That was weekly in my HS! We had red, blue, purple and gold shorts. As a skinny kid, I only got red shorts, but proudly wore them (although they were 80s length shorts…).
Bill, you're a south Alabama boy. I wish you would do some stories on the history of that area. We drove through Thomaston, Oak Hill, Pine Apple on a different route down to Grayton Beach a few weeks ago and I was surprised at the abundant pre-Civil War history of that area. Large tracts of land through that area and beautiful scenery. Neat old buildings still standing from that era. Bought some really nice large pecans in Thomaston. Always find something interesting when you get off the interstate NASCAR roadways.
I had some fraternity brothers from the little towns in that area. I don't know that area very well except that it's full of a lot of pine trees. I love Grayton Beach!
I keep a number of AAA paper maps in the front door pocket of my car. You never know when I might want to drive to Utah or Idaho. Whereas I've been on most of those roads, it was several-many years ago and I might forget some important details. Not that getting lost can't be fun.
Thanks, California Girl. I'll get back to serious journalism pretty soon here. I'm still kicking myself for not publishing or writing some really good stories - maybe even scoops - I've been sitting on.
Fun times! Thank you, Bill, for your last two Substack essays. What a breath of fresh air in the sometimes stale and stalemate politics talk that I usually read and to which I'm addicted. Your essays took me down memory lane and reminded me of my child and teen years in video arcades, attempting to hula hoop, spending hours ice-skating, and being subjected to mass propaganda, unknowingly.
I admit I couldn’t get enough of Evel Kneivel in the 70s. Not only did we jump bicycles but mini bikes and our 100cc Hondas. Amazing we lived thru it all and we rarely if ever, wore helmets.
Side note: As I recall from the various documentaries, Robert Kneivel deliberately chose the spelling “Evel” to distance himself from the word “Evil.” Not that he was the best influence on our generation regardless of the spelling of his stage name.
I enjoyed very much my homemade wooden stilts make from 2x4s ripped into 2x2s. Kept making them taller and taller until they mysteriously disappeared…
Also rode a unicycle for a few years but never learned to juggle so I eventually I had to choose a more conventional line of work…
Gin rummy. 7 card stud using pink baby aspirin, white regular aspirin and blue Allarest pills in place of poker chips, which we did not own. 3 flies up and stickball. I am older than you
So you grew up in Opelika, Alabama. As a long-time audio engineer, I am aware that Opelika played an important part in the audio industry back in the 1950's on up through the 1990's: Ampex, maker of the most popular professional analog audio tape recorders, and makers of tape to use on those recorders, had their tape factory in Opelika.
I'm not sure that the factory is still there or being used for anything: Ampex stopped making tape about 20 years ago. You can still get open reel audio tape for use on the remaining recorders, but the few remaining factories are in Germany and France.
This was a fun read! I think we are a similar age. I remember a lot of these things. With the Maze rolling ball, I never could get it past the last long straight stretch, so I was never able to complete it!
Bill, recently at the local shopping centre there was a vintage arcade display set up as a charity for a local children's hospital. I SMOKED the teens and 20-year-olds.
I had to teach a lad how to use a pinball machine. He had never used one.
When they brought out the Atari set up my fingers knew exactly what to do.
I am really good at 'vintage' games and also Super Nintendo. My fingers cannot work any controller made past 1990.
Edit: probably too old now to run on a NES power pad, but I will do the old trickeroo using a chair for the long jump ;)
You Go Bill!
Did they still have the Pres Physical Fitness awards when you were a kid?
Took me months of practice to get to the ceiling before competition. I burned my hands rope climbing in the gym just to get that certificate!
Yes, we had it, but I wasn't one of the honorees. I'm biased but I do think my middle school had the best P.E. program in America.
That was weekly in my HS! We had red, blue, purple and gold shorts. As a skinny kid, I only got red shorts, but proudly wore them (although they were 80s length shorts…).
Bill, you're a south Alabama boy. I wish you would do some stories on the history of that area. We drove through Thomaston, Oak Hill, Pine Apple on a different route down to Grayton Beach a few weeks ago and I was surprised at the abundant pre-Civil War history of that area. Large tracts of land through that area and beautiful scenery. Neat old buildings still standing from that era. Bought some really nice large pecans in Thomaston. Always find something interesting when you get off the interstate NASCAR roadways.
