So, I read an article the other day entitled “17 Things from the ’50s and ’60s No One Remembers Anymore.”

Even though I’m old as dirt, I must admit these things predate even archaic me. Here are some of the items on the list.

• Jukeboxes

Jukeboxes were the heart of music entertainment in public spaces during the ’50s and ’60s. They became really popular in diners and bars. However, as these establishments are not as hot as they once were, jukeboxes have also fallen out of fashion. Besides, everyone can play their own music now.

• Rotary phones

Rotary phones were once a staple in every household and were even the main means of communication for people and businesses. Now that we have touchscreen phones, it’s hard to imagine the hustle of needing to spin the dial for each number when calling someone.

• Milk delivery service

Milk delivery might not seem like the best approach, but it worked to ensure fresh dairy was at the doorstep every morning. The Daily Meal says that the trend is dead for good but there could be a possibility of it coming back as more people want to shop from farmers directly.

• Drive-in theaters

Drive-in theaters offered a unique movie-watching experience, blending entertainment with the comfort of one’s car. According to a Statista report, there were only 549 drive-in theaters in the U.S. in 2020, a number significantly lower than the 848 in 1995, just 30 years ago. Maybe I’m a dinosaur but I do remember my folks packing us into the car to go the drive-in. We’d arrive before dusk and get excited as it got darker and darker!

• Soda fountains

Soda fountains were the go-to places for young people to gather and enjoy custom-made drinks. Before kids spent all day on their phones, these fountains were the hot social hubs in drugstores and malls. They offered a variety of drinks and the concoctions you could make were endless I never actually saw one but I remember my Mom talking about working in one when she was a teenager. Guess they used to make chocolate Cokes or something? Sounds kind of icky to me but I probably shouldn’t knock something I never tried.

• Full-service gas stations

Full-service gas stations were places where you could do more than just fill up your car with gas. You would drive in, and attendants would come to serve you. They would pump your gas, check your oil, and clean your windshield. Over time, these stations changed, and now most of us serve ourselves at the gas pump, making full-service stations rare. I really can’t imagine expecting someone to pump my gas for me. How rude, no?

• Typewriters

Typewriters worked by pressing keys that made letters appear on paper. They were very important in offices and for publishing books and newspapers. However, computers and word processors came along and replaced typewriters. These new tools made writing and editing much easier and faster. I remember we had an electric one when I was a kid and I thought we were so fancy!

Kimerer is a columnist who wishes she could’ve seen some of this stuff – but not all of it, capisce? Contact her at pkimerer@zoominternet.net.