DO YOU REMEMBER

Captain Kangaroo, Romper Room, Coney Island's Steeple Chase, Sky King, Charlie Chaplain, The Shadow, Danny Kaye, Laurel and Hardy, Al Jolson, Queen for A day, Howdy Doody, Gang Busters, Defenders, Nurses, Tom and Jerry, Quick Draw McGraw? Take a walk down memory lane. When life was simpler and so much more fun

Do you remember when lovers strolled and kissed neath the stars and moon?

Remember romantic singers and songs, the way girls use to swoon?

Remember listening and dancing to the big bands?

How about the neighborhood cop on the beat,

night clubs on most every city street?

I remember going to the prom

with that special someone on my arm.

Remember it was the living end

being pinned by your boyfriend?

I remember when a bottle of soda pop cost five cent.

Two rooms, bath, utility cost twenty-two dollars a month to rent.

Yes, I even remember the icebox,

saddle shoes and bobby sox.

Remember silk stockings with seams and the mid calf dress?

I remember joining a fraternity to prove my worthiness.

How many remember those raccoon coats and later for men

those white bucks, argyle knits by your girlfriend?

I remember ten cents for a pack of cigarettes

Al Jolson's "You ain't heard nothing yet."

Clearly remember Lindberg's flight

How airlines flew day not night.

I miss full sevice with a smile

how people went that extra mile.

Almost gone are the words please and thank-you.

I miss sitting quietly listening to my radio

Not missing a sound from my favorite show.

I remember the 1939 World‘s Fair

You know, they introduced television there.

I miss the auto-mat

Does any one remember the wacky fads,

like gold fish swallowing, the dance marathon

that continued forever on?

Who remembers telephone booths and telephone booth fitting

and flag pole sitting?.

Everyone still remembers records, eight tracks, cassettes, and the malt shop,

electric typewriters, mimeograph machines.

disco and doo-wop.

Can't forget those drive ins and the movies that were rarely seen.

I remember before my own, borrowing dads car for a date

promising her folks she won't be home late.

It was usually to a game or movie then the corner coke place.

I remember the fun we had at Palisades and Steeple Chase.

I wish families spent more time together

Sitting and talking at the dinner table, now it's hardly ever.

I remember the hugs from mom and dad. how they meant so much

Hearing the words I love you as my heart they touched.

Going to grandma's was always special. Grandmas were that way.

I miss walking and being anywhere

any hour without fear

I remember when we had God in our schools

When parents and teachers were given respect.

I remember the golden rules.

We knew what to expect!

After V-day

We changed some how, some way.

We derived different tastes

In such a haste.

We are way past out of control

We lost our hold

on the reality in life

of what's wrong and right.

We need to slow our pace

Before we face

our final tomorrow

You don't want to say, where did it go

At least most of us have our memories

Of what simple innocent fun use to be.

Yes, I'm showing my age, for which I stand tall and proud, unashamed

At least we hurt no one along the way, for whence we came.

What's sadder than gone by eras?

Not having not lived them at all with those close to our heart.

Copyright © 2008, Robert Kelleher, All rights reserved

February 1953 Romper Room began it's forty year run. Nancy Rogers was actually Nancy Claster, married to the show's producer, Bert Claster.