Do you remember something that used to be an inseparable part of American culture but doesn’t seem so anymore?
An internet user asked, “What was something that was once very relevant in American culture but has been forgotten now?”.
Below are the top responses:
MAIL ORDER FROM CATALOGS
![Young blond curly hair caucasian man isolated doubting and shrugging shoulders in questioning gesture.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/confused-man.jpeg)
“Mail order from catalogs. Fill out an order form, write a check, and send it off in the mail. Hopefully, in two or three weeks, you’ll get your stuff back in the mail.”
THE MALL OBSESSION
![KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MAY 09, 2016: inside of Louis Vuitton store. Louis Vuitton Malletier, commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, or shortened to LV, is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/4.-louis-vuitton-bags.jpg)
“Hanging out at the mall with friends all day. Hit the arcade, screw around, go see a movie that wasn’t made for $400 million, etc.”
CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINES
![smoking](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/smoking.jpg)
“I graduated college in 2007, and they still had those in bars, despite no smoking inside since 2003. They were old school, though, and already sort of a kitsch relic even then. When I was a kid, though, they were everywhere.”
READER’S DIGEST
![redhair pretty woman feeling extremely shocked and surprised, anxious and panicking, with a stressed and horrified look](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/shocked-omg-wtf.jpeg)
“Reader’s Digest. Used to be ubiquitous,” said one.
“I won $300 from Readers Digest in 2004 for a submitted story. I split it with my best friend, who the story was about,” another added.
LOCAL ENTERTAINERS IN THE TELEVISION MARKET
![Captain,Kirk,And,Mr,Spock,Toys,Recreate,A,Scene,From](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/3.-Star-Trek-Enterprise.jpg)
“Every television market has local entertainers who introduce movies, host local kids’ shows, etc. Krusty the Clown from The Simpsons is the last surviving pop culture reference to these people existing.”
CELEBRITY STATUS OF LOCAL RADIO DJS
![Young caucasian overweight woman isolated on blue background confused and doubtful shrugging shoulders to hold a copy space.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wtf-1.jpeg)
“Local radio DJs (Disc Jockey) being minor celebrities,” said one.
“I grew up in a middle-class suburb, and we had a local radio station host a few doors down from us. It was extremely cool to see him on billboards. Minor celebrity sums it up,” another added.
AUTOMATS
![Young beautiful African American afro woman with curly hair wearing yellow casual sweater Crazy and scared with hands on head, afraid and surprised of shock with open mouth](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/scared-wtf.jpeg)
“Automats! Fast food places put them out of commission, as did the decline of coins as everyday currency.”
SUPPER CLUBS
![Cocktail glass with drink in the bar with bottles in the dark background](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/alcohol.jpg)
“Supper clubs! There are still some in the Midwest, and honestly, it’s time they come back! You eat dinner (usually slightly upscale and hardy), listen to some fun live music, and maybe even see a show after and enjoy a cocktail. Great atmosphere and cool buildings, too!”
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
![african american girl in the street with surprised expression](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/omg-lady-in-shock.jpeg)
“Daytime soap operas used to be huge, but only a few remain. Nothing would annoy my grandma more than having her ‘stories’ interrupted by a presidential news conference.”
THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT
![Headshot of blue eyed stunned woman with jaw dropped and eyes popped out, stares at camera with surprised expression, has hair bun, wears white shirt, poses in studio. Human reaction concept](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/A-woman-with-a-shocked-expression.jpeg)
“The American chestnut. Came here to say that. It always strikes me odd how it only survives in Christmas songs.”
FLAT STRAW HATS
![stupor surprised funny face expression](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/shocked-with-whats-happening.jpeg)
“Those flat straw hats we associate with Barbershop quartets used to be a fashion every man wore while out and about until the 1920s. I have never seen someone wear one in earnest.”
POLKA MUSIC
![young adult blonde pretty woman feeling puzzled and confused, doubting, weighting or choosing different options with funny expression](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/whatever-woman-1.jpeg)
“Polka music isn’t as popular as it used to be. Maybe it’s the homogenization of our collective culture. Sad. When I think of American polka, I think of the Great Lakes region. It is very jolly music. Hardworking eastern European folks who are having a good time.”
PAYMENT BOOKS
![Young brunette woman wearing turtleneck sweater clueless and confused with open arms, no idea and doubtful face.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/whatever.jpeg)
“Payment books. Every other Friday, I would drive to the bank with my payment book and make a car payment. They would take a ticket out for each payment.”
S&H GREEN STAMPS
![Photo portrait of upset shocked woman with open mouth isolated on pastel pink colored background.](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wtf-shocked-angry.jpeg)
“S&H Green Stamps that you got automatically at the grocery store, and the little booklets where you licked the stamps and stuck them in.
When you got enough, you went to the redemption centers to get free products for the stamp booklets. The products were awesome. I got my first guitar using those green stamps.”
CAR CULTURE
![1. autocross](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1.-autocross.jpg)
“Car culture is becoming less important for many. Lots of people value walkable neighborhoods and proximity to public transit.”
12 Fast Food Chains Where You Can Still Eat Cheap
![Beautiful girl eating hamburger food](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/8.-woman-eating-food.jpeg)
Fast food can be a quick and affordable meal option, but knowing where to go to get the most bang for your buck is essential. Read here.
16 Things That Are Legal in the U.S. but Are Actually Pretty Messed Up
![1. proud american](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1.-proud-american.jpeg)
In the United States, there are a number of things that are legal but should not be. These things can range from harmful practices to others. Read here.
13 Inventions That Were Supposed to Change the World… But Didn’t
![african american girl in the street with surprised expression](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/omg-lady-in-shock.jpeg)
Though there are both good and bad inventions, it’s fascinating to learn about those that once promised to revolutionize the world, but are now forgotten. Read more.
15 Costco Products That Are a Total Rip-Off
![Young beautiful African American afro woman with curly hair wearing yellow casual sweater Crazy and scared with hands on head, afraid and surprised of shock with open mouth](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/scared-wtf.jpeg)
Costco is known for its great deals on bulk items, but only some things at the warehouse club are a good value. Read more.
Did You Know? These 18 Everyday Sayings Are Actually False
![Annoyed African-American young man in red casual shirt showing thumb down, expresses disagreement with grimace on the face, latin guy left bad review, dislike gesture](https://mrsdaakustudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/man-with-thumbs-down-whatever.jpeg)
Language is a powerful tool, but it can also be misleading. Overused sayings and clichés are often taken for granted as truths. Read more.
This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.