December 27, 1969 It's the night after the last airing of The Joey Bishop Show. The show, created to steal audience from Johnny Carson, didn't do so. On the final episode Bishop did the monologue, thanked the audience, and left - leaving the sidekick, a guy named Regis Philbin, to fill the rest of the … Continue reading New this week in ’69: December 27
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New this week in ’69: December 20
December 20, 1969 It's a few days after a bit of television history takes place. On December 17 some 40 million people saw Herbert Khaury and Victoria Budinger get married. Of course they are Tiny Tim and Miss Vicky, and their wedding was shown on The Tonight Show. I've shown the clip in media history … Continue reading New this week in ’69: December 20
New this week in ’69: December 13
(Above: There's an implication here that she's letting more than her hair down.) December 13, 1969 This is a slow news weekend, unless you are a fan of the Continental Football League. Remember them? Their final championship was played on this date as Indianapolis beat San Antonio 44-38. The league folded the following month. Monday … Continue reading New this week in ’69: December 13
New this week in ’69: December 6
(Above: Smile now, kids, 'cause this ain't gonna end well.) December 6, 1969 There's a big football game: #1 Texas plays #2 Arkansas in Fayetteville and wins 15-14. What's more interesting is that not only is President Nixon at the game, but also future President George H.W. Bush. The next night the animated Rankin-Bass Christmas … Continue reading New this week in ’69: December 6
New this week in ’69: November 29
(Above: I spent many, many hours crossing the Pacific in these things.) November 29, 1969 Last week baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. turned 50: today, it's Mariano Rivera's turn. That same day Keith Holayoke is re-elected as Prime Minister of New Zealand. He's held that role since 1960. The next day Charles "Tex" Watson is … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 29
New this week in ’69: November 22
(Above: This ad ran 11/22/1969. Would you buy it?) November 22, 1969 It's the day after ARPANET becomes permanent. ARPANET is the computer connection between UCLA and Stanford that effectively becomes what we today call "the Internet." That same day, baseball star Ken Griffey, Jr. is born. The 22nd sees Michigan end Ohio State's winning … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 22
New this week in ’69: November 15
(Watch this band. They have potential.) November 15, 1969 It's the day after Apollo 12 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida for the second manned flight to the Moon. Astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean will land the ship on the lunar surface the following Wednesday the 18th. On the 15th, a fellow named Dave Thomas … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 15
New this week in ’69: November 8
(Above: Oscar should be orange.) November 8, 1969 It's just two days before a new television program airs on the National Education Television (NET) network: Sesame Street. Some critics have suggested that this just might be the most important show ever to air on television, given the combination of the effect that it has had … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 8
New this week in ’69: November 1
(Above: Wal-Mart used to look a bit different.) November 1, 1969 The Internet turned fifty this past week - sort of. It was on October 29, 1969 that the first message was sent over ARPANET, a forerunner of the modern net, from UCLA to Stanford. The plan was to send the letters "L-O-G" to Stanford, … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 1
New this week in ’69: October 25
(Above: a magazine that eludes my collection.) October 25, 1969 Earlier in the week "Beat Generation" fixture Jack Kerouac is laid to rest in Lowell, Massachusetts. Kerouac died in the early morning hours of the 21st as the result of longtime alcohol abuse. Years later the band 10,000 Maniacs will sing to him and self-aware … Continue reading New this week in ’69: October 25
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 