Memphis International Airport

Transportation Before 1920

Poplar Street Station From which Casey Jones began his fateful journey

1960s

Cars had big bench seats that let you slide from one side of the car to the other when your mom went around a corner.

The gear shift was on the steering column and the dimmer switch was a metal button on the floorboard.

Your radio antenna stuck up all the time, and it could only be raised or lowered by hand.

Esso gave out fake tiger tails that we attached to our gas caps to show we had a "tiger in our tank."  Then WHBQ gave away styrofoam oranges that you could stick on your car antenna to show that you listened to their station. WMPS countered by giving away yellow bananas, presumably to show that they were the crazier/hipper station.

There was a red neon sign on the Union overpass that changed from "Coca-Cola" to "Coke."
 

1970s

The guys drove "muscle cars" with big fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror, chain steering wheels, and chrome gas pedals shaped like a foot.

And, of course, CB radios!

Much more to come on this page!

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