in the past, the past was called ...

whenever we talk about the past today, probably the most common term
people use is "classic."
so here's a question for you ... in the classic times, how did they
refer to the past?
i was listening to a 50's re-broadcast of a duke ellington concert where
he was going to play some of his older 30's music.
"and now, ladies and gentlemen, a selection from our vintage catalog."