Aftershocks of 1977

Greetings, Programs!  

 

With disco on the airwaves, Datsuns in driveways, and home video gaming consoles earning their shelf space in dens around the world, the lives we lead today and the entertainment we enjoy forty years later can be traced back to a banner year on history’s calendar.  Of course, 1977 is recognizable as the year of Star Wars, but many more things we still enjoy today had their roots in a year that may well be our favorite (if we were choosing favorites, which we are not — just so you know).

 

In the NEWS…

Star Wars earns another cool statistic in the record books with two movies in the same franchise having top ten box office earners last year with The Force Awakens grossing the tenth most money in theaters and Rogue One earning its spot just a bit behind Finding Dory in just over two weeks in theaters.  One Day at a Time is being remade to stream online with a Cuban flair.  And for something new: Beyond has tapped into crossover territory with a TV premiere on FreeForm before its release as binge-bait with the remaining nine episodes streaming on Hulu before airing on television.

 

We Love Our Cereal

Some entrepreneurs in Memphis have taken the Cereal Bar idea on the road by merging a cereal cafe with a food truck.  The ‘Dads think this is a great idea, and if you’re in the Memphis area, we would like to hear if you’ve seen this cereal bars on wheels in the area.  Better yet, if you have tasted one of their creations, let us know what you thought about the experience!

 

Saturday Mornings

What got kids up early on Saturday mornings back in 1977 (well, other than hugemongous bowls of sugary sweet cereal)?  Saturday morning programming on television.  JediShua and shazbazzar remember the days when Saturday morning fare was different from what could be seen during the week.  In this episode, the ‘Dads remember The All New Superfriends as aired in 1977.  The most significant addition to this version of Superfriends was the Wonder Twins who could shape shift into various animals and phases of water as they faced trouble at home and around the world.

 

Toys in the Attic

As video arcades grew in popularity in the late ‘70s, the market was ripe for home versions of hit games in malls and shopping centers.  Just a few weeks after the Fairchild Channel F became a popular Christmas gift in 1976, the less colorful and somewhat less user-friendly RCA Studio II was released.  Its lifespan was quickly reduced by the powerhouse Atari VCS which emerged in fall of 1977.  JediShua and shazbazzar talk a bit about arcades and a bit more about home video games in this week’s “Toys in the Attic”.

 

History Lesson

Again, proving the point that 1977 was the epicenter of an earth-shaking, history-making events that have continued to impact the culture for forty years, shazbazzar and JediShua point to a couple of iconic premiers on television later this week forty years ago.  Fantasy Island was first seen on television on Friday, January 14th and the Coneheads pointed their heads to the stars for the first time on Saturday Night Live on January 15th as alien characters began to show up on favorite television shows.  

 

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