In this episode, Hal George revisits the childhood upheaval that taught him to hide his feelings and move through life like a robot. Tim Yearnshaw shares two snapshots of 1950s boyhood: the triumphant homemade police wagon that made the local paper and the shocking moment a single swear word opened the door to growing up. And Dan Rott recalls the wild freedom of chasing DDT fog trucks on bikes, a reminder of the danger and innocence that shaped his generation.
Mid-century Dixon kids chase the DDT fog machine on bikes, grabbing trailers and gulping toxic mist—blissfully ignorant 'til Rachel Carson's warning—somehow surviving to marvel at their parents' un-coddled freedom.
A 7-year-old's gravel-circle crash course in "fuck" from worldly new neighbors shatters innocence—until a blurted "damn" and full confession to Mom earn forgiveness, teaching him where (and where not) to swear.
Two 9-year-olds enlist 6-year-old "gofer" Timmy to build a scrap-wood police wagon—complete with pivoting axle and cowboy guns—that earns a front-page Tribune photo, etching 1955 boyhood fame forever.
Michael Lewis’ “The Parlour Maid’s Pearls” is the story of a house maid who’s given a lovely string of double pearls for her wedding. “Skateboarding with Billy” and “The Fight” describe our “go-outside-and-play” generation of children’s games.
