# Culture artifacts that ...maybe not ONLY you remember....but its getting close. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633 "2018-08-15T03:00:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/381 "2018-08-27T12:36:22Z")
That’s, “Hedley.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/382 "2018-08-29T16:24:50Z")
Shoestring potato “fries” in a can. Saw a (quite small) can of these in a store the other day. Had not seen or thought of those since I was a kid. Didn’t know they still sold them and the cans I remember were quite a bit larger. Several brands are available but [Pik-nik](https://www.amazon.com/Pik-nik-Original-Shoestring-Potatoes-1-75/dp/B00C1LDQ48) was the one I saw. Hey, they’re non-GMO and have 0 trans fat. Must be good for you. Speaking of cans. We used to use Rosarita tortillas from a can. A stack with paper between them and folded into the can. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/383 "2018-08-29T16:33:58Z")
When I was a wee lad almost 60 years ago, my dad bought me Bloop Balls. Thinking back I think they were just styrofoam balls packaged as toys. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/384 "2018-08-29T17:13:03Z")
Root beer kool-aid. It would still be around if people would have known to let it age for a day or two after making it. It wasn’t very good fresh. I was completely addicted to the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/385 "2018-08-29T17:54:01Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Root beer kool-aid. It would still be around if people would have known to let it age for a day or two after making it. It wasn’t very good fresh. I was completely addicted to the stuff. Wyler’s used to sell great tasting root beer similar to Kool-aid. Unfortunately they went out of business years ago. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/386 "2018-08-29T21:40:26Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Shoestring potato “fries” in a can. > > Saw a (quite small) can of these in a store the other day. Had not seen or thought of those since I was a kid. Didn’t know they still sold them and the cans I remember were quite a bit larger. Several brands are available but [Pik-nik](https://www.amazon.com/Pik-nik-Original-Shoestring-Potatoes-1-75/dp/B00C1LDQ48) was the one I saw. > > Hey, they’re non-GMO and have 0 trans fat. Must be good for you. For me, this is the second time today the subject of canned shoestring potato fries (a.k.a., potato sticks) has come up. I first heard it discussed this morning on a sports talk show when they mentioned canned shoestring potatoes tasted better on a sandwich than potato/corn chips or snack crackers because of their size, shape, and texture. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/387 "2018-08-29T22:20:18Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Shoestring potato “fries” in a can. > > Saw a (quite small) can of these in a store the other day. Had not seen or thought of those since I was a kid. Didn’t know they still sold them and the cans I remember were quite a bit larger. Several brands are available but [Pik-nik](https://www.amazon.com/Pik-nik-Original-Shoestring-Potatoes-1-75/dp/B00C1LDQ48) was the one I saw. > > Hey, they’re non-GMO and have 0 trans fat. Must be good for you. My parents carried those, or raisins in the little boxes, for us kids to have as snacks if we became hungry while out in public. Another thing I remember from childhood was a TV announcer who would say, “Let’s pause now for station identification.” Nowadays, with the icon in the corner, it isn’t necessary, but we used to say that while playing television even though we had no idea what it meant. My favorite station to use was one that we got at my grandparents’ homes in southern Iowa, and the voice actor had a big, booming bass voice: “KTVO, Kirksville-Ottumwa.” 😃 My friends would say, “I never heard of that station.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/388 "2018-08-30T01:17:27Z")
Adhesive bandage strips and other first aid items in small metal boxes with hinged lids. Toothpaste in metallic tubes. Aftershave in glass or ceramic bottles Things used to be heavier ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/389 "2018-08-30T03:12:26Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Adhesive bandage strips and other first aid items in small metal boxes with hinged lids. > > Toothpaste in metallic tubes. > > Aftershave in glass or ceramic bottles > > Things used to be heavier You can still get 1 & 3, but 1 is kinda uncommon. I have several glass bottles of Aftershave. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/390 "2018-08-30T17:59:43Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > My parents carried those, or raisins in the little boxes, for us kids to have as snacks if we became hungry while out in public. > > Another thing I remember from childhood was a TV announcer who would say, “Let’s pause now for station identification.” Nowadays, with the icon in the corner, it isn’t necessary, but we used to say that while playing television even though we had no idea what it meant. My favorite station to use was one that we got at my grandparents’ homes in southern Iowa, and the voice actor had a big, booming bass voice: “KTVO, Kirksville-Ottumwa.” 😃 My friends would say, “I never heard of that station.” I’m old enough to remember TV having those program identification cards onscreens like MOD SQUAD In Color! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/391 "2018-08-30T18:57:11Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > The product is long defunct but unless there’s been some sort technological advancement in salt shakers over the last 50 years, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Nichols Damp-Proof Salt Shaker is obsolete. Since the patent has expired, there’s nothing preventing other halloware manufacturers from putting the product back on the market. In fact, there already might be salt shakers for sale now that use Nichols’ unique design. I’ve never seen anything with a similar design. Everything that says it’s damp proof has a lid that seals the top. Given that the Nichols isn’t quite intuitive in its setup, I suspect no one is interested. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/392 "2018-08-31T21:28:59Z")
