If it was Saturday morning and you were a kid in the 1950’s, there was only one place to be and one thing to do. Sprawl in the floor in front of a big, console TV and watch cartoons. And did we ever.
Our first stop was the kitchen where we fetched a bowl and spoon, a box of cereal and a quart of milk and we were ready for action.
The entertainment came in waves. Mighty Mouse, Tom and Jerry, Woody Woodpecker, Heckle and Jeckle, and Bugs Bunny. Often mixed in with the cartoons were Saturday morning regulars such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Pinky Lee, Winky Dink, Kookla, Fran and Ollie and others.
Even the commercials were entertaining.
“M & M’s. They melt in your mouth, not in your hands.”
“Double your pleasure, double your fun, with Doublemint, Doublemint, Doublemint Gum.”
“Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, They’re Grrrreat!”
“Jell-O Instant Pudding. It’s never too late to make dessert.”
“Lays Potato Chips. Bet you can’t eat just one.”
Whatever they advertised, we tried to have on hand, especially M&M’s and especially the ones with the chocolate shells. They went first.
For hours, we sat spellbound with the smell of burning TV tubes in the air and the excitement of the next adventure of Mighty Mouse. By noon, we had had our fill and headed outside to ride our Schwinn bikes or find a good pickup game of basketball. The girls played hopscotch and jacks and if there was snow on the hills, you’d find us there.
Who needed video games and cell phones when there was so much more to do? Being a kid in the 1950’s was special. There will ever be another time and age such as that.
