|
|
Post by clyde on Apr 22, 2013 16:45:01 GMT -5
Despite their relative poverty, it seems as though one or another of the Waltons was always traveling somewhere-either locally or at a distance. The first one I remember was Mary Ellen going to Washington DC in the episode about apple picking. I wonder how many trips they took either individually or collectively during the run of the series? I also wonder if self employed "country folks" really did that in the 30's and 40's?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2013 17:26:38 GMT -5
I always heard that until after WWII, most people never went more than 25 miles from their home.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2013 6:05:24 GMT -5
I agree, here in uk none of my friends in our village had been more than 5 miles back then. but as for The Waltons it's TV land again of course.
|
|
|
|
Post by rupert12 on Apr 25, 2013 8:52:18 GMT -5
I like how they all pile carefree into the back of the truck. Health and safety would have a fit if they saw that these days  |
|
|
|
Post by Brenda on Apr 25, 2013 8:59:40 GMT -5
I like how they all pile carefree into the back of the truck. Health and safety would have a fit if they saw that these days Didn't you ever ride in the back of a truck? I have many times. But then, I grew up when there were no seat belts in cars, no child safety seats, young children would sit in a parent's lap, and yes, people rode in the back of a truck. Farm children often drove trucks and tractors around their farms long before they were old enough to have a driver's license. We are certainly living in a different time now. |
|
|
|
Post by ForeverWaltons on Apr 25, 2013 12:49:04 GMT -5
I like how they all pile carefree into the back of the truck. Health and safety would have a fit if they saw that these days Didn't you ever ride in the back of a truck? I have many times. But then, I grew up when there were no seat belts in cars, no child safety seats, young children would sit in a parent's lap, and yes, people rode in the back of a truck. Farm children often drove trucks and tractors around their farms long before they were old enough to have a driver's license. We are certainly living in a different time now. My brother & I would take turns laying down in the "back window" of Mom's car! She would have to use her side mirrors. We would also sleep in the back floorboard, with the "hump" in the middle for our pillow. Of course, we had to curl up into the fetal position to do that. |
|
|
|
Post by sdw on Apr 25, 2013 15:21:44 GMT -5
My sister and I rode in the back of my Dads truck.My sister helped my grandfather drive his car.My sister also drove a tractor before she ever got her licence. |
|
|
|
Post by weezer29 on Apr 25, 2013 17:46:27 GMT -5
I remember a trip we took, 40 yrs ago or so. We were one of 4 families going to the Boundary waters in MN. We were driving from outside of the Chicago Metro area. Everyone of us kids had a place to sleep in the car. Mine was on the floor in the back seat, where the 'hump' was. I think the folks put some luggage or clothing on either side of the hump to build it up. If I remember correctly it was one of the most uncomfortable rides ever. LOL But the rest of the trip was great. Also, the car we were in was big, it was a Chrysler. But I don't think that it fit the whole family at one time. There were 10 of us, 8 kids, 2 parents. I don't think that car had seat belts. If it did, we never used them.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2013 6:44:16 GMT -5
things we did and yet no-one thought any more of it. my friends brother (not old enough to ride one on the road, took us up the Dale on a motorcycle. my friend behind him and me sitting on the petrol tank! no such thing as health and safety then you made your own decisions (rightly or wrongly)and didn't whine if they didn't go right.
|
|
|
|
Post by e knight on Apr 27, 2013 10:33:47 GMT -5
Just how fast could those ramshackle old trucks go on a dirt road? Probably not very, which is why nobody thought about seat belts or air bags.
(I suspect that Rev. Fordwick insisted on a seatbelt anyway.)
|
|
|
|
Post by JeriJet on Apr 27, 2013 15:30:08 GMT -5
Just how fast could those ramshackle old trucks go on a dirt road? Probably not very, which is why nobody thought about seat belts or air bags. (I suspect that Rev. Fordwick insisted on a seatbelt anyway.) In U.S. cars, seat belts weren't even offered as an option until the mid-to-late 1950's, and it wasn't until 1968 that there was a federal law requiring all cars to be manufactured with seat belts.... then NY was the first state to require usage in 1984.... I think NH is the only state still not requiring seat belt usage.... In some states, young people can be ticketed, but not adults -- I guess they figure you can't expect old dogs to learn new tricks !!! We were behind some European manufacturers, like Volvo and Saab, and I don't know much about other countries' legislation..... |
|
|
|
Post by ForeverWaltons on Apr 27, 2013 15:42:44 GMT -5
Remember the toy "clackers" from the 1970's? They were two glass balls tied together on a string & you clacked them together. I absolutely loved playing with them as a kid. Ebay will not allow the glass ones to be sold & a few weeks ago my husband & father-in-law took our kids up to Tennessee for "Mule Days." My husband came in with a set of them. He bought them for himself from a vendor there. He didn't realize that I have been wanting some for years. There was no info on the package but I went to Amazon.com & they have them for sale. So I hope to get a pair for myself.  I also loved playing "Yard Darts" back when they had the metal tip. |
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Apr 27, 2013 15:46:38 GMT -5
I remember the clackers. I was so happy when my parents got them for me. They were so popular that all of my friends had them. We played with them at home and at school.
|
|
bucky
Reporter
Posts: 271
|
Post by bucky on Apr 27, 2013 19:06:31 GMT -5
My mother lived on a farm and was certainly better off than the Waltons during the 1930s, but she and her friends had to pool their money just to get enough gas to travel to a nearby town. So I don't think that part of the Waltons is a reflection of reality. No money meant no money.
|
|
|
|
Post by JeannePhx on Apr 27, 2013 19:21:23 GMT -5
Well said Bucky. I always enjoy watching the shows when John would have issues with his old truck. Reminds me of my dad's stories...he grew up in a family of poor tenant farmers in the Depression. He said on one trip into town they had to stop and patch tires 19 times! They also didn't have a lot to eat...at least the Waltons never went hungry.
|
|
