Description: Let's be honest here - a lot of kookie stuff came out of the '70s, and looking at some of it now, it's not really as cool as it is weird. Such is the case with this 'Mother Trucker' design, which features a funky dude with a case of foot rot getting ready to put the moves on a female passerby.
Description: Founded in 1994, 3dfx Interactive was a computer hardware company based in San Jose, California that specialized in the manufacturing of 3D graphics processing units, and later, video cards. 3dfx was a pioneer in the field of high performance video and graphics acceleration in the '90s, and by the end of 1997, the 3dfx Voodoo graphics card was by the most widely adopted 3D accelerator by both consumers and software developers alike. By the start of the new decade, several competitors were starting to catch up with the latest iteration of Voodoo cards, and 3dfx, and a series of bad decisions coupled with an increasingly volatile market led to the untimely demise of 3dfx in 2001.
Description: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a 1978 American parody film produced by J. Stephen Peace and John DeBello, and directed by John DeBello, based upon an original idea by Costa Dillon. The screenplay was written by Dillon, Peace, and DeBello. The film spoofs B movies and was made on a budget of less than $100,000. The story involves tomatoes becoming sentient by unknown means and revolting against humanity. Critical reception of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes was mostly negative, though the box office success of the film led to three sequels, all co-written by the same three writers and directed by DeBello.
Description: Blue Thunder is a 1983 action film about a highly modified police helicopter designed to counter street insurgencies. The manufacturer trains Los Angeles Metropolitan Police Department air support pilot Frank Murphy to operate in the city, making use of its extensive surveillance technology and stealth capabilities. Murphy soon suspects that Blue Thunder has more sinister uses when he finds that the man in charge is Colonel Cochrane, someone he has a history with from Vietnam. As the conspiracy unfolds, the battle between the two heads for a showdown as Murphy gets evidence to back up his suspicions.
Description: 860 AM WAYE was on the air in the Baltimore, Maryland market from 1955 to 1984. The station maintained a loose rock 'n roll format for most of their existence, but in the '70s, took on a true Album Oriented Rock format. By the end of the '70s, WAYE made the odd choice to switch to Big Band music, and just a few years later would go off the air. An interesting note about WAYE is that they only operated at full power during daylight hours to protect the signal of CJBC in Toronto, Ontario.
Description: Throughout the '70s, the 6.6-liter Pontiac Trans Am had been the lone heavyweight, dishing out big-displacement knockouts as all other contenders retired, but sadly, the Pontiac 400 would not be making the trip into the '80s as the auto industry scrambled to meet new corporate fuel average standards of 20 mpg by 1980. Before the party ended, Pontiac served up one last round of the top-shelf stuff and called it "The 10th Anniversary Limited Edition." Along with its special paint treatment, graphics, wheels, and more, this would be among the last of the Trans Ams offered with the "T/A 6.6" 400 engine. As a collectible car from the '70s, the anniversary Trans Am stands out in terms of desirability and value.
Description: Capsela was a construction toy system consisting primarily of gears and motors in spherical plastic capsules that can be connected to form various static or dynamic toys suitable for both land or water. The capsules typically have six hollow octagonal connectors protruding, where an octagonal sleeve piece bridges between two capsules. The hollow connection pegs on a capsule can have electrical or rotary adapters inside, reaching into the next capsule. There are electric motor capsules, gear capsules, switch capsules, pontoon capsules, and others. There are also battery holders, wheels, propellers, impellers, lights, wires, and miscellaneous supporting pieces.
Description: In 1966, Kennedy's successor Lyndon B. Johnson's President's Council established the Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program, acknowledging youth who met or exceeded the 85th percentile on all seven test items. This program would later contribute much of the fodder of complaints about the test, inspiring competition and reinitiating relative benchmarks into physical education classes across the nation. In 1972, the State Champion Program was established to recognize outstanding achievement in physical fitness. The State Champion Award was presented annually to three schools in each State.
Description: There's no shortage of hot rod builders in California, but sometimes it's the lesser known ones that were doing something really great, and Randy Spooner was just one such guy. While other guys were designing rides to get magazine covers, Randy was focused on building traditional hot rods that were meant to be driven. For about three decades, Randy's small shop in Fresno, California, turned out quite a few hand built drivers that any hot rodder would be proud to own. No garage queens or show circuit belles here - just down and dirty, old school hot rods meant to rack up the miles.
