Steam Wagon Leaves for World Tour

Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 02, 2016 - Comments (1)
Category: Antiques, Anachronisms and Throwbacks, Motor Vehicles, Technology, 1970s

The Gizmotron

Weird noises from your guitar.



The history is here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 29, 2016 - Comments (3)
Category: Music, Technology, 1970s

Nixon’s Palace Guard

January 1970: The White House guard (secret service uniformed division) publicly revealed their new uniforms which featured a white, double-breasted tunic with gold shoulder trim and a stiff shako hat with peaked front. They replaced the black uniforms the guards had previously worn on ceremonial occasions.

President Nixon had ordered that a new uniform be designed after he had seen what palace guards wore in other countries and had decided that the White House needed something as fancy.


However, almost no one liked the new uniforms. People made comments such as:

• "they look like extras from a Lithuanian movie"
• "Late Weimar Republic"
• "Nazi uniforms"
• "like a palace guard of toy soldiers"
• "will they be goose-stepping, or what?"
• "falls somewhere between early high school band and late palace guard."
• "They look like old-time movie ushers."
• Chicago Tribune columnist Walter Trohan complained they were a "frank borrowing from decadent European monarchies, which is abhorrent to this country’s democratic tradition."

The guards themselves complained that they felt too theatrical and that the hats were uncomfortable. So within a month the hats had disappeared. The white jackets lasted longer, but eventually they too were mothballed.

Alton Evening Telegraph - Jan 30, 1970

However, the uniforms weren't thrown out. They sat in storage for a decade, and in 1980 they were sold to the Meriden-Cleghorn High School Marching Band in Iowa.

Los Angeles Times - May 15, 1980

Posted By: Alex - Fri Oct 28, 2016 - Comments (7)
Category: Fashion, 1970s

Santa Esmeralda

The pathos and tragedy of the disco version is nigh-unbearable!

Wikipedia entry here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 25, 2016 - Comments (4)
Category: Music, 1970s

Jiffy Blueberry-Like Muffin Mix

From circa 1971. So I guess it kinda sorta tasted like blueberry, while having chunks of stuff in it that slightly resembled blueberries. Sounds appetizing.



From what I understand, food manufacturers often fake blueberries because a) they're relatively easy to mimic; and b) the real ones have a limited growing season, which makes them expensive.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 24, 2016 - Comments (9)
Category: Food, 1970s

Mystery Gadget 42

Purpose? The answer is here.

And after the jump.

More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 24, 2016 - Comments (4)
Category: Technology, 1970s

Kenner Easy Care Manicure Set

Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 21, 2016 - Comments (3)
Category: Cosmetics, Stereotypes and Cliches, Toys, Children, 1970s

Compelled by jasmine to shoplift

Shirley Cromartie was working as a housekeeper at President Nixon's Key Biscayne retreat when, in 1971, she was arrested for shoplifting. She admitted to the crime but insisted that it hadn't been her fault. She explained that a mysterious woman wearing a wig had approached her in the store's parking lot, asked her the time, and had then released a "jasmine-like scent" from her left hand. Cromartie immediately fell into a trance, and the woman instructed her to steal four dresses, which Cromartie proceeded to do.

A medical expert testified that he believed Cromartie was telling the truth.

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Oct 23, 1971

An odd story. But what are we to make of it? There's a couple of possible theories:

Theory 1: Ms. Cromartie got caught shoplifting and made up a b.s. story to explain away her actions.

Theory 2: She was totally nuts.

Theory 3: She had an encounter with an extraterrestrial! UFOlogist John Keel, author of The Mothman Prophecies, advanced this theory. He speculated that the mysterious, wig-wearing woman was actually a "woman in black" (the female counterpart of a "man in black"). He noted that "Women in Black" cases often describe them as wearing wigs, and the aliens are fond of asking people what time it is.

But why would an alien being bother to make a housekeeper shoplift some dresses? Keel speculated, "perhaps this was not some small demonstration for the benefit of President Nixon, similar to the power failures that seemed to follow President Johnson in 1967. (The lights failed wherever he went ... from Washington to Johnson City, Texas, to Hawaii)."

More info: mysteriousuniverse.org

Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 18, 2016 - Comments (5)
Category: Crime, Paranormal, 1970s

Least-Authentic Native-American Motifs Ever

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 17, 2016 - Comments (2)
Category: Art, Fashion, Hobbies and DIY, 1970s, Native Americans

Most continuous time on commercial flights

In 1978, Thomas Crowder set a record for "time spent aboard commercial planes" by traveling back and forth between 91 U.S. cities for 21 days. He never spent more than three hours on layovers between flights.

As far as I can tell, Guinness never recognized this record. Nor can I find evidence that anyone has ever tried to top it.

I know that Guinness tries not to track records that encourage unhealthy or life-endangering acts. So maybe Crowder's record fell foul of this policy. Because spending 21 days sitting on commercial flights seems like a great way to develop deep vein thrombosis.

The Alexandria Town Talk - Oct 27, 1978

Mattoon Journal Gazette - Nov 2, 1978

Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 16, 2016 - Comments (7)
Category: World Records, Air Travel and Airlines, 1970s