Battle Of Commerce: The Fierce Competition On A 1960s High Street | Turning Back Time

[@CelestialCookies]

It would have been so nice to see the Butcher's family open up in this high street in real life. The father seems to miss practicing his job and the locals loved him and appreciated his expertise.

[@Someone-kg8qf]

The local butcher on Vancouver Island in Nanainmo across the street from the Great Canadian Superstore was priceless.I loved them. A local butcher has it's place.

[@oooh19]

The vegans would be offended!

[@johnpauljones9244]

This really was so sad, to see the bakers and butchers, go. The great lesson to the people of this town, hopefully, would be to support local, and not always the big store, if you want the others to last.

[@SC-ps4ti]

Honestly, props to that lady that spoke up to the grocer. Him and his family have been selfish the entire series, and he needed to see the real life implications of his actions

[@Lucinda_Jackson]

So, he was supposed to be less successful and take less care and provide less for his family? It wasn’t personal.

[@angeltt4390]

@@Lucinda_Jackson Actually Karl Sergison made crass comments all through the series about being a ruthless seller, "doing whatever it takes to turn a buck", that competition with Andrew Sharp, was personal, throughout Karl has attempted to sabotage the Sharp's business and customer base, selfishly hoarding stock from the previous weeks to sell on "the black market" (which as you see was extremely frowned upon as well as illegal) and taking excess produce from the *communal* gardens. Small businesses thrive not only on making money, but on good customer service and practices to promote customer growth and loyalty.

[@Lucinda_Jackson]

@@angeltt4390 Yeah, okay. 🤷🏼‍♀️ It’s a TV show! 🤣🤣

[@angeltt4390]

@@Lucinda_Jackson Yep, and they all had scripts, no one was genuinely themselves. Yeah right! Theyre called "reality" shows for a reason. True personalities always come to light.

[@Lucinda_Jackson]

@@angeltt4390 Except, of course, that they ARE scripted. They’re all caricatures, to an extent, which is what makes it fun to watch. They’ve all been assigned roles and characters so there’s enough tension to provide interest without so much tension that it becomes uncomfortably confrontational.

[@MariaJoseRangelUwU]

Andrew and Michael are the best chaotic duo, Michael is so proactive business oriented and Andrew is such a sweet proud dad

[@dogpiler7663]

so they got Caroline, a master baker, into the show and all she ever wanted to do is create good bread for the people. first, they made her run the bakery instead of baking, then make cakes, then a restaurant, then a milk bar..etc. she was the only one who never got to do what she was really good at.

[@melz6625]

really idiotic. We don’t need to be reminded how shitty the times were for women by torturing this professional woman.

[@azrailyne]

@@melz6625 So dramatic! The fact of the matter is that they were shitty but I wouldn't call it torture. That's what this experiment is about, taking people from the modern world and showing how the past transforms them. Believe it or not, she'll be able to go back to being a baker after these weeks are over and I'm sure she'll have a new appreciation too.

[@davriecaro3036]

@@azrailyne Well the thing about that I find weird is that they did not allow her to bake in the Victorian era. When in reality she would have been allowed to do so. Their documents and pictures that show women running bakeries and helpin make the bread itself Actually in the other documentary "Victorian Bakers" they showed that women did help in the baking ( allowing the woman in their team to help). As well as showing that one of the participant's family business . Was actually started by his great aunt

[@eunicestone838]

If a person claims to be a baker aren't they supposed to be skilled in all types of baking?

[@davriecaro3036]

@@eunicestone838 Well, it depends on what type of baking you mean . Since nowadays, a bread baker wouldn't necessarily bake or is that knowledgeable in baking and decorating cakes and other pastries

[@chuckandmax7313]

The poor butcher, he already knows how hard it is to lose his business in his own personal life. Having to replay that loss in this show must have been very stressful and bittersweet.

[@平丸㺅]

Exactly. I am so sorry he had to experience it agian.

[@MisUnderstood_Rose]

I hate that the grocery guy never feels bad about hurting other people. I would feel terrible if my business took someone else's livelihood

[@melz6625]

he is a capitalist. he only lives what the system tells him to. if you gotta problem with that seems you’d have a problem with capitalism. rightly so, it is based on poor quality and exploitation of labour

[@karenb7464]

Would you really though? If feeding and providing for you family depended on it and your competition disappearing and it made your life easier, most people would consider it a relief. Now don't get me wrong I didn't like his attitude in previous episodes because doing things like a blackmarket and taking all the produce from the communal garden to sell was really bad. But the real villain of this episode is the idea that people don't see their part in it. You want the special service and the expertise, you need to pay for it. That's why the businesses there went out of business for the mall on the other side of town in the first place

[@michaelplunkett8059]

@@melz6625 Yeah, the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe made such plenty and joy. Then why did they stand on line for everything in stores with empty shelves?

[@caramelrhapsodyjesseslife]

I wouldn't feel bad. You have to step up your game if you want to stay relevant!!

[@vanessarodriguez9958]

It’s not really about him ruining the other business that’s how it works in business with consumers they look for the better deal in my town we have a mom and pop grocery store but I choose what’s cheaper and that’s H‑E‑B being cheaper and more affordable so places like mom and pop shops r going out due to pricing between heb and Walmart I choose heb on groceries but Walmart for everything else so as a consumer I’m not wrong neither is the cheaper store trying to please the consumer and keep up with times it’s hard but that’s business and millions of consumers r the same way lower prices truly make it easier and it’s not about running someone’s business it’s about keeping up with the world around you as best as you can

[@akioaslan]

I loved seeing the elder people reliving their youth years, you can really see the joy in their face, but is so sad seeing the favorites families leaving 😭😭

[@singenstattatmen5096]

I am absolutely in love with that little old lady, waving her flag about at the end of the war last era and being so lost with the self-service this time. Love that she got to relive some memories - and I do wish we still had some more shops like that left, at the very least for the elderly. It will end so much loneliness in old age just to have a personal place to shop and feel welcome in.

