28. Golden Oldies Festival 29.07.2017
(by Michael)
After I told Christa about it, she wanted to go there and look. So we set off on Saturday, when the weather was fine.
The place was full of old vehicles. I’ve been there already twice. This time – or on that day – the American Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, Plymouth of the 50s dominated. These vehicles are characterized by their size, the wide chrome-plated radiator grilles and the sometimes extremely large tail fins. An eye-catcher are they in sense.
But also the (textile) fashion was somewhat different at the time – and many festival participants had equipped themselves accordingly. It has been the time of petticoats. Appropriate music was played on the 10 different stages and one could besides suitable clothing also buy (functional) tube radios and TV sets. Nice to watch the Rock-n-Roll dancers (the video must unfortunately remain without audio). Obviously, this dance style is still cultivated in different dance clubs.
Before returning home we take the time to visit the beautiful castle ruins of the village.
In Christa it has evoked old memories …
A jump back in time
(by Christa)
Hundreds of polished, sparkling cars of all ages were parked in the streets of the village.
Most eye catching the overly long American vehicles of the 50s, richly equipped, leather trim in pink, turquoise, mocha, purple … They could not be overlooked.
Also German cars of all types – especially the VW beetle with sunroof or open convertible top (I once had one of those!) as well as many French vehicles – were to be seen there.
And look very modestly on a street corner, small and inconspicuous a Messerschmitt cabin scooter from the 50’s. And yet, he attracts a lot of attention and recalls old memories with me:
At the beginning of the 1950s, we lived on the island of Sylt to the very north. My older sister prepared for the entrance exam for church music field at the Academy of Music in Basel. To practice on the organ, she had to travel 20 km to Westerland each time.
Using the island railway took too much time. So one day she got a cabine scooter in silver gray – an absolute rarity on the island.
The old village church had an organ that had not yet been electrified. So I had to go with her and operate the bellows while she practiced (not an attractive job, but I got piano lessons in return).
She was 20 years old, I was 15, both long-legged and 1.78 meters tall. Each time we climbed over the side wall into the scooter, the neighbors stood around curiously and amused themselves. The same when climbing out in Westerland in front of the church. We were an attraction when we sitting behind each other in this looking like an airplane cabin vehicle chugged across the island.
One day even my mother – she was in her early 50th – went with my sister in this cabin scooter from Sylt to Basel and back – about 1100 km each direction! I do not know how much time they needed. But my mother enjoyed the ride!
And now there was just such a cabin scooter parked on the sidewalk next to all the styled limousines. I have moved several times around it and would have loved to take a seat inside!
Addendum (by Michael)
At the end Christa said that I absolutely should show my “Miss Morris” there next year. She would even help me with the washing and polishing …
