Things Everyone Did In The 1960s That Zoomers Would Consider Insane Today

Things Everyone Did In The 1960s That Zoomers Would Consider Insane Today


May 1, 2025 | Alex Summers

Things Everyone Did In The 1960s That Zoomers Would Consider Insane Today


Bizarre 1960s Routines 

The 1960s were a golden era for beehive hairdos and Beatles mania, but everyday habits back then could leave today's youth scratching their heads in disbelief.

Intro

Memorizing Every Phone Number You Needed

Before smartphones put every contact into a neat little app, people treated phone numbers like sacred knowledge. You memorized your parents', your best friend's, your boss's, and even your neighbor's. Forgetting could mean real trouble, especially during emergencies. 

Deniz KyzyltoprakDeniz Kyzyltoprak, Pexels

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Using A Telephone Operator To Make A Call

Long-distance calling wasn't as simple as tapping a name on a screen. Instead, you spoke to a real live operator who manually connected your call, which added a strange mix of anticipation and awkwardness to every conversation. Operators were the lifeline to someone across town or across the country. 

Grayscale Photo of Telephone Operators in their workplace.Mark Mathosian, Flickr

Hitchhiking Without A Second Thought

Back in the 1960s, sticking out your thumb by the side of the road wasn't considered reckless. College students and everyday folks regularly relied on strangers to get where they were going. It has been replaced by rideshare apps and a healthy dose of skepticism. 

Young man is Hitchhiking - 1940sU.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Picryl

Smoking Indoors Everywhere

Lighting up a cigarette while shopping for groceries or sitting in a hospital waiting room was quite normal. Smoke filled every restaurant and office without a second thought. Non-smoking sections barely existed, and if they did, they were laughably ineffective. 

no smoking sign on streetBokeh Blur Background, Shutterstock

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Leaving The Front Door Unlocked At Night

Security systems and video doorbells didn't exist because people didn't think they needed them. In many neighborhoods, it was normal and even expected to leave your front door unlocked, day or night. Fast-forward to today, and the thought of sleeping with an open door seems absolutely impractical. 

Plato TerentevPlato Terentev, Pexels

Mailing In Bills And Waiting Weeks For Processing

Today's instant online payments would seem like magic to a 1960s household. Back then, paying bills involved writing checks by hand and mailing them off in stamped envelopes. Then came the real patience test—waiting weeks for the payment to be processed and cleared. 

HOA NightmaresPxHere

Sharing One Family Car Or None At All

Having even one family car was a big deal. And if you did, it was everyone's car, not just Dad's. Families juggled work, school, shopping, and social lives around a single set of wheels. Some households didn't own a car at all. 

Something is Wrong factsPixabay

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Listening To Entire Vinyl Albums Without Skipping

Flipping through playlists or skipping to your favorite song didn't exist in a world ruled by vinyl records. You dropped the needle and let the music play exactly as the artist intended, track after track. Listening demanded patience and a genuine love for every part of the album. 

KellyKelly, Pexels

Watching TV On A Tiny Black-And-White Screen

Home entertainment in the 1960s meant crowding around a small black-and-white television with shaky reception and rabbit ear antennas. If you were lucky, your family had one of the newer models, but most screens were barely bigger than today's laptop displays. The visuals were grainy, and the sound was mono. 

Young girl watching TVRon Lach, Pexels

Getting Dressed Up To Go Shopping Downtown

Running errands was an event worth dressing for. Men wore slacks and polished shoes, and women styled their hair while wearing their best dresses. Heading to the department store felt almost ceremonial. Sweats and flip-flops wouldn't have passed the front door.

three women walking on roadLes Anderson, Unsplash

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Writing Thank You Notes For Every Gift

Those short Thank You text messages? Some people don't even send them today. But back then, gratitude was a handwritten, heartfelt note sent through the mail. Whether for birthday socks or a casserole dish, writing thank-you notes was a non-negotiable ritual. 

File:White House Staff Members Accept Gifts from Colombian Group.jpgThe U.S. National Archives, Wikimedia Commons

Reading Newspapers Cover To Cover Every Morning

Morning routines in the 1960s didn't start with scrolling a phone. They began by rustling open a thick newspaper and soaking every headline and comic strip. News arrived in inky black and white, often with yesterday's baseball scores and tomorrow's stock forecasts.

