If you watch "Mad Men," the first thing you notice is that everyone smokes and drinks, all day long, even at work. And housewives let their children play with plastic dry-cleaning bags.
Going further back in time, things are even odder. Here are some old photos that depict actual events. The first one shows something unusual -- a "knocker" doing his business. A century ago, people didn't have alarm-clocks so they paid a knocker to walk past their home every morning and knock on their window to wake them up; otherwise they'd be late for work. The other photos are self-explanatory.
Do you remember anything that used to happen that doesn't any more?
Wonderful pics. Sorry I haven't been with you lately. I'm having a run of sadness. I'm doing better now. And glad to see these pics because I love learning about stuff.
ReplyDeleteLow gas prices don't happen anymore. Obviously I haven't seen as much change in my lifetime as you have, but things are undoubtedly different than they were when I was a tyke.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I'd rather live in a different era or not. I think I'd just like to visit.
You should get in the Tardis for trips to different times. (A "Doctor Who" reference.)
DeleteKids don't play outside anymore, families don't sit down to dinner together, everyone has a cell phone, I could go on and on. I think the world has become too focused on instant gratification. I'm as guilty of it as anyone though, I've always got my phone with me.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I have to counter you with a personal anecdote here :) I'm the oldest of eight kids, and before I moved out, we sat down to dinner together every single night. Granted, there were many nights when some of us kids were at our part-time jobs or extracurriculars, but my parents still made a meal, set the dining room table table and sat down with the kids who were home to eat dinner. That practice continues for the kids who still live at home!
DeleteSo true, Beth. I enjoyed the freedom I had as a child to roam the neighborhood without restriction. And my family always ate together. I don't have a smartphone and don't want one.
DeleteActually during my time, I remember my neighbors getting the milk and Coca Cola delivered to their doorstep !
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked in advertising I had a boss that smoked in the office - she probably drank too.
Smoking in restaurant ants/bars/airplanes! I know car seats for children have changed a lot. My mom said they just used to put us in this big baby basket thing that was made to strap in place by the seat belt. It was made for the car, but honestly wouldn't protect a baby at all.
ReplyDeleteYes, lots has changed!!! I miss having milk bottles! That said, the Milk-man was delivering down our close today- I felt all nostalgic!x
ReplyDeleteMy parents had a late-60s Chevy van with a large engine cover between the seats. I used to lay on it when we were on road trips. We never wore seatbelts.
ReplyDeleteThat's right! Few people wore seatbelts and it was easy to avoid them. They just laid on the seat without beeping noises.
DeleteYes, MANY things, but then I'd be dating myself! *Winks* But one I'll share... there used to be a DDT spraying truck that came during the Summer Months to spray for Mosquitos... we called the truck Smokey Joe and used to ride behind it with our bicycles in the mist spewing out... guess we're all lucky to be alive today especially since DDT was outlawed as unsafe for humans! *LOL* Dawn... The Bohemian
ReplyDeleteEchoing Beth, I spent a lot of my young childhood outside by myself. Playing around. Of course I had early computers (with games!) and game systems, my parents were old school nerds. But I still begged and pleaded to go outside and roam free.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of things I miss from the early days. But also some things I don't miss at all.
That baby cage was supposedly very safe, but it looks very scary. I love taking a journey back in time! I recall these vending machines where you could order a hot meal! I think they called them automats back then. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI remember automats! We visited one in NYC when I was a child. Such an interesting concept.
DeleteMy eyes just popped out of my head at the window cage baby!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe one with the kids setting the bowling pins back up looks so cruel, but given the chance, my child would beg to do that; she's so orderly and has to have everything neatly lined up in rows!! lol
I've heard tales of those DDT trucks too with the kids running behind.