| Since I grew up in the 1950's it is fun for | | | | |
| me to reflect on some | | | | Cuffed bobbie socks worn with suede |
| | | | "buckskin" shoes or saddle |
| of the nifty things during that era.Drive In | | | | |
| Theatres | | | | shoes that came in all color combinations |
| | | | and styles from light |
| Known then as the "passion pit", Drive In | | | | |
| Theatres bring back | | | | weight to the original heavier oxford in |
| | | | black and white. |
| many happy memories! | | | | |
| | | | The sleeves were always cuffed and rolled on |
| My birthday being in July was the prime | | | | the girls short |
| season for Drive In | | | | |
| | | | sleeve shirts, and finished off with a scarf |
| movies. I would invite all my friends over | | | | around the neck. |
| to celebrate my | | | | |
| | | | Wool skirts with the length at the middle of |
| birthday complete with my mother's homemade | | | | the calf with a slit |
| barbeque sandwiches which was my favorite.She | | | | |
| would make it from sliced rump roast and then | | | | in the back. The favorite hair styles were |
| lay the meat in an electric skillet smothered | | | | pony tails, and |
| in barbeque sauce. Just before dark we would | | | | |
| all pile into a car and head for the drive | | | | shoulder length hair that was rolled at the |
| In. I still remember the intermission jingle | | | | ends with bangs and |
| "Let's all go to the lobby" with the hot dog, | | | | |
| soda drink and popcorn dancing across the | | | | usually a side part. Barrettes were often |
| screen. | | | | used as decoration and |
| | | | |
| The Drive In was the favorite place to go on | | | | to hold the hair away from the face. The |
| a date and the after | | | | boys typical clothes |
| | | | |
| the show we would go to the Steak n Shake | | | | were blue jeans with cuffed legs, a t-shirt |
| for a hamburger and | | | | with rolled sleeves, |
| | | | |
| fries. | | | | or a shirt with the back of the collar |
| | | | turned up. They wore |
| At that time you stayed in your car and your | | | | |
| food was brought to | | | | various short hair styles ranging from the |
| | | | butch to slightly |
| you. A tray holder was placed on the drivers | | | | |
| side window to hold the food. It was just | | | | longer Elvis style that was combed back and |
| brought to my attention from my teenage | | | | held in place with |
| grandchildren that "going steady" is no | | | | |
| longer used. | | | | VO5 Hair Dressing into a duck tail or DA as |
| | | | it was called. |
| I asked them what do you call it now? They | | | | |
| replied just "going | | | | Going to church on Easter Sunday was a sight |
| | | | to behold! All the |
| out". Makes no sense to me, but that is how | | | | |
| times change. Back in the 50's and 60's when | | | | women and young girls (me included) wore a |
| you were "going steady", the girl would be | | | | hat adorned with |
| given her boyfriends ring to wear. Because | | | | |
| they were always too big to fit, we would | | | | artificial flowers along with white |
| wrap the back with white bandage tape and | | | | gloves.Toys and Hobbies |
| then cover that with fuzzy angora yarn in | | | | |
| different colors.. way too cool! | | | | I wasn't much into dolls as a child because |
| | | | I preferred to be |
| The only place you could buy the angora in | | | | |
| my town was a | | | | outside exploring or making something with |
| | | | my hands. The one doll |
| department store downtown and I can still | | | | |
| remember that they did | | | | that I did enjoy for a short time was the |
| | | | Ginny Doll that is |
| not have cash registers at the counters, but | | | | |
| instead the clerk | | | | tucked away in a closet complete with all |
| | | | the clothes, |
| would send your money through a vacuum tube | | | | |
| that led upstairs to | | | | accessories and furniture along with a Toni |
| | | | Doll still in the |
| the cashiers office. It was much like the | | | | |
| drive in | | | | original box almost untouched. The Toni Doll |
| | | | was a Christmas gift |
| banking tube that is used today.Rock n Roll | | | | |
| | | | and I was evidently at the age that it just |
| The summer of 1955 with Bill Haley's song | | | | didn't interest me |
| "Rock Around the Clock" | | | | |
| | | | much. |
| changed the music we listened to forever. I | | | | |
| was hooked. | | | | Easy Bake Oven has been around for 50 plus |
| | | | years as I was given |
| Then came Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck | | | | |
| Berry, Fats Domino, and | | | | one for Christmas when I was 8 years old and |
| | | | made and ate all the |
| the rest is history. Every Saturday I would | | | | |
| walk downtown to | | | | cakes the first night. Needless to say, I |
| | | | got very sick later |
| Lindstrom's Record store and listen to the | | | | |
| latest hits and always | | | | that night! |
| | | | |
| come home with at least one new 45. In my | | | | One of my weekly downtown stops was the |
| bedroom next to my bed | | | | local Hobby Shop that |
| | | | |
| was my radio that I would listen to every | | | | sold Paint by Number products. I would sit |
| night just to hear the | | | | at a desk in the |
| | | | |
| newest songs. Radio at that time was AM only | | | | sunroom and paint for hours. I painted a |
| and at night with | | | | black tole waste basket |
| | | | |
| less interference in the airwaves I could | | | | and Kleenex box holder that was given to my |
| pick up a station from | | | | Mother as a gift. |
| | | | |
| Little Rock which was about 600 miles from | | | | They also sold magic tricks that fascinated |
| where I lived. The | | | | me and I would give |
| | | | |
| commercial that I will never forget was for | | | | magic shows at home on the piano bench |
| White Rose | | | | covered with a black |
| | | | |
| Petroleum Jelly. I was so excited the night | | | | antique crazy quilt. Two other toys I have |
| I heard the song "Sea | | | | fond memories of was the Hula Hoop and the |
| | | | Slinky.Burma Shave |
| Cruise" that I ran down to Lindstrom's to | | | | |
| buy it only to find out | | | | The old motels are now a thing of the past |
| | | | having been replaced |
| that it wasn't available yet. | | | | |
| | | | with travel hotels. More rooms in a smaller |
| My parents did not like Rock n Roll and | | | | space, but not as |
| would say it sounds like | | | | |
| | | | convenient as the motels where you would |
| noise. They did however "put up" with it and | | | | park right in front of |
| allowed me to play | | | | |
| | | | your room. |
| my record player as loud as it would go | | | | |
| which was not very loud | | | | When our family would take car trips we |
| | | | would see the Burma Shave |
| when compared to today's stereos. Now we | | | | |
| have a stereo in the | | | | signs along the road and read them out load |
| | | | as we passed them. |
| living room, a portable stereo in the garage | | | | |
| complete with | | | | DON'T TRY PASSING, ON A SLOPE, UNLESS YOU |
| | | | HAVE, A PERISCOPE, BURMA-SHAVE.If computers |
| subwoofer, subwoofers on our computers and a | | | | had come along 45 years sooner, I think my |
| subwoofer in the | | | | life would have been very different. Oh well, |
| | | | better late than never.Barbara Wangelid along |
| car. My love for music has stayed with me | | | | with her husband Tobbe are the owners of |
| and the music and the | | | | |
| | | | where you can purchase vintage and retro |
| equipment to play it with just keeps getting | | | | reproduction signs, enamelware, antique |
| better.Clothes | | | | labels, 1950's retro, and classic pedal cars. |