Houston 1979 gas rationing

From the ABC13 archives, this clip is from a newscast on July 3, 1979. Gas is 8 cents a gallon, but Houstonians have to wait their turn to get gas. Even license plates on one day, odd the other. And it's "Far Out Week" on the Million Dollar Movie.
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[@johnwicked9301]

That 19 years old looks like 50

[@Eric-sh2ok]

Love these clips from the old days

[@michaelperkola391]

Wow! Houstonians weren't fat back then.

[@armoredghost6180]

Neither were a lot of other Americans. Then diets changed for the worse.

[@mm6461]

Thanks McDonalds

[@randychapman2309]

Well, most weren't hispanic either.

[@Squee_Dow]

@@armoredghost6180 Thank Ancel Keys and our "benevolent" central planners in D.C. We get the kind of science conclusions they *want* us to get. They'll only fund/allow narratives they want to perpetuate. That's what they've done with the "climate change science" and why there are actually those who believe we have only 9 or 10 years left here on this planet. And just so you know, you're not allowed to hold any other position on these matters. It's been decided for you. Thank a Democrat.

[@jordantate7402]

Hello ABC 13 News my grandmother was killed in Houston, Texas In June 1979, (June 22, 1979). Her name was shirley Spradley i was told by family members that channel 13 news covered the story when it happened and was wondering if you could see if you still had the story and upload it for our family to see would mean the world to us. thank you.

[@billybassman21]

TV stations didn't save most of their newscast. There used to be a company in Houston that recorded pretty much every newscast since the late 70s and people could buy the news clips. I think it was called Houston News. Unfortunately they went out of business about 20 years ago. If I remember correctly the father passed away and the son ran it for a couple of years. A guy I used to know worked for them. I got to see their library and watched a few random tapes one day. The sons name was Darrin, don't know whatever happened to the library, but they went out of business.

[@joegerich641]

Back then we dreamed of being energy independent. Not relying on middle east oil. Now that we have it we're destroying that independence.

[@Jake-rs9nq]

Not at all, we are getting more and more of our oil from Canada and fracking. Better to buy from Canada than Iraq. Oil won’t be powering our cars in 15 years anyways. And the electric grid is mostly natural gas, nuclear, and renewables. That comes from right here in the US, not the Middle East.

[@josephruiz7233]

@@Jake-rs9nq Renewables like Wind and Solar are a BS because most Windmill and Solar Panel technology and equipment is manufactured in none other than Communist China! If most of it was made in the USA, it would be legitimate, but instead, this new President is a Beijing Bootlicker making us energy deposits on China because we have to import wind and solar equipment from them.

[@heartofthunder1440]

@@josephruiz7233 And this is why gas will go up in price, this will put the trucking industry or at least the owner operators and small fleet owners out of business, along with strict regulations, ELDS, and self driving trucks. Yeah, it’s not gonna be pretty. As far as jobs, paving, airlines, cruise ships, all use fuel, so the cost of vacations will go up as well, more technology smart cars, and electric cars that most people won’t be able to afford that kinda luxury. So what are we left with? Local transportation? Us regular blue collar workers are going to be worked out of a job, basically.

[@ericw2623]

Hows tgat electric grid doing? Here in Houston they are telling us to conserve beause we are having rolling black outs. They say the wind turbines aren't working because not much wind

[@Squee_Dow]

This is all playing out exactly as the Democrats planned. Soon enough, you will own nothing and you will be happy. Thank a Democrat.

[@sasuki1304]

People should be watching this rn.

[@candysmith8724]

Fun to see Jan Carson, David Ward and Sylvan Rodriguez working in their younger years.

[@GM-xo7yy]

19 year-old assistant manager and college student, he's so confident and mature. People used to be worth a damn.

[@abathens]

No way he was 19. More like 33.

[@DeplorableJaredBrodersen]

@@abathens I was thinking the same thing. He did not seem like nineteen. How does one become a manager that young? It's not believable.

[@tx_7134]

@@DeplorableJaredBrodersen the 70s were a different time

[@frankintx699]

I was 18 and Assistant manager at a Fayetteville, NC Family Dollar Store in 1973.