File:Garden furniture, portrait, man, newspaper, garden, reading, summer Fortepan 19565.jpgFOTO:Fortepan — ID 19565: Adományozó/Donor: Unknown. archive copy at the Wayback Machine, Wikimedia Commons

Using A Typewriter For Written Work

Before the age of laptops and tablets, clacking away on a typewriter was the only way to create anything official. Every typo was a minor disaster, often requiring a white-out or a full retype. Writing letters or business documents demanded precision and patience.

Min AnMin An, Pexels

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Drinking From The Same Garden Hose As Your Friends

On hot summer days, there was no running inside for a filtered water bottle. Kids lined up and drank straight from the garden hose, metal taste and all. It was part of outdoor adventures and backyard marathons. Hygiene concerns barely crossed anyone's mind, and nobody thought twice about sharing. 

Drinking From The Same Garden Hose As Your FriendsOlesia Tamilovych , shutterstock

Eating Dinner At Exactly The Same Time Every Night

Family life ran on strict schedules, and dinner was the anchor. At six o'clock sharp, not whenever you felt like it, everyone gathered around the table with conversations flowing. Meals were about daily rituals and checking in. These predictable rhythms stood in stark contrast to today's grab-and-go culture.

File:Family eating meal.jpgNational Cancer Institute, Wikimedia Commons

Shopping From Thick Mail-Order Catalogs

Forget online shopping. Back in the day, ordering something without instant gratification was exciting. Sears and JCPenney catalogs turned shopping into an event, with glossy pages promising everything from bicycles to wedding dresses. You circled your picks, mailed your order form, and waited—sometimes for months. 

Shopping From Thick Mail-Order CatalogsUnintentional ASMR: 1980 JC Penney Christmas Catalog by Patrick’s Attic

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Dialing A Rotary Phone For Every Call

Making a simple phone call once involved methodically spinning a rotary dial for each number. Mis-dial, and you had to start over. There was a satisfying charm to the process, but also a real risk of finger cramps if you were in a hurry. 

File:Telefon BW 2012-02-18 13-44-32.JPGBerthold Werner, Wikimedia Commons

Saving TV Guides To Know What Was On Next Week

Long before scrolling through endless streaming menus, families relied on slim little booklets called TV Guides. These tiny magazines told you exactly when and where your favorite shows would air, days in advance. Planning your viewing schedule became almost a family meeting. 

File:Family watching television 1958.jpgEvert F. Baumgardner, Wikimedia Commons

Heating Up Food On The Stove, Not In A Microwave

Reheating leftovers wasn't a matter of pushing a few buttons. You had to fire up the stove and carefully warm your meal without scorching it. Microwaves were still a futuristic fantasy for most households. Today's instant meals can be zapped in under a minute.

File:Holzwarth Ranch stove, RMNP, CO IMG 5350.JPGBilly Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons

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Wearing Gloves As Part Of Everyday Outfits

Fashion in the 1960s demanded a finishing touch: gloves. Whether attending church or heading to a luncheon, women, in particular, wouldn't dream of leaving home without a stylish pair. Gloves symbolized elegance and good manners. They were also essential accessories. 

File:Man and woman, men, bicycle, excursion, lady, Weiss Manfréd-brand, skirt, vest, summer dresses, gloves, snocks, sandal, handbag Fortepan 13128.jpgFOTO:Fortepan — ID 13128: Adományozó/Donor: Hegedűs Judit. archive copy at the Wayback Machine, Wikimedia Commons

Setting The Alarm Clock By Hand Each Night

There was no snooze button. People had to manually set little ticking alarm clocks, twist dials, and cross their fingers so that the bell would ring loud enough to yank them out of sleep. Unlike today's world of customizable wake-up tunes and smart alarms, the mechanical clatter was the daily soundtrack.

Nino SouzaNino Souza, Pexels

Using "Party Lines" To Share A Phone Connection

Private phone calls? Think again. Many families in the 1960s shared what were known as "party lines"—single telephone lines split among multiple households. Picking up the phone could mean hearing your neighbor chatting away, which forces you to wait for your turn. 

