1976
As I posted yesterday, I’m kind of taking Wednesday and Thursday's off from the blog, but I still want something new up here, so when people come here they won’t feel cheated. So I’ve decided to post videos related to one person or subject on these days instead of taking a trip somewhere. Today I’ve chosen to post some videos from 1976. That was a big year for me, because I graduated high school. I couldn’t wait to get out of high school and it felt so good when I finally did. So here’s some video from that magical year for you to enjoy! See you tomorrow for a real almost live post featuring the weekly Happy Hour!
1976 was the year of the Bicentennial celebration and everybody was using it to sell their products. "Be a patriot, drink 7-Up." I remember thinking how hilarious it all was. But then again, everything was hilarious to me back then because I was usually stoned out of my gourd on a variety of substances!
The Last Hard Men. I remember seeing this trailer in a movie theater and I couldn’t stop laughing at the title, too fucking funny! And yes, I was stoned out of my gourd on a variety of substances!
The Runaways self-titled album came out in 1976 and I immediately fell in love with the whole band, especially Joan Jett who I’ve always considered the coolest Runaway. This is a video of the Joan Jett-penned song, “You Drive Me Wild,” from that album.
On June 14th of 1976, The Gong Show debuted nationally on the NBC television station. There was nothing else on TV quite like it and I loved it. And by now we all know that I was stoned out of my gourd on a variety of substances while watching it. Check out this clip, I think it’s Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-wee Herman’s debut on TV.
The Clash formed in 1976, inspired by The Ramones. Johnny Ramone recently paid them the ultimate compliment by placing them number two in his top ten list of favorite punk bands from his posthumous autobiography, Commando. His number one punk band on the list? The Ramones, of course! Here’s their demo of “White Riot.”
Further Reading: platypuscomix, Longbored Surfer and amc filmsite.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
1976, The Clash, The Gong Show, The Runaways Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 9:03AM
Reader Comments (19)
1976 was a very stoned year. On July 4th watched the parade from Bryant Park on 42nd & 6th and went down that night to see the fireworks by the Hudson River, drunk and stoned everywhere I went. Anyway I don't remember all that much just being drunk and stoned. Somethings never change.
damn, I hate when you go to comment you lose the audio on the video!
is that apple shot real?
I've been a very bad girl - missing so many of your posts. sure, I could blame it on the catstir but that would be wrong. I've got the same excuse every other grey obsessed, oh baby, fuck me hard, women is experiencing.... its as though I'm locked in a red room of pain and I can't or won't get out!
okay..... going to crawl back and listen to runaways
(p.s., I've been carrying around your sizzle stick way too long)
(ooops, swizzle stick) ...honest monkey mistake!
1975-1976....I had graduated from the US Army and embarked on my first and only year at M.C.A.D. (the Minneapolis College of Art and Design) and it was the only year I could afford, unfortunately. I self published three comic books (ran them off on a xerox machine at insty-prints) and I wish I still had copies of them...(tsk tsk). My state of mind was very similar to yours during that period Marty...hard to remember most of what went on back then. Joan Jett...Christ what a hot little number...
Today thru this post I started reading that bio on the Runaways and found it fascinating. Joan Jett is probably the most famous as she continues to tour, the other surviving members have also branched out and I found all this very good reading material. Chuck Barris was a real smart guy, wrote Palisades Park for Freddie Cannon and developed many, many game show, like the Dating Game. Guess James Coburn and the rest of the cast in that movie don't need viagra.
Ha. in 1976 I was born. But it looks like Apple already beat me to the lo-fi Ipad. Looks like they added a typewriter to their model too, Damn! Unless theyjust read about it on your site and then invented a time machine to go back and create it just before I was born in order to get the patent on it. Anyone know a good trademark/patent lawyer?
Also, I love the surprise link...now if only Sylvester P. Smythe got as much love as "I'm madder than Mad's Alfred E. Neuman"
@Mykola Mick Dementiuk: It was a stoned year for everyone, I think. I remember smoking a huge red, white and blue joint with friends on that 4th of July night!
@Green Monkey: I think the Apple picture is a joke, but I'm not totally sure. Don't worry about missing posts, you can always go backwards and check them out. I hope you can get yourself out of that room of pain soon, I know it's been a long haul for you and I'm hoping something better is lurking around the corner. "Sizzle stick" is a great typo!
@Jaws: I'd give anything to see those comic books, what was the theme of them? And I'm in total agreement about Joan Jett!
@Al: If you haven't seen the documentary on the Runaways called, Edgeplay. you should check it out. The only bad thing about it is that Joan Jett didn't want to be a part of it, but it's a fascinating documentary about them. I forgot that Chuck Barris wrote, "Pallisades Park!" And I had the same Viagra thought when watching "The Last Hard Men" trailer!
@randall: Ha! You do realize you're making some of us feel very old right now with your comment, oh well, that's because we are! And I forgot all about that Sylverster P. Smythe quote, too funny!
Marty, that Apple picture is no joke, it's for real. See here: http://www.fusiondiary.com/1115/christies-of-london-to-auction-apple-1/
Hmm. Not to be Captain (NYC) America; but my fondest memory from 1976 was the Tall Ships off the WTC(not my photos).
That Apple prototype is legit. What Wikipedia might not mention is that Steve Jobs only real contribution to it was to Tom Sawyer Steve Wozniak into building it. Also of note, soon to follow would be years cross suit litigation between Apple Computer and Apple Records.
I wish I could go back to 1976 :( ... I was a mere 10 years old -- and remember all the bicentennial stuff on tv on the 4th. I'd love to go back and have a 5 minute conversation with myself. I'd be like Biff in the 2nd Back to the Future movie ....
@Bruce Davis: Ha ha ha! Too funny! I thought it was probably a joke! Thanks for the link!
@csp: Cool link! Loved the photos! I remember when the Beatles sued Apple, but I'm assuming they worked it out since they're on iTunes now.
@GENE: Biff was in the second Back to the Future? She's never told me that! I wonder if she's still getting royalties from that?
Gee I was 15.
@JHwang: Like I always say, fun flies when you're having time!
nice flashback...or maybe not...isn't funny er strange how a certain year or era or circa is so different to one and so different to another...but at the same time it's sorta the same...ah that's for others...lookin' forward to happy hour...
If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
rr
I was stoned out of my gourd on a variety of substances.
1976 was the year I fell in love... with Cocaine too.
I used to do drugs in the 70's, then it didn't matter what the temperature was!
Love the Apple.
I was 9..
I was carefree
and i hung out by a pool all summer and was a really good kid!
@rr: True, every year holds different memories for everyone. Beautiful Emerson quote you put up there!
@"Boris:" I didn't discover devils dandruff till the '80's. But I learned through you that cocaine is the gateway drug to sniffing pool cue chalk!
@Gidget: Sounds like you had a nice 1976!
Thanks for the Gong Show clippage, I loved that show but now wish I was a little older back then so I could have appreciated Jaye P Morgan as much as I do now! Yowza!
@Spikie: I hear you about Jaye P. Morgan, I had a major crush on her as a kid! Yowza, yowza!