Pieces of the Past: Home Entertainment

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Home Entertainment

The look and type of home entertainment has certainly changed since this old catalog was published in 1933. Where were the televisions, the dvd players, the computers, and all the magnificent things that have come, been replaced by new technology and gone. Meager pickings! I can still remember sitting and listening to the radio and being every bit as caught up in the programs as I am in television. It was wonderful for your imagination - like reading; You pulled up a picture in your mind and just knew that was how it was.
There were soap operas (Julie of Hilltop House, Stella Dallas), variety shows (The Hit Parade) , children's serials (Little Orphan Annie, Jack Armstrong the All American Boy), scarey programs (The Shadow), dramas (One Man's Family), comedy (George Burns and Gracie Allen, Jack Benny, Phil Harris, Amos and Andy, Fibber McGee and Molly, Red Skelton). Something for everyone.

Around the time I graduated from high school and went to work, we got this radio-phonograph which was a Philco and called the "Bing Crosby" model. Why, I don't know. The little door at the bottom with the slot was opened and a record inserted for instant music. I thought it was just wonderful - our family had never had anything like that ever. Naturally, we always had a radio - but a phonograph? Bliss. Back then, it was a long long time before all of the gadgets that now let you carry your music with you were even invented.

And here is an album that we played on the old Philco. Dorothy Shay, the Beverly Hillbilly, sang her kookie songs in a charming style. If you would like to hear a sample of Dorothy's music, click on the arrow below. Enjoy. (Click to enlarge)

1 comment:

MrCachetJanuary 6, 2011 at 4:08 PM
Well - my grandparents listed to those programs, and I too - Sgt. Preston of the Yukon comes to mind. My dad being a musician (played by ear) brought home many records. One I was thinking of only yesterday - Early Fifties, I believe. "How High The Moon", by Les Paul & Mary Ford. I learned that one by heart so I could surprise my dad. I can still hear them in my head.
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Old Pictures of the People in My Life

In this blog, I will post pictures from the past of the many people in my life who I love and have loved. The initial post and any that are labeled Pearce Family refer to my mother's family. Dan and Maggie Pearce had five children, Nelle, Nan, my mother, Harry (Ham), Leah and Ed. They took a lot of pictures and I plan to post many of them. My brother has sent me many pictures over the internet this past week - some of which I haven't seen - and this has prompted me to set up this blog to display those wonderful old photos.

I will also be posting pictures of my family, my husband's family, and our family. Those posts will be labeled by the family's name in the list on the sidebar. I hope this is something that will be enjoyed by anyone who looks in on

my blog.

I will try and tell as much as I can remember about people and places and events and of course much of it will be inaccurate but really just having the great old photographs to look at is fun in itself. And I do know who lots of the folks are.

Enjoy.