Movie Stars were indeed Stars

To me, as a child, movie stars were all adored and could do no wrong, we aspired to be as glamorous and just like the characters they portrayed in most instances. Probably, because of my age, I still found it difficult to separate the movie persona from their personal lives. Movie star's private lives were hidden if they were a bit on the shady side.
I avidly cut out magazine pictures of everyone portrayed as a film star.
Being an only child, living in a house with 4 adults (parents, grandparents) I had to occupy my time in various ways.
This was but one.
I begged magazines from neighbours. My favorite always was the Australian Women's Weekly - at that time it was a weekly magazine, and quite large in size - tabloid/newspaper style, but stapled in the middle.
Sometimes I was allowed to buy movie magazines at the theatre (not really a theatre, but the Town Hall at Henley Beach - converted most evenings to become a theatre or a stage). But buying these magazines was an extravagance that was frowned upon.
I was besides myself when I was given some photos from a hard-bound book. Here the photography rendered my favorite stars as perfection, with lighting and poses that were extraordinary. This made me yearn to be just like them, even more.
I had a divan bed. And one drawer in its base was completely full of clippings.
I was almost obsessive about this, but some of it was the times ... I thought everyone did this, and I felt complelled to have the best collection I could gather.
Favourites were Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Veronica Lake, Marlene Deitrich, Clark Gable, Katherine Hepburn, and more.

LIfe without TV

Yes, I remember life before TV.

I think it was around 1956 TV came to Australia - black and white. Sydney first, then Melbourne followed, and in 1959 it came to Adelaide.

I remember traveling to Melbourne and seeing all the houses with tv antennas set up on the chimneys. The skyline was full of them. Something just not seen any more.

I remember going to the 'Destry's' house (neighbours) to watch a rather small black and white TV and fascinated at seeing the documentary on zebras.

Shortly after this my parents made the decision to cash in a life insurance policy on me (about $400) and bought a cabinet tv. At school I can remember the teacher asking who had TV in their homes, and my hand was one of about 5 that went up, in a class of around 40 children.

Color TV came to Adelaide early in 1975 and I was there for the change-over. But by then I'd got to see color TV in England, so it was fascinating to watch it actually changing over.

I still remember seeing people dressed up in overcoats (men with hats) standing outside electrical appliance shops at night, watching TV through the store window. Sometimes as many as 20 or 30 people, and several rows deep.

Image 'borrowed' from the web. Any objections let me know. I'm using it as reference material, to illustrate.

I was born in 1948.

I was born in 1948.

That's 60 years ago.
I'm in awe that I've reached such a stately age.
I know that many others have reached and surpassed this. And still in awe that many haven't, including those in my life who have meant something to me, one way or another.
I hope there are many more years in front of me - especially if they are healthy and happy.
I was born in Rose Park, South Australia - In Queen Victoria Hospital.
Rose Park is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, and the hospital is no longer. It was a landmark building and last I knew, was being turned into luxury condominiums as they overlook Victoria Park racecourse (horse track) and parklands of Adelaide.
I was born to a young unmarried mother from the country.
This blog is my memories, my interpretation of the changing world over the past 60 years - most of it is an Australian point of view, but as I've lived in many different countries my memories are rather broad.