Some thoughts on this wonderful video: Both my parents smoked Camels...mom died of lung cancer @ 85, while dad lived to age 92 in nearly perfect health. Early in 1964, my dad bought a Magnavox console stereo...he played his Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason records for 4 straight days. The "experts" of that era were convinced that your school desk would shield you from the 3500 degree heat and 500 mph shock wave, following a nuclear blast. I remember the USPS announcing that (according to their 1965 data ) normal mail delivery would resume within 60 days of a nuclear attack. Neither rain, nor snow, nor radiation etc. etc. My family would go to the "Drive In" several times every summer. I was always amazed at the joy my dad found in the greasy cheeseburgers and fries sold at the snack bar. He was also very fond of the "giant" bags of popcorn...his favorite was the cheese flavored. I remember it being bright orange...looked like "sprayed on" orange powder to me. After finishing the entire bag, dad and everything/everyone within 6 feet , was usually covered in orange popcorn powder. My draft number was 39...I hadn't planned on joining the Navy, but it sure beat getting drafted! Memories are a wonderful thing...thanks again, Fred.
I think it was for further away from the heat and cover to keep you from going blind from the light. I don't know. By 1969 in kindergarten we weren't doing ut. Nor when we moved and I was elementary school.
clogged arteries? not after just 1 hot dog and some french fries... now, granted, if you ate that stuff 3 times a day every day for years, then yes, that wouldn't be good for the arteries.. but, they're not advocating that type of thing.
I'm old enough to remember every one of these and young enough to know they were great. A culture and society finding itself. Fred, Thank you for these blast from the past..
docdurdin Im crying. I remember all of this. My grandmother actually joined the communist party, course once she was told exactly what it was , she propmtly quit.
@@Aerin-Lena1 oooh no....gotta be Pall Malls with the extra length that filters and smooths the smoke under and over the tobacco leaves. No dry smoked out taste.
@@Aerin-Lena1 AHHH doctors know nothing. Lee Marvin said Pall Malls Famous length filters the smoke naturally....traveling under, over, around and through the tobacco leaves. He even smoked while working out in the gym (see youtube video of Lee Marvin selling pall malls)
I remember when the CB radio fad was just starting, we kids would take our cheap walkie talkies and ride our bikes around the neighborhood talking back and forth, and sometimes to the guys with the big bases. I begged my folks for a base station, but they just got me a better walkie talkie! Still alot of fun tho.
Another excellent video! I would've added a word or two about s&h green stamps. My folks got some really good stuff from those, like an electric blanket (come to think of it, I don't see THOSE around anymore either!).😁
itiswhatitaint anditaintwhatitis There were also Plaid Stamps and King Korn Stamps. I remember that there was a rescue mission in my town that had a big sign "Jesus Saves " and someone added "green stamps!" (On the subject of electric blankets, I'm thinking I had seen some at Walmart, but maybe it was just a heating pad!😳🤔)
S&H green stamps were very important. My parents smoked hella lot of Raleigh cigs to fill out kitchen with gadgets n appliances. I know mother didn't like ya to lick n stick anywhere but the book lol
Back in the '90s I hosted two teen exchanged students from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia for a weekend at our home in MD. On Saturday night I took them to one of the last drive-ins in our area -- Bengie's Drive-In, near Baltimore, which opened in 1956. They were floored by the food, the arcade games, the whole experience, which to them wasn't "retro" at all, but completely novel and quintessentially American. The thing these two guys liked best was probably the fact that, since it was about 92 degrees all night, the many white trash Baltimore girls were wearing practically nothing.
Ahhhhh, "Duck and Cover".... I remember being called out at school for repeating what I heard my (active Marine Corps) Dad say -- that "Duck and Cover is bulls**t".
I remember practicing Duck and Cover drills in grade 1. We kids were terrified of every jetliner that passed over our school as we feared it might be a bomber dropping "the big one."
