Wow, I was thinking last night…………how the heck did I reach 63 years old and will be turning 64 in January! Where did all that time go…..how I miss the years gone by.
Our memorable school days from grammar school to our high school days when we all thought we were cool teenagers! After all, our idol was Elvis! Elvis Presley was the first real rock’n roll star.
A white southerner singing the blues laced with country and country tinged with gospel, Elvis brought together music from both sides of the color line. Elvis performed this music with a natural hip swiveling sexuality that made him a teen idol and a role model for generations of cool rebels. Elvis was repeatedly dismissed as vulgar, incompetent and a bad influence. But the force of his music and image signaled to the mainstream culture that it was time for a change and we loved him.
In early 1957, Presley became the target of criticism by teachers, clergymen, and even other entertainers who thought his style was too suggestive. Elvis was nicknamed "Elvis the Pelvis" by one writer. I remember the last of his three appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, he was viewed and shown only from the waist up.
In the spring of 1958, when violence occurred outside the Boston Arena after a Freed stage show, local authorities indicted him for inciting to riot.
We wore some cool, hot looking clothes. 1960-1962 - At this time, there was a carry over from the 50's, including the "bouffant" look. The popular hairstyle was a beehive, where they tease their hair and piled it high on their head. Another look during this time was the beatnik. I remember wearing hot pants, high fashion boots, mini skirts, and painstakingly matched accessories and of course the 5” stiletto heels!
I wish we could turn back the clock and maybe I wouldn't want to be 20 years old again or neither 30 or 40....I would welcome back being 50! LOL
“Live it Up 20’s” a period of empowerment. Your 20’s marked a time when you’ve passed through the test of faith of your teens and head into maturity. It was the last of your awkward teen traits are gone and in comes a new level of poise. Oh, the fun with dressing and cosmetics and how to present yourself to the world!
“Your Terrific 30’s” when a time maturation sets in but remember it’s a plus! You are more comfortable in your physical and spiritual skin. And, a discovery time of your new identity as a wife/husband, mother/father and an integral member of your community. Time was precious for me at this stage, with the challenges of keeping up with your little ones, handling the responsibilities of your household and continuing your career or community involvement or all of the above.
“The Fabulous 40’s during this time of life, with our children out of school, time can be on your side. We working moms even found the time to take advantage of joining a gym, treating yourself from time to time to a spa or a pedicure or facial treatments to stay looking your best since hormonal changes lead to drier skin. I still felt fabulous at 40…mind, body and soul.
“Onward and Upward” at 50, it was still great believe it or not, however, 60 and upward…..Yikes….it has some simple pleasures. We all have encountered some rocky roads in our lives and obstacles to overcome just like everyone else. God blessed me with two beautiful children.
Thanks for taking the ride down memory lane with me and reminiscing the fabulous 50’s and 60's! I enjoyed sharing this era with all of you! I remember buying my first brand new car....a Pontiac Tempest and those three long years of monthly payments. It was Burgundy with White Leather Seats. Diane Screnci's Dad, Sal Screnci guided me along with this huge purchase and gave me the courage to take on the responsibility at a young age of 18. He was so good to me. And, Diane's MOM, Josie has been a big influence on my choice of perfume........"Shalimar".
Do you remember your first car?
How many remember listening to the radio programs of Arnie "Woo woo" Ginzburg? My father had this giant radio that must have stood 9 feet tall with all kinds of dials and colors, and I discovered Arnie Ginzburg and rock-and-roll.
ReplyDeleteMy first car was a 1962 salmon-colored Renault Dauphine with a 32 horsepower engine in the rear. Incredible in the snow...never needed snow tires. But there was one drawback. With 3 people in the car, I had to drive up steep hills backwards as there was no enough power to push it up hills. Or the 3 passenger had to get out and walk. Got about 45 miles to the galloon and about 10 miles to a can of oil. But I loved it. Cheers.
Hi Rich,
ReplyDeleteWow, I remember Woo Woo Gingsburg!!!!! Thanks for the input.....
I remember Ginsburg became known as "Woo-Woo" because of the train whistle he imitated from time to time while on the air.
Thanks, Rose
Loved Woo Woo Ginsberg, Elvis and the Beatles
ReplyDeleteMy first car was a red Corvair. It was three years
old.
After that I had a Ford Falcon convertible. Remember
those?
I remember Dora, her sister Lina and I drove to
Greenwich Village in New York for the day.
Oh Adventure Car Hop is the place to go, for food that's always right,
ReplyDeleteAdventure food is always just so, you'll relish every bite,
It's out on Route One in Saugus, come dressed just as you are,
Adventure, where the service is tops, and you never gets out of your car!