I had some fraternity brothers from the little towns in that area. I don't know that area very well except that it's full of a lot of pine trees. I love Grayton Beach!
And ponds filled with water lilies, luscious foliage and as you say, stunning scenery.
I keep a number of AAA paper maps in the front door pocket of my car. You never know when I might want to drive to Utah or Idaho. Whereas I've been on most of those roads, it was several-many years ago and I might forget some important details. Not that getting lost can't be fun.
The old roads are far more interesting.
I SECOND THIS
(sorry for the yelling, I just got extremely excited by your post).
Please Bill...civil war (and pre-civil war) articles? xx
I was really good at jumping rope, also, but at 66-years of age I’d better have an empty bladder before I try it now! 🤣🤣
The key is to not jump very high, which is still perfect for me today.
Double Dutch in NY... Some moves are best left in the past!
I enjoyed your lists!!! Thank you!
Thanks, California Girl. I'll get back to serious journalism pretty soon here. I'm still kicking myself for not publishing or writing some really good stories - maybe even scoops - I've been sitting on.
Then your lists were successful! Congratulations.
Fun times! Thank you, Bill, for your last two Substack essays. What a breath of fresh air in the sometimes stale and stalemate politics talk that I usually read and to which I'm addicted. Your essays took me down memory lane and reminded me of my child and teen years in video arcades, attempting to hula hoop, spending hours ice-skating, and being subjected to mass propaganda, unknowingly.
You made my day. Thank you.
That was a fun read, thanks!
Those are fun for me to write. And they don't take as much brain power either!
Great article Bill.
Sure is fun to look back!
I admit I couldn’t get enough of Evel Kneivel in the 70s. Not only did we jump bicycles but mini bikes and our 100cc Hondas. Amazing we lived thru it all and we rarely if ever, wore helmets.
Side note: As I recall from the various documentaries, Robert Kneivel deliberately chose the spelling “Evel” to distance himself from the word “Evil.” Not that he was the best influence on our generation regardless of the spelling of his stage name.
I enjoyed very much my homemade wooden stilts make from 2x4s ripped into 2x2s. Kept making them taller and taller until they mysteriously disappeared…
Also rode a unicycle for a few years but never learned to juggle so I eventually I had to choose a more conventional line of work…
Thank for writing!
Gin rummy. 7 card stud using pink baby aspirin, white regular aspirin and blue Allarest pills in place of poker chips, which we did not own. 3 flies up and stickball. I am older than you
🤣🤣🤣 I've really gotten a kick out of this post and your previous one, have you ever thought of doing stand-up 🤣🤣🤣
So you grew up in Opelika, Alabama. As a long-time audio engineer, I am aware that Opelika played an important part in the audio industry back in the 1950's on up through the 1990's: Ampex, maker of the most popular professional analog audio tape recorders, and makers of tape to use on those recorders, had their tape factory in Opelika.
I'm not sure that the factory is still there or being used for anything: Ampex stopped making tape about 20 years ago. You can still get open reel audio tape for use on the remaining recorders, but the few remaining factories are in Germany and France.
I have the golf tee game, only it's called IQ Tester. Made in 1975 by a Georgia business.
This was a fun read! I think we are a similar age. I remember a lot of these things. With the Maze rolling ball, I never could get it past the last long straight stretch, so I was never able to complete it!
You forgot Jarts. The ultimate test of Darwin's theory of child survival of the fittest.
Sweet! You jogged a lot of memories for me...I can still hear the bleeping of that handheld football game. It just kept getting faster and faster!
Bill, recently at the local shopping centre there was a vintage arcade display set up as a charity for a local children's hospital. I SMOKED the teens and 20-year-olds.
I had to teach a lad how to use a pinball machine. He had never used one.
When they brought out the Atari set up my fingers knew exactly what to do.
I am really good at 'vintage' games and also Super Nintendo. My fingers cannot work any controller made past 1990.
Edit: probably too old now to run on a NES power pad, but I will do the old trickeroo using a chair for the long jump ;)
Bill must've inherited at least some of his dad's athletic genes.