A few days ago during a mental quiet space, I began to root around in my past for a bit and suddenly I remembered life BEFORE TELEVISION. No news flashes showing up at dinner time… no noisy stories showing at all hours. If we wanted news, there was always… the radio! But then there were the Saturday matinees also showing regularly at the local movie theatre. These my younger brother and I attended regularly during those TV-less years and loved all of it. Of course we enjoyed our regular doses of candy from the theatre vendor in the lobby as we watched all kinds of shoot-em-ups, full of good guys and bad guys and came to recognize the great old film idols such as Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson!
Everything can be known on TV within minutes...
Long ago… so long ago… Now we have the best (and worst) that television can offer all day and night if we choose. There are no more mysteries awaiting us at the movies. Everything can be known on television within minutes… all kinds of suddenly breaking news so that the shadowy scenes are gone. And then, of course, our cell phones are even closer at hand!
Naturally modern times demand that we keep up...
Naturally modern times demand that we keep up, that we are well informed as to the activities of the day, that every crash, bang and missile launch happen before our eyes. But wouldn’t it be a bit of kindness for us guys with a few years on us to be able to spend a few simple hours at a Saturday matinee again… at least in our imaginations!
http://More Essays About Everything is now available on Amazon
You might also enjoy "Thoughts from a Genius."
No comments:
Post a Comment