Martinex1: A couple of days ago Redartz waxed eloquently about the influence of comics on his life. Today define for us what elements of cultural, historical, and even personal events defined your Bronze Age.
How similar are we? What are the touch points of our generation? Do we share a common upbringing of events, food, games, literature, and entertainment? Did a lot of little things create a collective whole that shaped us? When you think "Bronze Age" what comes to mind? And what does that say about our age group?
Here are just a few examples (some trivial and some important and personal) that pop into my head very quickly. How about you?
13 comments:
The older I get, the more I think that which symbolizes us (70s - 80s) as well as the 60s and part of the 50s is ABC, NBC, and CBS and all that that represents.
Analog v. Digital
Segmentation v. Lack of Segmentation
(I suppose should have a 3rd item, for sake of form, and to appease my former English composition teachers, but at 6:00 AM I cannot think of one, lol. Oh! Starting a sentence with "And!" LOL)
O/wise I got a kick out of the photos! What a trip! Cheers!
The personal real-life delineation on my end would be our family moving from a fairly dinky little house (on several nice undeveloped lots) up the street two doors to a larger, nicer ranch-style home. IIRC, that was the summer before starting 7th grade, so it really stands out as the dividing point between seeing oneself as a "little kid" and a "big (ha! 7th-grader, for pete's sake!) kid".
That's also when our household finally made the switch from B&W to a color TV. My anachronistically "we didn't things like that when I was a boy"-minded father seemed to think that viewing in color was frivolous, and wouldn't last, since it made the set more pricey. His mindset about things like this was much more in tune with someone 15 or 20 years older than he actually was. BUT-- color television, in our wood-panel re-modeled, shag-rugged, vinyl-couched basement family room-- man, that's 'bout as Bronze-agey as it gets! Read TONS of comics down there. Especially once the whole area became my bedroom as our household shifted around.
Death of Gwen Stacy was sort of the comics start of the era for me. And I'd probably mark the end of it with the start of the first Secret Wars series, which sort of marks the beginning of my own "Modern" era of sustained acquisition-- the one that lasted until just a very few years ago.
I totally agree that the three-network model for television is a solid marker. I know that I scoffed MIGHTILY at the idea that FOX adding a fourth full-scale network could EVER upset the well-established status quo. Instead, it was an harbinger, eh?
Oddly enough, "discovering" the Beatles in 1974 or '75 (?) defines the Bronze Age for me as well--- and it happened at exactly a time when pop-culture was beinning its first wave of Beatles Nostalgia-- for a group that officially disbanded less than 5 years before. But 1970 was back when we were "little" kids-- a million years ago. By the winter of '75, we were teenagers, and things were completely different, and new, and updated, and current. Heh-- so current that it became cool to be Retro, as it were. . .
HB
My Bronze Age begins much as HB's did, with a family move. Our family moved to a new house from a smaller one; giving my brother and I each our own room. That in itself helped make for a 'new era'. It was 1971, and a little personal space was very welcome. Like HB's, it had shag carpet and wood panelling. it kind of channeled the Brady Bunch house (except not so big).
But like Colin, my 'Bronze age' really started in 1974. That's when I started collecting comics, following the Billboard Pop Music charts,- and really 'paying attention' to what was going on in the world.
As for an ending, that would be about the end of 1985. Personally, and in comics. Personally, as I met my future wife in the fall of 85 and by mid 86 was married. Youthful pursuits gave way to responsibilities. And in comics, DC finished of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths", and I all but stopped buying. So I'd technically label the Bronze age as 1970-1985, for me it was a bit shorter; a very enjoyable eleven year stretch.
Oh, and HB- once again, our similarities make me smile. We also got 'color' about that same time. I too ended up with a bedroom/comic shelter in the basement. And I too 'discovered' the Beatles about 1975, and in a big way. Started with the "Red" and "Blue" albums, and soon expanded to their entire catalog...
