Public Telephones

Once ubiquitous, public payphones were a staple of daily life. To initiate a call, you needed to insert coins—initially a dime, eventually a quarter. Young girls were often advised to stash a dime in their shoes for emergencies, a sort of "just in case" measure.

When in need of contacting home, you'd pick up a payphone and say, “I am calling collect, Operator.” The operator would respond with the dreaded, “Please deposit 75 more cents to continue your call.” This often happened when you had exhausted your change, forcing you to postpone your conversation.

Children would routinely check payphones for forgotten coins—finding a dime meant a trip to the nearest store for candy. Family phones were usually located in a communal area, like the kitchen, where parents could monitor conversations and enforce time limits.

Long-distance calls were a luxury reserved for significant news, often leading to hurried conversations where the objective seemed to be disconnecting as quickly as possible.

Transistor Radios

The invention of transistor radios marked a significant shift in technology. These devices shrank to the size of a paperback book, allowing for portable music. Late-night listening sessions were magical; I could tune in to legendary DJs like Wolfman Jack, especially in the Midwest where superstation signals were crystal clear after dark.

Television Experience

The family television was once a prominent piece of furniture in the living room, where everyone gathered after meals.

“It’s your turn to adjust the channel so the picture stabilizes!” The youngest among us often played the role of the "human remote," adjusting antennas or dials to improve the picture quality.

Before the era of digital broadcasts, shows were recorded on tape or film, leading to frequent adjustments to correct flickering images. When we finally acquired a color television, we often struggled to get the hues right, leading to family debates over adjustments.

As the day ended, we would hear, “This is KFYR signing off until tomorrow morning,” followed by static and the national anthem—a reminder that broadcast days had a definitive end.

A Trip to the Movies

With air conditioning being a rare luxury, the local movie theater provided a cool escape from the heat. Double features on hot afternoons allowed us to enjoy back-to-back movies, often with a lineup of cartoons first.

“Let’s put a pan of ice in front of the fan!” was a common remedy for the heat. The early air conditioning units, known as swamp coolers, were simplistic yet effective.

Buying Unnecessary Items

Long before online shopping became the norm, door-to-door salesmen offered various products, from encyclopedias to Fuller Brush cleaning supplies. One summer, I sold Fuller Brush products, with my mother as my most loyal customer.

People often welcomed me into their homes, leading to casual conversations and sometimes unexpected sales. The collection of payments could be tricky, as customers often ordered products with payment due upon delivery.

I once won a set of root beer mugs for being the top salesman of the week—a title that was decidedly male-centric at the time.

The Stereo System

Record players were typically housed in grand furniture pieces, with an emphasis on style over sound quality. Our household boasted an impressive collection of Broadway show albums, which was more about the decor than the music itself.

Slide Shows as Entertainment

Slide shows were a mixed bag of entertainment and endurance tests. The Kodak Carousel changed the game, making it easier to share family memories. “Come over to see our vacation slides!” was an invitation many dreaded, often featuring poorly taken photos of tourist attractions.

My uncle transitioned from slides to video, capturing life’s moments in a unique, sometimes awkward, fashion that hinted at the future of cinema.

The Reality of Retirement

Now retired, I often find myself grappling with technology without the support systems I once had. While nostalgia may cloud our memories of the past, it’s clear that modern technology is much more advanced—sometimes to a bewildering degree.

Sharon Johnson, a retired health and human services administrator, continues to write and share her experiences as a grandmother.

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