It’s My Birthday
Jan 15th 2008
Suzanne EnochWhen Goddesses Fall To Earth
Okay, technically my birthday is tomorrow. But I’m a firm believer in extending any festivities that involve presents for as long as possible.
How old will I be? Younger than dirt and older than my car. That’s not the point, though. The point is that I’ve been waxing nostalgic this week, doing a lot of “remember whens”.
For example, remember when M*A*S*H was the hottest medical show on television? Remember when it cost $2.50 to go see a movie? I remember that Excalibur was the first R-rated movie I ever saw, while Island at the Top of the World was the first movie I ever saw in a movie theater. I remember going to see Rio Lobo, Lobo the Wolf, and Journey to the Center of the Earth at the drive-in (not all on the same night).
I remember going to Disneyland and using up all the E-tickets first, and having extra C-tickets that piled up in a drawer for years. I remember being nervous and singing the “Scooby Doo” song to myself the first time I rode on The Haunted Mansion.
I remember in elementary school learning about the energy crisis and holding a mock election between Nixon and McGovern. McGovern won. I remember my first pair of stereo headphones (which weighed about five pounds), and that the first CD I ever bought was the score to Return of the Jedi. Oh, and my first VCR was metal encased, about six inches tall and eighteen inches wide, and cost $600.
What do you remember when you’re feeling nostalgic? What are some of your firsts?
90 Comments »
90 Responses to “It’s My Birthday”
Kim on 15 Jan 2008 at 5:32 am #
Happy birthday Suzie!!! I hope you have a wonderful day filled with wishes that come true and birthday cake. (remember birthday cake does not have calories for the birthday girl.)
Laurie G on 15 Jan 2008 at 6:59 am #
Happy Birthday!! Well, my birthday is today…it sounds like I’m a few years older …
I remember getting our first color TV when I was 10, also that same year The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan. I remember TV shows: the scandolous Peyton Place, Man From Uncle, I Spy, LaughIN and MASH. My first romantic movie was Dr Zhivago- 6th grade.
My first tape player was reel-reel (10#). Single records cost 99cents and LP albums were about 3.99. Our first VCR was a Betamax …huge and cost about 800 dollars. My first car was a Toyota Celica and it cost me around $4,500 . My first job I made $1.10 an hour. My first job as an RN I made $4.65/hour with a 4 year college degree!! SAD!! My first camera was a 110 Kodak instamatic. which I had forever (HS & college) but lost at a football game left in the restroom. I typed on a typewriter and actually had to go to the library to research things & to study. They also had the IBM zeroxing machines. Telephones were stationary!!
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:16 am #
Happy Birthday Suzie! Wishing you an absolutely fabulous day!
I remember your trip down memory lane very well, probably because most of those things occurred while I was in college or newly married. Guess *I* am older than dirt. LOL!
I remember when our TV was black & white, we only got 4 channels on it, if the bunny ears were in the right position, and we didn’t even know what a remote was. Movies at the local theater were 50 cents which also happened to be my hourly wage at my first job as a car hop. My first camera was a Kodak Brownie. I remember the thrill of receiving my very first transistor radio, equipped with a (single) ear plug. I remember watching The Beatles perform on Ed Sullivan and falling head over heels for Paul. I remember buying their first vinyl album, Meet the Beatles, which I still have.
ilovetoread on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:27 am #
I know that this sounds really old, but I remember when my parents got their first car with air conditioning. Dad didn’t want to use it at all and Mom would even want to use it during the winter! I also remember buying the single records for less than a dollar, “penny candy” was actually a penny or in some cases, 2 for a penny. I also remember me and my friends having fun outside with little or no purchased toys unlike most kids today. Some of the earliest TV shows that I can remember was first runs of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Medical Center with Chad Everette as Dr. Joe ______. (Don’t remember his last name on show.)
But my favorite missing shows are all the great cartoons on Saturday morning — EVERYONE knew that the coyote was not going to catch the road runner, ever!! But it was great watching the attempts since mothers knew that kids could absolutely not do any chores during this time!!
Keri Ford on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:32 am #
Happy Birthday, Suzie! May you be showered with gifts all week-long !!!
I remember playing on the first nintendo and my favorite game (and still is today) is the Olympics where you run on the mat. I remember when CD’s came out, but I don’t remember which was my first. I do remember being worried that they wouldn’t sell tapes anymore (I mean they quit selling those track things and I had a lot of good music on tapes) I remember waiting to go to my grandma’s when a new Disney movie came out on tape because she could always be counted on to have it bought and waiting for us. I’m sure I remember other stuff to, but it’s early.
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:35 am #
I remember running to the paint store every week to grab my copy of the Silver Dollar Survey from WLS Radio to find out what song was #1. I also learned how to type on a typewriter, a manual typewriter. I remember watching the first moon landing the same day I received my college acceptance letter. I remember paying 40 cents a gallon for gas and 4 cents for a postage stamp. I remember the television premiere of Star Trek. And finally, I remember Heidi Bowl, the most egregious insult to football fans everywhere. On November 17, 1968 the NY Jets traveled to California to play the Oakland Raiders. With 65 seconds left in the game the Jets were leading 32-29. At that point NBC cut away from the game and began airing the movie Heidi. My dad and I joined millions of football fans across American in a loud, collective NOOOOOOOO! The 11pm news told the tale…Oakland scored two touchdowns in those final 65 seconds and beat the Jets 43-32.
