At the end of each Jack Armstrong show they would broadcast a secret message that only those boys and girls who had the special decoder rings could work out. Then the listeners would know a little bit about the next day's show. Kids could only get the decoder rings if they bought certain products so kids would beg their parents to buy Ralston or Ovaltine for Little Orphan Annie. Many told us about going to the movies. Before the main attraction there was a cartooon.
Movies cost only a dime or a quarter.
In some places movies were only shown on the weekends. Many people talked about all the chores they had. These included milking cows by hand, baking cakes and bread from scratch, carrying in wood, taking care of gardens, feeding chickens, and hauling water because there was no indoor plumbing. Many people said they did not have electricity so they used kerosene lamps. There was no refrigerator so food was stored in an ice box and a man would come to their home to deliver ice blocks.