40 things only Baby Boomers will remember
Ah, simpler times.
Tuning into "I Love Lucy."
On air from 1951 to 1957, Lucille Ball won hearts as Lucy Ricardo, a middle-class housewife prone to hilarious antics and charmingly sticky situations. The sitcom carried on from 1957 to 1960 with 13 one-hour specials, dubbed "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show" (and later "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," in reruns).
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive
Licking S&H Green Stamps.
Deciding what to do with a book of S&H Green Stamps was a major decision. A new set of dishes? A toy guitar? The S&H catalog was a treasure trove of options.
PHOTO: Blank Archives
Admiring Mr. Green Jeans.
Mr. Green Jeans was unquestionably the unsung hero of the children's TV show "Captain Kangaroo" (or, maybe not so unsung, considering his popularity). Played by Hugh Brannum, he was beloved by audiences during the show's nearly 30-year run.
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive
Driving into the movies.
Drive-in movies are a nostalgic symbol across all generations these days, but only boomers truly remember the experience in its golden age. Anyone remember watching "The Pink Panther" or the original "Parent Trap" from their car?
PHOTO: New York Times Co.
Taking part in Beatlemania.
If you remember the 1960s frenzy known as "Beatlemania" as a first-hand participant, you're definitely a boomer. The Beatles catapulted into global superstardom around 1963 and their then-unprecedented fan base is still an icon of the era.
PHOTO: Keystone-France
Watching Wide World of Sports.
ABC's Wide World of Sports was some of the most sensational TV of its time. In this episode, aired on February 5, 1976, Evel Knievel pulled off one of his famous jumps.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives
Witnessing the Miracle on Ice.
Sure, the 2004 Disney movie "Miracle" gave younger generations a recap, but there was nothing like seeing the Miracle on Ice happen in real time. On February 22, 1980, the U.S. hockey team did the unthinkable by beating the then-untouchable Soviet Union team in the semifinals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
PHOTO: Sovfoto
Jumping on an original pogo stick.
There was nothing like the sheer joy of bouncing up and down for as long as you could on a pogo stick. Released as a toy in 1957, these early versions were neighborhood standbys (and still exist today).
PHOTO: Krista Long
Watching the wild west world of "Bonanza."
As you may recall, "Bonanza" was a sensation because it was one of the first television programs you could watch in color. You just needed to befriend someone with a color TV first.
PHOTO: NBC
Getting your mail twice a day.
Very early boomers may recall seeing the postman more often than they do today. According to , mail carriers delivered twice a day to residential homes up until 1950.
PHOTO: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock
Marveling at electronic calculators.
Oh, how far technology has come. Back in the day, electronic calculators were the hot tool that promised to make "long division" a thing of the past — though the original tool was a bit clunkier than today's sleek handheld calculators.
PHOTO: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock
Playing with a Howdy Doody doll — and watching his show.
Debuting on NBC's "Puppet Playhouse" TV show in 1947, the Howdy Doody puppet soon after earned his own show, becoming a household name throughout the '50s and beyond. The character's popularity resulted in plenty of merchandise, including a namesake doll that you probably played with at some point or another.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives
Dialing a rotary phone.
It used to take a lot longer to dial someone's phone number, especially if it had a lot of nines in it. We'd bet that most people born after the baby boomer generation have no idea .
Smoking on airplanes.
has changed in so many ways, but baby boomers remember when it was common to see people smoking on airplanes. It wasn't until the 1990s that smoking on airplanes was banned completely.
Looking something up in an encyclopedia.
Before the internet and smartphones put the answer to almost every question right at our fingertips, people had to find the information they wanted in an . The set was probably sold to the family by a door-to-door salesman — another thing that's basically a relic of the past!
Clipping baseball cards to your bike spokes.
It made the most satisfying noise when you rode down the street really fast.
PHOTO: Jim Degerstrom
Eating Swanson TV dinners.
