You Know You Are Old When

[masseyrider]

My father never mentioned about getting into a car like that in the 50's, but he sure told me and his grandsons about utilizing those one piece car seats.

Apparently seat belts really were not worn all that much back in the 50's.

When driving with a cute girl as your passenger, when you came across a curve on the road on your right, you would slightly accelerate into the curve, and the girl to your right would slide right up next to you.

That's what he always called a opportunity curve.

They were even better at the Drive In.
This story made the front page here in the St Catharines Standard.
One couple being... amorous in the front seat some how got entangled with the steering wheel.
They couldn't get untangled.
After the movies finished, they were discovered in their predicament and the fire department and paramedics had to be called in.
The steering wheel had to be removed to get them out.
The picture on the first page was of two firefighters holding up a blanket to block the view of Romeo and Juliet while the other guys worked on the, Uhm, situation at hand.
Explain to Ma and Pa why you were late getting home that morning.
I think there was an Everly's song about that. OOH LALA!

 

[MossRoad]

You had to call the operator when wanting to make a long distance call !

Long distance was charged by the minute. Yikes!

Dad says: "Here, say Merry Christmas to your grandma and hand the phone to your sister!"

 

[MossRoad]

There's one thing from the late 50's I remember, and was taught in driver training but when I mention it to others, they draw a blank.

Who remembers the correct way to get into a vehicle when parked on a busy street was to go in the passenger door and slide across the seat? Maybe it was a regional thing and maybe confined to a few years but I know I was taught that even though I rarely did it. Anyone remember this?

Yep. That was before center consoles were common.

 

[MossRoad]

Hawaii Five 0 was another cop show 1968-1980
Who could forget Columbo with Peter Faulk

Book 'em Danno!

 

[ultrarunner]

Your grandfather knows the way around the block in life. Those curves were meant to be if you accelerated right.

And cars were so beefy back then because of no seat belt. There was the belief that more steel would help you in an accident at the typical speeds in town of 30 MPH. The driver would reach his arm across and in front of passengers in the case of a sudden stop. My dad did that. It all changed with the Interstate and seat belts started showing up in the late '50's.

Well… dating in a Model
A one could mimic running out of gas with a nudge to the gas tank valve in the 1928-30 model A and after the valve was moved to under the hood

 

[MossRoad]

Fred Gwynne from The Munsters?

There can’t be 2 Fred Gwynnes.

Car 54 also had Al Lewis in it (grandpa munster)

 

[masseyrider]

My nieces son came over, ignorant little punk, and he made fun of my dinosaur sound system.
"Nobody listens to music like that anymore."
My stereo listening room is 24'x32' with 12' ceilings.
Top of the line equipment with Monitor Audio Gold speakers. 2 pairs of front mains, centre and 2 pairs of rears with a sub woofer.
The amp puts out over 200 watts per channel all the way around.
It has a pink noise generator that tests all the speakers for optimum listening levels in your specific listening location for each listening surround effect be it stereo, concert hall, movie theatre...
Got him seated and optimized.
Turned down the lights, turned on the strobe lights and started Dark Side of the Moon. He almost jumped out his recliner when the clocks went off.
Played some other stuff for him.
Grudgingly admitted the sound was better than his little ear things. "Dude, it's like being at a concert."
If he calls me Dude again he might not see another concert.

 

[not2old]

I think I've mentioned that I have a very specific memory of sitting in a classroom when I was 8 years old in 1969, thinking about how far away the year 2000 was...

The year 2000 was 24 years ago.

The thought was 54+ years ago.

I had the same thoughts in elementary school about Orwell's 1984.

 

[ultrarunner]

Me too… figuring out how old when it’s 2000 and thinking 1984 not too far off and if flying cars would be a thing.

77 Sunset Strip?

Route 66 with the Corvette?

 

[MoKelly]

I had the same thoughts in elementary school about Orwell's 1984.

I read it’s the 75th anniversary of when 1984 was written.

My goodness.