For me, when I think of the "Bronze-Age" I think of eating cereal (Cap'n Crunch, Corn Pops, Lucky Charms, etc.) on Saturday morning in my PJs while watching cartoons like Super Friends, Hong Kong Phooey, Scooby Doo, Plastic Man, Dyno-mutt, and others.
As for movies, I distinctly remember seeing Jaws in the theater when I was around eleven years old. Then there is Star Wars (of course), The Superman movie, Rocky, and even Grease. Seeing those were all some good times as a kid.
I also remember riding my bike with my friends to the local convenience store, (with names like The Top Banana, Lil General, and Mr. Grocer) to grab an Icee, and a candy bard, and buy some comics off the spinner rack. A whole lot of fun for under a buck.
When I hear Bronze Age, I usually think of the early 80s when I was 10 or 12 years old. Lots of great comics coming out then, plus some really good TV shows, movies, and music. I guess that was my personal "Golden Age", so to speak.
I'm with Charlie on your choice of pics ... lots of memories. I hated that Life cereal commercial when I was a kid; do you know how many times I heard "Hey, Mikey, he likes it!"? It got old really fast.
I loved the Hardy Boys and always wanted the Detective Handbook, but never found one anywhere. That movie ad makes me think of the flyers we used to get in the mail for the drive-in. I always looked forward to the Sears Wish Book too, which I think they've stopped publishing now. There's a website that has scans of vintage Xmas catalogues online; some great memories there.
And I still eat those frozen dinners, except I usually go with chicken these days since it's (marginally) healthier.
As far as cultural/historical goes, I'd have to say that desegregation and Vietnam were the two big events which marked my Bronze Age because that defined my neighborhood and the schoolyards where I grew up. The kids who wore those Army jackets with their last names on 'em because they didn't have fathers to wear them anymore. And the kids who just landed at my school from out of seemingly nowhere and changed our view of the world.
There were the three networks, sure. But there was also the local UHF that showed The Twilight Zone and old horror films. And later, VHF, too. Rotary phones and the dreadfully expensive long distance call. Ashtrays (and sometimes lighters) in every room. Everyone having a bike, and that being a huge deal.
A younger co-worker asked just the other day about the comic shop I went to when I was growing up, and I had to remind her it that it was called the spinner rack at the White Hen.
Ah, the Bronze Age ...
OMG-- the Brach's Royals.
THERE'S a distinctive tasty treat that actually goes deep into the personal early/mid 60's Silver Age!
My buddy at the time, Eddie, lived in a big gothic lake-house/small-mansion about 100 yards from our own MUCH smaller little post-war bungalo. . . across the street from an undeveloped lot that abutted the side of our back yard. NEXT to him was a much more modern, fancy lakehouse with a sturdy 5' high, thick-planked (though artistic) privacy fence around it. And when we played in his yard, the old guy that lived there would hear us, and come over with a bag of Brachs Royals and give us each a few-- just sayin' hi, tellin' us to be good boys, etc, etc. We'd have to climb part-way up the fence to reach them. LOVED those Royals-- that's where I always ate the most of 'em! We thought he was the greatest, nicest little old guy in the world. And he only lived there for a couple of years.
It was probably several years later when my Mom happened to mention that the old guy who'd lived there was retired mob hit-man by the name of Sammy Taylor. And lordy, did she have a cow when I informed her that he used to give me and Eddie candy all the time. . . I thought she was going to punish me on the spot for questionable transgressions that had occurred, like, 8 years in the past. . . !
HB
OK… well we moved to a new house in 1973. Gary, Indiana was burning and bullets were flying, so my folks said “time to bolt.”
Moved into a new typical 4 bedroom two story made of dry wall, particle board, plywood, and decorated with shag rugs, linoleum, etc. Thankfully, nothing painted avocado green as was the mode, LOL.
My idea of the Bronze Age is very “tight” from roughly 1970 – 1975, the ages of 9 – 14 years old. It quite possibly may have run longer, but I was exposed to the “good stuff” of Silver Age Marvel
- J Buscema, G Colan, J Kirby, J Romita, G Tuska and pre-ubiquitous G Kane and the brief renaissance of Bill Everett.
