Remember When??

[Fred K-OR]

Local A & W. Still serve in car. Still great root beer floats!

[JDupuis]

I get the "Grandpa Burger" now! Jeff

[burner31]

Originally Posted by JDupuis

I get the "Grandpa Burger" now! Jeff

Is that the pre-chewed burger?

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by burner31

Is that the pre-chewed burger?

yes comes with a side of nap

[JDupuis]

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

yes comes with a side of nap

It comes with a wet nap! Its simular to a wet dream, only shorter!
Jeff

[wingski]

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Wow, another memory. You guys have to quit causing this to happen or I’m not going to accomplish anything today.

The idea of going to The Spec, or Yaws, or one of the A&W’s in Portland, Oregon back in the late 50’s and early 60’s after you’d just got your car running again was indescribable. The waitresses on roller-skates, that hot food and milkshake hanging from the side of your car, the sound of other rods pulling in or out, and the laughter is something I’ll never forget. The sound of a ’50 or ’51 Merc revving up beside me and blowing a head off the engine because of ungodly high compression, all of this while Ricky Nelson or Buddy Holly sang over the speakers was priceless.

All I can say is thanks to whatever for allowing me to live and have such wonderful memories. I still believe that anyone my age lived through the Golden Age for young people here in the U.S. I realize that some had it worse than I did, some had it better, but WOW what a time to grow up.

I am so glad that I can share my memories with people who appreciate them,

Mike

[1930artdeco]

I know Sonic will deliver to your window at your car. Sadly no roller skates. However, I saw an ad for a food show that had the wait staff on skates! Albeit they were indoors-but still skates!

Mike

[Purdy Swoft]

Some of the waitresses at the Sonic here still use skates but the good music is gone. The burgers are still good but the only old cars that I've seen there is our roadster . We still like it .

[California Travieso]

There was an A&W two blocks from my house in the '50's and I would walk over fore the 25 cent hamburgers. When I got my first car I drove over because they had a good looking car-hop, they didn't use roller skates though.

There is still an A&W in my home town but they don't have car service. The best things are the root beer in a frosty mug and the root beer floats. My wife loves the root beer floats.

David Serrano.

[1crosscut]

I had an odd thing happen at an A & W back in the 70's. It was late evening and we had pulled up to the curb under the long island that was covered by an awning with florescent lighting running the length of it. Getting ready to place our order and all of the lights when out, came back on for a few seconds, went out again for a few seconds, came back on and then all of them promptly burst showering all of the cars with glass and white powder. Didn't get a burger that night.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

SONIC BURGERS SUCK as bad as IN AND OUT BURGERS!
Bill Yuk!

[Afordman31]

Been there only once (Sonic), agree with Bill on this one!

[CarlLaFong]

In and Out burger suck?!?!?! Vile and foul blasphemy

[jrelliott]

Frost-Top was another good root beer place and served in a frosted glass mug. Took my wife there on our first date after seeing an odor(Western Movie) both of which she did not like. Funny thing she went out with me again and have been married 50 years in July of 2017. She was also my Calculus tutor.

[michael a]

I thought it was just me but between the taste of those Sonic burgers and the two queers that advertise for for them it's just a big turn-off to me and if that's not enough the price of them dirty greasy hamburgers you can get a mail at the local cafe and had to get change back

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[michael a]

I see series on the ball tonight

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[1931 flamingo]

I still remember stopping at A&W in W Haven, CT behind Savin Rock, grabbing a root beer then driving down the street to Jimmie's (still there) for hot dogs, fries, onion rings or whole belly clams. I still try to get there about once a year. Savin Rock and A&W long gone.
Paul in CT

[Bill G]

Our A&W is now combined with KFC, and both in my humble opinion have gone downhill in terms of quality. Either that or I was less of a snob about such things when I was younger.

[burner31]

Lou's Burgers Sacramento, Watt Ave, early '70's, best triple burger I ever had, and killer shakes.
I wonder if they are still in business?

