Baked Cat Food

Maybe cats thought it tasted great, but it sounded disgusting.

Baltimore Sun - Jan 19, 1975

Posted By: Alex - Fri May 18, 2018 - Comments (5)
Category: Food, Products, Cats, 1970s

Western Electric Design Line Phones

Introduced in 1974, these phones were intended to spice up the boring old device that had been around for decades.

I would have gone for the Chestphone, because then I would have felt like I was a member of U.N.C.L.E. or SMERSH.

Full set of pics and other info here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue May 15, 2018 - Comments (8)
Category: Business, Advertising, Telephones, 1970s

The Rite of Exorcism

Released in 1974, The Rite of Exorcism was an album performed by three Catholic priests calling themselves the Contemporary Mission. It included a rock-and-roll version of "Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)." The trio described the album as an attempt to communicate with young people in their own media. So, it was part of the ongoing effort to help Catholicism shed its stuffy image.

Except, in this case there's some debate over whether the three really were bonafide Catholic priests. By 1980 they were under investigation for using tax-exempt religious status to run a sketchy mail-order business that sold snake-oil of various kinds such as "a bath oil described as weight-reducing... and a 'Living Cross' that, when coupled with a special prayer, was guaranteed to change your life 'in just five days.'"

More info: WFMU (which has the whole album available as a free download), discogs.com, law.justia.com.

Posted By: Alex - Fri May 11, 2018 - Comments (1)
Category: Music, Religion, 1970s

Amii Stewart’s “Knock On Wood”

Holy cats! What did I just watch?

Her Wikipedia page.

Posted By: Paul - Fri May 11, 2018 - Comments (4)
Category: Music, Sex Symbols, Psychedelic, 1970s

Ball Buster

"The name of the game is ball buster. It's a family game, fun for children... and for adults it's exciting. You make strategic offensive and defensive moves. Then try to bust your opponent's balls."

Maybe the name of the game was a little too edgy for its own good. The game debuted in 1975, and as far as I can tell was discontinued after a year.

But the TV ad for the game is a classic, especially the final scene where the husband tells his wife, "You're a ball buster."

New York Daily News - Oct 25, 1975

image source: Mego Museum

Posted By: Alex - Thu May 10, 2018 - Comments (4)
Category: Games, 1970s

Raggedy Ann and Andy:  A Musical Adventure

Makes one savor the genius of TOY STORY and sequels even more.

Posted By: Paul - Wed May 09, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Music, Toys, 1970s

Bed of Nails

Back in 1975, eleven-year-old Mark Harman of England made headlines by becoming a practitioner of the art of lying on a bed of nails. He was reported to have been taught by an "expert" and practiced by lying on the bed for half an hour each day.

I guess it's definitely not a typical hobby for a boy his age. I can't find any follow-up stories about him, so don't know if he continued the hobby later in life.

Corsicana Daily Sun - Feb 13, 1975

Posted By: Alex - Tue May 08, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, 1970s

Sweet Jesus Preacherman

Wikipedia page.

Posted By: Paul - Thu May 03, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Movies, Exploitation and Grindhouse, Religion, 1970s

The Stewardesses

Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 30, 2018 - Comments (6)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Exploitation and Grindhouse, Sex Symbols, Air Travel and Airlines, 1970s

Follies of the Madmen #360

Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 20, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Annoying Things, Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Food, 1970s