I started delivering newspapers 2 months after my 12th birthday. Burger King when I was 16.
Everybody starts somewhere.
Quote from: tower912 on January 05, 2024, 07:37:43 AM
I started delivering newspapers 2 months after my 12th birthday. Burger King when I was 16.
Everybody starts somewhere.
Hahahaha, your family was poor. Explains a lot.
McDonald's for me at age 15, followed by a job in retail through college.
Sold men's clothing at Columbia Clothiers on 12th and Vliet and later at Pivar Brothers at 20th and Fond Du Lac, hey?
Taco Bell at 14
The old guy down the street paid me $7.50 to mow his lawn. He often paid me in half-dollars.
Chuck-E-Cheese at 16.
MU Office of Research & Sponsored Programs work study for four years.
Had a few good ones in the MKE growing up:
High School
~Carnival Services company, basically the people who set and ran up church festivals (rides, games...)
~Car Washes in Franklin and Oak Creek
~Grocery bagger at Grasch's in Tosa
~Mow'ed the lawn at my churches cemetery
College
~Suiter server/bartender Bradley Center
~Brown Bottle bartender/server
~Taste of Home in Greendale server/bartender
~Bunch of work-study jobs
Bagged groceries in high school for $2.70/hr. Got promoted to cashier and that sweet sweet $3.30/hr rate.
Age 16. Delivered drugs
Caddying summer going into 7th grade
Had a nice little landscaping business going from about 12 to 16 then became a lifeguard.
Bus boy at a 50s-themed diner, 2 weeks after 14th bday. Also did a little soda JERKING and dishwashing there over my 4+ year tenure
Detassling corn during the summers of high school. Nothing like making $3.35/hr in the hot sun. Thought I was rich when we worked over 40 and started making $5/hr.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on January 05, 2024, 07:52:38 AM
Age 16. Delivered drugs
(https://c.tenor.com/Rzv3X3SeqeMAAAAC/tenor.gif)
Quote from: lawdog77 on January 05, 2024, 08:05:50 AM
Detassling corn during the summers of high school. Nothing like making $3.35/hr in the hot sun. Thought I was rich when we worked over 40 and started making $5/hr.
holy hell...i was going to post just about the same thing. I think I was at 3.25 or 3.50 an hour. One of the absolute worst jobs.
- Selling newspapers door-to-door in the hospital very young - probably 10 or 11.
- A regular paper route at 12
- Washing dishes in an Italian restaurant at 14 - I consider this my first "real" job.
Pre-College
"Courtesy Clerk" (aka, fancy southern phrase for grocery store bag boy and car loader), Sunflower Stores
Gopher and all-around badly abused boss' kid, Deal ole Dad's office
College
Intern, newspaper in NW Wisconsin that doesn't exist anymore
Working in a vineyard at age 13 for $1.25 per hour.
High School years:
Wrapped meat at a butcher shop.
Mowed lawns.
Painted houses.
Thoroughly cleaned a one room school house on a Lake Erie island prior to the start of the school year.
Marquette:
Counted inventory in one of Milwaukee's department stores (do not remember which one).
Tutored at an elementary school somewhere around 27th street for the then huge pay of $10 per hour in the late 60's to '70.
HS:
Work Grant / Work Study at MUHS (I was poor)
Freddy's Frozen Custard in Mequon (I was poor living amongst rich people)
College:
Gameroom at the "new" Union AMU is F.U.N. (Shout out Toby)
Freddy's Frozen Custard (5 Tool player*, Front, Machines, Fountain, Grill, Fryers, et al)
Line Chef at Wolf's Island in The Quon
Elliott's Partyland in The Quon
College Pro Painters
Milwaukee County Stadium Parking (Shout out Earl!)
Marquette Trib Ad Exec
Post College Scratch:
Brown Bottle (Shout out Linda)
*I could walk into a Kopp's right now, jump in any position and I can guarantee you ticket times wouldn't slip, they might even improve.
Bus boy at 14 and worked in the biz my entire career besides a six month stint selling sponsorships for a celebrity golf tournament.
If we're going for this level of specificity:
Pre-College
Newspaper sales at hospital
Newspaper route
Dishwasher at Italian Restaurant
Youth baseball coach
Sandwich board walker
Construction site help
McDonalds
Waiter at Swenson's
College
Set construction in theater scene shot (MU)
Carwash attendant
PR Intern at Haggerty Museum of Art (MU)
Selling Cutco knives
Bag boy at grocery store
Once I got my driver's license, I worked at the local Boys and Girls Club (I believe my title was "Youth Development Specialist") and as a busboy for my buddy's dad's restaurant.
Quote from: The Lens on January 05, 2024, 08:47:03 AM
Line Chef at Wolf's Island in The Quon
Just so everyone knows...this is now the venerated and exalted Sybaris
Line chef...is that code for surveillance camera installer, hey?
Dishwasher @ Holiday Inn in the Falls at 16 for $2.30/hr
quit that POS to work in the banquet halls @ Westbrook Lanes for $1.80/hr (pay cut was worth it)
My buddies and I did landscaping for a few places as a "company" through HS.
