America’s Bicentennial
There was much fanfare about the Bicentennial for most of 1976.
The occasion was all over the media, in stores, in the schools, and just about everywhere we went.
It was such fun at the time that I said “I’m going to live to see the TRICENTENNIAL!” (never mind that I’d be 109 by then).
On July 4, we went out back to bang on pots and pans, and then went down the shore to celebrate with the DeRose cousins, and saw fireworks on the boardwalk.
“Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney & Wings
Paul McCartney and Wings – Silly Love Songs
Everything seemed to have a “Spirit of ’76” theme.
Mom and Dad got me a purple two-wheeler with a bell that summer, the equivalent of a tricked-out Hog where we played on the back street.
Mom was allowing us more freedom beyond the yard, as we went back there to play with some other kids who lived there, including Lori C, Steve J and Monique P, who was two years younger than I.
Monique was a spoiled little thing. However, that didn’t stop me from going to her house to be in the air-conditioning, have iced tea and snacks like Suzy Qs, and play with her Easy-Bake oven.
Her parents allowed just about anything, and her two big brothers were loud apes who just hung around their driveway goofing off a lot of the time, and it seemed all the parents did was sit around in the family room watching TV. Of course, that was just my perception.
When the street light came on, it was time to go home.
If we “forgot,” Mom’s shrill whistle brought us climbing over the fence into our own yard. That whistle could slice through granite.
The summer of ’76 following fourth grade was great for pop music, including More More More by Andrea True Connection and Shake Your Booty by KC and the Sunshine Band.
Disney and Daytona
That summer brought our first major vacation as a family of four (i.e. requiring a drive of more than two hours)—we went all the way to Disney World!
I was so excited about this vacation. We took the 1970 Cadillac Fleetwood on a two-week jaunt, packed with goodies to eat on the road. These included Kraft Handi-Snacks Cheez-N-Crackers and peanut butter and jelly on grahams.
Mom made sure we had activities in the car, including Travel Bingo, the little plastic number puzzles and the invisible ink Yes & Know activity books.
We planned to visit the Magic Kingdom and Daytona Beach, with a three-day drive down and back. We stayed at Master Hosts Inn, Knights Inn, and Quality Inn.
“Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee
Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
We listened to the CB Radio Dad had installed, complete with “Big Mama” mounted on the trunk, a king-sized antenna guaranteed to attract CB ramblings for miles.
It was fun to hear Dad, a tractor-trailer driver, use all the lingo.
On the radio were I’d Really Love To See You Tonight by England Dan and John Ford Coley, If You Leave me Now by Chicago, You Should Be Dancin’ by the Bee Gees, and Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee.
“Shake Your Booty” by KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty
We stopped to see Pedro at “South of the Border” after at least 100 miles of teaser signs, only to find it was pretty much a dive with restrooms, fireworks on the cheap and a semi-decent snack stand. The trip included nightly stops at motels so we kids could jump in the pool and play in the warm air until dark.
We often met other kids there and made friends, but of course that would be short-lived as our families hit the road again in the morning.
This is a complete video of one of our favorite attractions at Disney World, the Carousel Of Progress, originally sponsored by GE. This clip features the ’80s as the “latest stage.”
We spent a week at the Magic Kingdom. We loved the Monorail and the Contemporary Resort Hotel, and attended a Luau at Polynesian Village. That vacation was bliss … wacky Dad and upbeat Mom, and two loopy kids. I had a giant lollipop that turned my tongue blue.
“I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” by England Dan and John Ford Coley
England Dan & John Ford Coley – I’d Really Love To See You Tonight
The Main Street Electrical Parade had a Bicentennial theme (like everything else). We loved the Parade. The music and lights were gorgeous!
Of course, that particular year’s procession included Mickey on a float decked out in red, white and blue. This video was from 2010, but the parade has remained largely unchanged since we first saw it.
We then drove up to Daytona for the second week. We’d originally intended to stay at the Casa Linda, but Mom didn’t like something about the pool. We moved next door to the high-rise oceanfront Americano Beach Lodge, our balcony high above the Olympic-sized swimming pool.
We arrived back home with new T-shirts, souvenir knickknacks and the like, filling two giant Disney World shopping bags. All of those memories were captured on home movies.
