Senior Classics worth a look

Senior CLASSICS Worth a Look!

Check out Ms. Shomaker's podcast highlighting her top 10 "senior" recommendations; these 70 year old timeless favorites are definitely worth a look!

Podcast and Photos By: Ms. Shomaker

OMS Advanced Academics Specialist

Transcript

At 70 years young, these “seniors” may technically be considered old but they are definitely not out of style! Check out these timeless classics worth a look...

#10: Silly Putty- introduced to the public in 1950, Silly Putty was one of those classic accidental inventions. The story goes that during World War II, an engineer was working in a lab trying to find a less expensive alternative for synthetic rubber. When he added boric acid into silicone oil, the new mixture wasn’t really any better than rubber but the new product would eventually become known as Silly Putty. Packaged in an egg shape and released near Easter, Silly Putty was ultimately marketed as a toy and would become one of the 20th Century’s most popular! 70 years later, this precursor to modern day kinetic sand and stress relief putty offers endless fun as a strange stretchy, bouncy, rubber-like fidget with the added bonus of being able to pick up the ink from newspaper and comic book images- offering a classically fun distraction!!

#9: Poodle skirts- Though technically they debuted in 1947, poodle skirts became known as an iconic fashion trend of the 1950s. The story goes that a young woman was invited to a Christmas party and had nothing special to wear. Fortunately, her mom owned a factory that used felt. She cut a large circle of felt and created a skirt with no seams. When she decorated the skirt with holiday themed embellishments, the poodle skirt was born. Year after year, the classic poodle skirt continues to make an appearance at Halloween and during Decade Day of Spirit Weeks across the country!

#8: I Love Lucy Show- Airing from 1951-1957, The I Love Lucy Show featured the hilarious antics of everyone’s favorite redheaded housewife, Lucy Ricardo who longed for a career in show business! This Emmy award winning hit featured the comedic genius of Lucille Ball and her on air and real-life husband Desi Arnaz. If pandemic blues have you feeling down, hit up Youtube for some classic Lucy laughs! Be sure to check out the unrivaled masterpieces- “Lucy and the Chocolate Factory” and “I Love Lucy Stomping Grapes” - because laughter truly is the best medicine!!

#7: Scrabble- First trademarked in 1948, today the SCRABBLE Brand Crossword Game is available in more than 30 languages! This beloved classic was launched with humble beginnings when letter tiles were hand stamped one at a time at a pace of only twelve games produced an hour. When the game caught the eye of the president of Macy’s department store, he ordered copies to sell at Macy’s and this now classic board game skyrocketed to fame! Today SCRABBLE boasts staggering mass appeal with approximately 150 million sets sold worldwide! SCRABBLE is truly a timeless family classic enjoyed by multiple generations.

#6: McDonalds- Next on the list is the culinary delight made famous by Ray Kroc- McDonalds! Originally launched in 1948 by brothers Mac and Dick McDonald, the California restaurant sold 15 cent hamburgers at a self-service counter that eliminated the need for waiters and waitresses. Today McDonald's leads the QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) market as the most valuable fast-food chain with assets totaling $33.8 billion! A predictably and consistently good tasting burger and fries make McDonald’s a timeless classic worth a bite!

#5: Magic 8-Ball- Need some advice? Wondering how to proceed? Have a really important question? Consult the timeless all knowing, future predicting classic known as the Magic 8-Ball!! The innovation of Albert Carter,whose mother was a clairvoyant!!, the Magic 8-Ball was first introduced under the name Syco-Seer. In contrast to today’s beloved Magic 8-Ball, the Syco-Seer had two dice floating in a murky liquid inside a cylinder but offered up the same “helpful” advice. While this classic is probably more addicting than accurate, it definitely offers timeless fun! Let’s face it; when you see a Magic 8-Ball nearby don’t you just feel compelled to grab it and ask an important question?!

#4: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer- Our next senior classic on the list is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sung by cowboy crooner Gene Autry. For decades hearing this song on the radio has signaled to children of all ages that the magic of Christmas is near. As one of our earliest role models to triumph over bullying, illustrations of Rudolph first appeared in a free coloring book distributed as a marketing promotion by the retail store Montgomery Ward. Following the images, next a poem was crafted to tell Rudolph’s story. Over time, the poem morphed into the popular tune we continue to hear on the radio each December. In 1964, the treasured stop-motion film was released and Rudolph has been shining brightly into our hearts ever since.

#3: Dunkin Donuts- In 1948 a restaurant in Massachusetts called the “Open Kettle” offered 5 cent donuts and 10 cent coffee. Two years later, founder William Rosenberg renamed the restaurant Dunkin Donuts with the goal to “make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts quickly and courteously in modern, well merchandised stores.” 70 years later, Dunkin Donuts is now world famous for its delectable treats and beloved coffee served in 45 countries! Each fall, Dunkin’s pumpkin and apple cider donuts hit the spot capturing the cozy essence of the season. Anyone else craving this classic?

#2: Disney’s Cinderella- While our next classic is technically 2,000 years old, on this list we’re celebrating the animated adaptation from Disney that has captivated dreamy eyed movie goers for the last 70 years. Evolving from a 6th century BC Greek tale, the Cinderella story has been lovingly retold across the planet throughout time. On February 15, 1950 Walt Disney’s beloved version debuted on the silver screen with the Oscar-nominated “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” and the enchanting lullaby “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes”. Young and old have treasured this Disney icon ever since, ensuring that Cinderella has forever secured the title of timeless classic.

#1: Snoopy- Finally we have reached the coveted #1 spot on this countdown of timeless seniors. Which brings us to that lovable, free-spirited, good natured, multi-talented, hero with a cold nose and warm heart, known as man’s best friend, Peanut’s quintessential classic - Snoopy! This famous comic was the brainchild of creator Charles Shultz, who longed to be a cartoonist from an early age. At age 15, Schultz earned his first published sketch- a drawing of his black and white dog Spike- which would later serve as his inspiration for Snoopy. We are forever indebted to Schulz who later in his career would be named “Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year”. Eventually, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang would become a world-wide household staple, read by more than 350 million people in more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries! From my Snoopy calendar, to my Snoopy coffee mug, to my Snoopy mask to my Snoopy bed sheets- I choose to surround myself with this lovable icon because just seeing him brings me joy, makes me smile and fills my heart with hope. In the crazy unpredictable world we are living in, Snoopy provides a warm, comforting stability and reminder that brighter days are ahead!

Thank you for listening! I’m Ms. Shomaker, Advanced Academic Specialist at OMS and a die hard Snoopy fan. I hope you’ve enjoyed my top ten list of 70 year old senior classics and I hope you may have discovered a new timeless classic to check out for yourself!

We hope you are enjoying the premiere issue of our enrichment magazine, News from the Nest. Our goal is to use our time and talents to create a product that draws you in and makes you think. We would love your feedback and suggestions for future issues and topics. Until next time… keep using your gifts and talents to make the world a better, brighter place!

Sources Consulted: