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Program 7

What a Way to Make a Living!

Fascinating jobs, forgotten jobs, uniforms and unusual ways people earn a living

An hour about the astonishing variety of ways people have earned a paycheck: jobs that vanished, jobs with unmistakable uniforms, dangerous jobs, and jobs that make you say 'someone actually gets paid to do that?' Nostalgia is the doorway, not the destination — every round ends in a surprise, an opinion or a laugh. There is more material here than one hour needs; skip freely.

About 60 minutes32 segments

Run of show

  1. 1Opening moment — 9 to 5Music · 3 min
  2. 2Welcome — What a Way to Make a Living!Welcome · 2 min
  3. 3Came right to your doorCrowd Pleaser · 5 min
  4. 4WHATEVER HAPPENED TO…? Milkman or icemanMac's Mashup · 4 min
  5. 5WHO WEARS IT? The white capQuick question · 3 min
  6. 6Please Mr. PostmanMusic · 3 min
  7. 7NOW THAT'S A JOB! The mail boatQuick question · 3 min
  8. 8Soda jerkFill Me In! · 4 min
  9. 9Soda jerk or ballpark organistMac's Mashup · 4 min
  10. 10Human moment — the first paycheckLet's talk · 3 min
  11. 11FIRST JOBS: Before the sun woke upMac's Mashup · 4 min
  12. 12FIRST JOBS: Paper or plastic?Mac's Mashup · 4 min
  13. 13Spot it by the uniformCrowd Pleaser · 4 min
  14. 14WHO WEARS IT? The pillbox hat and brass buttonsQuick question · 2 min
  15. 15Bellhop or newsboyMac's Mashup · 4 min
  16. 16Heartbreak HotelMusic · 3 min
  17. 17WHATEVER HAPPENED TO…? Switchboard or linemanMac's Mashup · 4 min
  18. 18Operator, then Wichita LinemanMusic · 5 min
  19. 19WOULD YOU TAKE THIS JOB? Golf ball diverQuick question · 3 min
  20. 20NOW THAT'S A JOB! Coal miner or steeplejackMac's Mashup · 4 min
  21. 21Working in the Coal MineMusic · 3 min
  22. 22WHO WEARS IT? The coin changerQuick question · 3 min
  23. 23Jobs that have all but disappearedCrowd Pleaser · 5 min
  24. 24Pinsetter or shoeshine boyMac's Mashup · 4 min
  25. 25DowntownMusic · 3 min
  26. 26NOW THAT'S A JOB! The snake milkerQuick question · 3 min
  27. 27WOULD YOU TAKE THIS JOB? Lighthouse keeper or organ grinderMac's Mashup · 4 min
  28. 28Stewardess or fire lookoutMac's Mashup · 4 min
  29. 29Someone actually gets paid for that?Crowd Pleaser · 5 min
  30. 30Gold watchFill Me In! · 4 min
  31. 31Human moment — one day, any jobLet's talk · 4 min
  32. 32Takin' Care of BusinessBig finish · 4 min