To those of you that grew up in large and mid-sized cities or towns - How many of you remember those good ol' fashionRecord stores?
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As as a kid, how well I remember seeing these stores "all over" New York City, Connecticut, and Florida!
They often: (1) Were small, cramped and housed in older brick buildings (like a Walthers Cornerstone kit) (2) Had bright flourescent lights. One or two small house fans blowing. (3) Display table rows packed with records and 8 Track Tapes. (Cassettes by the mid 70s). (4) Posters all over the windows of popular singers and groups. (5) In some, there seemed to be a "Stereotype cool guy" behind the counter with a big smile and wisecracks. For some reason they often wore sunglasses indoors! One neat (or annoying) aspect I remember: There would be a small horn or PA speaker mounted near or outside the doorway and the latest hits would be blasting loud enough that persons within a 30ft radius could hear it. However, in urban areas you could often hear the music from across the street since the sound bounced off of buildings. I remember: The Jackson Five, Credence Clearwater, Aretha Franklin, Seals & Croftt, Mamas and the Papas, and other hit groups back in the early 70s. Customers went in, often purchasing the latest "singles" on 45 records. Sometimes though, Latino, Jazz, Classical, and Country music would also be "pumped up". Managers usually paid attention and tried to attract a wide customer base. Modeling potential: These stores very much resembled the buildings offered in the DPM kits and Cornerstone series. Using cutouts and small pictures of singers a record store is easy to model. Window signs were often oversized and flashy with
"BUY 2 ALBUMS, GET A SINGLE FREE!! or
"CHEAPEST PRICES IN TOWN!" For the ultimate realism A friend suggested mounting a portable CD unit underneath the layout and have one small "2 to "3 speaker inside the store, flush mounted on the floor. The music playing out of record stores was usually in "mono". Stereo was available but many people owned record players or "Vitrolas" that played in mono, anyway. When you're running your railroad, you can have music for the time period that you're modeling playing from inside the store. Should be slightly audible. The idea is to keep the volume low to make it believable that the record store's open for business as your railroad and town goes on about its business. At the same time, you get to relax with music from your youth (especially those of us over 40!). Regardless of your age, this would be a neat project to do as it adds another realistic dimension to our hobby and many of us are always looking for that "special extra" that makes our railroad's theme and time period believable.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock lupo: Normally, at least in my experience, record stores and music stores are two separate things--record stores sell recorded music, and music stores sell instruments and sheet music.
Interesting to know that there are still some stores around. But it's worth notiicing which word our younger members are using here. "Music Store" instead of "Record Store" which is what they used to be known as, even though Reel-to-Reel and 8-Track tapes were also sold.
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NOT a Criticism....Just shows how time and technology have gradually changed this industry since my teen years. We now have CDs, Mini-Discs, MP3s, and other storage devices that I have to ask my students how they work! I had thought that with this technology, "music" type stores would have fewer customers as so much is available on-line. Looks like they're changing but surviving; just like our model railroad hobby stores. I am planning modeling a record store, but the theme will be 1965-71, my layout's time period. The DPM store kits are excellent for the typical record stores seen in the eastern U.S of that time period. For flourescent lighting, the "Blue White" L.E.Ds look like they would work well (same type of light like in BLI's early GG1s and J1 Hudson). Hope that some of you with layouts and basic electrical knowledge try this! Seems like it's not a very difficult project. If you plan to, or get it done, please post it! Thanks!
QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45 Hey Jetrock, I remember the flourescent posters. One thing though, there were "flower power" and "hippies" here and there, but not really in great concentrations as many people today speculate due to "Woodstock". It was more of mostly typical young people dressed casually (jeans, tee shirts, and leather vests). Every now and then you'd see the "extreme" ones with the full flower decals on their cars, "peace symbol" trinkets around the neck, giant bell bottoms, psychedelic colors, and either the long hair or huge afros! Saying "yeah" to an adult was considered very rude. Just typical youth in that time period. For me, it does seem like yesterday!
QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45 I laugh sometimes when I remember my dad. A wonderful sweet guy who absolutely couldn't stand to see all that hair on a man!! Goes without saying that as a kid, crew cuts and slacks were the "norm" for me, though I was taught to treat all others with respect! I can't complain though, I pretty much adopted his solid conservative values though today I occasionally grow a beard.
Bill Carl (modeling Chessie and predecessors from 1973-1983) Member of Four County Society of Model Engineers NCE DCC Master Visit the FCSME at www.FCSME.org Modular railroading at its best! If it has an X in it, it sucks! And yes, I just had my modeler's license renewed last week!