Worked at an overnight camp for burn victims, spina bifida, diabetes, Tourette's, kids with failing kidneys, and sexual abuse survivors.
Bouncer and bar back at Brothers in MKE
Was a paid sparring partner for pro boxers.
Social media intern for Tammy Baldwin
Marquette phonathon
field director for an Illinois state senate campaign that folded.
Ended up doing door to door selling windows and roofs during the second coldest Chicago winter in history along with driving Uber to pay the bills one year out of college. Not exactly how I had envisioned using my college degree in 2014 & early 2015.
Between bouncing and driving Uber I'm saying I did Al McGuire's "everyone should work at a bar for 6 months and drive a cab for 6 months"
Started at 12 working for a permenant booth at the MN state fair grounds, got paid under the table by a classmates dad. Don't remember how much but it was definitely less than minimum wage. That guy ended up in jail (for something totally unrelated)
Bagged groceries at Lunds starting at 14 IIRC
Worked at Noodles & Company starting at 16. Did everything from dishwasher to cashier to line cook
Quote from: The Lens on January 05, 2024, 08:47:03 AM
*I could walk into a Kopp's right now, jump in any position and I can guarantee you ticket times wouldn't slip, they might even improve.
That's because Kopp's couldn't be any more overrated.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 05, 2024, 09:17:40 AM
That's because Kopp's couldn't be any more overrated.
Whoa whoa whoa. Easy there.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 05, 2024, 09:17:40 AM
That's because Kopp's couldn't be any more overrated.
(https://i.giphy.com/8vIFoKU8s4m4CBqCao.webp)
Cleaned houses, mowed lawns, and babysat a bunch to make money in HS.
College I managed events at the Zoo. Worked so many hours from May-September, I didn't need to work much during the school year. Picked up a couple office cleaning gigs on weekends for fun money.
Dental hygienist at 13
I forgot about my job at Motorola between HS and Freshman year at MU. Worked on the color TV assembly line.
Quote from: StillAWarrior on January 05, 2024, 08:35:11 AM
- Selling newspapers door-to-door in the hospital very young - probably 10 or 11.
- A regular paper route at 12
- Washing dishes in an Italian restaurant at 14 - I consider this my first "real" job.
Are you me?
Milwaukee Journal paper route -> Italian resto dish washer
My first job while at Marquette, I worked as an usher at the Grand Theatre downtown. We were allowed to take home popcorn from what was left in the machine at the end of the night. I used to get one of the big boxes that the popcorn cups came in, and I'd fill it with popcorn and that infamous movie-theater "butter." I'd jump on the bus back to McCormick, typically arriving at the dorm around 11 p.m., and a couple of stoner friends would always be waiting for me in the lobby to get that freakin' popcorn before anyone else did.
High school:
Dog groomer's assistant at "Bowser Haus" from age 14-16
McDonald's (whipping up Quarter Pounders)
Cashier at Alexander's Dept Store (kind of like Kohl's today)
Making cones at Carvel
Hauling crud at a lumber yard
College:
Aforementioned Grand Theatre job
Go-fer at Milwaukee Athletic Club
Janitor at Old Line Life
Interned at Bridgeport Telegram
Recorded high school football and basketball scores for Associated Press
Fun topic, tower. Thanks for starting it. Have enjoyed seeing what others' early jobs were.
Quote from: MU82 on January 05, 2024, 12:45:54 PM
Fun topic, tower. Thanks for starting it. Have enjoyed seeing what others' early jobs were.
Agreed. The inspiration came from 4ever's snark.
Which snark, Fahrenheit? I've had dozens of 'em, aina?
Your attempt to insult Sultan. It made me wonder what other first jobs people had.
A whole lot of posters got early starts on menial stuff. Facinating to learn.
GRADE SCHOOL AND H.S. :
Worked on a family farm in Central Wisconsin for little or no pay. I was doing a man's job at age 13-14 years old ( driving a tractor, working in the fields, working around animals). If any of you guys have any pigs that need castration, PM me.
COLLEGE :
Worked 2 summers in a saw mill, before there was much of anything in the way of OSHA regulations. Through the grace of God, I came away with all of my fingers.
Then worked 2 summers second shift in a large meat packing plant. Ðirtiest, greasy miserable work ever. Great motivation to get that degree, though.
Quote from: JWags85 on January 05, 2024, 09:08:32 AM
Just so everyone knows...this is now the venerated and exalted Sybaris
It was back then. I was there after the orginal Wolf's Island restaurant + motel closed and the new restaurant and Sybaris opened.
QuoteLine chef...is that code for surveillance camera installer, hey?
My brother was a bus boy and they made him to deliveries to the rooms. He has stories.
95% of the time the Sybaris / restaurant clientele did not overlap.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 05, 2024, 09:17:40 AM
That's because Kopp's couldn't be any more overrated.
What's it like to be so anti-Milwaukee?
