Old gas stations

[Fading Fast]

Rob

Seriously ⇧

 

[David Conwill]

What ultimately did Rexall in - the big chains figured out how to beat them (probably via lost costs) or was it the decline of smaller towns or something else?

I don't think Rexall is dead! Much smaller, probably, but my home town still has one, and I've seen them elsewhere. And not just as ghost signs, either.

 

[Fading Fast]

I don't think Rexall is dead! Much smaller, probably, but my home town still has one, and I've seen them elsewhere. And not just as ghost signs, either.

Is that the original company or was the name bought out of bankruptcy? I thought Rexall went under in the '70s and just the name was sold, but that's all from a not-great memory, so I'm sure you are right.

Edit Add: (From Wikipedia - just looked it up as I was curious):

By the late 1950s, Rexall's business model of unitary franchised stores, with each store owned independently by the local pharmacist, was already coming under attack by the discount chains, such as Thrifty Drug and Eckerd. These well-financed corporate entities were able to reduce costs with block purchasing, and were focused on growth. By 1977, the value of the Rexall business had deteriorated to the point that it was sold to private investors for $16 million. The investors divested the company-owned stores, though existing franchise retailers were able to keep the Rexall name. These tended to be weaker stores, and few kept the name as time progressed. The company did continue to distribute vitamins, health foods, and plastic items. Across the US, some franchise retailers are still using the Rexall name.[3]​

 

[Frunobulax]

Seriously ⇧

Can you imagine driving down that street, late at night, maybe you've had a couple cocktails...you look up and see a jetliner looming in your path!


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[LizzieMaine]

It was most likely corporate diversification. The manufacturing and supply-chain end of the Rexall system was controlled by the Dart family, which owned the trademarks and controlled the production of Rexall products -- and the company jumped on the conglomerate bandwagon in the 1960s, turning itself into "Dart Industries," and buying up all sorts of operations unrelated to the retail drug business: among other subsidiaries, they bought out and absorbed Tupperware, Duracell batteries, and the company that made Hobart commercial meat slicers. The company spread itself too thin with all this expansionism and finally got absorbed itself, into Kraft -- which had no interest in the drug business. They shut down the Rexall back-structure, but let the independent franchisees continue using the Rexall logo as they saw fit, even though they no longer had Bis-Ma-Rex or Plenamins to sell.

Eventually Kraft sold off the Rexall trademark to a Canadian company, which is behind the current Rexall products that exist, but these products have nothing to do with the remaining Rexall-branded drug stores in the US, a few of which continue to lurk in small towns here and there.

Interesting fact: Justin Dart, founder of the Dart enterprises, was the son-in-law of Charlie Walgreen, founder of the drug chain that still bears his name.

 

[Fading Fast]

...Interesting fact: Justin Dart, founder of the Dart enterprises, was the son-in-law of Charlie Walgreen, founder of the drug chain that still bears his name.

Great Rexall information.

Probably not a coincidence re Dart / Walgreen - probably moved in the same social circles or the families connected at business conferences, etc.

 

[2jakes]

Great Rexall information.

Probably not a coincidence re Dart / Walgreen - probably moved in the same social circles or the families connected at business conferences, etc.

All I know is that Rexall and Walgreen’s had soda fountains towards the back.
They provided best chocolate malts for 75¢, the soda jerk would fix the
delicious brew using metal cup & blender with real delicious ice cream
& malt powder. Everything made from scratch.

No pre-mix or artificial stuff. The malt was poured into a tall glass with
real whipped creme and a cherry on top. The remainder of the malt
in the metal container was left by the side for you to enjoy. A glass
of ice water was served without having to ask.

 

[2jakes]

 

[2jakes]

Oh Lizzie...I get it...what the contraption is on the truck....what I don’t know is
what does he do with it once it piles up ?

What’s he doing?

This is weird. Never seen a tire with chains in person.

On rare occasions, the city will pour salt dirt (not sure what it is) on bridges
during bad weather. But we don’t get snow at all.
Sometimes it can be in the 70s during Christmas.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Around here we just dump the snow in the ocean or pile it up in gigantic mountains at the edge of parking lots, which usually linger well into May leaving behind a pile of gravel, broken bottles, orphaned gloves, and occasionally a body or two.

