Old gas stations

[BobHufford]

Just went past this one in Weatherford, Oklahoma. My wife remembers stopping there when traveling Route 66.

 

[2jakes]

Just went past this one in Weatherford, Oklahoma. My wife remembers stopping there when traveling Route 66.

There’s still one area where I can drive from one major city to another on a road where in between are small towns with local gas stations and diners.

To take the freeway would get me faster
to my destination.
But for me, part of the joy when I’m
on vacation is the local spots along the
way.

 

[GHT]

There’s still one area where I can drive from one major city to another on a road where in between are small towns with local gas stations and diners.

It's good to know that some have survived. On our side of the pond supermarkets are the favourite whipping boy for being responsible for the community garage's decline, curiously though, many a supermarket has bought up derelict garage and turned them into a convenience store, but you can still buy fuel there. Convenience? What a misnomer that is. There was a time when I would fill up, or, have an attendant fuel my car, be treated to a smile, a quick chit-chat about all and nothing, pay my bill and be on my way. Now, I have to select, pay at pump or kiosk. Given that fraudsters target pay at kiosk with some sort of gizmo that reads your card details, I select pay at kiosk. Then I stand in a queue of four or more each with a small basket of purchases. Annoying or what?

 

[LizzieMaine]

The thing was, gas was always a loss leader, even in the Era. The profit margin on a gallon of branded gasoline even then was exceedingly narrow -- rarely more than a couple of cents a gallon -- so the station operator was expected to make his living on selling oil, "TBA" (Tires, Batteries and Accessories), and minor service like grease jobs.

When we were in our last days in business, in 1980-81, we were selling "Lead Free Texaco" at $1.50 a gallon, with a margin of 12 cents a gallon. We'd usually sell about a hundred gallons a day, so our profit came to about 12 dollars a day on gas. You couldn't make a living on that.

The margins today on gasoline are even worse, which is why you pay inflated prices for the stuff in the "Convenience Store." That's how they make their money.

 

[Fading Fast]

⇧ similar to the concessions at the movie theater - same economic driver.

I haven't seen the number in years, but the average profit per dollar of revenue aggregated for all US businesses is something like 6 or 7 cents.

To be sure, 6 or 7 cents on billions of dollars of revenue adds up, but most companies exist on very thin margins.

 

[2jakes]

⇧ similar to the concessions at the movie theater - same economic driver.

I haven't seen the number in years, but the average profit per dollar of revenue aggregated for all US businesses is something like 6 or 7 cents.

To be sure, 6 or 7 cents on billions of dollars of revenue adds up, but most companies exist on very thin margins.

I recall going to the “Convenience Store” to purchase candy prior to going to the
theater because the cost was affordable.
I stopped going to the movies because I could no longer tolerate sitting with strangers who would talk during a scene explaining to their friend what was coming up next.
But mostly because I was not able to
stop the scene and rewind.
The $$$$$ cost of movie ticket sealed it.

 

[Fading Fast]

I recall going to the “Convenience Store” to purchase candy prior to going to the
theater because the cost of goodies was conveniently lower than “concession candy”. I enjoyed sneaking it in to the
theater. Felt like a kid!
I stopped going to the movies because I could no longer tolerate sitting with strangers who would talk during a scene explaining to their moron friend what was coming up next.
But mostly because I was not able to
stop the scene and rewind.
The rising cost of movie ticket sealed it.
Last time I went to the movies, I saw
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
Was disappointed because I listened to
friends who went overboard on how great
it was.
Later I came to enjoy it at home but
once in a while Polo will poke me tell
me to watch the next scene.

Several years ago, we decided to invest in a new TV and sound bar (not super high end - Samsung) and stop going to the theater which, in NYC, was costing us $25 - $35 a movie between tickets (two @$10 -$11 each) and shared soda and popcorn or candy. We allow ourselves one movie in the theater a year, but used to go +/- six times a year, so we save ~$180 a year. That was about five years ago, in another three or four, we will have fully paid for our TV and sound bar.

The economics as described were compelling, but like you, we were not enjoying the experience either - others talking, sticky floors, twenty minutes of pre-views and sound too loud (when we go to our once-a-year movie, we are amazed at how loud they played movies - has it always been this way?). Also, getting there, waiting on line, shuffling out with a crowd was all annoying versus a darn good experience at home. We have even had years now where we didn't avail ourselves of our "one" movie because nothing hit our radar that made us want to go.

