12-21-2008
( Reply#: 2511 ) |
Tom J |
I could tell you about my earliest Christmases, back when I still believed in Santa Claus, but I actually enjoyed Christmas more when I was old enough to buy gifts for my folks and was old enough that we didn't have to do the "Santa Claus" thing. We began having our main Christmas activities on Christmas Eves rather than on Christmas mornings, after my "Santa Claus" days were over.
I remember shoveling snow to earn money to buy Mom and Dad Christmas presents, but I was usually unable to earn enough money that way. I almost always ended up "borrowing" money from Mom and Dad to buy their presents. As an older kid, I had paper route earnings to use for Christmas presents for a couple years, but before then, I usually just asked Mom and Dad for some money. Somehow, I didn't have a problem with buying Mom and Dad gifts with their own money; it still felt like the presents were from me, and Mom and Dad seemed to feel that way, too, or at least they did a good job of prentending to feel that way. (You know how parents are.)
I enjoyed shopping for their presents. I spend hours looking for just the right gift. For Mom, it was usually costume jewelry that I bought. For Dad, the stereotypical gift, the necktie, was often what I chose, but it had to be "just the right necktie."
I loved walking the streets of Downtown with my cheeks glowing a rosy red and with the sounds of Christmas all around, the Salvation Army bell ringing and Christmas music emanating from the stores. When there was falling snow while I was doing my shopping, that was just about the ultimate.
Mom would fix a spectacular meal for Christmas Eve consumption. There would always be turkey and dressing, cranberry salad, and candied yams. We would have several other dishes, of course, but these were staples that we had every year.
The desserts were out of this world. Mom made chocolate chip cookies from scratch, and they would absolutley melt in your mouth. The smell of them baking would drive me insane. A few of those with a tall glass of cold milk would make me think I had died and gone to Heaven. Mom would also make a batch of boiled custard, and she always made a jam cake. It seemed that the custard and the jam cake were made for one another. Some years there would be pecan pie also.
After the big meal, we would retire to the living room, where the Christmas tree stood as a sentinnel, guarding the presents that were heaped at its base. It was at this time that we exchanged gifts.
I will never forget the joy of those Christmases.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
12-21-2008
( Reply#: 2512 ) |
Paddy |
In Hammond's Golden Years, Christmastime made downtown Hammond the center of the earth. Everything merged there, buses, main streets, passenger trains and shoppers.
The corner of Sibley and Hohman was the epicenter. If you wanted to transfer buses, you got off a north-south bus on Hohman at Sibley and boarded an east-west bus on Sibley at Hohman (or vice versa).
The buses were one reason why that corner was so busy with pedestrians, but not the only one. Several of the "big" stores were nearby. The intersection was so crowded that the city fathers devised a unique method of moving pedestrians. After Hohman and Sibley traffic got the green light, all the traffic lights went red and pedestrians had the entire intersection to themselves.
For a brief moment, the Sibley and Hohman intersection became a mini-mall. Vehicle traffic was held at bay, and pedestrians were allowed to cut across the intersection diagonally in order to shorten their walks. I have not seen a similar traffic arrangement since that time.
|
12-22-2008
( Reply#: 2513 ) |
Tom J |
Speaking of Christmas traditions, don't miss Dave Letterman Tuesday night, December 23rd. That's when Darlene Love will perform her annual rendition of "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home."
Besides being a great song, the choreography is always fantastic.
Check out some of her past performances on Youtube.com .
Unfortunately, there was no 2007 performance due to the screen writers' srtike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ7iyRJrFg8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXVcrWO5FCg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aslKMBEDpdo&feature=related
This song was on a Phil Spector produced Christmas Album that was released on the day that President Kennedy was shot, November 22, 1963. This unfortunate timing of its release kept the album from selling as it should have.
Tomster
EDIT: I corrected the date of President Kennedy's assassination to November 22, 1963. I had somehow typed November 23, 1963, but I knew better than that, of course. That was a date I will NEVER forget!
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
12-22-2008
( Reply#: 2514 ) |
duane |
The Phil Spector Christmas Album.
When the Beatles formed their Apple record label, they re-released Phil Spector's Christmas album (a picture of Phil dressed as Santa wearing a "back to mono" button). I've got a copy of that, with lots of great Phil Spector-produced groups singing Christmas songs.
Of course, Phil's had a few problems recently (like being tried for MURDER!) |
12-22-2008
( Reply#: 2515 ) |
duane |
For all the Poles out there, we've got lots of the stories and traditions of Wigilia (the Christmas eve celebration and meal).
The breaking of the Oplatek, the straw under the table cloth, the setting of the extra plate for the weary traveler, the wishing upon the first star of Christmas, the bathing of a child with coins in the water (ensures riches throughout the year!) and finishing Christmas Eve with attending Midnight Mass.
Wesloych Swiat to all! |
12-22-2008
( Reply#: 2518 ) |
Paddy |
quote:
Originally posted by duane
For all the Poles out there, we've got lots of the stories and traditions of Wigilia (the Christmas eve celebration and meal).
Many of our neighbors were Poles, and I grew up in a melting pot of Irish and Polish traditions.
One tradition that carries on is our favorite dish of "fresh" Polish sausage and saurkraut. I highlighted "fresh" because most people these days don't distinguish between it and smoked Polish sausage.
