You could buy stuff on C.O.D. and have it mailed to you. (Cash On Delivery)
You could highly modify your engines, transmission and drivetrains without breaking the law
You could buy television sets in black and white, color television were more expensive, and you only had one television in your home if your rich enough.
AM radio was king, everyone had a potable AM transior radio
Television networks went off the air after the 10 o'clock news
@greensnacks I think that was probably specific to where one lived.
Before we moved to the suburbs, there was a man who used to come into our little neighborhood and look for children.
Two of my schoolmates were hurt (molested) by him and my parents wouldn’t allow me to walk to school. The neighbors reported it to the police, but the man was well-dressed, etc… and nothing was done.
Some of the men in the neighborhood, fathers, older brothers, decided to go looking for the man and enough people had seen him that he was easy to find. They beat him, not fatally, but he stayed away after that.
Phone booths, Mr. Yuck stickers lol(idk if they still exist) and the D.A.R.E program, Saturday morning cartoons, Hills Department Store, Cabbage Patch Dolls, The ability to really just go and play outside all day without needing a phone or electronic device or any kind. Little Miss Dolls, etc
Record stores for album releases Checking movie times & listings in a newspaper Phone booths Rabbit ears on a 17'' B&W TV with limited channels TV Guide in print TV station sign offs, followed by test card and tone Air travel was dignified Public smoking & Non-smoking sections Catalog ordering. Delivery times measured in weeks. Rotary dialing We were all latch-key kids. Knew phone numbers by heart, could do math in our head, and were street-smart. Common sense was common; consequence was sharp and swift. Microfiche & Card Catalogs A working knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System Borrowing physical copies for book reports/projects Big cars, bench seats, and lap belts. With an ashtray and lighter in each Job/college application or any research required legwork, and a lot of phone calls & stamps. Leaded gasoline, full service stations. Reel projector & VCR rental Generally safe to stay out till the street lights came on - no one checked-in at home for 11 hours. You biked or walked EVERYWHERE
Being the remote control for your parents. Having to walk across the room every time they want to change the channel, and if you complain, they tell you, "Oh, you're young, you've got energy."
Not that I ever minded. But now that I think of it, no kid will ever have that experience.