[JOHN CT]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

I still remember stopping at A&W in W Haven, CT behind Savin Rock, grabbing a root beer then driving down the street to Jimmie's (still there) for hot dogs, fries, onion rings or whole belly clams. I still try to get there about once a year. Savin Rock and A&W long gone.
Paul in CT

I lived just up the hill from that A&W. I used to ride my bike there get a hamburger, go across the street and watch the small black Chevy stock car races on Saturday nights.
I remember when!!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

The WHITE Fries from In & Out Burger were just dunked in LUKEWARM, second hand oil (YUK!) AND, Iceberg Lettuce should be OUTLAWED!
Bill Trashedthem

[daveymc29]

There was an A & W a few blocks from the firehouse I worked at in Oakland, CA. We used to send a shopper out there for a gallon or two of their root beer and have him run over to Fenton's Creamery, half way across town, for a gallon or two of ice-cream. Those were the days. I'd get to Oakland a couple of hours before my shift began, run around Lake Merritt then go to work and have three meals. Never could lose weight, eventually growing from 176 lb. to 253 when I finally got serious and decided to get down to 220 or less.

[31a]

We lived near an A&W in Carlsbad NM in the mid 60s root beer floats were awesome! We are getting WABACK Burgers, good burger, opening here but you need a bank loan to feed a family!

[Crankster]

Originally Posted by Magicbox51

Our A&W is now combined with KFC, and both in my humble opinion have gone downhill in terms of quality. Either that or I was less of a snob about such things when I was younger.

Well I've wondered about that. Sometimes tastes change as we get older, but I still enjoy the same food as far as I can tell. Fast food used to be pretty tasty, if not always cheap. Now it's not very tasty, damnably expensive, and it ain't even fast.

I live in the middle of corn country and support agriculture. Corn syrup however, is not a very good sweetener at all. A&W Root Beer would be pretty tasty made with cane sugar, as it undoubtedly once was. Hires was another brand. French fries used to be fried in beef tallow. Good french fries are fried twice, and they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Onion Rings are a tastee treat too. I can't choke down even a small package of french fries from you-know-who anymore, they taste like cardboard. And that's when they are fresh. Really sad. The diners and mom & pop places still do it right though.

I suppose it's about saving a few pennies on costs. A genuine Root Beer, Cheeseburger & Fries and a shake made with Ice Cream (instead of seaweed derivative and chemicals) could get a little spendy. Funny money gets funny food, I suppose. Oops.

[Drive Shaft Dave]

[QUOTE=Afordman31;1573135]Been there only once (Sonic), agree with Bill on this X3

[Tom Wesenberg]

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A&W used to be good in the 60's but the last burger I had there was in the early 90's and it tasted like soggy cardboard. I never went back. In 1975 I had a Whopper at Burger King, and it had a 1/2" x 2" tomato vine in it. It was at least 30 years before I went back.

For fast food Wendy's and Subway are the best.

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

A&W used to be good in the 60's but the last burger I had there was in the early 90's and it tasted like soggy cardboard. I never went back. In 1975 I had a Whopper at Burger King, and it had a 1/2" x 2" tomato vine in it. It was at least 30 years before I went back.

For fast food Wendy's and Subway are the best.

subways are a gamble - theres maybe 2/20 around that ive never gotten sick from, majority are a gamble - one day you eat it and your fine next time your on the toilet. Then theres the others that every time ive gotten sick along woth other people saying the same thing haha.

Wendys is good when the order is actually right - i like hardees as well.

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Bill,
I love your sense of humor and usually agree with you, but I like in-n-out. I like their fries, but you have to eat them right away, before they get cold. I like their hamburgers.
In-n-out is my second favorite hamburger place. Five guys is my favorite.


Neil

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

In the late '50s, while draggin' our INFAMOUS Fulton Street "MAIN", we had GREAT Drive Inns, EVERYWHERE!!! Chasin' Girls, listening to Rock & Roll Music, & tinkering with cars, on our FAVORITE Parking lots, what a BLAST!!!
THEN, they tore up the street & built that DOOMED Pedestrian Mall Just recently, they RIPPED it out & re-opened the street.
The Movie, "American Graffiti" was supposed to be filmed here, but they procrastinated, until the Street was CLOSED Much of it was filmed in Modesto, Ca.
Russ Cochiolo & I were members of the INFAMOUS Pan Draggers of Fresno & HOT RODS were EVERYWHERE! The Club STILL exists, although many Old Friends have passed (RIP!)
I even met Pat, my "Main Woman", there
NOW, you know why I have a "soft" spot, about HOT RODS & DRAG RACIN'
Bill Memorylane

[Purdy Swoft]

It ALL depends on who owns and operates the fast food restaurants , as to whether the food will be fit to eat or not .

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Neil Mylar LakewoodCA

Bill,
I love your sense of humor and usually agree with you, but I like in-n-out. I like their fries, but you have to eat them right away, before they get cold. I like their hamburgers.
In-n-out is my second favorite hamburger place. Five guys is my favorite.


