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Community Corner

Babysitting, 1964: Turns Out to Be a Lucrative Business!

When Maxwell Smart ruled the boob tube...

It was 1964, and time for us to start earning our keep at home. Why not invest in a career that would pay huge dividends? Babysitting seemed to fit the bill.

As 11-year-olds, my sister Teresa and I began by babysitting the kids in the neighborhood. Parents would get the two-for-one special since we were twins. One of us could change a messy diaper, while the other one took care of making dinner for the screaming siblings. Divide and conquer was our motto!

We began our babysitting career on Pacoima Court. Although most of our neighbors were elderly, there were a few families on the block with children. Right next door was the Dirckx family with three spunky blonde-haired kids. 

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I think the going rate was about 50 cents an hour, and included dinner, potato chips, cookies, Tab cola and a healthy dose of Maxwell Smart. After we’d re-diaper the youngest, and feed the others, they’d all be ushered off to bed, and Teresa and I would settle in for some 1964 spy humor. I even remember trying to answer my shoe a few times like Don Adams, but I guess I had the wrong phone number. Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 were the coolest!

Thanks to a well-crafted resume, word must have gotten out, and soon Teresa and I were in high demand. Down the street was the Raksin family, whose parents were both prominent artists. David Raksin was a renowned composer, known for the hit movie theme to “Laura” and many other notable pieces. His wife, Jo, was a gifted sculptor. 

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They had two gorgeous, rust-colored Airedales, along with two kids who kept us busy. Anyone who thinks babysitting is an easy job is in for a surprise. Wobbling toddlers and children waving carving knives? How did my mom do it with six athletic children? I can’t imagine babysitting anyone now. You really need eight limbs just to handle one 2-year-old.

Soon, we branched out to other parts of Studio City, babysitting the Feitchan family, who were notable members of the film community. I think the father’s name was Buzz, from what I recall, or perhaps that was the name of his haircut?  

The fathers would drive us home, and as we slumbered in the back seat, we were proud of the $2.25 we both made corralling the kids. In many ways it was much harder than my adult career as an ad executive, but it sure was a lot more fun. 

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