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...
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.
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!
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...
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....
