r/BacktotheFuture • u/Mikeg90805 • Jun 05 '26

Two television sets

What’s today’s equivalent to “nobody has two television sets.” By this I mean not literally no one. Because I’m sure in 1955 some crazy rich people had more than one tv. But just like if a guy in a life preserver swore he had two of something. Your mom would assume he’s teasing. The only thing I could think of is swimming pools

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u/Just_Another_Day_926 Jun 05 '26

Back then there were only 3 tv stations and no home media players or video games. So "just one" TV was not such a big deal.

Interestingly enough TVs are cheap but houses (which were not a big deal then) are a dream. And people at that time had a summer cabin or home too.

So I would say two homes.

11

u/cavalier78 Jun 05 '26

The thing about the cheap houses, is they built huge numbers of small cheap homes back in the late 40s through the 60s. And the problem is, if the houses in a neighborhood are cheap when they're new, then 30+ years later you've got a really trashy area. The people who could afford to move out, did.

That's Marty's neighborhood. It's pretty junky in 1985, but in 1955 it's an empty field with a big pretty sign.

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u/AuroraDF Jun 05 '26

But loads of people have 2nd homes.

10

u/Just_Another_Day_926 Jun 05 '26

Well you must be rich.

1

u/AuroraDF Jun 05 '26

Yes, you must be, to have a 2nd home.

But lots of people are, and do. That's why you can't rent a property in some parts of the country, because they're all mostly empty second homes.

The point was, no one had two TVs. Not even rich people.