Before I move into my two vacations in the Summer of ’85 (to Woodland Altars camp and to Florida), I wanted to touch on what were some fond memories from the Summer of ’85. Obviously, I was heavily collecting autographs during this time period as the concurrent postings indicate. And as we rolled into the warm weather, I, now being school-free, ramped up my efforts. I even created what I called my ‘autograph kit’ – it was a box that included my address book, postage stamps, the rubber stamp of my address, envelopes, notecards, and everything else I needed to complete a fan letter.
I remember those Summer nights, sometimes rainy, staying up until 1 or 2 in the morning and writing these letters. Along with that, I was enjoying the surge of old television shows that were being broadcast on CBN (the Christian Broadcast Network – later to become The Family Channel). Among the great shows I became acquainted with were The Bob Cummings Show, My Little Margie, I Married Joan, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and The Burns and Allen Show. I even began doing something that sticks with me to this day – taping the shows off TV. Along with Burns and Allen, I was also taping The Honeymooners and All in the Family which were broadcast during the daytime.
And in addition to that, we began subscribing to the Disney Channel when they began showing episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Still the Beaver was another show that they began showing after the popularity of the TV Movie of the same title – which I taped…and still have. I also enjoyed the daily showing of Disney cartoons on Donald Duck Presents.
It was also the late night of June 26 when I first saw a cool pair of magicians make their first appearance on Late Night With David Letterman. Initially I had confused them with hand-puppet act Pinky and Yehudi, so I wasn’t too excited that they were going to appear. But when I saw Penn and Teller come out and find a selected card by stabbing a knife through Penn’s hand, I thought these guys were the coolest thing since sliced bread. It wouldn’t be until early 1986 when I would see them again…and begin my full-fledged obsession. Yes, you could say that TV was my best Summer friend in 1985. It doesn’t sound like that would produce a lot of great memories but somehow it does.
Although I was relatively fat in those days, I still did manage to get around the neighborhood – and beyond – on my bike that Summer. I remember riding with Chris, Lee, and Mike all the way up to the Beaver Valley Shopping Center and having lunch at G.D. Ritzy’s, my favorite. They fried those thin hamburgers and had great shakes. Sometimes I would even let Denise tag along with me. Other times, we played on the privately-owned tennis court up on Wyndhurst Court. Of course, I had my Dayton Daily News paper route too, so I was making my own money to spend on autographs and entertainment memorabilia.
Other memories of the times? Well, I remember going to lots of Chevy Club (Gem City Classics) activities and my Mom’s softball team games and having huge picnics at our house for both of them. I remember hot nights and thunderstorms and watching National Lampoon’s Vacation. I remember swiping cigarettes and smoking with Chris and Jeff and hanging out regularly back in our woods. I remember going to the Old River NCR park and swimming in the ridiculously large pool. I recall playing a lot with my cat Jet and the introduction of a new cat named Niki. And I remember my Mom and Dad beginning to have some problems, which seemed to breed a degree of chaos around the house all of the time. It would not be long before my Dad moved out for the first time…but first I would enjoy a week at camp and a week in Florida with my whole family.
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