There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives. With the “stay at home” and “shelter in place” orders we have all had to make drastic changes in our routines. On the bright side it has given many a chance to pass the time by doing a variety of projects around the home. Also many families are discovering board game fun and it also gets you to thinking about what it was like “back in the day”.

That is the basis for this week’s “Art’s World”, things we remember from the good old days. In my case it probably spans many more years than most of you. I can vividly remember December 7, 1941 “a day that will live in infamy.” Now let’s see just what  “Do You Remember?”

When going to the Saturday movies was just 10 cents to see two features, a cartoon, newsreel and the weekly serial.

How about weeknights at 7 p.m. and watching “Kukla, Fran and Ollie?

Remember those big time 10”and  12”  black and white TV sets we had?

How about going to Woolworths and sitting at the lunch counter and getting a ham salad sandwich and drink for 50 cents.

Remember when most every candy bar was just a nickel.

Every day at 5 p.m. were you one who watched “Howdy Doody” with Buffalo Bob Smith and Clarabell the Clown.

Remember only 3-4 TV channels? They all signed off at midnight with the national anthem and then that jazzy test pattern.

If you were driving back in the day, remember when gas was  anywhere from 17 to 25 cents a gallon and you didn’t have to pump it yourself?

How about Tuesday nights? The streets were empty because everyone was home watching Milton Berle and the Texaco Star Theatre?

Remember duck tail haircuts, poodle skirts, penny loafers, pony tails and bobby sox?

How about the slam bang excitement of the Roller Derby?

Another late afternoon “must” was a show from Philadelphia called “American Bandstand” with Dick Clark.

I’m sure you remember frozen TV diners from Swanson? Yummnmmmy!

Remember sneaking a few friends into the local drive in theaters in the trunk or back seat of the car?

Remember the fun you had with this new round thing called a Hula Hoop?

How about Elvis Presley’s first appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show” and all those screaming girls?

Do you remember going to a new hamburger place called McDonalds and getting a burger for just 15 cents and fries for 10 cents?

How about the “big money” quiz shows on TV? Then finding out one of them was rigged as contestants were given the answers ahead of time.

How cool was it to have one of those small transistor radios in your pocket?

Do you remember Feb. 3, 1959, “The Day the Music Died” when Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens were killed in a plane crash?

Yep, those were the days of the nifty 50’s! There are many more we can remember and we will do this again. Next time we’ll see what is remembered from the decades of the 60’s and 70’s. In the meantime, please, please stay well, stay safe, follow the guidelines and we WILL all get through this together.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN