What do you miss that we "don't" have anymore?

[barkley]

I could go all day with this list, I am just glad that at least some of these things are still available someplace!

For me:

Shakeys (always loved this place, some day will have to make a Shakeys pilgrimage!)

Skippers (another restaurant that only exists in a couple of places now)

Bennigans (though they are in Florida!)

Taco Bueno (there is one in Texas that is still open)

Wacky Wafers (Come on Willy Wanka, bring these back!)

The Poppe Shoppe (though they are making some sort of come back in Canada...Mmmmmm Lime Rickey and Cream Soda!)

Razzles...First its a candy...then its a gum! Havent seen this in years

Cup O' Gold...Chocolate, Marshmallo and Coconut...MMMMMM

Green River Soda (hard, hard, hard to find, not like when I was a kid and they had it at the movie theater and ballpark)

Soft Swirl Ice Cream (Loved this so, so Much!)

Vectrex...Greatest Video Game Machine Ever!

Gas for less than 1$

we have a skippers near us-never have tried it, maybe we will give it a go.

if you need a fix of green river soda, cup o' gold or razzlers-all 3 are available for purchase on-line.

i remember when gas was WAY less than a dollar, AND you got green stamps and promotional gifts at stations (noah's arc from arco, presidential coin sets, towels, glassware).


speaking of green stamps-i get a kick out of watching 'that 70's show', the set decorator managed to get so many items that were only available through those premium books (like the "quilt" which was a regular cotton blanket with a "quilt" patterned print, and some of the most god awful mass produced living room "art" known to man you knew you were in the home of a green stamp mom because there were only about 3 framed "paintings" in the catelog, and chances were you had the same one hanging over your sofa).

 

[NHdisneylover]

I could go all day with this list, I am just glad that at least some of these things are still available someplace!

For me:

Shakeys (always loved this place, some day will have to make a Shakeys pilgrimage!)

Skippers (another restaurant that only exists in a couple of places now)

Bennigans (though they are in Florida!)

Taco Bueno (there is one in Texas that is still open)

Wacky Wafers (Come on Willy Wanka, bring these back!)

The Poppe Shoppe (though they are making some sort of come back in Canada...Mmmmmm Lime Rickey and Cream Soda!)

Razzles...First its a candy...then its a gum! Havent seen this in years

Cup O' Gold...Chocolate, Marshmallo and Coconut...MMMMMM

Green River Soda (hard, hard, hard to find, not like when I was a kid and they had it at the movie theater and ballpark)

Soft Swirl Ice Cream (Loved this so, so Much!)

Vectrex...Greatest Video Game Machine Ever!

Gas for less than 1$

Heildelberger Zuckerladen had Razzles earlier this year--not sure if they still do or not. I think of 13 Going on 30 every time I see them

 

[indimom]

I just gave my suitcase record player and pile of storybook 45s to my 5yo nephew. He really likes it. My mom had these in the attic for years, and gave them back to me about 6 years ago. There was no needle for the record player so I went to our local electronics store and asked about them. They said they couldn't get them anymore, but still had some boxes in the back. They dug around and found two for my record player. Cost me about a dollar or two.
I had stories like The Scrawny Tawny Lion, The Saggy Baggy Elephant, one about a fat policeman (that was the name or something similar), one about a mailman, Little Tug (a tugboat), Strawberry Shortcake, Noah's Ark, Thumper and the Big Race?, Thumbelina, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

Oh, and my kids still like Spud. It's the only "yard game" they don't argue over...

 

[joviroxx]

Car windows that you crank up and down! These electronic ones cost your first-born to fix!!

Had to rent a car the other day and both my DS & DD pointed at it and asked "Hey, Mom, what is that?" About died laughing! LOL

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Ok...thought of a few more:

Velvet Freeze Gold Coast chocolate ice cream....yum!
Jack Buck calling the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball on KMOX
Dan Kelly calling the St. Louis Blues games
Romper Room (I loved my Romper Stompers!)
Agree with other posters....Slow Sundays....I loved it when we went for a "Sunday drive" during the fall!
My grandma's chicken and dumplings! Sadly, no one has been able to recreate her recipe.
A world without cell phones!
Cold pizza from Pino's pizza...it was the best!

I'm sure I'll think of more....but these hit me this morning.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

The big Sweetarts that used to make your tongue raw for days.
I'd love to have one today! They only make then in the chewy style and half the size.

 

[joviroxx]

Everytime I go to Toys R Us, I remember Legos that didn't come in kits! Just boxes of legos that you could use to build anything you wanted. We used to keep ours in a suitcase! No special pieces for special sets that need to be kept together, just a big hodge-podge of legos , ready to use , to build whatever!!

 

[MichelleVW]

I think someone needs to start a poll to see how many of us grew up circling items in the wishbooks!

How about patent leather Mary Janes? I wanted them sooo bad when I was little. And saddle oxfords. No one wears those anymore, not even cheerleaders.

And those white knitted ponchos.

Like another PP mentioned, The World of Disney tv show every Sunday night.

