Have you ever had a memory triggered by a picture? Well it happened to me the other day when local Hannibal historian Steve Chou posted a picture of cameras set up in Hannibal for a telecast of Dave Garroway's Wide Wide World a 90 minute program on NBC which aired live on Sundays during the 1950's. In those day AT&T worked closely with the TV networks providing their communications and microwave facilities for the broadcast. It just so happened that the local manager of AT&T was a friend of my parents and his family was given the cameo role of a tourist family exiting the Mark Twain Home, getting in their car and heading off into the sunset. The problem was that Mr. Holmes was one short of an all American family. He had a lovely wife and a cute daughter but was missing that impish boy. That's where 9 or 10 year old John was drafted for his national TV debut. My career began and ended on that very day. It was long forgotten until I saw the picture the other day and now wonder what if...what if I had been discovered on national TV? Could I have been Opie of Mayberry or Johnny Hodges in the Music Man? I guess it's a moot point now. I just though it funny how that one picture triggered those long forgotten memories.
I'm still researching tow dollys, but I will have to say there doesn't seem to be much positive posted on the internet about their use. Everything I'm reading seems to be based on what can and probably will go wrong. Well the search continues.
Yesterday we reached 105 degrees here in Cortez which really puts a damper on tap dancing in the sun. The same is expected for today so I will try to stay out of the noon day sun. There are still ways to enjoy the good life in the shade though.
The only way I could get on television would be if I sat on the screen. Donna won't let me do that, so sadly, I have no opportunity to be discovered. Fame would only go to my head, or so I've been told. Sold my tow dolly years ago, and never regretted doing so.
ReplyDeleteI would have pegged you as a good replacement for the lovable Captain Kangaroo.
DeleteThe resemblance is remarkable!
DeleteWith his kind and gentle heart he'd be a good one.
DeleteGee, I always knew you were famous for some reason...and not being the poster child for demonstrating the good life... ;c)
ReplyDeleteI think that would be closer to infamous.
DeleteJust a thought, why don't you rent a dolly from U-Haul for a day or two and try it out. You can make your own opinion instead of relying on others.
ReplyDeleteI towed my son's car cross country on a dolly a few years ago and did not find it difficult. We made a number of stops and had the car on and off the dolly each time.
It's sort of like comparing laced sneakers with Velcro sneakers. Both do the job, one just is slightly easer to use than the other.
I looked into that and it is an option. I still haven't convinced myself that I need and car. A 31' RV is not nearly as cumbersome as a 60' 18 wheeler, which I toured with for 11 years. Thanks for the input though.
DeleteI knew you had a mug for TV. Why not go on out to California and audition for one of those reality shows. You might get a job as a stand in for someone famous.
ReplyDeleteI've been told I have a face made for radio.
DeleteYour time on TV was more fun than mine - the only time I was on TV was during the news - April 15th when they came into the IRS to interview us and everybody else disappeared.
ReplyDeleteThe government office I worked in had a rush to the back door when the media showed up, too.
DeleteHere I am crying about 92 and you had 105. Time to move on. But where to?
ReplyDeleteNot moving until after the 4th, but hoping it cools a bit.
DeleteOh, get out of the heat as soon as you can! Ugh. 98 outside right now, 88 inside the rig. Fans help a lot!!
ReplyDeleteI've been on TV before. Seemed every year I'd sneak down to Corpus Christi for a dog show, the cameras would catch me with my Afghans or Salukis, then it would hit the news so the in-laws would find out I was there!
Sometimes you just can't get away with anything.
DeleteCome to the Washington or Oregon Coast! With the exception of this little hot spell we're having right now, you could become enchanted!
ReplyDeleteI have been there before, but it's not on this years schedule.
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