Back in the 1950’s when I was growing up; there weren’t a whole lot of things on TV in those days. About all that adults watched was Milton Beryl, which I believe was on Tuesday nights. As a result, adults were much more social then. They seemed to know “everyone” including their neighbors. Now days no one seems to even know their neighbors. I’m one of the few exceptions to this. I know both of my neighbors on each side of me. One is my brother to the east and the other is my nephew to the west. (At least they lived there 10 years ago when I last visited them J). Back in those simpler times people socialized a lot and went to one another’s homes and played games. 

 

One of the games they played, that was very popular was charades. This provided a lot of fun for get togethers. You didn’t need some expensive game like “Trivial Pursuit”. All you had to do for charades was write something on a slip of paper, which provided the person, place, or thing and using various gestures, try to act it out for the others to guess. I suppose they had to have some one who wasn’t playing write the information ahead of time. I wouldn’t be surprised if our mother wrote it out ahead of time including playing along with everyone else. Hmmm, maybe that’s why she was so good at charades! J  People don’t play charades anymore these days. The only exception to this is a gesture with the middle finger by others, especially when they’re driving!

 

They also played cards including Bridge, which was usually played by husbands and wives as partners. Now THERE’S one way to break up a marriage! The men played Poker and Pinochle “with the boys”. Our father used to play these upstairs in the Knights of Pythies Hall. This was located above “Brownie” Daniel’s General Store. The Berlin Heights Post Office is presently located there now. I did some research on the Internet and found that the “K of P”, as our father called it, still exists. On certain nights our father said he was going to the “K of P” to meet with the other men and discuss “social matters”, which REALLY meant they were planning on a Poker or Pinochle game that night. The card games usually lasted until very late at night. Since, as my brother says, I never slept, I almost always heard my father quietly open the door and try very quietly and slowly to go up the stairs in the “wee hours” of the morning, and try to sneak into their bedroom. Our mother would always wake up and yell at him for not spending enough time with her and us kids. When our father wasn’t discussing “social matters”, he was bowling on the “K of P” bowling league.

 

Canasta was also very popular in the 1950’s. In fact, several years ago, I read a card book that said that Canasta was one of the fastest growing and the most popular card games in the early 50’s. I think Bridge ran a close 2^nd with women, Poker, and Pinochle with men. Us kids would get together and play Poker for matchsticks unless we successfully sneaked into our parent’s bedroom and “borrowed” our father’s poker chips. They were in a dark brown round Bakelite revolving holder.

 

Another game that was played during this time was Scrabbleâ. (Isn’t that neat that I can insert a copyright symbol. I’m just showing off on MS Word.) In addition to the aforementioned activities, everyone had a lot of parties where they got together to engage in revelry and A LOT of drinking. 

 

Another festive occasion was “Cookouts” using our charcoal grill. On Sunday afternoons at our place, Roger Waite (a family friend) would BBQ chicken on the grill. His BBQ sauce was the BEST I’ve ever had! I can still taste the chicken with that thick red sauce all over it! I’d love to get the recipe from him, but unfortunately he’s deceased. I could ask his son, who lives in Norwalk, but it’s probably a “secret family recipe”. I could torture him for the information, but I doubt he’d “crack” (only I’m “cracked”).

 

One thing our parents were in together was The Young People’s Literary Society. When we had a babysitter, I would ask them where they were going and they would say, “To literary”). I didn’t know then what “Literary” was. I found out much later that “Literary” was called “The Young People’s Literary Society” and consisted of a local group that put on plays in the local school gym. I found an old literary program from one of their plays.

 

Our mother also went to “ceramics” at “Shy” Kelble’s because she had a kiln.

 

I could ramble on and on with this story. (So what else is new?) Even though some of you have requested longer stories, it would make this story too long (Wouldn’t it?) I’m just trying to protect you if you are at work at the office or assembly line and are using the company computer to surf my site. The longer a story is, the more likely you are to get caught by your boss while wasting company time by being on this unauthorized site during work hours. If your boss happens to come into your office while you are reading this long story, QUICKLY CLICK HERE! I have noticed lately that my stories are longer than they used to be. I could talk about our grandmother “Ollie” going to “Garden Club”, which still exists. Oh well, maybe I’ll write another long story about this and other things they did. OH OH, I think I hear your boss coming now! Quickly go up a few lines and click on the “click here”!!!!! If you don’t have time to do that, then quickly scroll down a few lines.

 

Mr. Percy Z. Picklebomb, President, CEO, Head Janitor

The Acme Garbage Pickup Co., LTD, LSD, LBJ, LOL

184925 1/4 Landfill Lane

Love Canal, New York 17392

 

Dear Mr. Picklebomb,

 

Yes, Mr. Picklebomb, I really do think my boss is the greatest person who has ever walked the face of the earth. Now, as to your last letter stating your request, I’ve worked day and night and even though my salary is more than fair, I would never think to ask for any overtime pay. I’m totally dedicated to this company and always have been totally loyal to it and especially to my wonderful boss and his lovely wife and his well-behaved children. I love my job here at the office and count it a privilege during my lunch hour to make coffee for everyone else and to clean the restrooms. I feel these tasks have definitely contributed to my very successful career here.

 

As you may know, since I have started here at this company, our profits have risen 371.83%. I have even greater plans to increase our profits even higher.

 

(The above should fill your screen, just don’t scroll too far down. If your boss sees this sentence, you’re on your own!!!)

 

Related stories links:

“The Ultimate Hand”

If Ands and “Butts”.

 

“Click” here to see the Literary Program from one of their plays. It’s formatted with Adobe so if you can’t see it, you’ll have to go to the Adobe site and download the “Acrobat Reader” (it’s free).