Under the Christmas Tree - The Gift Pile Grows

Under the Christmas Tree - What's Cookin'?

If it was made for girls during the mid century, odds were that it was coated in pink. And that it had something to do with making a home. And that it most definitely had to be the most Modern convient appliances of Today!

"Gee Beav... You'd better get your head unstuck in that oven before Mom and Dad get home!"

Christmas' Long Long Ago

Brother and Sis under a very modest tree back when the family used to rent a small place near downtown, before moving to the suburbs.

And here's a rare Christmastime shot with me, about 15 years later after the fam had moved to the burbs.

Under the Christmas Tree - The Real Action Figures

"Keep trying, Men! We absolutely must get through... I haven't missed an episode of 'Little Orphan Annie' in years!!

Yes, the original Adventure Team is back in action once again. Many a Good boy got one of these under the tree, but I acquired mine by sheer luck. I wasn't even Eight yet when the teenager next door gave me a box of his old 'junk' which he'd outgrown. Among the discarded items were two G.I. Joe figures! One was dressed in Army fatigues and the other in Navy dress. These were the original "action figure," both of the 1964 issue... before Joe grew that fuzzy flocked facial hair he was to became so well known for.

At it's beginning, the 12" G.I. Joe line represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Soldier (Army), Action Sailor (Navy), Action Pilot (Air Force) and Action Marine (Marines). And every figure sported a cool scar on the face to prove he was ready for action.

Soon after my lucky score, Mom was buying me Action Man outfits and equipment when she took me along on her weekly shopping sprees to the local K-Mart (by the mid 70's, after the Viet Nam War, manufacturers worried it was no longer marketable to associate toys with the military, so toy-maker Hasbro turned G.I. Joe into an Adventure Team adventurer). Since my two G.I. figures were identical, I figured they were twins, one I called Joe and the other John. Every day they went on a new adventure. Oh, the fun I had!

My current collection of Joes (at top). A few years ago Hasbro produced limited anniversary editions of the original action figures, complete with authentic packaging (immediately above)... *sigh* I couldn't resist.

The original 1964 issue!

Visiting Santa Claus

I've been digging through some of the old photos for holiday shots. Here's a couple from when Grandma took my brother and sis to see Mr. C. at the department store.

I guess Santa had lost some weight back then...

Under the Christmas Tree - Batteries Not Included

The Mid-Century was the real beginning of the battery-operated age for children's toys: Toy robots and vehicles, radios, walkie-talkies, and all types of imaginative electronically advanced gadgetry to equip the average All-American kid. Remco would have to be, without a doubt, one of my favorite manufacturers, for all the attention the toy company paid to that all-important imaginative ingredient. Plus their products from this time-period just scream the age they were made in!

Remco's Electronic Radio Station was manufactured in a number of versions and colors over the years between the 50's through the 60's, including a colorful and spacey Dan Dare version aimed at the fans of the British comic strip. The station comes with an operational searchlight that you can manually rotate (just who or what you were expected to aimg it at is unclear) , a telegraph buzzer with a handy built-in note pad for taking down those secret coded messages, and a set of the futuristic Remco hand-held walkie-talkies that could be plugged into the station's advanced communication center. Add to this the multiple dials and spiffy twin signal towers, and you have an almost guaranteed ticket for hours of kid-entertainment!

And in my case it would have meant Dad would have been bumping around in the dark at night since I would have quietly borrowed the batteries out of his flashlight so I could operate my new toy... hmmm, maybe that's what the searchlight was used for?

Under the Christmas Tree - Atomic Science for Fun

In Atomic Age America, EVERYTHING was about Science. So naturally parents and toy companies lost no time in addressing the needs of that mid-century mindset.



This sweet chemistry set (#12066) in an all metal cabinet was made by the long-time premier name of science designed for the budding scientist, the A. C. Gilbert Company. Besides the long line of chemistry sets, the company also produced Erector sets, microscopes, and American Flyer trains.

The kit shown above are the remains of a set given to Brother Dear back when he was keen on science as many other kids back in the 50's and 60's. I got my little mitts on it when I found it in the family attic, forgotten for who knows how many years.

There used to be a experiment manual that fit in the left compartment, a complete set of test tubes, glass rods, chemicals and a little tube you were supposed to look through to discover the thrills and mysteries of the atom. I was old enough to be a bit wary of handling that tube since I didn't want to get any radiation on me. Sure, it said that the expirements were safe, but I knew better than to let an 8-year old mess around with atomic energy, even if that 8-year old was me... Such a smart kid, I was!

For a brief history of these sets, go to: The Chemestry Set Generation

Under the Christmas Tree - Toy Robots

What kid could have resisted Robert the Robot and Electric Robot (aka E. Robot and Son) who has a nifty little drawer in his chest to store his tools. These were the first two examples of all-plastic molded body parts to be used in toy robots, which were always constructed of lithographed tin plate before.

