Mary: (Paging through a magazine)
“John, look at this advertisement in Life.
Varney Air Lines is offering passenger service out West. We could fly to San
Francisco! Imagine seeing the clouds from up in the sky instead of rattling
along for days in a stuffy Pullman sleeper car.”
John: “But I like the Super Chief.
And it goes through the Rockies, not over them.”
Mary: “You like the Bar car.”
John: ” It’s called the Pleasure Dome.”
The Good Old Days… They were great,
right?
We often remember the past fondly
because of the good stuff. Enjoyable experiences have a way of overshadowing unpleasant
ones. Riding the Bobs at Riverview Park was real fun—until your little sister
threw up on you.
Look at air travel, (Mary got her the way).
You might imagine that flying in the
1930s was a glamorous and adventurous experience, offering a unique blend of
luxury and novelty. Unlike today's jumbo jets, the aircraft were smaller, the
cabins more intimate, and the passengers so few that the airline could offer
something approaching personalized service.
That came in handy.
The higher you went, the colder it
got, and cabin heating was hardly what it is today. Passengers often brought
along their winter coats and wore them throughout the flight. You might also
receive a blanket from the stewardess. It would bear the airline's name or
logo, naturally. The company wanted you to remember who was keeping you warm.
But you didn't get to take it home.
Noise and vibration were your seat
mates. These were propeller-driven aircraft, and the engines could be
deafening. The steady drone, combined with vibration and turbulence, could make
a long flight appear to be even longer. Jet engines were still decades away.
And turbulence? You learned to live
with it.
Modern aircraft have sophisticated
navigation systems and weather forecasting. In the 1930s, early aviators had
far fewer tools at their disposal. Altimeter, Good Compass, and a St.
Christopher medal.
And today's airliners have
sophisticated ventilation and filtration systems. Back then, cabin ventilation
was much more basic. You had whatever was inside.
Air sickness was common. Early aircraft were noisy, bumpy, and
prone to sudden movements. If you were susceptible to motion sickness, you
might discover that flying wasn't quite the romantic adventure you had imagined.
Those little paper bags weren't provided for your popcorn. (Look in the seat
pocket.)
Still, if push came to shove—and you
really had to “go”—today's airliners have restrooms.
Back in the '30s? No restrooms on
board.
Cross-country flights weren't
nonstop. Routes were broken into multiple legs, with stops for fuel, mail, and
passengers. Those stops gave you an opportunity to stretch your legs, but you
had to be on your toes when it came to
taking care of business.
“Use the restroom now. You won't get
another chance until we land.”
Your stewardess might be friendly and
attentive, but she couldn't do much about the distance between airports.
Let's just say that planning ahead
was strongly encouraged.
The good old days weren't always
good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems.”
— Billy Joel, Keeping the Faith
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