[@Lovesausage269]

I was thinking the same thing while watching.

[@lordbogus6709]

Bet she went to the grocer in the 1960s and 70s

[@Pennydeadful]

The little old lady who speaks in every episode, the one who wears the cream top is a sweetheart.

[@adailydaughter6196]

Isn't she just ☺️

[@IonIsFalling7217]

This episode is actually making my emotional. We’ve lost so much.

[@MrToradragon]

Same here, well despite factř that I am not even British, but this transition is something that happened everywhere. Maybe it is as well due this pandemic and totally stupid government in my country that within a year basically destroyed all those small shops that people put up in place since 2010 when we started to be fed up with hypermarkets. Same thing in 2020/2021 as happened in this episode. Well and without chance to fight back as small shops were closed by governmental order while those supermarkets were allowed to be opened and sell exactly those same things like those shops that were forced to close...

[@sammavacaist]

You have to be willing to pay extra for service and small business. People decided they wanted cheaper and more convenient. Good luck convincing people to stop using Amazon and go to stores in person at all anymore.

[@MrToradragon]

@@sammavacaist Strange... I try to do everything possible to circumvent Amazon and so on when I am buying stuff. Sure chain with 10 stores is still not small business, but things I buy there are not something you buy every other day. Or books, when I am ordering books, I do not shop on Amazon nor one certain chain of bookstores that I know treats employees not well, but from other bookstores. I will rather pay those 5-6€ extra. But maybe it is that I do not treat things I buy as typical consumer. For example when I buy books I will opt for maybe bit more expensive edition if it has some added value (illustrations, cover, special edition), than for paperback one. Or I will rather choose work boots that I buy in one local store over some fancy outdoor one as they will last significantly longer and do the same service. Or the tea, unless I buy milky oolong I prefer to buy slightly more expensive in local shop, yet it seems like those teas they have there are stronger than those my father order from the internet. Another thing is how your town is build, whether you travel to work by car or by bus, by tram, train, by foot. Of course when people commute by car then they will not shop in small shops, but when they travel at least some distance by foot, there is good chance that they will shop in small shops. For example for me it is far more convenient to buy what I need that day in small shop than to take maybe half mile long detour to supermarket, especially when I know that I will get angry about something there. And i generally don't like those places, there is strange filth on all items and some despair in the air. (Another thing is that it prevents me from bulky buying items that I would eat too fast and regret it later. For example chocolate has some strange property, 100g will last for week, just as 500g does)

[@myroom1913]

Personally: I like self serve. I couldn’t think of ANYTHING WORSE; then having someone standing by/ why you decide what you want.

[@cassandra9863]

Im crying and it’s not even a joke..

[@M16Joe]

I hate the grocers. They don't deserve their success. It was given to them, and wasn't earned. Yet they choose to rub it in the butcher's face. Annoys me beyond words.

[@hieithefox]

Honestly it fits with the actual companies to be honest

[@Kirsten_is_cursed10]

That’s real life.

[@amyrivers4093]

I think that some part is based on the reality of the times and they were asked to do certain things however so far each video sees him do something that is questionable which may shows a negative part of his personality and line of work.

[@twobitsmickeymouse3439]

He was a jerk the whole show. In World War 2 he stole from the community garden and ran a black market.

[@kathychildress18]

Trashy

[@tekeguy68]

I don't know if the producers are pushing it but the grocers get more unlikable every episode (though they were their worst during the WWII episode). He keeps saying "it's the salesman in me" as if that makes it acceptable to be a jerk. He has never had to source/pay for inventory, gets built in pricing advantages, never had to create/bake/butcher etc any of the products he sells and then acts like he is some shrewd business mogul when he turns a profit. It's humorous when he finally has the realization that his attitude and ruthless "anything for a buck" outlook is exactly why the High Street died. The wife isn't far behind with her nastiness. Every other family has actually had to put forth effort to varying degrees of success. Absolutely love Jill though.

[@rachelk4805]

I mean, the producers absolutely are involved in it, from the casting to assigning rooms and establishing unfair rules to editing. It isn't a game show, it is supposed to be a view into how the high street fell apart, historically, and the grocers were cast as the antagonists. It's ok you don't like them, that is the point.

[@kittenonacloud1012]

It's a shame that history can only be replicated so much. I mean anyone can dress and act the part, but at the end of the day they all know that, for example, there isn't a real war going on, which is good of course, but I mean they can never take it as seriously as the people who really lived it. It would be epic if this was done on a larger and longer scale, say transform an entire village, and participants live an era for an entire year or something. It could be like Big Brother, only WAY more interesting.

[@StephBer1]

@@kittenonacloud1012 Watch The 1940's House on youtube. It was done 2000 and charts a modern family during wartime for a couple of months. I think it's a very realistic look at the hardships of the family, although, from memory, I don't think they had someone "in the war", but they definitely experienced everything else. It's my favourite of all these immersion series.

