I grew up in Milwaukee in the late 40's and 50's and it was a great place to live. My dad and uncles moved to Milwaukee for the jobs and they had good paying ones. It was a magical place for a kid growing up, the parks, the movies, downtown, riding the trolleys, Christmas was special. Yes Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley paint a perfect picture but for me it was nearly perfect and I have no problem with how they depict Milwaukee in those shows.
I honestly wish i could live the early 1900s-1960s seems like a nice time period to live through. Lucky guy to be able to experience it, you dont know what you have until its gone lol.
For municipal traction fans (streetcars/trackless trolleys) at 4:34 you will see dual overhead power cables, but streetcars are only using one cable. These streets had both streetcar and trackless trolley service.Streetcars and trackless trolleys both ran on 600 volts direct current. The steel wheels and track provided negative ground return for the streetcars. However, since trackless trolleys had rubber tires, a second cable was needed for the negative return.
You are not kidding. This was indeed when Milwaukee was at it's finest. Jobs EVERYWHERE and people who actually wanted to do them as oppose to letting the government foot the bill for their lives
Milwaukee is a historical city and keeps alot of their magnificent bldgs restored. thank god for the Milwaukee historical society and the people helping to preserve our historical architecture!! Modern bldgs are all ugly and plain. Milwaukee is a masterpiece of beauty in most places!!
This was not always the case. In the late 50s and throughout the 1960s Milwaukee was heavily into "urban renewal." A lot of historical buildings met their fate with the wrecking ball and wrecking claw. The Chicago & Northwestern Depot at the Lakefront, the old Milwaukee Road Depot, the Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church along with many movie palaces and neighborhood movie theaters are long gone.
A lot of buildings are still being torn down or deemed not historical, so many homes and buildings continue to be lost due to the lack of personal and financial interest in the city.
Milwaukee was a nice relatively safe place to live in the 50's. As a kid, I could leave my Schwinn in front of our house with no fear it would be stolen, if you got into a fight, it didn't turn into a killing. There were places where kids could roam and explore, open fields, lots of parks, skating on frozen lagoons and rivers, little or no racial tensions, religions had a part in all of this. The Electroliner from Chicago and the "Dinky" went by our house on South 5th street. I can still hear the motor sound and smell the ozone from streetcar rides.
To see the pictures of the city I grew up in before I was born. I was born in 1968 in Milwaukee still live in Milwaukee. I’m a car guy so I’m guessing this is the late 50s.Thanks for the video
I wish i could re-live a life prior to 1960. Being born in about 1900 just to get a whiff of what life was like and be able to experience the best evolution of culture, technology and historical events
Streetcars are returning to Milwaukee this year. The trackage and boarding islands are fully complete and overhead electrical cable is being installed. The first two streetcars are undergoing testing and motorman training.
Nice old couple, South Milwaukee, next door in the 50's, son was electrocuted working on streetcar cable. Old man was injured in a steam explosion as a sailor on lake Michigan. Electroliner from Chicago went by our house on south 5th as did the 4-wheel "Dinky" streetcar, streets were paved in brick.
I had lightened a few of these old videos. Not sure if I had lightened this one and to what extent. Some have to be compromised because some scenes get too light. I'll check it out.
![MILWAUKEE with John Gurda: East Side [Episode 6]](/img/1.gif)
I grew up in Milwaukee in the late 40's and 50's and it was a great place to live. My dad and uncles moved to Milwaukee for the jobs and they had good paying ones. It was a magical place for a kid growing up, the parks, the movies, downtown, riding the trolleys, Christmas was special. Yes Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley paint a perfect picture but for me it was nearly perfect and I have no problem with how they depict Milwaukee in those shows.
Maybe the creators/writers knew something when they chose Milwaukee to be their town.
I grew up on 35th and Clybourne. My old house is now a parking lot for Marquette high school
I honestly wish i could live the early 1900s-1960s seems like a nice time period to live through. Lucky guy to be able to experience it, you dont know what you have until its gone lol.
@@trollwaffen1248 Well said!
Laverne & Shirley did a better job portraying Milwaukee then Happy Days.
Happy Days always gave off Southern California vibes.
