The good old days

[benj]

The decorating thread morphed into some old fashioned things other than decorating(like be hive hairdo's and white vinyl GOGO boots).It made me think of stuff we did that looking back was fun.
For instance, Do you remember the Burma shave signs? Like: HIS FACE WAS SMOOTH/AND COOL AS ICE/AND OH LOUISE!/HE SMELLED /SO NICE. or DON'T LOOSE/YOUR HEAD/TO GAIN A MINUTE/YOU NEED YOUR HEAD/YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT.

I found, while packing, my platform shoes. They are brown with paisley inserts, thats the tallest I've ever been.
That made me think of these really dumb shirts I think were called nero collard or something like that. I probably can't remember because of how bad they looked.
I know youall have some other things that were once cool,give em up.

[benj]

ok how about these.

Angora sweaters

blond furniture

lava lamps

black lights

[redwitch]

Hey! I loved my Nehru jacket. Thought it looked cool -- especially the paisley one. Madras shorts and shirts and they had to bleed. I do wonder how many loads of clothing I wrecked by tossing them in with whatever my poor mother had in the wash. Speaking of wash, how about those wringer washing machines?

[nONIE]

Benj,

A few months ago we had a thread out called Fads. I cant begin to tell you how much fun we had with that one. It went on for days and days. We covered everything from saddle shoes to babushka's. LOL I never wanted it to end so Im so glad you brought it back! :bigthumbsup:

Red, we would have been thrilled to have a wringer washer, we used an old washboard, remember those? talk about primitive. LOL

[benj]

What was it called when the ladies would fluff their hair up about a foot tall?

how about Lucky Strike smokes and Zippo lighters.

Remember taps on shoes?

[Hyacinth Bucket]

benj it was called teasing.

HB

[nONIE]

We would tease our hair and then put it in a beehive, Just lovely hu? 1rnfl

But you guys had ducks a**** right?

I still love the sound of taps on shoes.didnt the guys call them cleats?

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Nonie, with all the wonderful things in your home do you still have a wash board? I still have one and a device made in Germany to wash clothing.

I no longer go down to the local stream and beat our clothing clean on the rocks with the other women. ;D

HB

[Rokinronda]

At 5 years old I Shuffled off to Buffalo in tap shoes , and I tip toed through the tulips too, and made it into the newspaper!!!! I was a STAR! .................................................. ...Buffalo, it was an omen, for sure!!

[Hyacinth Bucket]

What about the black leather motorcycle jackets.

HB

[nONIE]

HB, the washboard went to auction!

What is the device from Germany? Vedy interesting!

[Hyacinth Bucket]

benj brought some of my lava lamp collection to TV. I thought I would be able to display them there.

They are stuck away in a closet and will probably never see light of day, isn't hubbies cup of tea.

Oh well -

HB

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Nonie, it is about 2 feet long, cylindrical shape, accordion style center area, and at each end is a handle.

You put your clothing in, soap and water and then you just start playing the accordion. I have never used it, but because I did not have one, thought it was a good reason to buy it.

I think you can get in three pair of socks in it.

You sold your washboard - how will you wash your clothing? ;D

HB

[benj]

HB
I still have my black leather jacket but somehow it shrunk about four sizes, I don't know how since It's been in a closet for 40 years.

Did anyone else have a parachute on the wall behind bean bag chairs with concrete block and 2x12 shelfs?

[Hyacinth Bucket]

benj the moths than only eat leather got into it.

Do you remember the neon socks? saddle shoes? penny loafers never went out of fashion.

Stilettos, had to be careful on escalators with them.

Remember the family shows - Father wore a suit, Mother always had heels on and usually a skirt and blouse.

HB

[redwitch]

We had the concrete blocks with shelves, no parachute though.

Funniest thing is I bought a black leather motorcycle jacket in London. It was in a thrift shop. I paid a whopping $7.50 (US) for it. I wore it for about 5 years and then gave it to Jess so she could look "cool" on her scooter.

I do remember the German washing machine. We actually had one. It was a royal pain to use and absolutely useless for big stuff. Mom loved it.

Anyone remember the two-toned flip? Talk about a ghastly hairdo!

[Sidney Lanier]

Benj, I see HB 'fessed up about the lava lamps. She actually sneaked them into our TV home and yes indeed they are hidden away in a cupboard....