Technically, these types of meals are , but only certain people will remember when these were invented. The first Swanson-brand TV dinners consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, frozen peas and sweet potatoes.
Waiting for the milkman to deliver to your house.
About was still delivered to homes in the 1960s. Prior to that, it was by far the most popular way for consumers to get their milk. Even today, a still have it delivered to the home.
Seeing the TV channels sign off at the end of the night.
It's almost unimaginable in the era of , but TV channels used to sign off at the end of this night with . Many also played the National Anthem to close out the evening.
Shopping at the five-and-dime store.
Before we had , and Walmart, we had five-and-dime stores where you could buy almost everything you needed. The first one was created by . Today, the prices have changed, but there are still a few you can shop at.
Watching "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
Mary Tyler Moore by being one of the first women on TV to . It was reportedly so scandalous that the producers limited her to one pants-wearing scene per episode. It's safe to say things have definitely changed since then!
Talking to an operator.
Later generations probably have no idea that you used dial 0 and then talk to a real live person to direct your call.
Wanting to be as cool as Paul Newman.
Kids today (sadly) only know as from the store. But baby boomers know that . I mean, he was a movie star who drove race cars!
Seeing billboards advertising tobacco.
Back in the '60s and '70s, were everywhere. Everyone knew Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man, and the classic Lucky Strike slogan: "It's toasted." But as the public became more aware of the dangers of smoking, .
Eating all kinds of weird Jell-O dishes.
In the '60s, people were putting . And we do mean everything: ham, salmon, lamb, cottage cheese, fruit ... the list goes on. Thankfully, that trend has faded.
Watching the first season of "SNL."
The first episode of aired on October 11, 1975. George Carlin was the host and some of the first cast members were Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Gilda Radner. More than 40 years later, .
Looking up a number in the phonebook.
If you wanted to call a friend or a business, you had to flip through the phone book to find their number.
Putting tin foil on the TV antenna.
It might look silly, but people used to to boost the signal and get a clearer picture.
Riding a banana seat bicycle.
These were designed to look like a chopper, with the high handlebars, smaller wheels and that classic banana seat.
Listening to a transistor radio.
These fell out of style once everyone started using portable CD players and other personal devices, but some will remember how during the 1960s and 1970s, everyone had a transistor radio. It's reportedly one of the most popular in history.
Dealing with round-the-block lines thanks to the gas shortage.
In 1973 and again in 1979, . There were lines around the block and odd-even rationing was introduced — meaning that if the last digit on your license plate was odd, you could get gas only on odd-numbered days.
Using a typewriter.
When it came time to write a letter in pre-computer days, you . And lord help you if you made a typo — there was no backspace option just the saving grace of liquid paper to cover your mistake.
Actually eating Spam.
This canned, cooked meat product made with ham was in every baby boomer's pantry at some point. At the time it was introduced, it was the only canned meat product on the market that needed no refrigeration.
Seeing long(er) hair on men and women.
Coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s, there were plenty of men and . Today, you'll still see men with long hair and women with really, really long hair of course, but it's definitely less common.
Having to change the channels using the knob on the TV.
Older baby boomers might remember having to change TV channels by walking up and using the knobs, before in every household.
Buying your first record.
Whether it was or the Beach Boys, people born in the '50s definitely remember buying their first vinyl record and listening to it over and over again. Later generations have made again, but baby boomers were doing this way before it was cool.
Using a payphone to call someone.
Payphones used to be on every corner, but today finding one in a mile radius is impressive. While it might be sad, we can't deny is.
Riding in the family's wood-paneled station wagon.
Though wood-paneled cars were invented back in the 1930s, they became especially popular in the 1960s and 1970s as reliable but .
Hearing the news that President Kennedy had been shot.
Though most baby boomers were young at the time, the assassination of was an event that made a huge impact on people of this generation.
Looking through the Sears catalog.
Do you remember looking through the , feeling totally amazed at all the things you could buy without leaving the comfort of home?
Tuning into "I Love Lucy."