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteLove the memories. The 50's and 60's were the best years to have grown-up and I think Revere was a great city to have been raised. So much has been lost. Couldn't believe the news about Gloucester High School. I hear stories that make my skin crawl.
Rich, love your bio. Where did you live? Do I remember correctly that we lived in the same neighborhood? I married Jack Anderson. Remember him? The picture of you and your Little League team was great to see.
I have sad news. We are going to see Mike Jordan, who was in the picture Rich, next weekend in Phoenix. Mike was diagnosed with cancer a year or 2 ago. The prognosis was good after treatment but the cancer returned and he is not very well. A few friends from Revere and people he knows from American Airlines where he spent many years are getting together for a golf outing which has become a tournament to raise money for his favorite charity which is the hospice that has been taking care of Mike. I'll post after we get back.
Anne
Hi Anne,
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about the same Mike Jordan that lived near Diane Screnci on Prospect Ave.??
Oh my..........please give us an update after your trip.
OMIG, I totally forgot you married Jack Anderson! Whoo Hoo! Cool! Jack is a great guy.
Hugs, Rose
Hi Anne. I lived at one time in Beachmont, then off-Broadway, and finally in Oak Island. So I am not sure which neighborhood you mean. Could be. And I only knew one Jack Anderson, who was the track captain and an incredible runner. I think I was able to stay up with him for about 10 yards, and then saw his number getting smaller and smaller as he ran away into the distance. And there was his teaching us how to high jump and running the halls of the high school as we did not have any other way of training in the winter...and finally indoor track events in Mechanics Hall in Boston. Lotsa fun and good memories of the smell of sweating bodies and rubbing alcohol. Please say hello. Rich
ReplyDeleteHi Rich,
ReplyDeleteYes, it that Jack Anderson. He will enjoy reading your memory of him. He remembers you being a left-handed pitcher. You must remember Mike Jordan. Thanks so much for emailing the picture to Arthur Considine. They want to share it with Mike next weekend. I'm sure you have read my previous entry about Mike's condition. I'll share everything when we get back. It's so sad.
Where off Broadway did you live?
Anne
Hi Anne. If I recall correctly, it was Adams Street for a while and then Coolidge Street. Attended the Barrows Elementary Schoo (where I got my first rat hand for something non-serious like making noise near the hostpital) and then McKinley Jr. High where I spent many a day in the hallway for not being nice...and then in the 8th Grade I was voted most "conscientious" patrol boy and got a nice trophy for stopping traffic and helping helpless kids and old ladies cross the street on the "cross walk"-- led to my 30 plus year career in Security That was also the year I pitched for the Jr. High baseball team and went undefeated. Got an A in woodworking and never completed a wood project, which drove my father crazy--yes the teacher was the baseball coach. Still can't pound a nail straight but learned that life was more than just sanding wood, if one could throw a ball fast enough. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteI knew it! I lived on Constitution Ave. I started Barrows in 3rd grade, I think.
ReplyDeletePrincipal was Ms. Casey. Remember her? So, we went to McKinley together as well. Sounds like you may have missed a career in baseball...
Anne
Anne. I started in the Barrow's school in the 4th grade, and got my first "rat-hand" from Mrs. Casey, witnessed by our 4th Grade teacher--can't remember her name. Anyway, this same 4th grade teacher called my mother into the school one day as I had written a short story about one of our classmates named Ellen Crowley--I had a real childhood crush on her, starting in Beachmont when she and I also lived there before our families moved. I am sure you remember her. Anyway, in this short story, I used the word "red" somehow positively. I had to rescue her from a fire in the school, and she loved me forever afterwards. Well, that was not the time to write something like that--McCarthy Era. So I guess we were suspected of being communist supporters, or something so absurd. It is ironic that I was so involved later in my life in just the opposite activities.
ReplyDeleteAs for baseball, I reached my peak in High School--though in 1977 I did receive the "Babe Ruth Award" for batting .640, with 16 hits in 25 at bats for a US government softball team. Also, a long time ago.
Take care, Rich
Rich,
ReplyDeleteI also had a thing for Ellen Crowley but in the 6th grade...altho I always
kept it a secret...which now I can reveal 50 years [Egad] later.
However in the 6th grade she liked Anthony [Bucka] Zizza so that
was the end of my future wishes. But what did we know ...in the
6th grade. However, I did watch her grow into a beautiful young lady
in high school and I always regretted my earlier shyness.
I do remember you as a good baseball player...I remember you brought
your glove [you were a lefty I think] into school once and our
homeroom teacher caught you throwing spitballs across the room
and catching them with your glove! Mr Mckenna our homeroom teacher
took your glove away and you said that you needed it for the game after
school. He said If you pitch spitballs, you wont need it !!!!!