[@monkiram]

@@kittenonacloud1012 While that might be interesting, I'm not sure I'd agree that it would be ethical to put people in wartime conditions for a year. The idea of appreciating what we have now is that wartime was so awful, nobody would want to go through that again. You could never simulate it exactly without inflicting trauma on people and that's not ethical. You sound like you'd be a happy spectator of the hunger games lol

[@fritzdaddy-135mmgetstagger4]

I find them to be wonderful

[@Zuraneve]

I haven't bought meat in over a decade, but given the things I've learned about the meat industry in that time, I'd prefer buying from a butcher than pre-packaged from a grocery store.

[@lauriepenner350]

If it makes you feel any better, the baker and butcher families got to go back to the 21st century, where small local businesses are trendier than they have been for decades.

[@calebleland8390]

I was just thinking about this. In our surrounding communities, we lost so many local shops during the 80s and 90s, but there has been a resurgence in the last decade. People are starting to realize that there is a market for small businesses.

[@hannahk1306]

This was filmed back in 2010, just 2 years after the financial crash so unfortunately a lot of people couldn't afford to shop locally. In the first episode they said that the butchers had recently lost their business because of it - that's why they wanted to take part. I wonder if they were ever able to revive it though.

[@calebleland8390]

@@hannahk1306 The butcher is actually teaching courses on artisanal meat cutting. So he's doing pretty good.

[@lauriepenner350]

I think Covid will be bad for small businesses in the short term but good in the long term. Here's an example: Covid killed 3 Starbucks and 2 Second Cups in my trendy neighborhood, leaving 5 prime storefront locations empty and a scarcity of coffee shops. With a glut of empty retail space, the landlords will have to drop the rent if they want new tenants. Meanwhile, a now- unemployed barista decides this is a great time to follow her dream and open her own coffee shop in one of these prime locations. Add in the trends of online shopping and supporting local businesses and you've got a great climate for new businesses to thrive.

[@amberkat8147]

@@lauriepenner350- good point, I sure hope you're right and that the big businesses don't rebound and force the little guys out of work again.

[@lottevannoort1211]

I think it's really spot on and sad that we don't have stuff like milk bars anymore. Especially in small towns it's so important for teenagers to have a place to go, and something like a milk bar is safe and somewhat under control helping at least somewhat with going rogue.

[@oooh19]

There should be more hangouts

[@ianhomerpura8937]

In Asia, they're thriving again, in the form of milktea shops.

[@nomadartistontheroad]

I can't believe this series is already 10 years old...

[@JoMarieM]

I would have never guessed that this show is a decade old! It looks like it was filmed yesterday. I wonder what all these people are doing now?

[@Arzeena1990]

Yeah and that they are not uploading the whole season at once...

[@QueenGummibBear]

You’re joking!! I had no idea, you’d never know

[@noblemily]

No wonder those teenager's makeup was outdated...

[@julietalima]

@@noblemily I know! The hairstyle on the teen girls is what tipped me off...

[@Awntry]

I'm a huge fan of the baker family. They have such a healthy relationship with each other.

[@gordontaylor5373]

Yeah, they seem such nice people.

[@XxLadyxGaladrielxX]

I hope some of these customers can go visit the families in their real shops. Like the baker, her bread looks delicious and I hope some of them stop over and sample some of the artisanal high-quality stuff she makes. And the butcher and the son, who were so honest and true to their beliefs throughout the whole thing, not compromising.

[@LaurelWest]

This episode made me realise that I want to change my shopping behaviour, because of what happened to the butcher's. All I do is online shopping, but the online web shops are threatening the existence of physical shops.

[@Author.Noelle.Alexandria]

A lot of local independent shops also are online. And if you want something small that may not be in your area, you can still find that thing independently. If you want books, check powells.com, which is a local independent bookstore here. When the lockdowns hit, and Powell's closed for in-person and only had online buying and everyone was buying books from Amazon, there was the risk they couldn't reopen at all, and when people here found out that Powell's was in trouble, there was such a flurry of online buying from Powell's that they had to recall their entire staff to fill orders, and now they're still open! AND they're open for in-person shopping (of course, masks, limits on how many people at a time, etc). Without online shopping, they'd have gone under. And ABE Books also connects buyers with independent bookstores. Most things have a small independent store somewhere that can ship to you right now, and those small independent stores ALL aim to be able to reopen for in-person shopping if they haven't already. Just google "independent X store" and see what you can find. :) I have a small business myself (I get to compete with people wanting couture for Walmart prices...yippee...), so especially value shopping from independent shops, and yes, I do. I only shop at conglomerates when there's no feasible choice. Take it from me--you might spend a teeny bit more (and Amazon is often NOT the cheapest!!!), but you feel a lot better knowing you're supporting people paying bills instead of conglomerates headed by billionaires.

[@medusablade4178]

@@Author.Noelle.Alexandria That's amazing! I would add that Etsy is another great place for supporting small businesses

[@MrEmichan]

I have found that since covid, many of the local, smaller independent stores are offering online+ delivery, so I get my groceries from my local shops online.

[@oooh19]

@@MrEmichanyea there’s instacart grub hub door dash etc

[@kimberleekrajnak3800]

My Nan survived the blitz as a toddler and when she became a mother in 1963, the world had changed so much. We watch this series together.

[@maryb6872]

My parents owned a grocery store/delicatessen in the US from 1960 to 1970. They did very well until the first supermarkets started to be built nearby. My parents couldn't keep up with the competition of the lower prices supermarkets could charge. They eventually went out of business. Years later I told my daughter the story, and she wondered why they didn't just concentrate on the deli part of the business, and make and sell sandwiches and side orders, and ditch the grocery part of the business. Too bad someone with her smarts wasn't around to advise my parents back then.