We also had those air raid drills in elementary school through the mid-60's. "Everyone under the desks!". They would intersperse them with the fire drills on various days. We got so used to them, that we would actually think it was funny every time we would hear that stupid sound. Today, parents would be suing the government for emotional duress of schoolchildren, but back then, it was just another reminder of how far the government would go to "protect the children" from it's perceived enemies.
@birdsfan57 Exactly. By the third grade such drills were a welcomed distraction to the usual routine. Even at that tender age we figured that the suggestion of holding a newspaper over our bodies wouldn't save us from being blasted by radiation.
Just when this crap show of a world we live in now starts to be too much to handle I find one of your videos and take a time travel trip back to when I was so much happier. Thank you so much
Another wonderful one! My father-in-law was an Internist and he said several times he couldn't understand where cigarette companies were getting their "doctor" surveys from. I was reminded of that seeing the commercial.
R.J. Reynolds, the makers of Camels, commissioned several surveys in the late 1940's. However, BEFORE they were sent out, all 113,000 + doctors were sent FREE SAMPLES OF CAMELS so that when the question "What cigarette do YOU smoke, Doctor?" was posed, GUESS WHICH BRAND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE DOCTORS STATED ON THOSE SURVEYS?
"if the person is a communist who is a very strident communist and speaks fondly and loudly about communism whenever possible, they might be a communist"
The draft pre-empted Mayberry, R.F.D. which was a continuation/spin-off of The Andy Griffith Show on CBS. I don't think any network at that time would even try to televise any sports draft, much less the NFL/AFL draft, which was held in January of that year. When ESPN first said they would televise the draft in 1980, people believed that watching it would like having the phone book read on TV.
Thank-you I miss it very much! Back then MEN WERE MEN & WOMEN WERE WOMEN...ANYTHING ELSE KEPT IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS! PEOPLE REALLY DID READ THE BIBLE & WENT TO CHURCH!! WWG1WGA!
Back when I was in school, the school lunches were good, for instance, we would get meatloaf and mashed potatoes, green beans and a fruit for dessert, sometimes we got a piece of cake, or pudding or jello with fruit in it. And the best dinner rolls in the world in my opinion. But back then, they were cooked in the kitchen and not cooked in a facility that cooked for every school in the county and brought in frozen. Plus we had real butter for baked potatoes and home made chili for the hot dogs. And every Friday, we would either have fish sandwiches or tuna on a lettuce leaf. I am guessing for the children who were Catholic. Back then, Catholics couldn't eat other meats on Friday.
I'm Catholic and I love the 1950s and 60s, but I'm 16. That is one of the only things I like about nowadays. Only during Lent(mid-February through late-April) we can't eat meat on Fridays or any day like Ash Wednesday.
Absolutely .... my mom wasn't one but ... all of the ladies in the kitchen cooking for the children were mom's! That's the way it was in my school anyway ... And you would be in your class learning and you could smell those wonderful cinnamon rolls or yeast rolls proofing and cooking all morning . green beans and bacon oh my gosh they really had good food and yeah everything was made right there ... pizza or fish on Friday- and not gross greasy Pizza it was actually a really nice healthy hamburger pizza... No wonder most every kid was pretty lean because we went outside to play!!
I really appreciate the segment on the Vietnam draft. My brother was in that age group. I was a little tyke, so I don't remember the angst and tension. Thank you for making it real for me.
My Father WAS drafted. He ended up as a 25th infantry sharpshooter. The war was ugly, they all are. But the ugliest part was the treatment these men received when they came home.
Another great trip down memory lane....interesting they had milk at the top of the food pyramid! I remember it was a big deal to be the one that went and got the tray of milk for the whole classroom.
Another excellent video! I would've added a word or two about s&h green stamps. My folks got some really good stuff from those, like an electric blanket (come to think of it, I don't see THOSE around anymore either!).