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:37 am #
ilovetoread, it was Dr. Joe Gannon. I loved that show too.
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:39 am #
Suzi, I loved those E tickets! A couple years ago I took all my A,B,C & D tickets (that I had saved for more than 30 years) with me on a trip to Disney World. Did you know they are still worth something? I was able to use them to offset the cost of my 3-day Disney pass!
Eli's Ellen on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:42 am #
I remember that doctors were soooo much cuter back then. Medical Center, Ben Casey and Marcus Welby (James Brolin, not the old guy). I remember falling in love with cowboys on Bonanza, Big Valley and Gunsmoke.
Mostly I remember the serious illness one could get if they “kept up with the times.” For instance, “Ice cream from a truck had pieces of mice mixed in it.” “Color TVs caused eventual blindness.” “Air conditioning caused lung disease.”
My dad had a way of convincing his seven children that they were never missing out. It was called lying! LOL
Eli's Ellen on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:43 am #
I remember our first video game…Pong
Lisa H on 15 Jan 2008 at 7:43 am #
One memory I always seem to go back to is asking my Dad how old he was. I remember him saying “28″. And me saying, “Boy, thats really old!”
I remeber gas at 55 cents per gallon, and getting The Bee Gee’s soundtrack from Saturday Night Live for my 13th birthday.
I remember Disco dancing and roller skating and football games. First and second kisses and laughing with my girlfriends.
I hope your Birthday is filled with many happy memories and your tommorows are plenty. God Bless and have a great day!
Gannon on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:13 am #
Happy birthday, Suzanne! I hope you have a wonderful week-long celebration!
I remember the E-tickets at Disney World! We always had lots of A tickets left over. I think they were for the train ride. PJ, that is so cool that you could use those old tickets to offset the cost of pass now. I wish my parents had saved all those tickets. I grew up about an hour away from Disney World, so needless to say we went alot!
Ellen, we had Pong, too! And then advanced to Space Invaders. Man, we thought we were big stuff then.
How about eight track tapes? And I remember our first VCR. I was in high school and I thought it was so awesome that I could record my soaps when I wasn’t at home! Of course, I tell my kids about the days of no remote controls, only three channels, and cartoons only on Saturday morning. Poor things, think my dh and I grew up in a cave!
I remember Chad Everette on Medical Center! I loved that show and since my first name is Gannon, everyone would tease me (cont)
Gannon on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:14 am #
(cont) and call me Dr. Gannon! Ha Ha! So original!
cail on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:35 am #
well, my parents lived in the dark ages, so i also learned how to type on a typewriter. i remember our first computer, when people only used AOL for the internet. I remember duck hunt on nintendo, and cars with out power locks and windows.
happy birthday Suzie!
cail on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:36 am #
btw, i’m from the wrong generation, but M*A*S*H is one of my all time fav shows. i have the complete series on DVD
Freedom Writer on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:53 am #
Happy Birthday, Suzanne!
I remember getting cable as a teenager. It opened up a new world to me since before cable TV we could get 1 VHF channel (the is channels 2-13 for those too young to remember.) well and 3 UHF channels (channels 14 and up.) with snow. We even got WGN and TBS, now that’s progress.
We didn’t go to Disneyland, we had Wisconsin Dells where we went to places like Fort Dells where Black Bart robbed the train several times a day, and the marshals with all of their junior marshals captured the robber in a great shoot out, and then locked him in jail. After that you could ride up and down the river on the Ducks or a boat tour. And of course the Wax Museum and the chamber of tortures where in one of the displays a wax figure lay bound on top of a fire ant hill with ant bites all over his body. But I mus stop here leaving you to wonder how our hero escapes the tortures of the fire ants…
Keri Ford on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:12 am #
Freedom Writer you just triggered great memories!
Here in arkansas we often went to an amusement park called Dogpatch, USA. I’ll never forget the place because I remember my first trian ride and because I rode the roller coaster when it got stuck, I never set foot on another coaster for YEARS later.
the park had been based on the comic stric Li’l Abner and just going to the wikipedia site brought back good times. Unfortunately it closed down in ‘93, but I guarentee you, if that place was still up and running, I’d be taking my little boy there this summer!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogpatch_USA
KariE on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:13 am #
Happy Birthday Suzanne!!
My youngest memory is the first space shuttle blowing up. I never had a Nintendo, but I did have an Atari with all the cool games. Like Space Invaders, Pong, PacMan, and Sphinx (I think that was the name, it was cool either way). I still have it. My first car, used, was a Renault Encore. A stick shift. Took me a week to figure out how to put it in reverse. Thank the Lord the driveway was on a slant. My first CD was the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. I was in one of those music clubs that you get like 16 CD’s for like 99 cents. I remember when Fergie was Stacie on Kids Inc. My first concert (that I remember) was Color Me Badd at the county fair. I think the second was Reba McEntire. The first book I read by myself was One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. My first movie, ET, was at the drive in. Scared the crap out of me. I hid in the back seat the whole time. Family vacations were to a campground on a lake with the pop up camper.