As for Rexall, they had the best singing commercial in radio during the mid-forties, sung to "Deep In The Heart of Texas:"

"For goodness' sake
If you've a tummy ache!
(OH-OH-OH-OH!)
Deep in your so-lar plex-us!
You really should
Find out how good
(HO HO HO HO!)
That Rexall Bis-Ma-Rex is!
B-I-S-M-A-R-E-X
Rexall Bis-Ma-Rex!!"

 

[2jakes]

Around here we just dump the snow in the ocean or pile it up in gigantic mountains at the edge of parking lots, which usually linger well into May leaving behind a pile of gravel, broken bottles, orphaned gloves, and occasionally a body or two.

As for Rexall, they had the best singing commercial in radio during the mid-forties, sung to "Deep In The Heart of Texas:"

"For goodness' sake
If you've a tummy ache!
(OH-OH-OH-OH!)
Deep in your so-lar plex-us!
You really should
Find out how good
(HO HO HO HO!)
That Rexall Bis-Ma-Rex is!
B-I-S-M-A-R-E-X
Rexall Bis-Ma-Rex!!"

This would've scared my sisters.

 

[Fading Fast]

...

View attachment 94455

Did someone mention caramel popcorn!?

 

[2jakes]

Around here we just dump the snow in the ocean or pile it up in gigantic mountains at the edge of parking lots, which usually linger well into May leaving behind a pile of gravel, broken bottles, orphaned gloves, and occasionally a body or two.

Sounds interesting!
Must visit in May.
Any suggestions,hotels,where a guy with a cat (snores) can stay?

 

[2jakes]

Did someone mention caramel popcorn!?

Fruitcake during the holidays would be nice!

 

[2jakes]

It was a very good year!

 

[Fading Fast]

View attachment 94354
I love the dresses that gals wore back then.

While there was, of course, a wide range of dresses then as now, the "simple" cotton dress that I think you are referencing is one that my girlfriend and I also love as it was unfussy and quietly elegant. It's funny, but those dresses were more for the "regular" girls than the society women and, IMHO, look much better than the overly engineered and styled society girl clothes.

In old movies, its the secretary, the shopgirl, the librarian who wears these outstanding, simple dresses the most. A few companies today - Boden is one - puts out some similar dresses at affordable prices (but not always in natural fibers, but sometimes), but they can be hard to find. As always, doing simple well is harder than fussy (there's nowhere for design flaw or cheap construction to hide in a "simple" dress).

 

[2jakes]

While there was, of course, a wide range of dresses then as now, the "simple" cotton dress that I think you are referencing is one that my girlfriend and I also love as it was unfussy and quietly elegant. It's funny, but those dresses were more for the "regular" girls than the society women and, IMHO, look much better than the overly engineered and styled society girl clothes.

In old movies, its the secretary, the shopgirl, the librarian who wears these outstanding, simple dresses the most. A few companies today - Boden is one - puts out some similar dresses at affordable prices (but not always in natural fibers, but sometimes), but they can be hard to find. As always, doing simple well is harder than fussy (there's nowhere for design flaw or cheap construction to hide in a "simple" dress).

I like the dresses that LizzieMaine wears on a daily basis for work. I’ve also
seen her in a formal dress when she was attending a function a while back.
She looked stunning.
She is a very beautiful woman and what she does for the kids working at
the Strand is wonderful. They are fortunate to have her.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Rob

The suburb to my west, Metairie, had a crash-landed prop airliner, mostly intact, sitting near the intersection of Veterans Blvd. and Causeway Blvd. for many years, until the mid-Eighties, I think. I'll try to find a pic on the 'Net.

 

[2jakes]

Photo-bombing a bomber!

Happy birthday Polo.

 

[3fingers]

The only place left around here to buy any Rexall products is the Dollar General stores which have seemingly popped up in every town of over 500 people in this part of the world. Dollar General is like the old local general store in a strange way. They are owned by people far away, but are staffed by locals you know and you can buy anything from cat food to condoms there.