40 years ago
Ed’s Way, 946 Beloit, the indie food-mart formerly known as the White Way, mixed some special products with some special saver coupons in a 1969 ad: Center Cut Pork Chops, 49 cents lb. … Country’s Delight Frozen Lemonade, 6 oz. can, 10 cents … Household Delight Bleach, plastic gallon, 29 cents … Behold Lemon Furniture Polish, 7 oz. can, 49 cents … Pop Tarts, 11 oz. package of three, $1 … On-Cor Frozen Sliced Beef and Gravy, 2 lb. package, 98 cents. And to top it off, Dressel’s Whipped Cream Fudge Cake, 69 cents.
Fantastic, in the sense of the “fantasy” prices of yesteryear.
From the May 14, 1969, Forest Park Review
30 years ago
It could be a nifty move for homeowners – aspiring, recent or paid-up – to reconsider the value of their property and update the amount of its protection. The price of virtually everything rises, or rockets, while the matching cost of insurance can level or drop. Think about your home, its contents and their current value. It just doesn’t make sense to be underinsured. Read this report from the Insurance Information Institute reprinted in an April 1979 issue of the Review. The 30-year-old numbers might give you a smile, yet the “lessons” pertain as much as ever.
“Thousands of homeowners are underinsured today because they’ve overlooked the fact that property values and construction costs have teen climbing steadily. [Written before the housing crash of ’08.] A home built for $25,000 in 1970 would cost about $39,000 in 1975 and more than $48,000 three years later. Your home insurance policy should be geared to tomorrow’s replacement costs.”
From the April 18, 1979, Forest Park Review
20 years ago
The headline read, “Finding God at the bottom of a bottle.” The story by Rev. Charles E. Cairo, in capsule form, read:
“Just what is an alcoholic? Someone like me. I don’t drink alcohol or take drugs anymore, but I am still an alcoholic … a dry drunk … a sober rummy. An alcoholic is one who is unable to control his drinking. Instead, he is controlled by what he drinks. To cover up my inadequacies I’d have a drink in the morning to ‘get going,’ a few drinks in the afternoon to ‘level out’ and a lot more in the evening to ‘relax and unwind.’
“After my life was falling apart and I was at my lowest, and suicidal, I found that God could control my life, yet give me the self-control to handle my own drinking. It took a while; it was hard and I stumbled. People say, ‘Wasn’t Jesus’ first miracle changing water into wine?’ For me, he changed wine into furniture, food, clothes and paid bills.
“How did all this happen? I had to admit that I was an alcoholic and that living was becoming unmanageable. I needed a power much higher than myself to believe in. I found that God was not standing by with a big thumb to crush me, but with a big heart to comfort, forgive, love and support me and my family.”
From the April 26, 1989, Forest Park Review
10 years ago
There were some pretty good big-screen movies at the Lake and environs around here in 1999. You might catch them on DVD.
The Other Sister – Mentally challenged teen falls for a similarly afflicted classmate after moving into her own apartment. Diane Keaton plays mother.
True Crime – Journalist discovers that the man he interviewed, a death row inmate to be executed in 26 hours, is innocent. Clint Eastwood, James Woods, Sidney Poitier.
Wing Commander – Fighter pilot joins interstellar war to fight potential destroyers of the universe. Based on the popular PC game. Stars Freddy Prinze, Jr.
Cruel Intentions – Two wealthy, manipulated teenage siblings from Manhattan’s upper crust agree to a diabolical wager of sexual conquest without consequences.
From the March 17, 1999, Forest Park Review
