Of the big three holidays – Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas- that came in 1972, I only have photographs of the latter. I am certain that I did not participate in the Trick or Treat festivities of ’72, being still too young for them to have been fun for me. If I had, I am sure there would have been ample pictures of me in my costume. As for Thanksgiving, this generally being the least photographed of the ‘big three’, my guess would be that we either went to Carl and Arline’s place or Grandma and Grandpa Murphy’s house – or both.
Although there were no photos from this gathering, there were a few slides dated November of 1972, which were most likely taken that month or not long before (but definitely after my birthday on October 2). These included a couple of snapshots along with some posed ‘professional-looking’ photos of me and sittings of Bev and Ed and Diana and Tom’s family.
The Claude family of 1972
Bev and Ed entering their first holiday as a married couple
A classic shot of me getting ready for the cold weather
A not-so-classic slouch shot
One of the ‘professional’ poses (another one can be seen here)
As for Christmas, there were a couple of firsts for me this holiday season – namely our participation in the Eagles Christmas event, which I would visit most season throughout the 1970’s into the very early ’80’s. Probably because this was my first visit to Eagles, it was also most likely my first time on Santa’s lap. Obviously I shared the same viewpoint of him which my daughter would eighteen years later.
The aluminum tree goes up
Grandma and Oscar’s tree at the house on Bellaire
It appears that no one likes this guy
The threat is over and I have my new teddy bear
Grandma Murphy and me at Eagles
Me and Grandpa Murphy in the smoke-filled Eagles bar. Incindentally, it was here that I first learned to play pool, perhaps on that very table (which may or may not be the one seen here)
Sometime after the Eagles event but before Christmas Eve, Dad took some home movies of me playing with my new teddy bear which I got as a gift at the Eagles party – and also me playing on my little horse on wheels.
Dad and me
Mom bribes me with my new teddy bear
On my horse
Christmas Eve was held on Sunday in 1972. As per the previous (and future) tradition, it was spent with my Dad’s side of the family – this time at Arline and Carl’s house. Dad took both photos and home movies of everyone present which also included Grandma and Oscar, Bill and Dottie and their kids, Joe and Hazel, Harold, and John and Pat. That night we went home and my parents excahnged their gifts to each other – probably after I had fallen asleep.
Dad the photographer at Carl and Arline’s house Christmas Eve
Grandma Range
I’m more interested in the camera than the gift
Mom, Carl, and Joe. Note the extensive owl collection in the background, a staple of Arline and Carl’s house.
Mom captures my interest with a top while Dottie occupies Robby
I still remember this top
Harold, Carl, Pat, John, Joe, and Lora
We go home, Mom slips into her slippers, and she and Dad exchange gifts
Dad seems particularly pleased with his new yellow box
The next morning, Monday December 25, I opened my gifts and had time to play with the boxes and paper that they came in before we set out to Grandma and Grandpa Murphy’s house for our Christmas with Mom’s family. Although I’m sure by the age of one I derived some pleasure out of the festivities of Christmas, I obviously do not remember any of it – and was not aware of the fashion faux pas of wearing the same outfit. Looking at the Super 8 home movies though evokes a strong since of nostalgia for a time bygone: the early 1970’s – which resembled most people’s concept of the 60’s. My parents and their siblings were all still youngsters with small children rarin’ to go.
Christmas morning
I recall selling this toy radio for ten cents at a garage sale
Christmas glee with the Murphy family
Grandpa mixes up some holiday cheer
Diana and one cool ‘do
Bev and Ed
Grandma Murphy surrounded by gifts
The less-popular “Tom Show” many years before Bob came around
After he had his graduation picture (seen next to him) taken, my Uncle Jim grew his hair even longer
Darlene entertains me as usual
The only photograph of the day – Mom and me. In later years I loved playing with that Toss Across in the chair. The box is seen behind Jim in the frame capture two images above.
I do however still remember some of the toys that I got this year – particularly the tyke bike, the top, and the little contraption with the gears and the blocks. You would insert the jagged blocks and they would put the gears in motion as it dropped through. Pretty cool. Better than Nintendo or whatever garbage is entertaining the kids these days.
The loot under our tree. Spoiled I was.
Below is the Super 8 footage that was taken before and during our celebration of Christmas 1972.
Up next: 1973…
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