I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 34: Play time

Introduction

Grandpa was a jokester. He once had Grandma retrieve something from under the couch for him – which turned out to be plastic “dog poop.” “Oh, Gordon,” she said, for the umpteenth time, shaking her head.

When thinking about play time, my mind automatically goes to my grandfather, Gordon West (1907-1981). But which play are we talking about?

Grandma had a devil of a time deciphering the items he put on shopping lists – aches for eggs, like that. He played my first April Fool’s joke on me (Santa Claus was outside the window) and acted very surprised when I played the same joke on him right back (hey, I was 4).  He left written instructions “To earl organ” so that we would know how to oil the instrument.

Discussion

But Grandpa’s playfulness wasn’t just in his jokes. It was also in his music. The playing I most remember Grandpa for was his Hammond organ. Grandpa earned a living playing the organ at the movie theater before “talkies” (movies with sound) came out. (Google tells me that The Jazz Singer popularized them in 1927, and they were ubiquitous by 1930, when Grandpa turned 23.)

He then had a tough search for work during the Depression. A friend offered him a job as a linotype operator for no pay, which he used to get a job at the Staten Island Advance and he worked at it for 41 years (according to an article about his retirement).

Still, Grandpa never forgot his roots and never lost his love for music. I remember Grandpa playing for the grandchildren and us dancing to such classics as Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree (which was actually new when he played it for us), and similar.

Dancing in the living room while Grandpa played the organ is the last childhood joy I remember.

So, in a way, this is about my play time as well.

Love you, Grandpa.

How AI can help

While Grandpa provided the heart of this story, AI gave me a few gentle nudges. I used it to double-check when “talkies” became mainstream and to help clarify a few fuzzy details around his career shift. AI didn’t write this story, but it did help me ask better questions. And sometimes, that’s all the help you need.

Challenge for Readers

Think about someone in your own family tree who brought playfulness into daily life. Did they tell jokes, pull pranks, play music, or encourage dancing in the living room? Share their story, or a favorite memory of your own “play time.”

Next Week’s Topic: “Off to work”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.