The Year 1952, Chapter 2

While his father was busy at the office on the first Thursday night in September of 1952, Burt Larson, a slim boy of average height for his age with straight brown hair, cut short, was sitting home alone on the carpeted floor of the living room directly in front of their brand new black and white television watching a slew of programs, some of which were carryovers from radio days.

At 7:30 PM there was The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore), a program featuring a masked man, a former Texas Ranger, who travels on horseback with his Indian friend Tonto (Jay Silverheels) across the old American west "to assist those challenged by lawless elements."

At 8:00 PM, Burt watched The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, a situation comedy featuring a pair of former vaudeville stars who in real life were husband and wife.  

Following at 8:30 PM was The Amos 'n' Andy Show, an all black situation comedy, which was almost the only time blacks were on television in 1952.  It starred Tim Moore (as Kingfish) and Spencer Williams (as Andy) who played two buffoons.  

Finally at 9:00 PM, Burt saw Dragnet, a drama which was created by and starred Jack Webb as Joe Friday, the stone-faced, by the book police sergeant in Los Angeles, California ("This is the city").  

As soon as Burt saw his father's car pull up in front of their house, he turned off the TV and scooted up the stairs to his bedroom, closed the door and got into bed.  He already had on his pajamas.  Burt knew it would be hopeless to try to engage his father in conversation as he was sure he would be rebuffed.  Everything had to wait until morning.  

However, before Burt fell asleep, he stared for a moment at the photo (hanging on the wall near his bed) of his late mother, Mollie, who died in a car accident when Burt was only two years old.  He has no memory of her when she was alive.  She was a pretty young woman (30 years old) with curly brown hair.  

The previous month, Burt celebrated his thirteenth birthday.  Two days ago, on the Tuesday after Labor Day, he entered the eighth grade of his public school.