Encyclopedia Brown books! Oh, it was a special treat to get a new one. I loved those book so much.

And the books with the 45 records in them. I had quite a few of the Disney ones. You played the record and it would read the pages of the book. When the record chimed, you knew when to turn the book.

And one of my favorite all time toys were the felt people. You know, with the green backboard. I miss those.

I saw a girl in saddle oxfords yesterday, she went to a private school in the area. Of course cheerleaders can't wear them since cheerleaders today are athletes rather than the "stand there and look pretty" cheerleaders of the past.


I loved those books with the record in them too, they were awesome and felt boards were the best!!

 

[Lionqueen2]

I miss those nice lazy Sunday afternoons when most stores and businesses were closed and you spent your day with family and friends.

I also miss that there are fewer non-chain restaurants where going out to dinner was an event and meant getting dressed up for an evening out.

 

[MichelleVW]

I am wondering why people are missing Sunday drives and quiet Sunday's? Just because the stores are open doesn't mean you have to visit them, and if you want to take a Sunday drive, for goodness sake...get in your car and DRIVE!

 

[Robinrs]

I miss since moving South:

excellent seafood

White Castles!!!!

Nathan's at Coney Island

Dirty franks on the street from the Sabrett stand

Juniors!!!

West Indian beef patties in cocoa bread

Knishes from the Jewish deli

Heck, JEWISH DELIS!!

Drakes Coffee cake

I could go on and on....

 

[Lionqueen2]

I am wondering why people are missing Sunday drives and quiet Sunday's? Just because the stores are open doesn't mean you have to visit them, and if you want to take a Sunday drive, for goodness sake...get in your car and DRIVE!

Family Sunday's sure seem to be gone. Not long ago, many families had a regular routine of spending time with other family members. My kids have great memories of Sundays at their grandparents' homes having Sunday dinner and playing with their cousins, etc. Today's hecticness seems to have brought those times to an end. People always seem to be 'on the go'.
Sure, families can get together today on Sunday, but it always seems to be such a hassle and everything needs scheduling or arranging. It's just not the same simple easy arrangement that it once was.
The OP asked about things that we missed from years ago. I guess some of us just wanted to mention a life style that we feel has changed.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

The drive in for sure.

 

[maelstrom]

Just for everyone's information: A&W, Der Weinerschnitzel, Roy Rogers, Friendly's, Shakey's, and soda made with real sugar all still exist.

I miss Bradlees, Caldor, Zayre, Ames, Woolworth, and other similar stores.

I am a vintage retail and soda connoisseur. If you want to know how to get the soda made with real sugar, or how to get soda that is still made but not available for sale in your area, shoot me a PM.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Done!!

And wow - I had forgotten about those books, but I had tons of them! I'm sure they were great for my parents, since I could entertain myself with them.

:

Thank you Laurie!! The poll is doing very well!!! Looks like we stumbled on an American tradition!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

OMG. I actually have tears in my eyes. How could I have forgotten both of these items. Oh how I spent hours and hours with both. The chime. Oh the chime.

The felt people probably alone saved my mother's sanity. Hours.

Thank you!

Yes, the chime. I will never forget it. Awww, now you are making me tear up!!! I miss being a kid!!!!!!!!!

 

[maelstrom]

Just for everyone's information: A&W, Der Weinerschnitzel, Roy Rogers, Friendly's, Shakey's, and soda made with real sugar all still exist.

I miss Bradlees, Caldor, Zayre, Ames, Woolworth, and other similar stores.

I am a vintage retail and soda connoisseur. If you want to know how to get the soda made with real sugar, or how to get soda that is still made but not available for sale in your area, shoot me a PM.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

and soda made with real sugar all still exist.

There are several stores in my area that sell "Mexican soda". You can buy Coca Cola in the old glass bottles made with real sugar. It's totally different than canned or plastic bottled Coke with high fructose corn syrup.

 

[mamacatnv]

I can remember buying our DS Sears toughskin jeans - doubled layered at the knees!?!?

I remember those! My Mother considered herself practical and made me wear them along with my Brother. The stiff knees were annoying and one look and everyone knew what they were, the patches sure stood out....I hated those dang jeans

 

[C.Ann]

"uncle arthurs bedtime stores"

Oh my gosh!! I thought I was the only person in the world who ever heard of these books!! I have the set right here at the lake - and there's a very, very interesting story that goes along with them..

I had these books when I was very, very young.. They were my favorite bedtime story books!! My mom was painting the upstairs bedroom and the set of books were piled on the floor.. I accidentally kicked the can of paint and it splashed all over the books.. As a punishment my mom gave them away to the Salvation Army..

Many, many years later (I was in my early 30's), I was at a church rummage sale - in the neighborhood I grew up in.. Always hit the "books" table first - and there was MY set of "Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories" books - complete with the splattered paint!!!!!!!! Can you imagine?? Needless to say, I scooped them right up and they will NEVER be out of my sight again.. Every year I lug them back and forth from the lake - "just because".. It's like somehow they were just "meant" to come back to me..

I also used to love those colorforms..