The Boy Who Invented Television:
A Story of Inspiration, Persistence
and Quiet Passion
by Paul Schatzkin
Posted on 05/22/2005 10:44:45 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran
HOW OLD IS GRANDMA?
One evening, a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.
The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There were no credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man had yet to walk on the moon. Your Grandfather and I got married first and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, "Sir"- - and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir." We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, day-care centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent.
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends -- not purchasing condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5&10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could afford one? Too bad because, gas was 11 cents a gallon. In my day, "grass" was mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in, and "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby.
"Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office, "chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store and software "wasn't even a word. And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap.
And how old do you think grandma is??? Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time. This is something to think about. How time has changed... Grandma is 58 (born 1946)
You are being kind and generous.
TV - First televised speech by Herbert Hoover, 1927. THere was a demonstration in Scotland a year ealier. The Germans began the first television broadcast services in 1936.
Air conditioning - First air conditioner, 1902. First air conditioned theater (Montgomery, ALA) 1917. US House of Reps ACed 1928, Senate chamber, 1929.
Here is another.
penicillin - discovered by Fleming, 1928.
I wonder if anyone's ever investigated to find out who actually writes these things that sweep around the 'net. George Carlin and Ted Nugent can't do them all!
Grandma was born before fact checking.
She's obviously forgotten about the later Tommy Dorsey recordings, "I'm Getting Sentimental Over Satan", "All The Things You Are, I Worship Dark Lord Of The Abyss" and "I'm In The Mood For Human Sacrifice".
…was born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods …
Grandma has to be a lot older than 58.
Not to pile on, but this is fun. Ice cream cone was invented in 1904.
Oops...my bad. Article said that cones were a nickel, not that they didn't exist. Going back to my cage now.
Before she died, I asked my Great-Grandmother what she thought to greatest invention was.
She replied quickly, "Oh that is easy, the electric starter on cars."
She was a tiny thing at 19 years. She would have to wake her brother up at 6 a.m. to start the car, so she could get to work.
She hated having to wake him, but she could not crank it to start.
Kids couldn’t have an ice cream cone before 1904? That’s an outrage!
The electric starter gave us Women drivers.
Such a Shame.:)
LOL! I never thought of her as a woman driver. But, you are correct.
First American patent for a clothes dryer was granted in 1892.
When did contact lenses come out? My dad was wearing them in the early '50s.
The first practical dishwasher was invented by a woman named Josephine Cochran in 1886. They did not begin appearing in homes until the 1950s.
Leonardo da Vinci sketches and describes several forms of contact lenses. 1508
First design using a mold to make contacts fit different eyeballs. 1929
http://www.contactlenses.co.uk/education/public/history.htm
The Boy Who Invented Television:
A Story of Inspiration, Persistence
and Quiet Passion
by Paul Schatzkin
My wife (Grandma) just tells the kids she is "Older than dirt."
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