What a loss. Fresh (unsmoked, that is) Polish sausage is hard to find where we live, and we rejoice when we find it. |
12-23-2008
( Reply#: 2520 ) |
duane |
We also enjoy the fresh keilbasa, with lots of garlic. I agree it is hard to come by, but we have a place in town that still makes it! Wrazidlo's old world meats. When we would travel back to the region, we would stop at Marushczak's Meat shop (I think it was on 169th and is now gone) and load up on fresh polish and the car would smell garlicy all the way back to Minnesota! |
12-24-2008
( Reply#: 2523 ) |
Tom J |
I was disappointed with the performance of "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home" last night. I had looked forward to it, and I made a special effort to stay up way later than my normal bedtime to see it. It left me thinking that it was not worth staying up for.
The choreography just wasn't up to the standards set in previous years, and even Darlene's singing wasn't as good. It looked like the whole thing was done without any real "feeling."
Was it just me, or did you guys get the same impression?
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
12-24-2008
( Reply#: 2524 ) |
diskojoe |
Hey, Tom, this is the interloper from the Witch City wishing you & all the other fatheads out there a very Merry Christmas. Being from a Polish family myself, I enjoyed reading the stories about the Polish food. My mother made her usual big pot of golumpkis for tomorrow. Merry Christmas! |
12-24-2008
( Reply#: 2525 ) |
Tom J |
Merry Christmas to you, too, diskojoe!
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
12-24-2008
( Reply#: 2529 ) |
diskojoe |
Thanks Tom! |
12-23-2009
( Reply#: 4274 ) |
Tom J |
OK, Peeps, tonight is the night. Letterman is going to have Darlene Love do her annual rendition of "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home."
I was disappointed with last year's performance, but if I can stay up late enough, I will watch it tonight.
You can look up some old performances on YouTube by searching on "Darlene Love." They usually get very elaborate with their props and their choreography, and it is normally a real treat to see.
Tom |
12-23-2009
( Reply#: 4277 ) |
cartoonguy |
I wish one could bottle being a child at Christmas time, those are some of my most cherished memories, the lights and decorations of Downtown Hammond, Woodmar Shopping Center, or just driving around seeing all the beautiful homes decked out for the season. I remember every Christmas Eve, our house would be filled with family and friends, and just before bedtime, for what would always feel like the longest night of a Childs life, my Sister and I would be allowed to open one small present, all the Santa gifts would be placed under the tree while we slept, but as soon as the morning light hit our eyes, we would spring from our beds to find all the neat stuff that Santa Claus had left during the night.
I notice a lot of kids today, even as young as four or five years old, do not even believe in Santa Clause, and I kind feel sorry for them, for even if it's just a for few years of Childs life, can be so rewarding, and believe me it was, and still is, not about the gifts, even when I was young, it’s the whole feeling about Christmas time, family, friends, school projects, fresh snow with little crystals ,and as I soon approach my big 50 in 2010, and with many old friends scattered around the world, and most of my family, including my sister are no longer with us, I look back at a time of innocence, when Hammond was still a place to raise a family, even though I am many miles away, those memories will live on forever.
“Merry Christmas!” |
12-23-2009
( Reply#: 4279 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by cartoonguy
I wish one could bottle being a child at Christmas time, those are some of my most cherished memories, the lights and decorations of Downtown Hammond, Woodmar Shopping Center, or just driving around seeing all the beautiful homes decked out for the season. I remember every Christmas Eve, our house would be filled with family and friends, and just before bedtime, for what would always feel like the longest night of a Childs life, my Sister and I would be allowed to open one small present, all the Santa gifts would be placed under the tree while we slept, but as soon as the morning light hit our eyes, we would spring from our beds to find all the neat stuff that Santa Claus had left during the night.
I notice a lot of kids today, even as young as four or five years old, do not even believe in Santa Clause, and I kind feel sorry for them, for even if it's just a for few years of Childs life, can be so rewarding, and believe me it was, and still is, not about the gifts, even when I was young, it’s the whole feeling about Christmas time, family, friends, school projects, fresh snow with little crystals ,and as I soon approach my big 50 in 2010, and with many old friends scattered around the world, and most of my family, including my sister are no longer with us, I look back at a time of innocence, when Hammond was still a place to raise a family, even though I am many miles away, those memories will live on forever.
“Merry Christmas!”
Amen! |
12-23-2009
( Reply#: 4284 ) |
Joel357 |
Tom was talking about asking mom and dad to loan him money to buy Christmas gifts. I had a memory very similiar to his. I talk about my grandfather on this board, probably so much that probably you all are tired of hearing about it. In the latter part of 1966 my grandfather was not doing well and we knew that he was not going to last. We weren't told that directly but I knew. I was 9 years old at the time and I remember I asked my mom if I could borrow some money to get grandpa a Christmas present. It ended up to be about $2.50 and a friend of mine and I went to Alexander's Bookstore by Montgomery Ward in Munster. He was a reader and I heard his stories about World War 1 and found a book about flying aces and said he would like it to my buddy. I don't know if it was a great piece of literature considering the outlay of the great sum of around $2.50, I kind of doubt it but I gave it to grandpa. He told me he read it and thought it was great, maybe it was or wasn't, maybe it was great because his grandson gave it to him, who knows. Of all the memories we all have had, that has been the most profound memory for me. An inexpensive(cheap) novel, how about that?
