Around the Jensen household, we would have "select" guests for dinner. There was the rare occurrence if it was a business friend of dad's, but more likely a neighbor, relative or an unsuspecting family friend.
The MO was pretty much the same:
1. Kids play outside - get them worn out and hungry
2. Parents visit on the patio while dinner cooks - maybe a couple of dad's mixed drinks
3. Dinner
4. The Coup D' Grace - TRIP AND VACATION SLIDES
Ah, what seemed to be a genial invitation to the Jensen's for dinner, normally turned out to be a complete travelogue of recent and past vacations, family outings and gatherings and just plain vanilla day-to- day family life. First, the call to set up the projector and screen. Second, the call to prepare the room chairs to meet the number of guests- kids on the floor. Third, call the firing squad victims in to the Chamber of Horrors...
The slides could go on for hours. Occasionally, this would be interrupted for a coffee and dessert break- which, surprisingly, was always well received. At first thought, our guests often thought that the end of the show had arrived. Ha, alas, but no. This was an intermission break to let the projector cool and rearm the caisson with more slide trays.
Curious, looking back, how in my memory, it was only relatives who would repeat this process...though now I think reluctantly....Blood before Boredom.....
Friday, February 28, 2014
Saturday, November 30, 2013
What REALLY happened on Friday, November 22, 1963 at WICS in Springfield?
What REALLY happened at 12:30 pm on Friday, November 22, 1963 at WICS studio in Springfield? We have some contradictory versions, but memories from 50 years ago are subject to some revisionist history. Central to the story is the location of various key people that fateful day. The leading lady is none other than Eileen Jensen. She was the "craft" lady on Kim's Kiddie Korner (12:00-12:30) with host Kim Wilson, our 'across the street' neighbor. Doug Kimball was the mid-day (12:30-1:00) newscaster that day along with Kim Wilson, and Dale Coleman was the WICS station manager. Importantly, I was home "sick" that day from SHS (high school) as a 17 year old senior who was unprepared for a test that day. I was watching TV that noon (No, NOT Kim's Kiddie Korner!!) when they broke in that shots were fired in Dallas at President Kennedy. I remember that the programming almost immediately switched over to the network (CBS I think) and there was very little detail about the President's condition for quite awhile....at least an hour I think. When I switched over to WICS (the NBC affiliate) it was already at network with Huntley and Brinkley in New York.
Here's how Dale Coleman, the station manager remembered that day:
http://www.uis.edu/archives/memoirs/KENNEDYPROJECT..pdf
"Doug Kimball, this newsman I referred to had a 12:30 talk show, a half hour interview show, as I recall, with Kim Wilson who co-hosted it with him and somewhere between a quarter after twelve central standard time and 12:30 I was called to the lobby of the station and H. G. "Skinny" Taylor of Decatur who at that time was president of the Republican County Chairman's Association had come in to the lobby, I had requested that he come in to do an interview in the studio to tell about a meeting the county chairman association that was coming up in Springfield that same weekend I think it was. And I was sitting in the lobby at the time the wire actually put the flash on and this probably came sometime around 12:20 p.m. And it was, oh, fifteen to twenty minutes later before I realized that there had been a shooting in Texas. And the reason I was finally awakened to that fact--apparently some of our viewers had heard a bulletin on radio or some other station and they started calling our switchboard. I was still in the lobby talking with Skinny Taylor and Doug Kimball, the other newsman at the station at the time. He had gone in to the studios to do this half hour show so, I suppose, around twenty minutes till one [p.m.] that day. After the phone calls I finally ran back and I saw the flash on the UP1 wire. And it said something to the effect that there had been a shooting in Dallas and they didn't even have the information at that time as I recall whether the President had been hit or not but of course then, they started following it up with shorter sentences that he had been hit, rushed to the hospital. 'But it was, oh, at least an hour before we knew whether he was dead or not as I recall.. I'll never forget when I finally tore these initial bulletins and the original flash off and took it in to Doug Kimball who was doing the live show. He took a look at that and his face dropped right on the camera and he turned pale as a ghost, Just pale as a ghost. He couldn't believe it, I'm sure. And shortly thereafter, why, the network took
over practically all the broadcasting time until the funeral was actually over. And for the first time in my life the local news department almost had nothing to do. Our biggest problem was trying to determine when we
would break in to the continuous network coverage of the wake, the so called activities going on around the assassination preceding the burial. And we did have to break in, oh, at least once a day for a short period
and most of the news from the time of the assassination until the funeral was attempting to get in all the messages that had been called in of the numerous social events, civil events, public events that had been or were to be canceled of course, out of respect to the death of the President."