Dot C on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:21 am #
I remember beta max tapes when VHS was supposed to only be a fly by night venture. Top loading VCR’s. I still have all my 45’s and LP’s. I remember “Freedom Rock” compilation. It was AWESOME!! I remember the shuttle challenger disaster, the rise of the economy sized vehicle, the speed limit going down to 55 to conserve fuel, and then it going back up to 65 when nobody gave a damn about conservation anymore. I remember when they discovered acid rain.
I haven’t been to too many amusement parks, not even any of the Disney parks. (YET) But I do remember my first trip to visit my brother and his wife in Virginia, and going to Busch Gardens Old Country, and my first trip to a water park, which definitely gave me a lifelong love of waterparks.
I was a child of the 80’s, so my firsts are probably not so amazing. I celebrated my 37th birthday in December, and did alot of remembering, thinking, and decision making on that day. Happy Birthday Suzie!
Karen Hawkins on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:35 am #
Happy Birthday, Suzanne! And many, many more!
i remember the Michael Jackson video, Thriller. I was in college and my parents had just gotten cable (notice they got it AFTER I moved out — thanks, Mom and Dad!) and I had to drive home to catch the premiere.
And do you all remember when MTV ran the same eight videos over and over and advertised that they ‘would never have commercials?” Now they’re advertising ‘hos!
I remember cassette tapes, though my dad had an 8 track he refused to give up. Oh, and we used to have an antenna for the tv that mounted on the house and only got three channels and a half. One of us had to stand by the set with a hand on the top and the other in the air on certain game days.
And ohhh, how I loved MASH. Still do, in fact.
Great topic, Suzanne!
SnikWhite on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:47 am #
Happy Birthday Suzanne!!! I’d sing, but trust me its better in writing today…I’ve got the sniffles.
I was an odd child in the sense that the shows I get nostalgic about were on tv long before I was around to watch it. For instance, when I was 21, I spent an obscene amount of money to purchase the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts from Gunthy Renker. These shows were well before my time, but are what I watch if I am ever down and out and need a giggle. Comedy just isn’t the same anymore…My next purchase the Carol Burnett Show on DVD…I’m just hoping Gunthy Renker will reconsider its asking price cause now that I’m a mom, obscenities are limited to when I stub my toe, not DVD purchases…Also hoping to find I love Lucy…*sigh*
Julia London on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:04 am #
Happy, happy birthday, Suzanne!
I remember my first kiss — Sixth grade, the dugout of an empty baseball field. He asked me if I wanted to French kiss. I said no. When I got home, I asked my mom what a French kiss was and therein doing, outed myself. I wasn’t exactly the brightest star around the planet.
Meg on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:25 am #
Happy (early) Birthday, Suzanne! I hope you have a great day!
I love to think back on the old days and remember how it was “way back when…”
When I first got my liscense gas was 89 cents a gallon. I could fill up for less than 20 bucks! And I loved my atari. My favorite game (of course I can’t remember the name) was where you had to go through the jungle and jump across the heads of alligators and swing from vines. I can also remember that our version of the remote was a parent telling me or my sister to get up and change the channel; and after truning the knob we had to adjust the antenna.
Cookiedough on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:27 am #
Happy Birthday Suzanne!!
I remember being 12 and SOOOO excited standing in a long line for Star Wars. I think my brother and I saw that movie at least 20 times that year.
We made our flashlights into light sabers and fought all over the house.
Claudia Dain on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:38 am #
Happy Birthday, Suzanne! The whole month is officially YOURS.
E Tickets–I miss them! When my DH (my cold reader for my novels) read Courtesan’s Daughter, he said, “It’s an E ticket ride.” LOL We are stuck in our past, using long dead reference points.
I remember my manual typewriter–took me all the way through college.
I remember when gas went over $1 a gallon–still not over the shock of that.
I remember my parents first color TV–I was in high school!
I remember call boxes on the freeways–no cell phones to the rescue.
I remember the kitchen phone–attached to the wall so it couldn’t wander off the way my phone does now.
I remember when no one wore seat belts and the kids would be tumbled together in the back of the station wagon.
I remember when trash cans were metal and there were no trash bags!
Mia Rose on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:39 am #
Happy Early Birthday Suzanne! I agree with you that all birthday’s should last a few days at least.
I remember my favorite ‘party dress’ that ended up on my oversized doll when I grew out of it. I *loved* that thing.
I remember Atari was the first video game console we had, and my favorite game was PITFALL. By the time we got the original Nintendo system I was horribly hooked and my cousin and I would stay up ALL night playing Duck Hunt & Mario Brothers. (and we got blisters on our thumbs!)
I remember the first CD I bought for myself was BoyzIIMen’s first.
I remember the first concert of MY choosing that I went to was New Kids on the Block. (and I got an awesome jean jacket…)
I remember religiously watching 90210 and falling in love with Dylan.
I remember watching Dances w/ Wolves when I was in 2nd grade and calling the men bastards when they shot the wolf.
I remember the Wicked Witch of the West giving me nightmares. As did my grandma’s clown paintings. ew.
Kerri on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:42 am #
Meg - the game you are talking about is Pitfall - one of my all time favorites. I remember playing it so much the summer of 1984 that I had calluses on my hand.
