Nostalgic Rambler: March 2014

Welcome to the Nostalgic Ramber

Hans Jeff Borger is heard on WRGE 97.9 FM in Ocala, FL featuring Christian programming.

"The Nostalgic Rambler" radio show can be heard on Youtube. Just search for Hans Jeff Borger Nostalgic Rambler.

Why a blog? I wrote a book "The Little Grownup: a nostalgic Michigan boyhood" which should appeal to most baby boomers. A mass market book? Well, not yet...but the potential is there! (Be sure to buy it at "finer on line bookstores" everywhere!)

The comments presented in "The Nostalgic Rambler" probably won't be of interest to the masses...anymore. If grandma and grandpa and their friends were still alive, then it would be a different story.

I live in the past. My time warp is a comfortable cocoon even if it sometimes drives my wife crazy. The music of the 1940s and 50s, the stars of those days were big stuff in their day, but are now almost forgotten. Oddly enough, I was born in '64 so those iconic years were for the most part over by that time.

Through "The Nostalgic Rambler" I maybe can help share my love and knowledge for those times and things...all at one time important pieces of Americana but now a bit faded in memory.

The woman who did the blog about cooking all of Julia Childs' French Cuisine Cookbook in a year got a sweet movie deal out of her blog experience. I wouldn't mind that but would be happy to know that you are reading this....and maybe enjoying my time warp, too.

Hans Jeff Borger

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Fifty like me: Disney's "It's A Small World" ride

Well, folks, I turned fifty this year, but I'm in good company. The Disney ride "It's A Small Small World" is turning fifty this year as well and it is holding up just as good as I am (!).

Heike and I visited Walt Disney World recently and here are some pics of this iconic ride.

At the entrance getting ready for a "cruise"

look how enchanted I am with this ride!

I got Heike with the "German" cuckoo clocks in the background

Years ago as a kid I bought the record to the ride. This is what it looks like:

Click here to hear that iconic song....And as the world celebrates the 50th anniversary, here are a few pics I found of the original:

Truth be told, me favorite ride isn't "It's a Small World." My favorite is the Carousel of Progress, which apparently is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, too. It had a catchy song as well, but not as catchy as "It's A Small World" so maybe that's why the media is focusing on all of those dancing dolls.

Kids are always fascinating to watch at Disney World. One young boy was terrified about getting on this ride. He was screaming at the top of his lungs. I guess the thought of dancing dolls was just too much for him. His Mama said "you are going to GET on that boat...NOW!" and he did!

By the way, Walt Disney World is doing a great job keeping these nostalgic rides open for new generations to enjoy. I'm not amused at the increasing ticket prices or huge crowds that make you feel like sheep being herded from one ride to another, but it still is The Wonderful World of Disney.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

My Little Margie, another lost TV show rediscovered

Many of the TV shows and stars of the 1950s seem to have faded away. Time to turn the light back on and showcase one of them called "My Little Margie" starring Gale Storm. It started off as a summer replacement show for "I Love Lucy." It ran for two years on CBS, then moved to NBC. Just like Lucy, Margie was rather scatterbrained and conniving but instead of Ricky, her foil was her father, played by former silent movie star Charles Farrell.

I saw this show in reruns back in the 1980s on CBN Cable, so the films do exist. Too bad some station doesn't pick them up and show them. Maybe Margie hasn't been forgotten. That is probably the wrong word to use. The tv programmers of today probably don't even know about the show!

If you are ready to re-discover or discover "My Little Margie" click here.

Gale Storm was also a recording star and had some big hits. Click here or here to listen to them.

And of course the obligatory 1950s comic book: