tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post8925082214043595688..comments2023-10-10T12:16:27.746-04:00Comments on The Other Side of the Mountain: Western Auto and bikes...H. Gillhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866823621648796335noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-33482957796293851572017-02-07T21:45:41.175-05:002017-02-07T21:45:41.175-05:00If it makes you feel any better, I had a shiny, ne...If it makes you feel any better, I had a shiny, new bike in 1971- a purple Schwinn, and someone stole it right out of our carport. I never learned to ride a bike without training wheels...but at least I have memories and 2 photos. (I think it was purchased at Western Auto or Lionel Leisure City- I lived off Buford Highway.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-2787514547933788502012-12-25T11:13:31.200-05:002012-12-25T11:13:31.200-05:00Nice memories! My sis worked at the WA in Milledge...Nice memories! My sis worked at the WA in Milledgeville when it was in a two-story building. The upper story was for storage. I got a basketball goal from her for Christmas in '74. I had mixed feelings since it was packaged in a TV box. My fleeting glee diminished upon opening the box- but not too badly. I knew I was not a candidate for a TV.<br /><br />Remember the Truetone radios? Mom and Dad had one on their dresser for years. <br /><br />I miss Western Auto and its variety. Stores presently using the name are independently owned do it with the permission of the brand's owner (Advance). No longer is it the same WA.<br /><br />KTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-16100591785704581422011-06-11T20:28:49.629-04:002011-06-11T20:28:49.629-04:00Oh that picture took me back! I remember Western A...Oh that picture took me back! I remember Western Auto very well! Once my Dad had a job at a pool hall downtown and I loved going in there. It was all so mysterious and dark (and he would give me a "milkshake" candy bar. Oh what wonderful memories. <br /><br />I feel bad you never had a new bike, but glad you had Marcie :-) I will never forget my shiny new schwinn when I was ten. I remember riding it around on Christmas morning in the cold, with my synthetic white fur coat!<br /><br />Oh the joy and wonder of all those memories, I am so glad God gave us those! LoriLori Heydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800167686537384791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-344624367704724412011-04-04T14:00:59.720-04:002011-04-04T14:00:59.720-04:00This story made me think of going to see my Granny...This story made me think of going to see my Granny at the Dimestore where she worked.It was in one of the older buildings in Live Oak and it had hardwood floors.It had a comfortable feeling and smell.I wandered the toy isles for hours.Rebellious Naturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08606628841423271027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-26786342990525423772011-03-30T14:41:46.326-04:002011-03-30T14:41:46.326-04:00Uhm...not sure why the spacing on my last post is ...Uhm...not sure why the spacing on my last post is so off...sorry about that!Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13570111691860959014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-76098868682208985612011-03-30T14:40:55.586-04:002011-03-30T14:40:55.586-04:00One of my Dad's first jobs in this country was...One of my Dad's first jobs in this country was working for a friend's<br />business called Stereo House. They installed car stereos, alarms and<br />always had extra car related materials like belts and tires on the<br />racks too. I think there may have also been a small garage out back<br />that another colleague rented to do some body work. The place was<br />always packed.<br /><br />I'd wake up early on Saturday mornings when my mother wasn't going to<br />make clean and head in with Dad, to, you know, see if I could help out<br />with anything at the store. Dad was the accountant (but he'd help with<br />parts too) so I mostly ran papers back and forth from one<br />office/employee to the other. I'd straighten things out on shelves or<br />vacuum the dark blue industrial carpet stained with car grease. I<br />think for me it was more about the time spent with my dad rather than<br />the shop itself. (Well, that and getting away from my mother for a few<br />hours, LOL)<br /><br />I learned to ride a bike when I was eight, on my cousins pink one. It<br />had a huge plastic basket in the front with plastic yellow daisies<br />punched into it. I wish that thing had been made of straw because<br />every time I fell off, my body would somehow propel itself forward and<br />my forearms would catch the top of that plastic basket and oh man, how<br />that hurt!