Remember When
I guess I'm not quite old enough, though I remember seeing a couple Indian head nickels, I don't remember them being too common.
in NYC in 1957. His last name was Weinstein. He could
not find a job with any of the big firms, so he changed
his name to something that has no ethnic ties and got
a job almost immediately. I knew him for over 10 years
before he told me he was Jewish. Hid dad was a hot
shot Manhattan lawyer and he still couldn't find a job.
Quote: HunterhillI used to drive a tractor on the road when I was only 12 years old,the local cops would drive by and wave.
In some rural areas you can still do that. Has to be
in the middle of nowhere. Ever been thru Nebraska?
Quote: EvenBobIn some rural areas you can still do that. Has to be
in the middle of nowhere. Ever been thru Nebraska?
Ya ive been thru every state except alaska,hawaii,This was in New England in the late 60`s
Quote: buzzpaffCan I assume no farmer would put farm gas into his car ?
We always used the same gas for our cars as for our tractors.
Quote: EvenBobIn 1958 I got 50 cents a week allowance
we knew some of you rich guys.
most of us had to do some kind of chores to earn half as much at about that time [we must be close to the same age]. I got a dime a week and remember it going up to 15 cents somewhere around that time. At a high school football game I got an extra 15 cents or so to spend at the concession stand and would always ask for another dime later in the game. Sometimes I wast told 'no' .
I find even people who lived at that time don't always remember now what a dime was worth then.
Quote: odiousgambitwe knew some of you rich guys.
.
Rich, yeah. My dad worked in a factory and my mom
worked for Ma Bell as a phone operator. We never
went anywhere, I don't remember ever eating out.
I had to babysit my little 2 yr old brother a lot and
I was 9. That wasn't unusual for a kid my age.
Drive to the Varsity and buy milkshakes. Rich kids were those that always got something from the Good Humor truck every day. LOL
Quote: buzzpaffEating out was big thing in the 1950's. I can remeber Saturday night and Dad would load mee and my sisters in the car.
Drive to the Varsity and buy milkshakes. Rich kids were those that always got something from the Good Humor truck every day. LOL
Wait a sec .... The Varsity? Are you talking about Frank Gordy's place on North Avenue?
Quote: EvenBobWe never went anywhere, I don't remember ever eating out....I had
to babysit my little 2 yr old brother a lot and I was 9.
Evidently your parents didn't have a problem eating out without you. lol
Quote: zippyboyEvidently your parents didn't have a problem eating out without you. lol
They never ate out either. My mother worked 3-11pm and
when I was in 4th grade I had permission to leave school
at 2:40 and walk home to babysit my brother so my mom
could go to work. I watched him till 4pm when my dad got
home. Would they let a 9 year old do that today?
playing basketball
riding bikes
setting up army men & then shooting them with BB guns
playing wiffle ball or indian ball
going into the woods & building a fort/treehouse
shooting off fireworks
team bottle rocket fights in the woods
fishing in the pond at the end of the street
play soccer
Playing 4 Square
playing Jarts (remember them?)
swimming in the richer family's 4' above ground pool
walking up to the 7-11 for candy
walking to the nearby elementary school to hang out at the playground (and maybe smoke a cigarette or two!)
The only time we were ever indoors was for lunch, to do chores, or if it was ungodly hot and one of the mom's let us play pool in their basement. After dinner, it was back outside for more of the same, catching fireflies, or playing capture the flag until it was bath/bed time.
Quote: Toes14I'm not quite as old as some of you (49), but a few of my friends & I were reminiscing about this topic last week. We decided that an entire summer's day was spent outside doing some combination of these activities:
playing basketball
riding bikes
setting up army men & then shooting them with BB guns
playing wiffle ball or indian ball
going into the woods & building a fort/treehouse
shooting off fireworks
team bottle rocket fights in the woods
fishing in the pond at the end of the street
play soccer
Playing 4 Square
playing Jarts (remember them?)
swimming in the richer family's 4' above ground pool
walking up to the 7-11 for candy
walking to the nearby elementary school to hang out at the playground (and maybe smoke a cigarettes
The only time we were ever indoors was for lunch, to do chores, or if it was ungodly hot and one of the mom's let us play pool in their basement. After dinner, it was back outside for more of the same, catching fireflies, or playing capture the flag until it was bath/bed time.
You reminded me we used to play kick the can until it was to dark to see,the bats would be flying around.
