Kids these days will never know….

B52G8rAC

SAC Trained Warrior
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You know, those photos remind me about how driven folks were to smoke. I remember going to Offutt AFB (Omaha NE) in January and entering Bldg 500 (SAC HQ). This was after the Air Force had banned indoor smoking. There were about 15 guys huddled together at the south end of the building trying to get a smoke break in. It was -5 with a 30 knot wind. Dedication is a wonderful thing.
 

CDGator

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You know, those photos remind me about how driven folks were to smoke. I remember going to Offutt AFB (Omaha NE) in January and entering Bldg 500 (SAC HQ). This was after the Air Force had banned indoor smoking. There were about 15 guys huddled together at the south end of the building trying to get a smoke break in. It was -5 with a 30 knot wind. Dedication is a wonderful thing.

I do not miss the smoking sections in a restaurant or workers huddled at the entrance of a building on their smoke breaks. When I was a young kid I despised sitting in the truck with my dad and grandpa or uncle while they smoked with the windows rolled up. That's probably why I never tried it myself.
 

Treebeard

Oops, just stepped on a Lorax.
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In 2012 I had an assignment in Texas - Merkle if that means anything to anybody (not likely) - and some of us went to the truck stop out by the interstate for lunch. It was actually a bit of a shock to walk into a restaurant where smoking was allowed. Food was OK but I never went back. The smell was such a turn off.

For all we complain about government overreach, banning smoking in most public places is a win in my book.

Side note specific to this thread - each booth had a phone.
Couldn't find a picture, but on kinda the same note - table top juke boxes:

1694136680964.png
 

Nalt

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2020
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There is a restaurant in Huntsville that still allows smoking in half of their place. Sadly, one must walk through the smoking section to get to the non-smoking section... :headslap: They have incredible burgers though. This is what the Happy Burger looks like. You can also order the double Happy burger.

burger-2.jpg


20190925-133305-largejpg.jpg
 

B52G8rAC

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Its funny. I don't remember the smell of cigarette smoke being off putting until smoking was banned indoors. Now I can't stand walking past someone outdoors smoking without reacting.
 

soflagator

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There is a restaurant in Huntsville that still allows smoking in half of their place. Sadly, one must walk through the smoking section to get to the non-smoking section... :headslap: They have incredible burgers though. This is what the Happy Burger looks like. You can also order the double Happy burger.

burger-2.jpg


20190925-133305-largejpg.jpg

So kids today can’t eat at this place? Is the restaurant now closed? If not, kindly remove this post and put it in the “Any restaurant recommendations in Huntsville that offer a half-smoking section? Asking for a chubby friend” thread.
 

Altitude Gator

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Its funny. I don't remember the smell of cigarette smoke being off putting until smoking was banned indoors. Now I can't stand walking past someone outdoors smoking without reacting.
Smoking not allowed in restaurants or bars in Colorado.

Up to the owner in Wyoming. Some don't allow it...some do.

I prefer bars that don't allow it, but like that the owner gets to decide...and, thus, the consumer gets to decide.
 

CDGator

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1694278919131.png


Did you ever go to Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City Beach? What was your favorite amusement park in Florida that is no longer open?

Miracle Strip was a theme park located in Panama City Beach, Florida, which operated from 1963 to September 5, 2003.

The highlight of the park was The Starliner Roller Coaster, an "out-and-back" wooden coaster designed by John Allen upon the park's initial conception. A few other rides lay near the Starliner and a small arcade center and food stands rounded out the fledgling park.

The park began to grow as time progressed. In the mid-1960s, Ed Nielson of Birmingham, who owned and operated a municipal park (Fair Park) left Birmingham to join the up-and-coming amusement park. Nielson owned the original arcade machines (a mix of old and new hardware) but as part of his involvement leased them out to the park. Not only did the park rent from Nielson, who owned the arcade games and a few rides, but the park also rented rides from traveling carnivals at this time.

Eventually the company paid off debts and the park began to grow. Some of the stockholders were bought out and eventually the park gained the arcade games, rides, and food service. The partnership was eventually dissolved, and became owned by one family only, the Larks, who later expanded the amusement park by creating Shipwreck Island Waterpark directly across the street.

As the strip grew in popularity and Panama City Beach became more of a tourist location, the park grew as well. More and more rides were added throughout the late 1960s until the 1980s, and the park grew up around the Starliner, which was by far the main draw for the park's entire run. As the city became more of a spring break hotspot, the popularity of the family friendly Miracle Strip Park decreased, though it remained a draw for families up to the 2000s.

View the Miracle Strip collection at American Retro Apparel: Miracle Strip - Panama City Beach, FL
 

gingerlover

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View attachment 61640


Did you ever go to Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City Beach? What was your favorite amusement park in Florida that is no longer open?

Miracle Strip was a theme park located in Panama City Beach, Florida, which operated from 1963 to September 5, 2003.

The highlight of the park was The Starliner Roller Coaster, an "out-and-back" wooden coaster designed by John Allen upon the park's initial conception. A few other rides lay near the Starliner and a small arcade center and food stands rounded out the fledgling park.

The park began to grow as time progressed. In the mid-1960s, Ed Nielson of Birmingham, who owned and operated a municipal park (Fair Park) left Birmingham to join the up-and-coming amusement park. Nielson owned the original arcade machines (a mix of old and new hardware) but as part of his involvement leased them out to the park. Not only did the park rent from Nielson, who owned the arcade games and a few rides, but the park also rented rides from traveling carnivals at this time.

Eventually the company paid off debts and the park began to grow. Some of the stockholders were bought out and eventually the park gained the arcade games, rides, and food service. The partnership was eventually dissolved, and became owned by one family only, the Larks, who later expanded the amusement park by creating Shipwreck Island Waterpark directly across the street.

As the strip grew in popularity and Panama City Beach became more of a tourist location, the park grew as well. More and more rides were added throughout the late 1960s until the 1980s, and the park grew up around the Starliner, which was by far the main draw for the park's entire run. As the city became more of a spring break hotspot, the popularity of the family friendly Miracle Strip Park decreased, though it remained a draw for families up to the 2000s.

View the Miracle Strip collection at American Retro Apparel: Miracle Strip - Panama City Beach, FL

Loved going there as a kid. My favorite was the Dante’s Inferno ride. We would do the water park during the day and come back at night for that when we were cool middle schoolers that could be dropped off.
 

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