Joel |
12-23-2009
( Reply#: 4285 ) |
MrRazz |
Prior to Christmas my dad would always take us into the Chicago loop to check out the decorated, animated department store windows. Sometimes we' d make it to the Chicago Christmas parade and visit Santa at Marshall Fields.
My dad was not punctual about putting up the Christmas decorations...always waited until the last minute...usually the day before Christmas Eve. We'd go to Jansen's outdoor market on Ridge Road, with jingle bells in the laces of our shoes, in search of the best tree...almost always a Balsam Fir. Luv that smell to this day. Together as a family we got it up and trimmed that night. I still have some of the ornaments he used to put on his tree as a boy. The lights were of course the big colored bulbs.
Helped Mom decorate Christmas cookies...especially loved dressing up the gingerbread men & women.
On Christmas Eve, Mom, whose mother was from Sweden, would prepare a smorgasborg including roast duck, Swedish meat balls, potato sausage, Limpa bread, rice pudding, pickled herring, and many other great foods.
In the morning we were under strict orders not to go into the living room until Mom and Dad were up and ready to accompany us, because Santa might still be there. Of course we all went racing in at long last. Amazing...the milk and cookies were always gone. Usually got one special toy we most wanted and a few small things in our socks and maybe an orange or apple, but we were overjoyed with everything we received and the love we shared as a small family together
A special treat was one year going up to my Aunt and Uncles' in Milwaukee and going tobogganing and ice skating on a what seemed at that time to be a huge lake.
I feel blessed to have come from a loving family and although I miss my parents so much, I treasure the memories we made together.
Wishing you all the joys that Christmas and family can bring and great memories for the future. |
12-24-2009
( Reply#: 4289 ) |
duane |
Did anyone's family make the annual trip to the Indiana Harbor side of East Chicago to see Inland Steels big Christmas display? We used to go each year. They had a HUGE tree, lots of lights (I think they were colored full sized light bulbs, not C9's. They also had lots of illuminated Santa & Reindeer, a Manger Scene (of course, this was in the day before political correctness) and they played LOUD christmas music. It was something I'll always remember, along with going to downtown Chicago to view Marshall Field's window and eat lunch next to the big tree in the Walnut dining room at Marshall Fields.
Then I remember during a down economic time, Inland didn't put up the decorations, and I'm not sure they ever did again. Now that Inland Steel is owned by a company in India, I doubt they have much, if any of a display. |
12-24-2009
( Reply#: 4291 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Duane,
Thanks for reminding me--just in time for Christmas! Here's a great photo of Inland's Christmas display from the Purdue photo archives. What a great thing it was to see Christmas in ALL of its glory (especially the religious aspect!) right out there for the public to enjoy.
Of course, there's still Teibel's Restaurant at Rt. 30 and 41, and their gorgeous Christmas display---complete with lovely MANGER scene at the south end of the parking lot.
Larry r
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/Inland.jpg[/IMG]
quote:
Originally posted by duane
Did anyone's family make the annual trip to the Indiana Harbor side of East Chicago to see Inland Steels big Christmas display? We used to go each year. They had a HUGE tree, lots of lights (I think they were colored full sized light bulbs, not C9's. They also had lots of illuminated Santa & Reindeer, a Manger Scene (of course, this was in the day before political correctness) and they played LOUD christmas music. It was something I'll always remember, along with going to downtown Chicago to view Marshall Field's window and eat lunch next to the big tree in the Walnut dining room at Marshall Fields.
Then I remember during a down economic time, Inland didn't put up the decorations, and I'm not sure they ever did again. Now that Inland Steel is owned by a company in India, I doubt they have much, if any of a display.
|
12-24-2009
( Reply#: 4292 ) |
tom w |
Paddy,
Disco and all; Bog Zwamy I hope you all have a peaceful, healthy Christmas and a better New Year. Even though we are scattered, we hope to remain close because of our roots. Today I will sit and wait for the wife to finish baking the kruschikis. yum Take care, Tom W |
12-24-2009
( Reply#: 4297 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Any chance someone could take a picture of Teibel's display for us out of the area? I wish I had thought to take a photo of Goldblatt's corner window display of toys way back when!
Merry Christmas to all!!!quote:
Originally posted by HassoBenSoba
Duane,
Thanks for reminding me--just in time for Christmas! Here's a great photo of Inland's Christmas display from the Purdue photo archives. What a great thing it was to see Christmas in ALL of its glory (especially the religious aspect!) right out there for the public to enjoy.
Of course, there's still Teibel's Restaurant at Rt. 30 and 41, and their gorgeous Christmas display---complete with lovely MANGER scene at the south end of the parking lot.
Larry r
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/Inland.jpg[/IMG]
quote:
Originally posted by duane
Did anyone's family make the annual trip to the Indiana Harbor side of East Chicago to see Inland Steels big Christmas display? We used to go each year. They had a HUGE tree, lots of lights (I think they were colored full sized light bulbs, not C9's. They also had lots of illuminated Santa & Reindeer, a Manger Scene (of course, this was in the day before political correctness) and they played LOUD christmas music. It was something I'll always remember, along with going to downtown Chicago to view Marshall Field's window and eat lunch next to the big tree in the Walnut dining room at Marshall Fields.
