Penny Candy, Bobskates, and Frozen Roadapples: Growing Up in the Thirties & Forties

My book is about being a youngster during the Great Depression, a young man during World War 2, followed by a career and marriage. The 1930's were a fun time for most kids, and a terrible time for many adults. As kids we made our own playthings: kites, stilts, willow whistles,soapboxes, and rubber band guns. We played games like One o'Cat, Oyster Shells, Kick the Can, and Mother-Mother May I? Newspaper comics included Alley Oop, Major Hoople and Gasoline Alley - radio favorites were Amos and Andy, Ed Wynn, and Fibber McGee and Molly. Horse drawn wagons delivered bread, milk and groceries. If you got an infectious disease like Mumps and Scarlet Fever your house was quarantined for at least two weeks. Then came the teenage years with zoot suits, boogie woogie, and big name bands such as Russ Morgan, Les Brown, Gene Krupa and Glen MIller, and our first girlfriends. Our favorite movie stars included David Niven, Robert Taylor, Jean Harlow, and Betty Grable - and comedians Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers and Red Skelton. In high school guys wore strides and girls had circle skirts. Following graduation most of us joined the services - six of my high school friends were killed - they were 20 years of age. After my discharge from the airforce I started my announcing career and there are several humorous anecdotes... like the weather forecast that predicted 'shattered scowers'. Then came marriage, and a family. When 'Penny Candy...' was first published in 1990 I received over 500 letters thanking me for the memories. One of the most rewarding said: 'When I bought your book my husband was dying from cancer. I read to him each night and we laughed and cried at the memories you brought back. I can't thank you enough for the pleasure you brought into our lives at such a sad time'. I think you will enjoy it.