Your Most Disturbing Realizations

[HudsonHawk]

As I child I used a turntable and a "4 track" tape player because compact cassette tapes hadn't taken over as the new technology yet. Now, where did I put that bottle of Geritol...

We had one of those turntables in a case that was like a piece of furniture. All my dad had was Johnny Cash, Eddie Arnold and Hank Williams. My friend Kevin had a real, honest to goodness "Hi Fi" turntable. We had to steal his older brother's Lynyrd Skynyrd and Johnny Winter records.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I got hold of a little suitcase portable Victrola when I was very young, and ground many fine records to dust with it. But it taught me to love Billy Murray, Jones & Hare, "Cohen on the Telephone," and various other items yielded from the attic. Rock-n-roll? Never heard of it.

 

[tonyb]

My console stereo ("the aircraft carrier," a friend dubbed it) was purchased from the original owner, who listed it on Craigslist, about five years ago. It's a handsome cabinet, which is what drew me to it. Woulda fit right in at Don Draper's pad.

 

[Zombie_61]

We had one of those turntables in a case that was like a piece of furniture...

Mine was built into a "corner unit" table that was part of a bedroom set that included two twin beds. The concept, which actually worked quite well, was that you place the table into one corner of the room, place one of the twin beds against the wall and push half of it under the table so the exposed end could be used as a short couch, and place the other bed against the adjacent wall to form a 90° couch/table/bed unit with an AM/FM receiver and turntable. The sound quality wasn't top notch, but it was good enough and still worked perfectly when I got married and moved out of my parents' house at the age of 20.

 

[Trenchfriend]

The young couple, walking ahead of me, on my way home.

She, elegant, completely warm-winterclothed, including a winter-bobble cap. He, no winter-cap on his head, a hooded, seemingly only transitional-(functional)jacket, simple dark-blue tracksuit-pants and simple gym-shoes, without thicker winter-socks. It was around -1°C.

 

[vitanola]

2. I watched Gangs of New York last night, and while it's a so-so movie, it hits on a few interesting historical tidbits, particularly the nativism and anti-immigrant fervor in New York City during the mid 19th century. Being centered around the Draft Riots of 1863, it really hits on the feelings of both the recent immigrants ("wait a minute...I just got here, why should *I* poor immigrant have to go off to fight *your* rich-man's war?") and that of the "natives" ("why should you who just arrived have any say so in how to run a country you had no interest in founding?"). Seems some things never do change. Secondly, just the idea that lower Manhattan hasn't always been skyscrapers is a quick reminder of how quickly this country changed after the Civil War.

Scorcese's picture was pretty good, <i>as far as it went<i> but remember that it won an Oscar for "Best <i>Original<i> Screenplay", though it was in fact based on parts of Herbert Ashbury's wonderful book, which was a more-or-less detailed chroinicle of crime and vice in Gotham from the days of Jackson to those of Harding. Ashbury wrote similarly enlightening histories of vice in San Fransisco (<i>The Barbary Coast<i>) and Chicago (<i>The Gem of the Prairie), along with his amusing and informative 1929 tome "The Bon-Vivant's Companion, or How To Mix Drinks"

 

[vitanola]

I got hold of a little suitcase portable Victrola when I was very young, and ground many fine records to dust with it. But it taught me to love Billy Murray, Jones & Hare, "Cohen on the Telephone," and various other items yielded from the attic. Rock-n-roll? Never heard of it.

My first phonograph was my great-grandfather's Victor V, which my grandfather dragged out of that attic for me when I was five, for I had seen a "Victrola" in operation and was absolutely entranced by it. I was given ,y great-grandfather's records, too. Mostly Bohemian popular titles from the 'teens and 'twenties. Soon other relatives were sending boxes of discs for birthdays and holidays...

The young couple, walking ahead of me, on my way home.

She, elegant, completely warm-winterclothed, including a winter-bobble cap. He, no winter-cap on his head, a hooded, seemingly only transitional-(functional)jacket, simple dark-blue tracksuit-pants and simple gym-shoes, without thicker winter-socks. It was around -1°C.