Neil

Neal,

You got that right about the fries at In-N-Out. It's still my favorite and my grandson's favorite. My second favorite is Burger Lounge. I discovered it in San Diego and they have a location in Temecula. Don't know about anywhere else. We're alway the last to get the chain restaurants here in the Inland Empire.

Bill: it sounds like you have soft spot for the old '50's drive-ins too. Everyone used to lay rubber when they "pealed out" of the parking lot. Most of the time they were going out to drag race like in "America Graffti". Here in So. Cal. it was in the back roads in the Orange groves where you could block off a street. The cops were more laid back in those days. Don Prudhomne said he learned to Drag Race out in the Orange Groves in Orange County.

David Serrano

[JaxFLG8r]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

SONIC BURGERS SUCK as bad as IN AND OUT BURGERS!
Bill Yuk!

I have to agree with Cousin Bill on this one. As an East coast boy, I have heard about In & Out on the TV for years and years. On a family trip to California last summer, we stopped in to see what the fuss was all about. Was not a huge fan to say the least. I understand one trip can be different from another, and I should give them another chance when I'm there again. My favorite chain burger has to be the one from 5 guys.

As for car memories, drive-ins are a pleasant memory, as are the drive-in theaters. The MidWay Drive-In Theater that was right behind the neighborhood I grew up in is now a Super Wal-Mart....

[Bob-A]

Back in the late '60s while in high school. My buddies and I would cruise around to the different Steak n' Shakes in my original '29 Chevy. Everybody loved us because of the ahooga horn of the Chevy. Many times we would be kicked out because once we started ahooga'ing. Everybody else would start honking their horns too.

Bob-A

[michael a]

Originally Posted by Bob-A

Back in the late '60s while in high school. My buddies and I would cruise around to the different Steak n' Shakes in my original '29 Chevy. Everybody loved us because of the ahooga horn of the Chevy. Many times we would be kicked out because once we started ahooga'ing. Everybody else would start honking their horns too.

Bob-A

Wasn't that a great time to be alive I don't envy the kids at today

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[fordwife]

Up here in WA state, beside A&W we had Dusty's in Ephrata and Wenatchee and Miner's in Yakima. They were the best and are all still in business as far as I know.

[Dave Young]

Some great memories here ... made me think back to the fifties and me driving my customized '50 Ford to the infamous Adventure Car Hop on Route 22 in Union, NJ.

A huge place, and an evening gathering place for youngsters with customized cars who just wanted to cruise the parking lot and show off. More adventurous types would pull out into the westbound lanes and drag race for money. I never had the guts (or the right car) to try that.

I looked the place up on Google and sure enough, it's covered. There's photos of the huge car hop, provided by the Union Township Historical Society. Nothing makes you feel old like seeing pics from your youth in a historical society.

[oldforder]

YUP, just like many here, I also have fond memories of the drive in resturants here in our small town. I think there were maybe 5 at one time or another. A&W, and several others. Some Saturday nights we would hit all of them sometime during the evening. My wife (of 50 years) worked at our local A&W till she retired. Not since the old days, just the last 15 years. It is now a Long John Silvers? A&W combined. They have probably the best burger in town with the papa burger. Second best, is Runza, then Wendys. It is definitely true that it is not the chain as much as the people running it. My wife was just the bookkeeper for the owner, and there was a time when the owner was going through various managers, that even she wouldn't eat there. They now have a good manager, and have good food again .

[wingski]

OK, guys I’m going to share some good news for some of you. In Cave Jinction, Oregon there is a family owned restaurant called Taylor’s. If you want a burger and fries like you ate 60 years ago, get a Chuck Burger and fries for $7.95. They are delicious and worth every penny.

There, some good news. Eat only half the burger and save the rest for lunch the next day. The are almost as good cold as they are hot.

Sometimes it’s pretty hard to only eat half and put the rest into an air-tight container. Those fries are also great the next day with melted cheddar on them.

Mike

[rowens55]

Originally Posted by burner31

Lou's Burgers Sacramento, Watt Ave, early '70's, best triple burger I ever had, and killer shakes.
I wonder if they are still in business?

Yes sir they are but under new management (again). Still looks the same just a little more run down. Graduated Rio Linda High 1971. Haven't had one in a while...

