For Boomers, going to the movies was a regular, often weekly, activity. The entertainment at the local movie theater began with the previews of coming attractions, followed by a plea from the concession stand to buy some snacks and drinks, and then the cartoons. Sometimes the theater manager played two, but generally one cartoon. Boomers remember that the cartoons were often more entertaining than … [Read more...]

In today’s world of self-service, it’s hard to conceive that stores would actually give premiums to entice and retain customers. But Boomers clearly remember S & H Green Stamps and a national era of stamp collecting so profound that many people went around with green tongues from licking so many stamps. In the 50’s and 60’s, filling station personnel not only put gas in your tank, they also … [Read more...]

I think they get $3 for a small ice cream cone at one of the local frozen custard franchises these days. Yet, there are usually folks standing in line, twenty dollar bills (or credit cards) in hand, waiting to place an order. It wasn’t always like that. When I was a young boy, one of the great pleasures in life was a trip to the Dairy Queen. An ice cream cone at the DQ was a nickel back then. … [Read more...]

“Come here, Mr. Watson. I want to see you.” Those were the immortal words of Alexander Graham Bell as he first demonstrated his new invention, the telephone, on March 10, 1876. Telephones have certainly come a long way since that fateful day, and Boomers have witnessed many amazing changes over the years. During the World War II, Western Electric shifted production strictly to war-related … [Read more...]

We don’t go to many movies, Nancy and I, but we recently shelled out twenty bucks for a Sunday matinee to see Hot Pursuit, with Reese Witherspoon and Sophia Vergara. It was quite an experience. We arrived in time, but the previews these days last as long as the feature film. I suppose it gives you more time to eat $15 worth of popcorn. If you order a large drink, it comes in a container about the … [Read more...]

Paperboy: A Boomer’s First Job   For many young Boomer males, becoming a “paper boy” was the first real job. There may have been a few “paper girls” out there, but not many. Today, automobiles – particularly those with 4-wheel drive – are the principal means of newspaper distribution. But in the years following the war and all the way through the 60’s and 70’s, paper boys on … [Read more...]

There was no such thing as fast food in the 1950’s. There were a few drive-ins, but they were anything but fast. And drive-ins were a last resort for the families of the 1950’s and early 60’s. They were pricey and folks back then didn’t have a lot of extra cash to spend. Most families ate at home every night, and for Boomers looking back at some of those great meals, who could ever … [Read more...]

How do young people meet these days? Kids don’t have weekend dances. There are there no more drive-in movies and there are no drive-in restaurants - no place to circle the parking lot looking for girls, or boys, as the case may be. Boomers look back nostalgically at the days when a young lady called a carhop would take your order for a frosted mug of root beer and an order of fries. You’d give her … [Read more...]

  It took about three weeks for the euphoria of getting out of school for the summer to fade away. By that time, Boomer kids had seen all they wanted of their friends, and had done about everything there was to do.  The youngsters had played enough Monopoly games to qualify as miniature real estate tycoons. The Hide and Seek adventures every night were fun, but the “hiders” soon ran out of … [Read more...]