A Lionel train under the tree, a Matador Red dream, and the perfect con

Evening, friend, Jack Reynolds checking in.

December 25 always makes me think of the year the Beatles finally hit the radio and every teenager I knew went wild.

Stick close for that first big single, and for a white Cadillac convertible my brother would have traded his right arm to drive. Then we will end with a quiet memory from a snowy porch swing that feels just like home.

Brings it all back, doesn’t it?

On December 25, 1973, Paul Newman and Robert Redford teamed up for “The Sting” and charmed the socks off America. The film brought ragtime music back into style and won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. I still try to whistle that theme song. Click to remember the perfect con and the stars who pulled it off.

This 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible in Matador Red was the sleigh every dad dreamed of parking in the driveway. It cost about $2,611 new, but today a clean ragtop commands well over $100,000. With those famous tailfins and a 283 V8, it turned heads on every corner. Click to check the factory specs and the auction values.

Main Street in Littleton, New Hampshire, looked like a proper Christmas card in 1954, with snow packed against the whitewalls and the shop lights glowing warm. Thayer’s Hotel down the way has been hosting travelers since 1843 and is still open today. It makes you want to turn up the collar on your coat. Click to zoom in on the marquee and the slushy street details.

“He likes it! Hey Mikey!” echoed in my kitchen for over a decade. This 1972 Life Cereal spot ran for 12 years—one of the longest ever—and won a Clio Award. Little John Gilchrist didn’t say a word, just smiled. Click to watch the full ad and see that famous grin again.

Harrison Ford was still pounding nails as a carpenter when he filmed ‘Star Wars’ in 1977 for a $10,000 paycheck. By 2025, his movies have hauled in more than $9 billion worldwide. He never did lose that grit, did he? Click to read how he went from cabinet making to the biggest star in the world.

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Tonight’s ‘Your Memory’ comes from Arthur in Wisconsin, remembering the hum of a transformer on Christmas morning in 1955. He says the heavy Lionel engine chugged around the tree while his dad adjusted the speed. The living room smelled like fresh pine needles and ozone. That is a sound you never forget.

Tonight’s Quote comes from Paul Harvey, who reminded us that “Self-government won't work without self-discipline.” I hear my dad in that line, talking about paying bills on time and telling the truth even when it costs you. You can learn more about him here. His story will feel like sitting by the radio again.

See you tomorrow. Same time, same station.

– Jack

Images are AI-generated or sourced from public-domain archives. Reader photos used with permission.