By the time the 1970s arrived, the Soviets had all but conceded the space race. Children of the new decade weren’t any less enamored by space though, especially anything astronaut-related. Take a powdered drink mix called Tang, for example. Once kids learned that “it’s what astronauts drank on the moon!” no more needed to be said. … read more
He is a superstar around the world, but Long Islanders have long embraced Billy Joel as one of their own. He emerged in the early 1970s and quickly established himself as one of the finest balladeers of a generation. A self-proclaimed piano man who always spoke to and for the working class, his music and storytelling are in a class all their own. … read more
Pavlov would have been proud. A few rings of the bell could send any kid into a mad dash towards the nearest source of loose change, in a valient attempt to soothe the scorching summer heat. Such was the power of the ice cream man, bearer of all things frozen and a common sight on Long Island in the 70s. … read more
The 1970s ushered in an era of electronic games, from arcades to simple handheld devices. Calculator maker Texas Instruments thought there might be a little room for something more educational, and introduced a device called the Little Professor. It looked a lot like a typical calculator with one distinct difference – it didn’t give you the answers. … read more
For over fifty years, Long Island locals have enjoyed a luxury nonexistent in the rest of the country, a little drive-in convenience store called Dairy Barn. Once in abundance throughout the island, they are sadly growing more scarce with each passing year and their extinction would appear immenent. But they can’t take the memories away. … read more
No discussion of Long Island’s music scene would be complete without mention of My Father’s Place, a little club located in Roslyn that was an epicenter of musical talent in the 70s. And though it was open for a mere 16 years and has long since dimmed its lights, it will always hold a fond place in the hearts of many a local music fan. … read more
If you have vague childhood memories of waking up to a singing frog, hippo and owl, don’t worry; you likely aren’t suffering from dementia. Rather, you are just one of many 1970s kids who remembers watching The New Zoo Review. Airing in syndication throughout the country, this popular children’s show is still fondly remembered by millions. … read more
If you spent your childhood on Long Island during those hot and humid summers, you are probably no stranger to an icy confection known as the Italian ice. Readily available from pizza parlors, ice cream trucks and supermarkets, Italian Ices came in a colorful assortment of flavors and provided much needed relief to kids and adults alike. … read more
Before the advent of electronic games, we actually had to use our imagination to entertain ourselves. And, if wordplay was your thing, you probably played a game called Mad Libs. Popular at parties, road trips or anywhere else where boredom reared its ugly head, this simple, and often hilarious, activity has remained popular for over fifty years. … read more
Find a bunch of New Yorkers waxing nostalgic over hamburgers from the good old days and you’re likely to hear Wetson’s enter the conversation. The restaurant’s history is brief, slayed mercilessly during the fast food wars of the 1970s. Still, amongst those who had the pleasure, it remains one of the most fondly remembered burger joints from the era. … read more
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