OT: 55 Years Ago

Just a little nostalgia:

Comments Made 55 Years Ago:

No one can afford to be sick anymore. At $15.00 a day in the hospital, it's too rich for my blood.

If they think I'll pay 30 cents for a hair cut, forget it!

I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $10.00.

Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $1,000.00 will only buy a used one.

If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit; 20 cents a pack is ridiculous.

Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter?

If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.

When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon? Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.

The price of a gallon of gasoline:
Gas 5 1/2 cents
State tax 5 cents
Uncle Sam 1 cent
City 1 cent
RR 2 3/4 cents
Agent 1 1/2 cent
ME 4 cents
Total 20 1/2 cents per gallon

I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in ˜GONE WITH THE WIND", it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.

I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas .

Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.

I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.

It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.

It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.

I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.

Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government. (I had to choke on this one!!! - Slinky)

The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.

There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel.

I love it!!! Wonder what they will say about this year in 50 more years? Can you imagine?

I can remember going for a ride with my dad on Sunday afternoons, and he'd stop and put $2.00 worth of gas in the car. That was his fill-up for the week

I started working for the USPOD (United States Post Office Department) as a clerk when a post card was still just 5 cents to mail. *sigh* I can still see the stamp in my mind clear as a bell. I later switched to the rural letter carrier ranks of the USPS (United States Postal Service) shortly after the "re-organization".

I remember my dad saying that if cigrettes go to 2 bucks a pack he would quit. Ha he swithced to a generic brand, and still smokes today.

Average USA price one carton cigarettes, name brand: $41.

Sooooooo glad I quit!

My parents bought a house in '64 for $10,000, a nice 3 bedroom bungalow with unfinished basement on a 1/4 acre lot.

I bought my first new car in '75 for just over $2200 - the first Honda civic.

Now I really do feel old.

I remember paying 25 cents a gallon for gas - and even "gas wars" between stations when it would get down to 19 cents; stamps were a nickle (1st class for a letter); a Krystal hamburger (similar to White Castle) was a nickle; a coke from a vending machine was a nickle; candy bars were a nickle; a $10,000 annual salary was BIG, BIG bucks - executive level.

Is my spot at the retirement home ready for me?

I hate to admit it, but I can still remember a few things about 1956.

Slinky wrote:Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter?

One of those things I can vaguely remember -- maybe because my dad collected them -- is the price of stamps. Not long after I went from 3 years old to 4 years old, the price of stamps went from 3 to 4 cents.

Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government. (I had to choke on this one!!! - Slinky)

U.S. Federal income tax rates were higher in 1956 than they are today, even taking inflation into account. The top marginal rate for a married couple filing jointly was 91 percent (for amounts over $400,000). The top marginal rate now is 35 percent. Granted, many other taxes figure into determining the total tax burden, but the 1950s were an era of sky-high rates compared to today, especially for the rich. The 34 percent rate then (approximately equal to today's top rate) kicked in at $16,000 in taxable income, and the 50 percent rate kicked in at $32,000. It is difficult to compare income from different eras, but prices are up by a factor of 8 since 1956, and average wages by a little more than a factor of 10. So it would not be too misleading to look at $16,000 and $32,000 then as roughly $160,000 and $320,000 today. The 1980s witnessed an enduring reduction in U.S. income tax rates.

In 1960 my husband was clearing $65 a week and we bought a nice little 2 bedroom home on 1 1/4 acres for $6,000 at 6% interest. It had a well. We put in city water. It sold in 1966 for $12,000 and was zoned commercial.

In 1965 we bought our first brand new car for $2875 - a Pontiac Catalina. In 1972 we bought a new Chevy Malibu wagon for $2900. It was a lemon. In 1977 we bought a new Ford Ltd II wagon for $4000. It was a lemon. That was the LAST new car we've been willing to buy. I will say Ford was a LOT better to work w/than GM Chevy.

In 1968 we bought 10 rural acres for $300 an acre. In 1970 we built our 3 bedroom split level for $23,800. We're still here. And will be until we croak - or the property taxes force us out.

In 1982 we bought our first Oldsmobile Cutlass Cierra wagon (used). I've not owned anything but an Olds Cutlas/Cierra since, all bought used. We put at least 200,000 miles on each one w/little upkeep except regular oil changes and tires. Rural mail routes are HARD on a car. I have no idea what I am going to do for a car now that GM has discontinued the best line of cars for the money that they built. My current Cierra wagon is a 1996, the last year they made that model. Hubby's Chevy pickup is a 1996, in excellent condtion.

Only a few will probably remember the 40's, but this is worth watching...

http://oldfortyfives.com/decadeofthe1940s.html

Yes, Slinky! I remember when - 55 years ago! Wow!

Thanks, LSat!

I remember the "gas wars" too, buying gas for .19 a gallon. I had just started driving. I remember my Dad's brand new Maverick that he paid a little over $3000.00 for. Orange and really ugly.

rosie

Wanna talk about ugly?? Who remembers the Edsel???

Goshes, who remembers the Studebaker?? Our neighbor had one. A convertible. Pea green w/a black rag top.