by Regena Handy
Regardless of the weather, a change of the channel meant a trip outside to twist the TV aerial pole in the right direction.
This action took at least three people—one to go outside, one to watch the television for the clearest image, and one to stand at the door and serve as the go-between (“that’s good, nope, you turned it too far, go back a little, there, right there”).
Strange at it sounds, this was actually an improvement to its predecessor, the ‘rabbit ears’ antenna. Of course, with either you had to get off the couch and rotate the channel knob by hand (gasp!) which wasn’t a major task considering there were only three to four channels from which to choose.
We got our first TV when I was about 11 years old. Even then, my daddy reluctantly agreed to it, having previously refused to have one in the house. I am reminded of his wisdom whenever I come across some of the decadent programs shown now.
Possibly music shows were what won him over. Soon after we got the big, boxy, floor-model set—used—it became my alarm clock. Sounds of Reno and Smiley performing bluegrass and gospel music on the WDBJ 7 “Top O’ The Morning” show out of Roanoke would awaken me. Irving Sharp or Cousin Irv, as he was known, served as host, playing the piano and singing. Artie Levin, recognized as Mr. Fitness, was his sidekick.
Strange how I can barely remember what I did yesterday but the names of these people I’ve just mentioned and whom I had not thought of in decades instantly came to mind when I began to write this column.
Daddy soon discovered other music shows—Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, The Stoneman Family, Wilburn Brothers, Porter Wagoner Show, The Bonnie Lou and Buster Show, and a few locally produced, lesser known acts. Otherwise he mostly limited his TV time to the evening news, more specifically Walter Cronkite’s broadcast.
The rest of the family quickly claimed a few other favorites. My mother would set aside chores, such as ironing clothes, to be done during the still popular soap-opera “Days of Our Lives”. Haven’t seen a single episode in the last 40-plus years but I can even now hear that deep voice talking about sand through the hourglass.
Our time in front of the TV was restricted, mostly to westerns and sitcoms. Bonanza. Gunsmoke. The Virginian. My young teen self was madly in love with the grandson on “The Guns of Will Sonnett.”
We laughed at the foolish antics of Gomer Pyle, the Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction’s girls, the Green Acres and Bewitched characters, and the timeless Andy Griffith, just to name a few. Though I don’t otherwise care for vampire stories, I was a big fan of the show “Dark Shadows”.
You know how lots of stories convey a message or lesson. This isn’t one of them. I’m simply sharing a memory, a fond one to me. Possibly it will be the same with a few other people.
