What we did have was the free show. The free show was a big movie screen with a bunch of benches set up for us to watch. And it cost absolutely nothing.
I got 25 cents each week for allowance. Five cents went into the collection plate at Sunday school but the rest was mine all mine. Before the show started I would stop at the store and buy a bottle of pop and a candy bar. It took half of what was left but it was worth it. Besides I would get back a penny when I returned the bottle for the deposit. That penny was worth two pieces of bubble gum.
I loved sitting outside watching those movies. It was just like being at the theater. Except we had the stars above us.
The reason the free show was there was to keep the kids busy while their parents shopped and socialized. The fire station was where the men would gather to play cards and discuss manly things. The women stood off to the side talking about children and whatever else they talked about.
We lived just a block and a half down the street from the free show so I always went. Unless it rained. Then us kids would join the adults in the firehouse.
At the end of the summer came the best day of all. It was watermelon day.
On watermelon day all the farmers brought part of their harvest to town. Someone donated a cow and someone else donated a pig. They were both roasted in a huge pit dug in the ground. They started cooking a day or two before.
Then there were tables set up. They held cooked potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh salads, vegetables, fruits, homemade breads, pastries, cookies, cakes, homemade jams and jellies... you name it, it was there. And watermelon.
After eating more than you could possibly eat, you had to go back for a huge chunk of watermelon, then another one, and so forth. It was everyone enjoying the bounties of the harvest.
There were games like sack races and other fun group activities. When the sun went down there was the free show.
The very nicest hing about watermelon day was... IT COST NOTHING. It was just people getting together and enjoying each other and the offerings from the land. It is one of my favorite memories.
Such a wonderful tradition, Emma. How different from today when many of us barely know our neighbours.
ReplyDeleteIt was truly a joyous occasion.
Deletelovely share Emma, heartfelt from the heartland. Have you ever heard the Watermelon Song? Plant a watermelon upon my grave, and let the juice run through.........
ReplyDeleteI have not heard the watermelon song. I will look it up though. Thank you.
DeleteSounds like heaven on earth, Emma...such lovely memories and wow!!! people actually getting together for a great time!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post with a happy memory shared~
It was a wholesome family oriented day. It was wonderful.
DeleteThat's how my neighborhood was, in the forties. Good times.
ReplyDeleteThis was in the fifties which was right net to the forties. And they were good times indeed.
DeleteSuch wonderful memories, life seemed to be so much simpler back then.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly simpler for a child who had access to as much watermelon as she could eat.
DeleteAnd when we talk about all these, that shows how old we are.
ReplyDeleteWe are old enough to bring memories back to life.
And what beautiful memories they are.
DeleteWe lived in the sticks and didn't do any of those things but it sounds delightful.
ReplyDeleteDelightful it was. Socializing was a community thing. Many events included everyone. Watermelon day was my favorite of them all.
DeleteSounds like a memory worth remembering and great fun.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day. Watermelon is still my favorite.
DeleteAll memories are precious even the bad ones. They are what we have become. I am fortunate that most of my memories are happy like this one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gathering this was for your community and your recounting these memories makes some of us a bit envious.
ReplyDeleteI was such a fun day. Everyone from town and all the farms around were there.
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