- Letters page. Two pages at that!
- Marvel checklists!
- Stan’s soap box.
- $.15 - $.20 cover prices
And then all that changed - hard and fast - and Charlie was hurt and he turned away. (No need to beat a dead horse on all the changes, lol.)
Also, I am indeed old enough to recall the massive social change of which Mike and Colin write… That is society in motion! Love it! (Though I do miss DDT, leaded paint and gas, freon, and sulphuric acid rain, and the 2,000 pounds of cyanide my old man's company dumped into Lake Michigan daily, lol.)
I'll go in reverse chronological order and from the outside in.
The town I grew up in was a "speed bump" town. It's two towns separated by a speed bump. Two blocks down your street, the street name changes since you're no longer in one, you're now in the other!!! There was also one movie theatre, opened in the 1920s, and a drive in. Many summer nights, my sister and I would drag our lawn chairs into the field across from our house and watch the drive in movie. There were big speakers mounted on the snack bar so it was easy to hear. In the early 80s, the Twin Cinema opened!!! One place, two screens!!! Now you actually had to plan a movie outing. What movie was showing at what place? What time? When there were only the two places, you knew it was 7:15 and dark. Now, who knows!?!
On a bit more personal level, our family got a microwave oven. Dinner was no longer a communal event. Not home at dinner time? No problem!!! Make a plate, warm it in microwave!!!
From my first comic purchase in May of 73, I had been limited to the convenience store I could walk to to buy comics. That changed when I got my 10 speed! Now I could go where I wanted and stay as long as I wanted!!! I found stores that actually rotated their comics monthly!!! And at R&B Dept Store, they had a magazine rack. Savage Sword of Conan, Bizarre Adventures and Marvel Presents, plus, the Treasury Editions!!!
([Paul Young]
It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade
[Boy George]
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
[George Michael]
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
[Simon LeBon (Duran Duran)]
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
[Sting]
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
[Bono & Sting]
And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
[Bono]
Well tonight thank God it's them
Instead of you
[Boy George & Others]
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life(Oooh)
Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
[Marilyn & Glenn Gregory]
Here's to you
[Paul Young]
Raise a glass for everyone
[Marilyn & Glenn Gregory]
Here's to them
[Paul Young, Marilyn & Glenn Gregory]
Underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
[Chorus: All]
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again).
Prowl, yer killin' me!
My thoughts are already starting to drift Holiday-ward, which I'm trying to resist mightily, and FEED THE WORLD is usually one of the very first ones I listen to that clicks me into that frame of mind! (Seeing Halloween candy at the grocery store has already set a faint undercurrent in motion. . . )
Microwave oven is TOTALLY a real-life Bronze Age artifact-- great call! My Mom was the type that believed every lick of (incorrect) hype about how ALL THE COOKING could happen in the microwave with a tiny fraction of the usual time and prep. We went through a long period of vulcanized hamburger patties and meats; exploded and/or fossilized eggs; vegetables cooked into visual anonymity; and "baked" confections that could bend the tine of a fork. You say "Home Cookin' in the Bronze Age!"-- and that's the culinary delight that comes to mind-! (Coincidentally, that's also when I learned how to make my first version of home-made spaghetti. . . )
Red, our Beatles journey was indeed just about darned identical! Picked up the Red Album first (walking through the aftermath of the Blizzard of '75 to the store-- just out of boredom), then the Blue, then started piling up ALL of the American releases. It's amazing how "new" some of the then-unfamiliar songs seemed at the time-- as a youth, you assume that no one else has ever discovered these gems, either. . .
HB
CH47-- meant to ask this: Did. . . did your little town (or little two-towns) have a traffic light...?
HB
HB my little neck of Gary Indiana did have stop lights a few miles away. Gary did have 170,000 inhabitants though now only around 70,000.
But I lived waaaay on the east end where it was undeveloped for several miles, Loved it!!’
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