[2manycars]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

I still remember stopping at A&W in W Haven, CT behind Savin Rock, grabbing a root beer then driving down the street to Jimmie's (still there) for hot dogs, fries, onion rings or whole belly clams. I still try to get there about once a year. Savin Rock and A&W long gone.
Paul in CT

Next time I go to the VA in W haven, I must stop at Jimmie's. You are making me hungry, Paul.
Over on this side of the state we have Harry's, which has been there since before I was born. Great burgers, and really good fries.
My cousin and I used to ride in his 50 chevy pickup to a drive in on RT 5 near Warton Brook Park and get clams and fries.
When I was in Oregon in the USAF, we would go to A&W, or Shakey's for burgers. My buddy bought a 46 Harley all apart and told me if I put it together for him he would keep my gas tank full and my belly full of burgers.

[Fred K-OR]

Guess I am sorry guys that I started y0u all bringing up all of the good old memories. But on the other hand it is interesting what we all did in the "younger" years. I am sure there are a number of memories that we can't or don't want to post either. Have fun and carry on!

[Glen in Hillman MI]

Back in the mid 80's when I took my future wife on the circle tour around Lake Superior, we stopped at a brand new A & W in Canada. The parking lot had not been finished with the equipment still sitting there waiting to put the final coat on. We stopped specifically for a Root Beer Float. There were no other customers and 2 young girls behind the counter. We ordered and they looked at us in confusion and we quickly realized they had never heard of a Root Beer Float. After we explained what it was, they made them, but had no idea what to charge us. We told them to charge us for the Root Beer and a scoop of ice cream for each. It was obvious they hadn't had their A & W training yet, but we had a good laugh, enjoyed our Float and continued on our fall color tour. We have shared many more Root Beer floats over the last 30 years.
Glen

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by Bob-A

Back in the late '60s while in high school. My buddies and I would cruise around to the different Steak n' Shakes in my original '29 Chevy. Everybody loved us because of the ahooga horn of the Chevy. Many times we would be kicked out because once we started ahooga'ing. Everybody else would start honking their horns too.

Bob-A

Steak n Shakes are also known as Beef n Wiggles around here

I have yet to try an In and out or Whattaburger - i Did try Weinershitzel out in OK and was pretty good! Im ruined from chicago hot dogs and Portillos around here but was still quite satisfying.

Now jack in the box sucks and the 3 times ive had it from 2 different establishments and different states it was awful...

Now there is this strange chain out in Nebraska called "Runza". Crosscut suggested I try it as everyone must in their life. Not knowing what I was expecting and always up for new adventures I went there. Hot pockets everywhere! Haha wasnt bad - totally different and tasted good but couldn't get the idea of a hot pocket outa my head haha. I would go back if I find another one!

White Castles are my weakness - WHY do they have to have a convenient suitcase full of 30 of them or a crate that has 100 of them!

[dumb person]

No i can't say i would remember that...

I do remember going to a burgerfuel a few times. Was really good, then someone else took over the shop and hired only foreigners, was slow and not very good, few weeks later they'd re-hired some locals & got the place running back on track again.
Doesn't look like i'll be going to any burger shops any time soon though..

[Purdy Swoft]

Jacks has good burgers and every thing else.

[Dutie]

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Back in my day 1958 McDonalds opened in Kingston NY. Hamburgers were .19 cents.... and when you were 14 quality was non existent, also 5 for less than a dollar, give me 5.

[Purdy Swoft]

Back in 58 , I turned 12 , near the end of that year . They didn't have the large burgers back then . I could eat 5 burgers with no problem and never gain an ounce . I was way more active back then .

[Dutie]

I hear you Purdy, things sure changed. I can remember everything worked pretty good back then...no cold hands and feet in them days. That's my story an I'm stickin with it. Happy new year to all !

[Marshall V. Daut]

