The Christmas of 1974 is somewhat of a ‘lost Christmas’. For starters, being just three years old at the time, I have very little recollection of it. Dad took just a little over two minutes of Super 8 footage of it and it was consigned to a little 50 foot reel of film, coupled with the footage of 1973 – and therefore infrequently viewed. And finally, the few photos that were from this Christmas were all consigned to Kodachrome slides, and therefore were never perused repeatedly along with the other photographic prints in our photo albums.
In fact, in doing this posting I actually learned something new. I had a very distinct Christmas memory lodged in my head, but didn’t know what year to apply it to. Initially I wrote about it in my 1975 Christmas posting, but once I had scanned in the slides, I finally had my answer. The memory is this:
After checking to make sure that Santa Claus had eaten all of the milk and cookies, one of the first gifts that I saw through my sleepy eyes on Christmas morning was a brown, wooden toybox. I agreed that it might come in handy to stash my growing inventory of toys. After shredding through what seemed like a rather large haul of Christmas gifts and beginning to start opening boxes in preparation of an afternoon of playing, my Mom suggested that I put some of the toys in my new toybox to which I reluctantly complied. Much to my delight, the new box was stuffed to the gills with even more carefully wrapped gifts. This was almost like having TWO Christmases right smack in a row.
The memories are starting to sink into this pensive little mind
Everything else I know can be determined from the photos and film only. As with the previous year, we attended the Fraternal Order of Eagles Christmas Party for the kids. My grandparents were involved with this club so for much of the 1970’s it was a tradition to attend. The slides indicate some sort of floor show, a balloon man, that it was attended by Darlene, Cathy, Lori, and me – and of course that there was a Santa Claus present (as seen at the top of the posting).
Mesmerized by the floor show at the Eagles party. Grandpa Murphy was probably singing. Darlene is holding Lori and me; Cathy is on the right of me. I’d swear that guy on the left is my future grade school music teacher Mr. Kleeman.
I cannot believe this balloon freak wasn’t making me cry
Christmas Eve as usual was held at Arline and Carl’s house. My family atteneded along with Grandma & Oscar, Joe & Hazel, John & Pat, Harold, and Bill & Dottie and Lora and Robby. Most of the footage (seen below) was shot here. I received my toy desk set, complete with magnetic letters, chalk, and stencils. This thing hung around for quite a while through my childhood.
John, Pat, Hazel, and Joe open their gifts. Rob’s head blocks the view of Grandma Range, who apparently is on TV
I assist Mom in opening a gift, and Dottie helps Lora while Bill and Oscar look on. Harold attends to his own problems.
My new School Days Desk. Hey, can I smoke this?
This will keep me busy for minutes.
Christmas fell on a Wednesday this year. The morning was spent at our Echo Hill home with Mom and Dad. As I said, I only have the one memory that I detailed above – which is quite amazing considering I had just turned three years old! Unfortunately there are no photos or films of our Christmas as Grandma and Grandpa Murphy’s that afternoon.
The PROOF! There’s that toybox full of gifts that I remembered so well.
The barnyard Weebles set. They wobble but they won’t fall down.
Much of that loot is mine. Note the plastic bowling ball and pins sitting on the end table. I actually don’t remember a lot of them, besides the sled, the wood blocks and the baseball bat hair brush sitting on top of them.
The footage below was mostly taken at Arline and Carl’s on Christmas Eve. It ends with a bit of unlikely footage of Mom actually taking the Christmas tree down, while I look on and try to get in the way. This was undoubtedly shot just to finish off the roll of film.
Continue to the late 70’s, beginning with 1975…
Great memories. I like the picture with the sack with the big G for Gold Circle. I use to love that store and I still miss it.
Bev
December 18th, 2009
The School Days Desk was another toy that I had. It came with a tray full of magnetic letters, white cardboard cards that had pictures on them and the letters of the word were stamped out to fit the magnets, and two sliding doors at the bottom (below the chalkboard) to store them all in. I had completely forgotten about this toy. Once again, I find myself reliving my childhood while looking through your photo album. I guess the toy aisle was a lot smaller in those days!
Dave Chasteen
December 18th, 2009
I also had the school desk. I got it in March of 1973.
But I didn’t have a haircut like yours Brad, wow. With that length, you’re a true child of the 70’s.
Peter
December 19th, 2009
Wow, you were one spoiled kid with all the loot! Of course, now I get to spoil my grandkids as well. So much fun and great memories.
Mom
December 20th, 2009