The 1950s were the "golden" age of short cheaply-produced poorly-written horribly-acted black and white educational films. In this decade and the following one, school children were treated to a deluge of these masterpieces on an endless range of vital subjects such as hand washing, bicycle safety, proper school bus etiquette, crossing streets correctly, ad nauseum. The military had theirs as well - how to salute, proper uniform care, the correct methods of garbage can cleaning, and those amazing venereal disease prevention films. The originals today have become "camp" classics and I feared that this genre of cinema had become a lost art. I was quite wrong. They're still out there today, only now they are full color affairs employing out-of-work actors and writers extravagantly produced at government expense. There are moments in the latest Department of Homeland Security video about dealing with workplace violence and mad gunmen that approach anything ever seen in this type of production. Specifically, it reminds people seeking cover in the event of a mass shooting to grab a pair of scissors to fend off the assailant. Perhaps this is why parents have always admonished their children NEVER to run with scissors! ;D

I selected the Bing Crosby solo version of the original tune. Granted, I've lived a rather sheltered life, but I can't conceive of hearing the following words in a gang rumble on the mean streets of Chicago - "Watch out, man! He's got scissors!" ;D