Random childhood memories around the 1970's

Random childhood memories in and around the 1970’s.

take me back to the 70sSure, it was a time that will mostly be remembered for Vietnam, Watergate, playing in the streets, drinking for garden hoses and unlocked front doors. But, for those of us who grew up in the ’70’s it was the sweetest time to be alive. It was an innocent era where disco reigned supreme and nothing was more joyously terrifying than Jaws. The absolute best years to be a kid as we slid into the early 80’s with fanny packs and shoulder-pads.

Vibrating washing machines that would roll around, manual music speed selectors, soft drink vending based on honor systems, pet rocks, swim buoys that helped drown children, single use expensive flash bulbs, handmade Xmas decorations, mum applying mercurochrome ointment on everything, slime, mail order sea monkeys, mood rings, gerbil cages, ashtrays everywhere, rag drives, being smuggles into drive-in movie theatres under blankets or in the boot, sexual innuendo, EKKA showbags for 20 cents, boiling hot bum metal slides and so much more…

Do me a solid, take a chill pill, boogie down, sit on it and get the skinny… Here are just some of my childhood memories collected down under and in the USA. Cool beans. 10-4, good buddy, I’ll catch you on the flip-side.

Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 515 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 645Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 665Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 705 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 285Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 700 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 695Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 680 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 640 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 800 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 710 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 770 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 670 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 042 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 093 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 033 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 058Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 730Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 350 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 037 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 044Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 017 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 656Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 031 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 094 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 061 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 041 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 046 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 016 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 059 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 032 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 036 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 038 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 034 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 057 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 039Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 615Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 755 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 625 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 760 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 780 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 785 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 725 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 740Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 405 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 590 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 580Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 570 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 690 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 018 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 560Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 685Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 565 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 555 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 550 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 545 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 540 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 525 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 510 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 505 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 500 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 495 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 485 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 480 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 475Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 465 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 460 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 455 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 450 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 445 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 440 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 435 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 720 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 790 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 430 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 425Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 630 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 775 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 650 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 026Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 750 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 420 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 415 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 410 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 600 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 595 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 585 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 520 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 490Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 535 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 620 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 610 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 660 1Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 635 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 400Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 030Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 045 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 095 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 010 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 075 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 065 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 115 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 110 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 105 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 019Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 125 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 060 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 055 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 050 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 020 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 023 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 675Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 130 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 040 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 070 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 100 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 085 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 080 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 015 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 330Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 646 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 265 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 300 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 340 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 320 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 230 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 795Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 022Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 245 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 215 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 210 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 240Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 305 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 295 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 200 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 195 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 190 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 155Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 024Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 765Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 140 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 090 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 135 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 185 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 255 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 220 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 260 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 225 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 275 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 270 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 335 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 160 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 360 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 325 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 365 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 375 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 315 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 310 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 290 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 280 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 370 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 355 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 250 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 205 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 715 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 745 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 735Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 145  Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 165 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 235Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 120 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 345Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 035 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 025 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 175 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 170 Toby Simkin 70s 80s memories 655 1

If you recognize most of my childhood memories, you are as old as me.

Jaws, Star Wars, Grease, Mad Max, The French Connection, E.T.. Alien, Back To The Future, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Gallipoli, Carrie, Ghostbusters, The Exorcist, Beetlejuice, The Godfather and Die Hard were some of the most memorable movies in our lifetime.

On the idiot box, The Mary Tyler More Show, Charlies Angels, M*A*S*H, Laverne & Shirley, Get Smart, Dragnet, The Bob Newhart Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Dallas, Maude, The Love Boat, Happy Days, Bewitched, The Brady Bunch and Hogan’s Heroes got primetime accolades.

Some of the most well known TV & movie stars included Paul NewmanRobert RedfordClint EastwoodJohn WayneBurt ReynoldsAl Pacino, Lucille BallMel Gibson, Woody Allen, Jane FondaRichard Dreyfuss, Alan AldaGene Hackman, Eddie Murphy, Michael Douglas, Susan SarandonJack Nicholson, Goldie Hawn, Jodie FosterWalter Matthau, Robert DeNiro, Donald SutherlandBarbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Danny DeVito, Dan AykroydHarrison Ford and John Travolta.

In the 70’s and early 80’s we listened to 8-track tapes of Olivia Newton-John, Donna Summer and Marvin Gaye, while my jackaroo brother listed to Slim Dusty in his ute. Disco rose and with us on 33’s and 45’s with the sounds of ABBA, the Bee Gees and Donna Summer and migrated to pop on cassette with George Michael, Wham!, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Billy Joel. Artists like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Leonard Cohen told tales of restlessness while Don McLean‘s “American Pie” meant to eulogize Buddy Holly and the early years of rock ’n’ roll became a 70’s anthem. On the rock front, bands like the Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, Tears for Fears, A-ha, David Bowie, Phil Collins and Queen dominated airwaves. New Wave in the early 80’s entered the clubs with Culture Club, the EurythmicsDuran DuranDepeche Mode and Soft Cell.

I am clearly a product of my childhood memories… between children’s fags and “be like daddy” Camels, McDonalds & QANTAS ashtrays, Big Jim, Action Ken, Six Million Dollar Man and GI Joe dolls, kids gambling devices, mail order sea monkeys, or barrels of monkeys, Golden Gaytime lickables, Big Boy and STUD soft drink, pop top Coke, Big Mac’s in styrofoam, hundreds and thousands smothered sandwiches, ice cream delivered curbside, deep fried chips drenched in malt vinegar wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper, beer sponsored vehicle license plates and Culture Club.

It’s no wonder I became a chain smoking, fat, gambling & beer loving gay man.

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