[@oooh19]

yea but modern times it's different. back then it was different so it might not apply.

[@annking8633]

Absolutely adored this series. The butcher's son is a fine young gentleman. He's a gem.

[@lucygoodwriter]

I'm really sad to see all of them go. Even though in the next episode we are going to get new people and new families on the High Street, it won't be the same. Some of the spirits of the street left when they left. And as being a teenage girl, I agree with the fact that there aren't any good places for teenagers to gather together and be teenagers. Teenage life can't be all video games and hanging out at someone's house, we need a place for us all to commune to.

[@singenstattatmen5096]

Yeah made me so sad to think that after that show they'd be left to their own devices again... And they were having such an absolute blast in milk bar, just good old fashioned fun! Teenagers should be allowed and given the chance to just enjoy being teenagers in Safe spaces, there's enough hardships to come when those teenage years are over.

[@dittoroxursox1o1]

Ugh my two favorite families are gone.

[@BlueGeen]

Ikr. And the blacksmith :( At least there’s still the dressmaker, I’ll come back next week for her.

[@mamielucy2719]

wait which two families are missing ahhh

[@CelestialCookies]

Exactly! I'll miss them the most :(

[@dogo8076]

this made me cry. there is so much community and everyone is so nice. i just wish i could have at least experienced this era and the wonderful people taking part.

[@uarestrong76]

such a shame what teenagers lost. the independence, the freedom, the spending money with safe places to hang out and just be teens.

[@MrToradragon]

Stranger is that something else, like generation that had this freedom pus seed of fear into next one and that left no freedom for the next one. To be more precise, those having milk bars were those, now so cursed by millenials, boomers (early boomers), their children, gen X had millenials that are the first generation that experienced this loss of freedom and safe spaces.

[@calebleland8390]

@@MrToradragon I remember talking with a friend's mom back in the mid-90s, and she said that parents were constantly complaining about how there was nothing for kids to do other than get into trouble, but when there was a place for kids to go and hang out and be safe, nobody wanted to help out with it. Heaven forbid they take an active step in something that would benefit their kids.

[@steveofthewoods3119]

As an American teen in the 2010's, the mega malls kind of replaced the milk bars. We called the teen who hung out at malls Mall Rats. But the 2010s teens couldn't afford most of the things in the mall and ended up loitering around the food court. And as soon as they did anything loud (like play music and dance like at the milk bar in the video) security would kick them out. The 2010s weren't welcoming to teens. Even the 1980s and 1990s had spaces for teens at either stand alone arcades or mall arcades. But they were all long gone before I became a teen. (Edit) Another issue would be the Helicopter Parents. Some did not let their teens get jobs because they had to focus on school work to get good grades to get college scholarships (so no teenage disposable income). Other Helicopter Parents wouldn't let their kids get a driver's license because it was dangerous (I have multiple friends who couldn't drive until after college because if this).

[@kaylamarie1796]

I definitely feel this. Growing up, I felt like I didn't have many places to go just be a kid with my friends. A few years back I bought my first house, right in my backyard is a park and skate park. Nothing makes me happier then when I'm washing dishes and I see all the preteens and teens back there being active, not with their heads in devices! When covid started someone complained the kids weren't social distancing and they closed down the parks. I went off, a little harsher than I probably should have, and I got the town council to agree if the kids wore their masks we could keep the parks open. Within a week the basketball hoops were back up and the police tape taken down, all the kids came back and I couldn't have been happier. Since winter has ended, the kids are coming back to the park and it just warms my heart to know I helped them keep a place to hang out. We need more places like this, for kids to be kids, and not feel like a nuisance.

[@vaderladyl]

@@calebleland8390 Yes there were youth centers available for kids to hang out but barely any adult volunteers helping to keep them open.

[@magdawszeborowska]

What a bittersweet moment for me, this old lady is a very very nice and heartwarming woman... and she makes me miss my grandma that passed away on Christmas 2020 when I couldn't be home because of a pandemic...

[@krizzygirl206]

I absolutely ADORE that little old lady who came by every week. Every time she's on screen I am just overjoyed by her reactions!

[@celticlass8573]

The Sergison's attaching a price to virtually everything, and thinking that money = success/value looks like it's here to stay. Hearing their kids having the same values makes me shudder for the adults they've now grown into. I hope for their sake that it was an editing choice, not a real reflection of them.

[@celticlass8573]

@Jan LeMay Yeah the coal black heart lol. They were really living in lala land.

[@AlskaNoelle]

For the eldest in their community, it's wonderful that they got to step back into their golden years for at least a short time, but also I can't help but think that they had to watch their High Street rise and fall all over again, on fast forward. EDIT: And I have to say that I totally agree with Gregg Wallace about people being quick to blame the big businesses for putting smaller businesses out but not themselves, the customers who were swift to switch their loyalty to save money. Now mind you, I am a hypocrite here, absolutely. I would have done the same to save money as well, but it's the highlight that we really do search for scapegoats instead of seeing the fault within ourselves.

[@politicgal408]

I'm not sure if it's put on, I don't think it is because NO ONE else in this series is so blatantly nasty, sneaky or downright mean but those grocers are the worst! I wouldn't care if the products were free... I wouldn't give them my money. Can you tell I really don't like her or her husband?

[@adailydaughter6196]

I prefer her husband. She's so moany and rude. But they both have a selfish attitude that's off-putting. Unfortunately though, that's how many people are to become successful.

[@oooh19]

Oh if the products are free then you aren’t giving them your money

[@dogo8076]

as a teen i can say that i would have had a blast in the 60s. i wish i got to experience it.

