Today I am writing about Smart TVs as we are now in the age of digital technology.

Other technical names like Tablet, Notebook, Crome, Bing, Roku, Xbox 360, Boxee, Wifi, Facebook and App have meaning to many these days. It all supports my earlier columns, which revealed a new world of communication was coming. And, now it is here.

Digital TVs, which includes Smart TV and 3D TV, are now selling like hotcakes and the prices are tumbling left and right. I have a new 3D TV and the picture is beyond description. Watching golf matches is almost like being there. Movies are so life-like.

So, good luck as you “sail into the future” in this new era. If you want to really learn about it, check in with your children and grandchildren. They can tell you all about it, better yet, they can show you how to “work these things.”

But let me tell you more about Smart TVs. When I bought one of those wide screen HD TVs last year, I made sure it contained Smart TV. Exactly, what is Smart TV? Well it is simply a TV with a computer. You know computers are in everything these days-cars, trains, airplanes, etc. But here is how I use mine. First, my remote, with the touch of a switch, becomes a microphone. Let’s say I want to watch the “leech” scene from the movie, “The African Queen.” I simply say, “leech scene African Queen movie” and BINGO, there it is Humphrey Bogart pulling that boat through the neck high marshes with those dingy little critters stuck to his back and arms.

Or if I want to hear big band music, I say “Big Bands of the 50s,” and I get hundreds of bands and tunes from that era. Just the other day, I watched in a total nostalgic state Tommy Dorsey on the trombone and his orchestra playing “Marie.” Of course, the resonant voice of Jack Leonard added to the quality of the song.

If I want to read bible verses, I simply call out the verses I want and they pop out on my TV screen.

I really like those old cowboy westerns. The other day, I called out “Will Bill Elliot” and got over 50 movies of this popular cowboy of the 1940s, including a cliffhanger serial from early 1940 called “The Valley of Vanishing Men.”

Ouida likes beautiful flowers and calls out flowers she likes. She barked “purple roses” and got what she ordered. I don’t think I had ever seen roses of this color, but she got plenty of them to see from her easy chair in the den.

You can also pull up your videos and photos of the grandchildren with one command to the remote.

What you can watch is only limited by your recollection. Everything you can think of can be pulled up to watch on your big screen.

Who knows, tomorrow morning, we may have a new set of terms and equipment. Those west coast technical computer-phone “nerds” apparently never sleep, always digging, digging and coming up with new innovations.

Now let’s take a look at 1954.

Buster Joyner’s “Ice cream Parlor” on South Main was one of our favorite places, and it served as the main hang out for local and area teens. His best selling lunch was the “Chicken in the Basket,” a meal consisting of two pieces of chicken, fries, roll and a drink. And, the price was only 75cents. His huge “Spinning Wheel” milk shakes were also a hit. Buster debuted that popular shake when he operated a similar business in Bay Minette.

Bristow’s Drug Store, Reid Drugs and Escambia Drugs were also popular gathering places for morning and afternoon coffee drinkers.

Grimsleys, a long time clothing store, advertised a half-priced sale on all merchandise in an Atmore Advance double truck (two page ad in the center of the paper). Later that year, the store celebrated its 48th anniversary.

The Advance also carried several “spot ads.” This is a one column by one inch ad. One of those ads was Ceomulsion, which was said to be good for children’s coughs and bronchitis. Strange, you seldom see that ad these days.

Vaughan’s Grocery in Walnut Hill advertised fryers at 45 cents a pound and one dozen oranges for 20 cents.

Several from here won $10 prizes for individual recipes in a contest sponsored by Hass Davis Packing Company of Mobile. Back then, we all enjoyed those fine meats from that firm. One of those winners was Mrs. B Singleton from Monroe County

Popular hit songs from 1954 included “This Old House” and “Hey There” by Rosemary Clooney, and “Three Coins in the Fountain” by the Four Aces.

Rev. N H McCrummen, pastor of Atmore First Baptist Church, announced that 279 were in attendance for the first 1954 mid week prayer services.

That year, “Little John” Harvey said he watched a Frisco train travel over the Highway 31 bypass at exactly the same time an L&N train passed under it. Many old timers always said that was a rare occurrence.

More news next week.

Contact Lowell at exam@frontiernet.net.