Post by John Stewart Miller on Dec 14, 2005 21:39:53 GMT
To wish all a happy Christmas thought I'd collate all my memories of best Christmases. This is off topic as most relates to the general experience of a child growing up through the 60s and 70s. Where I can, I'm interested in quoting the TV I can recall, what it is and if anyone can identify it. Also be interested to hear all your memories of Christmas and what I might have seen at these times?
My first Christmas would be 1961. At 10 months though I was little more than a baby. Though I have TV memories for the early 60s these seem to cover general programming like TWIZZLE, THE WOODENTOPS, FIREBALL XL5, FOUR FEATHER FALLS and READY STEADY GO outside Christmas!
I do recall that we had a real pine tree cutting stood in a wooden barrel - bucket during the early years; I recall the pines fell off in abundance and were sticky to the touch. I also frequently pricked my fingers on them, and there was a strong slightly overpowering pine smell. The decorations were large painted glass baubles which shattered into dangerous long shards when they fell off. I recall these being crimson and dark blue with floral white painted designs. They almost definitely were by 'WINFIELD', then the brand name of 'WOOLWORTH'S'.
1963 I think - was one of many white Christmases. They were magical for children, shimmering reflected white onto your faces, but not popular with adults!
A friend recalled Christmas 1964 when he was in bed with flu and saw the end of the first episode of 'The Daleks' then missed the rest!
The earliest toys for Christmas hail the earliest Christmas memories for me, possibly as every Christmas tended to follow the same routine. My memory of this seems to be when I was 4, Christmas 1965.
All the regular rituals were followed. These would have happened every Christmas up to then. They consisted of, a balsa wood type oblong box with rounded corners and Israeli label containing dates being drawn from the sideboard; A large square - ish bottle of 'EGG NOG' (cheap version of Advocaat); odd knobbly nut crackers (basically metal handles with serrated edges inside) and Brazil and hazelnuts being pulled out of a bowl.
My Brother and sister forced me to stand in a circle by the sideboard and each of us would be handed a paper chain from a packet in turn, and had to lick the gum. I recall cringing at the bitter taste and not knowing why we had to do it. It was obviously a yearly tradition from their childhoods carried on. The initial loop would be added to by the next wet chain looped through it. They came in a brown paper tape and card holding loop. I recall the end result was quite boring compared to standard decorations. They were in three faded colours, blue, green and red. I couldn't see the point of all this suffering for the poor result, but perhaps they had been the mainstay of 50s decorations, or just an economical alternative. The nuts were pretty terrible as well, when cracked the shell would inevitably get mixed in with the nut, with hazelnuts. You would end up eating both at the same time. Yuk! I also recall Brazils were both bitter and rich at the same time.
The toys I think I recall from 65 were an Airfix toy car steering wheel, a set with fat red plastic bricks, possibly a spinning top. Also a pedal car, (which may have been 66)? The latter was the most spectacular, but then my Dad worked as a telegraphist and was well paid.
The steering wheel I think had a moving indicator lever and working horn button. By attaching the sucker to the back of a chair with rung style back, it formed the imaginary windscreen of a car. I think there was a 'STINGRAY' steering wheel variation too. I recall a STINGRAY colouring set with odd wax pencils with flat tapered ends, but think that was my 1966 birthday. On that occasion after a 'night of bad dreams' I'd run through to my parents double bed and socially aware up with this on it. Around age 5 I went off fruit and veg. Thus my parents efforts by putting two oranges in each of my brothers hung up socks were wasted!
The red bricks I think formed a castle of some kind. These were the only toys I recall being intriguing or impressive.
I have the following TV memories from 1965; a sequence of silent films, different artists one after the other. I think 'The Electric House', Ben Turpin or Buster Keaton was shown. This is the one where a sheet gets draped over something like a vacuum cleaner and mistaken for a ghost walking across a room at night. There was also a figure appearing outside a window in thunderstorm flashes.
