By Chuck Woodbury
ROADSIDE JOURNAL
Being of an advanced age now, when I think back on my youth I recall that everything seemed so innocent. Except for the fear of being nuked by the Ruskies, I don’t recall fearing being harmed by bad guys. I rode my bicycle all over town and my parents didn’t worry about me coming home traumatized by a guy who stole my candy.
I believe that perceived innocence was due to not hearing day in and day out in the media about every single crime in every single town, like we do today. Of course, we now have social media where members share every bit of doom and gloom they come upon, true or made up. A clever guy with no morals knows that a good piece of grizzly crime reporting will earn him big money, and if it’s fake, so what?
But, good grief, was life corny back then — at least it seems so looking back now at the popular culture of the day, in this case the early 1960s.
Here, two suburban housewives meet up in one’s front yard to discuss cigarettes. How about the perfect hair, makeup, and pretty dresses? No pants for these ladies.
Geez, this is corny! It cracks me up.
##RVT999
Reminds me of the old Lucky Strike and Philip Morris Adds (showing my age)
Growing up in Chicago (in the city!) back in the 50’s and 60’s there was no worry about any of that bad stuff the city is known for now. Leave in the morning on our bicycles, ride to the lakefront about two miles away, be gone all day, and home for dinner. No worries.
And there was an ashtray in EVERY room of the house. All used daily by my folks and their friends. Sound familiar?
I have one of my Mother’s cigarette lighters that has space for storing cigarettes inside. Who remembers the elegant ashtrays ? Or the elegant 12″ long cooling tube to keep the cigarette away from your face?
Marlboro Man, “Call for Mr. Morris….”, ah, yes. Memories of my youth and being a teenager as the 60s started. Thanks for the memories.
Aaah, ignorant bliss, I smoked and had to quit because I was pregnant, The military back then, 1969, told if I didn’t stop smoking they would not delivery my baby – they knew even then that smoking was very bad for you. Lots of rich people today because of those cancer sticks.
This gives me a chuckle. I smoked back in the day, my wife never did. Somehow she got wind of these Raleigh coupons and had me and one of her brothers smoking them so she could get the coupons. Irony is, those coupons are still upstairs on the shelf in a closet.
Those shears and sprinkler probably cost her life.
My dad smoked Raleigh and saved the coupons for stuff. My mom told him they may offer a coffin if you smoke enough. He quit cold Turkey a year later.