Remember When
AT&T rates for 1995: between $.25 and $35 daytime, .12 to .17/minute weekends. It was $1.31 to call UK for the first minute, $1.12 after (7am - 1pm).
Daytime AT&T rates for a call between New York and the West Coast for a five minute call:
1950: $3.70
1960: $3.45
1970: $2.25
1980: $2.17
1990: $1.25
For New York to Philadelphia:
1950: $.70
1960: $.80
1970: $.80
1980: $1.65
1990: $1.08
My business numbers are still charged on a per minute basis. It is 1 cent and my 150 page phone bill costs me about $120 in long distance.
Quote: boymimboThere's an FCC report out there for domestic long distance. report, starting at page 280
AT&T rates for 1995: between $.25 and $35 daytime, .12 to .17/minute weekends. It was $1.31 to call UK for the first minute, $1.12 after (7am - 1pm).
Daytime AT&T rates for a call between New York and the West Coast for a five minute call:
1950: $3.70
1960: $3.45
1970: $2.25
1980: $2.17
1990: $1.25
For New York to Philadelphia:
1950: $.70
1960: $.80
1970: $.80
1980: $1.65
1990: $1.08
I remember when I was 14 in 1994. We had AOL dial up on my awesome 28k modem. Well the local AOL connection was always busy so I thought I was smart by picking a number that was in a small town up north. I made my connection and began to download some game from a warez site. Well since it was like 100 megs it was going to take all night. I did this just about every night and a month later my mother got the $1800 phone bill for all of the long distance charges. Boy did I get yelled at.
Quote: GWAEQuote: boymimboThere's an FCC report out there for domestic long distance. report, starting at page 280
AT&T rates for 1995: between $.25 and $35 daytime, .12 to .17/minute weekends. It was $1.31 to call UK for the first minute, $1.12 after (7am - 1pm).
Daytime AT&T rates for a call between New York and the West Coast for a five minute call:
1950: $3.70
1960: $3.45
1970: $2.25
1980: $2.17
1990: $1.25
For New York to Philadelphia:
1950: $.70
1960: $.80
1970: $.80
1980: $1.65
1990: $1.08
I remember when I was 14 in 1994. We had AOL dial up on my awesome 28k modem. Well the local AOL connection was always busy so I thought I was smart by picking a number that was in a small town up north. I made my connection and began to download some game from a warez site. Well since it was like 100 megs it was going to take all night. I did this just about every night and a month later my mother got the $1800 phone bill for all of the long distance charges. Boy did I get yelled at.
I hope your mother didn't pay that bill without first contacting the phone company. It was common for kids to get into that kind of trouble or worse. If it was a one time thing they would usually work with you, forgiving or substantially reducing the charges.
About 1991 I had a buddy and roommate Alan, who meet his GF on a 900 party chat line, not even a sex line.Quote: 1BBQuote: GWAEQuote: boymimboThere's an FCC report out there for domestic long distance. report, starting at page 280
AT&T rates for 1995: between $.25 and $35 daytime, .12 to .17/minute weekends. It was $1.31 to call UK for the first minute, $1.12 after (7am - 1pm).
Daytime AT&T rates for a call between New York and the West Coast for a five minute call:
1950: $3.70
1960: $3.45
1970: $2.25
1980: $2.17
1990: $1.25
For New York to Philadelphia:
1950: $.70
1960: $.80
1970: $.80
1980: $1.65
1990: $1.08
I remember when I was 14 in 1994. We had AOL dial up on my awesome 28k modem. Well the local AOL connection was always busy so I thought I was smart by picking a number that was in a small town up north. I made my connection and began to download some game from a warez site. Well since it was like 100 megs it was going to take all night. I did this just about every night and a month later my mother got the $1800 phone bill for all of the long distance charges. Boy did I get yelled at.
I hope your mother didn't pay that bill without first contacting the phone company. It was common for kids to get into that kind of trouble or worse. If it was a one time thing they would usually work with you, forgiving or substantially reducing the charges.
Before I went to get my first house phone in my name, he mentioned I probably should not mention his name, because he owed a large phone bill. when he told me the amount, I thought he was joking. I didn't really think it would matter much. During the process of getting a phone, I did mention his name as a roommate on the application or during the questioning processes, when they asked if, I had any one else in the household, or something like that.
The phone lady left and returned some time later. She was asking me where my roommate was. I now realized I should have kept my mouth shut. She explained my roommate Alan owed over $10,000 in phone bills.
It was a nightmare for the next few years getting a phone, I had to bring in written statements from landlords stating, Alan was not on my lease.
