Wow, lots of ex-Cleveland area folks here. The Woolworths was turned into a "House of Blues" live music venue and sorta upscale restaurant a few years back.

And who can forget the 1974's infamous "ten cent beer night" at Cleveland Stadium...I wasn't there:(

Rode bikes to go every where, said bye to mom at 7 AM, home for lunch at noon, or about, then gone till just before dad came home from work at 5 - 5:30 PM.

Mowed the nearby pasture for a ball diamond, played ball almost morning to dinner, then little league came after supper.

The outfield was mowed further out as the majority started to hit home runs, and used dry cow pies for bases, added white paint for home. You were on your own for first, second and third:eek:

For a treat, after nightly bath, hop in car and ride to Dean's Diary, (Plainwell, MI) for ice cream.

Never found the house door locked, except when we went on vacation, but at least two of the neighbors had keys.

Always thought milk delivered by way of milkman, learned differently when good first apartment in college, (room mate explained I could buy milk at the grocery).

Saturday nights were always hamburger night, in summer from the grill, and for a treat were able to make chocolate milk of even milkshakes. During July and August Saturday afternoon and evenings meant swimming at Pine Lake with picnic dinner till dark or bugs got the best of us.

Church each Sunday morning, and if we spoiled dad's afternoon nap, went with mom to evening services as well, of cource we wanted to join her.

Air conditioning? never had at home, or school, or the car, it would be hot, roll down the window, turn on the fan, or find excuse to use the hose to water the plants, but some how start a fight with younger brother or tease sis.

Thanks, it really was not that bad.... now;)

Seems we all have fond memories of the good old days, old prices, things we did and our first cars. My first car was a 1964 Dodge Dart slant 6 push button automatic. I was being discharged from a military hospital outside of DC and was going home to complete college. My aunt was purchasing a new car and offered me the Dodge for the minimal transfer fee of $1. The car was 8 years old but the dealer (I would later see why) would not take the car in trade. I bought the car site unseen ... it was ugly, had too many rust spots to count, it was underpowered, had no A/C ... and I loved that car! Three dollars worth of gas and I could go any where I wanted ... it was the first thing I ever really owned ... it was freedom on wheels.
Today ... we have three cars but my freedom comes on two wheels with no gas bill ... well, the bean burritos don't count do they?

Anybody remember this song? I think I was in kindergarten when it came out. I LOVED this song! Along with the original "Breaking up is Hard to Do." Think they came out about the same time.

Not only was there a depression, but a broken down promoter named Dad Joiner had discovered the largest oil field in CONUS a few years earlier....East Texas field.

Anybody mention slot cars? My cool older cousins had them. I still remember the smell of whatever oil they used. And I think there was a place to race them on Clement Street in SF back in the 60's.

I remember when average citizens could buy firearms mail order. The hardware store sold ammo to minors if they had a note from their folks. All the boys and some of the girls carried knives in school. During hunting season, most of the boys cars and trucks in the high school parking lot contained a shotgun. Funny thing, we didn't have any stabbings or shootings.

I remember when any of the neighborhood adults would spank a misbehaving youngster and everyone (except maybe the youngster) was ok and supportive of that. Usually the kid got another whoopin' when the parents found out the neighbor needed to adjust the kid.

I remember when teachers and later the principals would paddle kids. If the kid dared resist the coach would take him outside for an attitude adjustment. School was orderly and students had a good opportunity to learn. If you didn't want to learn, you just better keep quiet and expect to fail the class or grade. If you couldn't do the work you didn't pass.

I remember when, except for machine shop work, I could fix just about anything on a car or light truck.

I remember getting a 16 ounce RC belly washer and a Moon Pie for a nickel each.

Spent many, many hours and dollars from cutting yards on slot cars in the mid to late 60's. Those things bring a heavy price on ebay now.

Bill

Have to check that out, still have mine at mom's house, 1/32 and 1/24 size cars. Had a 40' track in basement on tables (2 lane), and spent many an hour running, disassembling, and trying different setups. Made visits to hobby store tracks and raced there as well.

Got my boys interested in HO, but never caught on against video games and such:)

Go to the toys section, there is a special section for sslot cars. They divide it into Vintage and modern cars. Mint vintage cars, parts and controllers bring a nice price. I swear if we had a track here I'd get some 1/24 scale cars, especially some Classic or Cox brand models and enjoy the memories.

Bill

When I was young radio was completely different. KPPC was an "underground" radio station, funded by the National Science Foundation, and run out of the basement of a church in Pasadena. With DJ's like Outrageous Nevada, B Mitchell Reed, The Obscene Steven Clean, Elliot Mintz(Now Paris Hilton's Publicist) and Barry Hansen who later became Dr. Demento. Featuring material like The Johnny Otis Show, The Credibility Gap featuring Harry Sherer and Michael McKeen(Spinal Tap), the Firesign Theater, and promos by The Persuasions. I remember getting free tickets from them for a Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band concert. What an amazing show.

I was at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for the first Monday Night Football game, in about 1971 against the NY jets. Terrible seats in the end zone.

I remember listening to the Johnny Otis ("Otis, Otis, Otis") show after we moved from Nebraska to Redondo Beach in the LA area. This was during my Junior High-Freshman in HS years, 1952-1954 but I thoght he was broadcasting from a small station in Long Beach, CA? Don

Curb feelers on cars

It could well be. Was that KNAC? KPPC's heyday was 1968-71. In high school, I got to see him play at the Palladium with Little Richard, and Chuck Berry. Quite a fine concert. :)

I remember riding down in the "swag" of a girls bike cause I could not reach the pedals yet... so I coasted down the hill with my hands up on the handlebars. That is how I learned to ballance the bike. Been balancing ever since.

I remember a gas war where I bought it for .19.9 a gallon. That was about 1970. Bought lots of gas for .29.9

Outrageous Nevada! I couldn't believe she was on the air with that voice. BMR was on KFWB am when they played music, later on KMET before it became KTWV. He was gone by 52 or 54 from smoking.
I used to listen to Elliot Mintz on KPFK public radio.

She made an onstage appearance at the Captain Beefheart concert. If you can believe it, she looked even better than she sounded. She was built like a brick!

I remember when she and her husband Les Carter would bring the kids in the studio with them if they were doing a show together. That was always good for adlibs. :)

When I was a young one in Baker Oregon, we used to watch a show called Creature Feature on Saturday nights. It was all the old black and white horror films from the past. Good stuff!

We had Sammy Terry that did the creature feature.

It was KFOX in Long Beach, but my memory must be failing a bit, as Johnny Otis' bio says he was a DJ there beginning in 1955. I thought it was a bit earlier.

Hey SF Bay Area people: Who remembers, "KDIA - lucky 13"?

I can even remember horse drawn milk carts. A local dairy in Des Moines operated horse drawn milk carts until the 50's. The advantage was that the milk man could carry enough bottles with him to deliver to several houses and the horse would meet him at the next corner.

The ice man had a truck. We'd put a card in our kitchen window to tell him how big of a block of ice to bring in.

I'm from Staten Island and I remember the SI ferry was a nickel. And I still have a 15 cent NYC subway token.

I remember my 1970 GTO Judge......man, I miss that car.

.....
-Sears 10-speed with the leather Brooks-clone saddle; rat-trap pedals, chromed steel toe clips with twisted white leather straps, chrome steel wheels, chrome steel handlebars, chromed steel crank arms:
this bike was passed on to my baby sister and then, after a quarter century of service, was retired.

Moral?

Remember steel?

I still have the Hot Rats album with Captain Beafheart doing the title track. Wish I had the Mothers of Invention "Absolutely Free" from 1965. It had "Trouble Comin' Every Day", about the Watts riots of that year.
Whatever happened to Dr Demento?

Dr. Demento still does a syndicated radio show featuring his usual off the wall selections. On Sunday nights at 2200 CDT here. fun to listen to the strange tracks he comes up with. How about the King Biscuit Flour Hour? Anyone else remember that one?

Bill

Between my junior and senior year in HS, age 17, I obtained a "Minor's Release" with approval of my mother and help from a local judge. I drove my '51 Chevy 150 miles to Odessa, Texas and found a summer job in the oilfield. I stayed in a $4 per night motel and had breakfast and supper from an ice chest I kept in the room. I did this for over 2 months and saved over $700 that summer. I finally quit and went home when two-a-days started for football.

I can't imagine doing such as that in this day and age.