July 16, 2026: The Nickel That Changed the City

The parking problem in downtown Oklahoma City in the early 1930s was not what anyone thought it was.On July 16, 1935, Carl Magee's solution went into the ground: 175 coin-operated parking meters along 14 blocks of downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the first in the world. Magee had identified the real problem as turnover rather than congestion, and his Park-O-Meter gave drivers one hour for a nickel with a $20 fine for anyone who overstayed. Half the city filed lawsuits, at least one man rode a horse into downtown in protest, and downtown merchants immediately demanded more. By the early 1940s, more than 140,000 meters were operating across the United States, and the mechanism Magee built in 1932 is still running today, just without the coin.From bsnsHistory, the daily podcast about the moments when business quietly reshaped the world.Written and hosted by Ron Trucks. Research and editing by Rodney Russ. Sound design by Angela Cahoy. Music by Cody Martin and Soundstripe.For more daily business stories, visit www.bsnsDAILYpodcasts.com