For municipal traction fans (streetcars/trackless trolleys) at 4:34 you will see dual overhead power cables, but streetcars are only using one cable. These streets had both streetcar and trackless trolley service.Streetcars and trackless trolleys both ran on 600 volts direct current. The steel wheels and track provided negative ground return for the streetcars. However, since trackless trolleys had rubber tires, a second cable was needed for the negative return.
THIS IS MILWAUKEE AT ITS BEST BARS BARS BARS , FOUNDRIES, METAL WORKS. SORE FRONTS. HAPPY DAYS WERE HERE.
You are not kidding. This was indeed when Milwaukee was at it's finest. Jobs EVERYWHERE and people who actually wanted to do them as oppose to letting the government foot the bill for their lives
@@lisaschultz6684 uhhhhh these were the days of Frank Zeidler, a socialist mayor...
Milwaukee is a historical city and keeps alot of their magnificent bldgs restored. thank god for the Milwaukee historical society and the people helping to preserve our historical architecture!! Modern bldgs are all ugly and plain. Milwaukee is a masterpiece of beauty in most places!!
This was not always the case. In the late 50s and throughout the 1960s Milwaukee was heavily into "urban renewal." A lot of historical buildings met their fate with the wrecking ball and wrecking claw. The Chicago & Northwestern Depot at the Lakefront, the old Milwaukee Road Depot, the Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church along with many movie palaces and neighborhood movie theaters are long gone.
We went through Milwaukee the other day and I was impressed with the amazing number of old churches visible from the interstate.Pretty neat.
Theres too much change in Milwaukee today, its not like it used to be it used to be better
A lot of buildings are still being torn down or deemed not historical, so many homes and buildings continue to be lost due to the lack of personal and financial interest in the city.
@@MsJamiewoods Glad they saved the Pabst Mansion...
Classic hometown memories....thanx!
Milwaukee was a nice relatively safe place to live in the 50's. As a kid, I could leave my Schwinn in front of our house with no fear it would be stolen, if you got into a fight, it didn't turn into a killing. There were places where kids could roam and explore, open fields, lots of parks, skating on frozen lagoons and rivers, little or no racial tensions, religions had a part in all of this. The Electroliner from Chicago and the "Dinky" went by our house on South 5th street. I can still hear the motor sound and smell the ozone from streetcar rides.
Ah those trollys of the 50s....how I enjoyed riding them! THANX!
Wish i could re live through those types of time periods
Route 10 Wells Street was the last streetcar line in Milwaukee. Service ended spring 1958.
Too bad someone didn't run this on a brighter projector.
To see the pictures of the city I grew up in before I was born. I was born in 1968 in Milwaukee still live in Milwaukee. I’m a car guy so I’m guessing this is the late 50s.Thanks for the video
I wish i could re-live a life prior to 1960. Being born in about 1900 just to get a whiff of what life was like and be able to experience the best evolution of culture, technology and historical events
My grandpa lived his entire life (1901-1990) in Milwaukee. He had an optometry office on North Avenue from the 1930s until his death.
They didn't have sunlight back then 😢
Streetcars are returning to Milwaukee this year. The trackage and boarding islands are fully complete and overhead electrical cable is being installed. The first two streetcars are undergoing testing and motorman training.
Thanks for chiming in with valuable info.
They're not the same street cars. They look dumb and get in the way. We already have a bus system. Total waste of money.
Nice old couple, South Milwaukee, next door in the 50's, son was electrocuted working on streetcar cable. Old man was injured in a steam explosion as a sailor on lake Michigan. Electroliner from Chicago went by our house on south 5th as did the 4-wheel "Dinky" streetcar, streets were paved in brick.
Suggest you re-edit with a video editing program to "lighten" the footage.
I had lightened a few of these old videos. Not sure if I had lightened this one and to what extent. Some have to be compromised because some scenes get too light. I'll check it out.
I had to go to settings on my phone and turn it as blinding bright as I could and it is still pretty dark. Good job though.
Down dere where da streetcar bends da corner!
Round .
Yay city hall, public library, courthouse, Victorian mansions, churches of antique grandeur, the Pabst theatre, of many bldgs.
Pls fix the video
& now issss ghettoooo outcheaa LOL