Thanks Fred. Lots of good memories in your videos. Reminds me of my childhood family doctor. A great physician, he made housecalls day and night. Smoked like a chimney and lived well into the 1970s, passing on in his early 90s.
when I was a kid my dentist smoked "Kent" cigarettes and my "General practitioner" (primary care physician) smoked Camels. All my teachers smoked too.....Pipe or cigarettes. If the door opened from the teachers lounge a thick white cloud of smoke would pour out. Just about everyone reeked of tobacco back then.
I remember our doctor bumming cigarettes off me when I was a teenager! My parents "let" me smoke at 16 though I had been doing it for several years on the sly!
I remember my father had a '61 Galaxie (mint green) and on the radio there were two stations for CD (Civil Defense). I also remember my elementary school had a bomb shelter in basement. We had bomb drills, like fire drills, just in case the Russkies dropped the big one. In the cafeteria we were all assembled to see the Mercury launches. Believe it or not, it's true, for all the young RU-vid viewers.
All radios of that era had the "CD" (Civil Defense), or Conelrad stations marked. In the event of an attack those would be the only two frequencies use for broadcasting.
What a scary time to have lived in. I bet children had nightmares about atomic bombs. I bet they were relieved to see JFK put a stop to Russia putting those bombs in Cuba.
We had the famous 7pm air raid siren drill every Wednesday in our city, which many folks used to set their watches as it was usually right on the hour.
I remember duck and cover drills, diving under our desks in the classroom. Even at that age, it seemed silly to me as I knew the destructive nature of a nuclear warhead. No flimsy desk is going to save you. I also remember watching 'The Day After' TV movie which was pretty terrifying at the time. Young people today wouldn't bat an eye, but back then they didn't show such traumatic things on TV. It had a major impact on everyone as it was not just a movie, but a simulation of what could be a reality at the time. 100 million people watched it on November 20, 1983. I forgot a lot of things in life, but I'll never forget watching people vaporized and knowing it could really happen.
Thanks again Fred! In hindsight, and as someone who (like yourself) has lived through all of this, I spend the entire video alternating between maniacal laughter and sobbing. Great therapy!
my busy, chain smoking doctor came by for my bi-weekly prostate examination today. When I flinched, he told me I should relax by taking up smoking and left me his pack of camels. I don't like smoking yet, but I'm sure I will before my his next house call.
Introduction of "stereo"? I was 14 years old in '66 when The Monkees released their first album. And I enjoyed it on our old "mono" record player. Not long after getting the album, my parents bought me a "stereo record player". I was listening to that album and "Gonna Buy Me a Dog" started playing. Holy crap? There was Davy Jones cracking all kinds of jokes. Yep, that is the first song I ever heard in stereo. And don't get me started on "first dates". Fred, I have stories of, about, and for everything in this video. I keep these memories alive in a journal I started writing on Wednesday 11/21/79. You, however, keep them alive in video memories from the past. Thank you very much for doing so.
So, was that first Monkees album in Mono, since you had the Mono record player? Mine was, because I also only had the Mono player. Back then, albums came in two versions; Mono for Mono record players and Stereo for Stereo players. I had to go to my friend's house to listen to all her Stereo Monkees albums on her big color tv/stereo console (on which we also watched the Monkees TV show every Monday night at 7:30). We were just insane for the Monkees, and even manufactured our OWN little group of likewise-crazy fourth-grade girls. We would argue on any given day about which one of us would be "Davy", and, of course, the friend with the stereo console also owned a pair of mirachas, so she usually won. Such fun, innocent times. Wish I could go back!
@@birdsfan57 It's actually "hi-fidelity", aka stereo. So when I got that new "stereo" record player, "Gonna Buy Me a Dog" was the first song I heard in stereo and that album remains packed away with stuff...lots of other "stuff"...I simply call "keepsakes". Stories and histories are told in four separate journals and yep, my daughters have the luxury, or perhaps curse, of having to go through all that stuff after I'm dead and gone. And yes, I am right there with you: I'd go back to those days in a minute. Now? It's my "personal history" of...television. For Christmas 2010 our older daughter gave me a Nintendo Wii console. On 01/01/11, I discovered...Netflix. Television...with NO commercials? Oh I was hooked. But then that changed to appeal to the ever-changing "demographics" and this past Saturday 02/18/23 would be the last time we'd watch Netflix. Now it is yet another device that same daughter got me for Christmas of this year, a Roku (is that right?) and we are back to watching those "old" tv shows with...yes, commercials. But at least I can mute 'em all. And we, you and I, don't even want to talk about telephones "back then" v what they have become now, do we? So yes, I'd go back in a minute.... You stay safe and be well.
