the life of theodore joseph kaizer interviewed by: rebecca acosta
TRANSCRIPT
The life of The life of Theodore Theodore Joseph Joseph KaizerKaizer
IntervieweInterviewed by:d by:
Rebecca Rebecca AcostaAcosta
Fun facts
Birth date: August 29, 1927 Birth place: Bakersfield, CA Had 4 sisters and was the
youngest. He’s lived most of his life in
Bakersfield except for the time he lived on a navy ship in the armed forces.
“ Being on a ship is like being in jail with a chance of
drowning.”
Early Childhood
Great Depression – a lot of poor folks
His dad’s income- $90 a month School: Ted was left handed.
Teachers tried to make him right handed because everybody had to be right handed.
Many children came to school without shoes.
He always had enough to eat Ted won 2 ducks at a carnival and
kept them. After a while, they became dinner.
Teacher gave him a goat and became his pet “Nebbie.” The goat met the same fate as the ducks.
“I wouldn’t taste it. I wouldn’t eat my friend.”
First Job: At 8 yrs old was mowing lawns in the summer Pay: 50 cents - $1Other jobs: Cleaning the chicken yard for
$.10 Theater: Mickey mouse
show, cartoons, movies
What to buy? A milkshake for $.09 at
Ernie’s A mug of root beer for $.05
Childhood hero: Cowboys from the movies
Hobbies as a child: Stamp collecting, collecting coins, and building model airplanes
Hobbies now: collecting music, refinishing furniture
What to do for fun???
Rode a bike Played football in
the streets Listen to radio
programs: Dick Tracy, Orphan
Annie, Jack Armstrong
He ate a lot of wheat cereal that sponsored Dick Tracy in order to get Tracy stuff
Dating
Start? When he found out the girls weren’t boys.
He bought a car at 16 for $50 ( Model A Ford 1931) but he usually borrowed his dad’s car for a date
Boys asked girls and boys paid for everything!
Went to the movies or dancing after a game
Major events? W.W.II
Scrap drives Rationed food-
Meatless Tuesdays Ted was a
messenger in high school. He and other boys would look out for planes (air raids?)
The world has changed
Speed: air travel – jets Electronics: computers, cell phones (which
he will never ever own), cassettes Television (watch a movie for free) Family: “Hardly a family anymore. Everyone
always goes their own ways.” Crummy air- too many people with asthma
As a child he only knew 1 kid with asthma
As an older adult
Worst thing about it is being old
Best thing about it is “The older I get, the more things I remember if they happened or not.” Wouldn’t want to go
over his life again Very Happy!!
Advice: Take care of your
health Eat a descent breakfast If you get started in
school, don’t stop “Bad things need to
happen so something good will come later”