[@Author.Noelle.Alexandria]

Keep in mind that, if you were in the US, you'd have faced the draft.

[@graceandglory1948]

It was the best of times, and the worst of times. I was there.

[@monkiram]

@@Author.Noelle.Alexandria I think they were referring to the cafes catered towards teens specifically. No doubt there were things about the 60s that were worse than today

[@gizzyg5337]

Now your choices are bordem and drugs it's sad I am in my 30s and have seen so much wasted potential

[@oooh19]

I’m thinking it would be cool to be an 80s teen (I was born in the late 80s) but then I’d be old lol

[@danaa.8017]

I'm heartbroken, the two families i love the most are gone!!!

[@germantennesseean8438]

I love this channel so much . It has been my favorite evening activity to watch your videos ever since the pandemic started .

[@Monk-eee]

24:38 I love her happiness. How she said shes been feeling down and to think a hair style has boosted her spirits is so sweet. She does look beautiful does'nt she?!

[@jessicaalexandra306]

I hope someone opened up a little place for the kids after they seen how successful the milkshake shop was with the towms kids that actually enjoyed having somewhere to go and hangout. Every town should have somewhere safe for kids to go and hang out so they aren't on the bloody streets getting into trouble

[@chocoboasylum]

The Grocers, as per usual, are acting like vultures. 'Ooh, did you notice the General Shop has gone out of business? 😅' Shut up and wipe that smirk off your face...

[@cruisepaige]

He did show empathy, when he was being candid. I think he’s playing his character.

[@clarea1801]

My dream is to live in a beautiful little town when I'm old, that's got all I need, with a church that puts on weekly events and everyone looks out for everyone. I don't want to end my days in London 😭😭

[@curiousatheist]

You can move to Preston then. Small city, got everything you need and lots of churches. I go to St. Walburge's Church and they always have events there

[@gemstonesparkle7915]

The social experiment of this show is beyond just a reality show. We all know this was just for fun, but seeing the react, and the locals relationship with it, leaves a impression.

[@cs5384]

This has been such a great show. Television is so different from here in the U.S. They would have made such a mess of a show like this.

[@Ca55-WP]

I totally agree!

[@calebleland8390]

I was thinking the other day about how it would go if we Yanks did a version of this show, then realized that our TV producers would just make a show with a lot of yelling, crying, unnecessary drama. etc.

[@hannahk1306]

Now you understand why we don't like it when you try and remake our favourite programmes for American audiences. I honestly believe that many Americans would love the originals without having to redesign them.

[@calebleland8390]

@@hannahk1306 I've been arguing that for years. Sure, we get lucky now and then, like with The Office (I still prefer the British version, though). But yeah, I don't get why our studios think they have to mess up perfectly good shows and movies.

[@cs5384]

@@hannahk1306 Oh I always understood! I can't think of one show the US tried to remake that was any better.

[@moonmaid48]

As a shopkeep who came up somewhat old school, I strive to have a relationship with my patrons, and so appreciate those who appreciate personalised one on one service, and who understand that service to them is not as simple as just offering the lowest price....

[@kejuarang6352]

Man I wish a milk bar or something similar would open in my town. There are many cafes here, but it feels more like for aesthetic purposes than hanging out with friends.

[@oooh19]

People can hang out in a cafe but it’s usually not a place with dancing

[@zhalaasgarli425]

One of the best documentary series EVER. Loved every bit of it.

[@christinerobinson890]

This has been an extremely interesting series.

[@soniatriana9091]

What an incredible way for everyone involved & all the town’s residents to learn 1st hand how economic change impacts everyone(in +/- ways)! All the participants were excellent!! I wish there would’ve a follow up show, even after all these years, to see how it impacted their lives, since being in this series! Especially the young children & teenagers! Thanks fir sharing this video!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🤗👍🏼👍🏼

[@rachelk4805]

As an esthetician in the age of covid, I feel for the bakers and the butchers so much. 😓

[@monkiram]

I hope your business is doing better now! It's an awful time to work in an industry that's not conducive to physical distancing :(

[@rachelk4805]

@@monkiram I just leased a new space, and I am relaunching next month! I hope your 2021 is full of peace and happiness.

[@monkiram]

@@rachelk4805 Aww that's so great, congrats! Same to you :)

[@hmvollbanane1259]

This show made me realy appreciate that the high street survived in my German countryside town. Is the situation really that dire in the uk? Here we still have family run butchers, bakeries, cafés, Italian ice cafés, key maker, shoe maker & mender, flower shop, farmer's shop, toy shop, tailor and so on all on the main street

[@esbliss13]

You're very lucky, obviously the people in your town supported local businesses. You hear these people complain about the changes when their shopping preferences are what caused the change.

[@monicamason3414]

Grocery delivery service has returned. My city had one grocery store that did it in the 1990's for shut ins and laid up. I miss their bakery.

[@Author.Noelle.Alexandria]

We really only have Instacart for delivery, which costs so much more that it's not worth it. I compared using a local store, and a $30-in-person shop would have cost me $65, not counting tip, since Instacart charges the full prices on items on sale PLUS an additional price (I'm not spending $7 on a gallon of milk that's $2.99 regularly and $1.99 on sale) PLUS a delivery fee, and then you're supposed to tip 20%-30% on top of all that.

