The model Junk on the TV caught my eye immediately. I had one probably about the same time, maybe as late as 1968 -- but my folks bought it for me in Chinatown in San Francisco, so no foreign travel for us was involved. Hadn't thought about that thing in years. Fun photo.

... if you know what a TV tray is and recognized it instantly.

I'm just particularly proud that my Dad and Grandpaw (as I called him) have fabulous spit-shined shoes.

Out of all in this picture, Dad is the only one living. Long since retired, he loves watching TV, especially BBC America and the History Channel; enjoys Chinese food, and his pet cat, Ringo.

Happy New Year!

Great shot, Hillie. Your photo is hitting my nostalgia-bone on all sorts of levels -- not least of which is that your grandad reminds me of the wonderful character actor, Charles Lane, probably best-known as Homer Winslow Bedloe on "Petticoat Junction." Great memories all 'round. Many thanks to you for posting.

New Year's Eve was an occasion that people usually dressed up to celebrate. Whether you were going out to a public place or to somebody's home you wanted to look your best. Today with dress-down being the rule, we might as well be going to the schoolyard. That being my case and having pled it, I wish all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year with a world at peace (anything is possible).

The lady on the left does remind me of a young Dame Edna. What a great site this is. Perhaps it's all the early black and white movies I used to watch but something in the old pictures you post keep drawing me back and back to Shorpy. Best wishes for the New Year.

That's a Chinese junk sitting atop the TV. Folks would buy those things on trips to Hong Kong, very popular and rather chic. I suspect the hosts were pretty worldly, what with the contemporary artwork and the slightly Danish Modern furniture.

Oh yeah, your mom is hot.

Wild Kingdom

Marlin: "Watch Jim fight the lion...."

Awesome show!!

Remember when the television shut off, and the picture shrank to a dot in the middle of the screen?

Thanks for your comments! I'm just trying hard to rack my brain and remember what it was like to get those old TV sets fired up. Of course, no remote control, you had to snap it on at the actual console, then it would slowly warm up to a simmer as the picture came into view ... sometimes with a shudder. The first TV I can remember was in 1969 (I was born in '67) and it was a bit wider and more "advanced" than the one in the pic, but it still took forever to warm up. Gilligan's Island, Lost in Space, Astro Boy...those were afternoon staples in my house in 1969-70, thanks to my older brother.

My parents had TV trays just like the one in front of the older man.

This was when the Sunday Night Movie ruled. No cable, no VCR.

Just watch the best program of the week, when it was on, or miss it.

For those who did not like to cook, and loved watching TV, there was the Swanson TV Dinner. Just bake it for a while, then put it on the TV tray. I have to admit, some of those were pretty good. (My mom was not a good cook)

Thanks Dave! I love Shorpy!

At midnight New Year's Eve we open up the back door to let the old year out and the new year in.

Happy New Year to all, and especially to Hillie!