This may have been part of a compilation film 'When comedy was King'. I recall being allowed a tiny glass with a 'snowball' egg nog mixed with Lemonade in it. Mum had one too. I liked it, but was only allowed a little. The TV had been moved to the right of our radiogram, so that the large tree could go in the other corner. I think by then Mum was fed up of real pines and a neighbour had given us an equally large; but artificial tree made of green tinsel. It had tiny fairy lights on it, think by a company called 'PIFCO'. Theres also memory of a 'Z cars' type show in the day. This could have been DR WHO 'The feast of Steven' which had similar scenes. It was my sister who mainly watched the show at the time. I found the Daleks boring at that stage! Myself and brother preferred 'The Forest Rangers'. I have a vivid memory of us being din our dressing gowns, getting up and loads of decorations hanging from the ceiling, and the latter show being on. That would be either Christmas 65 or 66. The Decorations that Christmas were spectacular with concertina type larger circular ones and two tone diamond shaped rolls joined at the middle by 3D spherical or bell paper shapes. Red and yellow I seem to recall.
1966 see previous comments, but I think 'Power of the Daleks' was on. I didn't understand most of it. What had they done with the old granddad figure I'd recently grown to love? There was a younger stranger, mucking about. My Auntie was going "I don't think this is suitable for you!" during the conveyor belt / Dalek embryos sequence. Dad had bought a smaller tinsel tree, metallic green and silver tinsel. Think this was the year I was first charmed by a new set of Woolworths tree lights with faces and characters. A parrot or Father Christmas face. My favourite was a Chinese lantern in red blue and green. Possibly the pedal car (a police car in metallic navy blue with a bell on the bonnet and operating horn); was this years main present.
I recall at that time getting the first 'big' LEGO set (having bought a small tray each week before. One gift on an old catalogue slip was a 'CORGI' car transporter. It had 6 cars. The transporter was O.K. but the cars had no operating features (like 'matchbox' or 'Dinky'). 3 of them were minis I think. Identical, but in red, light blue and black. They had a chequered 'racing' decal roof. There was also a Citroen and a Triumph Herald.
Either for our birthdays or Christmas myself and Brother got torched with 3 colour filters. By sliding a metal switch a filter would slide over projecting an eerie red, green, or orange light rather than the regular yellow. I think there was a colour coded button for them on the side. Small plastic buttons over the metal slider.
1967 - I got Denys fisher 'Paint wheels' set. Also 'Crazee foam'. This product was used in DR WHO, but came with cartoon character heads for the lids. I recall a clown and a sailor. The foam came out of the mouths! I duly mischievously sprayed it on all my family's faces including my protesting dad across his glasses. I'm sure this was a white Christmas.
My friend and Brothers friend rolled a carpet of snow from the nearby green into a ball. Brother and my friend did another of different size. After, we built a snowman. I then recall knocking off the top and standing on the base snowball, waving up to my Mum at the flat window upstairs. Was this the year the terrytoons film 'Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer' was shown? The abominable snowman gave me nightmares. Of 'Magical mystery tour' (Beatles); I only seem to recall 'I am the walrus'
Christmas 68 - Crackerjack annual, 'SPIROGRAPH' and I think an AIRFIX model 'yeoman of the guard' in one of two socks hung on the bed post. The bunk beds of previous years were now dismounted and laid side by side. It was either this year, or probably 1969 (next 'white' Christmas); we heard a sudden huge bang and saw a long distance lorry had turned on its side in the road; my Uncle looking out. Seem to recall 'Tich and quackers' with Ray Allen, 'the Diddymen' (Ken Dodd); and 'Basil Brush' (with Rodney Bewes); being on?
1969 - 'Carry on Christmas' on ITV. I recall the trailer. Unusual to see the cinema team on VT. It was a spoof of 'SCROOGE' with Sid James in a night cap and Barbara Windsor. Think the proper film (Alistair Sim 1951) was on too. There was a Christmas episode of 'Lost in space' set in snow in an Earth western setting. 'Mr Peyton' in PEYTON PLACE got knocked down by a car, before the series ended. I was making a REVELL Lunar module kit from the shop 'MARRIOTTS'; one of my presents that year. I also recall an expensive HOT WHEELS car set 'SUPER ACTION SPRINT SET'. It had a garage which had rubber moving wheels set onto the track which sent cars flying round a loop.
1970 - 'DEAD OF NIGHT' the ealing horror compendium (1945) on ITV. Dad being the only one in? 'KENNY EVERETT - EV' with Labi Siffre as guest playing a song in paisley shirt / neck scarf. Album track with lyric 'pretty little girl, pretty little girl in a red dress playing in the sun..'
In the morning suddenly shivers up my spine seeing the stone angel on a grave in 'DAVID COPPERFIELD' 40s film suddenly confront title character with 'lit up' eyes.