Then I remember during a down economic time, Inland didn't put up the decorations, and I'm not sure they ever did again. Now that Inland Steel is owned by a company in India, I doubt they have much, if any of a display.
|
12-24-2009
( Reply#: 4299 ) |
BobK |
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Tom. I miss chrusciki and kolaczki since we've been wintering in FL. Our son's inlaws and our kids get together and make about 400 kolaczki and my wife's sister and brother-in-law and us used to make chrusciki (crullers) every year. I may have to bring the equipment down with us next year and make a batch or two.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
12-24-2009
( Reply#: 4301 ) |
duane |
Larry - Thank you so much for that great picture of Inland Steel's display, complete with manger scene...just as I remembered it...although my memory was in color!
Merry Christmas, Wesolych Swiat. We just got finished with our Wegilia (Christmas Eve) supper, broke the Oplatek wafers, had fish and pierogi. You all have brought back many fond memories to me today. Dzienkuja!
Pan Duane |
12-27-2009
( Reply#: 4325 ) |
Pro2am |
Jim & All,
Here is a photo I took this evening (12/27/09) of the Nativity Scene at Tiebel's. I took a few more pix of some of the decorations; I'll get a couple of them up soon.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
==================================
[IMG]http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/pro2am/TiebelNativityScene_12-27-09.jpg[/IMG]
===============================
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
Any chance someone could take a picture of Teibel's display for us out of the area? I wish I had thought to take a photo of Goldblatt's corner window display of toys way back when!
Merry Christmas to all!!!quote:
Originally posted by HassoBenSoba
Duane,
Thanks for reminding me--just in time for Christmas! Here's a great photo of Inland's Christmas display from the Purdue photo archives. What a great thing it was to see Christmas in ALL of its glory (especially the religious aspect!) right out there for the public to enjoy.
Of course, there's still Teibel's Restaurant at Rt. 30 and 41, and their gorgeous Christmas display---complete with lovely MANGER scene at the south end of the parking lot.
Larry r
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/Inland.jpg[/IMG]
quote:
Originally posted by duane
Did anyone's family make the annual trip to the Indiana Harbor side of East Chicago to see Inland Steels big Christmas display? We used to go each year. They had a HUGE tree, lots of lights (I think they were colored full sized light bulbs, not C9's. They also had lots of illuminated Santa & Reindeer, a Manger Scene (of course, this was in the day before political correctness) and they played LOUD christmas music. It was something I'll always remember, along with going to downtown Chicago to view Marshall Field's window and eat lunch next to the big tree in the Walnut dining room at Marshall Fields.
Then I remember during a down economic time, Inland didn't put up the decorations, and I'm not sure they ever did again. Now that Inland Steel is owned by a company in India, I doubt they have much, if any of a display.
|
12-27-2009
( Reply#: 4326 ) |
Tom J |
Thanks, Mike!
Tom |
12-27-2009
( Reply#: 4330 ) |
Pro2am |
You're welcome, Tom - glad you like it! [:D]
Mike Rapchak Jr.
===================================
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Thanks, Mike!
Tom
|
12-27-2009
( Reply#: 4331 ) |
Pro2am |
More Tiebel's Christmas decorations.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
[IMG]http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/pro2am/TiebelsXmasDecorations1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/pro2am/TiebelsXmasDecorations2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/pro2am/TiebelsXmasDecorations3.jpg[/IMG]
==============================================
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Thanks, Mike!
Tom
|
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4335 ) |
Bill Bucko |
Hardened atheist though I am,* I still enjoy the memory of our family's small plaster nativity figures. I've learned they were made by the JH Miller Company of Illinois--the legendary firm that created those amazing waxy-plastic prehistoric figures during the 1950s, that are now rare collectors' items. I've seen a few offered on E-Bay:
[img]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w292/billbucko/Xmastreasures.jpg[/img]
The pictures from Sears' Christmas catalog are also from E-Bay.
*(And a happy one, too; the "embittered atheist" is as much a stereotype as the "black person who lives for fried chicken and watermelon"!)
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4347 ) |
Pro2am |
Bill,
Thanks for posting these photos. We still have a Nativity scene (stable, etc.) from the 1950s. Some of the figures shown here look similar. However, IIRC ours aren't plaster.
We were fortunate to acquire several Miller figures, including the large and small sets of dinosaurs and also the classic "Earth Invaders" series (this one beginning at Christmas of 1958).
Also great seeing the pictures from the Sears catalog. The cowboy pistols remind me of my great Mattel "Fanner 50s" I got for my birthday in, I believe, 1957. Also, the playset at the upper right looks like the (Marx?) "Cape Canaveral" set, one of which I got for Christmas of 1959. The photo here - from '59 Christmas. shows my brother Larry with the small Miller dinosaur set and me with my "Cape Canaveral" set. [:)]
[IMG]http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/pro2am/MillerDinos-CapeCaneveral-1959.jpg[/IMG]
Mike Rapchak Jr.
==================================
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
Hardened atheist though I am,* I still enjoy the memory of our family's small plaster nativity figures. I've learned they were made by the JH Miller Company of Illinois--the legendary firm that created those amazing waxy-plastic prehistoric figures during the 1950s, that are now rare collectors' items. I've seen a few offered on E-Bay:
[img]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w292/billbucko/Xmastreasures.jpg[/img]
The pictures from Sears' Christmas catalog are also from E-Bay.