While in high school:
Cactus Jack's Turquiose Country - booth at the Wisconsin State Fair. Worked there with a few buddies selling turquoise jewelry to lots of young ladies at the fair. We were paid $5 an hour cash at the end of every night. Not bad for the late '70s.
High school/college:
Midwest Services - usher for Brewers/Packer games at County Stadium/crowd control for Summerfest. That job was a blast and included the World Series in '82; worked there 5 summers
College:
DJ at a rock/dance club in West Allis. Also made $5/hour cash plus free drinks :) and I could play whatever music I wanted as long as the dance floor was busy. It helped that all of my friends hung out there.
Quote from: Dickthedribbler on January 05, 2024, 01:05:41 PM
GRADE SCHOOL AND H.S. :
Worked on a family farm in Central Wisconsin for little or no pay. I was doing a man's job at age 13-14 years old ( driving a tractor, working in the fields, working around animals). If any of you guys have any pigs that need castration, PM me.
COLLEGE :
Worked 2 summers in a saw mill, before there was much of anything in the way of OSHA regulations. Through the grace of God, I came away with all of my fingers.
Then worked 2 summers second shift in a large meat packing plant. Ðirtiest, greasy miserable work ever. Great motivation to get that degree, though.
Holy crap! If you and I ever meet, I will address you as
Sir.
Quote from: Dickthedribbler on January 05, 2024, 01:05:41 PM
GRADE SCHOOL AND H.S. :
Worked on a family farm in Central Wisconsin for little or no pay. I was doing a man's job at age 13-14 years old ( driving a tractor, working in the fields, working around animals). If any of you guys have any pigs that need castration, PM me.
I've got my own teeth for that, don't want or need any help!
I waited tables when I was 15 and 16 at Walker Bros Pancake house. After that I had a landscaping job and then moved onto quality control at a woodworking warehouse which included a graveyard shift. Needless to say it dissuaded me from ever having the 11-8 shift again even though I made some good coin.
In calling out Sybaris, realized I didn't even answer...
Babysat most of my teens. Some of my peers found it odd cause that's a "girls job" but I loved it. Had a really fun dynamic with a couple of families that actually appreciated a male babysitter (one had 2 boys that were terrors for female babysitters but had a tentative respect for a teenage guy, another had 4 kids and the youngest was a boy so they loved giving him a break from all the "girly stuff" with his sisters.)
Started caddying around 14, did it for a few years, eventually had 2-3 guys that played a couple times a month that I would carry for and didn't do the sitting around the shop thing, that was actually really fun and taught me a lot.
First summer out of college, worked landscaping/construction for the developer that was building my parent's house/neighborhood at the time. Holy hell that sucked. Beyond the 630 start time as an 18-19 year old, he had us do the crap he didn't want his more skilled teams doing. Clearing stumps out of a small bit of woods that was being made into a wooded cul de sac for 2 weeks straight, digging post holes...into ground that was 50% gravel, cleaning the ground floor of an office building that had flood damage, clearing a field of every bit of rock or wood that was going to have a poured concrete slab for a building. I'd like to say it taught me a lot, but it was just arduous. Made even worse by the company father/developer's father showing up periodically to complain about work quality and say, no less than 15 times over the summer, what an amazing opportunity this was and we should be paying him for the lessons and experience...in 1000% seriousness and grumbling.
Last proper summer job, before starting internships, after sophomore year I worked at Milwaukee Country Club. Brought on to work as a waiter in the Mens Locker Room, which was awful, I became friendly and trusted by the assistant GM and basically became a floater working at the snack bar, as a valet, special event staff, etc... I'd pop in and valet during breaks the next few breaks after that. Actually really enjoyed it, met great people, worked with some cool characters, and actually gained a lot inter-personally. Was a no tipping club, which sucked, but free alcohol from excess orders the suppliers put in and other perks made up for it.
Farm jobs in HS—baling hay, shelling corn, castrating pigs—plus helping my dad with carpentry projects.
First job in HS where I paid taxes—full service gas station — pumped gas, changed oil and did light car maintenance
College (not MU): General construction—concrete and steel. Resident Assistant during school year
College (MU): MU grounds crew where I fixed all the things the rest of the crew broke. I was busy.
Janitor at our local hospital during the summers (about 800 dollars for the summer).
At MU:
Worked the lower level desk at the Memorial Library on Saturday and Sunday evenings (20 dollars/weekend). Not a bad gig. No too many there on Saturdays so I essentially got paid to study.
Sang Tenor at the Presbyterian Church on 10th and West Wisconsin (40 dollars per month).
not bad money for the 60s.
worked at a horse stable in Lincoln Park mucking stalls ,walking and brushing horses for free rides while in grammar school. During Marquette years served as a court clerk, then two summers as a garbage man in Chicago
Worked every job in my Dad's tannery. Aside from the physical work, I spent hours watching and listening to my Dad on the phone. Favorite memory, my Dad lost his entire company/building to a fire in Feb 1977 and had his most profitable month in March of that year.
He taught me how to be creative, leverage relationships and never give up. My Dad was my role model of the American Dream.