Well, here's how Eileen Jensen remembers that day. She was in the studio just finishing Kim's Kiddie Korner.......
http://www.krextv.com/news/around-the-region/Remembering-John-F-Kennedy-233118291.html
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. On Friday people around the world remembered President John F. Kennedy. Nov. 22, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
Like many, Eileen Jensen Kercheval remembers the moment she heard the news of John F. Kennedy's assassination.
"I was the troublemaker right in the middle," she said, fondly looking at an old picture.
Kercheval was at an anchor desk and it was her job to tell the world what had happened.
"I asked people to pray. Asked them to pray for our country, the Connolly's and the President and his wife," Kercheval said.
The event was so traumatic that her co-anchor had to leave the set.
"I felt I was ad-libbing for hours, but it was probably no more than five minutes."
While some memories are so clear, others are a blur.
"We got word to destroy all that came in on teletype," said Kercheval.
Information the station received that day, all gone, "I will always wonder to my dying day, what did they destroy?"
While she may never get those answers, her memories will remain.
"After it was over then I had my cry."
She and millions of others would shed tears, and remember a man who forever impacted the world.
We may never know what really happened, but I like thinking that my mother, the craft lady, took over command at WICS and kept the country together with prayer during those initial minutes.
But what's this about destroying teletype?????
Here's how Dale Coleman, the station manager remembered that day:
http://www.uis.edu/archives/memoirs/KENNEDYPROJECT..pdf
"Doug Kimball, this newsman I referred to had a 12:30 talk show, a half hour interview show, as I recall, with Kim Wilson who co-hosted it with him and somewhere between a quarter after twelve central standard time and 12:30 I was called to the lobby of the station and H. G. "Skinny" Taylor of Decatur who at that time was president of the Republican County Chairman's Association had come in to the lobby, I had requested that he come in to do an interview in the studio to tell about a meeting the county chairman association that was coming up in Springfield that same weekend I think it was. And I was sitting in the lobby at the time the wire actually put the flash on and this probably came sometime around 12:20 p.m. And it was, oh, fifteen to twenty minutes later before I realized that there had been a shooting in Texas. And the reason I was finally awakened to that fact--apparently some of our viewers had heard a bulletin on radio or some other station and they started calling our switchboard. I was still in the lobby talking with Skinny Taylor and Doug Kimball, the other newsman at the station at the time. He had gone in to the studios to do this half hour show so, I suppose, around twenty minutes till one [p.m.] that day. After the phone calls I finally ran back and I saw the flash on the UP1 wire. And it said something to the effect that there had been a shooting in Dallas and they didn't even have the information at that time as I recall whether the President had been hit or not but of course then, they started following it up with shorter sentences that he had been hit, rushed to the hospital. 'But it was, oh, at least an hour before we knew whether he was dead or not as I recall.. I'll never forget when I finally tore these initial bulletins and the original flash off and took it in to Doug Kimball who was doing the live show. He took a look at that and his face dropped right on the camera and he turned pale as a ghost, Just pale as a ghost. He couldn't believe it, I'm sure. And shortly thereafter, why, the network took
over practically all the broadcasting time until the funeral was actually over. And for the first time in my life the local news department almost had nothing to do. Our biggest problem was trying to determine when we
would break in to the continuous network coverage of the wake, the so called activities going on around the assassination preceding the burial. And we did have to break in, oh, at least once a day for a short period
and most of the news from the time of the assassination until the funeral was attempting to get in all the messages that had been called in of the numerous social events, civil events, public events that had been or were to be canceled of course, out of respect to the death of the President."