[@yell0wberry]

In 2023, be really honest, how many 19 year olds look like that?

[@MAGNUM05]

Not saying this to be mean, but Jim Lowe looked and sounded older than 19. The strange thing is that people who are in their 20s back in the '70s looked and sounded older. For example: Back in 1975 when Saturday Night Live premiered on television, Dan Aykroyd was only 23 years old and he looked and sounded older. He sounded at least 50.

[@ashrehman3163]

I remember those odd and even days when on odd days you can gas only if your license plate was odd number.

[@dalelothridge1937]

Stars/Srtripes..........lol. love the memories........Thank you Dave Ward

[@carolannmiles3079]

Do your thing President Carter! Rammit!

[@EddieLeal]

In '79 we lived in Jacinto City. I was 6 y/o at the time. Recall us siting in those long lines waiting to get gas. Oh the nostalgia. 😉

[@joemartin1253]

I was 6 years old.

[@Robert8455]

Jan Carson ❤❤❤. Here we are 44 years later and still driving gas guzzlers. Changed from smaller fuel efficient cars to large SUVs and huge pickup trucks.

[@Crazy-Horse-Tx.]

Wow, to see Sylvan Rodriguez being so young . It was good to see him on the tube. Good guy ; RIP . Died of cancer. Apr 2000.

[@douglasdesouzavieira8548]

How long did it last?

[@hashtag415]

The guy in the thumbnail.😂

[@tA_aT287]

History is repeating itself. 🙄

[@allthingsbegin]

Imagine if the price of gas today cost what it did back in 1979

[@Jake-rs9nq]

It was about 80 cents a gallon in 1979. Which, adjusted for inflation, is about $3.40 a gallon today.

[@billlevins7460]

at 2:20 that guy does not look 19 years old. When I was 19 I had zits all over my face, still in puberty and could not even shave yet. I guess some guys mature faster physically than others.

[@curierfromxibalba1155]

leaded gasoline, bad food, excessive second hand smoking and early smoking does that to you.

[@yell0wberry]

The only thing that freaked me out more than the 30 year old looking guy who claims he was 19 was the fact that grown white men used to work pumping gas

[@ryanmccolloch4734]

You can hear the anchor's southern accent slip out at times, It's a lot more charming than the dry generic American news anchor accent

[@kevinthb498]

1979 was one of the worst years ever. I was a kid. To put it into perspective, President Carter's infamous Malaise Speech was 3 & 1/2 months before the Iran Hostage crisis began

[@aprilarmsrtong1750]

That man was wearing those shorts

[@LoZu-vz5rj]

19 year-old going on 41 :)

[@kellimartinmlle777]

This has been happening all because of politics

[@bleeding4721]

God. I had forgotten how pathetic the Carter years were

[@John-ct9zs]

So what's Jim Lowe up to today? I looked him up with Houston in my search, but there's a lot of Jim Lowe's out there, some look way too old and some too young. He should be in his early 60s today.

[@itsglen9646]

I wonder how many of those waiting in line really needed gas, or were just afraid of running out.

[@mr.mister4110]

I was 19 back then and we all tried figuring out ways to get gas and beat the even odd system. We switch plates, we filled gas cans.

[@dhansel4835]

During this period of time my company had an off shore deep sea fishing trip. We were about 50 miles off shore and all you could see were ships loaded with crude oil just sitting there. There must have been hundreds. I guess they were waiting for the prices to go up and UP they did. Now enters fracking and most of the energy companies are laying off most of their people.

[@crapple009]

@3:49 "Heyyyyyy."

[@frankintx699]

I remember those day I had two cars with1 even and 1 odd tag.😉

[@bobking3730]

Jan Carson = gorgeous.

[@ruditrevino7361]

it shows the price of gas as 82 9/10 and 84 9/10 at time 2:43

[@stephendacey8761]

Well, minimum wage was around $2.65, so that would be about what it is today - June, 2022.

[@vmobile890]

Gas in 1972 was .36 cents a gallon . The Exxon gas pump shown in this video shows 5.7 gallons at 7.3 gallons about .69 cents about a gallon . When ever people on you tube complain about inflation it’s always with us . Some states less and one way how to keep ahead is average person live in a state with best value on housing and property taxes .

