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”

Fin