Topo Gigio - Bill's favorite toy when he was 7

Recently I was watching some old TV shows and there was one with Ed Sullivan (remember him) and a little Italian mouse puppet named Topo Gigio that appeared on Ed's show many weeks. He was a shy little fellow and so lovable.



This post is written especially for our youngest son, Bill, who will recall this event in his life. He might even share it with his 3 teen aged daughters. I wonder if he's ever told them that he once had a pet mouse? Not real, of course.



In the summer of 1965 our son Bill, who was 7 years old, wanted a little mouse like Topo Gigio. I found the perfect little mouse, dressed in a leather vest and he even had whiskers. He was tiny and he could fit into Bill's pants pockets. Bill wanted to be a ventriloquist and would try to make Topo talk. He took Topo Gigio with him everywhere he went. One day about a year later, Topo had a terrible accident. He went into the washing machine in Bill's pocket and was washed in hot soapy water, rinsed and fell out of Bill's pocket when I removed his pants from the washer.

In the meantime there was a little rip in his back and his "insides" began to fall on the floor. He was stuffed with fine sawdust. You can imagine the mess! I tried to stuff him and sew him up but he just wasn't the same anymore. Instead of the happy, big eyed little mouse he suddenly looked very old and sad. He just passed away quietly and was laid to rest.



Later Bill wanted a dummy so he could practice being a ventriloquist. I ordered one for Christmas when he was about 8 or 9. They were not available so he got something else for Christmas that year. He never asked for one later.



I copied the following info from the internet about Topo Gigio. Topo Gigio - The cuddly little mouse puppet Topo Gigio, (a.k.a. "The Little Italian Mouse") was the creation of the troupe of puppeteers that debuted on CBS's THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW on April 14, 1963. Standing ten inches high and made of a half pound of foam rubber, Topo Gigio was controlled by sticks not strings (unlike most puppets). . Each week, as part of the show, the adorable little mouse would appear on stage and greet the stone-faced Mr. Sullivan with a sugary "Hello, Eddie!" Topo, who often spoke of his girlfriend, Rosey, closed his weekly visits by saying "Keesa me goo'night, Eddie." Topo appeared 92 times and closed the final 1971 episode of ED SULLIVAN SHOW.

Old Salem, NC - behind the scenes in 1980s

This post is not about Old Salem, NC and all the buildings, etc. You need to go to this website to read all about the village of Old Salem: http://www.oldsalem.org/index.php?id=104

What I am writing about includes my experiences as a "behind the scenes" docent (volunteer) during the time we lived in Winston-Salem (1979-1985).

I was fascinated by this religious Moravian colony that settled in Salem, NC. They kept very careful records and were master carpenters and hard working people. I loved the Moravian cooking, especially baked goods. More about this later.

We had just moved to Winston-Salem from Minneapolis, MN and I was looking for something to occupy my time while James was attending a sheltered workshop near Old Salem in the downtown area of Winston-Salem. I read an article in the newspaper that they were looking for volunteers to start up a program to assist with events, etc. and office work. We would not be volunteer costumed interpreters that tell the Old Salem story and are stationed throughout the village. We worked behind the scenes such as helping with mailing newsletters, planning for special events such as the Christmas party for workers and volunteers, and many other things as

needed. I loved doing this. I remember the staff member who organized this group. Her name was Margaret Hoffman from Clemmons. We became good friends since we also lived near Clemmons, a short distance from W-S. Our little group was organized and we had about a dozen volunteers. We had name tags made and appeared at several social functions as "delegates" from Old Salem. Most of all I enjoyed being a part of Old Salem culture and participating in so many of the events.

The best time of all was at Easter and Christmas, and 4th of July if it wasn't too hot! Our first Easter sunrise experience took place around 1980 and I remember how cold it was that Easter morning as we stood in silence in the middle of Old Salem, facing Home Moranvian Church as the sun was coming up. The minister walked out on the little balcony overlooking the crowd and proclaimed" He is risen" and the crowd responded "He has risen indeed!" and the sunrise service was underway. The antiphonal sounds of the Moravian band were heard all over the area throughout the service. Following the service (you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet) the crowd made its way down the narrow street to God's Acre cemetery to complete the service.

We were back home in time to have breakfast and to get ready to go to our church for a different kind of Easter service at Knollwood Baptist Church.

On the 4th of July, we enjoyed the festivities that took place at Old Salem, including a demonstration of the old fire pump they used to put out fires. There would usually be a parade with kids and pets and of course the Moravian brass band leading the parade - and refreshments afterward.

Christmas at Old Salem was so special. We always attended one of the Love Feast celebrations at Home Moranvian church and heard Christmas music when someone would play the old organ located at the Single Brothers House. And the Old Salem Docents helped out during the Christmas at Old Salem tours that were held daily for about 2 weeks before Christmas. I don't think they have these tours anymore. At the end of the tours, the docents held a party in the basement of the building pictured here. I still remember the apple dumplings and the spicy hot wassail bowl and other treats we had and the fun time. These are the perks of being a volunteer.

A few years ago a tornado swept down in the square at Old Salem and took down most of the old trees. It looks different there now. Many of the old restored buildings have been purchased and used as private residences and are not on tour. The Winkler Bakery is still in operation and you can still buy the delicious sugar cake or Moravian buns that are baked in the bee-hive shaped cement open door ovens. The gift shops feature Moravian handmade items. You can see many of the costumed craftsmen at work when you tour the village. I have some of the handmade candle holders, a big Moravian star with light inside that we hang on our porch every Christmas and other momentoes from Old Salem. How I'd love to have one of those delicious sugar cakes and a round tin of the thin Moravian cookies and smell the hot baked bread coming out of the oven at Winkler's bakery.