[@John-ct9zs]

19? The "kid" looks 35 with that mustache and hairstyle. But I guess people will say that about the under 25 crowd today that walk around with those full size Abraham Lincoln beards that everyone thinks are cool.

[@jokerswildio]

Here is my question: there were 2 major energy/oil criseses in the 70s (73, 79)....why didn't communities abd government get together to amp up public transportation better??

[@RTStx1]

No, why did our govs keep saying it would take too long to up oil production; ten years. Over and over, so we would be in this pickle on purpose. Look at all things everyone owns made from oil; we all are dependent on it.... the powers that be are keeping oil shut off to deepen their pockets and empty ours.

[@WiIdbiII]

I've been here in Houston/Harris county a long time. Back then everything was spread out. Not everyone was going the same place. We didn't have near the population to justify that either.

[@Jake-rs9nq]

​@@RTStx1 Conventional oil production in the US entered terminal decline in 1970. That's what led to the rampant inflation and 2 oil crises during the decade. Nowadays we mine unconventional oil (mainly shale) but this is both expensive, and quickly nearing its peak. Once again, we will enter terminal decline. We had our chance to move beyond oil. Instead, we chose to stick with it. Now we will see our economy desperately try to save itself as oil peaks. The US could still escape this fate by decoupling transportation from oil. But I don't think Americans can comprehend the mess they got themselves into. They deny basic realities. They don't know what truth is. They refuse to innovate or change.

[@billybassman21]

The drug store manager didn't look 19! That outfit was something you could only wear in the 90s. Wearing that even in 1982 would get you laughed at.

[@wegder]

I don't think gas was 8 cents a gallon, more like 80 cents

[@johntrent151]

Dementia Joe is bringing back the 70’s

[@titanicbigship]

yes

[@DougWeaver1998]

Jimmy Carter thong sniffer!

[@roymarksberry4152]

Gas should be a dollar fifty gallon in the united states

[@camitchell123]

Back when I was blissfully clueless

[@jeremybarcelo6486]

A majority of these people are dead now

[@johnheinrich6907]

I’m still here and waited in line many days

[@admiralairsucks]

Gas was not 8 cents a gallon! Maybe in 1949, not 1979.

[@Aaronhouston33]

But yet this guy fought the Carter administration with sting auto diesel pumps for diesel cars and light trucks

[@roymarksberry4152]

We have plenty of gas now and we have plenty of gas then

[@Jake-rs9nq]

Eh, not really. It's all unconventional. Conventional oil production entered terminal decline in the US after 1970. We ran out. Now we produce a lot of oil, but it's from shale and undersea mining. That is far more expensive than conventional methods, driving up the price. Though the price is still quite low compared to other developed countries. In fact, adjusted for inflation, the price of gas today is essentially unchanged from what it was in 1980.

[@abelflores1593]

Money's no good we're going to use gas as currency that's right on the money

[@stevereeds9088]

5$ for 77 gallons 🥹

[@fidenciapalacios9432]

Their.were.no.food.stamps.

[@jorgerivas8494]

Coming soon thanks to Biden

[@tA_aT287]

Prophetic....

[@JamesWilson-sb9iq]

Vote Carter 1980!!!

[@Jake-rs9nq]

I wish

[@JamesWilson-sb9iq]

@@Jake-rs9nq That was actually a joke. Carter was terrible lol

[@Jake-rs9nq]

@@JamesWilson-sb9iq Nope, he was better than what came after. People just hate him because they don't understand how international trade works.

[@SuperRip7]

We need gasoline rationing now.

[@trae701]

Nope 👎🏽

[@stephendacey8761]

Biden wants us to buy expensive electric cars.

[@Squee_Dow]

We need Democrats out of office now.

[@stephendacey8761]

@@Squee_DowNobody will ever admit it, but Biden and the other "fat cats" in Washington are destroying the lives of everybody, but the rich.

[@SuperRip7]

@@Squee_Dow Neither the Republicans nor Democrats will offer an energy solution plan.

[@Freddy_Confetti]

1:35 10 years lol