I would suppose that hardly anyone—even those remotely interested in Christmas—has not, during this season, heard of the film, “A Christmas Story.” It is the story of Ralphie and his quest for the elusive Christmas gift, a B.B. gun. Oh, Ralphie does not want just an ordinary B.B. gun. His desire is to own a genuine Daisy Red Rider double action gun, the epitome of all kid’s rifles, one that would be the envy of all the other kids in the neighborhood. He is, of course, thwarted in his request, the standard reason being that he would shoot his eye out.
We bring up Ralphie because something similar happened to me. When I was growing up the most coveted gift that a boy could receive – outside of a Lionel Train set – was an Erector Set. There was a period when I truly craved a set above anything else. I would haunt the toy section of the department stores at every chance I had, and look with envy at the various displays. There were all sorts of levels to the toy. The basic set, designed, no doubt, for the very young had few parts which, naturally, limited the user to what he could build. The sets went up in numbers of parts and sophistication, the top set having the material to build almost anything. I had my eye on that one principally because it had an electric motor. This would enhance the capabilities of many of the projects. Alas, Christmas would roll around and there would be no Erector Set. My parents never made any explanation. I suspect that Erector Sets were just too expensive. Oh, I would get something, books, perhaps, maybe a scooter or a football, but, sadly, no Erector Set.
In keeping with a custom I started many years ago I took a walk up and down Third Avenue the other day, window shopping, and wondering if there was an erector set in any of the shops. I didn’t see any but I saw many other things. A person could easily shop on the street and not have to go anywhere else.
There is no denying it: Third Avenue is a delightful place now, as it was 50 years ago when I first discovered it. Architecturally, the street hasn’t changed much in those 50 years. Those same buildings that were around then are still with us because they have been carefully maintained. Repairs were made, when need be, they were painted and replastered and, in general, made pleasing to the eye. As such they should be pleasing to the shopper. The street is gaily festooned with the symbols and colors of the Christmas Season and almost all the store windows are reminders that this is December.
The stroll kind of made me think of the street back in the 1950s. I had a small job at the Chamber of Commerce and the chamber manager and I had the responsibility to enhance the Avenue. I recall buying the colored paper and other decorating items, no doubt at the Leader Department Store, and wrapping the trees in a holiday manner. Some chamber member had also installed a series of loud speakers along the sidewalks and we piped Christmas music to the shoppers on a daily basis. This was in the pre-electronics age so the system was somewhat flawed. The music came from that new invention, LP’s, that had replaced the old 78 rpms. Occasionally the needle stuck in one groove and the shoppers and merchants probably heard “…oh little town of Beth…” repeated over and over again until someone pushed the player’s arm out of the faulty groove. It didn’t happen too often.
As we said there were no Erector Sets on Third Avenue. I had, however, mentioned my early yearning for an Erector Set around here one day and my grandson, Travis, took it upon himself and ordered me an Erector Set from a mail order house. It was delivered to me the other day. It must be the top of the line since it has an electric motor and other options. And it has the plans to build almost anything one would want. Oh, and by the way, unlike Ralphie I don’t think the Erector Set would shoot out my eye.
