I am still talking about things that were once popular, but are now vanishing:
Handwritten Letters
Oh, I hate this. What is more romantic than a handwritten love letter? I mean, an email just doesn’t do it, does it? Yet it is estimated that in 2006, 183 billion emails were sent – each day! Add in all the cell phones and all the text messaging and who has time to actually sit down and write a letter?
Wild Horses
In the early 1900s, there were approximately two million wild horses roaming the U.S. Now, the National Geographic News estimates that there are approximately 50,000. Of that 50,000, an estimated 16,000 are in Nevada alone.
Personal Checks
Here is another thing I thought I could never live without. I remember wondering how my best friend could just use his debit card all the time and rarely carry cash or checks. Yes, and I had a hard time giving up my cassette tapes and VCR tapes as well. Right now, I don’t even have any idea where my checkbook is! It seems that a large number of people use their debit card in stores and pay bills online directly from their checking accounts, so what do you really use checks for anymore?
Drive-in Theaters
I have wonderful memories of the drive-in theater from my childhood. In 1958, there were over 4,000 drive-ins in the U.S., but sadly, now there are only 405. There have been no new drive-ins built since 2005, so I guess there isn’t too much of a chance for a revival of drive-ins. But, I am sure you will have no problem finding a 20 screen multiplex near you somewhere.
Mumps and Measles
Hey, here is some good news – mumps and measles are disappearing! Almost 40 years ago, there were over 200,000 reported cases of mumps in the U.S. In 2005, only 66 cases were reported. Of course, it seems as we kill out one old disease, scientists discover many more new diseases.
Next up is my final blog on things quickly becoming obsolete in America.