[@Elketjeable]

Yes but without the social aspect

[@captnrobvious47]

I'm from The States, but I can speak from experience that one-to-one service in a retail store of any kind is far superior to any modernized convenience oriented job I've had. Watching the grocers work in this era reminds me of my time at Wal-Mart. I absolutely hated it. Now I'm working in an auto parts store where, yes I am incentivized to sell-sell-sell but more than anything build a relationship with my customers which offers far better long term gains than any short term profits. We need to bring back stores like that. And soda/milk bars too. 😭

[@noblemily]

My mom used to love to go to that kind of beauty salon, it was so cheap that time, she can totally be there very often, and didn't have to do her own hair. That is why she doesn't know how to do those 60's hairstyles when I ask her to teach me after I saw her old photos.

[@oooh19]

KZbin tutorials. But yea it’d be nice if salons were more affordable now even a haircut is expensive!

[@msoda8516]

The mom getting her hair cut reminded me of when my daughter was small and I cut my hair short. When she saw me she cried and started tugging on my hair like pulling it would make it longer.

[@ElysetheEevee]

Hahah that seems like such a little kid thing to do. So cute. My son doesn't want to cut his hair and it hasn't been since he was born (he's four now). It's longer than mine is -_-

[@lauriepenner350]

My dad shaved off his moustache once and my then 5 year old sister wouldn't talk to him for a week.

[@msoda8516]

@@ElysetheEevee Kids don't like change my youngest broke his collarbone jumping on the bed at 4 he had to wear a brace under his clothes for a few weeks. When the boon healed the doctor took the brace off he started crying that he wanted his brace back on. He'd gotten used to wearing it did want to give it up. His father and I had a good chuckle

[@frauleinbird]

When my mom cut her hair short for the first time, I was about four. I was so angry with her I threw a hysterical fit.

[@monkiram]

All these stories are too precious hahahaha. Kids are so funny

[@deborahduthie4519]

The local butcher comes back into its own when customers realise that the meat from supermarkets is not always as perfect as presented. The butcher takes pride in his skills and I always visit the butchers and only buy dogs meat at the supermarkets

[@Rckstrroma5]

I love how you guys brings these times back to life and transition them in this episode

[@janedoe805]

I particularly loved this episode because it’s first time, l can actually remember! I felt so sorry for the Butcher losing his Meat Market, personally l prefer buying my meat from a Butcher’s Shop! Especially, during the holidays when special cuts or a fabulous roast is needed. The “Milk Shop” was definitely a stretch for the baker but, she soldiered on and made a success of it. But my favorite had to be Jill going from Dress Maker to Hair Stylist. Jill looked smashing at the end with that Blue dress and White gloves with her hair up! ♥️👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@jackrussell19a]

The old lady is just adorable.. ❤️❤️

[@nina5562]

I have worked for people like those grocery store owners . I just hate that mentality! It’s why everyone is so distant from everyone else now . The get a high of the profit not from the heart of it . You could tell everyone else really loved their professions from the heart .

[@seraphilight]

"I wonder if I can cancel it..." Christ woman.

[@lone6718]

It happens all the time.

[@LilytheFrilly]

Gosh, I really hope that everyone who was in this show are doing well today.

[@monicamason3414]

1980's, my mom bought a record, set of encyclopedias, and a carpet cleaner/floor waxer from a door-to-door salesman.

[@SadieAtCollege]

The seamstress Jill and the hair stylist are so attractive 😍 The changes seem very drastic in this one. I live next to a very successful panderia (sweet bread shop) that has a line out the door most mornings. I would think the milk shop could still make and serve fresh breads or sweets but I see what they're trying to prove with the era.

[@JoMarieM]

I'm an American, but I have really enjoyed this series so far, even though toward the end, it's a bit sad to see two of the families leave the series for good. Especially the baker's family, who were my favorites. Why on earth couldn't they have still been able to operate a pastry shop? People still like doughnuts and eclairs, after all, and they could have made their business into a coffee/pastry shop. And maybe the butcher and his son could have operated a sandwich shop, of which there were already some around in the 1960s. That's when Subway got its start, after all. Those two families did NOT have to leave, but I guess the producers wanted this episode to reflect how some small businesses were forced out of business due to the changing times, and changing customer tastes. I'm not really sure if I want to watch the 70s episode, with several of the original contestants out of the picture; IMO, they probably should have stopped this series with the 1960s. I really wish that a series like this could be done in the US; with our wide range of history, and geographical and cultural diversity, the possibilities for such a show could be boundless. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that a reality TV show based on history would be such a hit here; it seems to me like unless it's along the lines of "Survivor" or "The Bachelor," people just don't seem to be interested. And even if such a show WAS produced, it probably wouldn't be put together as well as this series. This series was actually educational, and the contestants behaved decently toward each other, for the most part. Even at the most stressful times, people didn't even raise their voices to each other, and offensive language was kept to a bare minimum. In the US, though, reality TV contestants are put together in tense situations until they explode, and then they frequently scream at each other and hurl insults. Some of the scenes in this series probably would have had contestants hurling food at each other! It's sad, but barring some kind of miracle, it looks like I'll have to look to the BBC for some decent historical reality TV shows!

[@Author.Noelle.Alexandria]

Well, shoppers wanted cheaper prices, even if it meant lower quality items. Look how fast people jumped ship on good meat. Mass produced bread took over. And a butcher becoming a sandwich shop makes mess sense. The were still trying to sell meat, not cold cuts. From the standpoint of a game, it would make sense to have the bakers bake bread that the butcher uses for sandwiches, but in reality, that's not what happened. Shop types evolve to try to hold on, and the way they went about it us what made them last longest.

