<p>My brother refused to take swim lessons at the YMCA because the beginner classes had the little guys swim naked. I can’t say that I blame him but it was the norm back then. This must had been in the mid-1950’s</p>
<p>It’s funny - the current generation is exposed to so much more about sex through the media but they are so modest - even prudish - about nudity. Come to think about it maybe that is why they are so prudish - because they are made ‘aware’ so young.</p>
<p>When my daughter’s swim team would change at the YMCA there was much wriggling under towels and t shirts to change without exposing them selves. They were unanimously horrified by older women who who just strip down and change. Even more so by the odd one that would wonder around naked. There was one elderly lady (at least in her 80s) who would wonder round naked. There was an exercise machine in the changing room and the swim team girls were standing round it wondering how you use it. The naked elderly lady said she would show them and proceeded to sit on the machine - which involved straddling it - and give them a demonstration. Needless to say none of those girls ever attempted to use that machine!! </p>
<p>Actually neither did I. Changing quickly I can handle. Naked on exercise machines - not so much.</p>
<p>The boys swam naked at my Chicago-suburban high school, and swimming was required. There was a set of doors labeled “Natatorium” that opened onto the pool area from a classroom hallway, with a very skinny crack that provided a sneak peek. Those poor boys. </p>
<p>We had to take group showers after gym in Jr. High and HS.</p>
<p>Hilarious story, swimcatsmom! Another excuse for me to never get on an exercise machine – what might have happened on it.</p>
<p>Does anyone remember the supplies list that included a bottle of ink and a fountain pen? The messes we elementary-age kids made just trying to get the ink in the pen. And then when cartridges of ink and cartridge pens came out, we thought they were so cool. More permanent messes.</p>
<p>yes! what a MESS… I had completely forgotten.</p>
<p>btw…i am circa 1960</p>
<p>I remember - I think the desks had inkwells but I may be misremembering - loooong time ago. We had to write in italic - the pens had special angled italic nibs. Got a good rap on the knuckles from a nun with a ruler if it was not neat too!</p>
<p>JHS mentioned mimeograph machines. I can still see those blue sheets and remember the smell of freshly mimeographed handouts. Xerox copies were too expensive.</p>
<p>How about cars before power steering? My first car was a '65 Chevy and making a simple 90-degree turn took about 20 laborious turns of the steering wheel. It also had only 3 forward gears and a clutch that took the strength of 5 men to push down.</p>
<p>I just saw this thread for the first time. It brings back memories…</p>
<p>galoshes</p>
<p>8 track tapes</p>
<p>Kodak’s “Instamatic” camera</p>
<p>those plastic sandwich bags that didn’t seal; you just folded the top over ineffectively.</p>
<p>soda cans pre pop-top, where you needed a punch can opener</p>
<p>And does anyone remember the awesome lawn sprinkler that would propel itself along the path you set by how you laid out the garden hose?</p>
<p>Hey sherpa, we have that kind of lawn sprinkler now!</p>
<p>Both of my kids’ single-sex summer camps had regular skinny dipping. I miss it myself. When we had a pool I’d go out after dark to swim. It’s such a pleasure.</p>