I hope what I'm about to post is what was intended to be discussed in this thread.
When I was born (1970)
TV stations signed off for several hours each night. I can remember waking up in the middle of the night, and seeing a TV station logo sitting on the TV, and they would always play the National Anthem when the station signed off each night, and signed on each morning.
It was before Cable TV. (Which I think started in NY.NJ when I was.. 3)
You had to have change for pay phones, which were literally all over the place back then.
I hope those are some of the things which belong in this thread.