Saturday morning

It's easy to recall your typical Saturday mornings as a kid; the cornflakes or Cheerios, maybe Fruit Loops with the easy going Toucan or "the magically delicious" Lucky Charms and smart ass, Leprechaun. Nestle's Quick chocolate mix in milk... a match made in heaven.

Cartoons included Top Cat and all the wise cracking cats who hung out together in alleys, on trash cans, always on the take, scheming and scamming, dodging danger and such, fantastic fun yet oh so simple. Mighty Mouse was the little Rambo of his ilk and always came out on top, loved that... the Super Man of mice if you will. The "Open Wide For Chunky" commercials about a chunk of chocolate candy, featured a draw bridge opening-up... brilliant and made perfectly good sense as a metaphor... because, if you wanted to gobble the chocolate square, whole, in one bite... you would have to open wide.

Some of the most memorable jewels we woke-up to in the wonderful world of cartoons & spellbinding animation also included: A group of guys who always seemed to be there, Alvin and The Chipmunks, featuring Alvin, Simon, Theodore and leader of the pack, David Seville... a nice bunch of fellas who hung-out and liked to sing. They made it big in show-biz and recorded many an award winning album. Quick Draw McGraw mozied along with side kick, donkey Bubba Looey, they made for an intriguing twosome, as the ten-gallon hat wearing horse, so laid back with an easy-going swagger, yet effective as a law enforcer, royalty of the Huckleberry Hound Program. Huckleberrry had a thick southern drawl, quite the blue smooth talking, straw-hat-wearing-dog. The Jetson's included George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, Astro ("rut-ro") and Rosie the Robot maid... very slick, very space age and futuristic. I thought my life would be that way in the future too. Live in outer space, zip around in those stealth, bubble-top & sporty, space cars? Seemed like that would be the natural sequence of events, as I moved along in accordance with the advancements in modern technology. Especially since NASA was getting off the ground in the early 60's. "Yup, you can live out in outer space if you want, by the time I grow-up." Well, since I don't really feel all grown-up yet... I guess it can still happen. Actually people do live out in space today, but not at all like the expanded, developed, metropolis in the sky that was portrayed in The Jetson's.

The Flinstone's were tremendous, pre historic fun with all the cave man/women "Yabba-Dabba-Doo" goings on. Course Underdog was no slouch in our cartoon landscape... always managing to save the day for one Miss Polly Purebred. She kind of bugged me, a little too helpless for my taste, but that's just me. Yogi Bear, "smarter than the average bear," and his little buddy Boo Boo were quite the twosome who only wanted to snack, therefore always on the friendly hunt for a nicely packed pic-a-nic basket, which kept Ranger Smith on his toes in Jellystone Park. Porky Pig needed a little speech therapy and was another sharp dresser, about as nimble a pig as you'll ever find. Rocky and Bullwinkle, were a good looking dynamic duo... but a moose and flying squirl? Talk about your odd couple... a good team and great fun to see them outsmart evil doers, Boris and Natasha. Tennessee Tuxedo, sported a sharp bow-tie and was an enterprising penguin who cruised around with loyal pal Chumley, the tie-wearing walrus.

The Canadian Mounty, Dudley Do-Right, always hot on the trail of the bad guys while making it appear effortless. The list goes on. One more thing to note that comes to mind, is this; "George, George, George of The Jungle, Watch out for that tree!" Definitely a simpler, slower time when our world revolved around crazy kid-stuff, cornflakes, chocolate milk and the kooky characters in cartoons.

The Civic

The following story is another example of submissions you'll find in The 2010 Albuquerque Almanac, in addition to little known to well known historical & hysterical accounts, antecdotes, urban myths, local folklore and more about "The Duke City" located in the heart of The Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, USA.