Quote from: The Lens on January 05, 2024, 01:12:51 PM
It was back then. I was there after the orginal Wolf's Island restaurant + motel closed and the new restaurant and Sybaris opened.
My brother was a bus boy and they made him to deliveries to the rooms. He has stories.
95% of the time the Sybaris / restaurant clientele did not overlap.
What's it like to be so anti-Milwaukee?
Did you get stuck with cleaning the scum off the surface of the Sybaris room hot tubs. In those days there were 2 bodies of water in SE Wisconsin I wanted nothing to do with-----the Milwaukee River and the in-room spas at Sybaris, if you know what I mean.
Scoop pulled itself up by its bootstraps.
#AmericanDream
#largestcollectionofmillionaires
Quote from: muwarrior69 on January 05, 2024, 05:19:24 PM
Janitor at our local hospital during the summers (about 800 dollars for the summer).
At MU:
Worked the lower level desk at the Memorial Library on Saturday and Sunday evenings (20 dollars/weekend). Not a bad gig. No too many there on Saturdays so I essentially got paid to study.
Sang Tenor at the Presbyterian Church on 10th and West Wisconsin (40 dollars per month).
not bad money for the 60s.
Yeah, that $800 would pay for a semester at MU, back in the day. Impossible, now, for students to make anywhere near tuition for the semester, at their summer job, hey?
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on January 05, 2024, 07:52:38 AM
Age 16. Delivered drugs
I noticed you didn't say you sold them, just delivered them? Latex balloons?
Quote from: lawdog77 on January 05, 2024, 07:49:06 PM
I noticed you didn't say you sold them, just delivered them? Latex balloons?
🫏
(https://thenewbev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/wonderful-9.jpg)
Coal mines in W Virginia age 14-17
Chain gang age17-19
Steel mills in Gary, In age 19-35
CEO age 35-present
Now everyone should post the jobs (or lack thereof) of their children.
It kills me that my kids, and probably most, aren't working crappy jobs these days, building character.
My kid works at a bike shop and loves it, which grinds my gears.
Great pun. My kid started working the meat counter at a local boutique market two months before his 16th birthday.
Quote from: tower912 on January 05, 2024, 09:54:54 PM
Great pun. My kid started working the meat counter at a local boutique market two months before his 16th birthday.
Stubby?
Quote from: Lennys Tap on January 05, 2024, 09:17:10 PM
Coal mines in W Virginia age 14-17
Chain gang age17-19
Steel mills in Gary, In age 19-35
CEO age 35-present
See? Anybody can make it in 'Murica!
Milwaukee Journal route age 12-14
Janitor at a high school during summers age 16-18
Road/bridge crew summers in college while nights at the janitor gig during the school year.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on January 05, 2024, 09:50:54 PM
Now everyone should post the jobs (or lack thereof) of their children.
It kills me that my kids, and probably most, aren't working crappy jobs these days, building character.
My kid works at a bike shop and loves it, which grinds my gears.
All my kids worked in high school. One was even fired! He got his degree, worked throughout college and is gainfully employed as an adult though.
Quote from: MU82 on January 05, 2024, 10:37:44 PM
See? Anybody can make it in 'Murica!
Learned more in 2 years on that chain gang than you guys did in your 6 years in college.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on January 06, 2024, 07:05:39 AM
Learned more in 2 years on that chain gang than you guys did in your 6 years in college.
What did it sound like?
Delivered the afternoon edition of the New Haven Register on my bicycle 12-14. Thankfully my dad drove me around on Sunday morning and I sat in the back of the station wagon with the gate open.
Supermarket from 15 - 22. Started out bagging and carriages weekends only in high school and summer and winter breaks in college. In year 2 at the supermarket some kid in Produce got fired on a 4th of July weekend for smoking weed in the Produce backroom. I volunteered to fill his position the next day so no more carriages. When I graduated Marquette in 1991 at least I had a job. Supermarket offered before I graduated if I was coming back. Since no one was getting engineering jobs it held me over for the next 10 months until I landed my first engineering job. Made for a funny conversation when my fellow Marquette friends were shocked I had a job and they were still looking. Then I prefaced it wasn't engineering.
Caddy at Tuckaway country club in Franklin,WI
Before college:
1. Detassled corn/rogued bean fields for three or four summers
2. General labor at a lumber yard one summer
3. Had a paper route one summer
4. Worked in kitchen of local hospital. Primary duty was to help assemble meals, load them into big carts, and then push the full carts to the floors where the meals were distributed. Then, back to pick up the empty carts, return them to the kitchen where they would be unloaded and cleaned. Also washed pans, took out garbage, etc. Carts was the best gig.
College:
1. Worked in computer lab in Straz Hall. Easiest job ever.
2. Worked one summer on building maintenance crew cleaning and refinishing floors in various campus buildings. Hardest job since detassling. Did a few floors of McCormick, might never recover.
3. Worked at front desk of Federal Plaza Athletic Club checking people in and washing/folding towels. Side benefit of working out whenever I wanted. Also easiest job ever.
ATL MU, my summer job in college was in a hospital kitchen. I can totally relate to your story.
