Chestnut vendors. I had forgot them swell folks. The neat stalls with roasting chestnuts. That, and sometimes hot peanuts cashews almonds. All mixed of course with car exhaust subway noise diesel fumes, and fire engines. I loved the warm salty aromas as my folks dragged me behind them. Anyway, them folks was a true part of the Soul of this totally weird City.

Them cute little hats ladies wore were neat too. See the folks below. My youngest aunt Pauline wore them things. Heck if I had one, I'd bleeping wear it at least around my digs or parties for sure.

They was so smart, and perfect. Where did all them hats go. Generations of guys, and gals wore them things forever. ...then gone.

Is there an elephant's graveyard for those swell hats?

I mean like there is for old tech. Somewhere in a rainforest there's mile high piles of Eight Tracks VCRs iPod, and Mood Rings. Somewhere them swell Lady Hats along with them Dick Tracy style brimmed guy hats our fathers, and grandfathers wore wait for us.

A comment on this post which first appeared on my FB page.

From Di Burns:

Historically, the precursor to the pillbox hat was military headgear. 

During the late Roman Empire, the pileus pannonicus or "Pannonian cap" - headgear similar to the modern pillbox hat - was worn by Roman soldiers. A similar hat was popular with the Flemish in the Middle Ages. In some countries, especially those of the Commonwealth of Nations, a pillbox-like forage cap, often with a chin strap, can still be seen on ceremonial occasions. 

The Royal Military College of Canada dress uniform includes such a hat, and similar caps were standard issue for the Victorian era British Army. Another cap called a Kilmarnock is a modern version of the traditional headdress worn by members of virtually all Gurkha regiments. The modern woman's pillbox hat was invented by milliners in the 1930s and gained popularity due to its elegant simplicity. 

Pillbox hats were made out of wool, velvet, organdy, mink, lynx or fox fur, and leopard skin, among many other materials. They were generally designed in solid colors and were un-accessorized but could include a veil. Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, was well known for her "signature pillbox hats", designed for her by Halston, and was wearing a pink one to match her outfit on the day of her husband President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas."