"ees da sa sussaway" Growing up in the fifties, it seemed to be a time of wonder!
Highways, Turnpikes and Freeways were being built, opened and streaming in all directions… New homes seemed to be poping up everywhere… Modern convienieces were changing every aspect of everyday life, in just about every room of the home we lived in…what… Marilyn who?
Being just a kid at the time, one of the biggest impacts in my life was a large brown cabinet that sat by the front door in my grandparent’s house that had knobs and buttons on it, which I figured out in no time… The Television!
Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons after school and before dinner, I probably wore a spot into my Grandmother’s carpet, where I’d sit, figit and laugh, being easily entertained, watching the many shows that were on!
The selections seemed endless for a kid my age, but I already had my favorites!
So did my mom.
My mom liked an actor called Hugh O’Brian, who played Wyatt Earp, in the TV series, “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp”. It must have come on after us kids went to bed, because I don’t remember the show… I do remember Hugh O’Brian!
Hugh O’Brian was scheduled and made a personal appearance one time at either Wanamaker’s or Gimbels’ in center Philadelphia. My mom heard about it and decided she was going to go and meet her favorite television star. I guess she wanted to “pad her hand” as it were and dressed my brother and I in our fringed Davy Crocket jackets.
Me, Matt & Hugh O’Brian about 1955
We stood in line a real long time, but finally met and shook Mr. O’Brian’s hand.
Mom had stepped out of line to take a picture, but couldn’t get back in line.
S-o-o-o, we got back in line again, we waited again and as soon as we approached the actor, he remembered us and that we had already shook his hand earlier. He bellowed out in a loud chuckling voice that these two young gentlemen had been through the line once already and I said yes we had, but he had forgot to shake my mom’s hand and that was the only reason we were there.
He shook my mom’s hand and they talked a little bit. Hugh O’Brian looked a lot like my dad; in pictures of him I had seen when he was younger.
Other department stores and supermarket openings, in the greater Philadelphia area were other places that provided an opportunity for kids to meet national and local television personalities and between Grandmom and mom, we got to meet a few.
Chief Halftown, a real Indian was a local television personality; he had feathers and everything! He talked right to us, he told us stories and he showed cartoons. "ees da sa sussaway," which is Seneca for "Let's get started" is how he started his show. We got to see and meet him!
Sally Starr, another local television personality was a pretty cowgirl with sparkly things and fringe on her shirts and who liked Popeye the Sailor as much as I did… I did remember to eat my spinach, but I really didn’t like it!
She was my gal Sal. We met her and she was prettier in person then on TV.
The Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore… We didn’t get to meet him, but we saw him on stage, at an appearance he made. He didn’t bring Tonto or Silver with him.
Glancing back, the 1950’s were indeed a time of wonder for kids and adults alike.
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