When Star Wars came out, my parents thought it looked dumb, so they wouldn’t take us to see it. Then it came out on HBO, which we also didn’t subscribe to. However, if you turned the TV to a certain channel, then moved the antennae around a little, you could get a very blurry, flickering picture. My sister and I watched Star Wars over and over again that way. The sound was fine, but we didn’t get to see the Big Screen, non-blurry version for awhile. Luckily, after that my parents caught on and took us to the theater to watch all the sequels.
I distinctly remember the shock as, sitting in a packed movie theater, Darth Vader said, “Luke, I am your father!” You could hear the whole crowd gasp!
Cookiedough on 15 Jan 2008 at 11:03 am #
Keri, my whole family were sci fi geeks, so we all went the first time as a family.
cookeemama on 15 Jan 2008 at 11:19 am #
Happy birthday Suze & Laurie G. You silly babies! You’ve just proved I’m even older that dirt. I remember:
Gas - 25 cents per gallon You could drive forever on $1. We teens frequently bought 50 cents worth for a Saturday nite ride around.
Ground coffee - 50 cents a lb.
Went to Disneyland in October of 1955. I was 16.
Listening to The Shadow while lying on the floor with my feet propped up on the huge Motorola radio.
1st TV was a friend’s parents. They had a party to show off the set. It was a whopping 5″ screen. Soon, my dad had an even larger 14″. Shows didn’t start till around 5pm. So I’d watch the test pattern. Anyone remember those?
1st color tv I had married, had 2 children, divorced. “Bonanza” was great in color.
Ah yes. I was there when my beloved Cowboys played in the Cotton Bowl stadium and saw both the Heidi Bowl and the Ice Bowl. That was a Packers/Cowboys played in Green Bay.
Thanks from the bottom of my sicky heart today, Suze.
cail on 15 Jan 2008 at 11:20 am #
ohhh! my first CD was Greenday- Dookie. We used to go to Playland which is in Rye, NY.
I have never heard of an A B C D or E ticket… what exactly is it…
doglady on 15 Jan 2008 at 11:39 am #
Happy Birthday, Suzanne! Many happy returns of the day as my Brit friends say. Just celebrated mine December 29th. - the 20th anniversary of my 29th birthday. That’s my story and I am sticking to it! I remember all of those shows in black and white. We got a color television sometime during our post in England @1968 or so, I think. I remember my Dad’s Corvair - now that was a cool car. I remember gas being less than a buck a gallon and I could drive my Mustang forever on a tank of gas when I was in high school. I had an 8 track player in college that played my contraband Richard Pryor tapes. I STILL have a huge collection of LPs and 45s. I remember Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdinck. And I THINK my first R rated movie was The Exorcist. My younger brother and his best friend and I went to see it and we slept with the lights on that night! I remember Bear Bryant as the coach at Alabama and it seemed like he would live forever.
RachelG on 15 Jan 2008 at 11:46 am #
I remember my first pair of fishnets and go-go boots. My first car was a Chevy Vega and my first boyfriend was a total a-hole and has been stricken from history. The first LP I bought was Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Happy B-day.
Rachelg
cookeemama on 15 Jan 2008 at 11:49 am #
doglady, I loved Bear Bryant. I also thought he would live forever. One is making good on that is Penn State’s Joe Paterno. Here is a quote from Wikipedia:
“At age 81, Paterno is coaching his 58th season at Penn State as an assistant or head coach in 2007, holding the record for any football coach at any university. The 2007 season marks Joe Paterno’s 42nd season pacing the sidelines as head coach of the Nittany Lions, passing Amos Alonzo Stagg for the most years at a single institution”
Isn’t that amazing? I’ve lived in Lancaster, PA for 32 years and he’s always been coach. The fact of his age just adds to his legend. And he’s a darned good coach.
Goodbye football. See ya next year.
Hello softball, rugby and baseball. Can’t wait to attend a game
cookeemama on 15 Jan 2008 at 11:52 am #
Fishnets and go-go boots, RG? ROTFL!!! Back in the 70’s, I made my teen DD a burnt orange hot pants outfit. Bought her some brown go-go boots to go with it. She looked adorable, of course. Too bad hot pants/boots shortly became the wardrobe of choice for hookers.
I should dig up the picture I took and put it on my web site just to embarrass her and give her girls a laugh.
Karen Hawkins on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:11 pm #
RachelG, you’d STILL look hot in fishnets and go-go boots!
Hey, what’s the CHEAPEST you guys rememebr gas? I can remember it for 36 cents when I was WAY little.
anneriailin on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:17 pm #
Happy Birthday Suzanne! Stretch that birthday out as long as you can! I always do!
I remember before school would start we’d have to go get a sugar cube with polio vacinne in it.
I remember watching John Glenn taking off on his orbit around the moon and then again watching his splash down later that afternoon. They rounded all of us at school up and took us out into the hall to watch it on the tv.
I remember bomb shelter drills. Scared the heck outta me to think we might actually have to use them.
I remember ‘gas wars’ when gas got down to 19 cents a gallon! And as a teenager we’d pool our money and drive around all night on $3 worth of gas.
I remember Friday night football games were THE place to be seen and if you didn’t go, you missed out on seeing and being seen.
I remember sock hops in the gymnasium.
We got our first color tv when I was in high school….3 channels and if the president was on….you could forget watching tv!
Julia London on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:23 pm #
Gas was 50 cents a gallon when I was old enough to drive. We’d get a pack of smokes for 50 cents and a gallon of gas and do the drag.
