Red Barn 99¢ Chicken Dinner

Red Barn vs. McDonald's. Two fast food restaurants competing for your dollar. A dollar went pretty far back in 1969. And how could you go wrong with Red Barn's guarantee: "You must be satisfied or your money back."

Look what you could get for 99¢

3 Pieces of Fried Chicken

Potatoes

Cole Slaw 

Roll

Red Barn had four locations in Erie, PA when this ad was published in the Erie Morning News on Nov. 15, 1969. You could get a meal at 1920 East Lake Road, 3424 Peach Street, 12th and Pittsburgh Avenue and 26th and Peninsula Drive.

I remember getting food at the East Lake Rd. location, which was across the street from Edison Elementary School.

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Marx Big Wheel at Grant City 1969

Remember the first time you saw one of your friends screaming down the sidewalk on a Big Wheel? Most kids back then didn't know that Marx manufactured Big Wheels in Erie, PA, unless one of their relatives worked at the plant. 

The Big Wheel was billed as the world's first three-wheeled speed cycle. The ad to the left ran in the Erie Morning News on November 3, 1969, just in time for children to add the toy to their Christmas wish lists. The Big Wheel was on sale at Grant City at 12th and Pittsburgh Avenue for only $8.88. Good luck finding one for that price today.

The Big Wheel was "Low-slung for no-tip stability, modified longhorn handlebar for quick, positive turns, on-off engine sound, rear wheel racing slicks for action turns, 38" long; for ages 3 to 10."

I only knew a couple of kids that had Big Wheels, and from what I remember, the front wheel quickly developed a flat spot from jamming on the pedal brake or doing the Tokyo Drift. 

Marx Toys were made by Louis Marx Company. They had a plant at 1816 Raspberry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania.

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Mason's Department Store 1964 Erie PA

Mason's had two discount department stores in Erie, PA in 1964, one at 2026 Broad Street (just north of the Perry Plaza), and a second store at West 12th and Pittsburgh Ave. Mason's opened its first Erie store in 1959. This discount chain was owned by the M. H. Fishman Co. of Columbus, Ohio.

The advertisement on the left, which was published in the Erie Morning News on May 21, 1964, shows the latest fashion in summer sun-wear. Sun dresses for little girls, tropi-cool Jamaica sets and ladies' new pastel-hue summer dresses were all on sale. 

You could also sign up for a flexible credit card from Mason's and receive $3 off your first bill using the coupon on the bottom right. All you had to do was list the husband's name, age, address, employer and salary, along with bank accounts and references. You also had to list your wife's name, and tell if you rented or owned your residence.

My family shopped at the east side location when I was a kid in the early seventies, and I loved to hide in the racks of clothes. Back then, parents didn't have to worry about someone kidnapping their child from a store.

In the Erie area, Mason's was a predecessor to Miller's, Hill's and Value City department stores.

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West Erie Plaza Map 1971 Dipson's Theatre

The West Erie Plaza was full to capacity when this map was published in the Erie Press on May  8, 1971. The Boston Store had a free-standing annex near West 12th St. Halle Bros. Dept. Store anchored the plaza on the West 12th St. end. 

Working northward, the stores included: Nobil's Shoes, Nuway Cleaners,  G. C. Murphy Co., Loblaws, Singer Sewing Center, Ed Parks Sports, Sherwin Williams, Carter's Shoes, Benson's Women Wear, Palace Hardware, Paperback Book Store, Richman Bros., Lord Befwick Restaurant, Rea & Derick Drugs, Osiecki Music, Western Provision, First National Bank of PA, John Filip Jewelry, Christine's Card Shop, Erickson Hearing and Dipson's Plaza Theatre. 

Putt Putt Miniature Golf was on the Pittsburgh Avenue border of the West Erie Plaza. Mobil Gas was on the corner of 12th & Pittsburgh. The Plaza was marketed as a "Safe Place to Shop" in this ad.

Dipson's also had a theater in the Eastway Plaza: Eastway Plaza.

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