Hello, As little kids, we were fascinated with the TV show we watched on the dinky TV. The jointed, hanging control puppets were like real people and moved similar to the hand puppets. The conversation was almost real. So, that held our interests. By 1954, we had watched tons of episodes and the main character Howdy Doody was fascinating. He looked a little silly, but it was the early cowboy days and we already had our cowboy outfits when we played in the huge grassy fields. But, it was on tv, so we were awed. One Christmas, my mom and dad surprised me with my own Howdy Doody Puppet with strings. They were a popular item at our downtown toy store. I learned how to work the strings and talk at the same time. Ha! Kind of like growing up in the Westside of Long Beach as a little toddler. But, my puppet was fun to walk around as if we had another “brother from a different mother…” to use a popular modern quote. Then after there were more things to learn in life’s playground, the puppet got its own hanger on the wall. I had originally put it in the drawer, but the strings got mangles and it took forever to re-do the strings. So, hanging up on a hook was the best way to keep the puppet in working condition. Jnaki But, the thing that was a scary thing was that where I hung him was on a hook near the window that held the curtains open. During the storms, I could see it staring at me and sometimes I thought it turned its head to face me directly. Yikes! The constant stare, day in and day out... even in the dark of night... One distinct memory was that the puppet actually got down and sat on my bed talking to me. This was during a heavy illness as a small kid. Fever does funny things. But, I remember that moment for sure. YRMV Finally, as teens, we were larger and now into hot rods and drag racing. So, the puppet was given away to our cousins. Our mom’s thing was if we were not using anything for a long time, it was in the give away box. It was a good thing I was always busy doing something… That was a definite part of my younger days, being influenced by a simple TV show. Yes, I also had a Beany and Cecil T-shirt and a Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent Puppet, too. That one was easier to use and pretend. Ha!
I hadn’t heard of Jim Roper and it’s great that he won the first NASCAR race in Charlotte but I do know he didn’t drive it in that car. That’s a ‘49 Oldsmobile.
That’s a jig borer, it’s much more accurate that the average milling machine. Better machine ways, bearings and ultra precisely graduated adjustments.
The Jalopy Journal