On air from 1951 to 1957, Lucille Ball won hearts as Lucy Ricardo, a middle-class housewife prone to hilarious antics and charmingly sticky situations. The sitcom carried on from 1957 to 1960 with 13 one-hour specials, dubbed "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show" (and later "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," in reruns).
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive
Licking S&H Green Stamps.
Deciding what to do with a book of S&H Green Stamps was a major decision. A new set of dishes? A toy guitar? The S&H catalog was a treasure trove of options.
PHOTO: Blank Archives
Admiring Mr. Green Jeans.
Mr. Green Jeans was unquestionably the unsung hero of the children's TV show "Captain Kangaroo" (or, maybe not so unsung, considering his popularity). Played by Hugh Brannum, he was beloved by audiences during the show's nearly 30-year run.
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive
Driving into the movies.
Drive-in movies are a nostalgic symbol across all generations these days, but only boomers truly remember the experience in its golden age. Anyone remember watching "The Pink Panther" or the original "Parent Trap" from their car?
PHOTO: New York Times Co.
Taking part in Beatlemania.
If you remember the 1960s frenzy known as "Beatlemania" as a first-hand participant, you're definitely a boomer. The Beatles catapulted into global superstardom around 1963 and their then-unprecedented fan base is still an icon of the era.
PHOTO: Keystone-France
Watching Wide World of Sports.
ABC's Wide World of Sports was some of the most sensational TV of its time. In this episode, aired on February 5, 1976, Evel Knievel pulled off one of his famous jumps.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives
Witnessing the Miracle on Ice.
Sure, the 2004 Disney movie "Miracle" gave younger generations a recap, but there was nothing like seeing the Miracle on Ice happen in real time. On February 22, 1980, the U.S. hockey team did the unthinkable by beating the then-untouchable Soviet Union team in the semifinals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
PHOTO: Sovfoto
Jumping on an original pogo stick.
There was nothing like the sheer joy of bouncing up and down for as long as you could on a pogo stick. Released as a toy in 1957, these early versions were neighborhood standbys (and still exist today).
PHOTO: Krista Long
Watching the wild west world of "Bonanza."
As you may recall, "Bonanza" was a sensation because it was one of the first television programs you could watch in color. You just needed to befriend someone with a color TV first.
PHOTO: NBC
Getting your mail twice a day.
Very early boomers may recall seeing the postman more often than they do today. According to , mail carriers delivered twice a day to residential homes up until 1950.
PHOTO: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock
Marveling at electronic calculators.
Oh, how far technology has come. Back in the day, electronic calculators were the hot tool that promised to make "long division" a thing of the past — though the original tool was a bit clunkier than today's sleek handheld calculators.
PHOTO: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock
Playing with a Howdy Doody doll — and watching his show.
Debuting on NBC's "Puppet Playhouse" TV show in 1947, the Howdy Doody puppet soon after earned his own show, becoming a household name throughout the '50s and beyond. The character's popularity resulted in plenty of merchandise, including a namesake doll that you probably played with at some point or another.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives
Dialing a rotary phone.
It used to take a lot longer to dial someone's phone number, especially if it had a lot of nines in it. We'd bet that most people born after the baby boomer generation have no idea .
Smoking on airplanes.
has changed in so many ways, but baby boomers remember when it was common to see people smoking on airplanes. It wasn't until the 1990s that smoking on airplanes was banned completely.
Looking something up in an encyclopedia.
Before the internet and smartphones put the answer to almost every question right at our fingertips, people had to find the information they wanted in an . The set was probably sold to the family by a door-to-door salesman — another thing that's basically a relic of the past!
Clipping baseball cards to your bike spokes.
It made the most satisfying noise when you rode down the street really fast.
PHOTO: Jim Degerstrom
Eating Swanson TV dinners.
Technically, these types of meals are , but only certain people will remember when these were invented. The first Swanson-brand TV dinners consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, frozen peas and sweet potatoes.
Waiting for the milkman to deliver to your house.