Lines I called back in the day: A 1-900 quiz one that I won some big prize on but you had to write down info to get your prize and damned if they didn't use the guy from the Micro Machines commercials to read the terms. Also called Mean Gene Okerlunds line a couple times to get the latest wrestling scoop.
While going down memory lane, remember publishers clearing house and the other magazine subscriptions that required you to post stamps to the ones you wanted and mail them away. I remember I put stamps on Playboy and ALF magazine. As you can see, I am clearly a man with refined tastes.
because it was cold? We stood at bus stops in -10
degree weather every winter. The Chicago schools
and most Wis schools are closed on Mon because
the obese little darlings are soooooo delicate these
days. Give me a break.
Quote: EvenBobRemember when they never closed the schools just
because it was cold? We stood at bus stops in -10
degree weather every winter. The Chicago schools
and most Wis schools are closed on Mon because
the obese little darlings are soooooo delicate these
days. Give me a break.
The schools in Minnesota (the entire state) are closed on Monday because the HIGH is predicted to be -14, with a wind chill around -40. The Darwin choice would be to leave them open, then count the bodies of the people who underestimated how deadly different that is from a normally cold winter.
I grew up there my first 10 years; we had probably 8 to 10 days per year that were snow days for blizzards, though I don't remember ever being kept home simply for cold temperatures without snow. But it makes sense to me that they would when it's that severe.
Quote: beachbumbabsThe Darwin choice would be to leave them open, then count the bodies of the people who underestimated how deadly different that is from a normally cold winter.
What's wrong with that. Nobody worried about it
when I was a kid and we had days when it was
-15 at 7am. As a society we are turning into a
nation of victims.
Quote: EvenBobRemember when they never closed the schools just
because it was cold? We stood at bus stops in -10
degree weather every winter. The Chicago schools
and most Wis schools are closed on Mon because
the obese little darlings are soooooo delicate these
days. Give me a break.
I remember once at the end of the school day they announced school would be close the next few days, 3 days IIRC. I was in first grade and was kind of excited. When I got home my mother had already heard it on the news. The governor had given an order because of the energy crisis or something. The winters of 77/78/79 were just plain brutal.
Quote: AZDuffmanThe winters of 77/78/79 were just plain brutal.
You're only 40? I thought you were older
than that.
Quote: EvenBobYou're only 40? I thought you were older
than that.
I assume that is a good thing.
44 actually.
was 1960 and my dad got a Sears credit account.
The card was made of metal and was small and
had raised numbers. We were fascinated with it.
My did immediately went to Sears and bought a
new tub and toilet with the card.
This was followed by a Texaco card, it was metal
too. I remember the first time I saw somebody
pay at the pump in the mid 90's. I thought he
took off without paying.
Quote: EvenBobI remember when I first saw a credit card. It
was 1960 and my dad got a Sears credit account.
The card was made of metal and was small and
had raised numbers. We were fascinated with it.
My did immediately went to Sears and bought a
new tub and toilet with the card.
This was followed by a Texaco card, it was metal
too. I remember the first time I saw somebody
pay at the pump in the mid 90's. I thought he
took off without paying.
That was me. I didn't want to break a hundred. :-)
Remember all those Texaco commercials with Bob Hope?
Quote: 1BB
Remember all those Texaco commercials with Bob Hope?
and enjoyable event in my life was when we got our first
color TV. I had watched B/W all thru the 50's and 60's
and in 1969 my dad finally bit the bullet and paid $400
for a color set.
It was incredible to see all the reruns of shows we'd been
watching for years. It was like seeing them for the first
time. Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, Gilligans Island,
Star Trek, on and on. It probably took a year for the
newness to wear off. You can buy that same size TV
today for under $100. $400 in 1969 was a huge chunk
of money, you could by a decent used car for that much.
I was in 5th grade and guys were passing around this beat up picture of a woman's vagina. I had no clue what I was looking at......I though it might be a part of an Orangoutang.
you would put the empty box out by the road
for the garbage man 5 days early so all your
neighbors could see it and know how well
you were doing. A new car never went in the
garage, it stayed in the driveway as a status
symbol for weeks after you bought it. When
you went on vacation, you sent postcards to
neighbors you rarely spoke to.
Quote: FleaStiffPerhaps you did ... and according to late night TV comedians so did everyone else in America, but I never displayed such actions or held such values.
Our family never did because we were poor. No
color TV till I was an adult. My dads first new
car was in the 70's when he was almost retired.
But people around us sure did it, I remember a
TV box being out by the road for 2 weeks, they
pulled it back in the day before trash pickup.
