24 May 2019

Published May 22, 2019 by rochellewisoff

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Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 100

TOYS, GAMES, AND YO-YO’S

My Chatty Cathy doll said eleven different things, ranging from “Let’s play house” to “I love you.”  Her voice sounded just like Talking Tina of “I’m going to kill you” Twilight Zone Fame. No surprise. Voice actress June Foray spoke for both of them.

However, of all the toys I lost or broke, only one stood up to years of joyful wear and tear.   

I owe it to inventor André Cassagnes, a baker’s son whose allergy to flour caused him to seek employment as an electrician. His creation would go on to become the Etch-A-Sketch.

I still play with it.  

 

***

Portrait of Jan on my Etch-A-Sketch

 

 

113 comments on “24 May 2019”

  • You really did well with that Etch-A-Sketch, Rochelle. I’m amazed. The only thing dolls did when I was little was drink and wet. There must have been a little tube that went from the mouth to a hole in the bottom of the doll. The only problem was they were rubber and after a while went to pieces. I’m guessing mold collected inside which couldn’t have been good. It was intriguing to a small child though. 😀 — Suzanne

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  • Great story Rochelle!
    It invokes the memory and magic of toys. I never understood the doll thing but loved stuffed animals and wanted every My Little Pony…

    Can’t believe your Etch-A-Sketch still works. They don’t make them like they use to.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Tanille,

      Actually, my Etch-A-Sketch didn’t survive my kids, but I did have it for many years. The one I drew the picture of my husband on didn’t last a year. Truly, they don’t make them like they used to. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Those dolls are really spooky.
    I love the idea of a baker’s son being allergic to flour. There must be more stories along those lines: the lion tamer’s daughter allergic to whips, the state executioner’s son allergic to guillotines…

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Dear Keith,

      My brother had an electric train set, complete with smoke that rose from the stack. It fascinated me. And don’t they do everything on phone screens these days? From the time they’re babes in arms. I still love my Etch-A-Sketch. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Larry,

      June Foray did a number of voices on that show, including Natasha Badinoff and Mr. Peabody’s boy Sherman. 😉 (A favorite show of mine back in the day.) Thank you for reading and commenting.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Trent,

      June Foray was hired to do the voice of Talking Tina because of Chatty Cathy. Funny, I had another doll who didn’t talk that I found creepier. I’m actually in need of a new Etch-A-Sketch. They really don’t make them like they used to. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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  • I envy your etch-a-sketch abilities. I was never that good at it. I had one of those dolls when I was young. Honestly, I’m not sure you want to know what I did with her… let’s just say her remains were scattered for several miles.

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  • Dear Rochelle,

    What a great memory. And whoa. That picture of Jan – I couldn’t even do that with pencil and paper, never mind an Etch-a-Sketch! Like Archon, I could barely do steps 😉

    And dolls like that are positively spooky. I was never into them, though my mother did tell me I had one (obviously made no impression as I don’t remember it at all!)

    Shalom and Lotsa love and Welcome back home!

    Dale

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    • Dear Dale,

      I did like dolls. Chatty Cathy was a favorite. Again, another toy that didn’t survive my boys. 😉 The funny thing is the one doll I really wanted was Raggedy Anne…never got one.

      The Etch-A-Sketch just came naturally. And there are those artists who leave me in the dust with them. But then who wants to put that much time and effort to something so temporary? Right? Of course, right.

      Give me a few days to say it’s good to be back home. 😉 Last night I dreamt I was walking the streets of Jerusalem. Thank you, my friend.

      Shalom and lotsa hugs,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Josh,

      I loved my Chatty Cathy. Cutting edge back in the day. Now, my Patty Play Pal, that was creepy. She gave me nightmares.

      Etch-A-Sketch is relaxing. I’m thinking I need a new one. My kids put the kai-bash on my first one and the one my husband gave me a few years ago wasn’t made well. Not surprised we artists have it in common. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Yikes for the spooky doll thing! That’s the stuff of nightmares .. 😉
    As for the etch-a-sketch!!!! WOW!
    I’m very impressed! I think the farthest I ever got with that skill is a sort-a-circle that aspires to get rid of some bumpy corner-like turns … 😉

    Added mine to the froggy. The photo took me to a bit of a different kind of theme, though no less real … You’ll see what I mean.