When my mother visited us for the first time in our NY home, she gave us a large check for a gift of a washer/dryer because, judgmental that she was, she explained, "Normal people have a laundry at home!" She was certain, as HB mentioned, that we took our clothes to the river right down the road and beat them on a rock. (The good old days? As our friend Bob says, the only thing good about 'the good old days' is that they're gone!)

I explained to my mother that we did have a washing machine, then added "and it has knobs," figuring she would think it was a washtub with a wringer. She was actually impressed and urged us to buy a dryer. You know, we never did, and we still don't like using a dryer. Our home in TV came with a dryer, and all we have to do is figure out what to do with it, maybe store pasta in it (as we used to do with the trash compactor we had in NY...).

Dating appliances by color is always a reminiscence; this has been mentioned before. After white came pink, then that godawful avocado, followed by harvest gold, after which came almond, and somewhere in there the avant garde had black appliances. And now? We seem to be back to white again. Whew!

What goes around comes around, though hopefully this will not hold true for beehive hairdos....

[benj]

Sidney
I'm a Realtor and we used to date houses by the color of the appliances. And don't forget the new bisk(SP?) which I hate.
And who could forget lime green, orange,and red shag carpet.

My mom was from Alabama and when Bear Bryant was coach and Alabama was always winning she had half of her house carpeted in red. No shag though.

[Sidney Lanier]

Was bisque different from almond, benj? If so, omigod I missed a whole 'concept' in appliances! '-)

And shag carpeting? I don't even want to go there....

[Wannabee]

....and what about the little poodles you sat on your dresser from the '50's. I have a collection of about 150 of them (all packed away). Someday I will get one of my grandkids to take pictures and show me how to post it here:)

[livsea2]

I have noticed lately that "elephant bells" are coming back. And speaking of appliances how about "harvest gold" and avocado kitchen appliances!

[Donna]

At the risk of sounding Blonde..What are elephant bells?? :dontknow:

I did love the shag rugs, and all the Daisey's, I had in my room, the colors were hot pink and lavender..

I am thinking of getting a shag area rug..Not hot pink of course!!

[ConeyIsBabe]

Growing up poor, in The Projects, we didn't have much stuff - or money to buy it with. However, I do remember my father purchasing our first television..... he made payments on it for a long time ........ it had a 10" screen and I was glued to that thing, fascinated with the cartoons (I think I was around 8 years old) and Howdy Doody.

[njgranny]

I still have a washboard, but I've never used it. It's for decoration only. :-)

I used to love wringer washers. My husband had to fight me to get me to give it up.
For some reason, running the clothes through the wringer (electric) was pleasant to me.

My mother's wringer was the kind you had to crank a handle to put the clothes through. Of course my brother got his fingers caught once.

[sschuler1]

We had a wringer washer and an Ironrite. My mother used to iron everything on that machine. I even remember her putting my dad's boxer shorts through that. She still has it in her garage. We have sold it twice at garage sales, but no one ever comes back to pick it up.

[benj]

Coney,
I remember when the first people near us got a color TV. They lived four or five blocks away and it was so special at the time that us kids would sneek over and window peek through their windows to get a glimpse.

[travelstiles]

I remember the fashion trends influenced by popular TV shows - my friends and I argued over who we liked better - Dr. Kildare or Ben Casey? We wore those white blouses with the snaps on the shoulders like the real doctors wore. Along with those, of course, we wore hot pants and white go-go boots...blue eye shadow and white lipstick.
However, what I remember most clearly was that my friends and I all wanted to be Gidget (Sally Field), and go to the beach with a surfboard every day. I never surfed, but we did take the bus to the beach whenever we could.

[Donna]

Travel,
I was in love e with Dr Kildare...He was sooooo cute! I also had the snap shirts in all colors...lol..I even had the show song Ben Casey, on a 45...So many good memories..

No matter how this world changes, we will always have our memories deep in our hearts!

[nONIE]

Can I be blonde for a day? Elephant Bells?????? What are they??????

Just kidding Donna, never heard of them! ;)

[nONIE]

Never mind, never mind, It finally dawned on me. Bell bottom pants with the huge bells at the bottom right? ;D

[JohnN]

Once some few days (decades) ago, I had long hair and wore beads.. hippie days.

Now, I almost long for the good ol' days of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky...

[Hyacinth Bucket]

What about the felt skirts with poodles on them. And of course crinolines. Then there were cinch belts - all different colors.

