Category Archives: 50’s Summer

At The Drive-in!

. 1950's, 1950's films, 50's Events, 50's Summer, Drive -In Movies
Drive-in

Time for a snack!

Way back in 1953 I went with my Mother, Aunt and cousin to see the Walt Disney film Peter Pan, it was the first time I ever went to see a film at the drive-in. My cousin and I were more excited about being there than watching the film! It was a night-time feature and that make it more fun! And in between there was an Intermission, so people could get treats at the snack counter.

If I remember well there were 2 films that night, I don’t recall the other film that played but it didn’t matter as me and my cousin we didn’t sit long enough in the car to watch that much anyway, we were always going to the snack counter for candy, soda, hot dogs!

But I think our Mother’s were kind of mad and even glad that we weren’t in the car much so they could watch the films in peace! But thinking back I have to say, my cousin and I had a great time that summer of 1953 and a memorable time for 2 cousins who shared a fun night at the Drive-in!

Illustration licensed from (c) camstock photos

My Sister’s Browie Camera!

. 1950's, 50's Summer . 3 Comments
Browie Camera

Browie Camera 1957

Back in the summer of 1957, I was coming back from Mom Bruno’s candy store around the block from my house and my sister was outside the house with her Browie Camera, and told my and my cousin who lived in the building next to mine and my two friends to sit on the porch to have our picture taken.

And she had us sit on the lower steps, while i was eating my 5 cent raspberry Italian ice! She told me to put it down and I said I have to eat it because it’s hot and would melt.

So after a few minutes she took a few photos, I’m not sure what happened to the others but the one I’m talking about is located here: Lazy days of Summer 1957 So on the top step is me eating that Italian ice and my friends and my cousin on the bottom step!
As you can see that’s my bike in the background and the grease stains we made from always fixing our bikes, I look at it now and think what were we doing! but it’s the way it was then grease and all! I would do it all again if Icould.

Photo Licensed from (c) Can Stock Photo.com

Going to Pep Boys!

. 1950's, 50's Summer

BoyRidingBike On those summer days of the 50’s, it seemed like we were always fixing our bikes outside. If wasn’t one thing it was another! Like taking out the inner tube if it had a flat we would always go to Pep Boys about 5 blocks away and get a tube repair kit and walk back and place the tube in a pail of water to see where the leak was.

When the air bubbles came up we dried it off and put on the patch, if it wasn’t that we would be taking the chain off to fix it, taking off the main link and adjusting the wheel. Then if that wasn’t enough, we were taking out the ball bearings and lubricating them if they needed it.

Oh I remember how the store smelled of rubber from the new tires in the store and anytime I get near a new tire today, it all comes back to me and I can vision my friends and me on a summer carefree day of the 1950’s going to Pep boys.

You never forget your childhood friends I was lucky to know them, friends to fix bikes with, to go see 2 saturday movies and cartoons by the way for .25 Cents friends to go play ball with, friends you fought with, friends you laughed with, yes those were special times, so here’s to my childhood friends wherever they are, and a special thanks to Pep Boys!

Going Crabbing!

. 1950's, 50's Summer

pexels-photo-306908.png
Every once in a while a memory  comes back to me from better days from the 1950’s, This one is from when I was about 8 or 9 and it was a kids kind of summer day bright sunshine and hot! We didn’t really mind the heat much in those days as no one I knew had air conditioning. Sometimes on a nice day like this my Father and Uncle would take me with them to go crabbing down off the piers in the Hudson River in Hoboken.

So we would carry a few crabbing nets and a bucket and bait and walk down there a good walk but you never thought about the walk. We would throw the nets in the water then wait awhile and pull the nets up if we caught any crabs we would put them in the bucket and start over again we would stay for hours then head back home I didn’t touch the crabs I didn’t want to get snapped by them! LoL

The Maywalk

. 50's News, 50's Summer

parade4thI remember in the 1950’s the city I lived in held a may walk event that was held in the stadium and was an all day event! It started with a small parade of floats that would go to the stadium and there would be events, like track and more…

Then they would give out lunch boxes that held a sandwich, a candy bar, and the best, a high bouncer rubber ball! the kids would also get tickets for a half pint of milk and an ice cream Dixie cup! It was a day long event! Great Memories!!

And away we go!

. 50's Summer, What's New .

Scooter

Scooter

We never ran out of things to do back in the 50’s! One of my favorite summer things was making a wooden scooter!

We would get a wooden crate from one of the stores and place a skate on a long piece of wood and place one part of the skate on the front and one part on the back then add wooden handles and fly up and down the street!

Here’s your paper ~ I think!

. 50's Summer . ,

RetroBoyBack in 1957 I had a Cousin who delivered newspapers and one day he said to me, I’m quitting my job do you want to do it? I said ok so he walks me around the block to where the office was and tells the man in charge I’ll be taking over his route. So He trains me for one day and then I’m on my own and I get this book with all the people who get a paper delivered.

So at first I did all right but then one day I forgot to bring the address book and could only remember a few of the address’s so I came back at the end of the day with a lot of papers that I threw away! So people called and said they didn’t get their paper.

So I had to re-deliver them and it came out of my tips! I didn’t last long at the job because I spent more money from the collection money for candy along the way that on Saturdays when I had to hand the money in I was short and had to make it up..

At The Dairy Queen!

. 50's Summer . ,

clip_dairyqueen_adsThere was a Dairy Queen two blocks away from my Grandmother’s home back in the 50’s and you could get a regular cone for 5 cents! and other great items like: Ice cream sodas, and a great Banana Spilt!

Today a cone is like close to $3.00 A great treat on a summer’s day..

Cooling off on a summer day!

. 50's Summer . ,

RetroBoyI remember those hot summer days the city would have certain streets they would block off and set up a large sprinkler and the kids would come and we would sit under it till they turned it off about 5 or 6:pm it was set up in the middle of the street.

We brought a little something to snack on and some kool aid It was a way to cool off on a hot summers day in the 1950’s