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How People Lived Before Air Conditioning

WhoRemembers ?

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How People Lived Before Air Conditioning #1960s #1970s #1980s #whoremember?
Before air conditioning became a standard part of American life, summer was something people endured. Those long, hot months shaped how families built homes, planned their days, and even interacted with neighbors. From wide porches to attic fans, iced tea in mason jars to sleeping on screened-in balconies—staying cool was a full-time job.
In this video, we’re taking you back to the days when window units didn’t hum and central air didn’t exist. You’ll discover how architecture, daily routines, and sheer creativity helped folks beat the heat. Some methods were smart… others were downright strange. But they worked.
Whether you remember those hot nights with just a fan and an open window, or you’re just curious about how people got by, this journey will make you appreciate the comforts of today—and admire the resilience of yesterday.
00:00 Intro
00:49 Ancient Methods
04:11 Smart Architecture - The House as a "Cooling Machine"
11:46 Lifestyle Adjustments & Daily Habits
16:17 Clothing & Accessories
19:38 Using Water, Ice, and Fans (Active Methods)
25:26 Impact of AC & The Transition
#nostalgia #memories #history #goldenage #1950s #1960s #1970s #1980s #americanhistory #lifeinamerica
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Whoremember? does not fully own the material compiled in this video. It belongs to individuals or organizations that deserve respect.
We use under: Copyright Disclaimer, Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. "Fair Use" is permitted for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching. scholarships and research.

20 Comments

@Whoremembersusa Creator 1 year ago Pinned

A View of American Life During the 1930s
https://youtu.be/Xn5FvtA04fI

@davidslaser 1 year ago

Im 57yrs old. I grew up in Alabama. Summers hit high 90s with very high humidity. We never had a home with AC until we moved to Texas in 1980 when I was 13. We spent most of our time outdoors. By the time we came in and bathed ate and went to bed it was a chilly 80 degrees. We had a attic fan made out of an old wood propeller off a barnstormers plane crash my great grandfather put in the attic in the 1930s. I remember waking up and getting cover because I was cold. Didnt have central heat either. Layers of homemade quilts. It got so cold in our house one winter the toilet cracked and broke from frozen water

@mayaturnnow9110 1 year ago

When my grandmother, born in 1890, got her first refrigerator, she always and forever referred to it as the "ice box". Childhood memories!

@Hugh_Manitee 1 year ago

Born in 1958. We didnt have air conditioning until 1977. At night in the early mid 1960s, we'd sleep on the floor in the living room on sheets. Only the screen door was locked. Had all the windows wide open. On one side of the house a fan drew in cooler night air, on the other side, a fan drew out the air from the house.
On really hot days, mom would take us shopping. Stores had air conditioning.

@celestephelps5897 1 year ago

One of my comfort sounds is the sound of a metal box fan vibrating on the kitchen linoleum at my grandparents' house. Not only did it keep me cool but I felt safe.

@theresekirkpatrick3337 1 year ago

An open window a box fan and a wet washcloth was air conditioning in Maine in the 50-80’s

@Mynevertobehumbleopinion 1 year ago

You need to rename your video. It should have MILLIONS of views. This made me cry sentimental tears of joy. My 9 yo Grandbaby asked me, "What was it like growing up in the 1900s?" It was wonderful Sweetie. It was wonderful ❤

@janejones8672 1 year ago

I remember my Great Grandmother's house in the summer. She would put big blocks of ice in front of the fans by the opened windows and it really helped cool down the house

@rellad.4700 1 year ago

Growing up during the 70's, we didn't have AC. Instead, we given water with ice out of a clean mayonnaise glass jar, and told to get somewhere, sit down and be still.

@carlkirkegaard2030 1 year ago

I remember that the one place that was air conditioned was the movie theater. When things got unbearable the whole family wood go to the movies at about 7 PM. I remember one time the marquee read "Who cares? It's cool in side"

@sabinesabine8499 1 year ago

I’m originally from Germany ( live in the USA since almost 30 years and I’m so thankful to have air conditioning)
Now it’s getting so hot in Germany over the last years, yesterday it was close to 95.
I talked to my mom , she’s 80 years old and is having such a difficult time right now with the heat .
There’s still no air conditioning. I feel so sorry for all the people there .
I lived in Texas for many years than, now in Virginia Beach and the summers are so hot and last so long.
Again I’m so thankful for air conditioning.

@ngocthu5503 1 year ago

This video really makes me appreciate modern AC. I can't imagine living through a Southern summer in the 1800s with just a fan and open windows.

@grandmaoldschool7011 1 year ago

The basement was a cool refuge in the Summer. Our basement had a linoleum floor and it stayed cool. My sister sneaked down there at night.

@billpennington5904 1 year ago

I remember when my dad put in a attic fan in our house in the mid sixties and we opened all the windows when he started the fan and it cooled the entire house. We thought that was air conditioning.

@pcno2832 1 year ago

I used to work in an old movie theater and the best job in the world was walking into its massive AC unit, which shook the whole building, in the middle of the summer to change the filters. Nothing like standing in a wind tunnel in a rush of cold, dry air. They don't build theaters, or AC units, like that anymore.

@Aberdonianforlife 1 year ago (edited)

I'm 62 and grew up in an apartment in Toronto Ontario. Summers were humid. We got window air conditioners when I was about 10 or so. We ate cold dinners with lunch meat or leftover meats, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. We had fans. The worst part is not the heat it's the humidity. Running through sprinklers was great when I was a kid.

@regular-joe 1 year ago

Please don't ignore the tens of millions who even today cannot afford ac. Deaths across the nation every year from heat stroke and related causes.

@bobbylibertini 1 year ago

My mother (currently100) and myself (63) never had A/C until '01. Really, I kind of miss the non-A/C days. Sitting under the big shade tree with my mother and the neighbor when I was a kid, enjoying the shade and breeze, and appreciating nature and the nuances of weather; Sitting in the basement on hot evenings in a house that had no attic insulation; Enjoying that gorgeous gentlest breeze that would rustle the curtains and feel oh-so-good; Enjoying the feeling and SMELL of a T-storm or shower that would seriously drop the temperature; fans! ...these things were glorious, and we were rarely uncomfortable- but now that we've been spoiled by A/C, unfortunately, there's no going back. Seems like we've lost something, rather than gaining something.

@sorrywrongplanet8873 1 year ago

My Dad would take all the kids to public swim then family swim late into the evening. It was fun to swim in the dark with overhead lighting. We spent long hours at public pools.

@salemjohnson 1 year ago

I remember living in Southern California and visiting my grandma. High noon was super hot and my grandma lay a big sheet on floor of living room. We would get down to our undies and under shirts. She had a window air conditioner with the plastic color ribbons blowing and making funny noises that would lull us off to sleep. We lay down for a nap on the nice cool bed sheet. Such fond memories 😊