12 to 15 Mowed lawns and shoveled snow in Cooper Park area
15-16 Dishwasher/line pizza maker at Mama Mia's on Burleigh
16-20 Gas pumper/light mechanic at NW Mobil on Capitol
17 Sold ice cream on the Milw. streets in the 3 wheeled motor carts/ clanging bell of Happy Day Ice Cream
19 Interned at Sen Wm Proxmires office
18-23 started on 3 man set up crew on buildout of 3 of the first four ever Pick N Saves. Worked at stocking, forklift, frozen/ dairy, nearly full time, as it paid much of my cost of MU. By senior year 1978 I was an eve manager of the Natl Ave location. Stayed with this for a year plus after college to save more $ for law school.
23-25 In Houston, law school, came in as a weekend manager at Gerland's grocery and only left halfway through to chase law clerkships, associate job etc
Almost every job was by word-of-mouth/ acquaintances, never read the classifieds.
From high school on I aggressively chased a heavy work schedule, but with very good pay. As child no 3, family college resources were depleted. I paid for most of MU college, (including junior year in Madrid), and all of law school at UH. My parents, those jobs and the help of extended family and friends will always be greatly appreciated.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on January 05, 2024, 09:50:54 PM
Now everyone should post the jobs (or lack thereof) of their children.
It kills me that my kids, and probably most, aren't working crappy jobs these days, building character.
My kid works at a bike shop and loves it, which grinds my gears.
One has to pick up after herself and has her own set brooms, dusters, and a vacuum to help with the tidying.
The other mostly eats his toes
Can't believe I left off my final college job starting the summer before and throughout senior year. Mailroom in largest ad agency in Milwaukee. Hired full-time starting day after graduation. In my professional career I have only worked in ad agencies, not sure if that's good or bad, but fell in love with the creative environment that permeates all strong agencies. I am an example of the "worked his way up from the mailroom" stereotype.
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on January 06, 2024, 09:36:27 AM
Can't believe I left off my final college job starting the summer before and throughout senior year. Mailroom in largest ad agency in Milwaukee. Hired full-time starting day after graduation. In my professional career I have only worked in ad agencies, not sure if that's good or bad, but fell in love with the creative environment that permeates all strong agencies. I am an example of the "worked his way up from the mailroom" stereotype.
Upon reading your post, some of the younger scoopers are probably asking themselves "what the
Hell is a mailroom?".
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on January 06, 2024, 09:53:43 AM
Upon reading your post, some of the younger scoopers are probably asking themselves "what the Hell is a mailroom?".
Something from Elf.
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on January 06, 2024, 09:53:43 AM
Upon reading your post, some of the younger scoopers are probably asking themselves "what the Hell is a mailroom?".
True. And I'm not even
that old compared to a lot of scoopers
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on January 06, 2024, 09:56:48 AM
True. And I'm not even that old compared to a lot of scoopers
I'll never forget what Warren Buffet told me when he met me when I was working in the mailroom, "kid, can you give me some advice?"
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on January 05, 2024, 07:51:57 AM
Bagged groceries in high school for $2.70/hr. Got promoted to cashier and that sweet sweet $3.30/hr rate.
I also started as a bagger/stocker. Piggly Wiggly in Oconomowoc for $4.50/hour (minimum wage was $4.25, but they took care of us kids). Worked my way up to Assistant Store Manager making $7.25, only to learn all the older staff under me with less seniority (I was there for 4 years and 3rd in charge of the store by age 20) were making $2-3 more than I was, so I left for SuperSaver and $11/hour as a department manager.
Quote from: brewcity77 on January 06, 2024, 10:26:07 AM
I also started as a bagger/stocker. Piggly Wiggly in Oconomowoc for $4.50/hour (minimum wage was $4.25, but they took care of us kids). Worked my way up to Assistant Store Manager making $7.25, only to learn all the older staff under me with less seniority (I was there for 4 years and 3rd in charge of the store by age 20) were making $2-3 more than I was, so I left for SuperSaver and $11/hour as a department manager.
Typical Fox Bros
Taco Bell tostada and taco shell fryer before Driver License. Nothing like being in front of a hot oil fryer and smelling like corn oil.
When got drivers license, checked drivers route delivery receipts for a bread baker.
During college worked in fabrication shop sand blasting, welding, cutting and bending steel. Also, second shift factory doing assembly and painting houses.
When I was 14, I got my first "job" at a burger joint near where I grew up. It was family owned and two brothers in their 20s were in charge of closing the place down every night. They were both kind of lazy so they "hired" me to clean the grill and sweep/mop the floors every night. In exchange, I got $5 per night, one free cheeseburger (self made), and $1 of credits on each of the arcade games, asteroids, pac man, and jungle hunt.
My first "real job" with an official w-2 was at a Pup-n-Taco. Not sure if they were a national chain, but there used to be a lot of them out here in SoCal. They had pretty good food and I learned how to make it all from the chili dogs to the tacos, etc. However, I really loved the red slushies, that we sold. Great stuff, and kept you cool when working around the fryers/grill.