    Pinned Hopes


    Welcome back!
    Na’ama

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Na’ama Y’karah,

      Actually it was my Patty Play Pal doll that gave me nightmares. She was life size (3 year old child) with a creepy face. Etch-A-Sketch is always fun but they don’t make them to last anymore. Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Ah, my cousins had one the size of me (at the time I was 5 or so). My cousins were older than I was, and I was in awe of the fact they had a person-size doll. I still don’t quite know why they had her or what for (they would’a been teenagers at the time), but I remember being partially puzzled and partially jealous and partially spooked by the fact they had a silent roommate which lived with them in their girls’ room. I think she could close her eyes when ‘asleep’ (supine) which didn’t make things any better … 😉

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    • Dear Björn,

      I think my mother bought me the Etch-A-Sketch so she’d be able to find a piece of paper I hadn’t drawn on. 😉 So no issues there. I did love my Chatty Cathy. Thanks for reading.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

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  • Hi Rochelle
    Have just posted my link and picked up your etch a sketch image ! Don’t know how that happened, and I can’t get in the post from here to read it at the moment as Firefox is blocking it out (here we go again)

    Friday Fictioneers: 24th May


    It might have picked up the wrong link anyway so I’ll have another go. It hasn’t been a good week!

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      • I was half and half I guess. It was also important to keep up with my brothers too. =) My daughter was a girlie girl and loved the Cabbage Patch dolls then on to the American Girl dolls. My parents sort of spoiled her (but in a good way.) I’m sorry you never got a Raggedy Ann. It’s never too late…

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  • Loved the story. It brought back memories of your dolls. Especially the Talking Tina that you still emulate to this day sometimes. “Hi. I’m talking Tina and I’m going to kill you.” What a nightmare that gave to so many kids. And adults also. I also remember the antique doll you had in the antique stroller. Just plain scary. Having said this about that..story, the etch-a-sketch drawings you did always amazed me. I really loved this one of me. And to think you did that in the car while I was driving. Bumps and all. You are just plain amazing M’luv.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Aw shucks, m’luv. BTW I need a new Etch-A-Sketch. That one didn’t last long. They don’t make them like they used to. The antique doll was scary and, admittedly, not fixable. She was giving Christian nightmares, so I had to kick her to the curb. Still have the antique buggy though. 😉 Thanks for reading and commenting.

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    • Dear Shrawley,

      My mother would never have gotten rid of my Etch-A-Sketch. When I was a child, she would snatch it away to show her friends at work my latest creation before I could erase it. 😀 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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  • That’s a great picture on the Etch-a-Sketch and a great story too. It’s such a unique toy and fun for doodling. I’m always impressed at people like you who have the patience and coordination to make real art on them.
    -David

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear David,

      There are those who exceed me on the Etch-A-Sketch…even make careers with their art. Personally, I find it relaxing. It’s all a matter of coordinating the left and right knobs. I’m glad you liked my story, too. I’m beginning to wonder if anyone’s reading it…so dazzled are they by my sketch. 😉 Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Liked by 1 person

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  • Oh that Chatty Cathy Video was great – and what a great day for me to drop by!
    Wow -“you can tell it’s Mattel -It’s swell”
    And then the etch-a-sketch – cool that you still have fun with one – we had the mini key chain versions a few years ago.
    Anyhow – just wanted to say hello, Rochelle, and hope you are having a nice month of May

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Hi, all, Bear here… yes, it is really me. Sometime last weekend at Hamvention, my phone and all attached things were hacked! Argh! Got new phone finally after hours with tech support. Grrrr…. Anyway, I feel a bit like this poor little donkey this week.

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Querida Rochelle,
    FUN … FUN … FUN … memories. I enjoyed the info on N.Cassagnes and that Etch-O-Sketch
    game. I never could do anything except straight lines. Such a wonderful recreation of Jan from you on that little gadget. Bravo!
    Have a super weekend … glad you’re back.
    Abrazos y carino,
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Loved this. With your digging in to get us all these little tidbits, I wonder have you read ‘Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture’ by James Burke? If not I think you will enjoy it.

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Dear Lilly Putian W(T)F,

    Thanks for giving Detective Lowry a brief vacation while you globe-trotted to the Middle East. I’m sure they have a totally different concept of America after Chatty Shelley’s visit.

    They must have had an Etch-A-Sketch class at Walla Walla Bing Bang. You appeared to have mastered it, but then again, you were always good at twisting people’s buttons.

    Ari Ben Cain-raiser

    Liked by 1 person

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  • Dear Ari Ben Can-raiser,

    I hope Detective Lowry is on his toes. I’ll give him no more respites. The do not remove tags are more interesting in Hebrew. 😉

    Happy to know my old Alma Mater has stepped up their cultural game. Go WWBB! Twisting buttons is an art form, too.

    Thank you for coming by.

    Shalom,

    Lilly Putian W(T)F

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