# things from 70s childhood that don't exist anymore **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336 "2003-12-21T17:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/41 "2003-12-22T01:03:48Z")
I fondly remember Sugar Daddy candy bars- a big ol’ honkin’ hunk o’ caramel on a stick. Mmmmmm. I also learned to drive on a Gremlin. A sh\*t brown Gremlin. And pop rocks! There was an UL going around that some kid ate a bag of pop rocks and then drank a coke, and his stomach exploded. I also remember TVs that came in big wooden cabinets, and had antennas and only got 3 channels. ``` Damn, I'm old!! ``` ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/42 "2003-12-22T01:41:57Z")
Candy cigarettes, or were they already gone by the 70s? ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/43 "2003-12-22T02:02:55Z")
Paint by numbers - geez I was good! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/44 "2003-12-22T02:14:49Z")
**voguevixen** : Then I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/45 "2003-12-22T02:16:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 5 time champ \* > \*\*Candy cigarettes, or were they already gone by the 70s? \*\* They were still around in the '70s. In fact, they’re still around, but PCness dictates that they must now be called “candy sticks”. I loved Koogle peanut butter, too, but the cinnamon was my favorite flavor! ---
**Author:** ![Brad\_Pittiful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Brad\_Pittiful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_Pittiful)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/46 "2003-12-22T02:20:11Z")
my youth is gone ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/47 "2003-12-22T03:21:26Z")
You can get candy cigarettes at any convenience store… there are two types… the chocolate ones wrapped in paper with various countries on the wrappers and the chalky white ones with one tip colored pink and Popeye on the package. Officially as norinew said they are now ‘candy’ sticks but everyone still calls them candy cigarettes. And I can pick up a Paint By Numbers at any craft store… hehe ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/48 "2003-12-22T05:25:05Z")
Battletops Vending machines that dispense pop in glass bottles Leaded gas (at the pump) String art kits The Commodore VIC 20 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/49 "2003-12-22T05:32:25Z")
More toys: Major Matt Mason GI Joe with kung fu grip Stretch Armstrong Wheel-O Betty Crocker Easy Bake Oven Ice Bird Weebles Haj ---
**Author:** ![chcoco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@chcoco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chcoco)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/50 "2003-12-22T06:39:31Z")
I know these were still around even in the 80’s… Those boards with the pegs you pound down and then turn it over and pound them down again. And Gi Joe. I remember not so many years ago cleaning out my mother’s basement and finding some of my childhood toys. I loved every minute of it and became facinated by a toy that looked like the old reel to reel computer. My mother said I was too easily entertained as I sat and laughed playing with my childhood memories. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/51 "2003-12-22T07:06:25Z")
I LOVED Major Matt Mason! As for GI Joe, I had a ton of accessories. There was the lifelike hair version, the kung fu grip. With beard and without. Man, what great memories! Do they have My Little Pony anymore? That’s probably more of an 80’s toy. What about Carebears? I feel cheated that they still have Rock’em Sock’em Robots, but they’re called something else now I think. They definitely look different too. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/52 "2003-12-22T07:07:15Z")
How about a real muscle car, a leisure suit or bell-bottoms, the **newest** Led Zeppelin album on 8-track, a $10 lid, a $4 case beer and a drive-in movie? and wondering if dad was gonna kick your ass if/when you got home. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/53 "2003-12-22T07:36:55Z")
full service gas stations EVERYWHERE… but more along the OP: Mr. Rogers, Puff-n-stuff, Underdog… and what about air raid drills? hmm That mighta been the 60’s. I was a kid then and we lived near NASA. Everyone knew that we’d be targeted during WW3. So, at school we’d hide under our little desks in case an A-bomb hit. ---
**Author:** ![Macrophage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Macrophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macrophage)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/54 "2003-12-22T07:42:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > \*\*So, at school we’d hide under our little desks in case an A-bomb hit. \*\* And the little desks had magic screens to protect you from fallout I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Caesar\_Disgustus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Caesar\_Disgustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caesar_Disgustus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/55 "2003-12-22T07:42:12Z")
Koogle-- now there’s a memory. I used to eat it right out of the jar. Does anyone remember: Vertibird Kenner SST cars Whamo Air Blaster Unfortunately, if these were produced today, the liability lawsuits would put an end to them. Perhaps they did. ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/56 "2003-12-22T07:52:54Z")
Was I the only one to have a “Rings-and-Things”? You squirted plastic from bottles into a mold and put it on this heated metal plate to bake. When it was done you had floppy flowers and things to make jewelry with. I burned myself a bunch of times, but that didn’t stop me from playing with it. Also “Creepy Crawlers” bugs you made out of this geletin mix then ate. Sort of the original gummys. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/57 "2003-12-22T08:09:42Z")
They still have Easy Bake Ovens. Even more fun now, they have a version marketed to boys called “the Queasy Bake Oven” where the kiddos make gross looking cakes, etc. ---
**Author:** ![runinout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@runinout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runinout)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/58 "2003-12-22T08:55:58Z")
How about Hungry Hungry Hippos? I was born in 1971 so I consider myself an expert on this subject. Two of my all time favorite toys that I didn’t see listed here: The Six Million Dollar Man Action Figure (with the see through eye) and perhaps even better than that the Evil Knevil Wind Up Motorcycle (complete with miniature ramps).😃 ---
**Author:** ![acrossthesea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@acrossthesea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acrossthesea)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/59 "2003-12-22T11:20:43Z")
I was an 80’s child but I remember a lot of these from back then, especially in the earlier half of the 80’s. I loved Holly Hobby, for instance, in about 1983 or so? When I would have been 4. What I find odd is that so many 80’s toys (care bears, heman, my little pony, strawberry shortcake, etc) are being rereleased now, yet were any 70’s toys (or other kid things) ever recycled again in the 90’s? I don’t remember noticing. I know 70’s stuff was really big 6, 7 years ago, but I don’t remember them bringing toys back. Or did they? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336/60 "2003-12-22T13:55:43Z")
> [@](#): > > full service gas stations EVERYWHERE… And premiums. I remember my mom used to get glassware with each fill-up. I used to get pairs of little plastic animals from Arco, (“Ark”-o, eh? They even had an ark you could buy, but I don’t remember having one of those.) Among my dad’s effects was his coin collection. There is a complete set of commemorative Presidential coins from Shell that he had framed. (Of course, “complete” means through Johnson or Nixon. Although I just looked att his a few days ago, I don’t remember which was the last president.) There’s also another Presidential coin set from Shell that has about a half-dozen coins set into a cardboard flat. > [@](#): > > and what about air raid drills? hmm That mighta been the 60’s. I was a kid then and we lived near NASA. Everyone knew that we’d be targeted during WW3. I remember those! I lived in San Diego, home to a large Naval base. > [@](#): > > Vertibird > Kenner SST cars > Whamo Air Blaster Two out of three, anyway. I don’t remember having a Whammo Air Blaster, but I might have had one. I certainly played with one. And I did have a Kenner SST (the blue snowmobile one). I loved my Vertibird, but its spring always got fouled in the shag carpet! They’re still making Vertibirds, BTW; but they are “rip-offs” under a different name. I think you can still get the original shaped helicopter, but I recently saw one with a different helicopter. (I wonder if this toy was a factor in my becoming a helicopter pilot?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-from-70s-childhood-that-dont-exist-anymore/220336.md?page=4)