Description: The Kerr-McGee Corp. was an American energy company involved in oil exploration, crude production, natural gas, perchlorate and uranium mining and milling. Founded in 1929 as Anderson & Kerr Drilling Company in Oklahoma by Robert S. Kerr and James L. Anderson, the firm changed its name to Kerr-McGee Oil Industries in 1946 when Dean A. McGee, former chief geologist for Phillips Petroleum, joined the firm. Kerr-McGee initially focused on offshore oil exploration and production, being one of the first to use drill ships in the Gulf of Mexico, and later, one of the first to use a spar platform in the region. In 2006, Anadarko Petroleum acquired Kerr-McGee in an all-cash transaction totaling $16.5 billion, plus $2.6 billion in debt.
Description: Plaza Garibaldi, nestled in the heart of Mexico City, is a vibrant epicenter of Mariachi music and Mexican culture. Adorned with colorful facades and lively murals, the plaza pulsates with the soulful melodies of trumpets, violins, and guitars. Mariachi bands clad in charro outfits serenade audiences with impassioned performances, creating an atmosphere brimming with energy and emotion. This iconic square serves as a melting pot where musicians, artisans, and spectators converge in celebration of Mexico's musical heritage, making it a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike.
Description: A chrome cyber knight with a rocket powered guitar in freakin' space? Yes, please! In Rock We Trust is the sixth studio album by American hard rock/heavy metal band Yesterday & Today, released in 1984. The album became the band's highest charting album at the time, reaching No. 46 on the Top 200 chart. Yesterday & Today formed as a cover band in 1972 in Oakland, California, with the lineup that would record the first album being cemented in 1974.
Description: Frank McGurk was a race car driver in the '30s and '40s, but had so many innovative ideas for pulling more performance out of engines, he became an engineer to implement them himself. While his work started earlier after his service during WWII, he formally founded McGurk Engineering in 1950 in Gardena, California. Designing everything from cams and manifolds to heads and rocker assemblies, McGurk was a talented engineer who specialized in small block V8 and inline 6 bow tie mills, the latter of which were extremely popular with sprint car racers, while the V8s were the hot ticket for drag racers and hot rodders. McGurk worked until 1969 when he sold the company, but remained active in the racing community until is death in 1982.
Description: The 720 pickup was Datsun’s first foray into the 4-wheel drive mini-truck market in both long bed and extra-cab variants. It was introduced as a 1980 model and continued until 1986 when the Hardbody style (model D-21) was introduced as a 1986.5 model. Prior models of Datsun mini-trucks were the 521 and 620 which did not offer a 4-wheel drive option. The 720 featured an independent front suspension with torsion bar springs, a leaf spring live axle rear suspension, and a 4 cylinder engine displacing 2.0 liters at introduction, later enlarged to 2.4 liters. The manual transmission on the 720 drove a divorced transfer case that required extra clearance over a married setup, resulting in the 720 4×4 models having a lifted look and riding higher.
Description: Headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, Arnold Transportation Services was a full service truckload carrier that billed themselves as 'the original regional carrier.' Arnold’s foundation in regional service was established in 1932, and would go on to provide irregular route truckload service, dedicated solutions and logistics support. With operations strategically concentrated in the South Central and Midwest states, the company consistently created capacity for its customers in and around major markets. After 92 years in business, Arnold Transportation Services had 341 truck drivers and 402 power units when they suddenly shut down in 2024.
Description: Xenon is a sci-fi/cyberpunk themed pinball machine released in 1980 that marked a significant milestone in pinball technology and design. Advances in microchip technology provided new opportunities for sound design and effects, including what would become the first talking pinball table with a female voice. The seductive gynoid voice says things like "try Xeeeeenon" in attract mode, and responds to bumper hits with "oooh" and "aaah" moans during gameplay. Xenon's blue lighting gave the game a futuristic cyberpunk vibe.