Were Jarts those lawn darts they outlawed because they would hit people in the head?
Quote: HunterhillYou reminded me we used to play kick the can until it was to dark to see,the bats would be flying around.
Were Jarts those lawn darts they outlawed because they would hit people in the head?
Yes! My brother actually just bought a set of them at a garage sale this year. I told him if he hangs on to them, they'll be worth some money one day.
Quote: HunterhillYou reminded me we used to play kick the can until it was to dark to see,
Played kick the can till we were sick from the heat,
and soaked with sweat. Then some kind of tag
game till it was too dark.
Quote: Toes14I'm not quite as old as some of you (49), but a few of my friends & I were reminiscing about this topic last week. We decided that an entire summer's day was spent outside doing some combination of these activities:
playing basketball
riding bikes
setting up army men & then shooting them with BB guns
playing wiffle ball or indian ball
going into the woods & building a fort/treehouse
shooting off fireworks
team bottle rocket fights in the woods
fishing in the pond at the end of the street
play soccer
Playing 4 Square
playing Jarts (remember them?)
swimming in the richer family's 4' above ground pool
walking up to the 7-11 for candy
walking to the nearby elementary school to hang out at the playground (and maybe smoke a cigarette or two!)
The only time we were ever indoors was for lunch, to do chores, or if it was ungodly hot and one of the mom's let us play pool in their basement. After dinner, it was back outside for more of the same, catching fireflies, or playing capture the flag until it was bath/bed time.
4-square! lol Don't forget box hockey. Fast and slow.
And remember when 7-11 represented the hours when the store was open?
Growing up in Austin, I remember practically every truck had a gunrack in the back window holding a shotgun and/or rifle. I never see that anymore. Of course, trucks are everywhere now, didn't used to be that way.
And remember when boys settled their differences with fists? I even remember getting corporal punishment in 1st grade; paddled in the principal's office. Never did me any harm. America's so pussified now.
I can't imagine a more boring job. It gave employment
to many physically handicapped people, those with mobility
issues. Yet another profession wiped out by technology.
Quote: EvenBobIn some rural areas you can still do that. Has to be
in the middle of nowhere. Ever been thru Nebraska?
They tried to outlaw this recently but public outcry was such that I believe they backed off. Too many bureacrats who think their job is to find more things to regulate.
I think the mimimum age may have been raised to 14, however. At least for farm equipment on the roads. Still, show me someone who learned to work young via a farm, paper route, etc and I will show you an adult who is rarely if ever unemployed. I can't tell you just how much better people who had paper routes are at understanding customer service as adults.
Quote: EvenBobMost elevators in the 50's and into the 60's had operators.
I can't imagine a more boring job.
Sitting in a missle silo.
Now, you get a trophy just for showing up. That sucks!
Quote: 98ClubsMcD Hamburger + Fries + Soda cost less than 50c.
In 1965 a burger was a dime, fries were a dime, and a drink was a dime.
I used to get 4 burgers, 4 fries, and a large drink for under a dollar.
Quote: EvenBobIn 1965 a burger was a dime, fries were a dime, and a drink was a dime.
I used to get 4 burgers, 4 fries, and a large drink for under a dollar.
Judging by this sort of comment, seems to me we have had a lot of inflation in fast food. Just using the CPI inflation calculator does not seem to explain all this.
I think one thing though is the fanciness and the *size* of the stuff we want to buy in fast food now. And the amount of money kids today expect to have as allowances and such.
Quote: odiousgambitJudging by this sort of comment, seems to me we have had a lot of inflation in fast food. Just using the CPI inflation calculator does not seem to explain all this.
I think one thing though is the fanciness and the *size* of the stuff we want to buy in fast food now. And the amount of money kids today expect to have as allowances and such.
It is not scientiffic, but youtube some old fast food commercials from the 1970s. The burgers just look bigger and better than today. The quality seems far lower as well. I'd attribute some of this to the psycological need to keep the value-meals <$1 or $1.50 and the combos at some important level. But most of fast food has gone from quick-but-basic to borerline-disgusting since the 1980s. Some exception like Carl's, Jr are not totally horrid, but MCD, BK, WEN are a shadow of their old selves.
Quote: EvenBobIn 1965 a burger was a dime, fries were a dime, and a drink was a dime.
I used to get 4 burgers, 4 fries, and a large drink for under a dollar.