I quit doing the drag and smoking many moons ago.
Rachel, i remember my first pair of go-go boots! I was so enthralled I named them. Jenny and Sandy, I think — Good lord, looking back I am beginning to realize what a total dork I was!
cail on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:29 pm #
i think i remember it being around 89 cents. it hit a dollar when i was in HS. although i never pumped my own gas then since my dad maintained the ‘fleet’ as my mom called our cars.
zambonigirl on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:31 pm #
Happy Birthday! Eat lots of cake and buy some fabulous shoes!
When I get nostalgic, it’s usually when I’m swimming. Brozo and I used to go to the pool every day in summer, and when we were young enough to have babysitters, they used to take us to the beach all the time. I get nostalgic at D-Land, too, but a lot has changed since I was a child. Same with Knott’s Berry Farm. The Corkscrew was the first roller coaster I ever rode, and they got rid of it when I was a teenager!
Meg on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:31 pm #
Julia, what do you mean “do the drag”?
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:41 pm #
Thanks for all the happy birthdays!
I had an 8-track player — if there was one song in particular I wanted to listen to, I had to forward to that track and wait two or three songs, then do it all again. And if you missed the beginning, forget it. No rewind.
Oh, and I had Duck Hunt on Nintendo, too, with that big red gun thing.
Zambonigirl, I remember the Corkscrew ride at Knotts! I think that’s the closest I ever came to barfing on a ride. *g*
LauraR on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:58 pm #
Karen H, I remember *premium* gas at 29 cents/gallon in the early 70’s. Someone mentioned transistor radios — remember how large they were? My dad had the first portable computer. Can’t remember the name but it was as big as a suitcase and only used 5 1/4″ discs — no hard drive.
Santa on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:59 pm #
I remember when TV had only seven channels. I remember The Merv Griffen Show, The Carol Brunett Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Bonanza. Little Joe was IT! I also remember watching Star Trek re-runs while babysitting.
My kids are amazed about those facts. In fact I was talking to my son about it one day and he said, ‘Yeah mom, that was BC.’ I told him I may be old but not so old that I lived before Christ! He looked at me as if I was insane, so I asked him what he thought BC stood for - wait for it - he thought BC stood for Before Cable not Before Christ! *sigh*
Nicole Jordan on 15 Jan 2008 at 1:07 pm #
Happy birthday, Suzanne!
I think of warm sunshine and meadows… no stress, just soaking up the sun.
My dh is the king of nostalgia, however. We have a joke in the family. He lives in the past, I live in the future. And sometime we really ought to try living in the present… taking time to smell the roses.
freshechelle on 15 Jan 2008 at 1:18 pm #
HBD, Suze!!
My memories include waiting in long line during the ‘72 gas shortage, Nixon resigning and thinking how sad, after I had spent the whole Watergate crisis shouting “BooHiss” with my sibs. My first album was Phil Collins’ 1st solo, but my 2nd was way cooler - Peter Gabriel’s 3rd album. My 1st concert was Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Man I thought I was cool ‘coz other 7th graders didn’t go to concerts.
ladydawgfan on 15 Jan 2008 at 1:46 pm #
Happy birthday, Suzie!! And many more to you!!
I remember gas at 33 cents a gallon when I was a small child. We got our first color television when I was 7 and we got 7 channels on it (no cable). However, things were built to last in those days and that TV lasted nearly 20 years before the picture tube gave up the ghost and it needed to be replaced.
Friends of mine had an 8-track stereo system in their living room, complete with fancy speakers. And our first VCR was a top loader with a remote that was attached by a cord that stretched across the room. Try not tripping on THAT puppy!!
BTW, PJ, I grew up outside of Chicago, so I also remember a variation of those Silver Dollar Surveys that let you know which song was #1 that week (you could find them at Musicland in the mall). That was our first stop on Saturday afternoons. 89-WLS is a talkie now, but I remember when they were the only local station that would play the popular music in Chicagoland.
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 1:49 pm #
LOL, Santa — that’s the kind of thing that really dates us.
I remember the first time I saw somebody with a cell phone — about the size of a loaf of bread with a huge antenna. I thought the future had arrived, dude.
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 1:55 pm #
Cookeemama, I remember those test patterns! Also, remember listening to the Star Spangled Banner every night when TV signed off until morning?
Karen, I remember gas at 18 cents a gallon during the gas wars of ‘70 and’71.
My first concert was the Dave Clark Five. They were the first British group to tour the US and my wonderful dad took me and two girlfriends into Chicago to see them. Poor guy. He swore he’d never be able to hear again. lol
Kay on 15 Jan 2008 at 1:57 pm #
Happy Birthday, Suzanne! Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.
The first movie I remember going to see was YELLOW SUBMARINE. I remember the summer STAR WARS was released. My sister and I saw it 14 times
My first political memory was Nixon’s resignation speech. My parents were convinced the Communists were going to invade any minute. LOL My mother still insists he was just misunderstood.
My parents had a ‘69 Chevy Impala—banana yellow. We all thought it was cool when they got it. They didn’t get rid of it until ‘80. It was very uncool by then
I saw one the other day, in beautiful shape, and my son said, “What a cool old car!” I told him my parents had one when I was little and he said, “Why did you let them get rid of it?”
