Stamps were a big deal when what’s now dubbed “snail mail” was still one of the more popular methods of communication. And, choosing what to do with those redeemed S & H Green Stamps was a boomer kid’s favorite pastime.
Would it be a comic book? A new toy truck, perhaps? The possibilities were endless! The stamps were incredibly popular throughout the U.S. from the ‘30s until the late ‘80s and were distributed as part of a rewards program by the Sperry & Hutchinson company.
Five-and-Dime Stores
Five-and-dime stores came into existence in 1879, created by a failed department store chain, Woolworths. But back in the day, they were extremely popular, that is until Walmart and Amazon, and other mega-stores ran them out of business.
Still, many look back and miss the days of shopping at the cheap and cheerful neighborhood five-and-dime. There may still be a few sprinkled here and there, and you may find one if you’re lucky, but the majority have been closed.
Adoring Paul Newman
Paul Newman was one of the hottest film stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood and the one that many boomers look back on and mourn for. Of course, kids today only recognize him from the side of his salad dressing bottles, but anyone who’s seen his films knows why he was such a hit in the 50s and beyond.
Some of his biggest films came out around the ‘60s and ‘70s, including the 1967 hit, "Cool Hand Luke," in which he played the role of the title character, Luke Jackson.
The Milkman
Today, many grocery stores offer their own milk delivery services (and a number of them are plant-based, like coconut, oat, soy, and almond). But when boomers were younger, they had to wait for their weekly delivery from the milkman, who’d come by and drop off their supply, and pick up any empty glass bottles his customers left out from previous trips.
In the 1960s, about 30% of milk was still being delivered. Now, in the age of online shopping and grocery delivery, that percentage has probably gone up again!
I Love Lucy
The hit sitcom "I Love Lucy" aired throughout the majority of the 1950s and charmed everyone with the antics of a silly housewife and her comedic husband.
After it ended its regularly aired seasons, between ’51 and ’57, the legacy continued into 1960 in the form of 13 different one-hour specials, including "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show." These days, the show can be streamed on a number of platforms, like Hulu. But when boomers were young, they eagerly awaited new episodes each week.