The Boomer Book of Christmas Memories

While the title of Vickie Kall’s new book may suggest a memoir or Christmas book, The Boomer Book of Christmas Memories is a captivating cultural and historical reminiscence about everything from the origin of the TV dinner to stories of Radio Flyer Wagons and Honey Baked Hams.It is not a personal story, yet is personally appealing for so many reasons.That said, The Boomer Book remains a fabulous Christmas gift, one directed at the Boomer generation as much as it is to anyone who can’t get through the holidays without listening to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” buying tickets for The Nutcracker Ballet, or smothering a pumpkin pie with Reddi-Whip.For me, although a bit before the Boomer era, I will never forget receiving a Betsy Wetsy Doll “from Santa Claus,” and screaming with delight when Betsy cried real tears, drank from a tiny baby bottle and wet her diapers. I so loved A Charlie Brown Christmas that I can watch it today with the same enthusiasm. And—as an adult—I started my daughter on a collection of Madame Alexander Dolls, which were priceless to me as an adolescent (especially the Little Women set) and are now priceless for real.Want to revisit such things? Learn how Magic Rocks, Troll Dolls and Easy-Bake Ovens became the rage?Another favorite for so many was the Shirley Temple Doll, modeled after the huge child star of the 1930s. But did you know that a new version was produced by Ideal in 1958?“The reason,” Kall writes in her fascinating book, was because the “grown-up Shirley Temple now had a TV show, The Shirley Temple Storybook. Even though the actress was clearly an adult and wore glamorous gowns on the show, the dolls depicted Shirley as the beloved little girl of classic movie fame.”The doll came with outfits from her films, Kall writes, “as well as original designs, and since the doll came in five heights, from 12 inches to 36 inches, there were lots of clothes to collect that are still sought after today.”The book brings back so many fabulous memories, especially photos of TV dinners, which I only too well remember. One of my favorite stories that Kall dug up concerns how “ten refrigerated railroad cars full of unsold frozen turkeys” manifest into those frozen delights (some not so much) that came in compartmentalized ten plates so easy to pop in the over.“Half a million iced gobblers!” Kall writes. “They were in Omaha, and the only available storage space was on the East Coast. But was it worth shipping them? Even unthawed, those birds wouldn’t last till the next holiday season began.”It took Gerry Thomas to come up with the “outrageous idea of cooking and packaging the turkey in individual metal trays.” Everyone laughed, everyone but the Swanson brothers, who allowed Thomas to create about 6,000 meals. They were sold for a buck each.You have only to glance at the old photo of a “Swanson Night” package to have the memories flood back, especially the photo of one of the first boxes, which pictures a turkey dinner on the face of a TV set.The stories are endless and endlessly fascinating, from the saga of how the Catholic Church resented Jimmy Boyd singing the 1952 version of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, to how Queen Victoria decorated her Christmas tree in Windsor Castle.Whether for a gift, or to reminisce, the book is a wonderful keepsake you will refer back to again and again.

Reading through the pages of this book brings me back in time to a simpler place, that was my childhood. I also enjoy reading about the history and background of the things that surrounded me back then (and some things which still do!) and in seeing what is so collectible NOW by younger generations. The images throughout are wonderful, too. I'm still going through it and I'm sure I'll will re-read over and over again.I LOVE this book!

A great Christmas book to have and enjoy whether that you lived in that time or not. There was still an innocence left even though Betty Crocker tried 50 ways to entice you to make powdered mashed potatoes the centerpiece of your holiday meal.Of course, our family didn't celebrate Christmas but it was not for lack of trying on my part. I tried to justify to my parents to buy an aluminum Christmas tree with the color wheel just like my friends Randy and Dennis had that it wasn't REALLY a Christmas tree because it wasn't a spruce or a Douglas fir but something else more All-American and religion neutral. Alas, my folks bought neither my argument or the tree and I had to be content with our non-shiny menorah that had candles that burned in only one color. Still we looked in the store windows, watched and loved "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and had our wish lists just like the Christian kids everywhere and hoped Hanukkah Harry was as generous to us as Santa was to them. Sit down with a three bean casserole and some fruit cake and enjoy this book.

I really like this book. At first I was a little unhappy about the size...it's a BIG book...but I'm over it now. I just love all the Christmas memories, visions? dancing like sugar plums in my....no Im not going to finish that. I got carried away there. But I have to tell you, when I read about Patty Play Pal and Chatty Cathy, I remember like it was just this past Christmas...right down to the tinsel on the tree, (which we can no longer have because the goofy cats want to eat it. Do you know what happens when a cat eats tinsel off the tree? Sparkly hair balls, or sparkly...never mind...you know.. You'd think it would be kind of pretty...but it is not....it makes them sick.But I digress; those were my favorite dolls and this toddler was thrilled when Santa put them under the tree. Not both on the same year...but you knew that.

Although the title says this book is Christmas memories, it really covers a much broader range of baby boomer memories, including snack foods, toys, and fads. Do you remember pet rocks, TV dinners in metal trays, Chatty Cathy, Skipper & Midge, and metal slinkies? This book has chapters on Christmas decorations, popular Christmas music, boomer food, boomer candies, general toys, dolls, outdoor toys, and more. This book really brought back a lot of memories, and was very informative. One note for Kindle readers, the font size was smaller than normal. You can increase the size, but the maximum size font was not as big as it is for most books. I was able to get the font big enough for my poor eyes, but it was odd that the font sizing was different than normal.

Had there been more pictures from the era, I would have given this 5 stars, otherwise the book is well written and enjoyable.

This is one amazing Christmas treat! :<)Author Vickey Kall did a great job with this ebook. I'm thoroughly enjoying this holiday 'walk down memory lane" remembering the tinsel, aluminum Christmas trees, recipes and so much more from my childhood days in the 60's.The research that must have gone into creating this book is impressive too.Another thing I noted, the formatting is very professional in this book, including the photos and graphics; something that is sadly lacking in too many Kindle books that are out there.Get a copy, you won't be sorry! Highly recommended.Geraldine Helen Hartman, author of: Laughing AT the Grim Reaper! Gems of Wisdom for Aging Well and The Groovy Green Kitchen series.