Remembering the 1964 New York World’s Fair
For many of us in the Keener Generation, a pivotal memory was forged in the summer of 1964 when we traveled with our family to the New York World’s fair. It’s theme was “Peace Through Understanding”, dedicated to “Man’s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe”. At its center was the 12-story , stainless-steel Unisphere a symbol of the explosion of technology that paralleled the nascent US Space Program. The fair showcased four Disney themed attractions, Ford’s “Magic Skyway” the General Electric, “Carousel Theater of Progress”, The State of Illinois’ “Great Moments” with an animatronic Abraham Lincoln and the perennial “It’s a Small World” attraction, created for UNICEF. An enduring icon of the fair is The Giant Uniroyal Tire that still stands off of I-94, near Metro Airport. The fair enjoyed two six-month seasons, April 22 – October 18, 1964 and April 21 – October 17, 1965. Adult admission was just $2.
Iconic Ads from the Mad Men Era
As Mad Men winds up, Time Magazine took a look back at some the most iconic ads of the the era.
The Top Instrumentals of the Rock Era
Here’s a list of the top instrumental hits of the past 50 years or so. Many came after the Keener era, but the list also includes a lot tunes familiar to the Keener generation. Do you recognize any favorites?
Shirley Ellis on the Judy Garland Show – 1964
For today’s cardio – some very groovy dancing from THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW in 1964. To this great Shirley Ellis hit…..
The Home of the Future – Circa 1967
It’s always interesting to look back at films of many years ago to see what their vision of the “future” was. This is a film from 1967 from Philco-Ford and what they thought the “Home Of The Future” in the far off futuristic year of 1999 would be like. See what they got right and what they didn’t.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RRxqg4G-G4
What LPs could you listen to from beginning to end.
Remember when WKNR-FM would track an entire LP? What 60s albums could you listen to from end to end??
Remembering Ben E. King
RIP to the great Ben E. King, who passed away yesterday at the age of 76. Lots of folks have been posting his mega-hit “Stand By Me” – but one of his other big hits “Spanish Harlem” has always been a personal favorite.
The voice of “Louie, Louie”
Jack Ely was the man behind the microphone when the Kingsmen recorded Keener’s very first Hit Number One. When he passed away this past week, we looked back at the story of how a garage band created one of the most listened-to songs of the Keener era. Here’s USA Today’s remembrance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V1p1dM3snQ
Johnny Ginger on “The Rifleman”
Here is a fun vintage 1960’s TV western / vintage Detroit TV tidbit. From 1962, WXYZ TV’s kids’ show host, Johnny Ginger, made an appearance on THE RIFLEMAN, starring Chuck Connors. This episode, “Two Ounces Of Tin”, featured a guest appearance by Sammy Davis, Jr, as a gunfighter. (Trivia: Johnny’s real name was Galen Grindle) As a kid – we loved watching him host 3 STOOGES, shorts Channel 7.
