50's Lifestyle

[RipMurdock]

I have three of these in my apartment, in vintage frames.  I love them.  They were sold cheaply on ebay - maybe because of the general lack of interest?  If so, too bad.

my granny had bunches of them frm calndars if ya wantem.

[ElCid]

My mother held onto the outdoor clothesline even when she had a

dryer. The first one I remember was a fold up job that fitted into

a small metal hole in the lawn. After the clothes were dry it was

folded up and put in the garage. You had to be careful not to

hit that little metal thingee when the lawn was mowed. 

 

I loved HoJo's. Good burgers and ice cream. They had a delicious

fudge candy bar that was better than just about any candy around.

When I lived in Vermont there was still one HoJo left in the northern

part of the state. I always meant to drive up there and have one more

meal in a HoJo, but I never made it. 

 

As a small kid I would watch Claude Kirshner's kiddie cartoon show.

I would have a peanut butter and honey sandwich and then shortly

after that it was bedtime. Life was good.

One episode of Mad Men is placed at a Howard Johnson's.  Not sure if they used one of the two remaining ones at the time or fixed an old one up.  Mad Men is currently being shown on AMC On Demand.

[Emily Dean]

Victory at Sea was a documentary that lasted for 15 weeks and was about WWII, however it focused on the Navy and catalogued the naval battles by ocean.  Consequently you went around the world and of course followed the trajectory of the war.  So it started pre-US entry with the maritime convoys as part of the Lend Lease program and proceeded onward until the end of the war.  The music was fantastic as Richard Rogers and Robert Bennett composed the music specifically for the series and it was played by the NBC orchestra.  My dad loved it so much he bought the record..nothing like a Saturday with the High Fi playing records, dad drinking a beer and reading (his Saturday afternoon recreation).  Oh yes, he only drank his beer out of pilsner glasses (decorated with a pirate motif).

 

We too watched Ed Murrow both Person to Person and See It Now.  My parents were quite fond of Ed as he was closely attached to their memories of WWII.  Does anyone remember The Dave Garroway Show?  My mom loved this show and she really liked Dave.  I think she quit watching when he left. 

 

Who is able to forget Davy Crockett with Fess Parker and the Lone Ranger (both shows very un-PC today) as well as Amos and Andy...who I loved and remember listening to on the radio along with the King Fish and the Mystic Knights of the Sea....their antics were equivalent to Ralph and Ed...anyway the NCAAP spelled doom for the TV series.

 

I'll have reach back into the past some more....maybe tomorrow I'll stream the Arthur Godfrey show. 

[Vautrin]

One episode of Mad Men is placed at a Howard Johnson's.  Not sure if they used one of the two remaining ones at the time or fixed an old one up.  Mad Men is currently being shown on AMC On Demand.

Didn't they also stay at the motel? After most of the HoJos went

out of business, you'd still see the orange roof but with another

business inside. There was a HoJos in the town next to our's

and we would go there maybe once a month or so.

[ElCid]

One of your local PBS stations probably shows the Lawrence Welk Show.  Usually show the later color versions, but sometimes go as far back as the 55 B&W ones.

[laffite]

Does anyone remember the show "Panic?" It was a half-hour of suspense. As a kid, I was almost adversely affected because they were a little scary. A boy's father is of off to work at the lighthouse and his 12-year-old son somehow finds out that two goons want to kill him. No phone at the lighthouse, how to reach him. A woman is attacked by a man on the street. At the police office the guy who attacked is asking the questions. Pretty tame now, my I was captivated. There was a voice-over Alexander Scourby, who had this marvelous voice.

 

Did someone say something about "You asked for It." Wasn't it Art Baker? (Brought to you by Skippy Peanut Butter.

[Dargo]

A show that scared me half to death as a little kid was a documentary show called "Wanted", which gave details about  real-life criminals.I still remember the name of one of them, "Ralph Grubisich". I recall running upstairs crying.

 

WAIT a second here, DGF.

 

Now why in the world would this cause you to run crying upstairs? I wouldn't think just seeing something like that on TV would...ummm would...ummm...

 

Sorry, looks like I forgot you tellin' us a while back about that time your weird Uncle Ralph visited your family back then, huh.

 

(...and when you told us THIS was why you always so greatly identified with Teresa Wright in that one Hitchcock flick starring Joseph Cotten)

 

[Princess of Tap]

One of your local PBS stations probably shows the Lawrence Welk Show. Usually show the later color versions, but sometimes go as far back as the 55 B&W ones.

 

The same goes for our local PBS stations. I probably watched this show for 25 years straight on the PBS just to see Arthur Duncan do his tap routines-- he may have been the last human being on television making a living just tap dancing. And that's all he did for all those years that Lawrence Welk had him on his television show.

