Redartz: Many of the toys, snacks, music, and comics we loved in the Bronze age have remained highly regarded, in some cases even increased in regard (consider the effect of the films on the comics upon which they are based). On the other hand, some things haven't fared so well.
There are many examples, and many reasons for a given thing to 'fall out of favor'. Anyone remember candy
cigarettes? Once common at drug store candy counters and in Halloween
trick-or-treat bags, those sweet sticks fell victim to the plummeting
public perception of real cigarettes, and concern that they might make
them more appealing to children. Same story with bubble gum cigars;
another former childhood staple that isn't seen so much anymore.
Toys- how about 'klackers', those heavy hard plastic balls connected by a string? I heard they went out due to parental concerns about hand injuries. Then there was Mattel's "Thingmaker", you recall, Creepy Crawlers and such? You wouldn't find an open electric hot plate toy today for kids.
As for music, recently Colin Jones enlightened me about the fate of Gary Glitter. Apparently his music isn't heard much anymore. Kind of the same story as with Bill Cosby and the Cosby show on television (but what about "I Spy"- never hear anything much about his appearance on that show).
Comics? Perhaps fewer examples come to mind, but certain genres definitely suffered a loss of attention (westerns, romance, even horror by the late 70's).
So, can you think of other examples of once-popular phenomena that got swept off the shelf of public approval? Were there books or songs that garnered negative connotations that you liked? And if so, would you still read/listen to them anyway? Did you have any of those 'potentially hazardous' toys (and there were surely many others)? Chew the fat today and discuss the 'fallen' Bronze age...