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:00 pm #
Ladydawgfan, I grew up across the lake in SW Michigan. WLS was the only pop music station we could get on our radios in those days and we were devoted fans. I was cleaning out some old boxes a couple years ago and found a Silver Dollar Survey from the early 60s. Sure brought back the memories.
Lisa H on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:19 pm #
Santa - LOL! Your son sounds like mine!
ct009ct on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:24 pm #
Happy Birthday, Suzanne! Hope you have a great birthday week!
My memories are slightly different than most here (I’m an army brat who spent a lot of her early years overseas), but they are just as old, if not older!
I do remember watching Bonanza and Flipper, they just all spoke German.
(luckily my mom is German, so we learned the language from birth)
We did see most of our movies in English, as the Post had a movie theater.
Don’t remember what gas prices were then, as we had to buy gas coupons on Post. Plus we had a VW Bug that ran on diesel.
But the first time we came back to the states, that I remember, gas was about 30 cents a gallon.
I remember when you could go into a candy store with a quarter and buy enough Gummies to last a week.
I remember my husband and I paying $189 for our first bed, It came with the mattress, a box spring, the bed frame, a set of sheets and 2 pillows!
Julia London on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:36 pm #
Before cable! hahaha! Santa, that is hilarious!
Meg, “do the drag” means to drive up and down main street and look for guys. And when you spot the guys you have a crush on that week, you pull up at a red light and tell them to meet you in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly, where everyone met up, right there on the drag. In my little town, the drag was bounded by Piggly Wiggly on one end, Mr. Burger on the other.
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:38 pm #
Does anybody remember gauchos? I used to wear them in high school and thought they were so hip. Saw a picture of myself a couple of months ago, and dear lord. *g*
ct009ct on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:38 pm #
Mostly, when I feel nostalgic, I listen to music.
We have tons of records and tapes. We are slowly replacing many with CD’s.
Last year we needed a new needle for the record player - It was almost like looking for a needle in a haystack (LOL) - they are almost impossible to find.
So now that I’m in this remember when mood - I think I’ll go listen to some oldies.
RachelG on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:43 pm #
I remember gauchos. I wore them with a pair of boots that laced up to my knees. I thought I was hot. Looking back, not so much.
rg
Keri Ford on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:49 pm #
Julia!!! We have a drag. Ours ran from Wal-Greens parking lot to Sonic…which circled and ALWAYS parked on the exit side. It was known as the cool side.
Every friday and saturday night there’d be at least 200 teenagers on Wal-Green’s parking. And then cops starting getting snotty about us not parking straight and some of my fellow teenagers had problems remembering their trash didn’t belong on the parking lot.
Now it looks so sad to drive by and see it deserted now.
Gannon on 15 Jan 2008 at 2:56 pm #
ct009ct, I remember going to the store with a quarter in hand and buying a bagful of candy! *sigh* Those were the days!
Suzanne and Rachel, why is it we thought we looked so cool in gauchos or other clothes of the era, but when we look back at the pictures, we go “Aack!”
RachelG on 15 Jan 2008 at 3:00 pm #
Gannon,
I blame my mother. She bought the gauchos for me. I also blame my mother for the brown coat in 1970 and bad hair in most of my school photos.
rg
Claudia Dain on 15 Jan 2008 at 3:25 pm #
I had a pair of brown gauchos that didn’t look too bad since they were skin tight at the waist and hips (I didn’t look completely like my pants were swallowing me!). I wore them with English tan leather brown boots and a little brown tee-shirt (capped sleeve) that had the words Chocolate Syrup painted on in orange and yellow dripping down onto my breasts. Very cute outfit. *G*
My first car was a red 1966 Chevy Impala. Very nice car, lots of get-up-and-go. My boyfriend at the time had a blue Firebird convertible. VERY hot car. White vinyl bucket seats…so racy then!
Gannon on 15 Jan 2008 at 3:33 pm #
Rachel, I blame my mother, too!
But every time I threaten to burn the pictures showcasing those hideous clothes and hair, she gets upset. Can’t imagine why….
Claudia Dain on 15 Jan 2008 at 3:35 pm #
Does it scare anyone else how I remember what I wore? As if I needed more proof that I’m clothes obsessed!
I will never forget watching Star Wars for the first time. I saw it at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. It changed movies forever. I keep trying to explain the explosion that was seeing those special effects for the first time to my kids. They just don’t really get it. It was…mind-blowing.
Paula on 15 Jan 2008 at 3:40 pm #
Happy Birthday Suzie, hope that you have a great day. Enjoy. This has brought back lots of memories. I eas in my teens before we got a video recorder and then it was a hand me down from my cousin and like Dot C said it was a top loading one. Anneriailin I remember the sugar lump with the Polio on it,they don’t do that now. With my boys they had 2 injections and whilst they were screaming from those the nurse dropped the Polio drops down their throats! Hey Suzie I remember the mobile phones that were huge and you had to put up the aerial before you could use them, my big bro had one we thought that he was cool!! Being really dense but what were gauchos, I don’t think that we had them in the UK.