JohnN if you have a picture of yourself please post it - would love to see the "real you."

Nonie - thanks I could not figure out what elephant bells were either. I remember the I dream of Jeanie slacks.

HB

[nONIE]

Its a wonder we didnt fall flat on our faces with every step we took!

[Sidney Lanier]

Does anyone remember the truly original first color television? It was a B&W set with a piece of transparent plastic stuck to the front of it that had three stripes of the primary colors across it. Color? Hmmm....

[ConeyIsBabe]

Along with the elephant bells, showing the entire midriff of skin, I wore some high-heeled wooden platform shoes that I couldn't take two steps in today ::) ::) ::)

P.S. YES, Sidney..... I'm old enuf to remember those "color-television-filters" ;)

[samhass]

You know what they say about the good old days. "Thank goodness they're over."

[ConeyIsBabe]

Actually, it's fun to remember the "good old days" but I truly believe the really

good old days

are NOW !

[nONIE]

Oh NOOOO Coney, you mean old as in elderly???? :(

[chelsea24]

Does anyone remember Winkie Dink and Me? Put the plastic over the TV to draw along with Winkie? :o hmmm, was that real or did my mom drug my cornflakes? LOLOLOL :joke:

[Hyacinth Bucket]

remember Jon Gnagy? I came across one of his books, I think hubby though just gave it away.

HB

[chuckinca]

Growing up poor, in The Projects, we didn't have much stuff - or money to buy it with. However, I do remember my father purchasing our first television..... he made payments on it for a long time ........ it had a 10" screen and I was glued to that thing, fascinated with the cartoons (I think I was around 8 years old) and Howdy Doody.



The first house I remember, we shared with two other families. We had the front living room, dining room and bedroom, and basement that had the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen had a Kelvinator that ran by putting a quarter in it every day. A boy's house down the street had a TV that we used to sit in front of watching the Indian test signal until Howdy Doody came on at 5:30. After Howdy, more Indian.

When I was seven, we bought a house by ourselves - a converted four car garage.

[travelstiles]

remember Jon Gnagy? I came across one of his books, I think hubby though just gave it away.

HB



Yes, Hyacinth, I feel like I learned to draw watching John Nagy! We also had those paint by number canvas boards and little plastic pots of oil paint and turpentine.
One of my favorite, funny memories was of my younger sister getting Mr. Machine for Christmas. Once we took it apart, we could never figure out how to reassemble it, despite the instructions included!

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Travel - I still see the paint by number sets around. If we see another one would you like it?

I think that was the time Mr. Peanuts made his debut with the machine that made peanut butter - not to sure about that.

HB

[Mintjulep]

I remember when we got a color TV, when they first came out.
There were only 2 shows a week on in color.
The Wonderful World of Disney and Bonanza, both on Sunday nite.
And an occasional airing of The Wizard of Oz.
I thought everything would be in color,,, so disappointed...

[graciegirl]

Who else was a cheerleader? I could never make it now. We just did a few simple cheers, and yelled "We can't hear ya!!" Now you have to really know gymnastics and stand on a mount three people high.

[chelsea24]

I was a Pom Pom girl Gracie. Yes, my Pom Pom's were everywhere! :o 1rnfl

[nONIE]

Ya know, you ladies could be Villages Cheerleaders. They actually have them . I dont think you have to stand on anyones shoulders , cant you just see it? LOL

[Hyacinth Bucket]

As they do a belly dance with pom poms, bangles and bells. Of course they would have on the white go go boots with lacy black stockings on. LOL

[chelsea24]

Nonie, if I stood on someone's shoulders they would be waist high in dirt in a New York minute! :yikes:

[nONIE]

Better hope they werent standing in Quicksand! 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hi, then everyone knows you would be in China. Hmmmmmm an inexpensive way to travel around the world.

[Blondie]

Oh my gosh, Chels, I remember Winky Dink....I thought I was so :2cool: when I drew along with him. These "Blasts from the Past" are great fun.

MD Blondie

[sandybill2]

Graciegirl ==I was a cheerleader too. Just went to my school reunion (graduated in 1964) They had all the cheerleaders get up and lead the school song--so glad they only wanted us to sing. Don't think I could have re-enacted any of the "stuff" I did in my much agile younger days. Fun to reminence about the " good old days." I remember rushing home from church on a Sunday night to watch the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. I think it was their first appearance on TV in the USA.