 

In addition, I got to see Bobby and Cissy do a duo dance number from a number of different dance genres each week. Arthur and Bobby also taught others on the show how to tap dance and they used to do cute little routines, like the kind I would teach my students.

 

It all seems so long ago that we had that kind of entertainment on primetime television.

[Princess of Tap]

Does anyone remember the show "Panic?" It was a half-hour of suspense. As a kid, I was almost adversely affected because they were a little scary. A boy's father is of off to work at the lighthouse and his 12-year-old son somehow finds out that two goons want to kill him. No phone at the lighthouse, how to reach him. A woman is attacked by a man on the street. At the police office the guy who attacked is asking the questions. Pretty tame now, my I was captivated. There was a voice-over Alexander Scourby, who had this marvelous voice.

 

Did someone say something about "You asked for It." Wasn't it Art Baker? (Brought to you by Skippy Peanut Butter.

Laffite--

 

You rang a bell with that one - -

 

My brother and I, we were watching that show one evening on television. My father came in and surprised us with a Cocker Spaniel puppy. I only remember this because my brother immediately named the dog Skippy because the peanut butter commercial was on at that time. And so the puppy was Skippy for 16 years.LOL

[Tikisoo]

Princess said: As a preschooler, Spike Jones had that same effect on me.

 

Haha that cracks me up! He was a funny looking guy. As an adult though, I wholly appreciate his music. I bought a DVD of his early shows at a movie convention and sadly, it's horrible quality-tough to watch.

 

There's still Howard Johnson's around here. Rachael Ray's family owned one in upstate NY (Saratoga region) and it's how she got her start as a chef!

Great observation about the selling of the franchise, but you couldn't hide that red roof!

 

As a historian of commercial archeology, it's fun to date Howard Johnson's, White Towers (not Castles!) and doughnut shop chains by the change in "models". For example, HJ's motels of the 50's sported a complex gabled roof for the office and restaurants of the 60's had a longer single spine roof profile. The roofs were actually ceramic tile and difficult to convert. Often they were painted and eventually peeled revealing the bright orange underneath.

 

When we vacation we often search out cabins or teepees or any historic non chain motels. NH, VT & Maine have the most cabins to choose from. They're way more fun than a bland chain hotel on vacation.

 

I haven't owned a clothes dryer in several years. My clothesline kicks butt for drying. Saves delicate fabrics too. Intense UV can help fade stains better than harmful chemicals. In winter, I just hand my clothing on a pole in the shower and the furnace dries everything overnight. I assume that helps humidify the house too?

 

Admitting I still have (or do) so many of these "childhood" rituals has made me realize I still live in the past and never evolved. Yup, TV has an antenna.

When people ask why I don't have this app or gadget or FB account, I just say "old fashioned" and one step away from being Amish. 

[Sepiatone]

TIKI---

 

We had BOTH White Castle AND Tower 'round here.  Stll a couple or so White Tower places around.

 

How about TOP HAT hamburgers?  They were just WHITE CASTLE'S without  the holes in the patties.  I used to work at one of them.  The manager got pizzed  at me 'cause I kept bringing in my own LUNCH! 

 

Watching COOL HAND LUKE last night reminded me of something.  From the time I was born until 1858 the street I lived on was unpaved.  We called it a "dirt road".  But, NOT a "country" type dirt road, just unpaved.  Every so many months a truck similar to the one that sprays that pitch  like stuff on the road the convicts in the movie were shoveling sand over would come down the road spraying some kind of OIL or such to keep cars from kicking up a lot of dust.

 

 

Sepiatone

[Princess of Tap]

Sep--

 

In the oldest part of our town we have streets made from red bricks-- brick roads.

 

Going to Europe, I remember how I used to freak out over the cobblestones and it never even occurred to me that our brick roads are probably just as Scenic and certainly as treacherous for high heels.

[DownGoesFrazier]

WAIT a second here, DGF.

 

Now why in the world would this cause you to run crying upstairs? I wouldn't think just seeing something like that on TV would...ummm would...ummm...

 

Sorry, looks like I forgot you tellin' us a while back about that time your weird Uncle Ralph visited your family back then, huh.

 

(...and when you told us THIS was why you always so greatly identified with Teresa Wright in that one Hitchcock flick starring Joseph Cotten)

 

I was, like, 4 years old. Cut me some slack.

[midwestan]

Sep--

 

In the oldest part of our town we have streets made from red bricks-- brick roads.

 

Going to Europe, I remember how I used to freak out over the cobblestones and it never even occurred to me that our brick roads are probably just as Scenic and certainly as treacherous for high heels.

A couple of towns in my county have some brick streets.  Many people dislike them because they are super slick if it snows or there is some other kind of frozen precipitation.  I don't mind them, personally.  I like the sound on the tires as you drive over them.  They are a pain in the neck to repair, especially if there's a water main break.

[DownGoesFrazier]

A couple of towns in my county have some brick streets.  Many people dislike them because they are super slick if it snows or there is some other kind of frozen precipitation.  I don't mind them, personally.  I like the sound on the tires as you drive over them.  They are a pain in the neck to repair, especially if there's a water main break.

There are brick sidewalks in the Society Hill section of Philly, cement sidewalks most other neighborhoods. When there is snow or ice., it is extremely difficult to walk in Society Hill, much more so than elsewhere.

[ElCid]

There are brick sidewalks in the Society Hill section of Philly, cement sidewalks most other neighborhoods. When there is snow or ice., it is extremely difficult to walk in Society Hill, much more so than elsewhere.

There are a few cobblestone streets in Charleston SC.  Hate driving over them.

The cobblestones were brought here as ballast in saliling ships and then unloaded to take products back to England.  City fathers decided it would be a cheap source of street "paving."  Of course, the labor was also cheap-slaves rented from plantation owners.

[Dargo]

I was, like, 4 years old. Cut me some slack.

 

I know, I know. Sorry.

 

Just couldn't resist tying your childhood trauma to that movie reference there, that's all ol' buddy.

 

(...after all, this is a classic movie themed website, isn't it)

[Emily Dean]

Remembering clothes lines and the Monday wash had me recalling my mother and the Tuesday ironing.  As nothing was wash and wear and dryers hadn't been invented yet...when my mother took down the wash she would fold things half way and then sprinkle with water for dampening since steam irons were not invented yet either.  She had a coke bottle with a cork bottomed sprinkle cap on it and used that to dampen the items.  She would then roll them up and place them in the refrigerator....until the next morning.  Brings back the memory of that fresh air smell on the sheets and pillow cases.

 

Mom had a cleaning routine...Monday wash and deep house cleaning.  Tuesday ironing and baking.  She would bake one dessert that would last the week (cake, pie or a pudding)..she made the best rice pudding.  Wednesday was sewing/clothes repair day.  She had one of those great Singer sewing machines with the peddle and would make my school dresses....she loved rick rack and would trim my neckline and sleeves with the stuff along with hem borders.  Thursday was "light cleaning day"...she used the sweeper instead of the Hoover.  Friday was grocery day....and remember all those paper bags. She would save them...they made great covers for your schoolbooks.  Monday...all over again.

 

Oh yes...phones.  We only had one up until the mid 60's and it was black. Every home had a phone line usually in the hall and if you were lucky it had its own alcove.  Numbers were always preceded by two letters.  Telephones in the hall or public area were very off putting when in high school...your conversation was very tempered and usually very short.   Our phone did not have access to a chair so you had to stand in the hall and talk....no secrets.

 

Breakfast and lunch were always in the kitchen...everyone had to be there for breakfast and to make it worse in my house you had to be dressed.  Dinner was always in the dining room and no TV or radio allowed.  However if my Dad was away on a trip...yea we ate dinner in the kitchen and watched TV on the portable television. 

 

To quote Bob Hope..."Thanks for the Memories"

[DownGoesFrazier]

I know, I know. Sorry.

 

Just couldn't resist tying your childhood trauma to that movie reference there, that's all ol' buddy.

 

(...after all, this is a classic movie themed website, isn't it)

Hopefully, Ralph Grubisich is not still on the loose. I might have another crying jag.

[ElCid]

Oh yes...phones.  We only had one up until the mid 60's and it was black. Every home had a phone line usually in the hall and if you were lucky it had its own alcove.  Numbers were always preceded by two letters.  Telephones in the hall or public area were very off putting when in high school...your conversation was very tempered and usually very short.   Our phone did not have access to a chair so you had to stand in the hall and talk....no secrets.

 

Breakfast and lunch were always in the kitchen...everyone had to be there for breakfast and to make it worse in my house you had to be dressed.  Dinner was always in the dining room and no TV or radio allowed.  However if my Dad was away on a trip...yea we ate dinner in the kitchen and watched TV on the portable television. 

 

To quote Bob Hope..."Thanks for the Memories"

Our black phone was in the hall in a wall inset (alcove).  You could call anybody in town on three numbers.  Originally started off with a party line, but that didn't last long.  Long distance calls were rare because they were very expensive.

Current house has the alcove in the hall for the phone.  Actually have a connected rotary phone in it, but it cannot be used for outgoing calls.  May not work for incoming much longer, but we don't use it as it does not have caller ID.

Speaking of TV, ours started off in the dining room which was between the living room and kithchen and hall to bedrooms led off it.  Was never on when we ate.  In 9th grade I was flunking courses so my father knew how to fix that.  He cut the power cord and on week-ends would connect it back and tape it.  Of course being devious I knew how to connect it and did so when he went to work.  It did work in that I passed everything except Algebra.

[Vautrin]

Hopefully, Ralph Grubisich is not still on the loose. I might have another crying jag.

Last I heard he was getting so much heat under

that name that he changed it to Smiley O'Connor.

[Vautrin]

We had a White Tower or White Castle in our town, can't

remember which one. It was open till the wee hours of the

morning and was the closest thing, outside of a bar, that

we had to one of those disreputable hangouts you see

in film noir flicks, though nobody used the phrase "bright

boys." Those burgers were so tiny you could eat a dozen

and still be hungry. We also had a A&W root beer stand

that seated maybe ten people at the counter. It was

sometimes hard to keep up a conversation with the

middle-aged waitress, but the food was good. I'm devolving--

I started out living on a paved street and now I live on a

dirt and gravel road. 

[Sepiatone]

White Castles and White Towers'  were 24 hour joints( still are).

 

WE used to call White Castle's burgers "sliders" due to our joking that they "slid right through you." 

 

 

I guess it caught on, and I salute WC for being able to turn the phrase into a positive.

 

The A&W in LP here has been here since the '40's, still in the same location and ALWAYS a "drive-in"  eatery.  Never had ANY indoor seating.  But did( and still does) have a large picnic table on the side for "walk-ups" and it too, has one of those intercom-radio type menu signs and two-way ordering "thingies"   Anyway......

 

who here remembers getting their little sugar cube POLIO VACCINE?

 

 

Sepiatone

[ElCid]

White Castles and White Towers'  were 24 hour joints( still are).

 

WE used to call White Castle's burgers "sliders" due to our joking that they "slid right through you." 

 

 

I guess it caught on, and I salute WC for being able to turn the phrase into a positive.

 

The A&W in LP here has been here since the '40's, still in the same location and ALWAYS a "drive-in"  eatery.  Never had ANY indoor seating.  But did( and still does) have a large picnic table on the side for "walk-ups" and it too, has one of those intercom-radio type menu signs and two-way ordering "thingies"   Anyway......

 

who here remembers getting their little sugar cube POLIO VACCINE?

 

 

Sepiatone

For some reason we got both the shots and then later the sugar cube vaccines.  I was probably in mid-elementary school grades at the time.

Even though my hometown was the county seat and by far largest town (1960 pop-12,261) in the county, as well as being third oldest in the state, we only had one chain restarurant before about 1963 and that was the Dairy Queen.  No chain motels either even though we were on US 17 (The Ocean Highway) for tourists travelling to Florida.

[Sepiatone]

For some reason we got both the shots and then later the sugar cube vaccines.  I was probably in mid-elementary school grades at the time.

Even though my hometown was the county seat and by far largest town (1960 pop-12,261) in the county, as well as being third oldest in the state, we only had one chain restarurant before about 1963 and that was the Dairy Queen.  No chain motels either even though we were on US 17 (The Ocean Highway) for tourists travelling to Florida.

 

We had in my town, a DALY BURGER joint.  I think it was a Michigan chain but can't find out anything about the possibility of them being a nationwide chain.  Ours was a "dine-in" only, others were "drive-in" places like LITTLE SKIPPER and A&W.

 

The one in Livonia MI is still in operation.  Still a drive-in, and still the same location like forever.

 

They used to advertise with a jingle, "It's round, it's ground, it's a quarter pound."  Heh----Back when a quarter pound hamburger was the BIGGEST one you could get!  They were known for their sauce of mustard and ketchup mix with chopped onions folded in.  Mustard/ketchup mixes are used in WHITE CASTLE and TOP HAT burgers too.

 

There was also another hamburger chain called CARTER'S.  There was one a block away from my grade school.  And you were on "hot, lucky duck" if your Ma gave you enough money to have lunch at Carter's instead of going home for lunch.   There are two of them left still serving the same style of burger's they were known for.  THEIR claim to fame were the grilled onions they put on the burgers.  The Carter's near my school, which is now where a CVS is located, is also gone and the building houses one of those ham and corned beef places.

 

Like DALY, CARTER'S used to be all over the place around here.  Makes me sad really. 

 

 

Sepiatone