Nobody ever said the Stations or novenas during Mass in the old days--that is sheer nonsense. For one thing, that would have been considered irreverent. There was no moving around to speak of, people stayed in their pews--and were quiet. People had an awe of the Mystery of Faith--of the Real Presence and were focused on the Mass exclusively, even if they said their beads. The rosary possibly was said by a few--but Pius XII had it right when he approved of this. The rosary is a prayer of contemplation, designed to bring one in closer union with the Lord through deep meditation and was not in conflict with the Mass. In fact, however, most people followed with their missals and did so without any trouble. Even little kids had their missals and could easily follow the Mass.
Nobody ever said the Stations or novenas during Mass in the old days--that is sheer nonsense. How old are you? Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dallas at an early-morning Sunday Mass was crawling with senoras in tilmas making Novenas, saying the Stations, and praying to La Virgen de Guadalupe.
And the Rosary was said by more than a few. Entire parochial schools said the Rosary during weekday Masses every single day all over the United States. "Little kids" had Missals, given to them at First Communion that were never used again.
You must be a kid. If you were my age, you'd know that Catholics did everything but reverently attend Mass in "the old days."
"Leave it to Beaver" is a television show, though many folks thought it represented American life back in the 50s and 60s.
The Catholic Church was never "Leave it to Beaver."