A Giant Recess in 1974

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis (WRCO ENTERTAINMENT) – In 1974 I was a big strapping 4th grader at Sextonville Elementary. Miss Finley was my teacher, and I got to know her well because I missed a lot of recesses for acting up and saying goofy things. That meant I would stay in her classroom. It was punishment for me and for her as she did not get a break. Little did she know that I was preparing for my career. When I did get out of the building it was fun to play a refreshing game of kickball or play on the playground. Sextonville had one of the most dangerous play structures ever. It was called a Giant Stride.

Here is the AI Overview explaining what I am writing about…….

A “giant stride” was a dangerous piece of vintage playground equipment, common in the early 1900s, consisting of a tall pole with ropes or chains hanging down. Children would run in a circle, holding the handles to create centrifugal force, causing them to “fly” or be lifted off the ground. Due to frequent injuries from collisions and children falling or being hit by the handles, the equipment was largely removed from playgrounds by the 1960s following safety recommendations in the 1920s.

Somehow, Ithaca school district did not get that recommendation and Sextonville still had one in the 1970’s for its 3rd and 4th graders to injure themselves (and many did).

While riding the school bus to Ithaca, and than again right by the farm back to Sextonville on the shuttle bus driven by Gyneth Parduhn we sang and listened to lots of good tunes. Some of the top radio hits as school began in 1974 were The Night Chicago Died-Paper Lace, Clap For the Wolfman-Guess Who, Waterloo-Abba, I Shot the Sherriff-Eric Clapton, Rock Me Gently-Andy Kim, Radar Love-Golden Earring, Tell Me Something Good-Rufus, You Haven’t Done Nothin-Stevie Wonder, and Kings of the Party-Brownsville Station. The number one song Labor Day weekend of ’74 was (You’re) Having My Baby-Paul Anka (featuring Odia Coates). It is ironic that a song about going into labor was the number one hit going into Labor Day!

I look forward to a full 6 hour show this Saturday night between six and midnight featuring trivia, and lots of shout outs and requests. Thanks to all of the support. It makes it very rewarding to hear from people that appreciate Those Were the Days and more over a local voice that is live on the radio. That is a rarity on radio these days and in general for most local businesses. Noone wants to work nights and weekends! Let me tell you that hosting the Saturday night party on the radio is not work. It is an honor to still be keeping the station lights on. Thanks to a new fan from Florida that checked in a couple of weeks back. It is always nice to make new friends but keep the old. I learned that back in school. Give me a call or text Saturday and request a song from the fifties through the early nineties and featuring the char from this weekend in 1974. We can compare playground stories when we talk than.

Phil

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