Well the other day I saw a young fellow walking to school wearing knitted sweat pants cut-off at the knee, no socks, sneakers and a hoodie, and naught else. The temperature was 5 degrees Farenheit, with a thirty-mile-per-hour wind, delivering a wind-chill of -19F. No young man in our town seems to wear a coat anymore. What are they thinking?

 

[HudsonHawk]

Scorcese's picture was pretty good, <i>as far as it went<i> but remember that it won an Oscar for "Best <i>Original<i> Screenplay", though it was in fact based on parts of Herbert Ashbury's wonderful book, which was a more-or-less detailed chroinicle of crime and vice in Gotham from the days of Jackson to those of Harding. Ashbury wrote similarly enlightening histories of vice in San Fransisco (<i>The Barbary Coast<i>) and Chicago (<i>The Gem of the Prairie), along with his amusing and informative 1929 tome "The Bon-Vivant's Companion, or How To Mix Drinks"

So you made me look it up, and the film was indeed nominated for best original screenplay (though the award went to Talk To Her). The logic at the time seemed to be that it was *inspired* by Ashbury's work, not *based* on it. Ashbury's work was reporting historical events, and the characters and storyline of the film were entirely fictional.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

Scorcese's picture was pretty good, <i>as far as it went<i> but remember that it won an Oscar for "Best <i>Original<i> Screenplay", though it was in fact based on parts of Herbert Ashbury's wonderful book, which was a more-or-less detailed chroinicle of crime and vice in Gotham from the days of Jackson to those of Harding. Ashbury wrote similarly enlightening histories of vice in San Fransisco (<i>The Barbary Coast<i>) and Chicago (<i>The Gem of the Prairie), along with his amusing and informative 1929 tome "The Bon-Vivant's Companion, or How To Mix Drinks"

Asbury also wrote a book titled "The French Quarter,"about crime and vice in New Orleans.

 

[vitanola]

Asbury also wrote a book titled "The French Quarter,"about crime and vice in New Orleans.

Thank you. I did not know of that book. I must find a copy!

 

[EngProf]

My first phonograph was my great-grandfather's Victor V, which my grandfather dragged out of that attic for me when I was five, for I had seen a "Victrola" in operation and was absolutely entranced by it. I was given ,y great-grandfather's records, too. Mostly Bohemian popular titles from the 'teens and 'twenties. Soon other relatives were sending boxes of discs for birthdays and holidays...



Well the other day I saw a young fellow walking to school wearing knitted sweat pants cut-off at the knee, no socks, sneakers and a hoodie, and naught else. The temperature was 5 degrees Farenheit, with a thirty-mile-per-hour wind, delivering a wind-chill of -19F. No young man in our town seems to wear a coat anymore. What are they thinking?

That kid gets around - I saw him at the grocery store over the weekend - dressed *exactly* like that. It was a a lot warmer here, though, 12 degrees F.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Um, new (type III) Denim-jacket in washed rose-colour?

Now, I have to think about that, for a while.

 

[2jakes]

Rock-n-Roll was popular with the youngsters during the fifties.
Most grown-ups hated the beat and thought it was the work of the devil.

In 1956, my folks & I sat down in front of the black & white television
box to watch Elvis do his thing on the Ed Sullivan Show.

 

[Stearmen]

In 1956, my folks & I sat down in front of the black & white television
box to watch Elvis do his thing on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Mom & Dad where ever you are.
Thanks for letting me enjoy my music when I was a kid.

That would have been September 9, 1956, when Charles Laughton filled in for Ed, who was recovering from a car accident, and Elvis was filmed in Hollywood! Charles introduced him by miss pronouncing his name, thus, for the first time "Elvin" appeared on TV. He also was shown from the waist down, it was not until his third appearance that the waist up policy took hold! Dig the jacket Daddy!

 

[2jakes]

That would have been September 9, 1956, when Charles Laughton filled in for Ed, who was recovering from a car accident, and Elvis was filmed in Hollywood! Charles introduced him by miss pronouncing his name, thus, for the first time "Elvin" appeared on TV. He also was shown from the waist down, it was not until his third appearance that the waist up policy took hold! Dig the jacket Daddy!