Father and Mother in law to be playing Monopoly. The main toy was a CORGI ROCKETS 'SKY PARK'. I'm sure they showed a montage of all the ESSO BLUE adverts to date from the 50s, and my Auntie singing along to all the jingles. 'HUSH HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE' (1965) opening sending off to bed with a nightmare?
1971 - Dad returning having left home (?!) to play a game of 'tiddlywinks football' (Waddingtons) with me. 'SINBAD THE SAILOR' with its Gothic imagery (for daytime) including a cut out heart, with spurting blood (!) Sitting at dinner table watching the Pans people sequence to Diana Ross 'I'm still waiting' on TOTP. Seeing the preview for the chilling 'STALLS OF BARCHESTER' where a wooden carving with a dead eye appears to suddenly scream in a chapel.
1972 - 'THE STONE TAPE' (BBC 1). A programme on the making of a new (cinema) version of 'ALICE IN WONDERLAND' with Fiona - ? This was on BBC - wonder if it exists?
Around this time I recall getting a Japanese motorized vintage 'Mercer raceabout' model from my Dad, and a 'computer card' operated car from his Sister (which didn't work)? Also 'Haunted house' or 'stock car smash up'; though which were Christmas presents can't recall.
By 1973 I'd moved on - to a red vinyl record case, dictionary of electronics from brother in law, and a 'dust bug' record cleaner from SMITHS (or a cheaper version of one).
TV - Ghost story for Xmas LOST HEARTS down friends (too scared to keep watching) Repeat of 'THE EXORCISM' BBC. Shortly after Christmas 'BOYS AND GIRLS COME OUT TO PLAY' BBC which was like a ghost story. There was a Hayley Mills sequel film to the original comedy about Nuns 'WHERE ANGELS GO - TROUBLE FOLLOWS'. Also seem to recall 'CASINO ROYALE' (1967)?
Other 70s memories - an animated version of 'THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL'. Think it was on Christmas 1974 or 75. About the same time there was an OGWT film to Mahavishnu Orchestra Mk II track on ('if only I could see'). Does anyone know the exact dates?
Finally recollection of 3D tinted transparent Christmas tree decorations. There was a green hexagonal one, and an orange star, which clipped apart into halves. Inside were miniature CADBURYs chocolate bars. Probably 1971 or 72. Oh, and LIEUTENANT PIGEON doing 'Mouldy old dough' on Christmas TOTP party (same period)
My first Christmas would be 1961. At 10 months though I was little more than a baby. Though I have TV memories for the early 60s these seem to cover general programming like TWIZZLE, THE WOODENTOPS, FIREBALL XL5, FOUR FEATHER FALLS and READY STEADY GO outside Christmas!
I do recall that we had a real pine tree cutting stood in a wooden barrel - bucket during the early years; I recall the pines fell off in abundance and were sticky to the touch. I also frequently pricked my fingers on them, and there was a strong slightly overpowering pine smell. The decorations were large painted glass baubles which shattered into dangerous long shards when they fell off. I recall these being crimson and dark blue with floral white painted designs. They almost definitely were by 'WINFIELD', then the brand name of 'WOOLWORTH'S'.
1963 I think - was one of many white Christmases. They were magical for children, shimmering reflected white onto your faces, but not popular with adults!
A friend recalled Christmas 1964 when he was in bed with flu and saw the end of the first episode of 'The Daleks' then missed the rest!
The earliest toys for Christmas hail the earliest Christmas memories for me, possibly as every Christmas tended to follow the same routine. My memory of this seems to be when I was 4, Christmas 1965.
All the regular rituals were followed. These would have happened every Christmas up to then. They consisted of, a balsa wood type oblong box with rounded corners and Israeli label containing dates being drawn from the sideboard; A large square - ish bottle of 'EGG NOG' (cheap version of Advocaat); odd knobbly nut crackers (basically metal handles with serrated edges inside) and Brazil and hazelnuts being pulled out of a bowl.
My Brother and sister forced me to stand in a circle by the sideboard and each of us would be handed a paper chain from a packet in turn, and had to lick the gum. I recall cringing at the bitter taste and not knowing why we had to do it. It was obviously a yearly tradition from their childhoods carried on. The initial loop would be added to by the next wet chain looped through it. They came in a brown paper tape and card holding loop. I recall the end result was quite boring compared to standard decorations. They were in three faded colours, blue, green and red. I couldn't see the point of all this suffering for the poor result, but perhaps they had been the mainstay of 50s decorations, or just an economical alternative. The nuts were pretty terrible as well, when cracked the shell would inevitably get mixed in with the nut, with hazelnuts. You would end up eating both at the same time. Yuk! I also recall Brazils were both bitter and rich at the same time.