It was the next generation after the Depression,
everybody was very status conscious after WWII.
Quote: EvenBobOur family never did because we were poor. No
color TV till I was an adult.
We weren't poor, but my Dad didn't think a color TV was worth the extra cost, so refused to buy one. We always had a black & white.
Quote: rxwineWe weren't poor, but my Dad didn't think a color TV was worth the extra cost, so refused to buy one. We always had a black & white.
We weren't poor people poor, my dad was a factory
foreman and mom worked for Ma Bell. But we never
had any extra money, never ate out, never had hot
lunch at school. Lower middle class.
OTOH, we had 2 cars (dad got a new company car every 2 years so that really helped), they did take mortgages to buy houses, dad found a cheap place for a lake cabin from when I was 11, and they always had a speedboat there. Family vacations were with a little airstream, then a travel trailer until we got the lake place. Color TV in 1967 IIRC. So we were pretty much the Cleavers growing up. Damned lucky.
Quote: EvenBobOur family never did because we were poor. No
color TV till I was an adult. My dads first new
car was in the 70's when he was almost retired.
But people around us sure did it, I remember a
TV box being out by the road for 2 weeks, they
pulled it back in the day before trash pickup.
It was the next generation after the Depression,
everybody was very status conscious after WWII.
It's odd, but I have to say the biggest, most memorable
and enjoyable event in my life was when we got our first
color TV. I had watched B/W all thru the 50's and 60's
and in 1969 my dad finally bit the bullet and paid $400
for a color set.
It was incredible to see all the reruns of shows we'd been
watching for years. It was like seeing them for the first
time. Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, Gilligans Island,
Star Trek, on and on. It probably took a year for the
newness to wear off. You can buy that same size TV
today for under $100. $400 in 1969 was a huge chunk
of money, you could by a decent used car for that much.
Schadenfreude is when you realize the police lights in your rear view mirror are for somebody else. Your tears of laughter are sweet indeed.
Quote: kenarmanIt's odd, but I have to say the biggest, most memorable
and enjoyable event in my life was when we got our first
color TV. I had watched B/W all thru the 50's and 60's
and in 1969 my dad finally bit the bullet and paid $400
for a color set.
Yeah, what's your point. I was 20 in 1969 and
my dad bought a color TV. How do the two
stories differ. He got it at Sears on his charge
card. Anything else you need to know, Sherlock?
Need signed documents or something?
Quote: beachbumbabs
OTOH, we had 2 cars (dad got a new company car every 2 years so that really helped), they did take mortgages to buy houses, dad found a cheap place for a lake cabin from when I was 11, and they always had a speedboat there. Family vacations were with a little airstream, then a travel trailer until we got the lake place. Color TV in 1967 IIRC. So we were pretty much the Cleavers growing up. Damned lucky.
Maybe we weren't so poor. We always had 2 used
cars and a mortgage. In 1957 my dad bought a
lot on a lake in N MI and built a cabin all by
himself. just like he'd built our house in 1947. They
sold both in 1960 when we moved to the country.
It felt like we were poor because we never had
anything fancy. We got old oak furniture from
barn auctions, stuff that 30 years later was going
for a fortune. And if us kids asked for money, we
got a lecture instead. But we were in the same
boat as our neighbors, so we never thought about
it.
Your dad sounds like an interesting guy.Quote: EvenBobMaybe we weren't so poor. We always had 2 used
cars and a mortgage. In 1957 my dad bought a
lot on a lake in N MI and built a cabin all by
himself. just like he'd built our house in 1947. They
sold both in 1960 when we moved to the country.
It felt like we were poor because we never had
anything fancy. We got old oak furniture from
barn auctions, stuff that 30 years later was going
for a fortune. And if us kids asked for money, we
got a lecture instead. But we were in the same
boat as our neighbors, so we never thought about
it.
Quote: EvenBobMaybe we weren't so poor. We always had 2 used
cars and a mortgage. In 1957 my dad bought a
lot on a lake in N MI and built a cabin all by
himself. just like he'd built our house in 1947. They
sold both in 1960 when we moved to the country.
It felt like we were poor because we never had
anything fancy. We got old oak furniture from
barn auctions, stuff that 30 years later was going
for a fortune. And if us kids asked for money, we
got a lecture instead. But we were in the same
boat as our neighbors, so we never thought about
it.
My wife has collected Hitchcock furniture for years. We have a couple of houses full.
Quote: rxwinemy Dad didn't think a color TV was worth the extra cost, so refused to buy one. We always had a black & white.
