Danny Armstrong (Arlington High School, Class of 1963) recently published a memoir about growing up in Arlington. The book is titled “Rearview Reflections of Arlington, Texas: Short Stories Looking Back on Growing Up in Arlington, Texas in the ’50s & ’60s,” and I was one of the first to get to read it. Thank you, Danny, for sending me a copy!
Rearview Reflections of Arlington, Texas
In “Rearview Reflections of Arlington, Texas,” author Danny Armstrong shares a collection of short stories about growing up in Arlington during the 1950s and 1960s. Danny’s memoir is a coming-of-age and nostalgic look at adventures in small-town Arlington, a time and place many people remember fondly. The book is also a microcosm of America during that time and a snapshot of a bygone era. It touches on traditional family dynamics, post-war economic growth, car culture, and the “be back before dark” youthful spirit (and/or parenting style) that was so idyllic and carefree.
In his book, Danny mentions people and places with enthusiasm, warm memories, and funny stories. His stories include memories of popular youthful pastimes from the 1950s, including Little League Baseball, roller skating, go-karts, riding bicycles, playing catch, high school football, wood shop class, model trains, and, of course, chasing girls. He is also a car enthusiast, and some of his stories involve the pursuits, fascinations, and obstacles thereof. (Fun fact: Danny also publishes car-related crossword puzzles and is known as “The Car Crossword Guy.”)
His stories also mention local businesses, teenage hangouts, and other places around Arlington—sadly, most of which are no longer with us. The prevalence (and importance) of neighborhoods is present in his memoir, painting a picture of Arlington as a tight-knit community. He mentions an astonishing number of people by name, and remembering them all 60 years later is quite impressive. As Danny alludes, it was undoubtedly a simpler time and the last sliver of innocence before things in America began to get complicated in the 1960s. Although it was before my time, perhaps Arlington really was as picture-perfect as Danny remembers it.
I was born in Arlington in 1983 but grew up in the neighboring town of Mansfield. I always thought of Arlington as the big city next door (and I still do today), whereas someone like Danny knew it as a small town. I never knew it that way. Arlington had tremendous growth after World War II, especially during the 1980s. From 1950 to 2000, Arlington grew from about 7,600 people to over 332,000 people; today, it’s topping 400,000 people. It doesn’t look the same as Danny remembers it, but Arlington still has traces of its small-town roots if you know where to find them.
I recommend “Rearview Reflections of Arlington, Texas” by Danny Armstrong, as it’s entertaining, enthusiastic, and endearing. I live in Arlington and have recently become interested in our local history. I’ve read a few other books about Arlington, but not a memoir like this. I enjoyed reading his book because it offered a different view of our town and an iconic period in America. Danny’s stories reminded me of the movie American Graffiti, which took place in 1962—about the same time he graduated from high school.
Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 02-20-24
This book review also appears on Goodreads.
Jason S. Sullivan 
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