All this post-CES talk about the modern-day throwback that is the Klipsch Console has put me in a nostalgic frame of mind. I know, what's new? But more specifically, an early 1970s kind of nostalgia. Which was waaaaay forever ago. I mean, I think about the good ol' days when my boy was still crawling, but that was 2005. TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE. Which was pretty much yesterday.
I was quite small in the early 70s, but I do remember some things. Like our swivel-based floor TV with no remote. I'm convinced my father's decision to have kids was largely based on a need for channel-changing minions. Our TV had a huge dial that made a satisfying "cha-CHUNK" sound when we flipped stations. We had four channels that went off the air at midnight, which I know only because I was allowed to stay up on Friday nights to catch the Fright Night Fright feature. Indy locals, won't you reminisce about Sammy Terry with me for just a moment? And remember when sporting events only flashed the score every so often? You had to actually pay attention!
Video games were non-existent in my world until I was about 6 years old. Then it was hand held football with tiny red dashes as players and a soundtrack consisting of a nerve-racking "tick...tick...tick" noise, followed by a shrill "BLEEEP BLEEEEEP" when you were "tackled." Oh, the thrill! Thank you, Mattel.
I also remember my dad's stereo console. Not the specific brand or make, or anything else that doesn't remotely matter to a toddler, but I do remember a large, black, wooden cabinet with heavy decorative doors and huge nose-ring looking things for knobs. It would blare such gems as Runaround Sue and Rockin' Robin while my brother and I danced. I remember laying on the shag carpet listening to the first album mom ordered off the TV for me (you know... send a check or money order for $9.99 + shipping and handling to a random PO Box!) - Shirley Temple's Greatest Hits. Don't judge, I was 5. And Disney albums with dialogue snippets and music from my favorite animated classics... which I still have, incidentally. No clue if they still play, however.
I wish I knew what happened to dad's console.
Now I find myself stuck here watching classic commercials like this, this, this, and this (oh how I could go on) and daydreaming about the old days. Of course, I'm watching them on YouTube from my iPad.
