Mike in Halifax posts a comprehensive linkfest of resources related to the 1960s TV show Rat Patrol. Despite being raised by fairly dovey semi-peaceniksters in that era, Rat Patrol was A-OK as was playing with Action Man aka GI-Joe in our house as, of course, they were killing fascists and fascists had flattened great-grannie's house in the bombing of Greenock. Perfect logic for the times. Now, however, I as Dad fail to note one bear in a big blue house in the imagery above.
The best moment in the show was always the opening when the Jeep and its crew manning the big honking gun (I am now only comfortable calling machine guns "big" and "honking" as the technical reference) leaps off a sand dune into space. Elementary school lads throughout suburbia said "coooool" to themselves weekly.
Comments
David Janes - March 13, 2006 7:50 am
By "peacenik" do you mean they called Stalin "Uncle Joe"? Just wondering...
Alan - March 13, 2006 7:52 am
We had a Stalin tank toy, yes. Your point?
David Janes - March 13, 2006 8:01 am
Just that it's funny how peace and Stalin aren't historically connected, but peaceniks and Stalin are.
Great quote on the radio yesterday by a Russian: "we never defeated Hitler, we drowned him in our blood".
Alan - March 13, 2006 8:06 am
Thanks for making an illogical leap.
Chris Taylor - March 13, 2006 8:39 am
<i>Rat Patrol</i> predated me by a decade or so, but I recall catching it at 1 or 2 in the morning on the History Channel during young adulthood. The first thing that struck me was yes, the coolness of the jeeps leaping off sand dunes, but also the ability of the .50cal gunner to stay hands-on-weapons-system and not fall off the back during the launching and landings phases.
Sadly, the show also featured nightly disappointment. Once I figured out they were far more likely to focus on <i>Bonanza</i>-style family angst versus opening credit-style Extreme .50cal Running and Gunning, the fascination was ended.
David Janes - March 13, 2006 9:55 am
Back on point then. Never saw the show. <i>Black Sheep Squadron</i> was it for me. And <i>Hogan's Heros</i>, I suppose.
Alan - March 13, 2006 10:07 am
Your failing was merely that of the citizen journalist, David, when knee movement interferes with brain function. You forgot to ask what other toys we had. Older bro had the WWII Germany infanty Action Man and middle had the British guy. Mine was the Soviet. But we also had a full range of Airfix soldiers including a robust set of Waterloo and American Revolutionary soldiers...not to mention a neato set of astronauts bought at the Smithsonian, a mini version of out MMM set. <p>How do you sift all these tea leaves of the semi-peaceniksters? I suspect it is what it is and hindsighted gotcha-ism is simply irrelevant. Please reference your own toys and parental choices from here on in if you want to have an enlightened discourse. Unilaterail jib-jabble is not helpful in the analysis but full disclosure may be quite interesting.
David Janes - March 13, 2006 10:50 am
I had dinkies, man, that's it. Dinkies.
Alan - March 13, 2006 10:54 am
No way. Not even a Hot Wheel? I think Hot Wheels were deinitely the entry level drug for video games like Grand Theft Auto.
David Janes - March 13, 2006 10:56 am
Nope. Dinkies.
Alan - March 13, 2006 11:02 am
So...what does that say about you?
Alan - March 13, 2006 11:09 am
[I would suggest that the appropriate response is of the "oh, yeah? Sez who?" variety.]
David Janes - March 13, 2006 11:20 am
It explains why I own an A4: 4 seats to seat 2.
Alan - March 13, 2006 11:24 am
It is only OK is you make "vrooom" sounds in your head when you drive it.