http://www.krextv.com/news/around-the-region/Remembering-John-F-Kennedy-233118291.html
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. On Friday people around the world remembered President John F. Kennedy. Nov. 22, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
Like many, Eileen Jensen Kercheval remembers the moment she heard the news of John F. Kennedy's assassination.
"I was the troublemaker right in the middle," she said, fondly looking at an old picture.
Kercheval was at an anchor desk and it was her job to tell the world what had happened.
"I asked people to pray. Asked them to pray for our country, the Connolly's and the President and his wife," Kercheval said.
The event was so traumatic that her co-anchor had to leave the set.
"I felt I was ad-libbing for hours, but it was probably no more than five minutes."
While some memories are so clear, others are a blur.
"We got word to destroy all that came in on teletype," said Kercheval.
Information the station received that day, all gone, "I will always wonder to my dying day, what did they destroy?"
While she may never get those answers, her memories will remain.
"After it was over then I had my cry."
She and millions of others would shed tears, and remember a man who forever impacted the world.
We may never know what really happened, but I like thinking that my mother, the craft lady, took over command at WICS and kept the country together with prayer during those initial minutes.
But what's this about destroying teletype?????
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Jensen Creativity
We learned early from dad that you used whatever was in the garage or basement to build anything you wanted.
Just wanted to share my high tech gate latch based on What Would Merle Do design and engineering. It now has possible interest from Homeland Security. Patent Pending
Monday, April 9, 2012
POP- Get It? I Know Kenny Doesn't
Well, one year, our whole family, plus John Prelamen, a friend of DJ's, jumped into the ole' staton wagon and headed WEST- to California for the grandparents 50th Anniversary. The year, 1963. Getting to know our family and getting USC and UCLA sweatshirts was the highlight.
Well at a family dinner in Santa Monica with Aunt Dosie (aka Coleen Gray in movie circles) and family-along with cousin, Bruce, he ragalled over a previous trip of mine to California for the summer and a day at the Pacific Ocean Park. Pacific Ocean Park, at that time, was like Coney Island or a family paradise full of rides and food.
Bruce, over dinner exclaimed, " POP, Get it: POP????? I know Kenny doesn't get it so I'll give it to him" with which he took his fist in the air and drilled it into my lap at dinner.
Memories............................................
Well at a family dinner in Santa Monica with Aunt Dosie (aka Coleen Gray in movie circles) and family-along with cousin, Bruce, he ragalled over a previous trip of mine to California for the summer and a day at the Pacific Ocean Park. Pacific Ocean Park, at that time, was like Coney Island or a family paradise full of rides and food.
Bruce, over dinner exclaimed, " POP, Get it: POP????? I know Kenny doesn't get it so I'll give it to him" with which he took his fist in the air and drilled it into my lap at dinner.
Memories............................................
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Disasters
I would propose that there is an opportunity to report on the series of disasters that befell the Jensen clan over the years...... We could probably add to the list below:
1. "That Damned Dog Ate My Teeth" (a classic!)
2. What do you do with a pan of burning oil on the stove? Why you throw it into the garage and under the gas tank of the car, that's what! AKA, getting a facial!
3. Need a boutineer for Mike Calog's date for the big dance? A little tissue paper is all you need!
4. Why is DJ throwing up in the basement bathroom? And why does he smell of alcohol? He must have the stomach flu! So let me call dad.....
5. Can the Peke's get lost if they've never left the rig? Does a bear shit in the woods? A classic meltdown!
6. Does one shift the gear lever up or down on the corvair to back out of the garage? Should be obvious, right? Wrong!
7. What is the appropriate excuse when realtors come on a Saturday morning to view the abandoned house at 2112 Westview Drive only to discover beer cans and bodies in each room?
