I'm glad I have these memories, unfortunately, kids today can't experience all of them, they have been taken away from them.
Late 30's, Dayton, Ohio, Christmas Time. Generally, the last day of school before Christmas Vacation, at Emerson Junior High School, the whole school would go to the big auditorium for a Christmas Show. The big junior high kids would put it on.
I remember on stage, Mary and the Baby Jesus, Joseph, the Inn Keeper, the Three Wise Men, the big star hanging over the crib, songs like "Away in a Manger," "Oh Holy Night," "Silent Night," all the great Christmas songs were sung. Everyone generally got a candy cane, or some "goody" to take home.
It was a big part of the whole Christmas season for me. The toyland at Rikes, our big department store, Santa being there, talking with him, and that model railroad layout they had. My eyes were about the level of the tables the trains ran on. I remember one curve, coming out of a tunnel, the train would come right at me, and then turn, to go over a bridge.
Santa's helpers were always there in proper dress, a sea of white, with green trees and red lights. They transformed the toy department in to a "Winter Wonderland."
The windows in the front of the store, each one a Christmas story, most were animated, and they were the same each year, but they were always new and magical because of the season of the year.
Always, one of the days before Christmas, Mom and I would go downtown for our "day." We would take the old Brown Street bus downtown to Rikes. Gaze in wonder at all the decorated windows, then inside, I still have that aroma stored up in my head, and the noise and the hustle and bustle of the crowded store full of shoppers. No malls then, you did your shopping in a "department store." We had two in Dayton, Rikes and Elders. Rikes was always the special one.
On to the elevator, which had an operator that controlled that up and down switch. They were good, they generally stopped at the exact spot, aligning up the elevator with the floor. Occasionally you would hear a "Watch your step," but not very often.
Then off the elevator and in to that "Santa Land," the whole toy floor was transformed. It was awesome to a little boy my age, all wonderful and mysterious. All the Santa helpers, the decorations, the trains, the trees it was truly "Christmas Time."
A trip to Rikes, the Christmas pageant at Emerson, putting up the tree on the 18th, going to Church, and the Christmas Service, on Christmas Eve, going to Geringers, a Dentist who was a good friend of my Dads, we visited them every Christmas Eve. Then home, put out the cookies and hot chocolate, to bed, and then the "wait" for Santa to come.
Christmas at 319 South Brown was something special in those days, late 30's. I think my Mom and Dad, after many frugal years of college, pre-med, med school, internship, residency, were financially better off than previous years, and Mom occasionally got carried away. "I think I have more for Bud, than Joe."
So off to the store for more for Joe. Later, "I think I have more for Joe than Bud." That went on and on for a few weeks. Mom hid things around the house that she had purchased, and it was a big house, an attic we could play basketball in, so there were many places to hide gifts. It was not uncommon, in July, when looking for something, to find a forgotten Christmas gift that was hidden too well.
We got up early on Christmas morning, and often opened gifts till noon. Even with Mom's warning of "Let's just open one gift at a time, and take turns so it is not over too soon." Mom loved her family and family occasions, and hated to see them end.
The house on Brown Street is gone, Mom, Dad and Bud are gone, schools can no longer have Christmas Pageants, the department stores are all gone, sitting around the old Philco radio listening to special "Christmas Shows," all gone. What a shame for the younger generation, but hopefully they will have their own memories to look back on.
Late 30's, Dayton, Ohio, Christmas Time. Generally, the last day of school before Christmas Vacation, at Emerson Junior High School, the whole school would go to the big auditorium for a Christmas Show. The big junior high kids would put it on.
I remember on stage, Mary and the Baby Jesus, Joseph, the Inn Keeper, the Three Wise Men, the big star hanging over the crib, songs like "Away in a Manger," "Oh Holy Night," "Silent Night," all the great Christmas songs were sung. Everyone generally got a candy cane, or some "goody" to take home.
It was a big part of the whole Christmas season for me. The toyland at Rikes, our big department store, Santa being there, talking with him, and that model railroad layout they had. My eyes were about the level of the tables the trains ran on. I remember one curve, coming out of a tunnel, the train would come right at me, and then turn, to go over a bridge.
Santa's helpers were always there in proper dress, a sea of white, with green trees and red lights. They transformed the toy department in to a "Winter Wonderland."
The windows in the front of the store, each one a Christmas story, most were animated, and they were the same each year, but they were always new and magical because of the season of the year.
Always, one of the days before Christmas, Mom and I would go downtown for our "day." We would take the old Brown Street bus downtown to Rikes. Gaze in wonder at all the decorated windows, then inside, I still have that aroma stored up in my head, and the noise and the hustle and bustle of the crowded store full of shoppers. No malls then, you did your shopping in a "department store." We had two in Dayton, Rikes and Elders. Rikes was always the special one.
On to the elevator, which had an operator that controlled that up and down switch. They were good, they generally stopped at the exact spot, aligning up the elevator with the floor. Occasionally you would hear a "Watch your step," but not very often.
Then off the elevator and in to that "Santa Land," the whole toy floor was transformed. It was awesome to a little boy my age, all wonderful and mysterious. All the Santa helpers, the decorations, the trains, the trees it was truly "Christmas Time."
A trip to Rikes, the Christmas pageant at Emerson, putting up the tree on the 18th, going to Church, and the Christmas Service, on Christmas Eve, going to Geringers, a Dentist who was a good friend of my Dads, we visited them every Christmas Eve. Then home, put out the cookies and hot chocolate, to bed, and then the "wait" for Santa to come.
Christmas at 319 South Brown was something special in those days, late 30's. I think my Mom and Dad, after many frugal years of college, pre-med, med school, internship, residency, were financially better off than previous years, and Mom occasionally got carried away. "I think I have more for Bud, than Joe."
So off to the store for more for Joe. Later, "I think I have more for Joe than Bud." That went on and on for a few weeks. Mom hid things around the house that she had purchased, and it was a big house, an attic we could play basketball in, so there were many places to hide gifts. It was not uncommon, in July, when looking for something, to find a forgotten Christmas gift that was hidden too well.
We got up early on Christmas morning, and often opened gifts till noon. Even with Mom's warning of "Let's just open one gift at a time, and take turns so it is not over too soon." Mom loved her family and family occasions, and hated to see them end.
The house on Brown Street is gone, Mom, Dad and Bud are gone, schools can no longer have Christmas Pageants, the department stores are all gone, sitting around the old Philco radio listening to special "Christmas Shows," all gone. What a shame for the younger generation, but hopefully they will have their own memories to look back on.
