I grew up in the era, and at least where I was these dishes weren’t everyday staples, just something to be tried occasionally for fun. I saw them mostly when people would bring a dish to someone else’s house, when they would want to be showing off with something special. (When we share food with friends we mainly use dishes that we eat regularly and know well, but times are different.)
Jello is really rather amazing stuff, and I’m thinking I should eat more of it. And I will say that anyone who hasn’t tried an ice box cake made from Famous Chocolate Wafers hasn’t lived.