In 1965 Ginop Marchetti of the baltimoe Colts had a string of burger joints called Gino's I still remember their commercial. Burgers were .15, fries were .14, soda was .10. " Feed a family of 5 for $1.95. "
I also remember when Swanson and banquet frozen dinner came out in 1953. In 1956 I was working in Schreiber Bros grocery store . the dinners were 49 cents . Every once in a while we would have a sale 3 for $1. Most people would buy 5 or 6 each day as nobody had freezers back then.
The most amazing part is those dinner were the size of the Banquet $1 frozen dinners now. And a working man would eat one of them and a slice of bread for dinner. Gee, wonder why obesity is such a problem now. LOL
Quote: odiousgambitJudging by this sort of comment, seems to me we have had a lot of inflation in fast food. Just using the CPI inflation calculator does not seem to explain all this.
That same year, 1965, burger and fries went to 15 cents each.
We were devastated.
Quote: buzzpaff
I also remember when Swanson and banquet frozen dinner came out in 1953.
Now there's a memory. My grandmother, born in poverty
in 1898, would save the TV dinner foil containers. When
she had not enough leftovers for another meal, she would
use the containers to make future TV dinners. A piece of
fried chicken, some mashed potatoes, some boiled peas,
and into the freezer. Those old people wasted nothing.
My first taste of Mexican food was Swanson Mexican TV
dinners in 1960. Every Fri my dad would bring them home with
a loaf of French bread and we loved them. It was a ritual
for years and we really looked forward to Friday nights.
Bob, every showed anybody was is behind the package of butter than Indian maiden is holding on Land Of Lakes package ??
cars? Brakes, new muffler, filters, oil change. I can't
remember the last time I changed my own oil, its
been 15 years at least.
I knew a guy in the 60's that had a 55 Chevy and he
changed his oil once a week or 300 miles. He said a
car will run forever if the oil is clean. He was mostly
right. Sears would deliver 55 gallon drums of 10w-30
right to his house.
Quote: buzzpaffOne of my best memories of the 60's was when I worked Midnight to 8 and once a week would buy a gallon of milk, a loaf of French bread and a pound of Land of Lakes butter. Would stop at my cousin Cookies house. What a great breakfast.
Bob, every showed anybody was is behind the package of butter than Indian maiden is holding on Land Of Lakes package ??
Oh Ya I remember the land o lakes butter trick.
I saw it the first time in 1956. And it still exists today. Somethings are timeless. LOL
Quote: buzzpaffAmazing how many people do not.
I saw it the first time in 1956. And it still exists today. Somethings are timeless. LOL
What are you talking about? We ate margerine in the 50's
and 60's like all right thinking Americans. I never even heard
of Land O Lakes till I was an adult.
Quote: EvenBobMy first taste of Mexican food was Swanson Mexican TV
dinners in 1960. Every Fri my dad would bring them home with
a loaf of French bread and we loved them. It was a ritual
for years and we really looked forward to Friday nights.
I also ate the aluminum tray TV dinners as a child. Absolutely loved 'em. Still do. At $1 apiece, I stock up on Banquet Mexican and eat 'em for breakfast a few times a week, adding onion, cheese, jalapenos black olives, etc. I think the mexican ones are less fatty and child-centric than the rest of their offerings.
Quote: EvenBobWhat are you talking about? We ate margerine in the 50's
and 60's like all right thinking Americans. I never even heard
of Land O Lakes till I was an adult.
Not my fault you don't know the secret about what's behind the Indian maiden's package of butter.
I only knew because I worked in a grocery store. Was 22 before I bought butter!
I remember watching some TV show where the lady "swallowed her tongue".
I think I worried about that for the next six months. I'm going to swallow my tongue and and choke to death.
Also, hope you don't get polio, or end up in a iron lung. Although the idea of an iron lung was kind of fascinating.
Quote: 98ClubsThere were also Balsa Wood Gliders for 19c, .
They were a dime in the 50's, I got them all the time. There
were different tricks you could use to get them to fly better.
Why was the gum that came with baseball cards almost unchewable.
And it tasted like cardboard.
Quote: EvenBobWhy was the gum that came with baseball cards almost unchewable.
And it tasted like cardboard.
It was stiff as a piece of tile. As I recall it didn't last too long either.
Bazooka Joe was my favorite, but mostly because of the comic, not the gum. That gum was fairly hard too.