The Albuquerque Civic Auditorium

By Mary Ellen Ipiotis

No one could have predicted when the Albuquerque Civic Auditorium opened its doors in April, 1957; five decades later in that same spot, there would be a premier heart hospital, The Heart Hospital of New Mexico, equipped with amazing life saving state of the art medical resources, on the ready for the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

The auditorium was a new and opulent performing arts center nestled in a corner pocket of the valley’s edge. It was situated a stones throw away from The Pan American Freeway, also known as I-25, in between Lomas and Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, formerly Grand Ave, one block north of Central Ave. Ask any Baby Boomer who was raised in Albuquerque if they remember the flying-saucer-shaped building next to St. Joseph’s Hospital and watch their eyes light-up. The late 50’s, 60’s, 70’s were prime times for “The Civic,” locals flocked to the crown jewel of Albuquerque. Frank Lloyd Wright was reported to have been impressed with the distinctive architecture and modern design by George Pearl. The lobby was spacious, shiny, modern and an exciting hall to see and be seen in. The parking lot allowed for about 1200 vehicles, presenting problems from the get go.

The dome-shaped structure had an obvious flying saucer-like quality and made for a great landmark. The construction encompassed a bold design and included a massive amount of concrete poured over a mammoth mound of sand, then dug out, scoop by scoop, leaving only a round shell, reinforced with a steel skeletal system big and strong enough to hold 6000 people. The Albuquerque Civic Symphony broke-in its new home in style but expressed concern about the acoustics, an important component necessary to hear fellow musicians.

Wrestling promoter, Mike London with his signature white hair and goatee presided over wrestle mania in the mid to late 60’s. Ricky Romero was the home town favorite and along with The Funks, Bull Ramos, Chief White Cloud and Poncho Pica grappled to the delight of frenzied fans. Even the gals got in there as Cha Cha Monge and Betty Nikita wrestled it out like the fellas applying the infamous spinning toe-hold or sneaking in dirty-dog contraband with sharp edges... whatever it took to reign supreme as the toughest and badest in the land. Mean while London invited TV viewers to enjoy the fight cards and of course the delicious Roma Wine available through the sponsors of the broadcast.

Children were treated to big-top fun when the circus rolled into town along with a variety of spectacular shows for the whole family, from magic and puppet shows to wonder dogs and smart horses. Boys and girls of all ages showed-up in full force eager to take in the special events. It was quite the extravaganza. Leaving with some sort of souvenir from a vendor, perhaps a program, poster or something autographed by someone involved with the show, the headliner ideally, was always an extra bonus.

Notables who packed ‘um in, were Glen Campbell, when he was cutting his teeth in show biz and played with his Uncle Dick Bills and The Sandia Mountain Boys. Bills was a well known, local favorite in the early 60’s who hosted The Dick Bills Show, an after school program featuring a peanut gallery and a catchy cowboy sing along theme song called; “The K Circle B” which was all the rage for a while. Locals, to this day search their memory banks in an effort to remember the lyrics of that happy tune.

Other popular acts drawing standing room only crowds, included renegade rock n roller Chuck Berry, Frank Sinatra crooned for the audience and The American Ballet Company enchanted the more sophisticated concert goers. Hippies, “hoodlums,” and beatniks joined a wide variety of groovy hipsters, spellbound by Jimi Hendrix with his gritty guitar and hard hitting brand of rock. Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead just wanted to keep on “Truckin” and inspired the ecstatic revelers to get happy and obliged by creating big green clouds in the auditorium as the cops stood by and watched. Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk caused a lot of headaches for security and APD was summoned for support. Tear gas, barricades and other attempts at curtailing unruly behavior only magnified the late 60’s/early 70’s climate of unrest. Our little town was experiencing growing pains with eminent changes on the horizon. In the 80’s while trying to survive and compete with bigger, newer arenas and halls, locals scrambled to get in on bargains found at ski swaps, art shows, car stereo and electronic blow-out sales.

Alas, in 1987 the red brick and grey opal was gutted of its glory days. The historical gem leveled to make room for the future. The Civic Auditorium served Albuquerque well for some thirty years and is remembered fondly by those of us who had the distinct pleasure of taking advantage of the unique show place perched stately near the Big I and prominent crossroads of the Great Southwest.

Red or Green?

The following compostion is a sample of work one will find in the upcoming 2010 Albuquerque Alamanac.

Red or Green?
By Mary Ellen Ipiotis
Is it chile or chili? Even the spelling of the word evokes discussion. It depends on where you’re at, who you’re asking and which menu you’re looking over. I tend to spell chile with an “e” at the end because it feels better and sounds more flavorful.

