Author Archives: rodger

50s family baseball customs and routines

50s family baseball customs were not an addition to family life, they were essential to family life. Family baseball customs were more than recreation, instead it was part of the daily routine of family life. They were routine family life, … Continue reading

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Carnivals and Fish Frys 50s neighborhood memories

A child’s neighborhood is their first worldview. The short walk to the limited business district, town theater, playgrounds and schools defined the universe of 1950s neighborhood memories. Memories, relationships, identity, and a sense of security, evolve from neighborhood dynamics. A … Continue reading

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Movies frame 50s childhood memories and friendships

Most movies produced during the 1950s focused on adult interests. The cartoons that preceded the main feature were considered the children’s part of the presentation.  Western theme films, Science Fiction, WWII films, and Comedy genres attracted both children and adults. … Continue reading

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Streets and Roads down the highway

A child’s universe is down the highway on Illinois Route 143 Illinois Route 143 connects towns down the highway from Alton, Illinois on the Mississippi River to Highland, Illinois. The State of Illinois applied the Route 143 designation to former … Continue reading

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Streets and Roads in the neighborhood and around the corner

Elementary school reading textbooks in the 1950s were titled Streets and Roads.  Stories in the books were about a family and their neighborhood. Children named Dick and Jane were the main characters. The children’s story was about places and connections … Continue reading

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Strange days awesome beauty and nostalgia to cry for

I frequently walked a field road on the northern border of a Southern Illinois farm. Various common hardwood trees created a dense canopy of fall season colors. Strange weather patterns caused an early fall season biological phenomenon. We called the … Continue reading

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Radio afternoons with box tops and action heroes in 1950

Before TV, children’s fantasies played out on 50s radio afternoon programs. The themes mirrored the wild west films of the 30s and 40s. Advertising jingles promoted breakfast cereals via proof of purchase to order toys such as glow in the … Continue reading

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