Life at the Gas Station - 1950s & 1960s America in Color

Take a road trip down memory lane to the local gas station for some fun and fuel. During the 1950's and 1960's gas stations started popping up all over America due to ever increasing car ownership. American's needed somewhere to fill up all those cars right? From the big city to the rural countryside just about every American got to experience this newfound car culture and with it the rise of the gas station.

1950s #1960s #americana

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#1950s #1960s #americana

[playlist]

Worked at a Standard Oil Station in the early 70's. One of my life's lessons... These truly were Full Service Stations. Elderly people would bring their license plates in. They were regular customers, we would put them on for free. One old guy, very well to do, but also a great guy, tried to tip me. I said, oh, thanks but no, just doin' my job. He gave me allot of free advice, but this time he put his hand on my shoulder and said, "kid, when someone bothers to give you money for something you did for them, you take it. You might think you are just doin' your job, but they obviously think you're doing more than that. If you refuse their tip, you are insulting them, taking away their ability to show their appreciation. Take the money." I took the tip, and I pass the advice on to this day. Man, those were great times! P.S. When a kid initially refuses my tip, I know he/she was raised right.

[alanhumphrey]

I always remember riding into a Texaco with my dad and he'd say "fill-er up". I always liked to get a state road map too...My dad lived from 1934-2020 and always believed that he saw the best years that this country ever experienced. I am a firm believer in the fact that he was absolutely correct!! I am 66 years old..born 1955.

[elmermason]

With the way things are nowadays, I sure wish I had a time machine. I grew up during those times and I really miss them. Kids these days have no idea what they missed. Thanks for the memories.

[edwardcook]

I was born in 1966 and grew up in a small town (population 3000) in the Texas panhandle that had a Conoco station. It was family-owned and operated. They continued offering full service into the 1990s. I can remember going there with my dad to get the car serviced, watching the attendant use the old clothes wringer on the chamois he used to clean the windows, getting a Frostie root beer from the pop machine (glass bottles at 25 cents), and dad getting a pack of Belair Kings out of the cigarette machine (50 cents a pack). They would add a quart of oil
(Quaker State) from the cardboard can you used a punch-in spout to pour from. Once I got my 10-speed bike, I would go up there to get my tire patched when I had a flat. Never charged me for it. When I got my first car (1960 Ford Falcon sedan), that is the only place I went to get gas (when they still had regular leaded gasoline).
Watched gasoline go from 39 cents a gallon to $1.29 a gallon. Mom and Dad called it highway robbery.

It is a downright shame these places don't exist anymore. We have become a society of instant gratification seekers. We don't have time to wait while someone services our vehicle because we are in such an all-fired hurry to go to work, go home, go to the grocery store, go to the restaurant, go anywhere, but we don't have time to stop and have our car serviced and engage in a little friendly conversation.

[bradjames]

I wish I had a time machine to travel back to that era, then break the time machine and stay there for the rest of my life

[kathyrizzi]

I was born in 1949, so I got to live in the best times, ever. The 70’s were good too, I’d go back in a heartbeat if I could! 🥰

[robbieholroyd]

Was the greatest time to be alive born in 54 I remember when the world looked like these pictures and what great cars. I forgot about the bell that would ring when you ran the hose over. Even worked in a couple growing up.what great memories these flashbacks bring

[Smuggler]

I was born in 1972. I watch this and smile and feel a sense of comfort. Some of those ole gas stations still remain sitting derelict. I drive by them and think about a bygone era.

[parkjv]

My father had a Texaco station in Tennessee back in the late 1950’s, early 1960’s. It was a great time to visit dad at work for a young kid.

[lawdog]

I worked some of these gas stations while in high school. We gave away everything from dishes, cups, glasses, Coca Cola, S&H Green Stamps and Blue Chip Stamps. A really good time in life. Too bad it went away.

[buckeyefangirl]

Yep they cleaned your windshield, pumped your gas, checked your tires and oil. And those old Coke machines kept bottles so cold. Great memories. Thanks.

[godbluffvdgg]

As a child in the 60's I caught the end of this era...That short window between the end of Korea and the beginning of Nam was an amazing era in America...Station wagons, Drive in movies, Sock hops, CYO sports, baseball on the radio...It wasn't a perfect time but it was a fun one...

[itinerantpatriot]

With the world getting batshit crazier by the minute I truly enjoy videos like this that remind me of my childhood. "You can trust your car to the man who wears the star." I remember Dad bringing home Texaco Fire Chief hats for me and my brother from the station around the corner. I especially liked the pictures of Boron stations. There was a Boron near us with a two-bay garage run by a nice elderly gentleman. He would fix the flats on our bikes for free when I was a kid. I am ashamed to admit I forget his name. I know there was a lot of craziness in the 60s but it was a great time to be a kid. Thanks for posting.

[larrydiaz]

I remember going to the Arco Gas Station close to my house with my dad. As soon as we pulled in Mr. Buddy would come out fill up my dads truck talk with him while cleaning the windows, checking the oil, air presssure and my pop would also buy us a ice cold pepsi. It was still sold in bottles and they were so cold as soon as he pop the cap off ice would form and it was the best tasting drink on a hot summer day. We always called him Mr. Bud and my dad always made sure we said thank you to him. It was the late 1960's and early 70's and things stayed this way up until the gas shortage in the late 70's and things changed. You never had to prepay the gas you filled up first then paid or the employees would pump the gas for you. They were always in uniform and every gas station also had bathrooms and a garage for repairs. My Dad always paid with his charge card that was not electronic and was just manually run and they gave you this see through receipt. It was the greatest time to be a kid then . I miss those days.

[williamking]

I remember those days as a kid traveling across the country with my mom and dad. My dad was in the military service so everytime he was transferred to a new military base, we got on the road. Was able to see the whole country that way. Life was simple and less chaotic. I wish I could leave the chaos of today behind and go back to those wonderful times.

[Pengo]

Back when life was simple and family mattered, I remember when you’d pull up to a full service station and the attendant would have his keys on a retractable cable on his belt and would open the cashbox that was on the end of the island.

[phillyspecial]

In 1968 I had new VW Beetle. Filled up the gas tank for $5 and ran it for two weeks. Great times!

[Walkercolt]

I worked pumping gas from 1967 to 1973 so I know more about it first hand than you'll ever know. '60's cars had "hidden" gas filler caps so I had to know where they were. I had to know HOW to open every car's hood (VERY few interior hood releases) and where the oil and transmission dipsticks were. I had to know where your battery was and how to check it and your radiator and your windshield washer reservoir and fill it. I checked your tires and brought you an ice-cold soft drink from our ice-salt water cooler at 28*F and your "Pop" would turn into a "shlushy" when I opened it! (2 cents deposit for the bottle please!) I was too young (under 21 in OK) to sell you cigarettes but I'd get my driveway manager to bring them and I'd light them with my Zippo.

[pattyheitzman]

In the 50s, my late father owned a Gulf gas station and auto repair shop in Jensen Beach, Florida.

[gp]

Beautiful picture, children dressed very nicely, men dressed like men, good manners still existed.