Let’s head inside a roller disco in the late 1970s. The pulsing bass of Chic’s “Le Freak” sets the rhythm for skaters gliding under a mirrored disco ball. Neon lights flash on the satin and sequined outfits as the skate wheels hum over the polished wood of the rink. Roller disco blended music, fashion, and … Read more
Rod McKuen: songwriter, recording artist, poet, author, and actor. In 1972, he was the best-selling author in America and the best-selling poet in history. He had over 60 gold and platinum records. Artists like Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and Nina Simone recorded his songs. According to Barry Alfonso’s biography A Voice of the Warm: The … Read more
There were so many great sports moments in the 1970s. Monday Night Football began airing in 1970, and millions have been glued to the TV on Monday nights ever since. Major League Baseball’s American League began allowing the Designated Hitter (DH) in 1973, immediately adding excitement for fans and headaches for pitchers. (See the bottom … Read more
Marjoe Gortner was an ordained minister at age 4, released an Oscar-winning documentary in 1972 exposing his evangelical career as a fraud, recorded an album, and had a solid career as an actor. Yet, he remains mostly forgotten today. That’s a shame. His story is powerful and interesting. He turned his childhood abuse and exploitation … Read more
Do you remember Fern Bars? In the prehistoric dawn of time, before dating apps and the Internet, you only had a few ways to meet other singles interested in dating. And one of those ways involved hitting the bar scene. Enter the “fern bar,” a bar designed to feel homey and comfortable so women would … Read more
If you were alive in the 1970s, you probably remember the Jesus Movement. This unique period in Christianity was marked by its focus on love and acceptance and its embrace of popular culture. The Jesus Movement was a time when Christianity was “groovy,” and it left a lasting impact on the world. Let’s look at … Read more