*(And a happy one, too; the "embittered atheist" is as much a stereotype as the "black person who lives for fried chicken and watermelon"!)
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
|
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4353 ) |
Roger D |
I had the fort pictured in the bottom right corner of the sears catalog.
Just a few years ago I passed my 1954 Marx electric train on to my son.
Not to undermine Christmas memories but I received a GREAT Christmas gift on December 16th. My first great grand child was born, Nona Jane weighed in at 5# 2oz.,18in. long.
Roger D. |
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4354 ) |
Roger D |
My best Christmas memories were of my family's trips to Kentucky to my grandparents farm. There would be 18-22 adults and children gathered together for two to five days. What great times we had!!
Roger D. |
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4356 ) |
Tom J |
Is that fort made of Lincoln Logs?
I LOVED Lincoln Logs! As a matter of fact, I would enjoy playing with a big set of Lincoln Logs right now! [:)] Do they still make them?
Tom |
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4358 ) |
Roger D |
The fort was plastic with the house made of tin.
Roger D. |
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4360 ) |
Pro2am |
I'm pretty sure it was called "Fort Apache".
I also had one of the Marx electric train sets that I got around the same time (1954-ish). It had a steam locomotive and maybe three freight cars. These Marx sets were essentially poor-boy clones of Lionels (same size, too: .027 Gauge). One thing I'll never forget was the smell of the transformer when it got warm... [:D]
Mike Rapchak Jr.
===========================
quote:
Originally posted by Roger D
I had the fort pictured in the bottom right corner of the sears catalog.
Just a few years ago I passed my 1954 Marx electric train on to my son.
Not to undermine Christmas memories but I received a GREAT Christmas gift on December 16th. My first great grand child was born, Nona Jane weighed in at 5# 2oz.,18in. long.
Roger D.
|
12-28-2009
( Reply#: 4361 ) |
Tom J |
Well, now I have Lincoln Logs on my mind. I would love to have some to see what I could make with them. I would love to have a HUGE set of them. [:D]
Tom |
12-29-2009
( Reply#: 4365 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Check out this great artwork from an ad in Life Magazine, Christmas of 1960. That's pretty much the way things seemed to me back in those days when we'd go over to the Rexall on Indy Blvd just south of 169th St.
LR
[IMG]http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af12/HassoBenSoba/RexallAd1960.jpg[/IMG] |
12-29-2009
( Reply#: 4369 ) |
Tom J |
That reminds me of the Borden's Rexall near the corner of 165th and Calumet in my old neighborhood. |
12-29-2009
( Reply#: 4371 ) |
Joel357 |
I am a couple of years younger than alot of you guys. In 1963 I got the ultimate gift for a kid being 6 years old a "Jimmy Jet". I did a google search and there were a few video clips and right away it took me back to 1963 seeing the Jimmy Jet in action. I guess they weren't sold at Sears or any other department stores but were sold at grocery stores. I think my mom bought mine at Burgers on Ridge Road in Munster.
Joel |
12-30-2009
( Reply#: 4389 ) |
Jim Plummer |
You can still buy Lincoln logs. I think you should buy a set for New Years and share a picture of Your creation with us.I'm guessing toys r us carries them.
Speaking of which,anybody remember the hobby/bicycle shop that was on Kennedy ave near Cleveland st.?quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Well, now I have Lincoln Logs on my mind. I would love to have some to see what I could make with them. I would love to have a HUGE set of them. [:D]
Tom
|
12-30-2009
( Reply#: 4390 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Mike thanks for those great pictures of Tiebels.I loved the Sears Catalogue pix. I had the Rogers shirt in blue and the Marx Fort Apachie and Alamo sets. My favorite was probably The Knights and Castle set from a year or so before these pictures. We had a cardboard Nativity set that I bought at school for $2. I saw it in a catalog last month for $29. I still have the oringinal set-it's pretty worn from usage. Thanks guys for the memmories!!!!quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
Hardened atheist though I am,* I still enjoy the memory of our family's small plaster nativity figures. I've learned they were made by the JH Miller Company of Illinois--the legendary firm that created those amazing waxy-plastic prehistoric figures during the 1950s, that are now rare collectors' items. I've seen a few offered on E-Bay:
[img]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w292/billbucko/Xmastreasures.jpg[/img]
The pictures from Sears' Christmas catalog are also from E-Bay.
*(And a happy one, too; the "embittered atheist" is as much a stereotype as the "black person who lives for fried chicken and watermelon"!)
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
|
12-30-2009
( Reply#: 4394 ) |
nitti |
quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Bill,
Thanks for posting these photos. We still have a Nativity scene (stable, etc.) from the 1950s. Some of the figures shown here look similar. However, IIRC ours aren't plaster.
We were fortunate to acquire several Miller figures, including the large and small sets of dinosaurs and also the classic "Earth Invaders" series (this one beginning at Christmas of 1958).
Also great seeing the pictures from the Sears catalog. The cowboy pistols remind me of my great Mattel "Fanner 50s" I got for my birthday in, I believe, 1957. Also, the playset at the upper right looks like the (Marx?) "Cape Canaveral" set, one of which I got for Christmas of 1959. The photo here - from '59 Christmas. shows my brother Larry with the small Miller dinosaur set and me with my "Cape Canaveral" set. [:)]
[IMG]http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/pro2am/MillerDinos-CapeCaneveral-1959.jpg[/IMG]
Mike Rapchak Jr.