Back in the" good old days" when our famous Midwest Maid-Rites were still good, they cost 25 cents, or on Sundays 5 for a buck. They were bigger, better and freshly made on the premises. Now the Maid-Rite stores around here receive the pre-seasoned and mixed meat in a sausage-like tube casing that is squeezed out like toothpaste. Yum, yum! Doesn't that sound like delicious? They don't taste anything like they used to. What does? And they're close to $3.00 a copy now!
When I was a junior in high school during the mid-1960's, I REALLY wanted a 1931 Model A Coupe that a senior in school was selling. My father said he'd help me buy it if I got a part-time job after school to contribute funds. At a whopping starting 50 cents per hour, I began working at the local Sandy's restaurant, a chain which I now understand was founded by disgruntled former McDonald's franchise owners. Their target: taking down McDonald's. Not just because I worked there, but Sandy's was much better than McDonald's. During their breaks, the employees at McDonald's would come over to Sandy's for their burgers, rather than eat their own - even with their employee discount! What does that tell you? I was heart-broken when Sandy's was purchased by Hardee's in the early 1970's, who promptly dismantled the chain. I tried a Hardee's burger once soon after. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO disgustingly bad that in the 45+ years since, I have NEVER gone back. I still single-handedly keep most fast food restaurants solvent, but I refuse to ever give Hardee's a second chance. Yeah, it was that bad. I'm not sure, but I think I saw the burger that I had just thrown away crawl back out of the garbage container.
My tastes and taste buds have not changed since I was a teenager. I still love and appreciate a good burger. My mother was the world's worst cook (around our house we prayed AFTER we ate), so growing up, I virtually lived in fast food restaurants and local mom and pop hamburger shops, spending my weekly allowance and grass cutting money to survive. (J's Stop 'N Eat and Ted's Drive-In were the best around here). None of the surviving burger places and chains from my youth can come even close to how good they used to be. And this is not just selective wishful memory at work here! I can't count the number of times in the last 20 years that I simply threw a half-eaten McDonald's burger away because it was so terrible. Other chains have not escaped that disgrace, either. (How come Culver's insists of over-cooking their burgers to point of being cinders?) I don't eat burgers nearly as much as I did even 10 years ago. Why did restaurants ruin what brought them to the party in the first place? Very depressing for a dedicated burger/French fry lover like myself. And no, I am not over-weight or diabetic - yet. Loving fried foods doesn't automatically doom one to weight and health problems.
Don't even get me started on the demise of French fries in this country!
O.K. Enough grousing about the "good old days". Back to Model T and A business...
Marshall

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Dutie

Back in my day 1958 McDonalds opened in Kingston NY. Hamburgers were .19 cents.... and when you were 14 quality was non existent, also 5 for less than a dollar, give me 5.

Dutie,

McDonald's started around 1955 in San Bernardino, CA. and they had a number of restaurants in The Riverside/San Bernardino area (The I.E.).

McDonald's had a competitor named BurgerBar here in the I.E., and they had several price wars so the Burgers were 15 cents in 1958. They were just catsup, pickles, a thin patty and bun. A & W was better with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions but they were 25 cents.

David Serrano

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by Dutie

I hear you Purdy, things sure changed. I can remember everything worked pretty good back then...no cold hands and feet in them days. That's my story an I'm stickin with it. Happy new year to all !

Right on Dutie and a happy new year to you !!!

[KenCoupe]

My favorite burger is Bob's Big Boy. Used to be a bunch of their restaurants around, but now only a couple in my area. I live close enough to the original Bob's in Burbank that I go there a couple of times a year. On Fridays from 4 to 10 pm, they have a car show/cruise in with everything from stock to rods.

My next favorite and more readily available is In-N-Out. It's a great, fresh tasting burger. I don't particularly care for Five Guys - they are way too greasy for my taste and pretty expensive for fast food.

Everyone has different tastes, and that is cool. I'm just saying what I like best. Everybody have a Happy New Year!

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

All right, do any of you remember cruising Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, California, on New Years eve? I remember doing it a couple of years in my 1929 coupe, in the late 60's. If I remember right, the police would shut the street down around midnight, to prepare for the Rose Parade.
I doubt if it is still allowed any more.

[Slowplane]

Neil
I probably saw you there. We'd cruise till the blvd closed, then park a few blocks away, walk back, party till sunrise, and then try to remember where we left our cars!

[willobs]

My favorite was Dog N Suds

[Marshall V. Daut]

"My favorite was Dog N Suds"

Yup! Until the late 1960's there used to be one on the northern outskirts of a neighboring town, Muscatine. My parents grew up in that town and my grandparents still lived there. When we returned to our town from visiting the relatives in Muscatine, stopping at Dog 'N Suds was S.O.P. I sure miss that root beer and burgers! I wonder what went wrong with the chain and its franchises? Poor management?
Marshall

[Marshall V. Daut]

I just had to look up what happened to Dog 'N Suds. Here's a link:
https://www.google.com/search?source....0.Pcfrl82C3kA.

Marshall

[1928Mik]

There is an A&W around here but no one goes to it since it's just a section to the side of a gas station and all their business is from I-70 traffic. I have heard just avoid it, it's not very good. Never was much in these parts to attend back in the day so we just cruised the restaurant row 'strip' and got in a few small races from one traffic light to another like on American Graffiti. The local cruise-in place now is the Denny's Diner every Friday nite. No roller skates, but they play oldies and have a few gift drawings.