Wow what a wonderous rabbit hole that link to the traitorous eight led to. Chapeau and thanks Mark.
Aiwa.... waaaaaaaa, I had a huge one bought at Costco. went to trash very fast. I had a mini Sony chain , ... (...) and it was expensive and very good looking, very portable. The only good one I ever heard was a Technics, it still works at my mothers place, it had a 3 cd tray changer which broke very fast and was repaired multiple times.
The 1st business card I was attached to. I was 13 years old.
My mother managed to hold on to it for 40 + years.
My mother managed to hold on to it for 40 + years.
Wow. I remember the District Manager for Olson's in western NY (Buffalo area) invited us to a party at his house. Noted gorgeous home, swimming pool, fully restored '57 Chevy in the garage.
That guy also fired my boss, because he wanted the central display racks "straight" and he had them at an angle, refusing to reorient them. Boss spent his last hour helping out a customer with a CD radio install in the parking lot, after receiving the news.
The primary chains I remember were Magnolia Hi-Fi, which folded or was bought out in the early 2000s (IIRC) and Circuit City. I really liked going into Magnolia, but at that time, I couldn't afford much of anything they sold.
Chain wise, all I remember in Baton Rouge was a local chain called New Generation. Here's an ad featuring John Fred of John Fred and the playboys (Judy in Disguise 1967?). He was a local celebrity, little league coach and all-around nice guy.
I bought my first cassettes there and later my first car audio gear.
New Gen ad
I bought my first cassettes there and later my first car audio gear.
New Gen ad
Sure! I was never interested in the "lyrics" back then, didn't even realise they were there. Your post just elevated my understanding to the next level! 🫣
In the 70's in Boston area there was Tech HiFi. Had all the area's original's - AR, KLH, Bose. Was another small chain in the CT area whose name I can't remember. Had a Radio Shack in West Hartford that sold a lot of nice stuff. EVEN a Heathkit store out in Simsbury (W of Hftd)
I think I had most everything I wanted by the 90's. In the 70's/80's local stores dominated. There was a great place next to the campus called Good Vibes with a pretty knowledgeable guy. They had much stuff I could not even think about buying like B&W 801's back in college. I did pick up a Denon DP-30L from them which I still have and works great. After college I kind of went crazy and picked up a Nak ZX-7, several amps, a tuner, CD players, speakers, ... from various local shops in Tucson and then LA. I think a pity the way the game of monopoly has all but eliminated the small guy.
Popular chains in the Toronto area back then were many. Toronto HiFi, Soundwaves had 5 stores, Star Electronics, Kennedy HiFi had two I think. Majestic Sound had a few and some I can't remember.
Far more single stores. I worked in a couple. One was Martin Audio, truly high end. Demeter Electronics got bought by Star Electronics, didn't work at Bay Bloor Radio (still going) wanted to look like high end (not really).
I can't remember anyone buying from anywhere but a local store. Even Eaton's sold Marantz. Does that make them a chain?
Far more single stores. I worked in a couple. One was Martin Audio, truly high end. Demeter Electronics got bought by Star Electronics, didn't work at Bay Bloor Radio (still going) wanted to look like high end (not really).
I can't remember anyone buying from anywhere but a local store. Even Eaton's sold Marantz. Does that make them a chain?
Man, within a 100 mile range there was only LaBelles in Billings, Montana. And fortunately, they had a bit of Marantz, Sony, Phillips, Technics and a few others to audition. My very first pair of better than RS speakers were made by Wald, whoever that was. Years later, I moved to Tucson, and was actually disappointed by what I had hoped to be multiple options for Hi-Fi. Pheonix was yup, about 100 miles away.
Magnolia Hi-Fi was excellent when it was based solely in the PNW.
Several of my friends and family bought stuff like Martin Logan, HK, Adcom, etc... there.
Then, in SoCal... every Sunday we'd get stuff like this.... they carried some incredible deals like the Akai GX95 I bought for $399 in '83. It turns out nobody was buying the silver version, while the black version was going for $1100 out to door. So they had a weekend blowout sale...
Several of my friends and family bought stuff like Martin Logan, HK, Adcom, etc... there.
Then, in SoCal... every Sunday we'd get stuff like this.... they carried some incredible deals like the Akai GX95 I bought for $399 in '83. It turns out nobody was buying the silver version, while the black version was going for $1100 out to door. So they had a weekend blowout sale...
Here it was the Thursday and Sunday "Sun" newspaper that ran all the stereo ads. Always "door crashers" and "blowout" sales. Every single week.
My Buddy's roommate (off campus) had those Altecs in the above ad, along with a Sansui receiver and Phillips turntable. I think the Sansui had a digital display that slid along with the dial indicator.
I hung out at New Generation quite a bit as a kid. Bought my first receiver there along with my first CD player. A few albums bought for sure. First time seeing Klipsch speakers in their custom room/shack.
Hmm... we have TWO Mickey Mouse phones... one with, another without the lamp.
Both work and are in fine shape. We got them in the early 80s, brand new when my wife was working in the shops at Main Street.
Why two? Well, because we didn't get three. Of course!
@daqvin_carter Does "Buenos dias gus" mean anything to you 😉
My old buddy Henry was probably New Generation's best salesman over the years. Haven't talked to him in years.
My old buddy Henry was probably New Generation's best salesman over the years. Haven't talked to him in years.