What a fun piece, FredFlix! This was the world we once knew. I'm happy now with my beautiful family, but wish I could bring them back from time to time to see this wonderful period in not just American history, but our shared history.
Erich L. Ruehs Say, you're not joking, are you? Racism, sexism, YEAH, INDEED!!! America was GREAT back then!! Oh, and lest we forget, THE DRAFT! By the way, how old are you? Under forty, ain't ya? Never served a lick of time in the U.S. military either, I'll bet. And just as white as a Caucasian male could possibly hope to be. Thanks for messing America up domestically, Bubba.
Hey Fred, thanks again for a great collection. I had forgotten how primitive the original Odyssey home video game systems were. Wow, that just blew my mind. You are doing great work, Fred. Keep up the GREAT work!
I was born 3/28/52 and lottery number was in the 300's I worked at Bank of America in the mail room midnight shift. I also played in a band Friday thru Sunday at Nu-Pike amusement park in Long Beach CA. I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 6/72. Served 3 years and discharged after war ended. I had a 52 DeSoto.
Charles Whitley I came home from second grade crying because we heard the Commies were coming to kill us. We lived next to a SAC command. Our school was the Civil Defense shelter. The “commies” just wanted to earn, eat, rest and love their families too. The politicians just wanted us all scared
I agree! LIVED IT,LOVED IT, AND MISS IT SO MUCH!!! I feel so sorry for what WE let our country turn into! ALL OF YOU UNDER 50...MARK MY WORDS! EVIL,EVIL FORCES ARE AT WORK IN OUR COUNTRY! WAKE UP! Put down the games do RESEARCH, BEFORE IT'S TO LATE!!!!!! WWG1WGA!
It was a wonderful time to be a kid, playing on the railroad tracks and jumping on a box car hand railing for a hundred feet or so before jumping off, blocking the street with discarded christmas trees and hiding, just to watch and listening to the cussing drivers as they stopped and moved them out of the way. Catching a jar full of fire-flies, lightening bugs, and turning them loose in the house after bed time.
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head used real Potatoes, Carrots, Apples or Oranges (Or other fruits & veggies) until the early 1960's at which time a plastic 'potato' was included because of safety concerns. The current version is a joke. The original and later versions had several sets of 'Eyes' 'Noses' 'Ears' 'Lips' 'Eyebrows' 'Facial Hair' (Made of felt) and other items like a Corn Cob Pipe, a Purse, several sets of Feet/Shoes and several types of plastic bodies, Arms/Legs and Clothing as well as other 'Accessories'. There were several 'Kits' of varying sizes and some pieces were sold separately.
I wonder, If mom needed your new potato/veggie friends to be cleaned & plopped into the stew pot to finish up supper, did the kids generally end up in tears? By the time I came along, mr potato head came equipped with his own plastic head
I just like to say thanks for posting this, and thanks for bringing back all the memories of the world that I grew up in. God they were great times to be alive.
We had three different CB radios at home. My dad had I believe a Realistic mobile CB in his car. I can't remember off hand whether it was a 23 or a 40 channel one. My mum had a Regency home base CB 23 channel with a mic gain. Dad bought another 40 channel but nobody was using it so I started using it lol. It was a 40 channel Blackfoot 40. I was so excited when I got my CB license. I even remember all the numbers of each of our respective CB licenses back then. Thanks for the video memories!
REALLY! If or WHEN WW3 STARTS WATCH WHAT HAPPENS! If drafted you'll probably be a target of sorts, if you enlist you can at least choose what branch (ARMY,AF,NAVY ETC) & chose a job! Good Luck Young One! WWG1WGA!
