1970s Cartoons and Tunes

A common thread runs through Saturday morning cartoons of the 1970s. Music. Rankin-Bass produced Kid Power for ABC.  Think Peanuts and Our Gang go through diversity training as songs convey messages of peace, love, and harmony for children.  ABC aired original...

James Bond: Spoofs, Parodies, and Parallels

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then James Bond should be very flattered indeed. Bond’s popular culture icon status inspired spoofs, parodies, and parallels aplenty.  Roger Moore portrayed Bond in the 1970s and 1980s.  He also portrayed a Bondish...

The Lone Ranger and American Heritage

The Lone Ranger represents the American ideals of justice, strength, and courage.  His ruggedness, a staple of the hero prototype in American westerns, parallels John Wayne’s film characters, James Arness’ Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke, and the Cartwright boys...

Mary Dobkin a.k.a. “Aunt Mary”

This weekend, America lost a television treasure.  Jean Stapleton. In the 1970s, television audiences empathized Stapleton’s alter ego, Edith Bunker, on All in the Family.  Edith was optimistic, sunny, and kind to balance Archie Bunker’s grouchiness.  But...

Sparky Anderson

Sparky Anderson is a Cincinnati legend.  He managed the Cincinnati Reds — the Big Red Machine — in the 1970s and delivered two World Series championships, four National League championships, and five National League East championships to Queen City.  And...