In the late 1960s and early 1970s in Berkeley (northern California), girls played with jacks, boys
played with Matchbox cars, and I had a collection of marbles (gifts from family members, I think)
that I hadn't the faintest idea what to do with. (That's aside from the gender-specific dolls and
their accoutrements.)

When we moved in the early 70s to Orange County, in southern California, jacks were out but
hopscotch (in various configurations) was in, and I haven't a clue what the boys played. Still not
marbles.  We also played four-square and a form of handball with the larger inflatable, red rubber
balls. Our side yard probably has a scattering of the needle-like tips for the air pumps used to
inflate the balls to get a good bounce on them. But those games were not gender-specific.

Gwyn Alcock
Redlands, CA

--- Anita Cohen-Williams <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Of course, out here on the West Coast, we didn't play either marbles of
> jacks. I ran into young boys playing marbles in New Haven in the early
> 1960's when I was a visitor there.
> 
> Now, back in the 1930's I understand that marbles were de riguer for boys.
> 
> --
> Anita Cohen-Williams
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