Tag Archives: 1950s

I Was a Daredevil Paperboy!

Left to right: Schwinn Wasp “Newsboy Special” bicycle; 1950s Japanese transistor radio; Los Angeles Herald Express; authentic(ish) illustration of my paper route My Real Memoir: I Was a Daredevil Paperboy! As a result of my reckless adventuring and frequent self-disfigurements, … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 52 Comments

Of Newspapers and Talking Birds

Left: ‘Welcome Dodgers’ headline, Los Angeles Evening Herald Express, 1958. Right: My 2nd Grade class photo My Real Memoir: Newspapers and Talking Birds Dad Was Ambitious to a Fault But he’d dropped out high school to shoot bad guys who … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Confessions of an Eight-Year-Old Prankster

Photo credit: The Lady My Real Memoir: Confessions of an Eight-Year-Old Prankster One of the advantages of living on a busy street (ours was the main route through the neighborhood) is that there’s a never-ending supply of drivers in need … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 53 Comments

Even When My Father Wasn’t There…

Mommandad on their Wedding Day    –    The world’s oldest surviving McDonald’s My Real Memoir Even when my father wasn’t there, he was there. He was the gravity that kept us from flying off into oblivion. Which is to … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

The Day I Discovered Music

‘You Send Me‘ 1957 by Sam Cooke My Real Memoir It was the day I discovered music. But I wouldn’t realize it until years later. True, I liked music, thanks in large part to my Uncle Walt (Disney). I danced … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Movies, Music and Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

My Super-Secret Operation!

Photo courtesy of Leicester Mercury My Real Memoir My Super-Secret Operation! I asked my wife whether I should publicly share this  confidential nugget from my childhood. Being pseudo-famous, I always find it wise to ask my very private wife when … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

Life With a Capital L

My Real Memoir Life With a Capital L: My first introduction to Life beyond my neighborhood came from a tiny black-and-white TV. And by “Life,” I mean storytelling–which virtually defines who I am–some subtly-inserted human values, and humor; if storytelling … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

My All-American Friend

TV taught me that Ovaltine was the perfect food. My Real Memoir My First “Normal” Friend I’ve never been normal in any rational sense of the word. But Stevie was. Heck, he had red hair and freckles. Which was as … Continue reading

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Red Cars, Magical Forests, and Mom

My Real Memoir It was summer and school was out, so Mom would sometimes take me to “her L.A.” There were three components to these magical mystery tours: the Red Car, vintage Los Angeles, and a wondrous cafeteria called Clifton’s. … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

What a Mouse and a Kangaroo Taught Me About Life

My Real Memoir Apart from Mommandad and a few unusual friends, my first introduction to Life with a capital L came from a tiny black-and-white screen. And by “Life,” I mean storytelling, which virtually defines me today; some subtly-inserted values, … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 49 Comments