[@Ca55-WP]

The US would never have managed to produce a show like this at this level because they can't. Apparently the only thing that US audiences are interested in is endless fake drama and contrived dramatic scenes. The reason the contestants were decent with each other is because that is how people outside of the US actually are with one another. As for your comment on diversity and wide range of history etc. There's a lot to unpack there but I suspect that's not actually true in comparison to the UK. The UK is arguably far more diverse than the US diaspora and has a broader history than the US as well.

[@paul8926]

Great stuff, I enjoy this channel on history immensely !

[@feraldelight]

I really dislike the grocers.

[@missjess1235]

Those crocodile tears after he ran the Sharp's out of business turned my stomach!

[@moonbunnychan]

I kind of wonder how much of that is real and how much was them being told to act a certain way as a "character".

[@feraldelight]

@@moonbunnychan Could be! I mean they are making a show and many viewers enjoy drama.

[@hieithefox]

They are awful I this

[@aksez2u]

@@missjess1235 Who hurt you? They said in 2010 "real life" he runs a deli, so he was genuinely moved by someone going out of business. Even though it's make-believe, they are real people put in an exhausting, emotional situation. Why would he pretend to cry? Geez.

[@kamilegier4730]

We need the neighborhood butcher and baker back. A good blacksmith and dress maker are always an asset to have in town

[@fathomgathergood7690]

I work in a grocery store, not long ago we cut meat, now everything comes prepacked. Sometimes we open a roast and cut it if we run out of chuck, strips or steak. Produce isn't local nor is is particularly fresh. It really breaks your heart. Quite often if we try to do personal service our managers give us a slap on the hand for using to much time with a customer.

[@monicamason3414]

My city in 2021 has a Cobs Bread (fresh breads, scones, Danishes-savory & sweet), cupcake bakeries/tea rooms, a butcher in the country (10 min from me) that even does game and a place that sells their own roasting or stewing hens and raise their own buffalo/beef hybrids for sale. The ground buffalo/beef makes great meatloaf.

[@emilyb1385]

Cobs bread is a massive franchise (just fyi!) :(

[@monicamason3414]

@@emilyb1385 I know I'm in driving distance of 5

[@dogo8076]

i like the lady who told of the sergison guy

[@Zelphyr]

I'm french, so bread is really a huge part of our life. it is really hard to see that the bakers disappeared. It's hard to see that shop that we actually look for now, such as buchers and the bakers had actually almost disappeared at that time

[@one_bone_4_life647]

I love the social experiments/recreations like these. Gave a like

[@shellybrown8631]

We own a very small family business trying to survive Covid and compete against box box chain stores. It’s brutal. Watching this really hit home 😢

[@georgiafrye2524]

My Mother went back to work in 1960. She went to the Beauty Shop every week to have her hair teased or ratted into a French Roll. She wore a wind bonnet and rain bonnet to try and keep it in place all week. I had the Pixie hair cut.

[@loriscook5231]

In small town NZ in the 60’s my dad used to put a shopping list under the grocers door on his way to work. Later in the morning there would be a knock on the door and boxes of groceries were put on the kitchen table along with the bill

[@aryanto0003]

Watched the whole [back in] time travel - amazing - thank you all for this ! Greetings from South Africa xxx

[@sheriroberts2954]

I work for a abbatoir in Southern Ontario, they also have a retail shop on the main street of a small tourist town and it seems to be growing! Despite being just across the street from a grocery chain. I think because of the quality meat and the personal service.

[@adailydaughter6196]

I don't eat meat. But if I did, would definitely buy from there not a supermarket

[@reggieshmeggie4219]

Yay I'm so happy you've uploaded it. Love this series so much

[@morenofranco9235]

Wonderful. Thanks, Absolute History.

[@CuriousEarthMan]

Thank you for doing this! Wonderful to see!

[@persephonepomegranate9652]

As much as I like shopping in convenient stores, it's just an entirely different feeling when I shop in the farmers market. The bloody butchers, shopkeepers talking to each other, and if your lucky, you might form a friendship with one of them and give you a discount most of the times lol. But my wallet might get snatched by some pickpocketer tho lol

[@singenstattatmen5096]

We have this one bakery in the town I work in, where my colleagues and I are allowed to enter through the backdoor (and actually walk right through where all the baking magic happens), we choose whatever bread and bread rolls we want and the baker just comes up with a price at the top of his head. It never ever comes even anywhere close to what one would pay upfront, and just today we found out that any money we give him he has always been donating to a shelter for abused women. Every last penny. Now that is a baker who is all heart and a shop I like to spend my money when I am not on the job and entering through the back.

[@FoxtrotUniCharKilo]

You know it’s bad when you have to squeeze the tears out of your eyes 😂

[@nolamcgrath6036]

Was so great the way the teens loved it... I was 8 in 1960.& engaged by 1970 :(

[@loriscook5231]

Me too

[@preciousajaero8352]

@@loriscook5231 I hope that both of you lead a good life despite marrying so young!

[@oooh19]

Did you get the experience of the milk 🥛 bar?

[@donnaspears1970]

This is a wonderful series. I'm waiting for the 70's. Thank you

[@heidicatcheside1559]

Love seeing the green shield stamps again, as a family used to love when we would choose something with the filled books. And also remember the bike delivery’s instead of vans, similar to Open all Hours.

[@leannesmith5818]

I was born in 61 loved going to the butcher, the Baker, the greengrocer, and our dairy no fences around people's houses everyone's mother acted like your mother you were looked after and home baking was delicious

[@deltagpap]

Greece still has the "Mom and Pop" shops. Not as many as they had before large grocery stores came in the mid-80s. I do most of my shopping at the small shops and the farmers market. You cannot do that in the states. I prefer the small shops.