<br /><br />I've never had my own bike. As one of four kids as well, I just never<br />asked for one, thinking it'd be a hardship for my parents. My siblings<br />each had one, having asked for them but I just couldn't do it. The<br />funny thing is I would've actually ridden mine all over and did do<br />that with my older brother's. I can probably count all the times my<br />brothers and sister ever rode theirs COLLECTIVELY on one hand.<br /><br />Hmm...I think I may go get myself a bike this next pay day, LOL<br /><br />Oh! And I didn't have many Barbies either. My paternal grandmother<br />made all of their outfits for me by hand from scraps but gosh, they<br />were just beautiful and the quality of the Mattel line paled in<br />comparison to hers. She even knit a few of the dresses and I kept them<br />all, along with the dolls and Jill has them today.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13570111691860959014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-56628583298570739932011-03-14T10:11:46.929-04:002011-03-14T10:11:46.929-04:00From my friend, Gary, via email:
I too have Weste...From my friend, Gary, via email:<br /><br />I too have Western Auto memories. Dad would take the car in for service and I would also hang out and look at the new bikes. I also remember that rubber smell. And ashtrays. There were always men smoking out front and even inside in those days. (Second hand smoke be damned!!) When I got a little older they had a small waiting area with a black and white television that had a horrible picture or "rolled".<br />All my siblings and I had Western Auto bikes. I think it was the 90 days same as cash policy that allowed my parents to get us one each when we reached a certain age. Santa brought them. I still have scars from the crashes; mostly when I was playing Evel Knievel and jumping small animals or ditches or whatever.<br />A few years ago we bought our twins new Honda racing bikes with multiple speeds and shock absorbers. They hardly ever rode them. They laugh at me when I tell them about riding my ten speed for ten or fifteen miles away from my house when I was in Junior High.<br />They missed out.<br />This weekend I think I'll take them to the Goodyear auto center and hang out. Maybe I'll even start smoking again.<br /><br />and then after we responding in email, he gave a little more:<br /><br />I had forgotten about things like Western Auto. I don't know why dad took me and my brother-15 months older? The last thing I would want is some sniveling little kid at my feet.<br />My uncle owned a car dealership and we used to go hang out there also. It was cool because my uncle used to buy us coca-colas and peanuts in the little bag. The guys in the shop would show us how you put the peanuts in your coke and drink it all at once.<br />It was a big deal for someone to buy you a coke! We didn't have much money and only got coke on Friday nights when Mom didn't really cook. That was the night we had Hamburgers or hotdogs and occasionally Bar-b-que from a can. Always on wax paper so Mom didn't have dishes to do and always with potato chips as a side dish, pushed over into the corner of the wax paper. Sometimes Dad would surprise us with grape Nehi or Orange Crush!<br />They only bought the one bag of chips. When we got older there was more availability of cokes and things. I guess they had a little more money. Now my kids go through six to ten bags of chips a week and we buy sodas by the twelve pack, two or three at a time.H. Gillhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16866823621648796335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-87734022320398482632011-03-10T17:34:59.199-05:002011-03-10T17:34:59.199-05:00At the nearby local shopping center (anchored by t...At the nearby local shopping center (anchored by the A&P), we had a Western Auto, right next to Beall's and the TG&Y dime stores. Western Auto always smelled like car tires. I loved that smell.Glynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10802111972232088511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-59951830317029198972011-03-10T16:17:49.078-05:002011-03-10T16:17:49.078-05:00Isn't it funny how children see Daddy's wo...Isn't it funny how children see Daddy's work! My Dad was a Junior College professor for some years. He also took a weekend job as an usher at a movie theater -- for extra cash. I thought that was the coolest thing in the world. I was so proud to walk down to the theater and see a movie.Cassandra Frearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16564236561567663914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278302907767234817.post-72696213947326993192011-03-10T14:53:50.788-05:002011-03-10T14:53:50.788-05:00I am so glad that you had Marcie. You have blogge...I am so glad that you had Marcie. You have blogged about her before. Do you still keep in touch with her? If not, you should contact her. I bet her memories are as lovely as yours.ldhardagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960132939433332907noreply@blogger.com