Every 18 year old boy in America watched the draft lottery , they had a machine like bingo and had 365 balls in it , they would start like , " JANUARY 1st... 295 … January 2nd …. 27 etc... my number ( February 17) was 46 ! From 1-120, you were going to Vietnam , from 120 -240 maybe , from 240-365 , you were safe , probably in college or rich ! like I said , my number was 46 , scary day for me , but THE GREATEST PRESIDENT in the world (to me anyway) President Richard M. Nixon ended the draft in April ! I was saved from dying in a senseless war ! I'm so happy to be alive now and able to say , " Have a good day Liz !
Young one? Just to let you know, I’m not a millinial, I’m over 50 years old. I’ve heard of the draft lottery and have a picture in a book I own entitled, “The Instant It Happened” showing a man choosing numbers for the WWII draft lottery while FDR stood by him. Watching this clip on FredFlix was the first I’d seen it during the Vietnam war, which my dad was a veteran of. Just fyi I’d thought I’d let you know. 👍
@@lizbarnett9197 Sorry Liz, no offence intended, if anything I was complimenting you. I was going by your little pic, 4 what its worth I'm almost 70. Neither of us will be drafted anyway! LOL Have a nice day.
That's what we did, we went to the drive in movies almost every weekend. Sadly, there are no more of them in the area. Due to the owner unable to convert to digital.My mom told me my pediatrician smoked in the office while examining the children.I saw the Salem commercial somewhere on here. Sometimes when I have had a hard day at work I think to myself, "If I were a smoker, I would have myself a Salem." But my sister says menthol cigarettes are strong.
Well, what else ya gonna do? Stand there watching the fireball? That’ll make you blind, and if you kept standing the blast wave would knock you into the county. And, you’d find out that the entire world wasn’t destroyed, and we weren’t bombed to the stone age, either. It’s better to be healthy and able to see, than crippled and blind. Duck and cover....whatever chance of survival you have depends on this.
I thought that these dreams were memories. Or it was some far away and distant fantasy long-forgotten. I'm still not really certain that any of this actually happened. I don't feel old however , I feel like some kind of alien or freak. Looking at the world around me, looking at myself, damn. I've got to get back - and try again.
I was born in 1953. I remember all of this. I even remember the "duck and cover" drills we did in school. I even remember during the Cuban missile crisis when my parents filled a hallway closet with all kinds of non-perishable food.
we were in touch with reality, thermo nuclear war was a clear and present threat during the cold war at its height, unlike kids today needing a safe space because they hear a word that upset them.
small children and grade school up to junior high schoolers weren't informed, no point to do it, I mean to be told you were gonna be either killed instantly or burned to death In only a couple of hours would have brought more questions, especially us seventh graders, that was 1969 for me waiting for 3:00pm to run home and watch dark shadows.
@@Grimoor yeah, kids today don't have anything to worry about, right. Every other school has a shooting spree every damn day and this is a real and present danger.
I remember the televised draft. My cousin's number came up pretty high and he was drafted. But he ended up serving in the Presidio in San Francisco and then as a recruiter in West Virginia. Never left the country. I was a preteen girl, but my birthday came up near the last of the numbers. I thought it was a pity I couldn't "sell" my number.
I was hot and heavy into CB radio. Does anyone remember upper side band ? We went from CB radio to upper side band as it got out much further. And the crispy lesson learned from not grounding the antenna for the CB correctly. It is a wonder the house didn't burn down. It melted most of the "Moon Raker" antenna and the push-up pole it was mounted on didn't anymore ( didn't push up or collapse ).
We still have one drive in theater in RI, one of the few left in the country. It's very popular, you have to show up long before dark to get in! It's not going away. We used to have a lot of them, and when I was in high school and college, I'd go with friends. We'd buy snacks at the convenience store before and bring folding lawn chairs to sit on. It was a real tradition, and I hope enough of these places have survived so kids these days can experience them.
