Forty Years Ago
How did the Review’s classified ads read back in 1968? Very differently from today. Here’s a sampling from two weeks ago compared to 40 years ago.
March 5, 2008, Mystery Shoppers – get paid to shop, earn up to $100 a day! … The village of Oak Park is seeking to fill the position of Police Department Records Supervisor, $46,566 to $60,536 … Drivers – our top regional driver made $64,951 in 2007. How much did you earn? Heartland Express … Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper (two separate positions), Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust … plus a few feelers for those with advanced computer skills.
January 1968, – Handling Systems. Young men for general shop work in steel fabricating plant. 1545 Circle Ave., Forest Park … Yvonne’s Keypunch Service, top starting salary, work your own hours … ASSEMBLERS, Amphenol Connector Division – excellent starting wages, liberal benefits including profit sharing, 2837 25th Ave., Broadview … Become a telephone operator. Illinois Bell Telephone Co. 5123 St. Charles Rd., Bellwood … National Temporary Service Typists, at home or in Loop … $2.50 per hour. Keypunch operator. Immediate openings for experienced data processors. Full-time. Jewel Companies, Inc., Melrose Park. (You just don’t see want ads – or wages – like these anymore.)
From the Jan. 5, ’68 and Mar. 12, 2008, Forest Park Review
Thirty Years Ago
Here’s a possible cause for home rentals taking a dip in early ’78: a Realtor who was representing the owner of an apartment building was conducting a showing when a latecomer joined the small group. After following the guide around for awhile, he pulled a revolver and persuaded the victims to hand over $1,800 in cash, plus valuables – then successfully fled the area.
S&H Green Stamps. No story – just an unbidden, nostalgic memory to share with those who are 50-something or older. Green Stamps used to be the ultimate in premium marketing. Gasoline or gum, you didn’t outright buy a product until you knew you’d get a sheet or two of those little green bonus babies. You’d take ’em home, sponge their backsides and paste ’em into a vest pocket-size booklet that would swell with each addition. Then you’d redeem them for the premium you had your heart set on. Ah, sweet recollection.
From the Jan. 18, 1978, Forest Park Review
Twenty Years Ago
Village Health Inspector Patricia Murphy, a village employee for eight years, was fired by Commissioner Maureen Booth and Building Commissioner Edward Masso on New Year’s Eve for violating the village councils’ residency ordinance. “It really hurt me to let her go,” said Booth, “but I felt there would be more harm than good by setting a precedent for her.”
Murphy, who had moved from the village just three weeks earlier, said she didn’t expect to be fired, because three commissioners who favored abolishing the residency requirement were elected to the council the past April. “I really thought eight years working with the village would be worth more than that,” she said.
From the Jan. 6, 1988, Forest Park Review
Ten Years Ago
With baseball just around the corner, former Yankee and White Sox first baseman Bill “Moose” Skowron was guest speaker at the Forest Park Kiwanis Club. He regaled his audience with stories of baseball lore, and then topped it off with this just-might’ve-been-true happening:
The Yanks and Tigers were playing one of those tail-end, meaningless games. Nasty and unforgiving Detroit pitcher Denny McLain signaled to Mickey Mantle that as a favor to him, he’d lay in a big, fat balloon ball for “The Mick” to hit out of the park. Understandably distrustful, Mantle let it go by. When McLain made it clear he was serious, Mickey dug in and promptly throttled it into the upper deck. Next up was Joe Pepitone, a flakey player who “clowned” away a better career. He also dug in and indicated to McLain just where he’d like his juice ball. Instead, a screaming fastball parted the air formerly occupied by Pepitone’s head.
Enjoy the season to come; just don’t look for the Cubs to beat anybody else but the Cubs.
From the Jan. 22, 1998, Forest Park Review
