14 Things Every Store Had Near the Register in the 1960s That Disappeared

Small items near every checkout counter once turned ordinary shopping trips into memorable moments during the 1960s.

Daisy Montero
May 15, 2026
8 min read

14 Things Every Store Had Near the Register in the 1960s That Disappeared — Jaykumar Bherwani on Pexels

Checkout counters in the 1960s looked very different from the ones people see today. Small candy packs, trading cards, cigarette displays, and tiny novelty toys filled every inch near the register. Many of these items disappeared as shopping habits changed, technology improved, and stores became more focused on speed and convenience. This list looks back at the little things customers constantly saw while waiting in line during that era. Some sparked impulse buys while others kept children entertained for a few extra minutes. Together, they painted a picture of a slower and more personal shopping experience that modern stores rarely capture anymore.

1. Candy Cigarettes

Candy cigarettes sat near registers in almost every convenience store and supermarket during the 1960s. Kids begged parents for the sugary sticks that came packaged to look like real cigarette packs. Some versions even puffed tiny clouds of powdered sugar when blown through one end. Adults rarely questioned them back then because smoking appeared everywhere in advertisements, television shows, and public spaces. Today, the idea feels strange and controversial, which is one reason these treats quietly disappeared from most stores. They remain one of the clearest examples of how differently people viewed childhood products during that era. Seeing them near the register once felt completely ordinary to shoppers across America.

2. Gumball Machines

A spinning rack of gumball machines near the register almost guaranteed children would stop and stare. A single penny or nickel could buy a brightly colored piece of gum, a tiny toy, or even a plastic ring hidden inside the machine. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and corner markets treated these machines like miniature attractions. Parents often handed children spare change just to keep them occupied while groceries were packed. Many stores slowly removed them as shopping became faster and more automated. Safety concerns and changing store layouts also pushed them out over time. Still, many people remember the excitement of turning the metal knob and hoping for a favorite color or prize.

3. Baseball Card Packs

Small wax packs of baseball cards sat close to the register, where children could easily spot them while waiting in line. The packs cost only a few cents and usually included a slab of gum that hardened into a rock after sitting on the shelf for weeks. Kids collected cards passionately during the 1960s, trading duplicates with friends and carefully protecting favorite players. Stores placed them near the checkout because they were easy impulse purchases. Many adults today still remember the smell of fresh cards and gum after opening a new pack. Modern trading cards still exist, but they rarely hold the same place near registers that they once did.

4. Cigarette Displays

Large cigarette displays once dominated the space behind many cash registers. Bright logos and colorful packaging made brands instantly recognizable to customers standing in line. Clerks often grabbed packs directly from the display without customers even moving from the counter. Smoking was deeply woven into everyday life during the 1960s, so these displays barely attracted attention at the time. Today, strict laws and growing awareness of health risks have changed the way tobacco products are sold and advertised. Many modern stores hide cigarettes behind cabinets or keep them away from plain sight. Those towering displays near the register now feel like relics from a completely different era of American shopping culture.

5. Pocket Comic Books

Small comic books filled spinner racks near checkout lanes throughout the 1960s. Children often grabbed one while parents paid for groceries or household items. Western stories, superheroes, romance comics, and funny animal adventures all competed for attention in those colorful displays. Stores knew comics encouraged quick purchases because they were inexpensive and entertaining. The racks slowly disappeared as bookstores, specialty comic shops, and digital entertainment became more common. Many adults still remember flipping through comics while waiting in line and begging to take one home.

6. Glass Candy Jars

Large glass jars packed with colorful candies once lined checkout counters across America. Peppermints, jawbreakers, caramel cubes, and wrapped taffy created a bright display that tempted nearly every shopper walking by. Store owners loved these jars because they added charm and encouraged last-minute purchases. Children pressed against the counter, trying to choose just one piece, while adults counted spare coins in their pockets. Over time, concerns about hygiene and changing packaging trends caused many stores to remove open candy displays. Modern checkout lanes now rely more on sealed products and standardized shelving. Those old glass jars represented a more personal style of shopping that many people still miss today.

7. Postcard Racks

Many drugstores and tourist shops kept rotating postcard racks near the register during the 1960s. Customers could quickly grab a postcard showing local landmarks, beaches, or humorous cartoons before heading home. Sending postcards remained a common way to stay connected during vacations and road trips. The racks also added a splash of color to checkout areas that might otherwise look dull. As phone calls became cheaper and digital communication replaced mailed greetings, postcard sales slowly declined. Modern shoppers rarely see large postcard displays near registers anymore. Still, old postcards continue to capture memories of family trips and roadside stops from a much slower travel era.