File:The Bell System technical journal (1922) (14733168616).jpgInternet Archive Book Images, Wikimedia Commons

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Walking Or Biking Miles To School Without Parental Worry

Children once roamed their neighborhoods freely, trekking to school without supervision or GPS tracking. Walking or biking several miles each day was just another part of growing up. Parents trusted that their kids would arrive safely without even a phone call to confirm it. 

File:A group of children in winter coats walking to or from school.jpgUnknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

Practicing Penmanship Like It Was A Life Skill

Students spent hours mastering perfect cursive loops and straight margins, often graded with the same seriousness as math or science. Sloppy handwriting could hold you back academically. Fast forward to today's thumb-tapping, and the idea of spending classroom time perfecting slants would seem outdated.

File:Pen-writing-notes-studying.jpgTookapic, Wikimedia Commons

Relying On A Slide Rule For Math And Engineering

Calculators are now in every pocket. However, there was a time when solving complex equations meant wielding a slide rule. This curious-looking tool was a lifeline for engineers and students. Modern users, who expect instant answers from devices, might marvel at the sheer brainwork involved.

File:Sliderule.PickettN902T.agr.jpgArnoldReinhold, Wikimedia Commons

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Waiting A Week To See Your Vacation Photos

Vacation photos didn't flood social media within minutes of being snapped. You carefully loaded film into your camera and snapped your shots sparingly. Then, you dropped the roll off at the drugstore. Next came the agonizing week-long wait to see whether your memories turned out blurry or completely magical. 

File:35mm movie negative.jpgRunner1616, Wikimedia Commons

Getting "Dressed Up" To Fly On An Airplane

Flying wasn't treated like hopping on a city bus. Travelers viewed air travel as a luxury experience, and they dressed accordingly. No sweatpants or flip-flops were to be seen. Boarding a plane felt closer to attending a gala than squeezing into a coach. 

File:Stratocruiser op Schiphol, Bestanddeelnr 903-5913.jpgNationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons

Using Flashbulbs For Photography That Had To Be Replaced After Each Shot

Taking a photograph wasn't an endless spree of selfies. For the perfect lighting, flashbulbs were used and could only fire once, then had to be manually swapped out before the next picture. You planned every shot carefully, knowing mistakes wasted film and hardware. 

File:Brownie Hawkeye with Flash.jpgRichard F. Lyon (User:Dicklyon), Wikimedia Commons

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Buying Ice Cream Exclusively From A Truck Or Parlor

Grabbing a pint from the grocery store freezer was not the norm. If you craved ice cream, you waited for the ice cream truck or made a special trip to a local parlor. Freezers at home were often too small to stash cartons anyway.

File:Bluebells of Derby - Luxury Ice Cream Parlour - Tramway Street, Crich Tramway Village - National Tramway Museum - Crich (15375445001).jpgElliott Brown from Birmingham, United Kingdom, Wikimedia Commons

Ironing Every Single Article Of Clothing

The wrinkle-free fabric didn't come naturally, and ironing wasn't reserved for formal shirts. People ironed everyday dresses, handkerchiefs, socks, and even bedsheets. A perfectly pressed look symbolized respectability and pride, and ironing boards lived in every household like proud, ever-ready soldiers. 

 HouseholdUnknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Allowing Children To Ride In Cars Without Seatbelts

Piling into the back seat without a seatbelt, or even sitting on laps, was just part of the 1960s driving experience. Cars didn't come standard with the safety features we take for granted today, and seatbelts were often ignored. Kids tumbled around during sharp turns without anyone batting an eye. 

cottonbro studiocottonbro studio, Pexels

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Receiving Door-To-Door Milk Deliveries

The world of mega grocery stores and same-day online orders makes the personal touch of the milkman feel like a scene ripped from a vintage movie. Milkmen in crisp white uniforms brought milk, eggs, butter, and even cheese right to your doorstep.

File:Women Deliver the Milk in Wartime Britain, 1942 D8131.jpgMinistry of Information Photo Division Photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Listening To Radio Shows Like Soap Operas And Serial Dramas

Television hadn't fully conquered the entertainment world yet, and radio dramas remained a beloved staple. Families would gather around the living room radio, hanging on every word of a cliffhanger soap opera or thrilling detective story where imagination filled in the visuals. 