Description: Time Travelers opened their doors at 1511 2nd Avenue in Downtown Seattle back in 1977 with a focus on everything that parents hate, and it was truly glorious. With a perfect mix of punk records, skateboards, weird comic books, and t-shirts to go along with all of the above, Time Travelers had it all. This was a unique space for the kids who either didn't fit in with the mainstream, or simply didn't want to. Time Travelers managed to exist in what is considered prime real estate nowadays throughout the '80s and into the '90s before exorbitant rent increases made the store's very existence an impossibility.
Description: If you grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania in the late '60s, you may recall catching the late night horror program, Weirdo Theater, on the weekend. Airing on WJET 24 every Saturday night at 11:15 PM, Weirdo Theater was the place to be to catch low-budget horror films and B movies. Unlike some other regional horror showcases, Weirdo Theater didn't make use of a horror host, instead relying on title cards and occasional voiceovers coming in and out of breaks.
Description: Associated Transport was formed during World War II when seven trucking companies joined forces despite the objections of the DOJ, who believed the merger to be anti-competitive. The merger saw Associated operating 3,500 power units over 24,000 miles of unduplicated routes from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, with 117 terminals, making them the largest trucking company in the world between 1943 and 1976. In 1976, Associated purchased Eastern Freightways in order to gain access to its equipment and routes, but also had taken on its debt. This turned out to be a bad decision, as Associated Transport couldn't manage Eastern's debt, sending the company into bankruptcy, ending a legacy of the world's largest trucking company.
Description: Beltel was the name used by the South African Department of Posts and Telecommunications for its Videotex system between 1984 and 1999. The system used telephone lines and modems connected to personal computers or to dumb terminals which had built in modems. Beltel incorporated a billing system which enabled service providers to receive payment for information and services provided to users. The billing system was capable of handling very small transactions, referred to as micro-billing. Today, all the functionality of the Beltel system, and more, is delivered by smartphone. Videotex (or interactive videotex) was one of the earliest implementations of an end-user information system from the late 1970s to early 2010s.
Description: The Jiger was the first production all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ever produced. It was a six-wheeled amphibious ATV with differential steering via separate throttle control of its dual (left vs. right) chainsaw engines. The first Jigers were built-to-order in 1961 by JGR Gunsport in Toronto and were mass-produced by Jiger Corporation beginning in 1965. Despite strong demand, production of the Jiger ended in 1968 due to financial issues, with around, 3300 Jigers being built. An investment group bought Jiger out of receivership, renaming the company Versatrek, and continued to produce Jiger ATVs until 1971 when they too folded.
Description: The Wiz is a 1978 American musical fantasy adventure film directed by Sidney Lumet. Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name, the film reimagines the classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with an African-American cast. Dorothy, a 24-year-old teacher from Harlem, finds herself magically transported to the urban fantasy Land of Oz. On her travels seeking help from the mysterious Wiz, Dorothy befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion. Critics panned The Wiz upon its October 1978 release, agreeing that what had worked so successfully on stage simply did not translate well to the screen. The project was a commercial failure, as the $24 million production only earned $13.6 million.
Description: ChicagoFest was a summer music festival established in 1978 in Chicago, Illinois. It was a two-week event held annually at Navy Pier that featured sixteen stages, each sponsored by a national brand and a local radio station sponsor, that broadcasted live from their respective stages. The stages were: Rock, Classic Rock, Country, Blues, Comedy, Roller Disco, Pin Ball Arcade, Jazz, Children's, Variety, Ethnic, as well as a main stage seating 30,000. There were approximately 600 live performances by headline artists each year, making ChicagoFest an extremely popular event. The festival moved to Soldier Field in 1983, but sadly, lost a lot of the magic that came with it being on the water at Navy Pier, so that would be the final ChicagoFest.
Description: The Magic School Bus was an animated educational children's television series, based on the book series of the same name. Originally broadcast from 1994 to 1997, the series received critical acclaim for its use of celebrity voice talent, as well as combining entertainment with an educational series. Episodes follow the eccentric and mysterious teacher, Ms. Frizzle, as she embarks on adventures with her eight students on the eponymous school bus. As they journey on their exciting field trips, they discover locations, creatures, time periods, and more to learn about the wonders of science along the way.
