Comments
Wishing you all the Merriest Christmas and Happiest of New Years!

Eggnog French Toast

. Holiday Recipes, New Recipes, What's New

BY IRVIN LIN

Simpyrecipes.com

Recipes

Ingredients:

  • 1 loaf crusty country-style bread, sliced 1-inch thick
  • 1 1/2 cups eggnog, store-bought or homemade
  • 2 tablespoons dark rum (optional, can omit or use 2 teaspoons rum extract)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Whipped cream and maple syrup for serving.

Directions:

Slice up your bread then set it aside to set a bit. It may take up to 15 minutes or so as you’re preparing the batter, or 48 hours upon your countertop.

Next : Fly the toast: in a griddle, or large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter on medium heat.  After the butter has melted, move the bread that has soaked from the bowl [or baking pan] using  tongs or your fingers, letting the batter excess drip off the bread. Be careful if you left the bread out overnight to soak, as it will be more fragile!

Warm the oven, place a metal wire rack, once you are ready to toast in a rimmed baking sheet. Put in the oven at 250F.

Now: frying the toast for 2 to 3 minutes, or till golden brown, flip the toast with a spatula cooking for 2 to 3 minutes more until equally brown on both sides. Now place more slices in the bow to soak up the batter while the toast is cooking.

Next: Keep that toast warm! When the bread if all finished, move it the the wire rack in the oven and with the remaining bread, Repete soaking first, then frying.

Serve it with whipped cream or maple syrup, soon as you can because it’s that good!   Enjoy!

Prep: 10 minutes ~ Cook Time: 15 minutes ~ Yield: 12 slices ~ Serves 4 to 6 People

View this and more great holiday recipes from the folks at Simplyrecipes! Eggnob French Toast!