This amazing plant and its various varieties grow from the fertilized ovaries of a flower and since it contains seeds, therefore defined as a fruit by the scientific community. Chile is also referred to as chili pepper, as colorful as it is spicy, could easily be considered soul food, a food of comfort and can be highly addictive to one’s pallet. Whether sweet, mild, hot, extra hot or just too hot to really enjoy by the average set of taste buds, it’s a savory addition to many a meal. To go with the red or green with your meal is so important a question to local diners … New Mexico lawmakers passed a bill legislating “Red or Green?’’ the official state question.

There are a few factors involved with one’s final decision when preparing or ordering in a restaurant, and of course depends on who is making it and what you’re in the mood for. You will more than likely hear the question pop-up while visiting any number of Albuquerque’s favorite spots that offer good New Mexican fare and includes red or green chile, and quite different from salsa in taste and texture, yes spicy and scrumptious but better paired with chips for dipping or to add on a taco or nacho’s, as a topping. Salsa is usually a chunky, tomato based dip type thing, similar to a relish and not typically asked for in your enchiladas, tamales, chile rellenos (ree-en-ohz), a battered chile pod stuffed with cheese, or smothering a mouth watering combo plate. It’s the chile sauce, like a gravy or caldo (stew), soupy kind of chile you want with your meal. A nice chopped, green chile, garlic salt, maybe a few diced tomatoes and onions is another way people around here love their chile served and is sure to put a smile on a hungry face in an instant, when it’s available and fresh. The smell alone, can cause one to salivate as the air around various neighborhoods and growers markets fills with the intoxicating scent of fresh green chile pods roasting on grills fabricated specifically for this time of year when chile must be roasted to perfection, peeled and gladly eaten throughout the year.

Now if you are thinking of ordering the very popular breakfast of Huevos (wev-ohz) Ranchero’s) usually consisting of eggs, cooked to your liking, hash browns or papitas (diced spuds), a little cheese, maybe pinto beans on the side and a nice garnish of lettuce and tomatoes on a corn or flour tortilla, in addition to a tortilla on the side to bring it all together…can be a masterful Diego Rivera or a disappointment if the eggs aren’t cooked the way you had hoped. Chile is a must with this local favorite, often thought of as a tremendous cure for the “cruda” (pronounced croo-tha) and means hung-over, maybe incurred after a steamy night of drinking and Salsa dancing which is a another thing all together, and not to be mistaken with the tasty appetizer, but can make you sweat even more than the sassy snack, that is salsa. Red, green or “Christmas” which means both red and green, not necessarily the best way to go if you don’t get into the spicy stuff. Definitely, the kind of decisions I like to make.

Indeed to go red or green is the question and one that can make your mouth water with just the thought of. I learned to fully appreciate chile when I lived up in the Pacific North West, while a fire fighter with the US Forest Service. To my dismay, I soon realized chile is not anywhere, nearly as a big deal there, as it is in my beloved Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico. I resorted to mixing a life saving, chemical alchemy of ketchup and Tabasco sauce as my make shift chile. I felt deprived of one of the staples of life. How would I survive without it? I adapted and modified accordingly but found myself often craving the real deal from home. To this day I feel sorry for people who know better, but do not have access to the liquid gold I was raised on and enjoy pretty much daily.

I can appreciate when someone comes to town on an annual pilgrimage to procure a sack or two of chile and have it shipped out to their home elsewhere or why it’s so important for family or a true friend to send out a cache of the food of the god’s, to store in the freezer for those day’s you can’t live without it. And why chile runs through the very veins of generations, its roots deeply planted in the rich soil found along the Rio Grande River, where family history, traditions and chile recipe’s surround the past and present and so often at the heart of meals found in the kitchens of Albuquerque and throughout the state. By now the question begs to be asked; Which will it be for you? Red or Green?

What If

Yeah, What if everyday broke even then called it a night? What if who you love, where your from, what you believe, why you are the way you are, when you do this or why you do that really didn't make you any better or worse? What if PEACE prevailed... LOVE always found it's way... JOY outlasted sorrow... JUSTICE reigned supreme? What if EQUALITY permeated humanity... hate bowed to harmony and we all lived happily ever after?

HEY!!

Love you then, now, evermore...