Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Follow the Leader Episode 154: .....and a Happy New Year!



Redartz:  Hello Bronze Agers (and everyone else; we're inclusive here)! This year is rapidly winding down, but we have one more chance to Follow the Leader in 2019. While replacing your calendar, pouring some celebratory beverage and making resolutions, perhaps you can take a moment to toss out a topic. Or a greeting, or a memory, or even just an impression, 

However you spend your day and evening, may you have a healthy and happy New Year. Oh, and you might start practicing your Charleston; the Roaring 20's are about to start...

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Merry Christmas to One and All!



Redartz:  'Tis  Christmas Eve.  Whoever you are , wherever you are, may all the blessings of the season be yours. Thanks for being a part of our little Bronze Age 'family'!






 Young redartz, from the year 1969, wishing you all "peace". May the spirit of Christmas bring out a bit of the innocence, the kindness, and the idealism we had as children; and may that spirit carry us into the new year and beyond.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Riding the Retro Metro: Mid December, 1976!



Redartz:  Season's greetings, one and all! For a bit of a holiday indulgence, today we've pulled the ol' Retro Metro out of the garage for a trip back to the middle of December, 1976. Just to get a taste of the festive excitement and cultural diversion we all enjoyed waaaay back then...



First off, here's a look at the popular music that might have been playing while we eagerly scoured the Sears Wishbook for Christmas treasures . But to be honest, at that time I wasn't actually wishbooking, I was going out on my very first date (yes, with an actual girl; took her to see "2001: A Space Odyssey" at the local cinema; might explain why I never got a second date with her).



Popular on the US Billboard charts:
 "Tonight's the Night" by Rod Stewart
"The Rubberband Man" by  The Spinners
"Muskrat Love" by The Captain and Tennille
"More Than a Feeling" by Boston
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John

 Apparently the impact of the holiday season on the US pop charts in 76 was minimal. Although, the  Captain and Tennille hosted a televised Christmas variety special , joined on the schedule by Bing Crosby's White Christmas Special and Perry Como's Christmas in Austria.

  Meanwhile, across the big pond...

 High on the UK Music charts:  
"Under the Moon of Love" by Showaddywaddy
"When a Child is Born" by Johnny Mathis
"Somebody to Love" by Queen
"Portsmouth"  by Mike Oldfield
"Bionic Santa" by Chris Hill

At least in the UK there was some holiday spirit represented on the audio airwaves. Johnny Mathis for the traditional types. And "Bionic Santa" for the more contemporary. I'd never heard of this, and had to investigate. So here it is...



Quite amusing; much like the 'break in' comedy records of Dickie Goodman that chuckled up the pop charts in the early to mid 70's.

 
Of course the Christmas season was well in evidence on the television airwaves by mid-December. 1976 saw the debut "Rudolph''s Shiny New Year", a sort of sequel to the classic 1964 Rankin/Bass "Rudolph".







If you were scanning the channels during those wintry weeks, you also might have caught Frosty the Snowman, and the Grinch.





You just gotta love Jimmy Durante belting one out in the snow!

 

And everyone knows that you don't get to watch all that tv wonderment without paying the price in commercial advertising. So here are several such ads that would have been running back then. How could anyone ever forget the Norelco Santa riding his shaver?
 

Ronald McDonald gets into the holiday act, along with a few friends...
 

Next up, a familiar tune from the folks at Coca Cola...



And finally, for all those who invited 'Andre for the holidays'...



Meanwhile, down the street at the local magazine vendor, the spinner racks were full of four color holiday fun. Archie and the 'kid' books were more winter themed, but Marvel certainly had some spirit. Always loved that Spider-Man cover. Incidentally, DC was kind of sparse with the Christmas covers this season...
















And there you have it, folks: Hope this evoked a few fond memories for those of us who were around at the time. I also hope you share some of those memories, thoughts, impressions, good feelings and bad jokes. From your friends at BitBA to all of you, the very best of wishes for the holidays and the year to come!

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Follow the Leader Episode 153: Winter Wonderings...




Redartz;  Hello again, gang! Still busily working on a special post for next Tuesday (and trying to get a visiting grandchild down to bedtime), so my introductory comments today will be brief . Laurels, fame and fortune await the first commenter to provide us a topic for the week (okay, maybe just a hearty "thank you"). The stage is yours; and be sure to stop by next Tuesday...

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Follow the Leader Episode 152: Christmas Trees You Prefer, and Tunes You Don't...



Redartz:  Okay, gang, your humble host is hard at work on a special upcoming post, so you know what that means. Yes, the Leader is awaiting your topic suggestions; as are we all! Fire away, and stay tuned....

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Follow the Leader Episode 151: Recommended Reading...



Redartz:  Well, it's Thanksgiving week here in the USofA. So many  of  us will be busy preparing, travelling, cooking, or just building an appetite. And for all our friends 'cross the waves', hopefully a good week is underway as the holiday season approaches. At any rate, here at BitBA we like to keep up the conversation, so: I'm thankful for each one of you that takes a few minutes from your busy days to visit . Also many thanks for all the great subjects you've submitted this year. Which reminds me, what do you have for a topic today?

As we await your answer to that question, here's another for you. This question is inspired by our fine friend Doug over at Black, White and Bronze (which you should definitely check out, if you haven't yet). Over the past months Doug has presented a very thoughtful analysis and review of the monumental graphic story "Maus", by Art Speigelman. While reading Doug's column, it struck me that if somebody asked me what one single comics story they really should read, just one single comic story among all, Maus would be the one. And so, my specific challenge for you: if you could recommend to someone a single comic story (may be a single issue, may be a single story), one which impacted you like no other, one you would say EVERYONE needs to read, what would it be? 

Best wishes to all, and thanks in advance for your participation!

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Follow the Leader Episode 150: 150th. Issues!



Redartz:  Greetings; and welcome to the weekly meeting of Bronze age enthusiasts known as "Follow the Leader". And being the 150th. edition of said category, we shall observe this momentous occasion by looking over some comic books that reached that same milestone. So while you cogitate upon a promising topic for the week, enjoy these 'century and a half' covers!


























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