8. Tiny Toy Cars

Small toy cars hanging near the checkout counter became irresistible to children during shopping trips in the 1960s. They were inexpensive enough for parents to buy on impulse, yet exciting enough to keep kids entertained for hours afterward. Stores carried colorful metal cars, miniature trucks, and race cars packaged on simple cardboard backing. Many boys proudly collected dozens of them and traded favorites with friends after school. Checkout displays gave these toys maximum visibility because children almost always noticed them while waiting in line. Today, larger toy sections replaced many of these tiny impulse displays, but the memory of grabbing a miniature car near the register still feels familiar to many adults.

9. Evening Newspapers

Stacks of evening newspapers near the register once served as an important daily ritual for shoppers. Many people grabbed a paper while paying for groceries so they could catch up on sports scores, politics, and local events at home. The checkout counter became the perfect location because customers naturally paused there before leaving the store. During the 1960s, newspapers played a central role in family life and conversations around the dinner table. As television news expanded and digital media transformed information sharing, evening papers slowly disappeared. Modern checkout lanes now feature snacks and electronics instead. The sight of fresh newspapers stacked by the register belongs mostly to another generation.

10. Free Matchbooks

Small matchbooks carrying store logos or advertisements frequently sat near checkout counters during the 1960s. Restaurants, gas stations, and local businesses handed them out freely as both a useful item and a form of advertising. Smokers appreciated them, but even non-smokers collected matchbooks because of their colorful designs and unusual graphics. Children sometimes treated them like trading items despite the obvious fire risk. Over time, declining smoking rates and growing safety concerns made free matchbooks far less common. Many stores stopped offering them entirely. Today, vintage matchbooks remain popular collectibles because they capture the style, branding, and everyday habits of a completely different shopping era.

11. Instant Camera Film Packs

Photo film packs often sat near registers because shoppers regularly needed replacements for family cameras. During the 1960s, taking photographs required planning since every picture used valuable film. Stores placed film close to checkout counters to remind customers before vacations, birthdays, or holidays. Bright packaging from popular camera companies stood out easily among candy and magazines. Running out of film during an important moment frustrated many families, so grabbing an extra pack became a habit. Digital photography completely changed that routine decades later. Most modern shoppers no longer think about buying film at all, which makes those once familiar checkout displays feel surprisingly distant today.

12. Movie Star Magazines

Celebrity magazines filled with Hollywood gossip and glamorous photos once crowded checkout counters everywhere. Shoppers flipped through stories about movie stars, singers, and television personalities while waiting to pay. Bright covers featuring famous faces easily caught attention from across the store. These magazines thrived during the 1960s because celebrity culture fascinated millions of Americans. Reading about stars felt exciting in an era before social media shared every detail instantly. Modern celebrity news now spreads online within seconds, leaving fewer people interested in printed gossip magazines near the register.

13. Souvenir Keychains

Metal and plastic souvenir keychains once hung near checkout counters in gas stations, gift shops, and roadside stores throughout America. Many featured state names, tiny license plates, lucky charms, or humorous slogans designed to catch shoppers’ attention during checkout. Travelers often bought them as inexpensive keepsakes from vacations and family road trips. Children clipped them onto school bags while adults attached them to heavy rings full of house and car keys. Over time, fewer stores dedicated checkout space to small souvenirs like these. Modern shoppers usually purchase similar items online or from specialty gift shops instead. Vintage keychains now serve as tiny reminders of old family adventures and forgotten roadside stops.

14. Novelty Joke Toys

Tiny joke toys and harmless pranks once crowded checkout counters during the 1960s. Fake gum that snapped fingers, plastic insects, whoopee cushions, and disappearing ink tricks entertained children and teenagers alike. These inexpensive novelties encouraged spontaneous purchases because shoppers could grab one quickly without much thought. Store owners understood that humor sold especially well near the register, where boredom often set in while waiting. Many of these toys slowly disappeared as stores modernized and focused more on efficiency than personality. Safety standards also became stricter over time. Even so, many adults still remember laughing at those silly little prank toys during ordinary shopping trips with family members.