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Clothes Cuffed bobbie socks worn with suede "buckskin" shoes or saddle shoes that came in all color combinations and styles from light weight to original heavier oxford in black and white. The sleeves were always cuffed and rolled on girls short sleeve shirts, and finished off with a scarf around neck. Wool skirts with length at middle of calf with a slit in back. The favorite hair styles were pony tails, and shoulder length hair that was rolled at ends with bangs and usually a side part. Barrettes were often used as decoration and to hold hair away from face. The boys typical clothes were blue jeans with cuffed legs, a t-shirt with rolled sleeves, or a shirt with back of collar turned up. They wore various short hair styles ranging from butch to slightly longer Elvis style that was combed back and held in place with VO5 Hair Dressing into a duck tail or DA as it was called. Going to church on Easter Sunday was a sight to behold! All women and young girls (me included) wore a hat adorned with artificial flowers along with white gloves.
Toys and Hobbies I wasn't much into dolls as a child because I preferred to be outside exploring or making something with my hands. The one doll that I did enjoy for a short time was Ginny Doll that is tucked away in a closet complete with all clothes, accessories and furniture along with a Toni Doll still in original box almost untouched. The Toni Doll was a Christmas gift and I was evidently at age that it just didn't interest me much. Easy Bake Oven has been around for 50 plus years as I was given one for Christmas when I was 8 years old and made and ate all cakes first night. Needless to say, I got very sick later that night! One of my weekly downtown stops was local Hobby Shop that sold Paint by Number products. I would sit at a desk in sunroom and paint for hours. I painted a black tole waste basket and Kleenex box holder that was given to my Mother as a gift. They also sold magic tricks that fascinated me and I would give magic shows at home on piano bench covered with a black antique crazy quilt. Two other toys I have fond memories of was Hula Hoop and Slinky.
Burma Shave The old motels are now a thing of past having been replaced with travel hotels. More rooms in a smaller space, but not as convenient as motels where you would park right in front of your room. When our family would take car trips we would see Burma Shave signs along road and read them out load as we passed them. DON'T TRY PASSING, ON A SLOPE, UNLESS YOU HAVE, A PERISCOPE, BURMA-SHAVE.
If computers had come along 45 years sooner, I think my life would have been very different. Oh well, better late than never.
Barbara Wangelid along with her husband Tobbe are the owners of http://www.JackandFriends.com where you can purchase vintage and retro reproduction signs, enamelware, antique labels, 1950's retro, and classic pedal cars. This article may be re-published (unedited) as long as the author's bio paragraph is included. The URLs should be set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.