when toy guns were ok for kids on the tube

[Norman Bean]

I was a guest on one of those old kiddie shows, for my b day 50 years ago.I came with my new toy submachine gun,and the host said what a great toy gun it was.Might have even shot it off.Anyway, IF any kiddie shows were still being made, imagine today, the hosts reaction to a kid coming up to his podium, with a toy sub machine gun. It would make the world news, because they'd have the swat team called out to tackle the kid and haul him off to the clink handcuffed.It used to be as common for boys to play soldier or cowboy with toy guns, as playing baseball.Catch the old tv commercials on youtube sometimes.It was big business for toy companies selling toy guns.