Our Memories

Wayne shares some past memories.
"The Best of Old and Happy Memories"

We are sure many of you that grew up between the late 1940s and 1960s will like this page of our lives. They were happy times, when few had lots of money; when families did everything together; the kids made their own entertainment, as you couldn't afford to go to the movies, except for very rare occasions and only a few had TV, as it was new and there were only a few channels. The Test Pattern was something to see lots of the time, as there weren't lots of programs to watch. This changed little by little in the fifties and soon we had three (3) channels to watch in this area. It was a time in the mid fifties that theaters had kiddie movies in the summer for kids out of school. Boy was this a treat! Lots of screeming kids, under 12 and that poor theater usher. Just use your imagination! and you will be right.

The auto was the dream of all the kids 15 years old and over upon getting a drivers license. They couldn't wait to get behind that wheel. Drive to the High School football games; to the High School Prom; to the drive-in movies and to the local drive-in restaurants, which were a hangout for teenagers on weekend nights. It was a time that most kids had partime jobs after school, in order to buy that old Ford, Plymouth or Chevy on the used car lot down the street. After all, cars were expensive and parents couldn't afford to buy a second car. Wayne's first one, in 1958, was a 1947 Plymouth Coupe that smelled like cigars and cost $125.00. He really wanted the 1949 Ford Coupe with the V8, but it cost $249.95. WOW!! You had to have insurance and that cost another $100.00 every 6 months, even on your parents policy. If you were caught cutting up or got a ticket, well that was it! Had to wait until you could get a car and insurance in your own name. Needless to say, you were careful where you hot rodded that mean machine you were driving. These cars represented who you were, therefore they had to be cool. De-chromed, primed (couldn't afford paint anyway), Lowered, custom grille, two outside mirrows, fender skirts (even if different color), hub caps with flippers were a must (perferably Olds front only), good AM radio with rear seat speaker, floor mats, several carbs & a cam (if you lucked into them), and wide white wall tires. A dream car, you know!! You cruised around the downtown streets, hoping someone would see you or so you could see the reflection of your dream car in the glass store fronts, as you creeped pass (Boy what a beauty). If you were lucky enough to have a convertible you cruised with the top down, even if it was winter with snow on the ground or in the hot summer and the seats were burning your legs and back; Why? Because you had to look Real Cool. After all gas was only 27.9 cent a gallon and if you could find a gas war, as low as 18 cent. "Great Times" to say the least.

The following are pictures of autos that we wish we still had today and of special places that are long gone. Would we want to bring these good times back? Well, maybe some of them, "Gas Prices"and "Drive-ins." Oh yes, Drive-in Resturants with the car hops and those good old Drive-in Movies with kiddie play grounds, hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, pop corn, and speakers that didn't work!! But who cared about the sound??

We hope you enjoy us sharing these memories in our site.

Our Old Photos   Drive-in Resturants
Drive-in Movie  Juke Box Music