DAILY DIRT: Was 1975 really a half-century ago?

Daily Dirt for Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025

Bruce Springsteen fans have no trouble remembering the importance of ’75 … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,171 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Does anything about 50 years ago ring a bell?

• The year was 1975 — a half century ago — and here are a few things that might stir your memory:
• Some of the famous people of the future who were born that year included: Tiger Woods, Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, 50 Cent, Cole Hauser (for all you “Yellowstone” fans) and Johnny Galecki. (I know, I know, you might not have felt old when you started reading this, but now you do.)
• Bruce Springsteen released his third album, “Born to Run,” and pop culture has never been the same.
• Sony introduced videotapes and Matsushita (which later became Panasonic) introduced VHS. If you have never tried to explain that era to teenage grandkids, let me give you some advice: Don’t.
• The Cincinnati Reds beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 in the World Series. That was the world Series that featured the famous shot of Boston’s Carlton Fisk trying to push a potential home-run ball fair with his arms while starting toward first base.
• Some of the most famous slang from that period included “Right on!” “Far out!” “Cool!” and “Dream on!”
• Some of the movies that drew us to the theater (yes, we actually went to the theaters in those days) included “Jaws,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Shampoo” and “The Return of the Pink Panther”.
• A gallon of gas cost 44 cents. (Did that mean in West Quincy it would have been about 19 cents?)
• Gerald Ford was president of the United States, not to mention a popular target of the “Saturday Night Live” comedians.
• Speaking of “Saturday Night Live” the program debuted as “Saturday Night” in 1975.
• In style for men were long sideburns, Afros, mullets and showcasing their chest hair. In style for women were platform shoes and Farrah Fawcett hair.
• Personally, back in ’75 I was paying $125 a month rent, made about $150 a week and felt like the richest man in the world and was enjoying my first colored television set. Life was good, except for the fact my Cleveland Indians were in the midst of one of their terrible decades.

2. Did you know (Part 244)

• That Montpelier in Vermont is the only U.S. state capital that does not have a McDonald’s.
• That Maine produces 90 percent of the nation’s toothpicks.
• That Frosted Mini Wheats’ latest flavor addition is Cocoa.
• That Athens, Berlin, Cairo, Calcutta, Geneva and Shanghai are all cities in … (drum roll, please) West Virginia.
• That the Pentagon is the second-largest office building in the world. (The largest is The Surat Diamond Bourse in Surat, Gujarat, India.)

3. Here are some medal-worthy items you need to mark down so you don’t forget. You can thank me later.

Gold medal: Wendy’s is coming out with a new Thin Mints Frosty in February. Be still, my beating heart.

Silver medal: The return of the McDonald’s Strawberry Cream Pies is upon us and provides a legit reason to celebrate. Not as much as we celebrated that Ohio State football win Friday night, but a celebration nonetheless.

Bronze medal: Taco Bell’s new Steak Garlic Nacho Fries will be going public later this week. Featured is a new Jalapeno Garlic ranch sauce.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – Here’s my picks for today’s NFL playoff games:

• Buffalo 37, Denver 14: This one will be over early.
• Philadelphia 27, Green Bay 21: This matchup will likely be the game of the day.
• Tampa Bay 35, Washington 17: Baker Mayfield is on a roll. Just get out of his way.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He’s taking the over in all three games as well.