About was still delivered to homes in the 1960s. Prior to that, it was by far the most popular way for consumers to get their milk. Even today, a still have it delivered to the home.
Seeing the TV channels sign off at the end of the night.
It's almost unimaginable in the era of , but TV channels used to sign off at the end of this night with . Many also played the National Anthem to close out the evening.
Shopping at the five-and-dime store.
Before we had , and Walmart, we had five-and-dime stores where you could buy almost everything you needed. The first one was created by . Today, the prices have changed, but there are still a few you can shop at.
Watching "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
Mary Tyler Moore by being one of the first women on TV to . It was reportedly so scandalous that the producers limited her to one pants-wearing scene per episode. It's safe to say things have definitely changed since then!
Talking to an operator.
Later generations probably have no idea that you used dial 0 and then talk to a real live person to direct your call.
Wanting to be as cool as Paul Newman.
Kids today (sadly) only know as from the store. But baby boomers know that . I mean, he was a movie star who drove race cars!
Seeing billboards advertising tobacco.
Back in the '60s and '70s, were everywhere. Everyone knew Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man, and the classic Lucky Strike slogan: "It's toasted." But as the public became more aware of the dangers of smoking, .
Eating all kinds of weird Jell-O dishes.
In the '60s, people were putting . And we do mean everything: ham, salmon, lamb, cottage cheese, fruit ... the list goes on. Thankfully, that trend has faded.
Watching the first season of "SNL."
The first episode of aired on October 11, 1975. George Carlin was the host and some of the first cast members were Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Gilda Radner. More than 40 years later, .
Looking up a number in the phonebook.
If you wanted to call a friend or a business, you had to flip through the phone book to find their number.
Putting tin foil on the TV antenna.
It might look silly, but people used to to boost the signal and get a clearer picture.
Riding a banana seat bicycle.
These were designed to look like a chopper, with the high handlebars, smaller wheels and that classic banana seat.
Listening to a transistor radio.
These fell out of style once everyone started using portable CD players and other personal devices, but some will remember how during the 1960s and 1970s, everyone had a transistor radio. It's reportedly one of the most popular in history.
Dealing with round-the-block lines thanks to the gas shortage.
In 1973 and again in 1979, . There were lines around the block and odd-even rationing was introduced — meaning that if the last digit on your license plate was odd, you could get gas only on odd-numbered days.
Using a typewriter.
When it came time to write a letter in pre-computer days, you . And lord help you if you made a typo — there was no backspace option just the saving grace of liquid paper to cover your mistake.
Actually eating Spam.
This canned, cooked meat product made with ham was in every baby boomer's pantry at some point. At the time it was introduced, it was the only canned meat product on the market that needed no refrigeration.
Seeing long(er) hair on men and women.
Coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s, there were plenty of men and . Today, you'll still see men with long hair and women with really, really long hair of course, but it's definitely less common.
Having to change the channels using the knob on the TV.
Older baby boomers might remember having to change TV channels by walking up and using the knobs, before in every household.
Buying your first record.
Whether it was or the Beach Boys, people born in the '50s definitely remember buying their first vinyl record and listening to it over and over again. Later generations have made again, but baby boomers were doing this way before it was cool.
Using a payphone to call someone.
Payphones used to be on every corner, but today finding one in a mile radius is impressive. While it might be sad, we can't deny is.
Riding in the family's wood-paneled station wagon.
Though wood-paneled cars were invented back in the 1930s, they became especially popular in the 1960s and 1970s as reliable but .
Hearing the news that President Kennedy had been shot.
Though most baby boomers were young at the time, the assassination of was an event that made a huge impact on people of this generation.
Looking through the Sears catalog.
Do you remember looking through the , feeling totally amazed at all the things you could buy without leaving the comfort of home?
Tuning into "I Love Lucy."
On air from 1951 to 1957, Lucille Ball won hearts as Lucy Ricardo, a middle-class housewife prone to hilarious antics and charmingly sticky situations. The sitcom carried on from 1957 to 1960 with 13 one-hour specials, dubbed "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show" (and later "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," in reruns).
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive
Licking S&H Green Stamps.
Deciding what to do with a book of S&H Green Stamps was a major decision. A new set of dishes? A toy guitar? The S&H catalog was a treasure trove of options.
PHOTO: Blank Archives
Admiring Mr. Green Jeans.
Mr. Green Jeans was unquestionably the unsung hero of the children's TV show "Captain Kangaroo" (or, maybe not so unsung, considering his popularity). Played by Hugh Brannum, he was beloved by audiences during the show's nearly 30-year run.
PHOTO: CBS Photo Archive
Driving into the movies.
Drive-in movies are a nostalgic symbol across all generations these days, but only boomers truly remember the experience in its golden age. Anyone remember watching "The Pink Panther" or the original "Parent Trap" from their car?
PHOTO: New York Times Co.
Taking part in Beatlemania.
If you remember the 1960s frenzy known as "Beatlemania" as a first-hand participant, you're definitely a boomer. The Beatles catapulted into global superstardom around 1963 and their then-unprecedented fan base is still an icon of the era.
PHOTO: Keystone-France
Watching Wide World of Sports.
ABC's Wide World of Sports was some of the most sensational TV of its time. In this episode, aired on February 5, 1976, Evel Knievel pulled off one of his famous jumps.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives
Witnessing the Miracle on Ice.
Sure, the 2004 Disney movie "Miracle" gave younger generations a recap, but there was nothing like seeing the Miracle on Ice happen in real time. On February 22, 1980, the U.S. hockey team did the unthinkable by beating the then-untouchable Soviet Union team in the semifinals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
PHOTO: Sovfoto
Jumping on an original pogo stick.
There was nothing like the sheer joy of bouncing up and down for as long as you could on a pogo stick. Released as a toy in 1957, these early versions were neighborhood standbys (and still exist today).
PHOTO: Krista Long
Watching the wild west world of "Bonanza."
As you may recall, "Bonanza" was a sensation because it was one of the first television programs you could watch in color. You just needed to befriend someone with a color TV first.
PHOTO: NBC
Getting your mail twice a day.
Very early boomers may recall seeing the postman more often than they do today. According to , mail carriers delivered twice a day to residential homes up until 1950.
PHOTO: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock
Marveling at electronic calculators.
Oh, how far technology has come. Back in the day, electronic calculators were the hot tool that promised to make "long division" a thing of the past — though the original tool was a bit clunkier than today's sleek handheld calculators.
PHOTO: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock
Playing with a Howdy Doody doll — and watching his show.
Debuting on NBC's "Puppet Playhouse" TV show in 1947, the Howdy Doody puppet soon after earned his own show, becoming a household name throughout the '50s and beyond. The character's popularity resulted in plenty of merchandise, including a namesake doll that you probably played with at some point or another.
PHOTO: ABC Photo Archives
Dialing a rotary phone.
It used to take a lot longer to dial someone's phone number, especially if it had a lot of nines in it. We'd bet that most people born after the baby boomer generation have no idea .
Smoking on airplanes.
has changed in so many ways, but baby boomers remember when it was common to see people smoking on airplanes. It wasn't until the 1990s that smoking on airplanes was banned completely.
Looking something up in an encyclopedia.
Before the internet and smartphones put the answer to almost every question right at our fingertips, people had to find the information they wanted in an . The set was probably sold to the family by a door-to-door salesman — another thing that's basically a relic of the past!
Clipping baseball cards to your bike spokes.
It made the most satisfying noise when you rode down the street really fast.
PHOTO: Jim Degerstrom
Eating Swanson TV dinners.
Technically, these types of meals are , but only certain people will remember when these were invented. The first Swanson-brand TV dinners consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, frozen peas and sweet potatoes.
Waiting for the milkman to deliver to your house.
