Found in the attic today . . . Freedom Land USA ashtray/paper weight. Freedom Land was an amusement part in the Bronx, New York, from 1960-64. It featured an historic theme, with Old New York, Old Chicago, San Francisco etc. I remember it fairly well, so I'd say we were probably there towards the end, '63 or '64, when I was 6 or 7. I remember riding in a stagecoach, I remember the fake Chicago Fire, and I remember waiting in line at the Borden's display to see Elsie the Cow. We waited for at least an hour, slowly making our way up the raised ramp and had just about made it to the barn doors when it was announced that Elsie was going to take a break, lol. I'm not really sure what happened to her that day, but apparently whatever cow was actually there that day had some problems and they shut down the display. I was so upset, I just wanted to see the cow from the TV commercials! For some reason, even though we lived near a farm and I saw cows everyday, I was in "love" with Elsie. My father promised me we'd never buy another Borden's product again, lol.
For the Wiki on Freedom Land, click here. Apparently most of the rides were dismantled and sold to various other venues. I've been to Clark's Trading Post in New Hampshire where the Santa Fe Railroad Depot ended up, so I must have seen it twice without realizing it. Co-op City was built on the land that was Freedom Land.
Found with Google Images, is there any doubt why I was so fond of Elsie, rofl!
rofl with you Casey. I think I'm going to be Elsie for Halloween this year, certainly more cheerful than my costume last year which was Barnabas Collins from Dark Shadows. Plus nobody at the party even knew who BC was. Dark Shadows must have been a West Coast only Daytime TV Drama.
ReplyDeleteNow about ashtrays.... certainly becoming harder and harder to find wouldn't you say? I should have saved those from back in the day when I smoked.
Hmmm, I wonder what REALLY happened to Elsie that day...guess we'll never know, hm?
ReplyDeleteCasey, I kind of wish I had my dad's stand ashtray with the amber glass in it...I wonder what became of it...my mom probably couldn't wait to get rid of it :) Can't blame her, we weren't a fan of the smoke in the house!
Annie, I remember you being BC for Halloween last year. I was reading but not posting on your blog yet I believe. I am not a fan of Halloween...NEVER dress up and hated to even have my kids dress up..I know I know, I'm a party pooper!
Night all!
I certainly remember Barnabus Collins! I watched Dark Shadows every afternoon after school. I loved all the characters on the show, Quentin, Julia, Angelique. The house was Collinswood, and it was set in Maine, very gothic! Did you know that some of the sets from the interior of the mansion were used until very recently on All My Children as the Chandler Mansion! When AMC moved to LA this year they changed it though, but part of Dark Shadows was on TV all of these years.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see them replay them on TVLand or some other network You can see partial episodes on YouTube. The music! The acting!
I saw David Selby, Quentin, once in a play in DC and went backstage afterwards and met him. I don't even remember the play but I remember him!
Mare: I have (had?) one of those standing brass ashtrays with an amber glass insert, too! I might have given it away the last time I moved. I'll know if I have it or not by the end of next week, my "deadline" for finishing the attic!
ReplyDeleteCasey, just fond and posted my BC pic from last year along with the calling card I created. lol
ReplyDeleteI ALSO HAVE ONE OF THOSE STANDING ASHTRAYS BUT GOT RID OF THE AMBER TRAY AND REPLACED IT WITH A HORSE PICTURE ASHTRAY. LOVE MY HORSES. IT WAS MY AUNTS'
ReplyDeleteGRANNY
Childhood expectations of meeting celebrities or products of popular culture has never sat well with me. I remember back in 1978 going to my first Yankee game and sitting near the dugout waiting to see Reggie Jackson to swing. I was screaming on top of my lungs to get his attention and the over paid jerk robotically turned around without breaking a smile and turned around and sat down.
ReplyDeleteThe following day, I gave my best friend at the time my Reggie card and told him to rip it up.
I'm not going to even mention what happen after Howard Cosell never shock my hand, but I'll just say that I wanted to put dirt on his toupee.
Woody: Donna Summer once gave me the finger in LA, as she got in her Range Rover, lol. All I had said was "Love to Love Ya, Baby" the name of one of her songs.
ReplyDeleteCASEY,I COULDN'T READ OR MAKE A COMMENT ON YOUR POST ABOUT YOUR YOUNGER YEARS.THANKS FOR SHARING.I LOVE THE WAY YOUR SO OPEN ABOUT YOURSELF. I JUST WONDER HOW SO MANY OF US HAVE SECRETS.EVEN STRAIGHTS HAVE THEM, DON'T YOU KNOW? I FOR ONE AM PRETTY OPEN ABOUT MYSELF EXCEPT FOR MAYBE ONE OR TWO THINGS I LIKE KEPT WITHIN THE FAMILY.
ReplyDeleteI CAN'T IMAGINE LIVING WITH AIDS OR EVEN HAVING A FRIEND DIE WITH THE PAIN. [HORRIBLE]. AS BAD IF NOT WORST THAN CANCER.
YOU MAY NEVER MEET ANNIE, MARE OR MYSELF IN PERSON BUT THROUGH THIS BLOG OF YOURS YOU HAVE THREE GRANNIES THAT LOVE YOU IN A SOMEWHAT SPECIAL WAY. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. I FELT YOUR PAIN AND ANOTHER TEAR FELL READING YOUR POST. I HOPE YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE. I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE GAY LIFESTYLE BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIFE THE WAY WE WERE BORN. SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EASY FOR GAYS OR STRAIGHT FOLK. WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS GROWING UP.EVEN AS ADULTS WE HAVE OUR PROBLEMS.
GRANNY
thanks, Granny. in the end, all we have is our honesty and our ability to connect with each other. I'm hoping I can capture that this winter when I'm writing my book.
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell would she want to do that to a fan?
ReplyDeleteOther celebrities that I ran into were Liberace(1983),
Elliot Could(1997?), Jackie Mason (1995 and 1999), Elton John (1999) Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe( Pet Shop Boys 1999, 2006 and 2009), Erasure (Vince Clarke/Andy Bell (1997) and Mr. William Jefferson Clinton (2005). Oh, I had backstage passes to see Eddie Murphy but it was a school night : (
WOODY, ELTON JOHN WILL BE PLAYING HERE VERY SOON. I HEARD IT ON THE TV YESTERDAY. HE'S COOL AS THE KIDS WOULD SAY. I ALSO REALLY LEARNED TO LIKE HIM WHEN HE SANG AT THE FUNERAL OF PRICE CHARLES WIFES'FURNERAL.
ReplyDeleteGRANNY