Hi There fellow QQ'ers! For those of you over at Vinyl Engine, you may have seen this already but I wanted to post among my friends here too.
In honour of my kindergarten teacher's passing, I want to know how you got your first record player and what your first records were. I ask because my teacher, Miss E. Clare wrote my parents a note "telling" them to "buy this kid a record player as he has worn out two of ours". I remember that back then teachers had to provide their own machines and when hers broke, she borrowed the first grade teacher's changer. We were getting a new school built and it wasn't finished yet so we had kindergarten and first grade in the gymnasium, divided by old wooden bulletin boards. We got the front half, which included the stage, where I would take charge of a portable machine that was weird because you had to "click" the arm to the right to make it turn on, then play the record, and when it was done, it would "click" off and you could change the record and start all over again. There were a lot of coloured 78's in picture sleeves, and one little 45 I will never forget, a gold label re-issue of Popcorn by Hot Butter. My parents for once paid attention and on Christmas morning, under the tree, was a big present. I remember unwrapping it and wondering what was inside that big box. I can still remember the excitement of seeing the picture of a record player on the box and ripping it open. It was a sturdy blue plastic machine from Sears with white parts inside and a red, white and blue terry cloth covered speaker. The next prezzy handed to me was unwrapped even faster! It was two book and records from Disneyland. Pecos Bill and Winnie The Pooh and the Honey Tree. I played them a couple times and got bored, as kids do, however, being Christmas day, we went down the street to Grandma's place. I KNEW there was more records there! Being the brazen, but not rude, kid that I was, I asked if there were any old records I could have. I made off with a couple singles. That led to my relatives giving me all the cast off discs for years to come. I remember many of them and who gave them to me. They are still among my favourites of all time. I applaud you if you read my long winded, abbreviated post, and hope you can regale me in your tale of musical bliss.
Rest In Peace Miss Elisabeth Clare(1918-2015) and thank you for all the pleasure your gift of music gave to me.
In honour of my kindergarten teacher's passing, I want to know how you got your first record player and what your first records were. I ask because my teacher, Miss E. Clare wrote my parents a note "telling" them to "buy this kid a record player as he has worn out two of ours". I remember that back then teachers had to provide their own machines and when hers broke, she borrowed the first grade teacher's changer. We were getting a new school built and it wasn't finished yet so we had kindergarten and first grade in the gymnasium, divided by old wooden bulletin boards. We got the front half, which included the stage, where I would take charge of a portable machine that was weird because you had to "click" the arm to the right to make it turn on, then play the record, and when it was done, it would "click" off and you could change the record and start all over again. There were a lot of coloured 78's in picture sleeves, and one little 45 I will never forget, a gold label re-issue of Popcorn by Hot Butter. My parents for once paid attention and on Christmas morning, under the tree, was a big present. I remember unwrapping it and wondering what was inside that big box. I can still remember the excitement of seeing the picture of a record player on the box and ripping it open. It was a sturdy blue plastic machine from Sears with white parts inside and a red, white and blue terry cloth covered speaker. The next prezzy handed to me was unwrapped even faster! It was two book and records from Disneyland. Pecos Bill and Winnie The Pooh and the Honey Tree. I played them a couple times and got bored, as kids do, however, being Christmas day, we went down the street to Grandma's place. I KNEW there was more records there! Being the brazen, but not rude, kid that I was, I asked if there were any old records I could have. I made off with a couple singles. That led to my relatives giving me all the cast off discs for years to come. I remember many of them and who gave them to me. They are still among my favourites of all time. I applaud you if you read my long winded, abbreviated post, and hope you can regale me in your tale of musical bliss.
Rest In Peace Miss Elisabeth Clare(1918-2015) and thank you for all the pleasure your gift of music gave to me.
I soon ditched them for a pair of Large Advents*, and then we were off & running. 
