I am a Broadcast Kid. As such I can remember getting up and walking over to the TV to change the channel to one of the other half-dozen stations available. I can also remember all the local programming on these channels, before the ever-rising media tide began to homogenize New England.

There was Rex Trailer, Candlepins for Cash, Dialing for Dollars, Captain Bob, Creature Double Feature, Community Auditions and Willie Whistle. But I have to admit what sticks in my mind the most from those days is a commercial, or commercials. I speak, of course, of the advertisements for Carvel Ice Cream. True, Carvel is not exactly a New England thing - but they definitely do not make commercials like that anymore.
First and foremost I recall the voice of Tom Carvel. It was raspy, gravelly voice, sounding as if Mr. Carvel has spent the night with package of Lucky Strikes and a bottle of whisky before recording the voice overs.  And then there were the demented ideas behind Carvel ice cakes: Fudgie the Whale for those seeking dessert with an aquatic theme and some thing called Cookie Puss (or for St. Patrick’s Day, Cookie O’Puss). Follow the link and take a good long look at the picture of Cookie Puss. No wonder I turned out so damn weird. Hemmed in by mutant ice-cream cakes and Three’s Company reruns, my fate was sealed at an early age.