 

[2jakes]

Several years ago, we decided to invest in a new TV and sound bar (not super high end - Samsung) and stop going to the theater which, in NYC, was costing us $25 - $35 a movie between tickets (two @$10 -$11 each) and shared soda and popcorn or candy. We allow ourselves one movie in the theater a year, but used to go +/- six times a year, so we save ~$180 a year. That was about five years ago, in another three or four, we will have fully paid for our TV and sound bar.

The economics as described were compelling, but like you, we were not enjoying the experience either - others talking, sticky floors, twenty minutes of pre-views and sound too loud (when we go to our once-a-year movie, we are amazed at how loud they played movies - has it always been this way?). Also, getting there, waiting on line, shuffling out with a crowd was all annoying versus a darn good experience at home. We have even had years now where we didn't avail ourselves of our "one" movie because nothing hit our radar that made us want to go.

My take on movies in the big screen:

Growing up, movies was it.
There was no other entertainment at home except radio. Which I loved.
My imagination had no limits.
Movie tickets were cheap & so was the candy.
Movies included a serial, cartoons and
you could stay and watch as many times
as you wanted.

 

[Fading Fast]

My take on movies in the big screen:

Growing up, movies was it.
There was no other entertainment at home except radio. Which I loved.
My imagination had no limits.

I didn’t have television until I was
eight or nine.

Movie tickets were cheap & so was the candy.

Movies included a serial, cartoons and
you could stay and watch as many times
as you wanted.

As kids.... we put up with many things that as adults we won’t.

My movie experience growing up started with going to the movies with my grandmother as she loved them and took me to see what she wanted - so I was seeing movies for adults in the theater up to age 8 (when she passed away).

Then, we inherited her old B&W TV and put it in a small room were I discovered classic movies on Saturday and Sunday afternoons - I wasn't allowed to watch our main TV as my dad didn't want me "fooling with it," but basically, I had free reign over the antiquated one and developed a passion for "old" movies that continues to this day as can be seen by my obsessive watching of TCM.

My other movie experience was on some Saturday's when I'd go to the $2.50 matinee (mid '70s) - crummy theater (old, but not cool), but still was the highlight of the week.

With my grandmother, we'd go to some cool theaters that still let you come in when you wanted and stay as long as you wanted (we'd sometimes show up in the middle and then stay for the next showing until it go to the point in the movie where we had come in). The theater I went to later for the matinees didn't let you do that - and, in general, had an antagonism toward kids, especially kids without parental accompaniment like me.

But as a kid, noise, sticky floors, lines, prices (other than if I couldn't afford it, the "fairness" of the price never occurred to me), other people never hit my radar - going to the theater was just fun, period. Now, staying home and watching it without being annoyed is much more fun.

 

[2jakes]

My movie experience growing up started with going to the movies with my grandmother as she loved them and took me to see what she wanted - so I was seeing movies for adults in the theater up to age 8 (when she passed away).

Then, we inherited her old B&W TV and put it in a small room were I discovered classic movies on Saturday and Sunday afternoons - I wasn't allowed to watch our main TV as my dad didn't want me "fooling with it," but basically, I had free reign over the antiquated one and developed a passion for "old" movies that continues to this day as can be seen by my obsessive watching of TCM.

My other movie experience was on some Saturday's when I'd go to the $2.50 matinee (mid '70s) - crummy theater (old, but not cool), but still was the highlight of the week.

With my grandmother, we'd go to some cool theaters that still let you come in when you wanted and stay as long as you wanted (we'd sometimes show up in the middle and then stay for the next showing until it go to the point in the movie where we had come in). The theater I went to later for the matinees didn't let you do that - and, in general, had an antagonism toward kids, especially kids without parental accompaniment like me.

But as a kid, noise, sticky floors, lines, prices (other than if I couldn't afford it, the "fairness" of the price never occurred to me), other people never hit my radar - going to the theater was just fun, period. Now, staying home and watching it without being annoyed is much more fun.

The part about going to the flicks with your grandmother could have been written by me.
I can relate with what you write on most topics.
You think like me, and that’s spooky!


(Just kidding)

 

[2jakes]

 

[LizzieMaine]

I grew up always conscious of the movies as a way people earned their living. My uncle was a projectionist and later a theatre manager, and he always made sure we kids understood that it wasn't out of the goodness of his heart that we saw the movies: we paid full price for concessions just like anyone else, and to this day I would no more smuggle my own snacks into a theatre than I would take my own steak to a restaurant. Those who think they're sticking it to the man are really sticking it to the people who actually do the work in the theatre, and by doing so are stealing the bread right off their tables.