File:Opname van een hoorspel Recording a radio play.jpgWiel van der Randen, Wikimedia Commons

Sharing A Single Bathroom Among Large Families

Morning routines in big families weren't for the faint of heart when only one bathroom stood between ten people and the start of the day. Lines formed in the hallway, and arguments over mirror time were daily events. Scheduling meant survival. 

File:Hundertwasser toilet in Kawakawa.jpgPhil Whitehouse from London, United Kingdom, Wikimedia Commons

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Cleaning Houses With Only Brooms And Elbow Grease

Robotic vacuums and fancy spray mops didn't exist back then. A broom, a sturdy mop, a bucket of suds, and sheer human effort were the main cleaning arsenal. Every dusty corner and sticky spill required sweat equity. Without shortcuts or gadgets, tidying up was a serious workout. 

File:The Girl Guides Association in Britain, 1914-1918 Q27921.jpgLewis, George P. (Photographer), Wikimedia Commons

Wearing Plastic Rain Bonnets When It Started To Drizzle

When sudden rain threatened a perfectly styled bouffant or pompadour, out came the trusty plastic rain bonnet. Folded neatly in purses, these transparent covers shielded hairstyles from the elements without sacrificing visibility. Practicality trumped fashion, though back then, the bonnets themselves were considered quite chic. 

Young Woman Chuot Anhls, Pexels

Accepting Paddling Or Spanking As Normal School Punishment

Discipline in schools once included a firm whack with a wooden paddle right in front of classmates if necessary. Teachers were given the green light to dole out physical punishment without parental permission. It was seen as part of character-building, not controversy. 

File:Palmeta de castigo.jpgMuseo de la Educación, Wikimedia Commons

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Sharing Soda Bottles Or Sandwiches Casually Among Friends

Passing around a bottle of soda or splitting a sandwich with bare hands was no big deal. Germs were an afterthought, if they were thought of at all. Friends shared everything without hesitation: drinks, snacks, and even the occasional lollipop. Hygiene standards were too relaxed. 

children drinking sodaMax Fischer, Pexels

Washing Dishes By Hand After Every Meal

Without dishwashers humming quietly, washing dishes was a manual, often tedious, family affair. Hot water, soap, a sponge, and a rack for drying were the tools of the trade. Every plate and glass went through soapy hands, and dish duty usually rotated among siblings or landed squarely on the kids.

MART  PRODUCTIONMART PRODUCTION, Pexels

Reading Road Maps Spread Across The Front Seat

Before GPS told drivers where to turn every few seconds, road trips began with unfolding a massive paper map across the front seat. Traveling meant deciphering tiny town names and guessing distances with a finger or a ruler. Wrong turns were almost a given, and arguments over directions became legendary.

cottonbro studiocottonbro studio, Pexels

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Answering The Phone Without Knowing The Caller

Caller ID didn't exist, so every ring of the phone was a mystery in the 1960s. You simply picked up and said "hello," ready for anything from Grandma's hour-long chat to a stranger's wrong number. It took guts and curiosity to answer without knowing who was on the other end. Do you think you can do it today?

File:2024-05-03 Black rotary phone 1.jpgMaxim75, Wikimedia Commons

Accepting Candy Or Soda From Strangers

Believe it or not, accepting sweets from strangers was seen as a neighborly gesture. Kids thought nothing of taking a soda or a candy from adults they barely knew. Kindness was assumed, not questioned. In today's world of "stranger danger" education and hyper-vigilance, this attitude would feel risky. 

syd.trgt ✪syd.trgt ✪, Pexels

Fixing Cars Yourself With A Basic Toolkit

When cars were simpler machines, fixing them didn't require a mechanical engineering degree. A basic toolkit and a little common sense could handle everything from changing a belt to tweaking a carburetor. Weekends often involved tuning up the family car right in the driveway. 

Mehmet Turgut  KirkgozMehmet Turgut Kirkgoz, Pexels

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Letting Gas Station Attendants Pump Gas For You

Pulling into a gas station once meant staying comfortably behind the wheel while an attendant in a crisp uniform filled your tank, checked your oil, and washed your windshield. Tipping was optional, but the service was automatic. Self-serve pumps didn’t dominate until much later. Today, this might seem like rich people's behavior.

Horrible Workers Flickr, Peretz Partensky


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