NATIONAL TV DINNER DAY

September 9, 2026September 8, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

National TV Dinner Day is observed annually on September 10th. In 1953, C.A. Swanson & Sons changed the prepackaged meal business forever. Introducing the TV Dinner revolutionized frozen food.

In 1962, Swanson stopped using the name TV Dinner. However, in the United States, the term remains synonymous with any prepackaged dinner purchased frozen from a store and heated at home.

Amazon Basics Classic TV Dinner Folding Tray with Storage Rack, Natural - Set of 4 Trays — Amazon Basics Classic TV Dinner Folding Tray with Storage Rack, Natural – Set of 4 Trays

Casual Home 5 Piece Tray Table Set, Espresso — Amazon Basics Classic TV Dinner Folding Tray with Storage Rack, Natural – Set of 4 Trays

The first Swanson TV Dinner consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, peas, and sweet potatoes. Originally, Swansons made the tray of aluminum. They separated each food item into individual compartments, too. At home, the cook heated the dinner in the oven. The cooking time was usually 25 minutes. Today, nearly all frozen food trays can be cooked in the microwave or a conventional oven.

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When Swanson’s first sold TV dinners, they priced them at 98 cents. In the first year, production estimates reached 5,000 dinners. To their surprise, Swanson far exceeded that amount. In the first year, they sold more than 10 million of them.

TV Dinner Facts

1960 – Swanson added desserts to a new four-compartment tray.
1964 – Night Hawk name originated from the Night Hawk steak houses that operated in Austin, Texas, from 1939 through 1994. The original diners were open all night, catering to the late-night crowd. The restaurants produced the first frozen Night Hawk TV dinner in 1964.
1969 – The first TV breakfasts were marketed. Great Starts Breakfasts and breakfast sandwiches followed later.
1973 – Swanson markets the first Hungry-Man dinners. The meals included larger portions of its regular dinner products.
1986 – Microwave-oven safe trays debut on the market.
1986 – The Smithsonian Institute inducted the original Swanson TV Dinner tray into the Museum of American History.

Much has changed since the original TV Dinner. They also remain a popular choice for a fast and convenient meal, fun to eat in front of the TV!

Looking for something to watch? Check out some of my favorites here.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalTVDinnerDay

Get out a TV dinner, pop it in the microwave or oven, and enjoy! Use #NationalTVDinnerDay to post on social media.

Paragon Microwave Food Storage Tray Containers - 3 Section/Compartment Divided Plates W/Vented Lid, Set of 6 — Paragon Microwave Food Storage Tray Containers – 3 Section/Compartment Divided Plates W/Vented Lid, Set of 6

Ez Prepa [20 Pack] 32oz 3 Compartment Meal Prep Containers with Lids - Bento Box - Plastic - Stackable, Reusable, Microwaveable & Dishwasher Safe — Paragon Microwave Food Storage Tray Containers – 3 Section/Compartment Divided Plates W/Vented Lid, Set of 6

One Hit Wonders Playlist

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

One hit wonders, the songs everybody loves and the bands that never had another big hit. Did you know Sugar, Sugar was from a fake band? So here is a playlist that I know you’ll love. After all if the songs wern’t big they wouldn’t have been such a hit.

Bobby Day - Rockin Robin (1958) — Bobby Day – Rockin Robin

Sugar, Sugar - The Archies — Bobby Day – Rockin Robin

So turn up the volume, sing along, you know you want to and probably know the lyrics. If we missed your favorite drop it in the comments. Until next time enjoy!

NATIONAL DING-A-LING DAY

December 11, 2025November 29, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

National Ding-a-Ling Day on December 12th encourages us to reconnect with people we once talked to often.

Ding-a-Lings on this day call the people they haven’t heard from in a while. It may be an old classmate, co-worker, or neighbor from years ago. Or perhaps a call will go out to the child who used to mow the grass during the summer. How about that couple who carpooled for soccer? What was their name? Many people slip out of our lives who would love to hear the ding-a-ling of a call from you. Why don’t you join the Ding-a-ling club and call someone this year?

NATIONAL DING-A-LING DAY HISTORY

In 1972, Franky Hyle placed a free ad in Chase’s Calendar of Events with his PO Box Number in Melrose Park, IL stating that for $1 you can join the National Ding-A-Ling club. The club, with 871 original members, would call friends and relatives they haven’t heard from in a while every year on December 12. In a 1975 Lakeland Ledger article, the idea for the club developed during a discussion among friends about people being friendlier and led to the meaning of the term ding-a-ling. After looking up the word, they found it meant “One who hears bells in his head.”

From this evening discussion, Hyle created the National Ding-A-Ling club. The tradition grew, and on December 12th, millions of people will call those individuals dear to them.

HOW TO OBSERVE #DingALingDay

Call someone you haven’t heard from in a long time and use #DingALingDay to post on social media.

Ding-a-Ling: Phone a friend? Maybe not!
#DingALingDay — Ding-a-Ling: Phone a friend? Maybe not!

2024 NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATE EVERYDAY 2 WALL CALENDAR WITH 2 FREE YEAR PLANNERS (20 DOLLAR VALUE)
#DingALingDay — Ding-a-Ling: Phone a friend? Maybe not!

NATIONAL ONE-HIT WONDER DAY

September 25, 2025September 25, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

On September 25th, National One-Hit Wonder Day brings back memories while turning up the volume. We honor all the musical artists and chart-topping songs that make them memorable.

These songs make us sing whether we should or not. We know all the words even though we don’t know why. They’re the songs groups of friends will burst out in chorus together and make memories, too. Movie soundtracks love them. Wedding dances love them. We all love them!

The real kicker is, the artists or groups only made us swoon once. After that, they faded away. Some continued with moderate success. Others, however, were never heard of again, musically.

Listed below are just a few of the well-known one-hit wonders from days gone by. Here is a playlist with some of my favorites.

1955 – “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)” by The Penguins
1963 – “Six Days on the Road” by Dave Dudley
1968 – “Tip Toe Thru The Tulips” by Tiny Tim
1969 – “Smile a Little Smile for Me” by The Flying Machine
1970 – “One Tin Soldier” by The Original Caste
1970 – “The House of the Rising Sun” by Frijid Pink
1972 – “Hot Rod Lincoln” by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
1983 – “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Taco
1988 – “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

Do any of these bring back memories?

HOW TO OBSERVE #OneHitWonderDay

How many one-hit wonders can you name? Do you know the title and the artist? Use #OneHitWonderDay to share on social media.

Jen's Perspective Blog

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