CLANDESTINE CIGARETTE CAPERS?

 

In our early pre-teen days when we started smoking, there were only 2 sources where we could get cigarettes, or “weeds” as we called them. The first was to “kipe” them from our parents. This method didn’t work for very long, because we foolishly took whole packs and they were easily noticed when they were missing. Once and a while we would just take a few out of a pack which was much “safer” and not as likely to be noticed (usually). The best and “safest” source was the cigarette machine at Heckleman’s Sohio Station. When we finally collected the 30 cents, it was time to head to Heckleman’s to sneak another “weed” buy from the machine. This seemed to be so easy for us since we didn’t have to face a “grownup,” which we KNEW would NEVER sell us any “weeds” at our tender young ages. We would go into the station and “hang around” until all the mechanics were in the other side of the building. We would then hurry over to the cigarette machine and one of us would stand at the machine and “when the coast was clear” (quietly?) drop the quarter and nickel into the coin slot. If possible, we always tried to get the 30 cents with a quarter and nickel, because any other combination would be too many coins, possibly causing us to risk “detection.” The first coin would drop in with a muffled “bing-tumma- lumma” sound. Sometimes either a customer, or one of the mechanics would come back into the counter section of the building where we were! We then would “innocently,” nonchalantly walk to the ubiquitous 2 metal lawn chairs in front of the large picture window, and sit down. Our biggest fear when this happened was that someone would come in to buy a pack of “weeds” from the machine while our quarter was in it! If that ever happened we would be out a quarter since when the “grownup” got the extra quarter from the coin return, we couldn’t have very well said, “Hey, buddy that’s OUR quarter”! We would have been “busted” for sure! Fortunately, I never remember that ever happening in the many many times we bought “weeds” that way. When the “coast was clear” again, in these instances, we would then take up our positions. The cigarette machine was just outside the men’s room door. Our method was that as soon as the coins dropped into the machine, the other guy would flush the toilet just as the other would pull the lever under the “Tarryton” label (our brand). The toilet flushing was, of course, to “cover” the sound of the noisy machine! We learned the most quiet way was to slowly pull the lever out then slowly push it in. Even then it seemed excessively loud, amplified no doubt by our fearful and guilty conscience! The loudest part was just as the lever reached the end of the push-in when something went “PARRROOOONG” and the pack of “Tarrytons” tumbled down to the bottom tray. The operator would then quickly stuff the pack in his front faded blue jean pocket, and then we would both triumphantly walked out and made a conscious effort to look “normal.” After a while we suspected they were “on to us” (looking back, I’m SURE, of course, they were from the very first time), and we figured that it was just a matter of time until they moved the machine to a place where they could watch us better, and that WE could see them watching. Sure enough, after a while they moved the machine just inside the front door to the counter area! We then had to use some real creative methods for our “weed” purchases. A little later, they got a new cigarette machine, which was placed in the same place by the door. However, this one was electric powered and very QUIET to operate! After a period of using this machine, we were in high school and the local tavern owner in town didn’t have any problem selling us “weeds,” so we rarely bother with the machine after that. Just to show how important I was in those days, I was the one that was always picked to go into Bar 61 and buy the weeds! (Hmmmm, hey, wait a minute, now that I think about it…)