I grew up in Ohio, right along the PA border. I'm not certain how regional it is/was, but we used to buy Cotts ('It's "Cott"s, to be good!', or something very close to that.) I'm not sure what all flavors they made, but we mostly got their Ginger Ale. Also, they made a Mint Ginger Ale, and it was the best beverage when one was sick. My Mother always kept some on hand, and whenever anybody came down with the cold or flu, you always had a glass of ice cold Mint Ginger Ale. It really made you feel much better.
Not exactly in keeping with the theme of "old" sodas, but does any one remember "Clear" Pepsi? It might have only been for sale in test markets, not sure if it ever went mainstream. They claimed it had the same ingredients as regular Pepsi, but nothing added for coloring, and it was clear as water. But, you know our minds seem to be influenced by the color of foods and such, and it tasted significantly different to me. I liked it, but it obviously bombed, because I think I only ever bought one or two 2-liter bottles, and then I never saw or heard of it again.
I always liked Vernors too. I could only ever find it in OH/PA, and I used to buy it to take back up to Upstate NY when I was stationed there.
By and large, I don't have too many memories of drinking soda when I was young, because my parents weren't too keen on it. I believe that's why, to this day, I could live on pizza and Pepsi/Mt. Dew. The only time we had soda to drink in my house (aside from birthdays or some other celebration) was when we ate pizza, which my Mom made herself. I loved those days, because not only did I get to enjoy pizza and soda, but since we only used paper towels as plates, and no silverware, the only dishes that needed to be washed were our drinking glasses, the cookie-sheets the pizzas had been baked on, and the scissors used to cut the pizza. Joy!
Tim
