Back in April 1970 I was a typical 9 year-old boy of the time interested in a wholesome mix of Oxford Bags, Ben Sherman shirts, monsters, girls and space travel. At the same time three intrepid Astronauts blasted-off to the Moon on Apollo 13 and the whole world watched with bated breath. On April 14th the statement "Houston we've had a problem" was uttered, later being changed over time by popular culture to one of the most iconic of all space phrases "Houston we have a problem". You can find the original on Wikipedia together with the attractive mission insignia (above), which means "From the Moon, Knowledge". I was also interested to read that the 1995 Howard/Hanks movie started a resurgence in interest for the space program. Is that the case? I don't remember that!
One of our fellow readers, Darth, has been busy this week speaking on Canadian TV about Apollo 13 as part of the 40th Anniversary celebrations. Some of the interviews took place at the Canadian Air and Space Museum, where Darth's Project SWORD collection is on display as well! You can see Rob (Darth) here.
In many ways Apollo 13 and 1970 signalled the beginning of my growing-up, as I entered my second decade age 10 that Christmas. I would love to see cinefilm footage of that festive season to see exactly what I got but none exists I don't think. At some point in those first few years of the 1970's I discovered Kung Fu, Saturday Morning Top Rank Disco's (where we drank Slushies and wore platform shoes!), received my first bottle of Hai Karate After Shave to combat encroaching bumfluff and on Christmas Day 1975 drank my first glass of beer in a pub with my Dad and two brothers only then to slump in the Breakfast room chair and sleep through the Queen's Speech (photographic evidence of this exists!). Alas I fear that during this rite of passage during the early 70's, as I 'adolesced' completely, my interest in space travel waned significantly and through some covert operation carried out by my Mum my entire collection of toys dissapeared from my bedroom. Mum must have exposed me to a Men In Black-style Neurolizer as I have no memory of this presumably drawn-out nocturnal removal process whatsoever! How do they do that?
Sadly our family life came to an end in 1977 and as I've got older the stuff that filled my tender years, like many of my generation, has become increasingly poignant and important to me as I face up to a rapidly approaching and somewhat daunting Decade Number Five!
So, if it is not too intrusive a question, at what age did you begin replacing your toys?
ReplyDeleteI can't help but think of the dedication to "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", where the author describes Lucy Barfield as being "already too old for fairy tales". He goes on, "But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
It's a bit like us, isn't it? ... if you see what I mean.
I have most of those Apollo insignia...they had them as an attractive freebie in packs of sausages when I was a kid...circa 1970!
ReplyDeleteThey very nicely done and had a peel off back. I stuck mine in my beloved "Astronomy Project" book.
Anyone else remember them?
*Toad nods.*
ReplyDeleteYes, I had some insignia too, but not as freebies with sausages.
Do you still have them, Eviled?
Hi Philosophic Toad,
ReplyDeleteYes, I still have them, My "Astronomy Project" (where they ended up) is one of the very few things I have left from being a kid.
I always remember thinking at the time it was a bit weird that they came in packs of sausages but I wasn't complaining.
I think what was good about it too was that you could see them through the wrapper so you could actually choose the ones you hadn't already got.
Happy memories of being off school and going to Sainsbury's with mum on a Friday morning! lol
Oh, how lucky to still have them! I don't have a single thing from my childhood :(
ReplyDeleteI guess sausages aren't the first food one associates with premiums, but food manufacturers will try anything. If my memory isn't playing tricks on me, I recall seeing some adverts disguised as stories in children's comics, which aimed at getting children to want mustard of all things! I wonder if I have a copy? ...