Southridge Movie Theaters (Greendale WI) making $1.50/hr in 1973. Work 10 hours a week and take home $15, quit after they gave me 10 cent raise. Oh yea, I also found my boss dead in the candy room, but that's anoother story.
Quote from: HouWarrior on January 06, 2024, 08:18:42 AM
12 to 15 Mowed lawns and shoveled snow in Cooper Park area
15-16 Dishwasher/line pizza maker at Mama Mia's on Burleigh
16-20 Gas pumper/light mechanic at NW Mobil on Capitol
17 Sold ice cream on the Milw. streets in the 3 wheeled motor carts/ clanging bell of Happy Day Ice Cream
19 Interned at Sen Wm Proxmires office
18-23 started on 3 man set up crew on buildout of 3 of the first four ever Pick N Saves. Worked at stocking, forklift, frozen/ dairy, nearly full time, as it paid much of my cost of MU. By senior year 1978 I was an eve manager of the Natl Ave location. Stayed with this for a year plus after college to save more $ for law school.
23-25 In Houston, law school, came in as a weekend manager at Gerland's grocery and only left halfway through to chase law clerkships, associate job etc
Almost every job was by word-of-mouth/ acquaintances, never read the classifieds.
From high school on I aggressively chased a heavy work schedule, but with very good pay. As child no 3, family college resources were depleted. I paid for most of MU college, (including junior year in Madrid), and all of law school at UH. My parents, those jobs and the help of extended family and friends will always be greatly appreciated.
I had forgotten about Mama Mia's, I loved that place growing up
Quote from: MU1in77 on January 06, 2024, 02:54:54 PM
Southridge Movie Theaters (Greendale WI) making $1.50/hr in 1973. Work 10 hours a week and take home $15, quit after they gave me 10 cent raise. Oh yea, I also found my boss dead in the candy room, but that's anoother story.
Heart attack?
Quote from: Skatastrophy on January 06, 2024, 03:07:45 PM
I had forgotten about Mama Mia's, I loved that place growing up
Great pizza. I think the only location left is out in Mequon.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on January 06, 2024, 10:30:52 AM
Typical Fox Bros
I started out working for the Richters, but you're right about the Fox Bros. They bought the store out after I was there about 3.5 years. Really good at making promises and dangling carrots but not delivering. They even knew I was upset about my wages because I interviewed at their Hartland store before the sale was public knowledge and continued to string me along while making outside hires that essentially demoted me in the process.
Paperboy at 13. Working summers in an aluminum casting foundry at 16 here in Florida. First trimming rough edges off the end product with giant sanders, the creating sand cores by instantly heating them by injecting sand into 1200 degree metal casts, finally pouring molten aluminum. Fun in the summer!
My parents wouldn't let me get a paper route .. so I wrote Dear Abby, appealing their decision.
She didn't answer.
Also, my parents were right, I would have been terrible at being a paper boy.
As the late great Mitch Hedberg once said, "I had a paper route when I was a kid, which meant I went to 2000 houses...or two dumpsters." RIP Mitch
Worked on a farm. The only place that would hire a kid as young as I was.
From Age 14:
- Every job at the YMCA... towel guy, cleaner, desk attendant, lifeguard, swim teacher, swim team coach
Once in College:
- lifeguard
- Tour guide
- Draftsman for local Milw companies
- Cold calls / marketing... this outfit which shall remain nameless had no office space available so they set me up in the locker room/toilet. It was $15/hour during college, and once everyone realized this was my "office" they were gracious enough to do "big business" elsewhere, and the wages greatly offset the undesirable surroundings!
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on January 06, 2024, 09:25:42 PM
My parents wouldn't let me get a paper route .. so I wrote Dear Abby, appealing their decision.
She didn't answer.
Also, my parents were right, I would have been terrible at being a paper boy.
The thing I remember most about the paper route was the cold and this young couple Sunday only delivery who never paid. They'd get behind and I'd knock on their door during the week where they'd promise me they'd leave me an envelope on Sunday and if course didn't. So I'd knock on the door early Sunday at my dad's urging demanding payment and wait outside while they find loose change and cash. They always looked hungover.
Quote from: MU Fan in Connecticut on January 07, 2024, 08:19:19 AM
The thing I remember most about the paper route was the cold and this young couple Sunday only delivery who never paid. They'd get behind and I'd knock on their door during the week where they'd promise me they'd leave me an envelope on Sunday and if course didn't. So I'd knock on the door early Sunday at my dad's urging demanding payment and wait outside while they find loose change and cash. They always looked hungover.
Kudos to your dad. My brother had the same problem until my 6'3". 225 lb. dad accompanied him on his collection visits. They paid.
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on January 06, 2024, 09:53:43 AM
Upon reading your post, some of the younger scoopers are probably asking themselves "what the Hell is a mailroom?".
Also, Grammar school, Full-service gas station, and a lot of farm jobs.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 06, 2024, 04:45:59 PM
Great pizza. I think the only location left is out in Mequon.
There is still a location on Greenfield Ave. in West Allis, actually having their lasagna tonight.