==================================
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
Hardened atheist though I am,* I still enjoy the memory of our family's small plaster nativity figures. I've learned they were made by the JH Miller Company of Illinois--the legendary firm that created those amazing waxy-plastic prehistoric figures during the 1950s, that are now rare collectors' items. I've seen a few offered on E-Bay:
[img]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w292/billbucko/Xmastreasures.jpg[/img]
The pictures from Sears' Christmas catalog are also from E-Bay.
*(And a happy one, too; the "embittered atheist" is as much a stereotype as the "black person who lives for fried chicken and watermelon"!)
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
Deja vous all over again - I had the Nike launcher on the couch too. I used to shoot it at army men - though we usually used rubber bands when we set up our men and had "wars".
Our holidays were split between grandparents, but baccala was the theme. On christmas eve, it was the Mosca side for pasta and ceci's (chick peas). On christmas, the Grdinich side for baccala and potatoes.
We'd open our gifts in the morning, then have to wait until we got home to play with them. I remember hitting the jackpot with a Lionel Diesel set and a Paladin Gunset (complete with Have Gun Will Travel business cards) on the same christmas.
We pulled the train out of the attic this year and it still runs - though it can only pull 3 cars. They really built them well - other than a little oil, it's never been maintained.
Speaking of old toys, who else collected Warriors of the World by Marx. In our circle,HassoBen Soba had the only complete set.
And before he can pipe in.......
Warriors,warriors,warriors of the world from Marx
Union troops,Confederate troops
20th century combat troops
Cadets all ready for dress parade
Minutemen in full brigade
Cowboys and Indians
Pirates Bold
Vikings and Romans from days of old
Each beautifully painted by hand
The best looking warriors in the land...........
Larry, do you remember reciting this with me at OLPH?
|
12-30-2009
( Reply#: 4403 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Frank (nitti)--
Yes, I vaguely remember reciting this to our 6th-grade class at OLPH--to my great embarassment; seems like we'd do anything for a laugh back then. Actually, the Marx "Warriors of the World" set was one of the coolest toys from my youth. The commercials were first run on Chicago TV in early 1962("You're a Pirate landing on the Spanish Main"...."You're a legionnaire defending the gates of Rome...."). I collected all 72 of them---if you count the one Roman flag-bearer dude on permanent loan from my brother Mike. Still have all of them PLUS their cards; since they were made of hard plastic, their survival rate was not high. Sometime later in the '60's, Marx released ANOTHER, completely different set of Warriors as a follow-up, which I never knew about until recently seeing them on the Internet.
Larry r |
01-01-2010
( Reply#: 4437 ) |
Bill Bucko |
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
... Speaking of which,anybody remember the hobby/bicycle shop that was on Kennedy ave near Cleveland st.?[quote]
Of course. Pint Size was Mecca to every neighborhood kid. Bikes on the left, plastic models on the right. At 6415 Kennedy, TIlden 4-6917. Does anyone have a photo of the building?? It was built around 1956 or 57, with Darnell's to the left and empty lot to the right (one block south of Pop's Grocery and Flick's Tap). Oh, those models! 3-stage rockets, flying saucer, moon ship ... if you had had $5 each for the Revell XSL-01 Manned Space Ship, bought a few, and kept them mint in their boxes, you'd be rich today! If you asked, you got a free tube of glue with a model purchase. But you had to ask.
Ordinary models were $1. I bought the Lindberg 3-stage rocket, the Monogram combo Vanguard and Jupiter C, and the Palmer cutaway Vanguard (the latter two boxes from 1958, obviously). And dinosaur skeletons: the ITC Tyrannosaurus rex, at $ 1.98, was king. The Palmer brontosaurus was $1. All of these show up on E-Bay, occasionally; and I now own a few of them. Pint Size never sold the Miller figures. For those, you had to go downtown, to Woolworth's.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
01-01-2010
( Reply#: 4440 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Pint Size- how could I have forgotten! I used to spend hours deciding which model to buy with my $5. The husband and wife would only come out from the back when someone was in the store. I must have driven them crazy wanting to get back to what ever they were doing in back. They were swell people. Anybody remember their names?quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
... Speaking of which,anybody remember the hobby/bicycle shop that was on Kennedy ave near Cleveland st.?[quote]
Of course. Pint Size was Mecca to every neighborhood kid. Bikes on the left, plastic models on the right. At 6415 Kennedy, TIlden 4-6917. Does anyone have a photo of the building?? It was built around 1956 or 57, with Darnell's to the left and empty lot to the right (one block south of Pop's Grocery and Flick's Tap). Oh, those models! 3-stage rockets, flying saucer, moon ship ... if you had had $5 each for the Revell XSL-01 Manned Space Ship, bought a few, and kept them mint in their boxes, you'd be rich today! If you asked, you got a free tube of glue with a model purchase. But you had to ask.
