Long Has Paled That Sunny Sky

When I was a kid, there were eateries that are now gone, or long gone from the way they were. On AMC's Mad Men this season, Burger Chef is big -- it's 1969, okay? All across the USA . . .

From the 1970s, I recall going with friends and family upon occasion to Howard Johnson's (which had places strategically dotting the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and just off I-85 in Durham, North Carolina, near my Dad's office). And also we went once in a while out to Lum's, Pappy's or Shakey's. 

In the interest of heading off cultural amnesia, there's a start. (Click on any of these images to see the full menu).

The Lum's menu included this: large frosted schooners of dark Ballentine beer  -- fifty cents. 

In 1978 in the USA, the minimum wage was set at $2.65 per hour, which is equivalent as of this post to about $7.60 per hour in 2014. That's the weirdness that is inflation through time's looking glass. 

Lum's famous hot dog steamed in beer with sherry flavored sauerkraut -- thirty-five cents. Yum, yum.

"It's A-Delish!" Pappy's bill of fare features its own T-bone steak platter for $3.75! And lots of "fresh dough pizza." A small "Woiks" pizza, "Your Heart's Desire -- the Kitchen Sink" -- $2.30.

Let's not forget Shakey's, either. A pitcher of generic beer for $1.50. A bottle of Carta Blanca for fifty cents. "Louisiana Shrimp," "Portuguese Linguica" or "Mexican Sausage" (Chorizo) -- single ten inch pizzas for $1.80. Woohoo! "No extra charge for take-out orders." Mad merriment, indeed.

What else you gots out there in the memory noodle? 

"Long has paled that sunny sky." -- Lewis Carroll.

Today's Rune: Protection.