Nostalgic Flashback Of The 1950s Era

Since I grew up in the 1950's it is fun for me to reflectshoes or saddle
on someshoes that came in all color combinations and styles
of the nifty things during that era.Drive In Theatresfrom light
Known then as the "passion pit", Drive In Theatresweight to the original heavier oxford in black and
bring backwhite.
many happy memories!The sleeves were always cuffed and rolled on the
My birthday being in July was the prime season forgirls short
Drive Insleeve shirts, and finished off with a scarf around the
movies. I would invite all my friends over to celebrateneck.
myWool skirts with the length at the middle of the calf
birthday complete with my mother's homemadewith a slit
barbeque sandwiches which was my favorite.Shein the back. The favorite hair styles were pony tails,
would make it from sliced rump roast and then lay theand
meat in an electric skillet smothered in barbeque sauce.shoulder length hair that was rolled at the ends with
Just before dark we would all pile into a car and headbangs and
for the drive In. I still remember the intermission jingleusually a side part. Barrettes were often used as
"Let's all go to the lobby" with the hot dog, soda drinkdecoration and
and popcorn dancing across the screen.to hold the hair away from the face. The boys typical
The Drive In was the favorite place to go on a dateclothes
and the afterwere blue jeans with cuffed legs, a t-shirt with rolled
the show we would go to the Steak n Shake for asleeves,
hamburger andor a shirt with the back of the collar turned up. They
fries.wore
At that time you stayed in your car and your foodvarious short hair styles ranging from the butch to
was brought toslightly
you. A tray holder was placed on the drivers sidelonger Elvis style that was combed back and held in
window to hold the food. It was just brought to myplace with
attention from my teenage grandchildren that "goingVO5 Hair Dressing into a duck tail or DA as it was
steady" is no longer used.called.
I asked them what do you call it now? They repliedGoing to church on Easter Sunday was a sight to
just "goingbehold! All the
out". Makes no sense to me, but that is how timeswomen and young girls (me included) wore a hat
change. Back in the 50's and 60's when you wereadorned with
"going steady", the girl would be given her boyfriendsartificial flowers along with white gloves.Toys and
ring to wear. Because they were always too big to fit,Hobbies
we would wrap the back with white bandage tapeI wasn't much into dolls as a child because I preferred
and then cover that with fuzzy angora yarn into be
different colors.. way too cool!outside exploring or making something with my hands.
The only place you could buy the angora in my townThe one doll
was athat I did enjoy for a short time was the Ginny Doll
department store downtown and I can still rememberthat is
that they didtucked away in a closet complete with all the clothes,
not have cash registers at the counters, but insteadaccessories and furniture along with a Toni Doll still in
the clerkthe
would send your money through a vacuum tube thatoriginal box almost untouched. The Toni Doll was a
led upstairs toChristmas gift
the cashiers office. It was much like the drive inand I was evidently at the age that it just didn't
banking tube that is used today.Rock n Rollinterest me
The summer of 1955 with Bill Haley's song "Rockmuch.
Around the Clock"Easy Bake Oven has been around for 50 plus years
changed the music we listened to forever. I wasas I was given
hooked.one for Christmas when I was 8 years old and made
Then came Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Fatsand ate all the
Domino, andcakes the first night. Needless to say, I got very sick
the rest is history. Every Saturday I would walklater
downtown tothat night!
Lindstrom's Record store and listen to the latest hitsOne of my weekly downtown stops was the local
and alwaysHobby Shop that
come home with at least one new 45. In my bedroomsold Paint by Number products. I would sit at a desk in
next to my bedthe
was my radio that I would listen to every night just tosunroom and paint for hours. I painted a black tole
hear thewaste basket
newest songs. Radio at that time was AM only andand Kleenex box holder that was given to my Mother
at night withas a gift.
less interference in the airwaves I could pick up aThey also sold magic tricks that fascinated me and I
station fromwould give
Little Rock which was about 600 miles from where Imagic shows at home on the piano bench covered
lived. Thewith a black
commercial that I will never forget was for Whiteantique crazy quilt. Two other toys I have fond
Rosememories of was the Hula Hoop and the Slinky.Burma
Petroleum Jelly. I was so excited the night I heard theShave
song "SeaThe old motels are now a thing of the past having
Cruise" that I ran down to Lindstrom's to buy it only tobeen replaced
find outwith travel hotels. More rooms in a smaller space, but
that it wasn't available yet.not as
My parents did not like Rock n Roll and would say itconvenient as the motels where you would park right
sounds likein front of
noise. They did however "put up" with it and allowedyour room.
me to playWhen our family would take car trips we would see
my record player as loud as it would go which wasthe Burma Shave
not very loudsigns along the road and read them out load as we
when compared to today's stereos. Now we have apassed them.
stereo in theDON'T TRY PASSING, ON A SLOPE, UNLESS YOU
living room, a portable stereo in the garage completeHAVE, A PERISCOPE, BURMA-SHAVE.If computers
withhad come along 45 years sooner, I think my life would
subwoofer, subwoofers on our computers and ahave been very different. Oh well, better late than
subwoofer in thenever.Barbara Wangelid along with her husband Tobbe
car. My love for music has stayed with me and theare the owners of
music and thewhere you can purchase vintage and retro
equipment to play it with just keeps gettingreproduction signs, enamelware, antique labels, 1950's
better.Clothesretro, and classic pedal cars.
Cuffed bobbie socks worn with suede "buckskin"