• the big slide was on Mayfield Road near I-271?
   
  
• parents could leave their children in the play area at downtown's May Co. and then go shopping?
   
  
• the tallest Christmas tree was at the Sterling Lindner's department store?
   
  
• the wooden escalator was at downtown Higbee's?
   
  
• there was Burger Chef, Golden Point, Giant Tigers, Uncle Bill's, Federal's Department Stores, Franklin's Ice Cream stores and Lawson's Dairy?
   
  
• Roy Rials Donut shop on Carnegie?
   
  
• ladies of the night hanging out in plain site on the corners near and in downtown Cleveland?
   
  
• there was such heavy pollution off I-77 near 55th St. coming from the steel plant that you almost couldn't see the other side of the highway?
   
  
• smoke coming from cars as a natural everyday occurrence?
   
  
• the milkman made home deliveries (milk, cottage cheese, juice, etc.)?
   
  
• we actually used the milk chute?
   
  
• there was a morning and after delivery of the Cleveland Plain Dealer?
   
  
• there was the Cleveland Press newspaper?
   
  
• there were Fallout Shelters?
   
  
• there were tornado drills?
   
  
• the Principal and teachers had full control of their school / classrooms?
   
  
• records of years-past record holders were broken in gym e.g. rope climbing, push ups, sprints, etc.?
   
  
• there were steer roasts at Euclid Beach Park?
   
  
• there was nickel day at Euclid Beach and Geauga Lake?
   
  
• Captain Franks restaurant was at the 9th St. pier?
   
  
• the Parthenon restaurant was on Euclid Ave. downtown?
   
  
• the Forum restaurant was downtown?
   
  
• there was a partially-sunken barge in Lake Erie off of Gordon Park?
   
  
• Cleveland had blizzards in '77 and '78?
   
  
• Cleveland swore in its first black mayor - Carl Stokes?
   
  
• there was CTS (Cleveland Transit System) before RTA?
   
  
• there were the Hough riots in 1966?
   
  
• there were slot-car racing locations (competitive for both kids and adults) in various locations of Cleveland?
   
  
• you could get mini-burgers at Royal Castle and birch beer?
   
  
• there were many drive-in movie theaters?
   
  
• there were lots of movie theaters e.g. Shaker Show, Hippodrome Theater, Embassy Theater, Vogue Theater, et al.?
   
  
• Cleveland's Thanksgiving Parade was one of the best in the country?
   
  
• when everyone watched Cleveland go into default?
   
  
• it smelled so good riding past the Wonder Bread factory at Chester at 55th St. and going there on school field trips?
   
  
• Hough Bakery and Davis Bakery ruled Cleveland?
   
  
• we went on school field trips to the Cleveland Supplementary Center in downtown Cleveland?
   
  
• downtown stores stayed open until 9 p.m.?
   
  
• there was a man who preached on the corners of Euclid Ave. at Public Square - in front of Higbees or May Co.?
   
  
• the smell of nuts was coming from The Nut House on Public Square?
  

 

For those who would like to add to this list, feel free. :)

Personally, I think there is too much of this "Remember when..." stuff in Cleveland.  Remember when:

 

There was no Tower City

There was no Playhouse Square

There was no lighting of the lights after Thanksgiving

There were 350 murders in one year

There were no downtown residents

There was no Science Center

There was no Rock Hall

There was no Progressive Field

 

You get the picture.  All cities evolve and Cleveland is a great place as it is today.

Personally, I think there is too much of this "Remember when..." stuff in Cleveland. Remember when:

 

There was no Tower City

There was no Playhouse Square

There was no lighting of the lights after Thanksgiving

There were 350 murders in one year

There were no downtown residents

There was no Science Center

There was no Rock Hall

There was no Progressive Field

 

You get the picture. All cities evolve and Cleveland is a great place as it is today.

Agree, it's not healthy living life looking through a rear view mirror.

Trailblazer88, many of those things on your list must have made quite an impression as you listed them twice!

 

And TMH, 8Titles & MayDay, many items on T88's list weren't so happy, like the pollution or the hookers that used to hang out downtown. Prospect and St. Clair were notorious red-light districts.

 

I had completely forgotten about the big slide that used to be at Mayfield and I-271 until you listed, T88! Thanks!

Hell, half of the whippersnappers here are too young to know about any of those things!

 

but I agree with MayDay, history is nice, but lets keep it moving as we pretty much have threads for all the things listed.

I do remember the milk man and we did have a milk chute... although I can't say I recall him actually used it.  That was back when you got your milk in a glass jar.

 

Most of the rest of the list, not so much.  But it appears you would have to have an AARP card (or qualify for one) to remember most of that stuff.  You'd at least have to be old enough to call 30 somethings "whippersnappers"

Trailblazer88, many of those things on your list must have made quite an impression as you listed them twice!

 

And TMH, 8Titles & MayDay, many items on T88's list weren't so happy, like the pollution or the hookers that used to hang out downtown. Prospect and St. Clair were notorious red-light districts.

 

I had completely forgotten about the big slide that used to be at Mayfield and I-271 until you listed, T88! Thanks!

 

It was great growing up in Cleveland and watching it evolve and progress especially to the time when the Flats was jumping and businesses were moving to the city (George Voinovich & Mike White eras).  I'm glad to find someone who remembers the slide.  There was so much to do during that time.

 

I, as well as others enjoy looking back at the good 'ole days as we continue to move forward and progress in life.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Maybe the younger generation may not see it that way, which is okay.

 

P.S. Thanks for pointing out the duplication.  Just at submission, my computer had restarted itself and the list somehow was pasted twice.

 

But it appears you would have to have an AARP card (or qualify for one) to remember most of that stuff.  You'd at least have to be old enough to call 30 somethings "whippersnappers"

Nope - I am not old enough for an AARP card, yet and too young to all 30 somethings "whippersnappers".  I am just old enough to remember those things. :)

 

I was also old enough when going to May Co., customers were given S&H green stamps (and another type of stamps that I don't recall the name of) with purchases. My mother gave us kids a shoebox of those stamps to put them in the books for $3.00 off their next purchase at May Co.  $3 off was a really big deal at that time.  S&H green stamps was on its way out not too long after.

Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember too many of those things. I loved Euclid Beach, even if I was too much of a wuss to ride the Thriller...

- buying candy at the newsstand outside the old williamson bldg on public square

- getting fake ID's in the pre-tower city terminal tower

- drinking beer underage before games at the rathskeller and mosers on ghettofabulous-era short vincent

- being among many more people downtown on typical days

 

i'm sure we could all go on and on or at least have relatives who could!

"i'm sure we could all go on and on or at least have relatives who could!"

 

No on both counts. Not to be a Debbie Downer, and I'm not suggesting all these great memories and stories don't have their place. There's nothing wrong with looking back with fondness for how things used to be, but sometimes I've seen that played out as "well, if you weren't born/raised in Cleveland and don't share these memories, to heck with ya...".

 

I have no extended family here, my first visit that I can remember was in 1978 and the next was in 1988; I never set foot in Euclid Beach Park, or the Union Terminal pre-Tower City, never shopped at Halles, Higbees, etc. but that didn't stop me from writing a book or building a website about this city, did it? I'm the first to say that I'm not a native Clevelander. But - on more than one occasion, I've had a native Clevelander scoff that I wasn't born or raised here and couldn't relate to their waxing nostalgic of this, that and the other.

"i'm sure we could all go on and on or at least have relatives who could!"

 

No on both counts. Not to be a Debbie Downer, and I'm not suggesting all these great memories and stories don't have their place. There's nothing wrong with looking back with fondness for how things used to be, but sometimes I've seen that played out as "well, if you weren't born/raised in Cleveland and don't share these memories, to heck with ya...".

 

I have no extended family here, my first visit that I can remember was in 1978 and the next was in 1988; I never set foot in Euclid Beach Park, or the Union Terminal pre-Tower City, never shopped at Halles, Higbees, etc. but that didn't stop me from writing a book or building a website about this city, did it? I'm the first to say that I'm not a native Clevelander. But - on more than one occasion, I've had a native Clevelander scoff that I wasn't born or raised here and couldn't relate to their waxing nostalgic of this, that and the other.

 

it also often plays out that move-ins are the most energetic defenders!

 

just look at some of the natives on cleveland.com

 

nothing any of us would ever want to be

-the amazing commercials for opening season at Jacobs field...magical.

 

-the commercials for brand new Tower City Mall  "Come on down to the A-ve-nue!!!"

Oh for the love of Mr. Jingeling, stick a fork in this thread already!

Oh for the love of Mr. Jingeling, stick a fork in this thread already!

:wtf: at what point did Mr. Jingeling defect to Higbee's from Halle's?? I didn't know about this :?

Captain Penny or Barnaby anyone?  I heard Barnaby came to his show drunk and he lost his job that day.  Is there any truth to that?  Was he really cursing at the kids on the set on live TV?

 

I did see Jungle Larry at Cedar Point at least a few times.  He liked having some cool snakes around his neck. :)

 

How about when Super Host had heart surgery and on his day back, he wore a huge bandaid across his chest?

 

Where's Twinkle with the rotor tail?

I can't speak to Barnaby, but I can tell you definitively that the Front Row had to cancel a show with Dionne Warwick because she was too drunk to go on stage!

 

Now that's a Cleveland memory! (well, a highland heights memory, anyway)

Oh for the love of Mr. Jingeling, stick a fork in this thread already!

 

If you don't want to participate in this thread, you are welcome to not click on it.  There is no need for you to discourage other's participation in the thread.

Oh for the love of Mr. Jingeling, stick a fork in this thread already!

 

If you don't want to participate in this thread, you are welcome to not click on it.  There is no need for you to discourage other's participation in the thread.

 

 

I was also old enough when going to May Co., customers were given S&H green stamps (and another type of stamps that I don't recall the name of) with purchases.

 

 

Probably Eagle Stamps. We used to get those at Sohio all the time. But only bitchy Latinos worked at Sohio in the 1980s, so we stayed the hell away from there by then. It wasn't worth the TwoSense ....

