1960 - a time of transition

1960... it was the end of one era, the beginning of another. I was 5 years old, I'd just started school, my world was about to expand dramatically, and television was having an impact on society - there was a whole other world out there... it was wondrous...

It was the start of the "Golden Era of Television". We were influenced greatly by America and programmes were a 'mixed bag' - from the 'perfect', cutesy, American families the likes of Father Knows Best, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and Leave it to Beaver, the zaniness of Lucille Ball and Phyllis Diller to the larrikan Aussie humour of Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton... they were worlds apart - but we were eager for entertainment and we lapped it all up hungrily.

In January 1960 the "logies" were in their second year and people couldn't wait to vote for their favourite shows. Here's some of the winners (ironic that the awards were yet to be televised!!!)

Most Popular Personality: Graham Kennedy

Program Of The Year: 77 Sunset Strip

(I would start to enjoy this as I moved towards my teens and that unchartered territory called sexuality!!!)

Best Programs: The Phil Silvers Show - Father Knows Best - In Melbourne Tonight

6 o’clock rock with Johnny O’Keefe and Bandstand with Brian Henderson were the popular music shows, and people couldn't get enough...

But I was only 5 at the time, so here are just a few of the shows that I loved...

Circus Boy - I loved all the antics of the circus animals - and I had a crush on Corky (later we'd know him as Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees - yep, an even bigger crush then!!!)...

Mr. Squiggle - I was amazed at what could be drawn with Mr. Squiggle's pencil nose... I could have watched him all day!!!

Lassie - what more can I say... you needed a 'hankie' to watch the movies, and you dreamt about having a loyal mate like Lassie and going on many an adventure!!!!

Adventures of Rin-tin-tin - of course, American 'westerns' were really big - Gunsmoke, Sugarfoot, Rawhide - the list goes on... so "Rin-tin-tin" was going to be a big hit - another incredible dog... I loved "Rinny"...

and my favourite birthday present... my Annie Oakley outfit!!!!

This is only similar to the outfit I had (very patriotic American hey)... mine was green with yellow 'trim' (obviously made for the Australian market!!) - sorry, there's no photo of me wearing it... cameras and film weren't something you always had on hand in those days - well, not if you were working class anyway!!!!

Of course, news was popular - we got to see what was happening in the world- there was so much happening politically - but I wasn't old enough to understand the changes that were taking place just yet... I was just enjoying being a child - and who wouldn't... me mum was the head cashier at Luna Park and the Palais Theatre... the things I got to do and see - it was a wonderful time - it was a great life for a child!!!!

but my world was expanding and the best was yet to come...

it was the beginning of the 60s - there was change in the air - and I was starting to learn and grow... this decade was going to hold rich and fertile learning experiences for all...

to be continued.....

There's a new male in my life...

and he's such a cutie... little Louis (pronounced Louie) - he's a poodle, he's black, he's three and a bit (born in December 2004) and he's a real sweetie... (and if you just turned your nose up at 'poodle' you've obviously never shared your life with one - and their 'problem' is the way human's make them look - they don't actually carry electric clippers themselves!!!!)

Here he is, looking out the window and probably wondering where he hell he is (how come the street's so close to the window!??)... he's a little country boy from New South Wales - he's lived in Leeton and Wagga Wagga - and it's been a bit of a trauma for him... he spent a bit of time at the Riverina Animal Rescue Centre with Bailey, his companion from his 'old' home, they got fostered for a little while together in Walla Walla until new homes were found, said goodbye to each other yesterday and then made the trip down to Melbourne with an old friend.

I don't think he's 'used' to living with cats - I'm pretty sure the first thing that went through his mind when he saw Shadow was:

and I'm damn sure as soon as Shadow saw him he hissed:

and the old girl Allie, well she just doesn't care - she can cope with anything...

It's a 'transition' for all of us... but I'm pretty sure it's going to work out - he just has to learn that Shadow was here before him so has some seniority over him!!!!

Anyway, I'm on holidays for two weeks from next week so I intend to get stuck into the Web 2.1 stuff - seriously - time to pull my finger out so to speak!!! So catch you then!!!