Description: "Make love, not war" is an anti-war slogan commonly associated with the American counterculture of the 1960s. It was used primarily by those who were opposed to the Vietnam War, but has been invoked in other anti-war contexts since, around the world. The "make love" part of the slogan often referred to the practice of free love that was growing among the American youth, who denounced marriage as a tool for those who supported war and favored the traditional capitalist culture. While some soldiers sported the counterculture version, others went with ''make war, not love."
Description: In 1953, Al Berger opened up The Burger Bar in downtown San Jose, creating a popular spot for college students to grab a bite. Over the next few years, Al opened up two more locations. In 1956, he opened the first Burger Pit in Cupertino that featured a charcoal fired grill. The Burger Pit was a hit, and Al opened more than 25 locations throughout the San Jose area over the years where folks could get their charcoal broiled Steerburgers and flat-iron steaks. In the mid-80s, most of the locations were sold to a national fast food chain, but Al kept the primary location on Blossom Hill Road, leaving his son to run the show after retiring in 1986. The Burger Pit enjoyed a run of over 70 years before sadly closing their doors in 2024.
Description: The Allman Brothers Band rose to prominence due to their unique blend of musical genres, captivating dual guitar performances, and unmatched stage presence, solidifying their status as one of the most influential rock bands of their era. Formed in the early 1970s under the leadership of Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, and several other talented musicians, the band played a pivotal role in defining the Southern rock sound and pushing the boundaries of the jam genre. Throughout their career, which was marked by both adversity and success, the Allman Brothers Band produced numerous hit songs that left a lasting impact on the music industry.
Description: The Double Deuce is a fictional roadhouse bar and dance hall located in the very real town of Jasper, Missouri from the 1989 film, Roadhouse. The movie's plot centers around James Dalton, a laconic, but lethal bouncer known to be the best in the business. With his reputation preceding him, Dalton is hired to clean up the baddest honkytonk in a Missouri town. Armed with a black belt in karate and a degree in philosophy, Dalton sets out to tame the Double Deuce for its owner.
Description: Standard Automotive Manufacturing Company was founded in 1952 in Los Angeles, California by Aaron Fenton. He jumped in with both feet as the hot rod craze took off, making everything from headers, cams, and air cleaners, to heads, intakes, shifters, and wheels, all sold under the brand name of Fenton. While many of their products were clearly knock-offs of other popular aftermarket parts, they did make a few original designs here and there. As a result, Fenton’s products were usually noticeably cheaper than the brand name version, especially when it came to custom wheels and by the ’70s, wheels were their primary focus.
Description: The AC Spark Plug Company was founded on October 26, 1908 by Albert Champion and William C. Durant in Flint, Michigan. As the company name might suggest, the duo design and manufactured spark plugs for a variety of applications, with their biggest sales channel being an OEM provider for Detroit's burgeoning automotive industry. By the late '20s, AC was making more than just plugs, adding various small electrical components to their catalog. It was at this time that one of the big three purchased AC, making them an exclusive manufacturer supporting their brands, and leaving the other 'big two' to find new suppliers. This '60s era cool cat design was used to promote AC's plugs as an aftermarket replacement in speed shops and parts stores.
Description: 1982's Poltergeist centers around a typical suburban family who are visited by unseen spirits in their California home. At first, the supernatural guests seem friendly as they move objects around the house to the amusement of everyone, but then things take a dark turn. The ghosts reveal themselves to be evil, and begin to terrorize the family before ultimately kidnapping the young daughter and taking her to the other side...
Description: Enduro Racer (エンデューロレーサー) is an arcade racing game that was released in 1986 with two arcade cabinet versions — a stand-up cabinet with handlebars and a full-sized sit-on dirt bike cabinet. It is often seen as a dirt racing version of Hang-On, as it uses a similar engine and PCB, and was ported to consoles and home computers as well. Based on the sport of Enduro, players ride a dirt bike through seven stages, which have elevation changes and turns, and must avoid other riders as well as logs and boulders. Controls for the game are based on a motorcycle's handlebars, with a throttle and brake control. Players can pull up the handlebars on the cabinet to perform a wheelie, and also jump logs on the track.
