”The continued submissions about bench seats reminded me of a story my mother told me about the early automobile,” says Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville:
“My mother’s cousin and best friend had a date with a young man who would become her husband. The vehicle had a ‘rumble seat,’ a seat that folded into the vehicle when not in use and was on the outside rear of the vehicle when in use.
“In order to prevent her daughter from riding in the front with her date, her mother rode with the date and had her daughter ride in the rumble seat!
“How did that turn into a long-lasting romance and marriage?”
Short story
One more bench seat story, from Jan DiLeo Mickey:
“In the early ’80s, I landed a job as a pharmaceutical rep that came with a company car. The one I inherited was an older model with a bench seat.
“I am 5 feet tall and had the seat pushed up as far as it would go in order to reach the gas and brakes.
“The first time my regional manager came to observe me was a challenge for him. He was 6-foot-5 and could barely sit in the front seat. He tried for the first part of the morning, then got in the back seat.
“The next quarter when he came to ride with me again, I had a brand-new four-door Pontiac, complete with bucket seats, thanks to a great manager!”
Sweet smell of chips
“When we first moved to Baton Rouge, we lived a few houses down from Ron Zappe,” says Karen Tatum, of Prairieville.
“We used to love to see his iconic purple fire truck parked outside his house during parade season.
“I once heard him tell the story of flying with his old leather briefcase, which of course also spent time with him at the original ‘little chippery in Gramercy.’
“When he opened his case on the plane, the Zapp’s chip scent was so ingrained in the leather it would spread throughout the cabin.
“Everyone would excitedly look around for the delicious treat. Alas, just peanuts.”
Major sacrifice
Karen Poirrier, of Lutcher, says, “Articles in your column about Zapp’s potato chips reminded me of a public meeting at a school in Lutcher that Ron Zappe attended. After acknowledging Mr. Zappe’s attendance, I commented about giving up Zapp’s for Lent.
“After the meeting, Ron took me aside and expressed his disappointment about my giving up his chips for six weeks, and the economic impact this would have on his business.
“I apologized and explained that giving up eating his chips during Lent was the highest compliment a Catholic could bestow on his chips.
“The following year, Ron posted large signs along U.S. 61 emphasizing that Zapp’s potato chips were so good they should be given up for Lent.”
Bash crash
“Another story about seat belts,” says Robert R. Bash:
“I was 17 in 1960 (before seat belts), driving a 1955 Oldsmobile. My 16-year-old brother and a younger (14-15) friend were in the back seat.
“My intent was to scare the back seat passengers, so I took a 90-degree turn to the left, marked at 20 mph, at 70 mph.
“I made the turn; however, I slid over in the seat so far I could barely reach the steering wheel. My reaction was to keep it in that position.
“As a result, we turned 120 degrees, crossed a ditch, hit the other side and the guide wire from a telephone pole.
“I did succeed in scaring my rear seat passengers — and doing $700 damages to the car.
“I religiously use a seat beat any time I drive.”
Special People Dept.
- Malcolm and Darlene Martin, of New Orleans, celebrate their 56th anniversary Friday, Feb. 23.
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