A nickel Coke and a dollar's worth of reading
Monday, August 29, 2022 at 12:54PM
In the 1950s and 60s Lake VIew, Iowa’s small town Dueur Drug Store had not only a fine selection of comic books and magazines available, but also a soda fountain. For a five cents, we boys would order a small Coke (plain, cherry, or vanilla) and sit at the counter for hours reading unpurchased comic books from the nearby rack while nursing the drink. And nobody fussed at us. Some of my love of reading has to be attributed to Superman and Batman and The Fantastic Four.* I could easily consume a ten-cent comic in ten minutes or so. I read Archie comics, but I really didn’t get the humor. The Classics Illustrated versions of novels like The Three Musketeers and Don Quixote were also among my favorites. After finishing both my Coke and a few comic books, I would pay my dime for a comic I could take home, trade with buddies, and enjoy reading before going to sleep. As I got a bit older, I bought and studied Mad Magazine, much to my grandmother’s dismay. (I had to hide it when staying at her home.) But even more distasteful to her and appealing to me were the Eerie and Weird Tales magazines full of monsters, supernatural events, and bare-breasted women (who strangely never had nipples). Yes, I read novels eventually. My personal Edgar Rice Burroughs collection was extensive and I plowed through Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries. As I entered junior high and high school, my range of reading expanded to include Heinlien, Tolkien, and Ian Fleming. As I relate these memories, I ask myself if we in traditional education have not taken the wrong approach to reading instruction. Would we inspire more reading and better readers (not just those who can read, but want to read) by using comic books, graphic novels, and self-selected materials rather than reading textbooks and professionally selected library books? (I love seeing the extensive graphic novel collections in many libraries today.) For whatever reason (opportunity, a reading family, or a generous drug store owner), I am grateful that I became a life-long reader. Something stuck - I have already in August gone past my Goodreads’ goal of 52 books for the year. Make sure your kids have access to comic books. *A recent post (Why I Read) by Miguel Guhlin stirred this memory from my own misspent childhood. Miguel reminisces on how he sat in front of the comic book rack reading various issues, without reprimand from adults.
Reader Comments (6)
Summer growing up - my mom would give us $2 and drop us off at the movies. We would spend $1 getting candy at the TG & Y and then see a double feature. Good times!
Hi Kenn,
Yeah, stuff was cheaper back when the earth was still cooling and God's dog was just a puppy.
I often wonder what experiences today's kids will be able to relate to their children and grandchildren.
Thanks for the comment,
Doug
I began filling my high school library about five years ago with graphic novels and Manga- waited for the shoe to drop on me by the administration- nothing so I kept going. As a result, I had boys come into the library telling me they didn't like to read and I would suggest they take a Manga; fast forward to the 72nd book in that series, and they would ask<"What else can I read.?" Enough said! Stephanie
Thanks, Steph. You've probably done more to make good readers than all the special reading programs combined. Thanks for sharing your experience. It may give others courage!
Doug
Hi Doug,
I am an elementary teacher and I love how many new graphic novels there are nowadays. When I was a kid, we would go to the used book store to get Archie comics. Once we were done, we'd return them for a credit and get some more for practically nothing. It was as if it were a comic library - and at the time, there were no comic books at the library.
I agree that comics are an important part of developing a love of reading and developing the life long readers' practice of starting a book, finishing it and looking for more just like it! All reading is good reading!
Hi Jillian,
Thanks for sharing your memories. Keep up the good work of being a teacher!
Doug