Anyone remember [Betsy McCall dolls](https://cdn0.rubylane.com/_pod/item/245322/2274/American-Character-Tiny-Betsy-McCall-doll-full-1-720%3A10.10-96-r-e8ebed-c2dced-86aecc.jpg)? I think you bought them through McCall’s Magazine (a woman’s magazine). My older sister had one that was in much better shape than mine. I think mine was a beaten-up hand-me-down. I didn’t see [Flav-R Straws](https://www.chowstatic.com/uploads/9/5/8/1325859_flavor-straws1_1_.jpg) mentioned upthread, though I admit I was skimming. These were much-prized among us kids, as we seldom got them. I was once very sick with measles, I think, and for once my parents bought me some Flav-R Straws as a treat. Chocolate ones! I remember them to this day. When I got older and more tomboy-ish, I liked reading _[CARtoons](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bd/eb/ce/bdebce074c8c0f09b90c07891d1c8054.jpg)_ and _[Cycletoons](https://pictures.abebooks.com/DTACOLLECTIBLES/22412503170.jpg)_, courtesy of my older brother. Anyone else remember these comic books? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/393 "2018-09-01T03:36:25Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I was once very sick with measles, I think, and for once my parents bought me some Flav-R Straws as a treat. Chocolate ones! I remember them to this day. > > When I got older and more tomboy-ish, I liked reading _[CARtoons](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bd/eb/ce/bdebce074c8c0f09b90c07891d1c8054.jpg)_ and _[Cycletoons](https://pictures.abebooks.com/DTACOLLECTIBLES/22412503170.jpg)_, courtesy of my older brother. Anyone else remember these comic books? I just LOVED strawberry Flav-R Straws. If anyone’s wondering, the inside of the straw had so much strawberry-flavored sugar that it flavored (and dyed) a whole glass of milk… as you drank it! And we used to buy every issue of CARtoons we could find. Them Varmints would torment Unk (as on the cover you linked to), and there was plenty of great comics and “Foto Funnies”, all celebrating Car Culture. Every single one of us who grew up on those ended up building cars … or designing them for the Big 3 in Detroit! Fun fact: CARtoons got me to listen to Bob Dylan. He was often used as a punchline, like the photo of a dragster with a thought balloon added: “I’ve gotta get a muffler on this piece o’ junk, I kin barely hear Bob Dylan!” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/394 "2018-09-01T03:49:10Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I just LOVED strawberry Flav-R Straws. If anyone’s wondering, the inside of the straw had so much strawberry-flavored sugar that it flavored (and dyed) a whole glass of milk… as you drank it! Yep, just like strawberry Quik. :o ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/395 "2018-09-01T04:17:52Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > When I got older and more tomboy-ish, I liked reading _[CARtoons](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bd/eb/ce/bdebce074c8c0f09b90c07891d1c8054.jpg)_ and _[Cycletoons](https://pictures.abebooks.com/DTACOLLECTIBLES/22412503170.jpg)_, courtesy of my older brother. Anyone else remember these comic books? I was a huge fan of CARtoons in the mid-70s! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/396 "2018-09-01T12:29:26Z")
Chocolate space food sticks! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/397 "2018-09-01T12:32:48Z")
Cereal with dehydrated fruit! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/398 "2018-09-01T12:35:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Cereal with dehydrated fruit! Any brand names? This sounds vaguely familiar. Also, does Raisin Bran count? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/399 "2018-09-01T13:24:20Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Root beer kool-aid. It would still be around if people would have known to let it age for a day or two after making it. It wasn’t very good fresh. I was completely addicted to the stuff. A&W sells packs of powdered root beer. Available on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Root-Beer-Drink-Singles-Packets/dp/B01BLWYTO8). **furryman** : Wyler’s powdered mixes are also available online and in stores. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633/400 "2018-09-01T13:54:20Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Anyone remember [Betsy McCall dolls](https://cdn0.rubylane.com/_pod/item/245322/2274/American-Character-Tiny-Betsy-McCall-doll-full-1-720%3A10.10-96-r-e8ebed-c2dced-86aecc.jpg)? I think you bought them through McCall’s Magazine (a woman’s magazine). My older sister had one that was in much better shape than mine. I think mine was a beaten-up hand-me-down. > > I didn’t see [Flav-R Straws](https://www.chowstatic.com/uploads/9/5/8/1325859_flavor-straws1_1_.jpg) mentioned upthread, though I admit I was skimming. These were much-prized among us kids, as we seldom got them. I was once very sick with measles, I think, and for once my parents bought me some Flav-R Straws as a treat. Chocolate ones! I remember them to this day. > > When I got older and more tomboy-ish, I liked reading _[CARtoons](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bd/eb/ce/bdebce074c8c0f09b90c07891d1c8054.jpg)_ and _[Cycletoons](https://pictures.abebooks.com/DTACOLLECTIBLES/22412503170.jpg)_, courtesy of my older brother. Anyone else remember these comic books? Betsy McCall!!! Of course!! My great granny and I would cut them out, and while we played she would recite the Little Orphan Annie poem–“the goblins will get you if you don’t watch out!!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-artifacts-that-maybe-not-only-you-remember-but-its-getting-close/819633.md?page=21)