# Without saying your age, what's something from your childhood that a younger person wouldn't understand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138 "2021-10-25T01:08:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/343 "2021-10-29T16:07:01Z")
Does anyone recall getting the polio vaccine in a sugar cube? I remember in the 60s they were mass-vaccinating people against polio the way we’re vaccinating against coronavirus today. They would publicize the vaccination event on TV and you would go to the location and be handed a sugar cube with the polio vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/344 "2021-10-29T16:15:33Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > They ran late-night Saturdays on local TV stations. The shows opened with creepy music and the hosts would engage in over-the-top acting with props and a few macabre gags, until presenting that evening’s B&W, horror B-movie (sometimes a creepy double feature).The cheesier, the better. Here in the Cleveland area, we had [Ghoulardi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoulardi). ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/345 "2021-10-29T16:25:40Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Does anyone recall getting the polio vaccine in a sugar cube? I remember in the 60s they were mass-vaccinating people against polio the way we’re vaccinating against coronavirus today. Yes. I had both the Salk and Sabin vaccines. Polio was absolutely terrifying to parents when I was small. > [@panache45](#): > > Here in the Cleveland area, we had [Ghoulardi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoulardi). Vampira was the original here in L.A. Her show started in 1954. LOTS of innuendo…that’s what finally made the station pull the plug. She later sued Cassandra Peterson when the latter came up with the Elvira Mistress of the Dark character. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/346 "2021-10-29T16:26:53Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Comic books went from 10¢ to 12¢. The price of a bottle of soda at the machine went from ten cents to fifteen cents. A 50% increase! ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/347 "2021-10-29T16:32:55Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Does anyone recall getting the polio vaccine in a sugar cube? I remember in the 60s they were mass-vaccinating people against polio the way we’re vaccinating against coronavirus today. They would publicize the vaccination event on TV and you would go to the location and be handed a sugar cube with the polio vaccine. I remember the campaign slogan in Germany for polio vaccination in the seventies: “Schluckimpfung ist süß - Kinderlähmung ist grausam” “Oral vaccination is sweet - Polio is cruel” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/348 "2021-10-29T16:44:09Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > > [@Tibby](#): > > > > They ran late-night Saturdays on local TV stations. The shows opened with creepy music and the hosts would engage in over-the-top acting with props and a few macabre gags, until presenting that evening’s B&W, horror B-movie (sometimes a creepy double feature).The cheesier, the better. > > Here in the Cleveland area, we had [Ghoulardi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoulardi). They’re currently national – [Svengoolie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svengoolie) on MeTV and reruns of Elvira’s Movie Macabre on [Comet.](https://www.comettv.com/) ---
**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:** [October 29, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/349 "2021-10-29T16:44:24Z")
As I remember it: You lifted up the lid and put your 15¢ in the old chest type vending machines. You slid the bottle you wanted down a channel to the gate which was unlocked with the money. If you started to pull out the bottle, and it slipped, you could be out 15¢. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/350 "2021-10-29T16:59:42Z")
T hen my favorite, the Ghoul ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/351 "2021-10-29T17:03:44Z")
[Svengoolie](https://dailynorthwestern.com/2018/11/02/ae/rich-koz-celebrates-40-years-of-mixing-horror-and-humor-in-svengoolie/#modal-photo) out of Chicago since 1970, and, for you kids in Wisconsin starting in ‘69, [Lenny’s Inferno](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4780158/mediaviewer/rm2153030657/) Separated at birth? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/352 "2021-10-29T17:16:25Z")
Thanks, all. I had totally forgotten about the sugar cubes that were wrapped in paper. Yes, we certainly did have them in the US, but they weren’t cubes - they were oblong like the German ones in that picture. IIRC, the ones with the polio vaccine were cubes. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/353 "2021-10-29T17:20:25Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Yes, we certainly did have them in the US, but they weren’t cubes - they were oblong like the German ones in that picture. I have seen the oblong ones, but in almost any case these are two sugar cubes wrapped in one piece of paper. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/354 "2021-10-29T17:36:22Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The NYC Automats. > [@Keeve](#): > > IIRC they were located in NYC, but the brand name was Horn & Hardart. > > Ooops! [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horn_%26_Hardart) says they were in Philly too. The _original_ H & H was in Philly. I only experienced the tail end of the Horn & Hardard automat (818 Chestnut St., Philadelphia), but my grandmother rhapsodized about the eatery often. It was the original, and best “fast food” eating establishment. It featured prominently in [movies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTqjO-dHTmE&t=182s), stage, [TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJgjbHJNR6M), [music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT6bxlnS1Is) and even museum [exhibits](https://woodmereartmuseum.org/explore-online/collection/untitled-stained-glass-window). The simple, but tasty and affordable entrees. The iconic “Nickle Throwers” and brass dolphin head coffee dispensers (with really good coffee). The original chocolate vending bar. What’s not to love about this place? It is the one restaurant that I would love to see return to heyday prominence. They tried a scaled-back return in the mid-80s, but it failed. Alas, H & H’s time has passed. _Now I’ve got a hankerin’ for some H&H mac & cheese, baked beans, creamed spinach, and coffee…_ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/355 "2021-10-29T17:40:04Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Vampira was the original here in L.A. Her show started in 1954. LOTS of innuendo…that’s what finally made the station pull the plug. She later sued Cassandra Peterson when the latter came up with the Elvira Mistress of the Dark character. Can’t blame her for suing – she was reported called in about reviving the character ( to be played by a new, younger actress) and they cast the part without her input: > [@](#): > > In 1981, Nurmi was asked by KHJ-TV to revive her Vampira character for television. She worked closely with the producers of the new show and was to get an executive producer credit, but Nurmi eventually left the project over creative differences. According to Nurmi, this was because the station cast comedic actress [Cassandra Peterson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra_Peterson) in the part without consulting her. “They eventually called me in to sign a contract and she was there”, Nurmi told _[Bizarre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarre_(magazine))_ magazine in 2005. “They had hired her without asking me.”[[24]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maila_Nurmi#cite_note-25) > **[Maila Nurmi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maila_Nurmi)** > > Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi (December 11, 1922 – January 10, 2008), known professionally as Maila Nurmi, was an American actress who created the campy 1950s character Vampira. > She was raised in Astoria, Oregon, where she worked in tuna and salmon canneries. She relocated to Los Angeles in 1940, with hopes of becoming an actress. After several minor film roles, she found success with her Vampira character, television's first horror host. Nurmi hosted her own series, The Vampira Show, from 1954 t... ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/356 "2021-10-29T17:58:51Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > They’re currently national – [Svengoolie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svengoolie) on MeTV and reruns of Elvira’s Movie Macabre on [Comet.](https://www.comettv.com/) Yes, but is the acting and production value as superlative as [Dr. Shock](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Q0rGJY5qU&list=RDThe6UGBPrPw&start_radio=1&rv=The6UGBPrPw)? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/357 "2021-10-29T19:10:18Z")
We used to watch channel 11 from Pittsburgh, which had Chiller theater starring Bill “Chilly Billy” Cardille. He usually wore a tuxedo on set, which looked like some kind of torture chamber. He had an assistant, “Terminal Stare” who was always silent and had a far away look on her face. The show was the inspiration for the SCTV sketch _Monster Chiller Horror Theater_ starring Joe Flaherty, a Pittsburgh native, as Count Floyd. _Chiller Theater_ ran on Saturday nights at 11:30 PM and was so popular it pre-empted NBC’s _Saturday Night Live_ for SNL’s first four seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/358 "2021-10-29T19:12:43Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > You lifted up the lid and put your 15¢ in the old chest type vending machines. Most of the ‘pop’ machines in my area were the upright models, where the bottles laying horizontally. But there were some chest type, as you described. And, yes, it was possible to lose your money if your hand slipped. That was a traumatic experience. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/359 "2021-10-29T19:17:14Z")
[Hardrock, Coco, and Joe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AccNo2AbmY). I’m cheating a bit. They’re not from my area, and they’re a bit before my time. But I discovered them recently, and I keep playing the video over and over again. How’d they come up with a name like “Hardrock” in 1956? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/360 "2021-10-29T20:25:08Z")
As a kid, I shot up like 6 inches in one year. Mostly my legs grew longer. It hurt bad enough that it became hard for me to handle stairs. My parents where scared I had Polio. I had had the vaccine… but… ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/361 "2021-10-29T20:42:14Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > As I remember it: You lifted up the lid and put your 15¢ in the old chest type vending machines. You slid the bottle you wanted down a channel to the gate which was unlocked with the money. If you started to pull out the bottle, and it slipped, you could be out 15¢. Then there was [this type](https://thesodavendingmachine.com/antique-1950-s-vendo-a23e-coca-cola-10-cent-machine-spin-top-2-elements-works.htm), where turning the handle moved the top so the opening was (hopefully) over a cylinder that had a bottle in it. I have no idea whether the mechanism could sense an empty cylinder; if not, it gave a whole new spin 😉 to “you pays your money and you takes your chances.” ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138/362 "2021-10-29T20:43:48Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > How’d they come up with a name like “Hardrock” in 1956? [Hard-rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_hard-rock_mining) is a mining term. Dwarves have been associated with mining since the Vikings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-saying-your-age-whats-something-from-your-childhood-that-a-younger-person-wouldnt-understand/953138.md?page=19)