[CarolSells]

"Dial "0" for operator and actually getting one personally that will put your call through."

Between high school and college I worked for Directory Assistance at Cincinnati Bell. I worked in long distance (555-1212); we actually sat in cubbies surrounded by about 20 phone books and actually did look up the number for you. In my dept we covered two area codes and had a rotary dial on the wall to call small towns which we had no directory for. The caller stayed on the line while we spoke to the other operator. "Oh, Jim Brown on Main Street. I know his brother. His number is...."

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by CarolSells

"Dial "0" for operator and actually getting one personally that will put your call through."

Between high school and college I worked for Directory Assistance at Cincinnati Bell. I worked in long distance (555-1212); we actually sat in cubbies surrounded by about 20 phone books and actually did look up the number for you. In my dept we covered two area codes and had a rotary dial on the wall to call small towns which we had no directory for. The caller stayed on the line while we spoke to the other operator. "Oh, Jim Brown on Main Street. I know his brother. His number is...."

And getting the operators assistance was free!!!!!!!!

[CarolSells]

but in the old days kids made prank calls. (Other kids, of course ).

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by CarolSells

but in the old days kids made prank calls. (Other kids, of course ).

Like:

"Do you have Prince Albert in a can"

Answer: YES.

"Well, you better let him out".

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by CaptJohn

"See Rock City" painted on the roof of every barn in the country.

Dial "0" for operator and actually getting one personally that will put your call through.

Directory Assistance that actually looked up the number for you at no charge.

All phones owned by the phone company.

"Henry J" automobile.

And the Circus Today signs on the highways.

[entemedor]

Asking a parent if you could use the phone; picking up the phone and hearing the operator saying "Number please." The operator would often be, btw, my Aunt Frances. And our home number was 672. My aunt's home number was 504W.

A house had one radio, when I wanted my own I built a crystal set (which actually got one station).

Rationing and ration stamps. Buying a 10 cent war bond stamp at school each week. Milk at school, mornings and afternoon, 5 cents per week.

All kids having chest x-rays at school once a year...they were looking for tuberculosis and yes, once in a while they'd find a child that had it.

Two days after a snow storm, the snow would be black from all the coal that was used for heating and power in the mills.

A river that was so vile, even us kids would never go near it. Chemicals, industrial waste, sewage.

Just about every house had a flag in the window with a blue star for every family member in the service. As the years went by, some blue stars were replaced with gold stars.

[Uptown Girl]

We always had a bottle of mucilage in the house (like glue) with a rubber stopper/applicator. 'Tape' hadn't come along yet.

Dad made his own glue (for fly tying) from animal parts, like hooves and sinew.

Mom 'thumped' us with a hankie filled with cornstarch at bed time on on hot summer nights because there was no air conditioning, except for the occasional breeze through an open window. There were oscillating fans, but they were heavy, noisy and the motors got so hot they gave off more heat than anything.

Remember how cool it was when someone gave you an old cigar box to put treasures in?
Remember sledding with whatever was available? Cardboard boxes were the best, better than a garbage can lid. (No plastics yet!)
How about washboards? Ringer washing machines? Ever get your arm caught in the ringer? 'Splain THAT to the grandkids!
I told my daughter some of my more exciting childhood stories and she cried!
Silly girl... being a kid back then was great!

[RichieB]

Originally Posted by brostholder

Bob Sheppard, the voice of the Yankees

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Yankee Stadium."

Current PA announcer is not even close to Mr. Sheppard.

Remember when fans in the lower deck could exit by the field, exiting through the bullpen ?

The broadcast team of Mel Allen, Red Barber, and Phil Rizzuto ?

[RichieB]

[quote=jblum315;446332]

Originally Posted by Jim 9922

The blizzard of 1047 (if you lived in Wisconsin)

Now even I don't remember that one. 1947 maybe, but not 1047.

I'm pretty sure NY had a blizzard in '47 too.

[RichieB]

Originally Posted by Happinow

....some of them I don't remember because I was too young. Yipee for me!

Young kid !

Are you really eligible for the Villages ?

[renielarson]

Leisure suits....groan
Falls for hair
Toni home permanents
Gas stoves and ovens you'd light with a match
Hanging clothes out on the line because we had no clothes dryer
The Edsel
Car high beam button on the floor
Hair nets
Saddle Oxfords

[Jim 9922]

A few I'm glad they don't have to experience:

Extensive and oppressive segregation.
The red quarantine signs posted on the neighborhood doors during the polio season.
When you had cancer, there were few survivors
When you had serious heart problems or blockages, there were few survivors
The horrors of WW II (and subsequent wars are bad too)

[VillagesFlorida]

My father's early 40s station wagon that came with no heater. He ordered a gas "Southwind" heater and installed it on the passenger side floor.

I remember gas at 15.9 per gallon and home heating oil was the same.

Bread was 16 cents a loaf and 1/2 dozen donuts was 38 cents.

The birth of our first child cost less than $400, total.

Shades were drawn at night so the "enemy" couldn't see lights if they flew over. This was during World War II.

I, too, recall rationing and the stamps my parents got. My father was able to get extra gas stamps since he transported other workers in his vehicle to work in the shipyard.

[brostholder]

Originally Posted by Jim 9922

A few I'm glad they don't have to experience:

Extensive and oppressive segregation.
The red quarantine signs posted on the neighborhood doors during the polio season.
When you had cancer, there were few survivors
When you had serious heart problems or blockages, there were few survivors
The horrors of WW II (and subsequent wars are bad too)

Some more "good riddance" memories:
women being refused entrance to restaurants for wearing slacks instead of a skirt.
very few professions open to women who wanted to or needed to work....secretary, nurse, teacher.

[JimPete]

Thanks Gracie for the trip down memory lane.

I remember most of these. At the time it was all just part of a normal life. Now it brings a tear of joy to my eye remembering those times as I sit hear listening to the Solid Gold Oldies channel on cable. I suddenly feel very fortunate to have lived through those years.

Jim