Quote from: Hards Alumni on January 08, 2024, 06:33:05 AM
Also, Grammar school, Full-service gas station, and a lot of farm jobs.
State of New Jersey on line 1
Quote from: Spotcheck Billy on January 08, 2024, 07:41:52 AM
There is still a location on Greenfield Ave. in West Allis, actually having their lasagna tonight.
Thanks, Billy, for re-igniting my Mama Mia's lust. When the Burleigh store closed I thought I would never again have a hunk of their signature garlic bread dripping with, make that swimming in, garlic butter. I would go to great lengths for MM garlic bread. You will hear from my cardiologist.
Golf Caddy at the local country club at 15 yrs old. No Caddy Shack memories, no Lacy Underalls, no night putting with the 15 year old daughter of the dean, and no free bowl soup for buying that hat.
Quote from: lurch91 on January 08, 2024, 01:17:50 PM
Golf Caddy at the local country club at 15 yrs old. No Caddy Shack memories, no Lacy Underalls, no night putting with the 15 year old daughter of the dean, and no free bowl soup for buying that hat.
Lacey just died, so she is under us all.
https://ew.com/cindy-morgan-dead-caddyshack-tron-actress-8423252
Quote from: Dickthedribbler on January 08, 2024, 01:15:51 PM
Thanks, Billy, for re-igniting my Mama Mia's lust. When the Burleigh store closed I thought I would never again have a hunk of their signature garlic bread dripping with, make that swimming in, garlic butter. I would go to great lengths for MM garlic bread. You will hear from my cardiologist.
I've been missing the Mama Mia's soaked garlic bread too, until last week when we had a pizza and garlic bread at Barbiere's on Bluemound. The garlic bread there is awesome too, very much like the old Mama Mia's!
Quote from: BrewCity83 on January 08, 2024, 04:37:10 PM
I've been missing the Mama Mia's soaked garlic bread too, until last week when we had a pizza and garlic bread at Barbiere's on Bluemound. The garlic bread there is awesome too, very much like the old Mama Mia's!
I was going to say this, but it's been so long since I've had Mama Mia's so I wasn't as confident that I was remembering it correctly.
Barbiere's is awesome. Definitely one of my favorite pizzas in Milwaukee, if not my favorite.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on January 08, 2024, 01:27:43 PM
Lacey just died, so she is under us all.
https://ew.com/cindy-morgan-dead-caddyshack-tron-actress-8423252
Damn, who knew I lived so close to Lacy!
BrewCity
Have you ever had the butter lovers garlic bread at Barbiere's? It is absolutely fantastic.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on January 05, 2024, 07:05:35 PM
Yeah, that $800 would pay for a semester at MU, back in the day. Impossible, now, for students to make anywhere near tuition for the semester, at their summer job, hey?
Not to mention a degree that actually had value and purchasing power.
Pretty sure der ain't know Mama Mia's in The Quon, hey?
Quote from: 4everwarriors on January 05, 2024, 07:05:35 PM
Yeah, that $800 would pay for a semester at MU, back in the day. Impossible, now, for students to make anywhere near tuition for the semester, at their summer job, hey?
The good news is that in real terms, college tuition is about the same as it was a decade ago, and will likely continue to decrease. Less students and a good economy is turning it into a buyer's market. This chart just shows list price at public institutions, but I would guess about 90% of private schools are charging less net tuition in real terms than they were a decade ago.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GDaBxZvbkAEXf33?format=jpg&name=900x900)
Quote from: muwarrior69 on January 08, 2024, 07:53:48 PM
Not to mention a degree that actually had value and purchasing power.
I mean...
https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/research-summaries/education-earnings.html
Quote from: The Sultan of Semantics on January 09, 2024, 08:29:27 AM
The good news is that in real terms, college tuition is about the same as it was a decade ago, and will likely continue to decrease. Less students and a good economy is turning it into a buyer's market. This chart just shows list price at public institutions, but I would guess about 90% of private schools are charging less net tuition in real terms than they were a decade ago.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GDaBxZvbkAEXf33?format=jpg&name=900x900)
I mean...
https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/research-summaries/education-earnings.html
I remember my semester tuition in my senior year-'69-'70- as $850, but I could be off a bit. I remember $650 my freshman year because I got a discount with 2 brothers enrolled, but again I may be slightly off. Actually, there are probably quite a few scoopers who would agree that I am slightly off. ;D
https://www.in2013dollars.com › us › inflation › 1970?amount=1
Using the above site as a guide (multiply 1 1970 dollar by $8.16), the $850 translates to slightly under $7,000 today.
I do not keep up with current tuition rates but would like to know how today's rates are justified (besides supply/demand). Since this is your area of expertise, I am interested in what you may offer as an explanation.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on January 08, 2024, 08:06:55 PM
Pretty sure der ain't know Mama Mia's in The Quon, hey?
