Wonderful memories

Most of your readers who had the privilege of growing up in Arkansas during the 1950s and ’60s, as I did, will no doubt recall a much-beloved TV personality and kids’ entertainer who went by the name of Cactus Vick. He had a TV program in the afternoons called Six Gun Theater. He dressed in western-style clothing complete with cowboy boots, chaps, gloves, and a big cowboy hat. Cactus was also the spokesman for Wonder Bread and Finkbeiner Frankfurters.

Cactus, whose real name was Volmer Vick, had graduated from England High School with my mother, Thelma Walker, in 1929. Somehow through the years they managed to maintain contact. Throughout my childhood, we never knew when Cactus would stop by for a visit on his way to a performance or birthday party. I loved it when he came as he always did some magic tricks, pulling 50-cent pieces out of my ears, making balloon animals, or some ventriloquism.

One Friday night he stopped by to have dinner with us as he was performing at our school in Plumerville that evening. As we ate, he asked if I would like to be his assistant that evening. Of course I did. My duties included handing him a few props and being the target of some good-natured jokes. I couldn’t have been any more excited if I had been on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Cactus had a club for kids called the “Square Shooters.” Anyone could join; all you had to do was to follow the rules. They were: One on a Bike, Drink Your Milk, Brush Your Teeth, Obey Your Parents, Look Both Ways Before You Cross the Street, Read Your Bible, Go to Church, Be Polite, and Eat Your Food. Pretty good rules to live by, I would say. I still have my membership card.

We need another Cactus Vick! Thanks for the wonderful memories, Cactus. JAMES CALVIN WALKER

Conway