Going, Going, Gone: Vanishing Americana

by Susan Jonas, Marilyn Nissenson

Now with a fresh look and updated introduction, this witty volume is ready for the dawn of the new millennium. Chronicling the demise of things we thought would always be a part of life -- from the smell of burning leaves to wedding-night virgins -- this compendium of pop culture and history has been praised for its lively text full of intriguing trivia and retro photographs of each subject in its heyday. Whether you're old enough to remember polio scares or too young to have used a typewriter, this provocative and amusing look at the way things were offers end-of- the-century proof that the only constant in life is change.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better books about popular culture icons that were, correctly, predicted to not survive the turn of the 21st century. The photo on the cover is of hundreds of dial telephones, which are already coming back with fake dials & touch-tone capabilities in nostalgic gift catalogs. What sets this title above others is the thoughtful text that accompanies each item; for the phones, for example, the story began when dial phones replaced operator-connected calling. Does anyone still remember party lines?

[Lisa Tangen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent summary of a wide variety of elements in daily life...most of which I remember or knew of...some of which I did not. Very readable and we'll documented without too much "judgment" of the old ways.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

It certainly brings a smile.. looking back at all of the items that we used to use - GONE or GOING.
Can't say that I miss many - especially carbon paper & typewriters.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely droll throughout. I thought though it might've profited by a more horizontal format.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute idea for a book: highlight things that were once common but are almost completely gone from the mass culture. Things like wedding night virgins, security free airports, white gloves, paper dolls, drive-in movies, nuns, American elms, carbon paper, bridge parties, blue laws, girdles and men's garters, the milkman, house calls, rotary phones, TV antennas, typewriters, the unanswered phone, navy blue suits, men's clubs, fur coats, hotel keys, civil defense, gas station attendants, family farms, and many many more. Nicely illustrated with well-reproduced retro photos and smart, informative lively text. I've only nibbled at this but hope to delve into it soon. Good summer reading material.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very clever book that looks at many things that were taken for granted in years past, and are now gone or almost gone--things like carbon paper, hotel room keys, the smell of burning leaves, elm trees, etc. Some of the things seem very outdated to me already (girdles, white gloves) while others may actually be making a sort of retro comeback (vinyl records, stockings.) A lot of fun!