this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2026
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Vintage and Retro Ads, Promos, Fliers, Etc.

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Date unknown, but $5.95 got you a pair of these bad boys including postage east of the Mississippi.

Also, no zip on the address. 5 digit zip was introduced nationwide in the US by 1963. So this may be 50's or at most very early 60's.

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[–] finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

This makes sense of a scene from Back to the Future! When Marty was first walking through town upon arriving in 1955, there was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene of a girl jumping up and down while wearing her roller skates. At least, that's what I thought they were, and I wondered why she was doing that. But now, I wonder if they were these things?!

[–] EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca 23 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Found what looks like a modern photo of a surviving pair of these.

Rocket Shoes

[–] cheeseburger@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Reminds me of an unfortunate shoe from Toontown...

[–] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago
[–] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago

Legit terrifying scene. Scarred me for a while.

[–] lettruthout@lemmy.world 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I like how the concept of safe has changed over the years.

[–] proudblond@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

They probably won’t kill you but R.I.P. your ankles.

[–] LaLuzDelSol@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I want a free folder of UnuSuAl GiFtS

[–] TomMasz@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I'm old enough to remember these, or at least something like them. Even if they were "Made to last for years.", no one played with them more than once. That was all it took to discover how stupid they were.

[–] reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net 10 points 2 days ago

Even with your warning they still look fun to me. So do those sort of hook shaped running prosthetics that have some bounce.

[–] valar@lemmy.ca 16 points 2 days ago
[–] Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Man, advertising just didn't have rules back then huh?

"Rocket Shoes!" - powered by literally just springs?? Wtf? No fuel? No Oxidizer?

I doubt anybody would sue you for false advertising today either.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not gonna lie. With body armour and a full face helmet I'd want to moon walk in these a bit.

Of course, I'm not sure that's what these do; but they look like it.

[–] Enkrod@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago

These are specifically for spraining ankles

[–] DaBPunkt@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)