SENIORS.....Let's take a stroll down memory lane....?

Oh, yes, I remember them well. I was in Grade school/Jr. High, in the 50's & I'm so glad I got to grow up in that era. It was a really neat time to be growing up. Thanks so much for the stroll down memory lane. It's a stroll I always enjoy taking.

Yes, I remember all of these and I'll add a few more.....Not only did nylons come in a pr. as you mentioned but also had a seam down the back. Ladies sometimes had trouble keeping the seams straight. But during WW11 nylons were not available and the ladies would paint a stripe down the back of their legs, so it would look like they were wearing nylons. Other things were rationed too. I remember being 6 yrs.old and going with my mother to an army base in Texas to see my daddy. I think it was called the PX, and was on base where you could buy things. They had chocolate candy bars there for sale and I was so excited to have one. Back home chocolate was not available because of the war. I remember that bottled soda pop was sold out of a giant ice chest. You would have to fish your hand around in the cold ice water to find the brand and flavor you wanted. The chest had a bottle opener made on the side and you would open your own. Sometimes we used the bottle caps to make things. Ice cream Dixie Cups had a movie star picture on the underside of the lid and kids would collect them. Cars had running boards and people would pick up a hitch-hiker and let them stand on the running board for a lift somewhere. There was no a/c so the windows were open and the hiker could hang on to the window post. There were X-ray machines in the shoe stores so the bones in kids feet could be seen through a scope to see if the shoes fit, And do you remember the madras plaid shirts that high-school boys wore in the '60s? And Griff's sold their hamburgers for .15 cents. These are some of the things that I remember that I don't believe have been mentioned.

I wore nylons with garter belt before panty hose was invented. I used to get S&H Green Stamps when I bought gas. Milk in glass bottles with a tab top, yes. Yes, white candy cigarettes with red ends. I really miss phone prefix's. I have a hi fi floor model from 1960 and I do play my 45s rockvn roll records. I iron my sheets regularly because I enjoy it. I find it satisfying. The homemade stuff you mentined I did not see living in a city. But the biggest change apart from air pollution and food chemicals that I dont like is the dangererous people and mentally ill people out and about. I would be happy if the internet and PCs had not become available. I would include voicemail in the list of unwanted inventions. Someone mentioned gym shorts. We had one piece bloomers and our sports were girls or boys only. I sometimes think the permissiveness of the 60s did not help children become self-sufficient or good parents.

I also remember . My Dad was a abusive Bully. My Mom is whacked out on Religion. Church ,Morning Afternoon and Evening every Sunday. Went to 8 Schools in 13 years. School was one long boring waste of time. county wait to get out and away .Quit School at 16 and found a job. Worked hard and after a few years joined the Military. Finally found something I cared about. Took a while but finally got into a decent trade. Went from a lifetime of " just passing" to being a Honour's Student almost overnight. People always said I was smart and now I finally started proving it . Never bothered looking back just focused on being the best. Basically Yes I do have memories but I prefer to forget them and concentrate on the future.

Yes, I remember those things you mentioned, but darling, WAR still meant WAR and it was never a card game to any of our family, we all had relatives that died in the wars that were part of that time and we still are dying from those that are going on now. Some of us cannot forget that very serious and frighteing time, because we lost loved ones and friends during those times, and others are still left with lives changed forever by wounds and memories that cause problems even today. Families seemed to be closer even though they were rapidly changing, however we were always respectful of older people, we respected the law and our firefighters and police and yes even our teachers were figures of compassion and honor. Thank you for such a wonderful question and for reminding us all of days that will never be forgotten. Day that were happy and tragic at the same time.

I remember picking up pennies on the street because of penny candy. Picked up soda bottles to get the deposit..You could get a loaf of bread and half gallon of milk for under a dollar. When you got home from school you went back outside to play till dinner time. How about the fact that we actually played outside. Remember round tv screens. Waiting all week to get that decoder ring, only to find out the the secret message was "Drink more Ovaltine".(disappointment). Schools were not air conditioned and no snow days or heat days. Cutting grass with a reel mower. Best of all, drive-in movies cartoons, playground, 2 or three movies, sleeping in the back seat and all that fun for 2 dollars for the whole family.

Edit - The movies were not filled with those 7words George Carlin made so famous. You didn't need ratings systems for for movies, music or anything else, it was all G-rated. Remember the old bedroom scene rule, twin beds and one foot always on the floor. (lol)

Slide rules never got viruses!(lol)

>?<

Yes, I have lived, but my list is for a boy: Swimming in the canal was okay with parents, the local roller skating rink had no rules against speeding. It didn't matter what we wore to school. Lunch was a brown bag we brought from home. A candy bar was 5 cents. Our bicycles had no brakes. Parents and kids went to the same dances, and liked the same music. As a teen we could take our girlfriend on a date which cost us nothing: horseback riding, swimming, tennis, or just board games at someone's house and lots of good food. There is more, but this will be enough for now. I was there, and the 50s were magnificent.

I can't add much to the answers you have received. I remember them all and they were such good times. I just wanted to say I've enjoyed the responses as much as you have. Brings back many great memories. This is part of the reason I keep returning to Senior Citizens when I come to Answers. You truly are a great group of people. I enjoy all of you very much !!!!

One story to tell though among many ... my mother was hanging out clothes one day (we didn't have a dryer either) and one end of the clothes line was attached to a pear tree. She came running in the house because there were yellow jackets all around the tree and on the ground where pears fell from the tree. She was scared to death they were going to sting her. Now, I played outside around those yellow jackets all the time and they never stung me. I told mom this and finally convinced her the yellow jackets weren't going to bother her. She finally gave into my argument and went back outside to finish hanging the clothes. Guess what? She wasn't out there more than a minute of so before she got stung. I can't be sure but she may have been using the washing machine soap she got with a glass in it.

Recess time / dinner time (12:00 PM) we,d rush to the nearest store from the school pinching 5 pennies in our hand or a nickle and line up at / in the store to get to a barrell of *BIG* apples,pay before biting it and out by the door everyone yomming into their apple like starving hens discussing the price or apple quality.

Some of the more well to do had a bar ,bag of chips or and a soft drink.

Others not so well off stayed in school and fisted into a mollasses sandwich and tea,perhaps a home made cookie with butter on it.

Hamburgers were 50 cents, and they were good and big. Go to the dentist and get a coupon for a free ice cream cone. Drs. made house calls. Food tasted good and rarely was a frozen meal served. Mom canned, baked from scratch and did not work outside of the home. I know what you mean. Those were the days. Kids now have it to good and don't appreciate anything.

An after thought. My mother is an RN and when I was young she would offer her services to those who could not afford a Dr. She gave prescribed injections and helped with medical treatments free of charge. I do the same today. Her payment would be eggs, fresh cream, fresh vegetables from those who wanted to show appreciation. I experience the same generosity today. It is not expected or solicited as I love giving to those in need. My childhood was also a time of simplicity. I do miss those days.

Loved the milk man. He had chocolate milk and ice cream. Mom wasn't home when he came but we had to ask first before he would leave it. Mom had to leave him a note. Wonderful times.

Yep, I remember many of those. I remember mom and dad going to a little restaurant down the street from us and on a Saturday night we had their burgers, 12 for 1.00. I have not tasted a burger like that since then, and they were average size, not Krystal or White Castle size. I remember a six pack of little cokes, putting peanuts in them, pitching horseshoes and washers, the pink snap on sponge hair curlers you could sleep in, telephone party lines, homemade ice cream in the back yard, Dippity Do, transistor radios, Saturday Night at the Movies on tv, Kukla, Fran and Ollie and The Ted Mack Show. Tons of memories.