mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Yes, I remember that day, July 20, 1969. An unbelievable moment that day was. A couple months or so before that landing, my father purchased his very first color 23" television set. We all watched the landing on that TV. I remember the phone call that President Richard Nixon made to one of the astronauts while on the moon. Nixon had only been in office for 6 months, dealing with the unpopular Vietnam War. A war that divided our country. That moon landing helped to ease the anxieties of that war, for awhile at least. Our household had a rotary dial telephone. The music we listened to, was from a record player that had four speeds. 16, 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPMs. My mother bought mostly 33 1/3 RPM records In 1969, the price for them was about $3-$4 each. 45 RPM records were going for about a dollar. Two song on it. The first camera I bought in 1969 was a Kodak cartridge loaded Instamatic, model #104. On our record player, I remember blowing out the needle to remove the dust accumulated. If you car broke down on the road, you looked for a coin operated phone booth to call for help. Fast drag cars were popular then. The 426cu in., Dodge Hemi Engine was the talk of the land. Gas was cheap, and most cars only had AM Radio. AM/FM radios in one unit soon followed. My father was driving a 1967 Chevy Impala V8, no FM Radio, and was still making monthly payments on it. A car I would love to have today. Minimum wage was under $1.60 per hour, thereabouts? So, we got to the moon, as JFK wanted America to do. Unfortunately, he didn't live long enough to see the dream come true. NASA's technology at that time, was far ahead of any country. America has landed on planet Mars with photographic and testing equipment, in order to see what possibilities of life would have existed there. It has been stated that it would take 150-300 days to get to Mars. Depending on when you launch. It is millions of miles away. It took Apollo 11 four day to land on the moon. Launching on July 16th. NASA wants to return to the moon in 2024. This time with a woman astronaut. Why not? I hope to still be around. Imagine the advancements in technology in consumer products, cars, electronics, etc, in 2024? We now are seeing ads to buy the upcoming newest 5G electronic gadgets, when they become available. What are your memories?

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

there is more computer power sitting on my lap than existed in the world in 1967.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Just look at your cell phone. That small device has a lot of power.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I remember the day well; and exactly where I was and what I was doing at the time of the announcement.
Summer lifeguard job, I was on locker room duty.
All this triggers thought about many things.

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

What is equally amazing is that it is 50 years ago! Where did it go? I was 24 and working as a freelance journalist out in Australia in 1969. Can well remember taking a week off and watching the TV somewhere deep in the interior of the bush. Long time ago.

So much water under the bridge!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

First generation computers took up whole buildings and required air conditioning.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

An addendum that just occurred to me: in 1969, I weighed 140 lbs, soaking wet.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Haha - Been there!

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Thanks for the post... Good trip down memory lane

I was in the service and in basic electronics training - tubes and transistors - long before the PET and Apple... Was learning about photography with a Pentax Spotmatic - yep, lots of memories -

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

I worked IT; the "business" computers in 1989 only took a floor or two, and had AC in the floor.

Philly 1969, I had a "reverb" spring box in the trunk. I used Radio Shack caps to separate the treble from the dash speaker to the recycled TV speaker in the back.
Minimum wage was enough to rent a small 1 bedroom apartment, and live OK.
In 1969 my mother was a teacher, my father a welder. I was suspended from the Musicians Union for playing for free for a friend. I took up clamming and crabbing in the Delaware Bay that summer- if I worked hard I could make more than my parents did by lunch.
City water was bad- you filled a pitcher of water and let it stand until it didn't smell- then only drank from the top and poured the cloudy bottom bits down the drain. Girls who used bleach, peroxide or lemon juice to lighten their hair sometimes gained a faint green miasma if they rinsed with tap water.
Wander Bread and Pall Malls were good for you- the doctor on TV said so!
White Castle sliders were 6/$1.00; a MickyD's burger, fries and a big 8oz drink was also $1.00
Mad Dog 20/20 was the table beverage of choice.
Jersey was actually worse then than it is now. Politics were about the same, tho.
The DuPont factories gave us the most colorful, vibrant sunsets. And a cough.

Then I got married in 1970, for the 1st time. In the vernacular of the day, my proposal ...
"Wait!" "What do you mean. "late"?" "How late?" "Are you sure?" "Are you sure it's *mine*?"
!!SLAP!! ... !!SLAP!! ... !!SLAP!! ...
I gets back up ... "So, what 's the plan?" "When?"

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I don't think I ever weighed as little as 140 pounds. But, I do love an ice cold beer.

Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

I missed the moon landing, it was nearly a month after that when we learned of it. At that time it was oh, OK we have more important things to do.
The we was the tank crew. We were on the Mang Yang providing road security to keep highway QL 19 open to traffic. That meant covering the bridge at the top of the pass during the day and cruise the road at night shooting at anything that looked like trouble.
At first light we would mine sweep the road by driving on the shoulder, hoping not to hit a mine.
The highway was paved so no issues there.
Ken

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I don't remember much. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because I was 8 years old and in second grade. It could be the beginnings of senility. I'm not sure. Perhaps my arthritis doctor will tell me.

All I can add to this is frim listening to everyone talking about it and reading books and magazines about it.

At that time, we were just struggling through a war that divided us. And one moment in time we were all United.

If the original framers of the Constitution were there that day, they would be proud of what they started.

I hope every Hogger is smiling a little smile to themselves.

Divenavy Loc: Chicago Suburbs

Seeing The New TV set sitting on top of the old TV set. Color TV WOW

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I bought my first brand new car in 1967. It was a Rambler American 6-cylinder automatic, AM radio, no AC and I paid $1,920 for it at the dealership. It was a great car and it was very well built.

I can not imagine driving a car everyday without AC today although at 18-years old back then the summer heat did not affect me as it does today at 70.