I love the scene in the movie "Diner", I think it was, where some guy is thinking about buying a color TV; the salesman is showing him various consoles, including one where a turntable pulls out and folds down. Finally the guy says he doesnt think he'll get a color TV after all, saying something like "you know, we went over to the neighbors and watched "Bonanza" in color, and, meh, it wasn't all that good. " My god, that very conversation took place in god knows how many households almost word for word!
And, you know what? The color wasn't all that good on those first shows that had it.
And if you ask, they will probably give one to you if you promise to take both. Big screen TVs are free. You can not just take them to the dump anymore. Disposal fee is $1 per diagonal inch. And entertainment centers ? Please haul it away Please.
Anybody remember Mad Man Muntz. His Tvs were a trip. He would replace a circuit board with a resister and capacitor.
1969. Evening guy I worked with at AT7T. We had a real tube tester, all kinds of switches and features. Drug store one just checked filament LOL
And Thompson would bring TVs in work after day crew left, test every tube as that would fix 9 out of 10. The tenth person he would tell it was too expensive to fix>
Quote: EvenBobIn the early 60's, when you got a new color TV,
you would put the empty box out by the road
for the garbage man 5 days early so all your
neighbors could see it and know how well
you were doing.
If you do that these days, it's like telling the thieves which house to rob.
Quote: EvenBobWe weren't poor people poor, my dad was a factory
foreman and mom worked for Ma Bell. But we never
had any extra money, never ate out, never had hot
lunch at school. Lower middle class.
Isn't it odd...
I grew up lower middle class. I think I'm doing better than my folks did, but I'm still lower middle class by any reasonable measure. Certainly one of if not the poorest person here, anyways.
Yet I have a solid truck. A 42" HD TV. An Xbox. A smartphone. A high powered gaming PC. A boat. A race car. Had a bike and a wheeler. Don't have to worry about heat, water, or milk. Don't have to worry about kid's school clothes. Have to worry about medical bills, but not filing bankrupcy yet (so far).
It's odd how definitions change.
It's also odd how all this "more" still feels like "less".
Quote: odiousgambit
And, you know what? The color wasn't all that good on those first shows that had it.
Not in my neighborhood. We were mesmerized by
those first sets, if you had one you had lots of new
friends who wanted to come over and watch on
Sunday nights. I never heard anybody complain
about the quality, quite the opposite.
Quote: BuzzardWatched Ed Sullivan, I assume BOB. Mister Wences ? IS OK ?
Si, senor! heeheehee
Quote: EvenBobNot in my neighborhood. We were mesmerized by those first sets
I'm surprised. In any case, in my neck of the woods, the problem of color TVs not being so good was brief. Maybe just a couple of years. Our family went from "TV out of the question", to having a b&w TV, to a color TV, in very rapid procession.
Quote: beachbumbabsSi, senor! heeheehee
Close de door!
Quote: LarrySremember how on the original color tvs you had yourown color palat to try to figue out what color looked the most realisitc. You had to adjust brightness, color, hue, tint.......you could go to one home and it looks like peope had green faces, another home the color looked totally different.
I was fastidious about trying to get the flesh tones right, the hardest match. It drove me nuts to see other TV's with the faces coming out over saturated bright orange. I guess the mindset was "I'm paying for color, so more is better."
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyRe: OP, "Duck under your desk, cover your head, place your face between your knees, kiss your ass goodbye." My mother always stocked six months of provisions in our cold cellar..
My dad built a bomb shelter in the backyard
in 1956. Told us it was a tornado shelter but
we knew better. You have a big hole dug
and build it out of cement blocks and fill the
hole back in. Stock it with canned goods and
water and hope like hell you never have to
go down there.
Quote: treetopbuddyI do not trust those Ruskies......where are all the backpack nukes that are missing?
From 25 years ago? No longer working. Crap to
begin with.
Quote: EvenBobFrom 25 years ago? No longer working. Crap to
begin with.
Good point. What about the missing small pox virus vials? Fridge probably went on the fritz and killed the virus.
Hey,the Ruskies made me hide under my desk at school......I'm allowed to not trust the flipping Ruskies.
Quote: treetopbuddyGood point.
From what I read years ago they all leaked
radiation after a few years and you were a
dead man walking if you owned one.
No, your parents, politicians and teachers did.Quote: treetopbuddyHey,the Ruskies made me hide under my desk at school......I'm allowed to not trust the flipping Ruskies.
You ain't even close to being the poorest one here! Maybe I can't add to 21 properly or remember what to do with a pair of aces, but I sure am the poorest person to be on a gambling site.Quote: FaceCertainly one of if not the poorest person here, anyways.
