YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE OR HEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You are invited to the McKnight Rd annual variety show on Saturday night at 5:30 PM

The Infamous ET singing in 1987 his hit rendition of
"He'll have to go"

ET and Freddy White made a return appearance in 1992!!

The famous Pit Sisters performing in  1986

The finale of the 1986 show
Notice several of the Blues Brothers to your left

The infamous Pit Sisters were applauded in to doing a encore!!!!!!

The unsuspecting Joe G. put in an appearance with ET in  1987

The famous Haupt sisters with their musical talented dad appeared in the 1986 show

It truly is a night to remember.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT ED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the early fall of 1956 [before Nancy] I was an actor on the riverfront where the Arch is now located  but not then. This was a big deal as the city was celebrating the 150Th anniversary of the Louisiana purchase and getting ready for the future of a Gateway Arch. The celebration and play lasted for a month.
I was background in the first act and in the second act actually had a part where I was killed in a duel.The last night of the play my friend Frank and I changed the part and he was killed and I was the winner. Remember we were college students looking for fun,money,and girls..Yes I actually got paid. I think a friend of my step father knew the people putting on the production.
I believe we had rehearsals two weeks at the end of August and the play ran every night in September but Monday.
My memory says that Edward Everett Horton was the leading actor.

Thinking about what costume to put on

                                                                                                       

Frank K, and I

Frank 

A

In our costumes!!!1

       THE ADMIRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN   

 The Admiral a St Louis floating palace and entertainment  venue        

How the people of St Louis ever let this great entertainment boat deteriorate into obsolescence is beyond my mental capacity to understand. In the mid-40's my grandmother Tritschler would take me on at least one day excursion per.year.The trip would be from about 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.The first deck was primarily walkways and engine machinery to power the boat and some rides for kids. The second deck was devoted to games,rides,food, and drink. The third deck was an air conditioned dance floor with a full live orchestra,tables,and a mezzanine for more table seating. The third deck environment was first class.
The fourth deck was covered but open air with mostly food and drinks being sold. One of the side benefits was you could bring  your own picnic basket full of food and find a table with seats to enjoy your lunch.
Oh how enjoyable the top deck as you sat and watched the activity of the river and St Louis sky line. The Admiral would get down river to the Jefferson Memorial bridge in about one hour but traveling up river would take about four hours.. Then in the mid 60's I became the parent with Nancy and we would take our family on the Admiral about one excursion per.year. [see photos]
In the evening the Admiral would travel down river again from about 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM. The evening cruise was entirely different as the majority of cruisers were adult. We would dress up to the nines and take our dates on a trip to remember.We would enjoy dancing, partying, and then we would go to the top deck for some serious star gazing. Even after our marriage we would try to take visitors from out of town for an adult evening on the Admiral. We never failed to get rave reviews about the beauty,fun,and thrill of an evening on the Admiral.

Sherri in a 1964 trip down the Mississippi on the Admiral

1964 Terri and Sherri on the Admiral

1964 Terri on the Admiral

1965 Admiral; trip with Terri in front Suzie L .in back left and Sherri on her right.

I understand the Admiral has recently been sold for scrap value.Wow what a sad end to a great river ship.

GONE  BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally built in 1929 and named the Arena.Only Madison Square Garden was larger than the Arena.A 13 story building could have been erected inside the Arena.As a kid lets say eight to sixteen are 1946 to 1954 I saw the following at the old Arena.
*** Several Police Circus and they had special guest appearances.I especially remember seeing Roy Rogers,Dale Evans,The Sons of the Pioneers and of course Trigger.
I had an Uncle Bob who loved sports and treated me as a son
***He took me to see the St Louis Flyer's a hockey team that played from 1929-1953.
*** The St Louis Bombers of the NBA and I am pretty sure one night we saw the great George Mikan play for the Minneapolis Lakers.
***Several boxing matches including Jersey Joe Walcott who I believe became heavy weight champion after Rocky Marciano. 

   In 1967 the Blues began their life in the National Hockey league and the old Arena was renovated in and out and began looking like my pictures and eventually was named the Checker Dome. 
From 1954 till 1994 I was fortunate to attend the following.
***Many Blues games including several NHL play off games.
***St Louis Hawks NBA basketball occasionally played at the Arena.
***Spirits of the ABA basketball played from1974-1976.
***Steamers indoor soccer was played from 1979-1988.
***Storm of the MISL indoor soccer played from1989-1992.
***St Louis Ambush of the NPSL indoor soccer played from 1992-1994
***St Louis University played basketball off and on fro 1968-1994.
***St Louis University hockey played from 1970-1979. 
***St Louis Vipers indoor roller hockey played from 1993-1994. 
I am pretty sure I saw at least one game of all the teams that played at the Arena/Checker Dome. 
Now for the really big events I witnessed at Arena/Checker Dome.
***January 1958 Nancy and I saw the NBA all star game.
***173 I saw the final four NCAA college basket ball and then on Monday night I saw John Wooden and his UCLA team win the NCAA championship game.
In 1978 I saw the final four double header NCAA college basketball.
In 1982,1984,and 1993 I saw the Midwest regionals of the NCAA college basketball.
*** Last but not least Nancy and I saw two concerts Kenny Rogers and several years later Neil Diamond.  
 Yes the old Arena/barn is gone but oh!!! so many great memories we cannot forget. The Checker Dome closed in 1994 and was demolished in 1999.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

BILL K.THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!!!!!!