 

[dh66]

Came across this one today while out doing a little Sunday driving

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[ChiTownScion]

Every week, we try to take in a movie. Lately it's been primarily films on historical subjects, and our favorite companions are two of my lodge brothers and their wives, ex-pat Brits (with one Canadian) who seem to share our tastes. We usually enjoy a fine meal afterward, so concession purchases are usually soft drinks. One of the ladies is both a solicitor in the UK and an attorney here in the US. Her husband is an engineer. The other gentleman is with Lloyd's, and his wife is a divinity student. My wife is a master's degree - prepared pediatric nurse practitioner (with an MBA) and I'm also an attorney. The discussions afterward over dinner and drinks are often more entertaining- and thought provoking- than the feature. There's another film about Winston Churchill coming out in December: I can hardly wait.

The tickets run around $12. a pop, and it's reserved seating in those big recliner seats. The kind of films we choose rarely deal with dystopian future themes, or car crashes, or anything else that seems to draw mega crowds, so we rarely encounter a large audience. Therefore, yakking patrons really are not a factor.

I get what Lizzie says about hauling candy and such into a theatre: I always thought that it was kind of a tacky thing to do. Not sure that creating economic hardships for theatre employees ever played into that- I just thought that it was pinchpenny and low class. I remember an old roommate reaming a pastor of our then church about bringing in popcorn in, telling him that it reminded him of the same stunt being pulled by Walter Brennan on "The Real McCoys." Personally, I like my popcorn fresh and hot... but lately, my wife's struggles with her diet preclude that indulgence for the both of us.

 

[Fading Fast]

I grew up always conscious of the movies as a way people earned their living. My uncle was a projectionist and later a theatre manager, and he always made sure we kids understood that it wasn't out of the goodness of his heart that we saw the movies: we paid full price for concessions just like anyone else, and to this day I would no more smuggle my own snacks into a theatre than I would take my own steak to a restaurant. Those who think they're sticking it to the man are really sticking it to the people who actually do the work in the theatre, and by doing so are stealing the bread right off their tables.

I, too, was raised with a consciousness of / always aware of how people earned their living as working, earning a living, paying your bills was the closest thing we had to a religion in my house. It wasn't a money-is-God approach at all, but an earning-a-living / work-is-the-thing-that-every-thing-else-pivots-off-of view - no work, no money, no anything else (was first tenant in my parent's view - the depression will do that to a person).

And you hit on the thing often lost in the "sticking it to the man" approach: who is the man / what is his history / why does he deserve to have "it stuck to him?"

My grandmother had a brutal life - husband died during the depression leaving her a small business that was all but bankrupt, a house mortgaged to the hilt and a young son. She lost the house, moved into a tenement and barely hung onto the business by the skin of her teeth. Fast forward thirty years (and past weeks of seven days of twelve-plus hour work) and she's a successful small business woman, far from rich, but if you met her in 1960 she was reasonably comfortable.

As with almost any small business (her's sold small appliances, watches, shavers, etc.), shoplifting was an issue as was deceptive returns and, a few times, outright burglary. I often wonder if any of those shoplifters or cheaters or burglars thought, "oh, I'm just sticking it to this old "rich" woman, etc." This "rich" woman lived in the same tenement she moved into in desperation in the '30s because she wasn't rich and was scared of over-extending herself. Oh, when she died, we discovered that she had given money to many people and tore up account receivables from needy customers for decades (and she had never said anything about this to any of us).

Yup, "sticking to the man (to her)" really made sense since she was so "the man -" that makes my blood boil. People who rightfully would never judge a desperately poor or homeless person as we have no idea what their life was about / what forces resulted in them being in their present situation, will look at a successful person and immediately decide they are "rich," "bourgeois," "the man," "the establishment," "undeserving -" it's as equally disgusting as any other surface judgment.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

I never eat or drink anything at the movies; I hate having to get up in the middle of a flick to go pee...I'm afraid I'll miss something, lol.

Rob

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Rob

 

[LizzieMaine]

They built that Sinclair station from stuff they salvaged from the abandoned minature-golf course down the street.

 

[Fading Fast]

They built that Sinclair station from stuff they salvaged from the abandoned minature-golf course down the street.

A better response than mine, which was "what the h*ll!"

 

[Benzadmiral]

Rob

Lemme guess. Straight outta Compton? L.A. or environs, ca. 1957.