One round-trip ticket in a time machine — Where would you go, back in time?
pam kueber - Updated: August 10, 2012
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
If I had just one round trip ticket to use in the way-back time machine, I think I’d go here. How about you? Where, when? Seriously. Or not.
I would go back to when my first parents first met and do everything possible to introduce them to other prospective mates. They were polar opposites of each other & I still am befuddled how they hooked up in the first place? The ensuing 50 years consisted of high drama, struggle, and a very difficult life, both for them and their kids. They both could have done better.
Jody B.says
I’d like to go back to the 50s and watch my parents just being teens in Gary, Indiana. I use to hear how wonderful Gary was back then and how much fun it was. Everything that was bright and new back then is now either torn down or dilapidated. So sad!
Michele Keelersays
I would go back to the day that my Dad, Mike Shacka, and I spent antiquing together. My husband and I had bought a 1940s antique sofa and chair in an antique mall in Roanoke, Virginia for 200.00 – a great price. We couldn’t fit it in the vehicle and I had a feeling Dad would come to the rescue. We lived in Maryland and Dad said he would go with me in his van the following weekend. We had a wonderful day, and while I have many good memories, this was one of those few times where it was just the two of us. We stopped at the Natural Bridge in Virginia and stopped at a few more antique malls. Dad has been gone almost two years and I’d love to have that day back! Thanks for letting me reminisce.
Wow, Pam- I can’t believe you posted a Talking Heads video with this question, because my husband and I have always talked about how amazing it would have been to see them in the late 70s, in some club in New York. David Byrne is our pop icon (well, him and David Bowie- another concert I would have loved to go back and attend in the 70s!). We are going to go see him for the 4th time this October. He’s fantastic. Though seeing him way back when would’ve been a dream!
Other than that, I’d just want to go back and get to know my grandparents more- learn more about the family history. Kind of boring, right? But having just cleaned out their old house and read a found stack of the letters my grandad wrote to my granny during the war, it’s all fresh in my head, and I’m missing them a lot, lately.
Terry Cruchonsays
NO doubt about it I would go and have a wonderful day with my mom and dad , Nothing would be sweeter
Lesliesays
WOW, Aaron and I ALWAYS play this game…if there was a time machine where would we go and what would we do…I would travel to a high end furniture store circa 1950’s and purchase all the Heywood Wakefield, Kroehler and other furnishings of the time I could get my hands on. Also I must get all the Moss Lamps ever made as well as some Carlo of Hollywood and other bitchin wall art of the era. THEN off to Bullock Wilshire for all their fab frocks and shoes. After I would head over to the biggest textile store I could find and buy up all the bolts of frieze and novelty print cotton fabric available. Finally off to the dealership for a 1955 and 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer/La Femme. I can then be all ready to go and meet up with “Gretschmann” (comment above) for our trip to hang with the King in Memphis.
Next time I am off to 1962 for some Broyhill Brasilia and some Danish Modern pieces….
Laurie Vsays
Sometime in the late 80s or early 90s I had a chance to buy a 1956 Dodge Custom Royal for $1000. One owner, great condition. It had push button transmission, and it was huge. The original book was with it, and one of the features you could get with the car was a record player (turntable) in the glove compartment. It was way cool, but I would have had to give up a 1969 Pontiac LeMans convertible to get it, and I just couldn’t do that.
puddletowncherylsays
I’m with you Kimberly. Straight blond hair with bangs, mini skirts and heavy eye makeup and boys with Beatles hair, skinny suits and working class accents, Yum. I was there in 1971 when I was 18 but the Punks had taken over by then.
Gretschmannsays
Being a musician, it would be 1946 and play music almost every night and make good money. Maybe inventing rock ‘n’ roll at the same time.
I would spent vacation in Memphis and watch Elvis make history with Scotty and Bill.
I think it would be cool to go back to the 1950s to see what kinds of things my grandparents did, what they wore and where they hung out when they were my age. 🙂
Echo Hansonsays
1963—Newport Folk Festival. Bob Dylan’s first ever performance there before going “electric.”