Saturday found Nancy and I headed to Sikeston MO to attend a mini family reunion on the McCoy side of her family.After a pot luck dinner and family fellowship we headed for Reelfoot Lake TN for reasons that you will understand as this blog develops.

Bill is Nancy's cousin on her mothers side of the family and has encouraged me for three years to visit Reelfoot in the winter time. Bill you were so right it was unusual,different and above all more beautiful than visiting in the summer time.

In the first photo Nancy is holding two replicas of Flat Stanly.If you are readers of children's books you will know the story behind Flat Stanly.Nancy tutors reading in our local school and her two girl students have made their very own dolls like Flat Stanly and Nancy wanted them to visit Reelfoot Lake.

 

In the first two photos hopefully you can tell the lake is frozen. I really thought the ice was thick enough for me to walk on but Nancy would not let me.

Sunset Saturday night at a frozen Reelfoot Lake. It simply was surreal.

The sun setting behind the great Cypress trees of Reelfoot Lake.

I am standing on a deck on the spillway side of the lake.looking at what was a beach  in June of 1962. Our daughter Terri was  fifteen months old and went swimming with her dad for the first time.There is also a family legend that developed about Grandma McCoy,Terri and I and a slide that went into the water.The houses in the background were not there in 1962.

Sunday morning found Nancy and I on an eagle watching tour. I was fortunate to capture this photo by positioning my camera into the eye piece of a scope.

This is the water  that  cousin Bill taught me how to water ski in the summer of 1959.I have been known to say 'that the thrill of coming up and on top of the water is my second greatest thrill in life."

Reelfoot lake is known for its wild duck population.

This was my third eagle watching tour but obviously at Reelfoot lake you get significantly closer than at Grafton IL.

.

I am not sure that it gets any better than seeing the beautiful American Bald eagle in the wild.

I hope to visit Reelfoot again next winter as the lake and the area was vastly different than it is in the summer time.

NORMAN ROCKWELL VISITS

Last Tuesday found grandson James participating in a biography program at his school and as you can see he chose to be 'Norman Rockwell.Be sure to notice his gray hair and pipe.

The program consisted of a group activity and then he stood by his poster and as you visited he would tell you about Norman Rockwell.

Great job James and grandma and I are so sorry that we had to be in Henderson Tn that night.

NEIL ANDERSON CHRISTIAN LEADER 2011

Selected by Freed Hardeman University!!!!!!!!

Monday found Nancy and I traveling to Henderson TN to be present when our friend Neil was given the 2011

"Chritian Leader of the year award" from Freed Hardeman University.

Neil asked us to come about three months ago and I jokingly replied we will be there unless there is a BLIZZARD> Little did I know.

Nancy and I took over six hours on Monday to make a normal four hour drive in blizzard like conditions from north of Sikeston MO. to Henderson TN.At times it was stressful and dangerous.

Our return trip today was only slightly improved as we drove over five hours for a normal four hour drive in a blowing snow storm. The opportunity to be there for and with Neil and his family made the trip worth extremely worth while.

First photo is Neil,Glenda,Neila,Nelson,and grandson Clayton. Grandson Conner was at Harding University. Kerry and his family were unable to attend as they have several health challenges at this time.

Four friends after the award presentation.

I clean up pretty good as it is the first time wearing a tie since out 50TH anniversary party.

Kerry sent a video honoring his parents and Nelson did an outstanding job speaking about Neil from a family perspective.

Neil making his acceptance speech.

SATURDAY THE FAMILY HELPED KAYLEIGH CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY #10!!!!

On her actual birth date we all gathered to watch her open gifts and of course sample her birthday cake with some ice cream.

She gets ready to blow out 10 candles and then she blows out her candles.

Photo 4 Kayleigh has on her new outfit from grandma and grandpa.

Kayleigh we hope you had a great birthday celebration.!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLEIGH!!!!!

Today Kayleigh enters the double digit world of birthday numbers.

Kayleigh and grandpa 2/05/01

Kayleigh summer of 2001

Photo-3 is the 2006 variety of Kayleigh

Photo-4 is the 2007 Kayleigh

Photo-5 is the 2010 Kayleigh

Photo -6 Does she not look like a junior princess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kayleigh

Grandma and I hope you have a great birthday and we look forward to seeing you at your family party.

We Love you

Grandpa and Grandma

1962 WAS A GOOD YEAR!!!!!
My younger readers will find this hard to believe but in 1962 I made $7,500.00 per. year and Nancy was a stay at home mom.We lived in a house that today would sell for around $160,000.00 and my payment was $89.17 per month including taxes and insurance.
WE HAD
***Window air conditioners
***Black and white television
***Good friends
WE HAD NO IDEA OF
***Cell phones
***Fax machines
***The Internet

Terri at Grandpa's farm 5-5-62

Terri's first swim 6-17-62 in the St.Francis river

In honor of the weather I have chosen three mystery guest from 1962 plus where was the photo taken