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 3:55 pm #
Ah, Paula, how to describe gauchos. The closest I can come is just-past-the-knee-length shorts that were tight at the top but had huge, flaring bottoms. Here’re some modern ones:
http://www.target.com/gp/search/601-0947759-6739352?field-keywords=gauchos&afid=google&CPNG=Women&LNM=gauchos&LID=1367107&ref=tgt_adv_XSGT2894
Ann in IL on 15 Jan 2008 at 4:00 pm #
My First Car - 1965 White Plymouth Fury I. It was five years old, cost $400.00. My payments were $24.24/mo. for one year. That car is probably still running. It was a great car. I remember my friend paid the enormous sum of $1995.00 for a new Ford Maverick. I thought she was RICH. Oh, and gas was 29cents a gallon.
I bought my first pair of jeans after my 21st birthday. Never had a pair before that. “Pantsuits” came out the year after I graduated from high school. That was such a radical change for someone who never wore anything but skirts and dresses. I’m still not a fan of jeans, though.
Birthday Blessings, Suzanne. Have a wonderful day.
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 4:00 pm #
I wore gauchos in the late 60s when I was in high school. They were very popular at the time.
In the early 70s, while in college, I bought a pair of boots that hit me just below the knee. They were rust colored suede, high heeled and laced up the front. I wore them with hot pants. Yes, I really did. No, I don’t know what I was thinking but at least the memory is softened by the fact that I was a very firm size 6 at the time. Anyway, I found the boots last winter while cleaning out some old boxes and was amazed that they were not only in great condition but perfectly matched a calf-length skirt and top that I love. I wore the outfit (and boots) to church one Sunday and was bombarded by women of all ages wanting to know where I had bought those awesome boots! LOL! How to break it to them that I bought them at a hippie shop in Michigan 36 years ago!
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 4:05 pm #
Okay, I wasn’t going to mention “Star Wars”, but y’all have, so yes, I remember the first time I went to see it. I remember the theater and where I was sitting, and having my jaw hanging open the entire time. When that Imperial cruiser sails into the top of the screen and just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger…Now I have to watch it again.
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 4:06 pm #
Ann, we still weren’t allowed to wear pants to school when I graduated in ‘69. It had to be a dress or skirt and the hem couldn’t be more than 2″ above the knee. When the temps dropped below 20 we could wear pants under our skirt/dress but they had to be removed as soon as we entered the school bldg. My how times have changed.
Karen Rose on 15 Jan 2008 at 4:55 pm #
Happy Birthday, Suzanne!
I remember my dad waking me up to see Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, and all the neighbors being worried he’d burn his eyes out of his sockets looking at the total solar eclipse (he had a special filter).
I remember Dad teaching me binary and pretending the punch cards he brought home from night school were really decks of real cards (because real cards were verboten in our house - ha!)
My first car was a green ‘72 VW SuperBeetle, my first kiss was Jeff M. and my first album I ever bought new (like, not a lame handmedown from my cousin) was Shaun Cassidy’s DaDooRunRun.
I remember E tickets and Richard Nixon. I remember crying when the space shuttle landed safely the first time.
How fun to reminisce! I hope you have the best birthday EVER!
Karen Rose on 15 Jan 2008 at 4:56 pm #
I remember StarWars for the first time, too. And I remember watching my friends play Space Invaders and thinking we were one step shy of heaven, LOL.
Mia Rose on 15 Jan 2008 at 5:10 pm #
Hmm… Everyone keeps talking about Star Wars, and I don’t remember the first time I saw it (I was probably forced by a cousin or something and blocked it out) BUT I *do* remember my cousin’s star wars character toys he had. They scared the crap out of me. They were big and wierd looking, and far removed from my barbie dolls.
I remember the first time I watched Spaceballs though.
Santa on 15 Jan 2008 at 5:12 pm #
How rude of me! I was waxing so nostalgic that I forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!
But Gauchos! Egads! I remember making them for Home Ec and MAN were they hideous. This was especially demeaning since my mother is a seamstress but she made me some groovy 70s treasures like my lavander crocheted mini skirt (lined) with attached vest which went with my white pleather go go boots. My green polyester seersucker bell bottom pants with matching Eisenhower jacket and Jackson 5 style cap. Yes, friends, I was a sight to behold!
Judy F on 15 Jan 2008 at 5:24 pm #
Happy Birthday Suzanne. (how come you are the only winter goddess working above, looks like the rest are partying)
I remember tie tied stuff. Lordy the messes we made.
Playing pong on the tv.
I had a seersucker easter outfit. LOL
My mom cutting our bangs with a piece of tape on them for the edge. You should see the pictures.
I remember penny candy, being given a nickel to get a pickel at the local meat store.
I remember girl scout cookies at 50 cents a box.
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 5:41 pm #
My first car was an electric blue ‘76 Nissan hatchback. I’m only on my third car, which tells you how long I tend to keep them. *g* As long as the speakers work and the engine turns over, I’m good.
Amy on 15 Jan 2008 at 5:49 pm #
Suzanne…Happy Happy Birthday to you!!! My first car was a ‘74 Chevel Malibu Classic. Blue 2-door with a white vinyl top. 400 small block in it that I had to plug in at night in the winter or it wouldn’t start for school the next morning…LOL I now drive a mini van that I call the goober mobile because I swore that I never would!!! It is a 2007, so I can’t complain. Enjoy your Birthday Suzanne!!!!!!!!!!