The toys I think I recall from 65 were an Airfix toy car steering wheel, a set with fat red plastic bricks, possibly a spinning top. Also a pedal car, (which may have been 66)? The latter was the most spectacular, but then my Dad worked as a telegraphist and was well paid.
The steering wheel I think had a moving indicator lever and working horn button. By attaching the sucker to the back of a chair with rung style back, it formed the imaginary windscreen of a car. I think there was a 'STINGRAY' steering wheel variation too. I recall a STINGRAY colouring set with odd wax pencils with flat tapered ends, but think that was my 1966 birthday. On that occasion after a 'night of bad dreams' I'd run through to my parents double bed and socially aware up with this on it. Around age 5 I went off fruit and veg. Thus my parents efforts by putting two oranges in each of my brothers hung up socks were wasted!
The red bricks I think formed a castle of some kind. These were the only toys I recall being intriguing or impressive.
I have the following TV memories from 1965; a sequence of silent films, different artists one after the other. I think 'The Electric House', Ben Turpin or Buster Keaton was shown. This is the one where a sheet gets draped over something like a vacuum cleaner and mistaken for a ghost walking across a room at night. There was also a figure appearing outside a window in thunderstorm flashes.
This may have been part of a compilation film 'When comedy was King'. I recall being allowed a tiny glass with a 'snowball' egg nog mixed with Lemonade in it. Mum had one too. I liked it, but was only allowed a little. The TV had been moved to the right of our radiogram, so that the large tree could go in the other corner. I think by then Mum was fed up of real pines and a neighbour had given us an equally large; but artificial tree made of green tinsel. It had tiny fairy lights on it, think by a company called 'PIFCO'. Theres also memory of a 'Z cars' type show in the day. This could have been DR WHO 'The feast of Steven' which had similar scenes. It was my sister who mainly watched the show at the time. I found the Daleks boring at that stage! Myself and brother preferred 'The Forest Rangers'. I have a vivid memory of us being din our dressing gowns, getting up and loads of decorations hanging from the ceiling, and the latter show being on. That would be either Christmas 65 or 66. The Decorations that Christmas were spectacular with concertina type larger circular ones and two tone diamond shaped rolls joined at the middle by 3D spherical or bell paper shapes. Red and yellow I seem to recall.
1966 see previous comments, but I think 'Power of the Daleks' was on. I didn't understand most of it. What had they done with the old granddad figure I'd recently grown to love? There was a younger stranger, mucking about. My Auntie was going "I don't think this is suitable for you!" during the conveyor belt / Dalek embryos sequence. Dad had bought a smaller tinsel tree, metallic green and silver tinsel. Think this was the year I was first charmed by a new set of Woolworths tree lights with faces and characters. A parrot or Father Christmas face. My favourite was a Chinese lantern in red blue and green. Possibly the pedal car (a police car in metallic navy blue with a bell on the bonnet and operating horn); was this years main present.
I recall at that time getting the first 'big' LEGO set (having bought a small tray each week before. One gift on an old catalogue slip was a 'CORGI' car transporter. It had 6 cars. The transporter was O.K. but the cars had no operating features (like 'matchbox' or 'Dinky'). 3 of them were minis I think. Identical, but in red, light blue and black. They had a chequered 'racing' decal roof. There was also a Citroen and a Triumph Herald.
Either for our birthdays or Christmas myself and Brother got torched with 3 colour filters. By sliding a metal switch a filter would slide over projecting an eerie red, green, or orange light rather than the regular yellow. I think there was a colour coded button for them on the side. Small plastic buttons over the metal slider.
1967 - I got Denys fisher 'Paint wheels' set. Also 'Crazee foam'. This product was used in DR WHO, but came with cartoon character heads for the lids. I recall a clown and a sailor. The foam came out of the mouths! I duly mischievously sprayed it on all my family's faces including my protesting dad across his glasses. I'm sure this was a white Christmas.