Nope, not any more, Doc
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on January 09, 2024, 08:47:15 AM
I remember my semester tuition in my senior year-'69-'70- as $850, but I could be off a bit. I remember $650 my freshman year because I got a discount with 2 brothers enrolled, but again I may be slightly off. Actually, there are probably quite a few scoopers who would agree that I am slightly off. ;D
https://www.in2013dollars.com › us › inflation › 1970?amount=1
Using the above site as a guide (multiply 1 1970 dollar by $8.16), the $850 translates to slightly under $7,000 today.
I do not keep up with current tuition rates but would like to know how today's rates are justified (besides supply/demand). Since this is your area of expertise, I am interested in what you may offer as an explanation.
I think the biggest reason is that the earnings gap between those with a degree and those without continued to grow since your time at Marquette, and that has allowed colleges and universities to charge more because the perceived benefits were greater. This also allowed state governments to lessen their support for public higher education, turning what was once viewed as a public good into a private one.
A prolonged period of economic stability, where unemployment continues to be near historic lows, and places of employment change or eliminate degrees for some jobs, will push these rates down further. Not to mention that 2 year tech programs have gotten much better at development transfer agreements with four year schools that used to be a bit of a barrier a couple decades ago.
The ability to borrow money to attend probably is a factor, but I am not sure the elimination of federal dollars to do this would have had much impact on tuition. The private market would still be there.
In the next decade, you will see more colleges close as they aren't going to be able to get people to pay enough to attend. These will likely be the more poorly resourced private colleges similar to a Cardinal Stritch, mostly in the northeast and midwest.
The schools that will probably chug along just fine are the elite privates, the public flagships and the two year technical colleges. Even schools that are considered in decent shape now (comprehensive publics like UW-La Crosse, or national private colleges like Marquette) are going to have to be really nimble and listen carefully to what the marketplace is saying because going from being in good shape to being in poor shape can happen really fast. The really good news from Marquette's perspective is that it has strong programs in allied health, engineering, business and nursing where you are seemingly always going to need a college degree and students are still willing to pay.
I appreciate your detailed response. One more question/factor- religious based universities. I'm guessing that what was in my time a major "calling card"-Marquette's Jesuit/Catholic identity- is not a significant reason for many of MU's current and future students to be at MU.
It is still talked about. The commercials. The print media my high school junior receives features it prominently. What percentage of modern high schoolers or their parents will MU's Jesuit foundation matter/appeal to?
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on January 09, 2024, 10:34:17 AM
I appreciate your detailed response. One more question/factor- religious based universities. I'm guessing that what was in my time a major "calling card"-Marquette's Jesuit/Catholic identity- is not a significant reason for many of MU's current and future students to be at MU.
I don't think religious affiliation matters nearly as much as it used to, but I think it still matters as tower points out.
Not that it's unusual, but this thread is off the rails in a direction I wouldn't have expected.
Paper boy. Though if we're talking jobs that I didn't have to go door to door to collect my own income, carpet store grunt.
I got a second job in HS — McDonald's. I thought it was great. I mostly did drive through order / cash taking. Hung out with kids my age (from a diff HS), worked hard but had a lot of fun.
Fajitas were great. Unlimited pop. Almost all meal deals were $2.99. Bring that back.
Quote from: Goose on January 08, 2024, 07:36:47 PM
BrewCity
Have you ever had the butter lovers garlic bread at Barbiere's? It is absolutely fantastic.
Goose, the garlic bread I had at Barbiere's last week was very buttery and was fantastic, but I don't think we ordered "butter lovers", we just asked for garlic bread. Do they actually have more than the one type?
BrewCity
The butter lovers are them slicing the garlic bread into two thin slices, rather than the thicker style. Rick Majerus was the man behind the idea, and it only has been on the menu for a couple of years or so. To be honest, not even sure if on the menu, but butter lovers is the way to go.
Thanks Goose--now I've gotta go back to try it
Brew83
Give me a review after your next stop at Barbiere's.
Will do.
I already LOVED the regular garlic bread I had there, so I don't know how much better the butterlovers version could be!
Quote from: BrewCity83 on January 09, 2024, 02:15:15 PM
Will do.
I already LOVED the regular garlic bread I had there, so I don't know how much better the butterlovers version could be!
Agreed. Will have to give that a try next time I'm back in Milwaukee. We usually get some pizza from there once a trip.
wades
It is simply amazing. For about ten years we only could get it if they were empty or we ate it in the kitchen. Once Steve sold the place we could eat it out in the open. Only after saying that we always did in the past.
I will say guys, the butter lovers is best enjoyed at Barbiere's vs taking it home. It really feels good sharing the long hidden secret that I have kept for 25+ years, I want everyone to enjoy this treat.
mama mia's had that garlic bread soaked in garlic butter, you could have cheese added if requested
sometimes we'd just order the cheese garlic bread and make italian sammy's with it
if you're gonna blow a diet, it's either this or a quart of kopps add cashews, peanut butter, fudge and crushed reese's so what the hell
Rocket
Both are great ways to blow a diet. For the past week I have had Kopps on my mind pretty much non stop. Your post might have pushed me over the edge and I get there this weekend.
Dishwasher
Upgraded to Mowing Lawns
Upgraded to Warehouse/Lumping Loads on side