Marbles was a religious affair in neighborhood

By Rene Torres
Special to the Advance

In the beginning, centuries ago when pebbles were used as marbles — the game was played for fun. Returning the winnings at the end of the day was common since it was a display of skill rather than to stockpile the winnings.

During the 1950s, games in my neighborhood were for keeps. Every win was a trophy stashed in your pocket. But unfortunately, some of us had to count the cost at the end of the day and that could prove to be painful.

Every player developed their unique style of shooting marbles. Techniques varied from player to player, and from neighborhood to neighborhood. If you played in your own backyard — you had the home-field advantage. So, rotating sites within your barrio (neighborhood) was common.

Venturing to play outside your home ground was not done alone or done at all. Additional security was necessary if you were brave enough to enter the territorial grounds to play the “vatos” (boys) from the “Colonia Mexicana” and “La Villa Verde,” “El 4-21” or “La Muralla.”

A favorite gathering place for most kids in my neighborhood was on the turf of Resaca Elementary — which was mere steps away from my front door. On a typical afternoon, the girls could be seen playing jacks, hopscotch and jumping rope.

Those who were lucky to own a bike rode them with pride — while the rest of us were shooting marbles, running races, pushing a car tire down the street or tossing a barrio baseball on a vacant lot. To produce the perfect sandlot baseball, we would wad a bunch of holey socks and wrap them tightly with black electrical tape.

We created our own after-school programs that required no adult supervision, the raising of taxes and/or selling bonds. Kids were involved in habitual play and in control — without any cries from parents — as none were in sight.

Our marble skill level matched that of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. As a matter of fact, both would have fit right in.

Every neighborhood had its local marble “legend” to contend with.

Playing for keeps meant that you had to choose your games carefully or if not, your pile would quickly disappear. I learned my lesson one day, as Carlos “La Canica” — The Marble — an expert at the game of “ahogado,” took me to the cleaners.

Playing by the book was not always the case.

To prevent arguments, we made sure that the main players engaged in the game understood the house rules. But it was a violation of the rules which taught us the “freedom of speech.” Expressing your opinion was part of the game.

Arguments, in some cases, required a journey to the alley — you either walked away or fought for your rights in the ring of life, which was the “callejon” (alley). Individuals involved in the dispute would have a supporting cast of friends at the scene — just to make sure that the other side would not slip an unsolicited punch.

No kid ever attempted to use weapons of mass destruction. After the rumble, we were all outwardly friends again, that is, until the next encounter.

The duration of the games could go on for hours or until you were called for dinner. The “call” for dinner was seldom ignored — for being late meant you ate the “sobras” (leftovers). And having six brothers and four sisters like I did—the leftovers of “arroz” and “frijoles refritos” (rice and refried beans) prepared with “Manteca del marranito” (pig’s lard) were miserably small.

It was an age when obesity and diabetes among kids were not a “concept” yet. You would rarely see a barrio kid that was consumed by fat — our rib cage was well-defined. Today, many kids would be embarrassed to take their shirt off because the opposite is true.

The only other break in the action was taken when you took time to watch “Howdy Doody Time,' 'Captain Kangaroo,” and of course, Annette Funicello on “The Mickey Mouse Club.”

In this dream era, Elvis Presley was shaking, and the other Mickey was called up to replace Joe DiMaggio. The other Mickey, of course, was the great Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees. Also, 3-D movies were filling the theaters, and the “Hit Parade” was playing the popular music of the era.

It was a time of toy cars, model trains, jump ropes and marbles. And as far as I’m concerned, playing marbles was as popular as the 1955 hit, “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets.

Most of us survived “Sputnik” and the “Marble Experience” with less than more scars, as well as a lot of fond memories.

Marbles anyone?