# Stuff that was different in the 60s and 70s **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688 "2017-06-11T14:38:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/301 "2017-06-21T13:26:49Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If you moved into an apartment that had recently been vacated by wannabe hippies, you might find a room painted completely black. :rolleyes: This drove landlords crazy. Maybe I should put that in the lease…:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/302 "2017-06-21T14:00:55Z")
Along with popcaps, the corner store also sold snakes. Can’t remember the official name of them. My dad would get SO mad at me - not only would I use an entire book of matches lighting them, but they left little black circles on the front stoop and I rarely cleaned up after myself, so the yard would be littered with foot long crunchy “snakes”. We always had white appliances - my family wasn’t fancy enough for the harvest gold or avocado; however, in 1976 my grandpa went wild and bought an orange Chevy Impala. Orange? My mother was mortified. I would’ve rather been in the wild colored Impala than in my parents 1969 Ford Galaxy 500. When we would drive up to the cabin (2+ hours), my sister wouldn’t let me share the back seat. I was relegated to the floor or the back window. The very low sloped back window. Good thing I was little enough to fit (between ages 4-9). At home, I was the TV antenna / channel changer for our big console TV, bought at LaBelle’s, the catalog store. The showroom always seemed SO fancy. All the blue carpet and plush curtains, sales people actually dressed up. You naturally hushed when you were there. At home, when the catalogs would arrive, my sister and I would sit down together and make lists of everything we wants from LaBelle’s. That was pretty much the only time we weren’t at each others throats. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/303 "2017-06-21T14:36:11Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > my sister wouldn’t let me share the back seat. I was relegated to the floor or the back window. The very low sloped back window. Good thing I was little enough to fit (between ages 4-9). Damn. Rapid deceleration would throw you out the back window. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/304 "2017-06-21T14:43:36Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Damn. Rapid deceleration would throw you out the back window. I’m not sure that I agree with your 100% on your physics there, Lou. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/305 "2017-06-21T15:09:05Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Damn. Rapid deceleration would throw you out the back window. The few times I can remember dad hitting the brakes hard, I landed on my sister. Which would start a fight. Which would cause my dad to yell at ME. Then mom would yell at him. Then the rest of the drive home would be silent, with me curled up on the floor and my sister “accidentally” kicking me every once in a while. Oh, childhood… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/306 "2017-06-21T15:12:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Damn. Rapid deceleration would throw you out the back window. Could you elaborate on that statement, perhaps with vector diagrams? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/307 "2017-06-21T15:14:41Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > We always had white appliances - my family wasn’t fancy enough for the harvest gold or avocado; however, in 1976 my grandpa went wild and bought an orange Chevy Impala. Orange? My mother was mortified. I would’ve rather been in the wild colored Impala than in my parents 1969 Ford Galaxy 500. In the mid 70s my parents had matching _orange_ Volvos. The [wagon](http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=78971&country=us) for my mom, the [sedan](http://www.bilsport.se/artikel/kopguide-volvo-240/) for my dad. And yes, we had avocado appliances in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/308 "2017-06-21T15:16:47Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Damn. Rapid deceleration would throw you out the back window. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Could you elaborate on that statement, perhaps with vector diagrams? Simple. Rapid deceleration causes the nearest pane of glass to acquire a significant increase in gravity therefore pulling you forward into the windshield. Someone in the rear facing seat will be drawn to the back window. That’s why small children are now required to be in the back seat and in the middle, the furthest point from all glass. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/309 "2017-06-21T15:22:39Z")
When the car stops very suddenly, the kid will keep going, perhaps punching the glass rear window out. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/310 "2017-06-21T15:26:47Z")
People actually used their garages for their cars instead of filling them with junk that they never use. I can’t remember if there were “Self Storage” places around, but if there were they were not ubiquitous. My mother actually made most of our clothes until we were about 9 or 10. Granted, that was probably unusual then, but I think it would be more or less unheard of today. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/311 "2017-06-21T15:32:51Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Could you elaborate on that statement, perhaps with vector diagrams? You’re right, the kid will keep going forwards and hit God know what. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/312 "2017-06-21T15:36:44Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > People actually used their garages for their cars instead of filling them with junk that they never use. I can’t remember if there were “Self Storage” places around, but if there were they were not ubiquitous. My mother actually made most of our clothes until we were about 9 or 10. Granted, that was probably unusual then, but I think it would be more or less unheard of today. I remember a number of people who filled their garages with junk as is common now. Garages weren’t as common, at least not attached and built in garages, it was starting to become a thing in the 60s housing boom. Large older houses often had a garage/barn or other outbuilding. I don’t recall as many small storage sheds either. Lawn tractors were just getting started. People with big lawns may have had wide power reel mowers but most people just had typical lawnmowers. No weed whackers, you used shears for edging. I don’t recall self-storage places until the 80s. My mom made clothes occasionally until she went to work. I think a lot of girls had home sewn dresses. And girls learned to sew. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/313 "2017-06-21T15:41:19Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > Along with popcaps, the corner store also sold snakes \ As our local GC Murphy sold those baby turtles (you know, the ones that decimated half the population with salmonella), it didn’t freak me out thinking you may have bought a live snake. THEN YOU SET IT ON FIRE!! OH, THE HORROR!! 😉 Mmmm…crunchy snakes. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/314 "2017-06-21T15:43:49Z")
[quote=“TriPolar, post:312, topic:788688”] No weed whackers, you used shears for edging. [/QUOTE Oh god, that was my job. I hated edging with shears. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/315 "2017-06-21T15:47:27Z")
[quote=“Procrustus, post:314, topic:788688”] [quote=“TriPolar, post:312, topic:788688”] No weed whackers, you used shears for edging. [/QUOTE Oh god, that was my job. I hated edging with shears.[/QUOTE] Hang on! Shears were for trimming the bushes. Edging was done with [these bastards](http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE3-14541981enh-z8.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/316 "2017-06-21T15:54:24Z")
[quote=“burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt, post:315, topic:788688”] > [@Procrustus](#): > > Hang on! Shears were for trimming the bushes. Edging was done with [these bastards](http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE3-14541981enh-z8.jpg). That’s better than I had to work with. Large shears were used for bushes. The edging shears were a spring loaded mechanism with the blades turned sideways so you could clip down close to the ground. [Similar to these](http://www.sears.com/craftsman-grass-shears/p-07185258000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqrab-qXP1AIVlYizCh1o8AQQEAQYAiABEgLMK_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNDe3vulz9QCFdcENwodVfoMiQ). ---
**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:** [June 21, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/317 "2017-06-21T16:01:06Z")
[quote=“TriPolar, post:316, topic:788688”] > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > That’s better than I had to work with. Large shears were used for bushes. The edging shears were a spring loaded mechanism with the blades turned sideways so you could clip down close to the ground. [Similar to these](http://www.sears.com/craftsman-grass-shears/p-07185258000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqrab-qXP1AIVlYizCh1o8AQQEAQYAiABEgLMK_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNDe3vulz9QCFdcENwodVfoMiQ). Saints preserve me; I still have a pair of those. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/318 "2017-06-21T16:33:38Z")
Boys took Shop class. Girls took Home Ec. I missed a couple of opportunities to buy up the shop equipment from high schools that got rid of their shop programs. The stuff was high quality, not heavily used. Bigger than I would have needed or had room for but I love tools and wished I could have done that. Down in New York a local high school shop teacher was a good friend, when I was making prototypes he’d let me come and use some of the tools. He also lent me his PC board drill press for some custom boards I made. You couldn’t easily chuck up the tiny drill bits in an ordinary press. My son went to design school where they have to make product prototypes themselves. Most of his classmates had to take an introductory course in using the tools but he said that the shop looked just like our basement except some of the machines were larger. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/319 "2017-06-21T16:41:13Z")
> [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](#): > > I was born in 1964… > > For us kids garage projects were common ! > > - We would take the front wheel off of our coaster bikes {Schwinn knock offs}. > - We would cut conduit to make a pair of 3 foot lengths. > - We would pound the last 2" of two ends flat and drill them out so our front tires fit. > - We would jam the open ends of the conduit firmly back onto the forks of our bikes. > > End result: homemade choppers baby !!! > By the time I was 12 years old, I had come home with 3 broken arms… > > My poor Mother ! > . > > . We just cut the front forks off old junk bicycles we found in the dump and pounded them onto the front forks of our good bikes. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688/320 "2017-06-21T17:23:47Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > 1973-1975 Palo Alto middle schools were still teaching manual typesetting and making kids stick their hands in a [running platen press.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLO21ShqGME) We had one of those, too. I didn’t know what it was called though. My eldest sister could run it. I was eight or so when we sold the newspaper. I’ve been told the press is in a museum in Galena now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-was-different-in-the-60s-and-70s/788688.md?page=17)