[Bubba Dawg]

Originally Posted by hampshirebrit

I am shocked, Madam, shocked I say, that you could even think such a thing, even in your wildest dreams.

Shocked, I say.

A non-denial denial.

[hampshirebrit]

I just got through watching the first of a two-part series on BBC2 about how children used to play in the first 6 decades of the 20th century. It focussed on the UK but a lot of it applies to the US as well, and in many ways closely resembles the OP.

As kids we played outside all the time. Summers seemed to last forever. We learned the social rules of the world this way, because we were allowed to, because this was seen as an essential part of growing up, to be allowed to play without adult supervision. At six, I walked to school and back, alone or with other kids ... we all did that then.

OK, there's more traffic, we all have more cash these days, we have TVs and we have cars, but our kids do not have the freedoms that most of us CUers had growing up, nothing like.

[megimoo]

Originally Posted by hampshirebrit

I just got through watching the first of a two-part series on BBC2 about how children used to play in the first 6 decades of the 20th century. It focussed on the UK but a lot of it applies to the US as well, and in many ways closely resembles the OP.

As kids we played outside all the time. Summers seemed to last forever. We learned the social rules of the world this way, because we were allowed to, because this was seen as an essential part of growing up, to be allowed to play without adult supervision. At six, I walked to school and back, alone or with other kids ... we all did that then.

OK, there's more traffic, we all have more cash these days, we have TVs and we have cars, but our kids do not have the freedoms that most of us CUers had growing up, nothing like.

This is rather frightening ,I Find Myself in agreement with this Brit street Hoodlum but We did find more things to keep us occupied when we were young.

Outside games with other kids our age,bicycles made from parts found in the local dump.I Made my first English Raleigh bike from about six junk bikes that I found in the dump.

In The Summer Time We Would make 'Racing Scooters' from old wood boxes and roller skates wheels and race down hills into traffic .

In the winter we would slide down the hills at the local golf course on old cardboard boxes and into the traffic and we all survived.

After school I would change my cloths and rush out to play baseball of 'stick ball' until it was too dark to see.

Sundays I would listen to my favorite shows on the radio,the Green Hornet,I love a mystery,The Cisco Kid, Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy, Captain Midnight, and The Tom Mix

Going to bed,under the covers,and listening on my secret homemade crystal radio,far into the night, that my parents didn't even know that I Had built.

[hampshirebrit]

Did you guys have Saturday matinees at the local cinema? We did. I had completley forgotten about them until I saw them mentioned on the BBC thing. They were a kids- only morning at the Odeon cinema each Saturday. TV did for them in the 70s. I probably saw some of the last ones.

[Rockntractor]

Originally Posted by hampshirebrit

Did you guys have Saturday matinees at the local cinema? We did. I had completley forgotten about them until I saw them mentioned on the BBC thing. They were a kids- only morning at the Odeon cinema each Saturday. TV did for them in the 70s. I probably saw some of the last ones.

I don't know, when I was a kid my parents said that movies were evil and so was dancing.

[AlmostThere]

Originally Posted by Rockntractor

I don't know, when I was a kid my parents said that movies were evil and so was dancing.

Is that why your avatars are generally animated and dancing? Rock, are you evil?!?

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by hampshirebrit

Did you guys have Saturday matinees at the local cinema?

No, old man, we did not.

[Rockntractor]

Originally Posted by AlmostThere

Is that why your avatars are generally animated and dancing? Rock, are you evil?!?

To the core! I snuck out at about 14 and went to an R rated movie, about two weeks later I took a girl to a dance and soon was no longer a virgin. Maybe they were right!

[lacarnut]

Originally Posted by hampshirebrit

Did you guys have Saturday matinees at the local cinema? We did. I had completley forgotten about them until I saw them mentioned on the BBC thing. They were a kids- only morning at the Odeon cinema each Saturday. TV did for them in the 70s. I probably saw some of the last ones.

When I was a kid my brother and I would catch the bus to town and watch great movies with stars like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, etc on Saturdays. Prior to going to the movie, we would attend a radio broadcast sponsored by a local bakery. They would give a few silver dollars out and everyone would get a loaf of bread. I was mean to my little brother because I would make him carry both loaves around or else I would beat him up.

[Rockntractor]

Originally Posted by lacarnut

I was mean to my little brother because I would make him carry both loaves around or else I would beat him up.

I hope he didn't grow up like Poli!