Newly Lutheran
We started at a new church that September, Christ Memorial Lutheran. A close friend of Mom’s, Mrs. Moss was a member.
Mom had begun to sense a lack of Christian fellowship at Trinity Presbyterian due to a scandal to evict the minister that erupted within that congregation. She was determined to bring us up in a loving Christ-centered church.
We began Sunday school at Christ Memorial, and Mom rapidly got involved with Bible study and choir, and she sat on the Board of Elders and took part in other ministries. She eventually was elected Branch President of Aid Association for Lutherans.
Welcome Back Kotter was in reruns on TV and The Mary Tyler Moore Show was nearing its final season when I started fifth grade that September. I had another Open-On-The-Top desk, in Mrs. Greaux’s class, Room 138-C. Mr. Kelly was on the other side, 138-D.
“Right Back Where We Started From” by Maxine Nightingale
Maxine Nightingale – Right Back Where We Started From
Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale and Still The One by Orleans, Lonely Night by Captain and Tennille, Dream Weaver and My Love Is Alive by Gary Wright, and With Your Love by Jefferson Starship were popular.
Interestingly, we were still listening to AM radio. WABC and WNBC were the NY stations. I slept with my little Mickey Mouse radio (pictured in the Classic Toys gallery) under my pillow, hoping to catch My Little Town by Simon & Garfunkel and You’re No Good by Linda Ronstadt.
Noteworthy is the April release of the Apple 1 (October 1976 advertisement). 8K of RAM! So quaint now… but at the time, cutting edge tech.
Walkin’ in Rhythm by the Blackbyrds reminds me of occasionally going bowling with Dad on Sunday mornings.
Mom made sure we regularly attended Sunday school and church, but once in a while we’d go bowling with Daddy. We’d ride up to Federal Lanes in Elizabeth to see him bowl pots with his team, The Sleepy Five.
Dad was lead-off and this guy Eddie K. was anchor. (Later, as I began dating in high school, 30-odd-year-old Eddie took a shine to me and cornered me in the parking lot in June 1982. More on that later.)
Louie Bini came along for the ride sometimes, as he bowled up there too early on.
Another guy on the team was nicknamed Harry the Hat. He looked sort of rough, with long hair and a beard and piercing eyes but was a quiet guy.
On those Sundays, Dad would go out to get Streisel buns for him and Mom, and custard doughnuts for Steven and me at Princess Bakery on Route 18.
Glasgow Pines
Grandmommy and Papa sold their brick house in New Castle, and bought a nice new mobile home not far from Newark, Delaware, in a neat little community called Glasgow Pines. It had a side screened-in porch, living room “slide” and woods in back.
Grandmommy bought this cool leather furniture, and her beloved organ (which she played with such talent) went along for the move. Grandmommy made ceramics, so as with the brick house, the third little bedroom became her craft room where she kept the kiln.
During the summer, we would be sent outside to play during the day and it was fun to explore the woods. That cool furniture was so nice to lie on in the air conditioning when we came back inside from the heat. Summer in Delaware can be stiflingly hot and humid.
We spent many balmy evenings out on the screened-in porch playing Chinese checkers and Po-Ke-No, safe from the mosquitos.
“More More More” by Andrea True Connection
Andrea True Connection – More More More
A friend of Mom & Dad’s from the old neighborhood in Newark was Andy Scuorzo. He came to visit often, and after his divorce had a couple of holidays at our house. I remember one Christmas when he gave us a Mattel talking clock. A male voice would say, “The time is … __ o’ clock.”
Andy always brought Juicy Fruit gum, and my brother and I knew just where he kept it… his left shirt pocket. We each got a piece every time.
Andy also drove a straight-job with Sunshine Biscuits, and when Dad graduated to the diesel tractor-trailers, Andy said (kiddingly): “Big trailer driver. Big deal.”
One time, on Route 22, Dad spotted Andy’s little box truck ahead and went by on the left, hanging on the air horn. Later, when they pulled over, Andy declared, “Ya almost blew me off the road!”
Good friends always, Dad and Mr. Scuorzo. The differences in their jobs were the object of some good-natured ribbing.