Ordinary models were $1. I bought the Lindberg 3-stage rocket, the Monogram combo Vanguard and Jupiter C, and the Palmer cutaway Vanguard (the latter two boxes from 1958, obviously). And dinosaur skeletons: the ITC Tyrannosaurus rex, at $ 1.98, was king. The Palmer brontosaurus was $1. All of these show up on E-Bay, occasionally; and I now own a few of them. Pint Size never sold the Miller figures. For those, you had to go downtown, to Woolworth's.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
|
01-01-2010
( Reply#: 4441 ) |
BobK |
6415 Kennedy
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~gwrraina/images/6415.jpg[/img]
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
01-01-2010
( Reply#: 4444 ) |
Pro2am |
Yes. Their names were Bill and Trudy Gasper. They closed Pint Size around the late 1970s, got out of the toy/model business, but stayed with the Schwinn bike business - which they relocated to a bike store on Ridge Road just west of Cline Ave. This store they named Ridge Cyclery. AFAIK it's still there - though the Gaspers have been gone for several years.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
===============================
[quote]Originally posted by Jim Plummer
Pint Size- how could I have forgotten! I used to spend hours deciding which model to buy with my $5. The husband and wife would only come out from the back when someone was in the store. I must have driven them crazy wanting to get back to what ever they were doing in back. They were swell people. Anybody remember their names?[quote]Originally posted by Bill Bucko
[quote]Originally posted by Jim Plummer
... Speaking of which,anybody remember the hobby/bicycle shop that was on Kennedy ave near Cleveland st.?[quote]
|
01-01-2010
( Reply#: 4445 ) |
Pro2am |
BTW, there have been comments posted concerning the restuarant that was located across U.S. 30 from Tiebel's - Sauzer's Waffle Shop. I think that someone here also asked if anyone had a picture of it.
I just happened to acquire one this afternoon. It was apparently taken in the 1950s; nevertheless it's still Sauzer's as I remember it back in the early 1970s. [:)]
Mike Rapchak Jr.
[IMG]http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/pro2am/Sauzers.jpg[/IMG]
============================================
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Thanks, Mike!
Tom
|
01-03-2010
( Reply#: 4450 ) |
Jim Plummer |
Mike, thanks for filling in the holes in my memmory.
Is that a driving range behind Sauzers?quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Yes. Their names were Bill and Trudy Gasper. They closed Pint Size around the late 1970s, got out of the toy/model business, but stayed with the Schwinn bike business - which they relocated to a bike store on Ridge Road just west of Cline Ave. This store they named Ridge Cyclery. AFAIK it's still there - though the Gaspers have been gone for several years.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
===============================
[quote]Originally posted by Jim Plummer
Pint Size- how could I have forgotten! I used to spend hours deciding which model to buy with my $5. The husband and wife would only come out from the back when someone was in the store. I must have driven them crazy wanting to get back to what ever they were doing in back. They were swell people. Anybody remember their names?[quote]Originally posted by Bill Bucko
[quote]Originally posted by Jim Plummer
... Speaking of which,anybody remember the hobby/bicycle shop that was on Kennedy ave near Cleveland st.?[quote]
|
01-03-2010
( Reply#: 4451 ) |
Roger D |
Thanks for the picture Mike. It is just like I remermber it from the early 60s. I believe that was a croquet field behind there??
Roger D. OPM '63 |
01-03-2010
( Reply#: 4452 ) |
tom w |
Yeah Man; Thanks for the picture of those cars. Talk about memories. I actually had a few of them! Tiebels son Dick built a box store across the street (Indianapolis not route 30.) I worked there for a short time. Matter of fact, I was driving a Dodge Coronet at the time just like the one in the picture. I think there was a grocery store as well. I wonder if any of that is still there. |
01-03-2010
( Reply#: 4453 ) |
Bill Bucko |
quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Yes. Their names were Bill and Trudy Gasper. They closed Pint Size around the late 1970s, got out of the toy/model business, but stayed with the Schwinn bike business - which they relocated to a bike store on Ridge Road just west of Cline Ave. This store they named Ridge Cyclery. AFAIK it's still there - though the Gaspers have been gone for several years.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
Mike, thanks for the info! And Bob, thanks for the photo!
The white building in the photo, on the SE corner of Cleveland Street, was Darnell's Food Shop (as of 1956), later Porter's Tap. Shep's house is one long block to the east. There's a small vacant lot, then the well-remembered Pint Size building. Everything to the right of that is an eyesore, no improvement on the nice empty lot that used to be there.
On the next block (off to the right of picture) was, of course, the Hessville Laundry/Soda Pump building, empty lot and parking lot, Dick's Grocery (Pop's) and Flick's Tap.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
12-23-2010
( Reply#: 6339 ) |
Jim Plummer |
I just want to say that I hope everyone has a Happy Christmas and has time to look at some of the great photos printed above. |
12-23-2010
( Reply#: 6341 ) |
Tom J |
Tonight is Darlene Love night on Letterman! She will be singing "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home," like she does every year on Letterman a day or two before Christmas.
Tom |
12-23-2010
( Reply#: 6346 ) |
Roger D |
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all. Enjoy all your friends and family while you can.
Roger
P.S. Don't eat the yellow snow!! |
12-23-2010
( Reply#: 6347 ) |
seejay2 |
...you might be ingesting somebody's name... |
12-23-2010
( Reply#: 6348 ) |
duane |
So, for those still living in Chicagoland. Can we get an update on State Street in downtown Chicago? Does the Civic center still put up a big tree. How about general decorations around the loop. Does the Art Museum still hang wreaths on the Lions? Some pics would be great if anybody has some or can take some.