My friend and Brothers friend rolled a carpet of snow from the nearby green into a ball. Brother and my friend did another of different size. After, we built a snowman. I then recall knocking off the top and standing on the base snowball, waving up to my Mum at the flat window upstairs. Was this the year the terrytoons film 'Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer' was shown? The abominable snowman gave me nightmares. Of 'Magical mystery tour' (Beatles); I only seem to recall 'I am the walrus'
Christmas 68 - Crackerjack annual, 'SPIROGRAPH' and I think an AIRFIX model 'yeoman of the guard' in one of two socks hung on the bed post. The bunk beds of previous years were now dismounted and laid side by side. It was either this year, or probably 1969 (next 'white' Christmas); we heard a sudden huge bang and saw a long distance lorry had turned on its side in the road; my Uncle looking out. Seem to recall 'Tich and quackers' with Ray Allen, 'the Diddymen' (Ken Dodd); and 'Basil Brush' (with Rodney Bewes); being on?
1969 - 'Carry on Christmas' on ITV. I recall the trailer. Unusual to see the cinema team on VT. It was a spoof of 'SCROOGE' with Sid James in a night cap and Barbara Windsor. Think the proper film (Alistair Sim 1951) was on too. There was a Christmas episode of 'Lost in space' set in snow in an Earth western setting. 'Mr Peyton' in PEYTON PLACE got knocked down by a car, before the series ended. I was making a REVELL Lunar module kit from the shop 'MARRIOTTS'; one of my presents that year. I also recall an expensive HOT WHEELS car set 'SUPER ACTION SPRINT SET'. It had a garage which had rubber moving wheels set onto the track which sent cars flying round a loop.
1970 - 'DEAD OF NIGHT' the ealing horror compendium (1945) on ITV. Dad being the only one in? 'KENNY EVERETT - EV' with Labi Siffre as guest playing a song in paisley shirt / neck scarf. Album track with lyric 'pretty little girl, pretty little girl in a red dress playing in the sun..'
In the morning suddenly shivers up my spine seeing the stone angel on a grave in 'DAVID COPPERFIELD' 40s film suddenly confront title character with 'lit up' eyes.
Father and Mother in law to be playing Monopoly. The main toy was a CORGI ROCKETS 'SKY PARK'. I'm sure they showed a montage of all the ESSO BLUE adverts to date from the 50s, and my Auntie singing along to all the jingles. 'HUSH HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE' (1965) opening sending off to bed with a nightmare?
1971 - Dad returning having left home (?!) to play a game of 'tiddlywinks football' (Waddingtons) with me. 'SINBAD THE SAILOR' with its Gothic imagery (for daytime) including a cut out heart, with spurting blood (!) Sitting at dinner table watching the Pans people sequence to Diana Ross 'I'm still waiting' on TOTP. Seeing the preview for the chilling 'STALLS OF BARCHESTER' where a wooden carving with a dead eye appears to suddenly scream in a chapel.
1972 - 'THE STONE TAPE' (BBC 1). A programme on the making of a new (cinema) version of 'ALICE IN WONDERLAND' with Fiona - ? This was on BBC - wonder if it exists?
Around this time I recall getting a Japanese motorized vintage 'Mercer raceabout' model from my Dad, and a 'computer card' operated car from his Sister (which didn't work)? Also 'Haunted house' or 'stock car smash up'; though which were Christmas presents can't recall.
By 1973 I'd moved on - to a red vinyl record case, dictionary of electronics from brother in law, and a 'dust bug' record cleaner from SMITHS (or a cheaper version of one).
TV - Ghost story for Xmas LOST HEARTS down friends (too scared to keep watching) Repeat of 'THE EXORCISM' BBC. Shortly after Christmas 'BOYS AND GIRLS COME OUT TO PLAY' BBC which was like a ghost story. There was a Hayley Mills sequel film to the original comedy about Nuns 'WHERE ANGELS GO - TROUBLE FOLLOWS'. Also seem to recall 'CASINO ROYALE' (1967)?
Other 70s memories - an animated version of 'THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL'. Think it was on Christmas 1974 or 75. About the same time there was an OGWT film to Mahavishnu Orchestra Mk II track on ('if only I could see'). Does anyone know the exact dates?
Finally recollection of 3D tinted transparent Christmas tree decorations. There was a green hexagonal one, and an orange star, which clipped apart into halves. Inside were miniature CADBURYs chocolate bars. Probably 1971 or 72. Oh, and LIEUTENANT PIGEON doing 'Mouldy old dough' on Christmas TOTP party (same period)
