Hi Fran and Bebop,

I never had a crystal set. I did become an amateur radio operator in the late 50's while stationed at Tyndall AFB near Panama City, Florida (your neck of the woods, Fran). My call sign was K4UDF. I was mobile. No base station. Had a Gonset Super 12 Converter and Hallicrafters HT-17 Transmitter feeding a 10 meter whip antenna. It was a tiny bit bigger than a crystal set. Ha Ha. Had great fun with it. Probably would have had fun with a crystal set, too. The three of us remember the days when radio reigned supreme. Those were great days. Fibber McGee & Molly, The Shadow, The Lone Ranger, Red Ryder, Inner Sanctum, Duffy's Tavern, The Green Hornet, The Great Gildersleeve, Bulldog Drummond, Can You Top This, The Jack Benny Program, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, The Aldrich Family, The Cisco Kid, The Bob Hope Show, The Charlie McCarthy Show, Captain Midnight and so many others. Do those names bring back fond memories? I have cassettes of those shows and listen to them every once in a while. I enjoy them as much today as I did as a teenager, especially the commercials for Oxydol, Chesterfields, Camels, Wrigley's Chewing Gum etc. Great stuff!

You asked about home towns, Bebop. Mine was Bell, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.

Great thread, Bebop. I love to talk about the early days because they were so much fun. Let's hope others will chime in and tell us about their lives. This worldwide KN family we have becomes even more interesting and family oriented when we write about ourselves and thereby share ourselves with our friends.

Best Wishes to All, Chuck