In the 1950's Electric Robot and Son were manufactured in the U.S.A. by Louis Marx in response to the immensely popular Robert the Robot by rival manufacturer Ideal Toys. Electric was just different enough from Robert to avoid copyright infringement, yet the strong similarities undoubtedly appealed to young buyers with smaller budgets.

This toy robot was molded with a black plastic body (there was also a rare silver-brown version) with movable red head and arms was electrically powered by two batteries, allowing Electric to illuminate his bulb eyes, run along on manually steerable rubber wheels (forward and reverse), and make loud buzzings through a Morse code button on his back (a nifty code guide was inscribed on the back of his head). Also on his head is an extendible antenna with an adjustment knob, knobs for right and left arm movement and from his chest opens a small drawer with tools (aka the tool chest for a hammer, wrench & screwdriver).

Completing Electric's gadgetry is a smaller "baby" version of himself, all red, and clad in a silvery diaper who the proud Father could swing from one of his silver clawed graspers.

Christmas All Over the Place

It's that time once again, children - time for the Space Commander to march out with some snappy tunes to help put you (hopefully) in that once-a-year Christmassy mood leaving you all warm, fuzzy and all that good stuff.

Now go get yourself a hot cup of cocoa, with a side order of margaritas, then sit back, relax and let the ol' Commander shoo those nasty old holiday blues away.

"Take it away, Myrone... And a-one-ah, and a-two-ah..."

The Playlist:

1. Outer Space Santa - Lennon Sisters
2. Hot Christmas - Squirrel Nut Zippers
3. I'm Coming Home for Christmas - Squirrel Nut Zippers
4. Here Comes Santa Claus - Gene Autry
5. Oh Christmas Tree - Vince Guaraldi Trio & the Peanuts Gang
6. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
   
7. The Chipmunk Song - Alvin & the Chipmunks
8. 'Zat You Santa Claus? - Louis Armstrong
9. Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
10. Sleigh Ride - Mitch Miller
11. Christmas Time is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio
12. Jingle Bells - Bing Crosby
13. One Foot in Front of the Other - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
14. Dancing Snowmen - the Blenders
15. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Burl Ives
16. Santa's Beard - Beach Boys
17. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - the Ronnets
18. It Must've Been Ol Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.
19. Hooray for Santa Claus - Milton DeLugg & the Little Eskimos
20. Snow Miser - Year Without a Santa Claus
21. Santa's Too Fat for the Hula Hoop - the Pixies w/ Thurl Ravenscroft
22. Shake Hands With Santa Claus - Louis Prima
23. Oh Christmas Tree - Vince Guaraldi Trio
24. Skating - Vince Guaraldi Trio
25. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gayla Peevey
26. Christmas Time is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio & the Peanuts Gang
27. Hark the Herald Angel Sing - Vince Guaraldi Trio & the Peanuts Gang
28. I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus - Brenda Lee
29. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth - Spike Jones & His City Slickers
30. I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas - Billy Gilman
31. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
32. Rock 'n' Roll Santa - Little Joey Farr
33. Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry
34. Christmas is Coming - Vince Guaraldi Trio
35. Sleigh Ride - Squirrel Nut Zippers
36. Carolina Christmas - Squirrel Nut Zippers
37. Hanging Up My Stocking - Squirrel Nut Zippers

It's a Blizzard Out There, but Inside it's Cool

Yep, it definitely is getting wintry outdoors now. Today the temp dipped from a grand high of 11 degrees (and plummeting), the blizzard winds are making the house creak, and the snow is whipping across the landscape in wispy white torrents trying to snake it's way into every crack and corner. But it's not getting into my home sweet home... Especially not after an emergency call to the furnace man to kick my heater a few times and getting it to work again!


As suddenly as if waking from a dream I realized that Mr. Winter has indeed arrived and Christmas is tagging inevitably along, not too far behind. Maybe I should start throwing a few decorations on the house?

It had all started a week ago with an unplanned visit to a Christmas tree stand and being uncontrollably drawn by a tree which beckoned me to please take it home. From that point on, there was no turning back.


Yes indeedy. Christmas has definitely arrived at the atomic man cave :)

I've clung to my Grandma's genuine aluminum tinsel Christmas year after year (and have incurred some unfair ridicule from friends over it!) Oh the memories of setting it up with her in the corner of the living room and hanging those really old decorations. But this holiday for some inexplicable reason I had a craving to go traditional and trim the real deal. There's nothing in the world like the smell of a real Scotch pine living inside your home, after all...

And Grandma's decorations look just as much at home on a traditional tree, don't ya think?


Oh, and here's the Sputnik lamp, decked out in an appropriately colorful attire of Christmas lights.



I've been waiting almost the whole year to fire up the electric fireplace...


Keep warm and toasty out there. Wear those wool socks and the long underwear, 'cuz Summer's a whole 4 months off yet. Until then, Ho ho ho ...and pass on down another margarita!