User:Doug butler

This user is a married retired science/electronics tech born in Hindmarsh, South Australia. He remembers ...

  • When "Made in Japan" and "Made in Germany" meant cheap inferior goods.
  • Pledge at school assembly (hand on heart, literally): I am an Australian /I love my country, the British Empire /I salute her flag /I honour her king, King George the Sixth /. . . rest mercifully forgotten
  • When kids played in pugholes and rode pushbikes to school. Real bike tracks on Port Road and Anzac Highway.
  • Cracker night 5 November. Squibs, jumping jacks, penny bungers, Catherine wheels, throwdowns and sparklers so bright they hurt your eyes
  • When South Road had six different names: Shillabeer Ave, Govt. Rd, John St., Taylors Rd, Fisher Tce, South Rd.
  • When ABC announcers (and we technical staff) wore a suit and tie and the Adelaide studios were packed into a converted church and stables in Hindmarsh Square.
  • When a bottle of beer (26 imperial fluid ounces (740 ml) only size sold), a packet of Rothmans® and a gallon of Super each cost 3/3d (32c), and a 45RPM single nearly three times that, at 9/3d (92c). Equivalent goods now roughly $6, $25, $6 and $2!
  • ½d refund on beer bottles, 2d refund on coke bottles 6 imperial fluid ounces (170 ml) the only size sold.
  • 6 O'clock closing, men only in the front bar and "under-age" meant under 21.
  • Eight movie theatres in the city: God Save the Queen (everyone stood) then newsreel and two movies.
  • Johnnies, Amscol, Hall's, Woodroofe's, Waltham's and The Hobby Shop on Gawler Place, Robby's at the Port.