Things growing up have fallen by the wayside

[braumeister]

When I was a little girl, in the 1950's, little girls used to play jacks (with metal jacks and a rubber ball).

Not to get too far off topic, but here's a bit of trivia for you.

I have no idea how the toys originated, but during the Civil War there were very similar items, also called jacks, that were sometimes strewn across a road to slow down pursuing cavalry. A horse stepping on one of these things would need some serious recovery time.

This is one that was used by one of DW's ancestors during that war. It's iron, about an inch and a half from point to point.

 

[W2R]

Not to get too far off topic, but here's a bit of trivia for you.

I have no idea how the toys originated, but during the Civil War there were very similar items, also called jacks, that were sometimes strewn across a road to slow down pursuing cavalry. A horse stepping on one of these things would need some serious recovery time.

This is one that was used by one of DW's ancestors during that war. It's iron, about an inch and a half from point to point.

Interesting! I wonder if that's what inspired the game.

 

[MuirWannabe]

I remember what I think was called the presidential fitness test in elementary school. You had to do like 100 sit-ups, push-ups, and various other physical activities. The one I hated was the rope climb. I was somewhat chubby and no way was my body going up that rope so high. I do remember everyone watch the others attempt. It was embarrassing for me, guess that’s why I remember. Didn’t ever get the certificate from the White House. Today, a mom might sue over such embarrassment for a child.

 

[Pellice]

Not to get too far off topic, but here's a bit of trivia for you.

I have no idea how the toys originated, but during the Civil War there were very similar items, also called jacks, that were sometimes strewn across a road to slow down pursuing cavalry. A horse stepping on one of these things would need some serious recovery time.

This is one that was used by one of DW's ancestors during that war. It's iron, about an inch and a half from point to point.

These weapons are still used! They are called caltrops. The Roman army used them extensively, often at river crossings where they couldn't be seen.
James Bond used them in some of his movies.

 

[omni550]

Remember dressing up for events...church, concerts, live theater, etc? Men wore suits and ties. Women wore dresses, hose, and white gloves. Kids wore their 'Sunday best".


omni

 

[RobbieB]

That's one I don't miss. God I hated clipping on that stupid bow tie for church.

 

[JoeWras]

I remember what I think was called the presidential fitness test in elementary school. You had to do like 100 sit-ups, push-ups, and various other physical activities. The one I hated was the rope climb. I was somewhat chubby and no way was my body going up that rope so high. I do remember everyone watch the others attempt. It was embarrassing for me, guess that’s why I remember. Didn’t ever get the certificate from the White House. Today, a mom might sue over such embarrassment for a child.

Yep. I was fat shamed by this test too. Rope? Zero knots. Pull ups? Zero.

 

[rodi]

Even if you don't jump rope, jacks provided a great way to exercise your jumping dexterity! I can't believe the kids today are being denied the joy of stepping on jacks. For most of us, it was a universal and memorable experience.

These jumping dexterity devices have been replaced by leggos. I have stepped on far too many leggos. Tried to get the boys to contain them to their rooms or one 'play area' section of the living room. Didn't work. Ouch.


As for the presidential fitness awards - I remember those not so fondly... We didn't have to climb a rope (not sure if the boys did) but we had to situps, chin-ups, pushups, run a mile in less than 8 minutes, and other stuff like that. My kids had to pass a fitness test to be able to skip PE for 11th and 12th grade. The test had timed running, pushups, pullups, situps... but not rope climb. If you flunked you were mandated to take PE for your jr and sr. year. My kids made sure to pass it because they wanted to do academic classes. (They were on the swim team - so they got plenty of exercise outside of PE.)

 

[RobbieB]

Well of course the president wanted us fit. We were supposed to survive the atomic bomb blast by hiding under our desks.

Wouldn't be much good if we then couldn't make it out past the rubble.

 

[street]

Ah yes pantyhose. After a day in high school, a friend and I were driving around. A girl we knew was coming out of a local store, and we asked her if she wanted a ride. She hopped in the car, and struck up a conversation about the pantyhose she just bought.

We dropped her off at her house, and rode around a little more before we noticed that she left her purchase in my car. So we went back to her house, I walked to the door with the bag, and when her mom answered the door, I said: “Here’s Nancy’s pantyhose - she left them in my car”

LOL!!!

 

[street]

That's one I don't miss. God I hated clipping on that stupid bow tie for church.

Oh Yeah that and the clip-on long tie. Always in a suitcoat and flat cap. lol

 

[street]

When I was a little girl, in the 1950's, little girls used to play jacks (with metal jacks and a rubber ball). It was fun! And involved some skill and manual dexterity.

When my daughter was a little girl, back in the 1980's, I bought her some jacks and we played a little, but she wasn't enthused. I don't think any of her friends ever played jacks.

Probably kids these days wouldn't even know what jacks are.

We also played hopscotch, which only required chalk and parents who were patient with kids chalking up their sidewalk or driveway....

One such game that DID survive here, especially in the poorer sections of town, is jump-rope! I have seen some spectacular jump roping going on in the 21st century.

Played Jacks some also. Marble games was big thing in those days also. We had an 18 inch by 18-inch tin board with half circle dips in the board and was in a shape of a star. Can't remember the game but remember playing it. Something like checkers.

