Long lines, no gas: 1979's odd-even gas rationing

This WPIX report from June 1979 will take you back to the first day of odd-even gas rationing, and how New Yorkers were coping with it. Frank Casey reports.

[TS-efgv]

I was military and stationed out of state during the '79 - '80 rationing. In the state where I was stationed, to prevent out of state travelers who were passing through the state from being stranded because they were there on the "wrong" day to buy gas, odd-even rationing did not apply to vehicles with out of state license plates. My car was registered back in my home state so I could buy gas on any day I needed it. However, I still had to find stations that still had gas to sell and sit in line like everyone else. It was not uncommon for stations to completely run out of gas until their next delivery day, which made even longer the lines at stations that still had gas to sell.

Sometimes we'd sit in line for however long, half an hour, whatever, and just when we were about to finally make it to the pumps they'd put out the "Out of Gas" signs. Everyone who had been waiting in line would then have to go find another station that still had gas, get in line, and start the whole wait over again.

Back then it was much more rare for gas stations to be open 24-7, so you couldn't go get gas late at night when fewer people were out. It limited pretty much everyone to finding gas during the day and evening, which made the lines even longer. The odd-even rationing system would not work now with self serve pumps and "personalized" license plates with all letters and no numbers. Also, back then it was much more rare for people to have more than one car, so swapping license plates between cars to get around the odd-even system was less likely than it would be now.

[Jake-rsnq]

Even half a century ago, people thought the President controlled gas prices. Wild 😂

[sambradley]

I remember this all too well. I've experienced it twice, (1973-74, 1979-80). 💰🙄

[Thomass]

Ah the Good ole days. Thanks for sharing.

[tamratmekuria]

The great Frank Casey. One of the first African American television reporter's in the NYC area. One of my role models growing up

[muffsmercury]

Unlike the 1973-74 go around, we didn't have many long lines in the 1979-80 turn. The price nearly doubled though in a few months from 55 cents a gallon in Nov, 1979 to $1 by Feb, 1980. A month later it was $1.30 and then it came down to about $1.10-1.15 and stayed that way for about 15 years.

[wessexfox]

2024 is shaping up to look a lot like 1980. What a mess we’re in, not just in America but I can tell as an Englishman these kinda scenes we’re seeing again just like in the late 70s.

[MarcusPearl]

Anyone else think he sounds like Morgan freeman ?

[gcbranger]

there were some nice stylish cars back then. wish i could pay $1.15 for a gallon now.

[telcobilly]

I returned to the US in April '79 just when gas was going up .50 per gallon to .80+ in Dallas. Big V8 cars were selling at firesale prices the next year..

[letthetruthbetold]

I thought that guy narrating sounds like Morgan Freeman lol

[williamwilson]

I was in Germany as a 3rd ID soldier for the first half of 1979 so didn’t experience any of this.

The second half, I was in Florida and I don’t remember any issues getting gasoline when I needed it.

Remember seeing it on television but that’s about it.

[larrygro]

The lady that said there is no gas shortage was right on.

[newlam]

I just got my drivers license when this happened. I also remember my Mom waiting in long gas lines in 1974.

[Victoria-shfd]

Look at the size of some of those cars. Like boats. Probably all 8 cylinders and 12 mpg. I think this was the start of when compact cars became popular.

[JM-yxlm]

That black reporter sure does sound like a young Morgan Freeman!! Awesome!

[SheepofTheShepherd-nulz]

🤔over 40 years ago and sounds very familiar

I was a kid in the seventies and remember my dad talking about the oil crisis and him saying the oil drums were full

It's all about greed and control folks

[rr]

The guy at 0:54 was in two gas lines and still doesn't have a tank of gas because he drives a 73 Cadillac with a 472 c.i. that gets seven miles to the gallon. The gas light turns on in those cars when it gets to a half a tank. But I'd drive one Lol!

[windellmcspindell]

I'd wait in line for hours, finally make it up to the pump, fill up, then go to the back of the line and burn all my gas out waiting to make it back up to the pump again. I would repeat this all day long and do it again two days later. Suddenly, my gas bill was killing me and I couldn't figure out why. I was a bit neurotic back then.

[NextNate]

For a second there, I thought I was hearing Morgan Freeman.