 

Probably Eagle Stamps.

Yes, that was it!  Thanks for that.

 

========

 

Fisher Fazio's, Pick 'n Pay and Kroger's grocery stores.

I can't really play this game. I've only been living here for 12 years (13 in March!).

 

Hey, who remembers Finast? Remember when Rosetta was based out in the suburbs?

 

See? Not really the same thing.

AJ, I love your avatar and tag line. Very appropriate for here!

 

I could quote about half that movie from memory.

Also, these are not just 'cleveland' things. We had Fazio's in Mansfield.  Kroger's is based in Cincinnati and they are all over points south of Cleveland.

AJ, I love your avatar and tag line. Very appropriate for here!

 

I could quote about half that movie from memory.

 

LOL. It's one of my favorites too.

 

I was inspired by all the recent discussion about setbacks in the University Circle Development thread.

Remember when the corner alley was a wendys?

The westside market was pretty much all that was on W25th besides Moda?

Euclid was a pothole filled street with the six bus running?

Steelyard Commons was a weed patch?

668 Euclid was a boarded up scooby doo ghost town?

 

Yea I've only lived here since 2005. But seriously, in the time I have lived here so much has been built/renovated/improved its amazing. Give this place another five years and with all the new stuff coming I'm stoked!

I'm not old, but I was at opening day at Jacobs Field, third base side behind the dugout (thanks, dad) and it was a perfect game - one of many, many come-from-behind victories that became almost routine for that team. Wayne Kirby won it with a single in the bottom of the 9th. Still have the ticket, framed.

I'm not old, but I was at opening day at Jacobs Field, third base side behind the dugout (thanks, dad) and it was a perfect game - one of many, many come-from-behind victories that became almost routine for that team. Wayne Kirby won it with a single in the bottom of the 9th. Still have the ticket, framed.

 

Opening of the Jake IS my favorite Cleveland memory. The energy downtown was indescribable. I still can't bring myself to say "Progressive Field" without it feeling awkward.

 

Oh, and while I'm here....who remembers John Lanigan doing the schlock-tacular Prize Movie on channel 43!!

 

When I moved here from NJ my new friends in CLE couldn't believe I'd never heard of Lanigan. They were shocked. They thought he was some kind of well known international celebrity, ha ha.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Big Chuck and Houlihan or Academic Challenge.

I remember being in sixth grade and taking cigars and a cooler filled with pop and hot dogs into the old Stadium. 

I was at the opening day for the rock hall! I sure remember THAT.

I remember when I was younger and had no clue where anything was. I didnt know any of the streets and I just felt like I was in some huge place. Its funny cause I remember sitting in the car looking out the window but I had no clue how we got to each area of the city. I remember pulling up to tower city and just knowing I couldnt wait to go inside, but again, I had no clue how we got there. Its funny now imagining not knowing where I am in the city cause now I basically have the whole city as a map in my mind. :lol:

I was at the opening day for the rock hall! I sure remember THAT.

 

Me too... if you're talking about the concert at old municipal stadium.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Big Chuck and Houlihan or Academic Challenge.

 

I see Big Chuck and Little John every year at the Memorial Day parade on Green Rd.  Little John drives a go-kart with Big Chuck riding on the back

• Riding the Old Shaker Rapid (the yellow, then orange, then RTA paint schemes)
  
• When Van Aken/Warrensville was the used as a train yard
  
• When trains turned around the loops at Warrensville/Van Aken, Shaker Blvd/Warrensville & Shaker Green
  
• The Moreland express train from Shaker Square to CUT
  
• The old CUT station and associated loops
  
• When the Skaker cars had little or no heat or AC
  
• The Cleveland Rapid ran 4 or 6 car trains
  

Kiddie City

Forest City Lumber

Poppin Fresh Pie

Heights Pet World

Northeast PeeWee Football

Sohio stations

Richmond Mall's 2nd floor

Our Gang

 

 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Big Chuck and Houlihan or Academic Challenge.

...and Ghoulardi and later, The Ghoul

 

How about Northfield Bowling Lanes (64 lanes) and Northfield Ice Skating Rink?

20 years from now...

 

I remember when...

 

The East Bank of the flats was nothing

When there used to be giant parking lots in the warehouse district

When there was even a parking lot on public square.

I remember when there was no medical mart or casino.

I remember when the city was losing population

I remember when Cleveland only had the Red, Green, and Blue (and waterfront) lines.

I remember when there was little retail downtown

I remember when CSU didn't have a large residential population

 

 

 

20 years from now...
 
I remember when...
 
The East Bank of the flats was nothing
When there used to be giant parking lots in the warehouse district
When there was even a parking lot on public square.
I remember when there was no medical mart or casino.I remember when the city was losing population
I remember when Cleveland only had the Red, Green, and Blue (and waterfront) lines.
I remember when there was little retail downtown
I remember when CSU didn't have a large residential population

 

 

 

 

Only the ones in blue seem fairly certain. I hope you're right about the rest.