EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It!

The above words will bring back memories to many: some pleasant ones, some not so pleasant, and to many others, devastating, reflective, and, well, you choose the appropriate meaning.

To those who lived the years of the first half of the 20th century, they are etched in everyone's memory banks and does not require any mind twisting to figure out the meaning. After all, living the 1910's World War 1, the "over there" war (for those of you who may still be with us - bless you), the roaring and prohibition "wars" of the 1920s, the great stock market crash, depression and food lines of the 1930s, and the "great war," World War 11, and its aftermath of the 1940s, the words should hold meaning as no others to reflect the lives and culture of America and its people during those years.

And the babyboomers say "so?"

Well, here's so. And after I explain it, you might say "so?" again. Or "you must be kidding." But to those who remember it, it is a flashback to another time, when time seemed to stand still, to a shared family time, when sacrifice and caring meant something, and when helping your neighbor and/or a stranger was considered the thing to do.

Picture any of the above happening in a non 24/7 internet world, and trying to get the news of the day, most of which was a world shaping event.

Picture a young boy, age maybe 10, 11, but no older than 16 perhaps, dressed most certainly in shabby clothes, a billy cap perched on his head, clutching under one arm as many newspapers as he could hold, and in the other outstretched hand one copy of a newspaper of the day, and shouting out "extra...extra...extra...read all about it," bringing to Americans the news of the day. And in those days, almost every day had a shocking story to tell.

Queuing up to him would be a line comprised mostly of men (as I said, it was a different time, that is, until December 7, 1941), with a nickel in hand (5 cents - a day's wages for some, and yes, it was a different time), waiting anxiously to read the news as it was "happening." Off to the side would be others, who clearly did not have the nickel to spend, for they would also play a big part of this important picture.

"How so?" For, as one who had the money walked off to the side to read the newspaper, he or she would always, and I stress always, share the newspaper with those who were less fortunate. The sight of two, three, or perhaps more people, often times entire families or strangers, standing on the sidewalk, sharing a park bench, sharing "their" one newspaper, is a picture that is almost impossible to put into words. I am not qualified to do it justice but if I can somehow convey this image to you, then I have at least done it some good.

"Big deal," the boomers bellow. Well, my young ones, in those days there was no television, no internet (as the current oval office idiot would call it), not many telephones, and horror of all horrors, no cell phones or blackberries.

But wait, "what about radios?" Yes, almost every home or apartment had one. And yes, they did get their news by that "modern" invention. But it usually took place in the home with the family gathered around it once supper was finished (yes, in those days, one of the family requirements was to eat together as a family - as I said, it was a different time).

But "what about movie theatre news?" Ah yes, the movies. They are a story for another day. But for this story, audiences were treated to news clippings in between the two feature movies, on film that was flown in overnight from the battlefields and seas, (yes, two movies, and they had audio - how about that? - and, yes, it was...).

Sometimes, one longs for "the good old days," even if it was during periods of war, hunger, human and racial injustices, and of difficult economic times.

"Wait a minute, this sounds like today. Weren't you talking about the first half of the 20th century?" (funny how things change many times but yet somehow they remain the same). Yes I was. I was merely pointing out one tiny segment that is unknown to more than half the population of the United States.

But if you read carefully the themes that each generation lived, gone to a large degree is the sharing and caring, helping your neighbor or stranger, and family togetherness. Norman Rockwell painted many scenes that played out in those years. But he did not do one about the "newspaper boy." Too bad, especially for those who did not live those years.

That one scene captures all that was good in those times.

Peace.

Larry