Beef has made the news a lot over the years. Recently, we heard of how more than 143 million pounds of beef were recalled becasue of animal abuse and some illnesses of the E. coli virus. We've also heard about mad cow disease in recent years.
Back in the 1980s, beef became a famous line in a presidential election, when candidate Walter Mondale asked President Reagan, "Where's the Beef," during a 1984 debate. It was a line made famous by Clara Peller for Wendy's Restaurants.
Back in 1973, people really were asking that same question at supermarkets in Oneonta and around the country. That year, prices of beef went up considerably and consumers fought back with a boycott. Stores stopped buying meat from packers, which then created a shortage.
On St. Patrick's Day that year, New York Rep. Benjamin Rosenthal and other consumer activists in 19 cities called for a nationwide boycott of meat for the first week of April.
The Oneonta Star sent a reporter out to local stores on Friday, March 30. Most shoppers indicated they supported the boycott, but felt their action wouldn't make any real difference in the prices they paid.
"Meat prices are outrageous," said Gene Schmidt. He and his wife, Angela, were attending the State University College at Oneonta at the time. They said they had already begun their boycott the day before by having meatless spaghetti sauce.
Follow-ups continued during the week. There was little effect on Oneonta's stores as meat managers said their sales had dipped only slightly. The Otsego County Farm Bureau had gone on record that week opposing the boycott, saying it would aggravate the poor economic conditions farmers were experiencing already.
The boycott had mixed results around the country, and prices changed little. In June, President Nixon imposed a 60-day freeze on prices. This was "Phase 4" of the Nixon economic policy at the time.
There used to be a Victory Supermarket on Chestnut Street, where the Rite Aid is now located. William Smith was manager of the store and commented that the industry had been "going through the worst two years in its history."
Smith said some smaller independent stores were closing, decreasing competition, and that this price freeze wasn't helping. Costs to his store would continue to rise, despite the freeze to consumers.
From a consumer's perspective, Anna Elwyn, former Oneonta Star community news editor, made a comment about the price freeze, which probably echoed the sentiments of many: "At least prices will not be any higher this week."
Regarding the Nixon policy, Jerry Ingles, associate economics professor at SUCO, told The Star that if the cost of production rises and the price is frozen, the result would be a decrease in total output.
There were shortages with some kinds of meat for awhile. But according to The Oneonta Star of Aug. 24, it didn't end there. "Freezer Shortage Hits City," was the headline over an article.
Salesman Orrin Michaeletz at Holbrook & Howey Electric Co. said he hadn't seen a freezer for weeks. A run had begun earlier in the summer with first indications beef would be in short supply later on.
At Bresee's Department Store, the freezer situation was the same. "We don't have any and we can't get any," said appliance department manager Eric Wiseman.
The meat situation finally corrected itself, but it meant there were a few less barbecues in the summer of 1973.
This weekend: Fun kids had around Oneonta in 1840.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com.
