12 Things That Were Once Relevant in American Culture but Have Been Forgotten Now
It’s such a nostalgic feeling when someone reminds us about pagers or the phone book. So many things used to be a huge part of day-to-day life in the United States that most young people today wouldn’t even recognize. These forgotten parts of American culture span decades but live on in the memories of people of various generations.
Mail Order Catalogs
Some folks might remember the Peterman catalog, made famous by the Seinfeld show, with its exotic curiosities and sporty clothing. Many millennials reminisce about the excitement of getting the new Delia’s catalog in the mail in the 90s and circling their favorite capri pants, butterfly clips, and choker necklaces. Once the internet became part of every home, these mail-order catalogs went out of fashion.
Pay Phones
Although there are few of these relics of the past on random street corners today, most pay phones are all but lost to our memories. It always helped to keep some change in your pocket or purse since you never know when you might need to make a call.
Custom Answering Machine Greetings
Before cell phones were in everyone’s pocket, everyone had to have a separate machine with actual cassette tapes in it to record messages on their landline. People would have a ball coming up with funny, creative answering machine messages to let the caller know whose house they called. Sometimes, people would start off with their favorite song, and sometimes, the whole family would do a short, funny skit just for their callers.
TV Guide
Almost every household had a weekly subscription to the TV Guide magazine. It was the only way to know what would be on TV! Instead of going through the digital guide on the cable box, you had to flip through physical pages and circle your favorite shows so you didn’t miss them.
Collect Calls
There was a time in the 90’s when every TV commercial was for the latest competing collect call company (remember 1-800-C-O-L-L-E-C-T?). Without cell phones, you had to use a pay phone, but what if you’re fresh out of quarters? That’s when you call a collect phone call number, and they charge to make your call for you.
Buying Cell Phone Ringtones
When cell phones were first becoming popular, Nokia was the hottest mobile phone on the market. You could buy all kinds of cool songs to feature as your ringtone. Ads popped up everywhere for the latest ringtones for just 99¢.
Jello Molds and Salads
Moving further back into the 1960’s, Jello molds and salads were all the rage. These interesting dishes were the best thing to bring to a potluck. Many vintage cookbooks feature odd-seeming recipes like seafoam salad with lime jello and cream cheese.
Encyclopedia Salesmen
Door-to-door encyclopedia salesmen were a staple of American culture for many decades, spanning from the 1940s all the way until the 1990s. Prior to the internet, if you wanted information on any random subject, the encyclopedia was the only way to get it, so naturally, every household needed a full alphabetical set of them. Then, when your set is out of date, it might be time to get a new one… Enter the encyclopedia salesman!
Fruitcakes
From the early 1900s all the way up to the 1950s, fruitcakes were a must-have dessert for the winter holidays. This spiced loaf cake made with candied dried fruits was often homemade, but thanks to its long shelf life, you could even order one by catalog in the mail to send to friends and family.
Maps for Your Car
Before the invention of GPS, most people had to have a map in their cars to get around. The Thomas Brother’s Guide was the most popular book of maps for each city to help you find your way if you were lost.
Drive-In Movies
A popular pastime in the 1950s, drive-in movies were the ultimate date spot. What’s better than having your own private car to watch a movie while sitting with your sweetheart? Nowadays, the drive-in isn’t as popular as it once was, but there are a few locations holding on to this fun outdoor activity.
Buying Concert Tickets In-Person
Before the internet, you had to go in person to a venue or a music store to buy concert tickets. If it was a popular band, oftentimes you’d see people camped out the night before to be first in line when the box office opened in the morning.
Source: Reddit
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