Filler Up, Please

May I help you?" "Yes, "filler up", please." AWW the days of the full-service gas stations. You just rolled your Oldsmobile into the station and someone, usually a gentleman, walked up to your car and offered to service it for free excluding the charge for the gasoline. The attendant , dressed in a snappy clean and pressed uniform with a matching hat, would wash your windshield, check your oil, and air-pressure in your tires while the gas was pumping. When people traveled in Florida during these glory days, an attendant would even sweep the floors of your car. I suppose they didn't want tourists to export any sand.

A typical gas station had one island with two to four pumps and two or three bays where you took your car for service or maintenance. Prices were less in those days which made the entire experience more cheerful. I think peoples' attitudes were more cheerful, too. Thus, the reason for being referred to as the "Happy Days."

Gas wars raged during the 50s and 60s . Some stations would give you a free cup of coffee or S&H Green Stamps to thank you for your patronage. One stamp was awarded for every ten cents worth of gas. You accumulated enough stamps to fill books to be redeemed at a S&H Redemption Center. You could buy household items , apparel, gifts, furniture and other useful products. I wonder what happened to those ugly green lamps?





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From, 1950-1959 the average American wage went from around $2,650 to about $3,855 a year During the same 10 years, gasoline went from around 27 cents to only 30 cents a gallon. And the 60's weren't much different. Americans who weren't reciting Beatnik poetry in coffee houses earned about $4,500 in 1960. And by 1969, those who weren't bumming "spare change" in Haight Ashbury were more than likely working hard for $6,900 a year.Meanwhile, gassing-up your "rod" only set you back 30 cents a gallon in 1960. And by 1969, it had only gone up a nickel to 35 cents a groovy gallon. .From 1995-2005, annual wages went from around $24,700 to about $36,400 while gasoline skyrocketed from $1.10 to a depressing $2.15 per gallon. And

unlike teh 50's adnd, popular music didn't get any better.60's



So if you want to take a trip down memory lane, driving might be an economical way to go. From Perry Como to Elvis Presley to The Beatles would be a trip that only varied in cost by 8 cents a gallon from beginning to end. But be warned, if you continue cruising into modern times, you better be ready for a steep uphill drive.