Saturday 9: Gotta Travel On

Saturday 9: Gotta Travel On (1959)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, the Billy Grammer sings that "summer's almost gone, winter's coming on." When you look out your window, do you see any evidence that the seasons are changing?

Not yet, but hopefully I will see some sign of it soon. 

I look forward to seeing some of this.

2) He admits he has laid around and played around for too long. Do you consider lazy days to be wasted days?

I make it a point to accomplish something every day because that's just the way I am. If it is raining, too cold, too hot, too this, too that, I am perfectly content to read for long periods of time, but I don't consider that wasteful. It's wasteful if there is a job that needs to be done and you don't do it!

3) Billy relaxed by fishing. Tell us about a visit you made to a pier, or a ride you took on a boat, this past year. (Bonus points if you went fishing!)

We went on our son's boat several times this year and had a great time. I can't say that it was relaxing except when we stopped to swim and play on the beach.

4) Born in 1925, Mr. Grammer was the eldest of 13 children. He and his wife Ruth were childless. What do you think is the ideal size for a family? 

I had a brother and sister. Our family of five was good, but I think four children would be a good number, ideally the older two being close in age and the younger two also. My younger brother was more like an only child since he was so much younger than my sister and me.

5) This song was very popular on juke boxes back in 1959. When were you last in a bar or restaurant that had a juke box? Did you play it?

A mom and pop café in our community had a juke box and we did play it. It's been a few years back.

6) In 1959, movie tickets zoomed up in price to $1.00 and Ben Hur was the big blockbuster. What's the last movie you saw in a theater? Operation Finale. Do you remember how much the ticket cost? $3.75. We traveled about 15 miles to attend the theater. Usually we pay $8 or $9 to see a movie.

7) Huckleberry Hound was a hit with the younger audience in 1959. What cartoon did you enjoy as a kid? Popeye. And I loved spinach!

8) In 1959, continuing dramas (soap operas) were still broadcast each day on the radio. When you turn on the radio, do you listen for talk, news, or music? I listen for Bible teaching or praise and worship music.

9) Random question -- Which competition would you rather judge: The Pillsbury Bake Off, The Miss America Pageant, or Dancing with the Stars? 

As we were growing up, our family always loved watching The Miss America Pageant and all of us judged who we thought should win, so I guess that would be my choice. Although it would be fun to judge the bake off and sample the goodies. I'm impressed by most all the dancing stars I've seen, but we don't watch that show. 

Vonda Kay Van Dyke was one of my favorite Miss Americas! Her talent was as a ventriloquist and she was such fun! As a teen, I admired her very much and also read the little book above. She was unique in that she was and still is, the only Miss America who also was Miss Congeniality. Also, always thought Bert Parks was the best host! When I was in seventh grade, the home economics classes put on a style show and our glee club leader had us singing the "There she is, Miss America!" theme song as the girls modeled their outfits.