{"id":94015,"date":"2022-12-31T05:58:48","date_gmt":"2022-12-31T10:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=94015"},"modified":"2022-12-31T05:58:48","modified_gmt":"2022-12-31T10:58:48","slug":"cars-we-remember-collector-car-corner-cruising-under-the-christmas-lights-then-and-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2022\/12\/31\/cars-we-remember-collector-car-corner-cruising-under-the-christmas-lights-then-and-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Cars We Remember\/Collector Car Corner; Cruising under the Christmas lights, then and now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Growing up in south Jersey, notably Vineland, N.J., there was no better time of year than Christmas season, especially cruising under the holiday lights that adorned the main downtown business district on Landis Avenue. As there were no malls yet at that time, these Everywhere, USA main streets were adorned with so many holiday decorations and cheer it was nearly impossible not to get the \u201cbest time of the year\u201d feelings. Throw in the holiday music while cruising like \u201cRockin\u2019 Around the Christmas Tree,\u201d \u201cSilver Bells,\u201d or the Chipmunks Song (Christmas Don\u2019t Be Late) and the festive mood was good all through December, with many already finished decorating by Thanksgiving.   <\/span><\/p>\n

In this merriest time of the year, Landis Avenue was, and still is, a highly lit four-lane wide thoroughfare that served as the nightly cruise destination thanks to its over four-mile round trip cruise length.<\/p>\n

\"Cars<\/a>

Aluminum Christmas Trees were a big hit back in the 1960s, but soon faded in popularity. (Compliments Reynolds Aluminum.)<\/p><\/div>\n

The ritual of cruising Landis Avenue during Christmas always added an extra touch thanks to the city\u2019s spectacular lighting display. City workers attached (and still do) strands of lights, perhaps 20-feet apart, spanning lengthwise across the 100-ft. wide avenue. The hundreds and hundreds of light adornments made for some grand memories of how the Christmastime season made everything all the better for those who loved cars, cruising, and Christmas.<\/p>\n

To us car buffs it comes as no surprise that lighting makes any car look better. Yet nothing compared to the brilliance of nighttime cruising during the Christmas season in Vineland. Adding to the motif were the countless stores along the main avenue, all adorned in their own Christmas lighting displays from \u201cThe Spot\u201d pizzeria and \u201cThe Elite\u201d hangout on the East side of town to \u201cJack\u2019s Toyland\u201d midway along that led to the \u201cboulevard\u201d railroad tracks. Further down on the west side sat the large Sears & Roebuck, always dressed for the season in large decoration style.<\/p>\n

Once you passed Sears, it led to the perfectly positioned \u201ccircle\u201d that made turning around at Delsea Drive and coming back along Landis Avenuew to East Avenue all the easier. You would also pass the numerous diners like Jim & Larry\u2019s and the Circle Diner and car dealers like Yank Chevrolet and Glauser Dodge, likewise adorned in holiday harmony.<\/p>\n

Although most of us car cruisers knew the holiday lights made everything seem better, most of us took it for granted never thinking that one day in the future, the actual Christmas celebrations would be challenged by political correctness. We were perhaps overly concerned with the cleanliness of our Chevelle, GTO, Mustang, Super Bee, or even an altered wheelbase \u201955 Chevy with white fender well headers.<\/p>\n

As we now look back from the window of Christmas season 2022, most of us wish we could re-live those wonderful holiday nights regardless of whatever hometown we lived in. For sure, there are countless Landis Avenue Christmas light stories in Every City USA.<\/p>\n

\"Cars<\/a>

The color wheel was a must if you had a Christmas tree made from aluminum. Today, these trees and wheels are still available for those who are into nostalgic Christmas trees. (Greg Zyla collection.)<\/p><\/div>\n

Perhaps \u201ctaking for granted\u201d is the real message of this week\u2019s holiday theme column. We all know things have drastically changed in our country as we move quickly to the year 2023. Thankfully Christmas is still strong, regardless of those who want it stopped. (Along with Thanksgiving, too.) <\/span><\/p>\n

From my rear view mirror things were better in that 1960-decade. And even though the 1960 era was a decade of resistance and change, a new band of youth that promoted peace and music more so than destructive conflict emerged with historical prominence.<\/p>\n

Today many of my readers are nostalgia hungry baby boomers, be it a flower child in a VW Bus on way to Woodstock or a drag racer ready to make a quarter-mile pass in a 1968 Camaro SS\/RS 396\/375. (I was the drag racer, but I did not attend Woodstock as Uncle Sam had other ideas.)<\/p>\n

The one thing then that most everyone agreed on and never questioned was Christmas as a national holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Cities across the country proudly displayed Nativity scenes, many with live animals at certain times of the season. The high school Christmas plays were filled with cheer, and be it parochial or public school, the birth of our Lord was proudly celebrated as most sent Christmas cards, went caroling, and enjoyed everyone\u2019s company.<\/p>\n

As for the homes of my teenage friends, they were always decorated inside and out. It was growing up in Vineland where I learned of Hanukkah, the Menorah, and other ways of celebrating special religious times of the season. The families that celebrated Hanukkah complimented the many Christmas tree decorated homes I visited, even if the latter had those fake silver trees with electric powered color wheels that were prevalent. As for food, everyone was in for a treat visiting family and friends when the holidays came around regardless of religious affiliation, which stays the same to this day.<\/p>\n

\"Cars<\/a>

Alvin and the Chipmunks hit song \u201cChristmas Don\u2019t Be Late\u201d came out in 1958 and as we move to 2023, it\u2019s still a popular holiday song. (David Saville collection.)<\/p><\/div>\n

Today I\u2019m happy that most of the major retail stores now allow their employees to say Merry Christmas again. It wasn\u2019t that way for many a year thanks to \u201cpolitical correctness.\u201d Luckily, I now live in a nice small town that celebrates Christmas the good old-fashioned way and I appreciate it very much.<\/p>\n

I will always love the lights, driving the neighborhood and looking at decorations, the Christmas movies like Frank Capra\u2019s \u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life\u201d to \u201cMiracle on 34th Street\u201d and all the goodwill feelings that people can actually feel deep inside. To those who don\u2019t feel the Christmas spirit, you might want to catch a showing of Charles Dickens \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d on television or DVD.<\/p>\n

Regardless of era, and to those who will always believe in this most special time of the year, have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year.  <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span>(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist who welcomes reader questions and comments on collector cars, auto nostalgia and motorsports at greg@gregzyla.com<\/a>.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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