Thanks to Rey Gonzalez for this blast from the past
Recently, several ad-type stories reminiscing of the 1970s have been popping up in my feed. Those were my teenage years. As I recall it now, the ’70s was a decade of change and progress, albeit the long gas lines, the limited gallons you could purchase and on what day of the week. I remember it because my teenage years were spent working at a gas station as an attendant after school. Yes, there was no self-serve back in the day. The pay was not great, but I understood quickly enough that good personal service, tire gage in hand, cleaning a windshield and quickly looking over engine fluids produced plenty of coin tips, which added up quickly in my pocket.
The period brought cultural and political changes, social issues, technological innovation, and some serious world events. The period gave us a front row seat to the aftermath of the Vietnam War, some very good blockbuster films, and Watergate. You can say that the 70s, in many ways, reshaped the world.
For me, the 70s I remember was the music, the muscle cars and the arcade games. There was some really good music, although I still enjoyed the late 60s Beatles’ catalogue. Back then there was “disco fever” and the early rise of punk rock. The 70’s gave us the Beatles breakup, the death of Elvis (I had some of his gospel vinyls as well), great movies, like the Godfather, Star Wars and the one that had me cautious for years while at the beach; Jaws. As a young man, busy with hi school and a part time job, I was not into the political turbulence I later came to read about and understand. The era also gave us new technology, the introduction of video games, personal computing (for a few) and moon landings. Oh. Almost forgot to mention. Munich Massacre, Hammering Hank and Rumble in the Jungle, to name a few.
It’s good to reminisce about those good old days. It wasn’t that bad, as I now recall those times. There are so many memories of those days. What are some of your memories? How many restaurant chains have disappeared from view? How many iconic brands are also now non-existent? Tang? Lipton powdered iced tea…just pour in water and mix. Kodak? Polaroid? So many.
How about them ’72 Miami Dolphins and their perfect season. The Orange Bowl days were amazing. And South Beach? Well, Ocean Drive was filled with Art Deco buildings, occupied mostly by the elderly retired and snowbirds that spent the day sitting in those shaded front covered entrances to those buildings in their folding aluminum beach chairs. You could spot a few slowly walking with their canes and walkers. Times have changed. Care to share your 1970s?