Okay, a little help here!
1. "That Damned Dog Ate My Teeth" (a classic!)
2. What do you do with a pan of burning oil on the stove? Why you throw it into the garage and under the gas tank of the car, that's what! AKA, getting a facial!
3. Need a boutineer for Mike Calog's date for the big dance? A little tissue paper is all you need!
4. Why is DJ throwing up in the basement bathroom? And why does he smell of alcohol? He must have the stomach flu! So let me call dad.....
5. Can the Peke's get lost if they've never left the rig? Does a bear shit in the woods? A classic meltdown!
6. Does one shift the gear lever up or down on the corvair to back out of the garage? Should be obvious, right? Wrong!
7. What is the appropriate excuse when realtors come on a Saturday morning to view the abandoned house at 2112 Westview Drive only to discover beer cans and bodies in each room?
Okay, a little help here!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Long Distance Phone Calls
Way, way back - the 1950's, long distance phone calls were very rare. Calls were very expensive based on time and distance. Moreover, in Rockford, we had two phones, one in the kitchen and one upstairs on a small table at the head of the steps. Anyhow, a long distance call was a family event. It was planned in advance, timed for brevity, sequencing of who would talk when,coaching to keep it short and be sure to hang up the phone at the end of the call!!
Calls to California to the grandparents usually started out with an opening by dad, then a nice touch by mom. After they were through, each of us had to get out our current life story in 30 seconds or less. Dad would finalize and the hangup would complete that family call. Wow, technology is great!!!!! We talked all the way to California!!!!
Calls to California to the grandparents usually started out with an opening by dad, then a nice touch by mom. After they were through, each of us had to get out our current life story in 30 seconds or less. Dad would finalize and the hangup would complete that family call. Wow, technology is great!!!!! We talked all the way to California!!!!
Friday, March 16, 2012
DIY- Football Field- Rockford
As a youngster, you always tried to have the closest thing to the real thing. In Rockford, that meant having a football field in the backyard, with field lines!!! Well, you couldn't do that at the Circle since we didn't own it, but the backyard was an artist's clean canvas.
Football season always brought out the creativity: homemade additions to uniforms, hand painted helmets to reflect favored teams, etc.....
Well, to take this to the next level, you had to have line markers on a field. Thinking this through, as a seven year old, of course, you would first look at the field dimensions. Backyard- good enough, despite they trees. Sidelines, good enough, despite the garden, slope to Connies and the rock garden on the other side to Klingstedt's. OK, next, what do you line the field? Bear in mind, there are five eager player fully suited up and ready to play! A trip into the house.....white paint.. good, but wouldn't dry and not enough.... flour... right color, but again, not enough... VOILA!!!!! LAUNDRY DETERGENT! We took both of the boxes mom had and began marking the yard. It looked great! An our jerseys were never cleaner.
However, for a few weeks, remnants of the markings were still in as brown lines in a normally green lawn.. Sorry, Dad.............................
Football season always brought out the creativity: homemade additions to uniforms, hand painted helmets to reflect favored teams, etc.....
Well, to take this to the next level, you had to have line markers on a field. Thinking this through, as a seven year old, of course, you would first look at the field dimensions. Backyard- good enough, despite they trees. Sidelines, good enough, despite the garden, slope to Connies and the rock garden on the other side to Klingstedt's. OK, next, what do you line the field? Bear in mind, there are five eager player fully suited up and ready to play! A trip into the house.....white paint.. good, but wouldn't dry and not enough.... flour... right color, but again, not enough... VOILA!!!!! LAUNDRY DETERGENT! We took both of the boxes mom had and began marking the yard. It looked great! An our jerseys were never cleaner.
However, for a few weeks, remnants of the markings were still in as brown lines in a normally green lawn.. Sorry, Dad.............................
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