Then marbles you would shoot with you hand and thumb to know marbles out of circle.

 

[Rocket Man]

Played Jacks some also. Marble games was big thing in those days also. We had an 18 inch by 18-inch tin board with half circle dips in the board and was in a shape of a star. Can't remember the game but remember playing it. Something like checkers.



Then marbles you would shoot with you hand and thumb to know marbles out of circle.

Chinese Checkers?

 

[W2R]

I remember what I think was called the presidential fitness test in elementary school. You had to do like 100 sit-ups, push-ups, and various other physical activities. The one I hated was the rope climb. I was somewhat chubby and no way was my body going up that rope so high. I do remember everyone watch the others attempt. It was embarrassing for me, guess that’s why I remember. Didn’t ever get the certificate from the White House. Today, a mom might sue over such embarrassment for a child.

I remember that too! When I took it, it was called President Kennedy's Physical Fitness Test. I thought it was hard, but exciting and I felt so patriotic doing it... as though I was doing my part to improve the physical fitness of Americans. Boy did I soak up what they were telling us! I never got the certificate either, but I knew I had completed the test.

 

[W2R]

Remember dressing up for events...church, concerts, live theater, etc? Men wore suits and ties. Women wore dresses, hose, and white gloves. Kids wore their 'Sunday best".


omni

I remember that when visiting New Orleans, back around 1956 or so, my mother wanted to shop at the department stores on Canal Street (between the Central Business District and the French Quarter). She got all dressed up like that too, hose, heels, white gloves, even wore a hat with veil. So did all the other women that I saw. Pretty amazing for a little 7-8 year old like me.

 

[W2R]

Played Jacks some also. Marble games was big thing in those days also. We had an 18 inch by 18-inch tin board with half circle dips in the board and was in a shape of a star. Can't remember the game but remember playing it. Something like checkers.

Then marbles you would shoot with you hand and thumb to know marbles out of circle.

Chinese Checkers?

Yes! That was Chinese Checkers.

And street, we loved shooting marbles, too. We were very proud of having the bigger, prettier ones and each kid seemed to have different types/colors. You make a circle in the dirt with your finger, everyone put a marble in the circle, and then we took turns trying to shoot each other's marble out of the circle. Or something like that! It's been too long to remember.

 

[street]

Chinese Checkers?

YEP!!!!

 

[street]

Yes! That was Chinese Checkers.

And street, we loved shooting marbles, too. We were very proud of having the bigger, prettier ones and each kid seemed to have different types/colors. You make a circle in the dirt with your finger, everyone put a marble in the circle, and then we took turns trying to shoot each other's marble out of the circle. Or something like that! It's been too long to remember.

When I had the auction for my mom's house, she still had those marbles. Those shoots I kept and still have them. Some old-time marbles from my mom's young years.

 

[Winemaker]

Yeah, We always had to wear "church clothes" when we went into town.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Drive in movies - My dad would load us up and we would go watch a double feature... I clearly remember watching the Spaghetti Westerns there as a kid. Even as a teenager we were still going. I saw the movie "The Song remains the same" at the drive in. Man that was great.


Seeing millions of stars in the Sky at night. I miss being able to lay out at night and see the sky light up with stars. Today there is so much light pollution that its mostly hidden.


My Grandfather ran a country store and used to get up early and go there. He would let us get 1 of those big soft peppermint sticks from the big round container.. we thought we were in heaven eating those. Sometimes during the late afternoon he would let us get a giant pickle from the pickle bucket. The country store experience was something that is missing in many places today... the local men and women would come there and sit on the side and front near the door and get caught up on the "goings on".



Its a time gone by

We have a drive in theater near us in PA. One of my earliest memories was going to a drive-in theater to see Mary Poppins. I was probably five. My parents wisely put sleeping bags in the back of the station wagon. I fell asleep halfway through.

 

[Turbo29]

Surely, some of y'all remember the school desks with an ink well? Heh heh heh...

No inkwells but we were required to use fountain pens in grade school. I remember being bored in class one day at putting one of the ink cartridges in my mouth. A while later I accidentally bit through it and ink sprayed out of my mouth and all over my white shirt.

 

[skipro33]

When I was pre-teen, I looked and dressed exactly like Young Sheldon. Ha!
When I turned 13, I bought a Nehru jacket. Dropped that look fast and wore a beanie like Mike Nesmith. (Hey! Hey! We're the Monkees!) Had a stingray with a banana seat and 3 speed shifter. Then when I was in my 20's an Angel's Flight suit. Also had a 73 Dodge Charger with N50's. I was constantly getting tickets for my bumper being too high.

 

[aja8888]

No inkwells but we were required to use fountain pens in grade school. I remember being bored in class one day at putting one of the ink cartridges in my mouth. A while later I accidentally bit through it and ink sprayed out of my mouth and all over my white shirt.

LOL!!

 

[ncbill]

Afternoon paper...discontinued when I was in high school.

Drive-ins here were down to showing porno flicks by the time I remember them...still went out of business.

 

[rk911]

Highway Patrol with Broderick Crawford!

MeTV, weekdays early morning (4am CDT here in Chicago) 2150 by, 10-4?