Actually I saw Presley earlier prior to Sullivan on the Dorsey Brothers Show
on Jan. 1956. I've never seem anyone before do what he did on stage. Might not
seem like much today. You had to be there to fully appreciate what was going on.
Especially for the young generation that could identify with the beat.
"Teenagers" was just becoming to mean something and this was the start of
our own music. Whether you like it or not.
Chuck Beery, Little Richard & Fats Domino were only available on certain radio stations
which I had to sneak at night to listen.
Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and my man from Lubbock, Texas, Buddy Holly,
made it ok!

 

[Fading Fast]

Actually I saw Presley earlier prior to Sullivan on the Dorsey Brothers Show
on Jan. 1956. I've never seem anyone before do what he did on stage. Might not
seem like much today. You had to be there to fully appreciate what was going on.
Especially for the young generation that could identify with the beat.
"Teenagers" was just becoming to mean something and this was the start of
our own music. Whether you like it or not.
Chuck Beery, Little Richard & Fats Domino were only available on certain radio stations
which I had to sneak at night to listen.
Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and my man from Lubbock, Texas, Buddy Holly,
made it ok!

I doubt kids today (really, anyone under about 40 years old) can appreciate how real the generation divide was on rock-n-roll. Kids loved it and, as you noted, parents not only hated it, but ascribed all sorts of social ills to the music.

Today's kids - and really kids the last thirty or so years - grew up with parents who try to be their friends and try to embrace their music choices or, at minimum, don't denounce them. It is hard, if you didn't live through it, to know how real, how rancorous the divide over the music was at the time.

What's funny, now, to me is that if you listen to Elvis, especially on his ballads like "Love me Tender," he sounds much closer in style to Sinatra or Crosby, than later Rock like Zeppelin or The Who (or the later Stones or Beatles) sound to Elvis. To be sure, "Hound Dog" had more grit, more rock-n-roll than "What is This Thing Called Love," but the divide - the jump - from "Hound Dog" to "Baba O'Riley" or to "Sympathy for the Devil" is even greater.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

I can remember when rock 'n roll was quite openly referred to as "n****r jungle music." Yes, the divide was pretty wide.

 

[2jakes]

I doubt kids today (really, anyone under about 40 years old) can appreciate how real the generation divide was on rock-n-roll. Kids loved it and, as you noted, parents not only hated it, but ascribed all sorts of social ills to the music.

Today's kids - and really kids the last thirty or so years - grew up with parents who try to be their friends and try to embrace their music choices or, at minimum, don't denounce them. It is hard, if you didn't live through it, to know how real, how rancorous the divide over the music was at the time.

What's funny, now, to me is that if you listen to Elvis, especially on his ballads like "Love me Tender," he sounds much closer in style to Sinatra or Crosby, than later Rock like Zeppelin or The Who (or the later Stones or Beatles) sound to Elvis. To be sure, "Hound Dog" had more grit, more rock-n-roll than "What is This Thing Called Love," but the divide - the jump - from "Hound Dog" to "Baba O'Riley" or to "Sympathy for the Devil" is even greater.

You've expressed my sentiments about today's generation perfectly.

I may not listen to their music
but I can appreciate their enthusiasm for it.

Thing is, I'm not limited to a certain time period or music
style.
I grew up listening to "long hair"
music which I enjoyed from my
grandmother's huge record console.
My mother's small Motorola that
sat on top of the icebox playing
"latin mambos", or "big band".
My uncle's collection of German polkas or Frank Sinatra.

Beatles, Stones & Creedance Clearwater Revival made my
life tolerable during my times
with Uncle Sam.

I love all styles, not everything, but if I like the beat, I'll probably
download it.
I don't understand why some folks
have to put down music they don't
like that others do.
But that goes with everthing else
as well.
I'm listening to "let it shine" by
Leadbelly as I type this!

 

[basbol13]

When I was a kid, we had an old 1940's RCA tv set. Due to my parents lack of $$$, we inherited the set from my grandparents. I think it had an 7" screen and the box it was in was humongous. The set probably weighed in at 40lbs, well at least it seemed that much. It had it's own stand which set it about 3 foot off the floor. We used it til the late fifty's when my parents were able to afford a new one. I still have the set and it still works.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I can remember when rock 'n roll was quite openly referred to as "n****r jungle music." Yes, the divide was pretty wide.

Jazz got that particular brush thirty years before anybody ever heard of rock-n-roll.