A to Z 1950s/60s Nostalgia: H

H Smell:

Horse manure - There was always some horse manure dolloped down the middle of our road. Life stunk in those days. 

H Memories:

Housework – Mums worked hard in those days. With no automatic washing machine or spinner the washing had to be put through the mangle. It was my job to feed the clothes in as Mum turned the handle but she’d shout “Be careful of your fingers!” every time.

Mum used to put the rugs over the washing line in the back garden and beat them with a carpet beater. I can still smell the dust that used to billow out of them. I always wanted to help so when she finished she put the small rug from the kitchen onto the line and left me with the carpet beater.

Hula Hoops – This was long before we ate little potato shaped hula hoops. It was the round plastic variety and it was a craze that spread through the school. Everyone had their own hoop and we would spend hours trying to perfect our style. Some kids could keep hoops going round their necks and arms as well as their waist. I had trouble with just the one but it kept us fit!

H Programmes:

On TV:
Hawaii Five-O
Hancock's Half Hour
The Benny Hill Show

On Radio:
Housewives Choice
Round the Horne with Kenneth Horne, all those double entendres and the pair... "My name's Julian and this is my friend Sandy."

Did you spot that this record was in Mono? (That means
before stereo was invented!) I still have Mono records.

H Names:

Barbara Hepworth, sculpture

Joseph Heller

Rex Harrison

Anthony Hopkins

Dustin Hoffman

Arthur Haynes

Buddy Holly

The Hollies

Jimmy Hendrix

Herman's Hermits
Brian Hyland

Bill Haley who provides the...

H Music:
Bill Haley singing Rock Around the Clock - a song that caused almost riots in the cinemas when the film came out in 1956 because kids got up and danced!


(This was the best version I could find. Not sure what those little girls are doing there!)

Were there any Hs you remembered?