Ann in IL on 15 Jan 2008 at 6:59 pm #
PJ, We had the same general rules, but I don’t remember EVER wearing slacks even in cold weather. I attended an all girls Catholic high school. It was awesome. I wouldn’t trade those days for anything. There were 109 of us in my class. We had a ball. Never any worries about dressing or behaving to please any males. It’s amazing. We could focus on learning and built lifelong relationships. Too bad the school closed.
Was thinking about my first job. I made lattice potatoes in the basemenat of the A&W. 100 lbs a day. For 50 cents an hour!!!!!!!!!!
tal on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:02 pm #
Happy Birthday, Suzie.. mine is next Tues. Karen’s book will be my own little present..
Star Wars was actually a 4th grade class trip…
I remember trying to tape songs off the radio without the Dj talking…
First one in the neighborhood, that had Atari….cable and VCR…..
My dad loved that..
I remember Matt Laur in P.M magazine..
I had sweatshirts w/ripped shoulder,singular one… and leg warmers
Hated Joanie Loves Chachi show, I still wonder about that stupid bandana
I really enjoyed Moonlighting, come give it up every one did…
Every year in high school I had at least TWO perms…
First car 1985 Camaro, that car survived a LOT….
married with big hair and BIGGER dress, in
Can’t wait for the new releases!!!
Tal
Sabrina Jeffries on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:08 pm #
Happy Birthday, Suzie!!! Hope you spend the day doing fun things!
I remember reel to reels, too, since my dad had one and we listened to it all the time. A little later, I had my own record player on which I played the Partridge Family and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (I know, odd mix). Then came cassettes, which were great. I never did embrace the 8-track thing. Thank God, since my dh and I have the deplorable tendency to buy the technology that doesn’t survive.
We bought betamax and I had a KayPro 2X as my very first computer (a CPM operating system, which didn’t survive the Apple/Microsoft wars). I used WordStar, not Word or Word Perfect. In fact, I am the queen of softwares that go out of style. Hmm. Wonder what that says about me?
Claudia, it doesn’t scare me that you remember you wore; I’m more scared by the fact that you remember your boyfriend’s car interior! I don’t even remember my OWN car’s interior.
Also, folks, what’s an e-ticket?
doglady on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:26 pm #
Guilty as charged on the gauchos. I saw a photo of myself in them recently. EEEEEK!
cookeemama, my Dad was the biggest Penn State fan on the planet. He worshiped Joe Paterno! My nephew has a Penn State onesie and had a stuffed Nittny Lion in his crib that played the Penn State Fight song!
Eli's Ellen on 15 Jan 2008 at 8:39 pm #
My first car was a 12 seater Country Sedan station wagon. My parents ran it into the ground…and THEN sold it to me for $250.00 to bring to college.
PJ on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:22 pm #
Back in the day, Disneyland and Disney World sold books of tickets rather than the all-day pass you buy to get into the parks now. Each book had A, B, C, D and E tickets inside. The A tickets were for things like riding the double decker “bus” down Main Street. The tickets then progressed through the other letters up to E which was for the really good rides like Space Mountain and Haunted House. Once you had used the tickets in your book you couldn’t go on any more rides or in any more attractions until you bought more tickets.
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:28 pm #
Seriously, Sabrina? Oh, that’s right, you grew up internationally.
An E-ticket. Originally you could buy a ticket just to get into Disneyland. If you wanted to go on any of the rides, you could buy a book of tickets on top of that, A-E, with the E’s costing the most. The A’s would be for the Merry-Go-Round type rides, while the E’s would be for the biggest rides, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc. If you ran out, there were ticket booths scattered around the park so you could buy more.
By the time I was in high school they’d gotten rid of the tickets, though I don’t remember exactly when it happened. Sometimes I miss them. It sure made taking the whole family more affordable (since grandma wouldn’t go on the rides, she only cost like $5).
Suzanne Enoch on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:30 pm #
Oops! Sorry, PJ. We answered at the same time. *g*
Kasey on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:34 pm #
Happy Birthday tomorrow Suzanne!
Karen Rose on 15 Jan 2008 at 9:55 pm #
Suzie - you’re only on your 3rd car? Really? Wow. That is truly impressive. You must take good care of them!
I’m trying to think … I’m on my fifth. My longest running is my 95 Honda, which has a badly peeling hood and nearly 170K miles. But it has a V6 engine and can still “Punch it, Margaret!”
Kelly Ann on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:31 pm #
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow!
Kelly Ann on 15 Jan 2008 at 10:37 pm #
Ohh and I hope you are visited by Michael - Saint Aubyn. Yummy - he is my favorite you know!
Suzanne Enoch on 16 Jan 2008 at 12:12 am #
Thanks again for the birthday wishes — what I like about now is that my 5-yr-old nephew is more excited about tomorrow than I am.
And KarenR, my car is a ‘96 Honda, which has…55K on it. That’s why my cars last so long. I never have time to go anywhere. *g*
Paula on 16 Jan 2008 at 5:01 pm #
Thanks for the gaughos link Suzie in the UK we have something similar which we call skorts. These are a cross between a skirt and shorts.
Have a great Birthday. My Birthday i9s just before Christmas and my 7 and 4 year olds were way excited about my birthday, me yeah it’s just another birthday!
Paula on 16 Jan 2008 at 5:03 pm #
Sorry its late here in the UK, I spotted a typo just as I submitted the above it should be gauchos! LOL!!!