July 2009

Cranston, Rhode Island - Where you can find all your favorite childhood candy!

Submitted by Mary on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 10:04pm (324 reads)

Thanks to RIMagbiz for posting a video on youtube that brings out the child in all of us. It's time for a candy break in our retro tour of America on our stop in Rhode Island. Jolly John's looks like it would have any candy of the past that you've been missing. I recognize those pixie stix in the big jar next to him. At least, that's what I think those are called.... those paper straws filled with colorful sugar powder of some sort. read more...

Poem for Dog Lovers by Jimmy Stewart of "It's a Wonderful Life"

Submitted by Mary on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:43pm (361 reads)

My brother sent me this sweet video, and I was so touched by Jimmy Stewart's poem that I wanted to pass it along here. The poem is titled "Beau" and it is about his beloved dog, who died. I love that a man would not only write a poem about his dog who he loved dearly, but that he would also read it beside another man, Johnny Carson, and that he would share it with the audience in front of him and the millions of viewers at home. That says a lot to me about the kind of man Jimmy Stewart was. He must have been genuine, with a big heart. read more...

Hurry! It's the ice cream man!!

Submitted by Mary on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 3:11pm (300 reads)

In celebration of National Ice Cream Month, here's a video of Mr. Softee delivering ice cream while the ice cream truck music plays. I don't recall a Mr. Softee in any of the cities where I have lived, but I have heard of Mr. Softee. I was amazed to see that Mr. Softee prepares milkshakes on the spot right from the truck. The kind of ice cream trucks I grew up with sold colorful poscicles, patriotic bomb pops, push-up pops, screwballs with the gumball at the bottom, those ice cream cones with the nuts on them, the strawberry ones with the nuts, etc. read more...

Rare 1972 performance of Michael Jackson singing "Ben" with Jackson 5.

Submitted by Mary on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 8:55am (784 reads)

I have many Michael Jackson favorites, but "Ben" is my favorite song from his childhood years. This is a rare find, a performance from The Jackson 5 in Paris in the early 70's. The film quality is poor, so if the quality distracts you, just look away and listen. It gave me goosebumps. He sings it with such feeling, so natural, with such a great sense of timing and such a beautiful flow. And that pure, perfect vibratto. My GOSH! He was probably only 13 years old here. read more...

A unique and sweet tribute to Michael Jackson from prisoners in The Philippines

Submitted by Mary on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 7:41pm (316 reads)

1,500 inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center completed this just ten hours after Michael Jackson passed away, as a tribute to him. read more...

Intermission: Coffee Time at the Drive-In Movie Theatre

Submitted by Mary on Fri, 07/10/2009 - 9:48pm (270 reads)

Going to a cafe? Why not go to the drive-in instead? They have coffee. You can sip it and sip it and sip it all you want!

Could someone please carry my cell phone for me? It's getting awfully heavy from carrying it all day.

Submitted by Mary on Sat, 07/11/2009 - 9:59pm (298 reads)

Can you imagine lugging this thing around with you? This is what cell phones were like 20 years ago, kids. And we didn't call them cell phones. We often called them car phones. Car phones! That's right, kids. Usually they were only used in the car, but the one in this video was extra fancy shmancy with superpowers which allowed you to carry it anywhere. Most cell phones were stored with large cases between the two front car seats (often found in a new Lexus; the Lexus made it's debut in 1989). read more...

South Carolina - South of the Border - Kitsch Paradise

Submitted by Mary on Sun, 07/12/2009 - 9:56pm (482 reads)

If you've ever driven on 95 from New York to Florida, you've seen South of the Border. If not, this YouTube video by pkendall09 will give you a good idea of what it looks like and what it's all about.

Those who dream of going on a tropical vacation visualize palm trees and sipping fruity drinks by the ocean.

Those who dream of going to a retro kitsch paradise visualize something that looks like South of the Border. read more...

You think South Dakota is cold? Well, warm up at the Carousel Roller Rink in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Submitted by Mary on Mon, 07/13/2009 - 9:58pm (275 reads)

I have roller skating rink envy. Although I've never been to this rink (or even to South Dakota), this place brings back memories of my childhood. read more...

Tennessee - A trip to Memphis wouldn't be complete without a visit to Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley

Submitted by Mary on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 9:58pm (235 reads)

This video is a great slide show of Elvis' home in Memphis. I never got to tour the inside, but I enjoy seeing photos of it. He certainly had his own style and didn't want his home to be just like any other home inside.

I was too young when Elvis died, so I remember him more after his death than before. My family all loved Elvis, including my grandparents, so they they were all deeply saddened to hear of the news of his death. Shortly after Elvis died, my dad happened to get a job in Memphis, so we went to see Graceland after we moved there. read more...