Buzz Aldrin talks about his moon walk, his visions for the future and being a contestant on “Dancing With The Stars.’ In an exclusive interview, Buzz shares his thoughts about how New Seniors can use their experience and values to help other generations realize the American dream.
I fondly remember the Liberty Theatre in Philadelphia as the place where I received an extra-large dose of entertainment. The Saturday afternoon movie extravaganza lasted for hours and took the youngsters attending on a journey of fun, excitement and shoot ‘em up adventures. Being there was a social event for kids of all ages. Through the ‘40s into the early ‘50s the Saturday matinee reigned. Nothing paralleled this once-weekly tradition.
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I grew up listening to lots of radio shows, as did most pre-boomers. Around dinnertime there was “Captain Midnight” and “Jack Armstrong the all-American Boy,” plus many other adventure series throughout the early evening. Around eight o’clock the comedies like “Fibber Magee & Molly” and “The Life of Reilly” came on. At nine were the dramas such as the “Lux Radio Theatre.” And, there were scary programs too; every time I hear a squeaking door today, I think of the opening of “Inter Sanctum.”
Remember running home from school in the late ‘40s, pouring a glass of milk and grabbing a few cookies then plunking yourself down in front of a massive piece of furniture housing a ten TV inch screen? You’d turn it on and watch the soundless test pattern waiting for the buzz to begin. This sound signaled that in just a few minutes Howdy Doody and his friends would be pumped into your living room in glorious black and white. If this experience was part of your distant pass, you’re a pre-boomer.
Looking back to my teenage years in Southern California during the mid-1950s, my reminiscences include fond memories of a place called “Hollywood” and its iconic boulevard. Although it sounds exciting, my experiences were very similar to countless others of my generation growing up around the country in those idyllic postwar years.
Do you remember the first ten years of rock and roll? Was it the music you liked when you moved on from your teen years? If so, chances are the pop music of those years is still your favorite.
Growing up in Philadelphia and later working in Manhattan gave me an early sense of musicals and their impact on the cultural scene. I saw one big musical production at the old Shubert Theatre in the late ‘40s, but I was exposed to the songs from Oklahoma, South Pacific and The Music Man through the ‘50’s. During the next decade, while living in the city, I was able to see many grand productions: Camelot, Westside Story, Hello Dolly and more, including the protest musicals.
Moms didn’t work when we were kids. They were called “homemakers” back then. Nobody looked down their noses at stay-at-home mothers; in fact, there was a bit of a stigma connected to those who had outside jobs. That being the case, there were hot meals on the table for virtually every meal, including noon because we used to come home from school for lunch. Since convenience foods had not yet been invented, mom spent a great deal of time in the kitchen. So going to a restaurant was a really big deal for us, especially mom.