[@bubba94290]

America has many “mom and pop” shops as well, but they usually specialize in something. Most cities have farmers markets as well. Many Americans choose the larger grocery stores because their prices are relatively cheaper for general brands like Tide or Cheerios. However, international brands and produce are likely cheaper in local stores. Just really depends on what you’re looking for

[@Delaney-and-the-Starlight]

Yeah. You can only attract customers to small specialty shops in higher rent areas. And while they always have interesting and high quality items, they are so dang expensive! A lot of people in lower middle class or poorer areas HAVE to shop in a grocery store or they can’t afford the prices!

[@InuMiroLover]

@@Delaney-and-the-Starlight And that's if poorer neighborhoods are even lucky to have a decent grocery store! Food deserts are unfortunately a thing. :/

[@lysan4878]

@@InuMiroLover food desert is not a thing in the US. People are just spoiled and think they should have whatever they want a mile down the road. Heaven forbid they drive 10-15 mins to a store. 🙄 I have to drive 30 miles to the nearest grocery store and the same is for any store and We know that when we move into the middle of nowhere. We don’t want all that crap near us because we don’t want the people, traffic, and crime that comes with it as well. If you can walk/drive to get food that is not a food desert.

[@JoMarieM]

Many of the small family-owned grocery shops in the US have been put out of business, thanks to large chains like Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, Publix, etc. If any small grocery stores still exist, it's usually in small towns with a lot of older people who either can't, or don't want to drive further away to the big-city supermarkets. Most small grocery stores in the US usually specialize in something, like ethnic foods, a bakery, ice cream shop, etc., rather than being a general grocery store. I've seen many of these mom-and-pop groceries in my area gradually fade away, because Americans prefer the bigger selections and lower prices in supermarkets. Just a changing of the times, I'm afraid!

[@jazzmin6665]

We still have a bakery on every corner in Germany. 10 years ago we still had butchers on every corner too, now they're less common because of supermarket meat. We can't do without fresh bread, sandwich "bread" isn't good enough

[@lauramatilda3279]

Its so strange, I loved this show and enjoyed watching the shop keepers but my favourite person on the show was definitely the sweet elderly lady who frequented every episode (the one who hugged the professional baker so lovingly)... I wish I lived near her, she seems wonderful 😊

[@smtpgirl]

The best bakery I frequented was the Rolling Pin Bakery in Colmar Manor, MD (Bladensburg, MD). It is still in business. My parents shopped there too. They had the best donuts. They were in competition with Raulin's Bakery in Beltsville MD. Both places sold the best cookies, cakes and donuts. I was born in the 60s and my mom and aunt would frequent these establishments.

[@charmerci]

This is the first (and the only one) in the series that makes me want to open up a small shop!

[@CainesNumber1Fan]

where I live we still have a High st, in fact it's the only st we have with shops, we still have a local butcher shop, they are great

[@shelbysmith1137]

That’s so sad.... my two favorite shops gone in just one go.

[@danawitta9739]

I really feel bad that out of all the craft people, Caroline never got her time to shine and make the bread she wanted to make. I'll also say, overall the customers seem like a great group. I especially love the little old lady with the white hair and the shaky voice. She has such a sweet spirit.

[@jazzkatt1919]

I remember family owned businesses, including grocery stores that had actual butchers. Never before have I thought of myself as old, but more and more, I am realizing that home is not only a physical location, but a place in time, and that mine is gone. I am homesick.

[@charkueytiao]

I love that sweet old lady 😂 she is such a cute grandma

[@LowBudgetKiwi]

It's amazing. I thought it would be the shopkeepers that realized how things changed, but it was their customers that really realized just what they had lost as a community

[@Thesungod95]

My fav Documentary series.

[@r8p6]

I was so glad to hear the grocer's getting told off for their cut-throat behaviour by a customer at last.

[@sammavacaist]

If you can afford to pay a higher price you can still get meat from an artisan butcher or artisan bread from a bakery.

[@Author.Noelle.Alexandria]

Not all areas have those. The bakeries anywhere in my area sell things like cake, not bread. Artisan bread is $8 in my local grocery stores, and I pay that, but would gladly pay more if there was an actual independent baker.

[@Elketjeable]

We still have bakers and butchers in our country.. But they have serious competition.. The butcher does catering as well, selling ready to warm up at home meals, they sell fresh soup as well.. And the bakeries even do a bit a sanwich shop or sell packed cheese and meats ans salades to put on the bread besides selling bread, cake and donuts and stuff like that.. Some bakers even sell bottles of fruit juice, jams, herbs, or make breakfast baskets you can buy... They even do special gift baskets for Valentine's day or a birthday.. Some also do special cakes like birthday cakes on demand or sell homemade choclates.. They also have vending machines where you can get a bread 24/7 which are filled up regularly.. Some bakers and butchers have lots of customers, but still.. They really are in big competition.. I think if there would be a rule some artisanal practises get protected, and supermarkets only get to sell the rest, and not those products, that might perhaps protect their bussiness.. Lots of people like fresh bread and meat.. But then again the change is because of the customers.. The industry adapt to what makes money and those are the wishes of customers.. So I think nothing would help accept for a consumers attitude..

[@oooh19]

Everything pretty much is full of unhealthy ingredients now so maybe it’d be better if we had access to high quality ingredients and products!

[@breeinatree4811]

I'm loving this series

[@sandradee8880]

I wish we still had a baker and butcher. My old town had them but new one no where be found.