A while back I was going through some old photos from back in the day looking for some family shots. Along the way I came across one of my late wife Flo, myself with Tammy Wynette and George Jones at a country music show I had put together. Then it hit me, that show was 50 years ago!! So, I started think back to what 1974 had been like, how things have changed since then, what was popular then, what it cost to live, etc. I felt it would be a good “Art’s World” piece. I hope you enjoy taking this time trip from fifty years ago. It’s also another reminder of how quickly time passes us by.
In 1974, Florida was the furthest thing from my mind. We were living in East Brunswick, N.J. and I was making the daily commute to the Big Apple every day. I was doing radio and had my own talent agency, Warric Productions that managed a number of local country bands. We also did all the booking and concert appearances in the tri state area for the major country music stars of the time. It was exciting and a lot of hard work but I loved just about every minute of it and miss it. In 1977 I sold the agency and decided we’d had enough of the commuting rat race. So it was goodbye New Jersey and hello Florida and Tampa Bay and I have never looked back.
Here are some interesting facts about things that went on in 1974. The average income was up to $14,000 a year and the average price of new 3 bedroom home was $35,000. When it came to automobiles, the average price was around $3,800 (In 1976 we bought a brand new Toyota Corolla for just over $4,000) and a gallon of gas was a whopping 55 cents a gallon. As for food costs a pound of ground beef or bacon was 79 cents, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes were 55 cents and you could get 10 cans of Campbell’s soup for $1.00. Clothing wise, men’s velour suits were in fashion, just $32.00 and women’s leather sandals were $29.00. A 19” color TV went for $400, a cassette player was $39. You could by 45 rpm records for 98 cents and LPs for $3-$4.
As for some of the 1974 news headlines, the biggest one was………….The findings of the Watergate Scandal. This made Richard Nixon the first US President forced to resign from office with VP Gerald Ford becoming the President. Ford announces an amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft evaders………..The 55 MPH speed limit is imposed nationwide to preserve gas usage in the U.S……..The Sears Tower in Chicago opens and, at the time, becomes the world’s tallest building…………Work begins on the 800 mile long Alaska Oil pipeline. In response to the energy crisis taking place in the U.S., daylight saving time commences nearly four months early…………..Pocket calculators start to appear and offices start using a very primitive word processor that resembles a typewriter. It was a sign of what was yet to come in the world of computer technology………The MRI Scanner is first developed in the USA……….It is also when a new puzzle called Rubik’s Cube becomes one of the most popular products invented.
On the entertainment scene in 1974 among the hit Hollywood films are The Exorcist, The Sting, Blazing Saddles, Serpico and The Godfather II. In pop music hit makers include The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple, Paul McCartney and the Grateful Dead. When it came to TV, among the most popular shows were The Waltons, Kojak, Kung Fu, All in the Family, Six Million Dollar Man and Sanford and Son. It was also in 1974 that the adult film industry began to really make a big mark on the American public. Not only were X rated films being shown in adult theaters, but also a number of mainstream theaters as well. Films like Deep Throat, Behind the Green Door, The Devil in Miss Jones and others were the talk of town. The golden age of porn was born and has survived to greater heights than many expected it would.
On a sad note for 1974, we lost a number of big celebrities. They would include comedian Jack Benny, band leader Duke Ellington, singer (Mamas & Papas) Cass Elliot, TV newsman Chet Huntley, writer Jacqueline Susann, aviator Charles Lindbergh, actress Agnes Moorehead, country star Tex Ritter and TV host/journalist Ed Sullivan.
Just think that was fifty years ago and time sure does fly. There was a lot more I could have added for 1974 but now the question is……What will it be like in 2074, fifty years from now? We won’t be around to find out, but I am sure it will be historical.
I hope you enjoyed this trip back in time with me. Have a great week ahead, stay well and enjoy each day to the fullest.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
