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CBS-TV's "Captain Kangaroo" on Evolution of American Supermarkets: 1955 to 1981

Posted: 07 Oct 2021 03:09
by Jason B.
I just discovered a humorous commentary of the evolution of U.S. supermarkets from 1955 to 1981 by none other than CBS television's "Captain Kangaroo." See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HqNMRJ1Qqw Watch from 7:18 to 12:50. This was a skit that was part of a 25th anniversary primetime tribute to "Captain Kangaroo" ("Good Evening, Captain") that aired on or about August 21, 1981. He comments on grocery store trends of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, including changing products and customers. I have no idea if it's true that products came in large "family sizes" in the 1950s. The skit says that supermarkets began stocking charcoal and phonograph records in the 1960s in order to appeal to the growing number of male customers. The skit ends in the 1970s with a supermarket cashier calling out the prices of each item at the register, with every item being "eighty nine" cents and the customer responding, "I sure do love the sound of good food." I'm sure that many Groceteria.com regulars will enjoy this skit and would be able to offer their own commentary.