About was still delivered to homes in the 1960s. Prior to that, it was by far the most popular way for consumers to get their milk. Even today, a still have it delivered to the home.
Seeing the TV channels sign off at the end of the night.
It's almost unimaginable in the era of , but TV channels used to sign off at the end of this night with . Many also played the National Anthem to close out the evening.
Shopping at the five-and-dime store.
Before we had , and Walmart, we had five-and-dime stores where you could buy almost everything you needed. The first one was created by . Today, the prices have changed, but there are still a few you can shop at.
Watching "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
Mary Tyler Moore by being one of the first women on TV to . It was reportedly so scandalous that the producers limited her to one pants-wearing scene per episode. It's safe to say things have definitely changed since then!
Talking to an operator.
Later generations probably have no idea that you used dial 0 and then talk to a real live person to direct your call.
Wanting to be as cool as Paul Newman.
Kids today (sadly) only know as from the store. But baby boomers know that . I mean, he was a movie star who drove race cars!
Seeing billboards advertising tobacco.
Back in the '60s and '70s, were everywhere. Everyone knew Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man, and the classic Lucky Strike slogan: "It's toasted." But as the public became more aware of the dangers of smoking, .
Eating all kinds of weird Jell-O dishes.
In the '60s, people were putting . And we do mean everything: ham, salmon, lamb, cottage cheese, fruit ... the list goes on. Thankfully, that trend has faded.
Watching the first season of "SNL."
The first episode of aired on October 11, 1975. George Carlin was the host and some of the first cast members were Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Gilda Radner. More than 40 years later, .
Looking up a number in the phonebook.
If you wanted to call a friend or a business, you had to flip through the phone book to find their number.
Putting tin foil on the TV antenna.
It might look silly, but people used to to boost the signal and get a clearer picture.
Riding a banana seat bicycle.
These were designed to look like a chopper, with the high handlebars, smaller wheels and that classic banana seat.
Listening to a transistor radio.
These fell out of style once everyone started using portable CD players and other personal devices, but some will remember how during the 1960s and 1970s, everyone had a transistor radio. It's reportedly one of the most popular in history.
Dealing with round-the-block lines thanks to the gas shortage.
In 1973 and again in 1979, . There were lines around the block and odd-even rationing was introduced — meaning that if the last digit on your license plate was odd, you could get gas only on odd-numbered days.
Using a typewriter.
When it came time to write a letter in pre-computer days, you . And lord help you if you made a typo — there was no backspace option just the saving grace of liquid paper to cover your mistake.
Actually eating Spam.
This canned, cooked meat product made with ham was in every baby boomer's pantry at some point. At the time it was introduced, it was the only canned meat product on the market that needed no refrigeration.
Seeing long(er) hair on men and women.
Coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s, there were plenty of men and . Today, you'll still see men with long hair and women with really, really long hair of course, but it's definitely less common.
Having to change the channels using the knob on the TV.
Older baby boomers might remember having to change TV channels by walking up and using the knobs, before in every household.
Buying your first record.
Whether it was or the Beach Boys, people born in the '50s definitely remember buying their first vinyl record and listening to it over and over again. Later generations have made again, but baby boomers were doing this way before it was cool.
Using a payphone to call someone.
Payphones used to be on every corner, but today finding one in a mile radius is impressive. While it might be sad, we can't deny is.
Riding in the family's wood-paneled station wagon.
Though wood-paneled cars were invented back in the 1930s, they became especially popular in the 1960s and 1970s as reliable but .
Hearing the news that President Kennedy had been shot.
Though most baby boomers were young at the time, the assassination of was an event that made a huge impact on people of this generation.
Looking through the Sears catalog.
Do you remember looking through the , feeling totally amazed at all the things you could buy without leaving the comfort of home?
Ah, simpler times.
have seen massive changes in technology, media and culture over their lifetimes. Defined as the generation , they grew up before smartphones and the internet ruled almost every aspect of our lives. That almost makes it more fun to recall these 4o nostalgic things that only baby boomers remember.
