This is from Christmas 1973. It looks like the big gifts that year were the GI Joe Camper/RV and the Verti Bird. The camper wasn't made out of plastic either. That's metal. Most likely it had some lead in it too. They were indestructible as I recall. I had
this one too, but I liked the metal one better. Even though it was for Big Jim, we considered it a Joe toy. I can't remember if the RV was Tonka or not or if it was for GI Joe specifically. One year my neighbor and I got reamed by his Dad because we both drove our campers through his new tomato plants (the jungle!). His garden was his life and he didn't appreciate it at all. I thought the helicopter toy was called "whirly bird" instead of Verti but another picture showed the box.
That toy was badass. 
Here we see yet another precursor into adulthood as I rock this 3 piece kit. I wonder how long it lasted before I broke those heads? I'm guessing you can't buy toy drum heads after you crack one. The cymbals look like recycled pie pans. Am I crazy or is that a little wood block or cowbell on top? I need MORE COWBELL!
There's nothing significant about this picture at Niagara Falls from 1974. That's me, Still A Sis and Still A Dad on the Canadian side, eh. The thing that caught my attention was the railing. Was it really below the waist of a 6 year old or is this somehow trick photography from a weird angle? I remember going to the museums up there with all the barrel people and I thought a lot about falling over those falls as a kid. I didn't even want to take the cable car ride across because I was sure it would fall. That railing looks like it is WAY too easy to just topple over. If you could get your wife to turn her head for just a second you could give her a little bump. If there is nothing right below that I can't believe Still A Dad allowed us up on it.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a poor man's Batman costume. This was taken in our house but I clearly remember putting this outfit together at my Aunt Laverne's. Batman's getup was mostly black and dark blue so of course I chose green pajamas to start. No boots? No problem. Just give me some Wonder white bread bags and two "gumbands". Yes, I used to say "gumbands" and it was a hard habit to break when I moved east. Nevermind that it cut off my circulation, I was Batman! For a mask I chose a modified grocery bag. Most likely an A&P since she worked there. So there I am with a bag on my head. For a cape we used a towel with a safety pin right on my adam's apple. Today that might be considered dangerous. In 1974, wearing extremely slippery bread bags on your feet with a safety pin on your throat was child's play. The chest symbol is the most authenticate looking piece to this kit. I wonder if I was the dark brooding Batman or the campy Adam West version? I'm guessing campy.
This is from Christmas 1973. It looks like the big gifts that year were the GI Joe Camper/RV and the Verti Bird. The camper wasn't made out of plastic either. That's metal. Most likely it had some lead in it too. They were indestructible as I recall. I had this one too, but I liked the metal one better. Even though it was for Big Jim, we considered it a Joe toy. I can't remember if the RV was Tonka or not or if it was for GI Joe specifically. One year my neighbor and I got reamed by his Dad because we both drove our campers through his new tomato plants (the jungle!). His garden was his life and he didn't appreciate it at all. I thought the helicopter toy was called "whirly bird" instead of Verti but another picture showed the box. That toy was badass. 
Here we see yet another precursor into adulthood as I rock this 3 piece kit. I wonder how long it lasted before I broke those heads? I'm guessing you can't buy toy drum heads after you crack one. The cymbals look like recycled pie pans. Am I crazy or is that a little wood block or cowbell on top? I need MORE COWBELL!
There's nothing significant about this picture at Niagara Falls from 1974. That's me, Still A Sis and Still A Dad on the Canadian side, eh. The thing that caught my attention was the railing. Was it really below the waist of a 6 year old or is this somehow trick photography from a weird angle? I remember going to the museums up there with all the barrel people and I thought a lot about falling over those falls as a kid. I didn't even want to take the cable car ride across because I was sure it would fall. That railing looks like it is WAY too easy to just topple over. If you could get your wife to turn her head for just a second you could give her a little bump. If there is nothing right below that I can't believe Still A Dad allowed us up on it. 
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a poor man's Batman costume. This was taken in our house but I clearly remember putting this outfit together at my Aunt Laverne's. Batman's getup was mostly black and dark blue so of course I chose green pajamas to start. No boots? No problem. Just give me some Wonder white bread bags and two "gumbands". Yes, I used to say "gumbands" and it was a hard habit to break when I moved east. Nevermind that it cut off my circulation, I was Batman! For a mask I chose a modified grocery bag. Most likely an A&P since she worked there. So there I am with a bag on my head. For a cape we used a towel with a safety pin right on my adam's apple. Today that might be considered dangerous. In 1974, wearing extremely slippery bread bags on your feet with a safety pin on your throat was child's play. The chest symbol is the most authenticate looking piece to this kit. I wonder if I was the dark brooding Batman or the campy Adam West version? I'm guessing campy.
8 comments:
Tonka Toys ruled... totally indestructible, as I recall.
Toy drums? Absolutely badass. But I can't imagine a scenario in which I would have been allowed to play them. Waaaay too much noise.
My brother and I were also veterans of the homemade Batman costume... which usually stopped with a store-bought eye-mask and blue dish-towels pinned to our collars. Eventually, we worked up to the "official" costumes, with capes, masks, and plastic utility belts.
Batman was our life back then.
I was supergirl one halloween in college - used an old pool tarp for a cape.
Yes, those railing are low. I was there about 14 years ago and remember thinking how dangerous that is.
We are going up there this Memorial Day for a softball tournament but going on the US side.
Not paying a bunch of money for all of us to get a pass to go across the bridge. Told the husband he can do it if he wants (and secretly hoping they dont let him back in the US).
Mrs. Dog still thinks she's Wonder Woman so it's OK if While thinks she's still Super Girl!
Dude, you were standing on the stones which clearly make up half the retaining wall/fence's height. It's still probably a little low by today's politically correct standards though. If the Niagra fence were built today it'd be 8 feet tall chain linke with razor wire at the top. You know, for kids safety!
I have no doubt you were trying on that Batman costume like Kenny did on the Sexual Healing episode of South Park 2 weeks ago (featuring Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger).
I know I was on the stones. My point was meant to be that every kid prolly jumps up on the stones. One little misstep after that and CYA
Amen to what Jackie Chan said there!
I am constantly amazed at the wealth of photographs you have from your family history. Your family must have kept the Kodak Instamatic in business!
Our family photos have suffered from too many moves and bad storage procedures.
@ carpet...LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Still A Dad and Still A Sis will both atest to the fact that you are seeing about 5% of the photos from any given timeframe. I have an album downstairs in my office that I am taking these from. There are seriously 20 photos for every 1 that I am posting. Each one is labeled on the back with enough writing to make me shake my head in amazement of how lucky I am to have these. That being said, I didnt need all the detail. I love the dates and location....but when me, pops and sis are in a picture, you didnt need to tell me who we are...lol. I am trying to post only the interesting stuff with visible toys or something particularly funny about that time period. still a sis has an album of herself as well ANNNNNNNND, the family dog that lasted 15-16 years had her own as well. we havent met her yet in my retrospect.
and i deleted jackie chan's comment. i think its created by a robot but how would i know? maybe not as i have the squiggly letter thingy on you have to provide but ive read they are overiiden easy now by software that picks them up.
still a while sent me the picture of her as super girl. i would post it but i bet she wouldnt give me permission, although i realize i dont need it :)
she was super hot girl if you ask me.
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