Now that the Carson Piere Scott store is gone, and Marshall Fields is now Macy's - are there any window decorations like there used to be? This was a favorite passtime of our family. We would generally first go on Thanksgiving day (when the stores were closed) and then we pretty much had the decorated windows all to ourselves.
Later before Christmas, my mom would take us on the South Shore and we would go to the Walnut room at Marshall Fields to get a lunch/dinner and get to sit next to their giant Christmas tree.
Many years later, I was in Chicago for my job and it was when the Harry Potter books were coming out (prior to the movies). Marshall Fields had all their windows decorated in a Christmas Harry Potter theme, and inside the store they had HUGE statues of Hagrid, Harry and others from the movie. I sure wish my daughters were there to be able to see that.
So does Macy's still decorate their windows with Christmas themes, or are they just into selling mechandise? I've never forgiven them for not keeping at least the State Street Store as a Marshall Fields. They've done the same here in Minnesota. The flagship Dayton's store is no more...it is now a Macy's. |
12-23-2010
( Reply#: 6350 ) |
TestPattern |
quote:
Originally posted by duane
So, for those still living in Chicagoland. Can we get an update on State Street in downtown Chicago? Does the Civic center still put up a big tree.
THE MAJOR CHRISTMAS TREE IS NOW AT DALEY PLAZA.
CHICAGO USED TO MAKE UP A CHRISTMAS TREE USING ABOUT 100 SMALLER TREES - WITH LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS AT A COST OF ABOUT $100K.
NOW THE CASH-STRAPPED CITY, TRYING TO SELL ALMOST EVER ASSET THEY OWN (AIRPORTS, TOLLROADS, PARKING METERS, AND NOW THE RIGHTS TO TASTE-OF CHICAGO RECENTLY PUT UP FOR SALE,) NOW HOLDS A CONTEST TO GET SOMEONE TO DONATE A TREE. THIS YEAR IT CAME FROM A FAMILY IN MCHENRY, ILL.
THE 2010 TREE IS ONLY ABOUT 70 FOOT TALL.
THEY ALSO HAVE A CHRISTMAS MARKET AT DALEY PLAZA - A TAKE OFF OF THE NUREMBERG CHRISTKINDLMARKET.
How about general decorations around the loop.
THERE STILL ARE MANY DECORATIONS AROUND TOWN, SOME ON STATE STREET, BUT MORE ON MICHIGAN AVENUE WHERE MORE OF THE STORES ARE AND WHERE THEY HOLD THE CHRISTMAS PARADE IN NOVEMBER.
Does the Art Museum still hang wreaths on the Lions?
THE LIONS ARE STILL DECORATED WITH WREATHS.
SEE: http://www.artic.edu/aic/visitor_info/about_2010wreath.html
Now that the Carson Piere Scott store is gone, and Marshall Fields is now Macy's - are there any window decorations like there used to be?
THE OLD MARSHALL FIELDS/NOW MACY'S STILL DOES DECORATE THEIR WINDOWS WITH CHRISTMAS THEMED DISPLAYS, SIMILAR TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS - BUT NOT QUITE THE SAME.
THE OLD CARSONS IS GOING TO BE A TARGET STORE, AT LEAST AT STREET LEVEL. THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING IS PROTECTED AS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK, SO NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE OUTSIDE.
|
12-23-2010
( Reply#: 6351 ) |
duane |
Thank you so much.
Nice to know that some of the old magic still happens! |
12-24-2010
( Reply#: 6353 ) |
Jim Plummer |
How about an update on Christmas lighting around der region? I can't imagine there is much of anything except the malls. |
12-24-2010
( Reply#: 6354 ) |
S C Jones |
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Holiday--whichever is your celebration at this time of year.
Nashville and the Kentucky Lake area are supposed to get some snow for Christmas day and that is a rarity! There will not be enough for sledding in my area, but
it will be nice to see the flurries. |
12-24-2010
( Reply#: 6355 ) |
seejay2 |
...flurries, yeah---lake effect, no! |
12-24-2010
( Reply#: 6356 ) |
cartoonguy |
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! |
12-24-2010
( Reply#: 6358 ) |
mcgyver |
Just wanted to wish all a Merry Christmas... and also add that the Dinner scene in the Chinese Restraunt.... well, that was MY family's Christmas one year... My Dad was a shift worker at Inland Steel... and because he had to work a Day Shift one Christmas, He and Mom decided to take us all out for dinner... not realizing that NONE of the restraunts would be open... except for a Chinese Restraunt East of Downtown Hammond! And we WERE the only patrons there! (Although we DIDN'T have Duck!)
Mcgyver |
12-26-2010
( Reply#: 6377 ) |
TestPattern |
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
How about an update on Christmas lighting around der region? I can't imagine there is much of anything except the malls.
I happened to drive down Hohman Avenue on Christmas Day on the way to visit relatives. The extent of Christmas decorations are:
From Sibley Avenue south, there are foil type decorations (candle, toy soldier, wreath, etc.) on every other light pole for about four blocks (to about St. Joe's and the new Court House,) then the decorations become green plastic garland on the light poles for several more blocks. And that's it.
The decorations do little to add holiday cheer to the mostly underutilized, vacant or boarded up buildings along Hohman.
It's better to recall memories of Christmas decorations along the once great Hohman Avenue from an era now long past. |
