WHOAAA!!!
“Flintstones..meet the Flintstones…the modern Stoneage Family!”
Carolyn turned on the T.V. last evening as we were preparing dinner. What a surprise! There, right in front of my/our eyes was an animated series right out of our younger years! WOW! However, after I paused to reflect upon what was right in front of me at the moment, I fully realized what was actually happening.
More and more “retro” activities are appearing once again in our Lives. This “step back in Time” includes a myriad of television series which originally appeared in the 80’s, 70’s, 60’s, 50’s, and even further back. The list is absolutely phenomenal, and seems to be growing every day!
NOT JUST KIDS’ STUFF ANYMORE
As I became entranced by the animated series I was watching, I slowly became aware of “stuff” I had NEVER noticed while watching the same program in my younger years. For example…one of the characters in this episode was a definite cartoon version of Alfred Hitchcock. As a kid, I had no idea who Hitchcock was…but, my parents did! Similarly, “Fred’s” attitude reminded me now of the personality presented by the Ralph Cramden character in the “Honeymooners” show. HMMMM…….
THE SHOW GOES ON
BUT…this reversal is NOT limited to simply a single T.V. station. Oh, NO! Nearly every active station seems to have recognized the inherent value in presenting these “ancient” offerings.
Nor is this practice limited to on-air television. NOPE! Retro-action has taken over our Lives in innumerable measures and ways.
I have ALWAYS been a total fan of the music from the 60’s and beyond (both ways). In my usual Facebook offerings, I usually post one, or several, YouTube offerings of selected songs. This practice of mine has become a matter of public record. I can hardly enter ANY local/regional venue without someone coming up to me and engaging myself in conversation about my music posts. The conversations frequently wander down the pathway to recollection about other marks of the past eras.
COOL!
Actually….GROOVY!!!!
Recently I was completely surprised by a message I received from one of my Friends, Joel.
He had (to my complete amazement) realized and recognized my involvement with the WOODSTOCK Festival of 1969. His message which I received a few weeks ago informed me that he had ordered and purchased a gift for me…a framed original aerial photograph of the Woodstock crowd, AND included within the frame was a portion of the stage from the festival. WOW!!! What a TREASURE…at least to some of us.
When I received this incredible gift, I was, once again, transported across 50 years, and back to those three days. Somehow, it seems as if I never left! Still have the long hair, moustache, and Love of my Brothers & Sisters.
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS
Apparently, the movie industry has also caught the “retro-bug.”
The film studios are “cranking-out” remake after remake of older movies…DUMBO, ALLADIN, MARY POPPINS, LADY & THE TRAMP, are simply a few of these remakes. Even the notoriously evil queen, MAELIFICENT, has been given a chance to “clean-up” her act in a soon to be released version.
YIPES!
Take a look at some of the most recent kitchen appliances offered on the market. Do the looks seem somewhat familiar? Stoves, refrigerators, blenders, mixers, and MORE now seem as if they have stepped-out of the ‘50’s in terms of shapes and colors.
On-air chefs and restaurants are presenting almost forgotten comfort foods and recipes from “way-back-when.” One can visit stores and see bin after bin filled with what would have been in our day “Penny Candy.” BUT it’s NOT “Penny Candy” anymore…NO WAY!!
Seed catalogs and nurseries are adding more and more “heirloom” flowers and vegetables to their lists of availability to their customers.
HMMM…
So what does all this retro-activity mean? How can it be interpreted? Where does it all lead? Are we headed back through the “Time Tunnel?”
Perhaps, all this stuff is merely an indication that we as a People have become somewhat aware of the precious quality of Heritage and of past generations. Maybe, just maybe, we are beginning to stop, take a deep breath, and take a look at some of the qualities of Life that have brought us to this point in Time.
So many of us take a look around and believe that we are living in a Time of possible turmoil. Is it possible that we are taking a moment to grasp our Past so that we may insure the quality of the Future? HMMM…
When trumpets were mellow
And every gal only had one fellow
No need to remember when
‘Cause everything old is new again
Don’t throw the pa-ast away
You might need it some rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new again.
Peter Allen
(Everything Old Is New Again)