Anne,
It was Ms Casey who was the principal at the Barrows School.
Remember our terrible bus ride everyday to the Julia Ward Howe
School in Beachmont? We all hated that bumpy, uncomfortable ride
and the Beachmont people didnt treat us very well either.
I wrote some years ago to our 6th Grade teacher Mr Fitzgerald.
He wrote back and didnt remember us by name but did remember those
bus rides....he didnt like them either. You and the other girls in our
class used to call him 'Fitzie'...which he didnt like.
Hope to see you at the next reunion.
Sal
O.K. Who has Ellen Crowley's email address so she can get in on this????? LOL
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where she lives and who she married? According to my last records of information....Ellen's new name is Ellen Crowley Turco and lives in Medord, MA.
You guys are a hoot!
Let's get in touch with her and see what her memories are!
Hugs, Rose
Actually Sal, the spitballs came from someone else, who wishes to retain her dignity, so I will not reveal her true identity....Mr. McKenna hit me a few times with a thin dowel in his spanish class, and once in my head with his Boston College (I think) ring. In today's world, he would be in jail for that. And I did not do anything!!! I remember the bus rides (except when I was late and missed it).
ReplyDeleteGreetings to everyone. Rich
Yes Sal, I remember those bus rides. Julia Ward Howe is where I started school. Then the move to Broadway and Barrows. Did we really call him "Fitzie"? I think I remember that he allowed the class to get away with more than we should have.
ReplyDeleteGosh Sal, I think the last time we communicated was for the 25th reunion. How are you enjoying retirement? Jack couldn't be happier although he works at the golf course pro shop where we live. Keeps him busy and he play golf a couple of times a week.
Rich, Ms. Casey was not very nice although she looked so sweet. I remember my father getting real upset with her over something she did or said to my brother. Was our 4th grade teacher Ms. Petite? Did a google search on you Rich. Oh my, would I love to sit down with you. I'm a political junkie and interested in world history. I just found a book in used bookstore (love old books) 'A History of Russia' by Bernard Pares, Professor of Russian Language, Literature and History in the University of London first published May 28th, 1926. This book is the third edition published in 1937. Haven't had a chance to get into it. 'Tsar', the history of the Nicolas and Alexandra sits on my coffee table. Don't why I'm fascinated with
Russian history. Do you remember Ralph Fulchino? He went to BC and then on to grad school at Columbia and studied at the Russian Institute there. Don't know what he is doing. His father was our high school principal, Dr. Fulchino.
Anne
ptaylor59@wmconnect.com
ReplyDeleteHi all. I read all the comments and it brings back so many memories. I went to C.M. Barrows and was also bussed to
Julia Ward Howe in Beachmont. The fourth grade teachers
at Barrows was the Hazel sisters.
I use to hang around John Mc Carthy's house with Bucka, Ellen Crowley and Peter Zaccone when we were kids. I was such a tomboy. Ellen use to watch all of us play football. She had a mad crush on Bucka Zizza.
I remember Adventure Car Hop and Arnie "Woo Woo" Ginsberg
on the speakers there. If it was your birthday, you could get a free record.
I also remember the great times we had at Father Brennan Hall
dancing up a storm.
I also remember the summers at Revere Beach. We sat at
the end of Revere Street across from Silver's Restaurant.
We would walk the length of the beach stopping to see friends
from Shirley Ave and Immaculate and the Beachmont crowd.
We had such a great life then and now we have great memories.
Rich,
ReplyDeleteDont remember Mr McKenna as a Spanish teach. He was our homeroom
and music teacher. It was Mr McDonough that taught Spanish and Math.
I do also remember Mr. McDonough was very free with that rattan stick
of his and sometimes he would even use that long yardstick on kids...
I also remember him smacking boys on the backs of their heads...mine was
one of them, for what reason Ive forgotten.
You re right... he would have been fired today. Afterward he became
principal of one of the schools.....
Anne,
I think the last time we spoke, I was visiting Hawaii and called you.
I dont remember how or where I got your phone number but we had
a great conversation as I remember.
I m glad you and Jack are enjoying retirement. I am now retired 4 years
from American Airlines afetr 37 years...and enjoying every minute of it.
I think we got out at the right time...and I dont miss it at all.....
Hope you can make the next reunion...it ll only be 4 years from now.
Its amazing how everyone not only renewed old friendships but have
continued it up to now, with this wonderful blog that Rose has created.
Many of us just dont want these renewed relationships to end.
Hope to see you the next time,
Sal
Thanks Sal..I stand corrected on the name. Does anyone have any of the high school class photos scanned and digitalized?--the photos where everyone stands in front of the high school? Cheers to everyone. Rich
ReplyDelete