Tom Munoz says
I would go back to when my first parents first met and do everything possible to introduce them to other prospective mates. They were polar opposites of each other & I still am befuddled how they hooked up in the first place? The ensuing 50 years consisted of high drama, struggle, and a very difficult life, both for them and their kids. They both could have done better.
Jody B. says
I’d like to go back to the 50s and watch my parents just being teens in Gary, Indiana. I use to hear how wonderful Gary was back then and how much fun it was. Everything that was bright and new back then is now either torn down or dilapidated. So sad!
Michele Keeler says
I would go back to the day that my Dad, Mike Shacka, and I spent antiquing together. My husband and I had bought a 1940s antique sofa and chair in an antique mall in Roanoke, Virginia for 200.00 – a great price. We couldn’t fit it in the vehicle and I had a feeling Dad would come to the rescue. We lived in Maryland and Dad said he would go with me in his van the following weekend. We had a wonderful day, and while I have many good memories, this was one of those few times where it was just the two of us. We stopped at the Natural Bridge in Virginia and stopped at a few more antique malls. Dad has been gone almost two years and I’d love to have that day back! Thanks for letting me reminisce.
Christaface says
Wow, Pam- I can’t believe you posted a Talking Heads video with this question, because my husband and I have always talked about how amazing it would have been to see them in the late 70s, in some club in New York. David Byrne is our pop icon (well, him and David Bowie- another concert I would have loved to go back and attend in the 70s!). We are going to go see him for the 4th time this October. He’s fantastic. Though seeing him way back when would’ve been a dream!
Other than that, I’d just want to go back and get to know my grandparents more- learn more about the family history. Kind of boring, right? But having just cleaned out their old house and read a found stack of the letters my grandad wrote to my granny during the war, it’s all fresh in my head, and I’m missing them a lot, lately.
Terry Cruchon says
NO doubt about it I would go and have a wonderful day with my mom and dad , Nothing would be sweeter
Leslie says
WOW, Aaron and I ALWAYS play this game…if there was a time machine where would we go and what would we do…I would travel to a high end furniture store circa 1950’s and purchase all the Heywood Wakefield, Kroehler and other furnishings of the time I could get my hands on. Also I must get all the Moss Lamps ever made as well as some Carlo of Hollywood and other bitchin wall art of the era. THEN off to Bullock Wilshire for all their fab frocks and shoes. After I would head over to the biggest textile store I could find and buy up all the bolts of frieze and novelty print cotton fabric available. Finally off to the dealership for a 1955 and 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer/La Femme. I can then be all ready to go and meet up with “Gretschmann” (comment above) for our trip to hang with the King in Memphis.
Next time I am off to 1962 for some Broyhill Brasilia and some Danish Modern pieces….
Laurie V says
Sometime in the late 80s or early 90s I had a chance to buy a 1956 Dodge Custom Royal for $1000. One owner, great condition. It had push button transmission, and it was huge. The original book was with it, and one of the features you could get with the car was a record player (turntable) in the glove compartment. It was way cool, but I would have had to give up a 1969 Pontiac LeMans convertible to get it, and I just couldn’t do that.
puddletowncheryl says
I’m with you Kimberly. Straight blond hair with bangs, mini skirts and heavy eye makeup and boys with Beatles hair, skinny suits and working class accents, Yum. I was there in 1971 when I was 18 but the Punks had taken over by then.
Gretschmann says
Being a musician, it would be 1946 and play music almost every night and make good money. Maybe inventing rock ‘n’ roll at the same time.
I would spent vacation in Memphis and watch Elvis make history with Scotty and Bill.
Kate B says
I think it would be cool to go back to the 1950s to see what kinds of things my grandparents did, what they wore and where they hung out when they were my age. 🙂
Echo Hanson says
1963—Newport Folk Festival. Bob Dylan’s first ever performance there before going “electric.”