Funny Pages
In June 1978, funny page connoisseurs were introduced to this lasagna-loving, Monday-hating feline.
Who is Garfield? The Jim Davis creation is now a successful franchise that has been adapted to the screen, made into toys, and more.
Talk about foreshadowing; one of her ominous early lines in The Shining was “Wasn’t it around here that the Donner Party got snowbound?”
Who is Shelley Duvall? Her role as Wendy Torrance is one of her most iconic, though the stress of the role is said to have taken a big toll on the actress.
For generations, this flower-named food brand has been making breakfast products, such as its 1975 granola breakfast bar, one of the first of its kind.
What is Carnation? Now known for its powdered “instant breakfast” drink mixes, the brand has been innovating breakfast for over 50 years.
He-Man, Barbie, and other popular toys
What is Mattel? In the ’80s and ’90s, Mattel captured the imaginations of children (and the wallets of their parents) with products like the Barbie DreamHouse.
The Bucket family are the stars of this story, first published in 1964 and adapted to the big screen (under a slightly different name) in 1971.
What is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Author Roald Dahl’s sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, was published in 1972.
This producer’s so-called sitcom empire began in the ’70s with All in the Family and spinoff show Good Times.
Who is Norman Lear? Over a long career, he wrote and produced more than 100 TV shows.
They are the boy-and-cat comic duo created in 1985 by Bill Watterson.
Who are Calvin and Hobbes? In the inaugural strip, mischievous Calvin uses a tuna fish sandwich to snare Hobbes the stuffed tiger.
One of Carrie Fisher’s most iconic lines as this character was “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
Who is Princess Leia? Fisher reprised her beloved role in the rebooted Star Wars movies, including 2017’s The Last Jedi.
Dinner party guests often ate this type of “salad” for dessert, but don’t be fooled by the green hue—it’s largely made from pudding, whipped cream, and canned fruit.
What is Watergate salad? Including a pistachio pudding mix, crushed pineapple, chopped nuts, whipped topping, and marshmallows, it may have been inspired by the similar Watergate cake.
he ’90s fashion brand known for wraparound sunglasses
What is Oakley? These cool shades went right along with the 1990s’ sporty style.
This Alex Haley epic is perhaps the quintessential story of family, tracing the Kinte and Haley line from West African origins.
What is Roots (The Saga of an American Family)? The novel was adapted into a highly acclaimed miniseries.
In 1976, this sitcom’s theme song by John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful reached number one on the Billboard charts. Wonder how Vinnie Barbarino felt about that?
What is Welcome Back, Kotter? It was the first TV theme with lyrics to reach the top Billboard ranking.
Making her debut in 1976, she is the star of a comic strip series about a single working woman navigating her work, love, and family lives.
Who is Cathy? Created by Cathy Guisewite, the comic strip ran for 34 years and followed a single working woman dealing with work, relationships, family, and everyday life.
This screen legend, speaking as Mabel Longhetti in A Woman Under the Influence, says, “All of a sudden, I miss everyone.”
Who is Gena Rowlands? The film has been hailed for its nuanced portrayal of mental illness and its emotional realism.
This ’80s food word is exactly what it sounds like: three types of poultry nestled in a—shall we say—unique formation.
What is a turducken? The name comes from its component parts: a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken.
Women’s products, including the Charlie perfume line
What is Revlon? The 1970s saw the introduction of this popular fragrance line, which was marketed to the modern, independent working woman.
This “king of horror” must be proud; his wife, Tabitha, and their son Joe are both published authors.
Who is Stephen King? Tabitha publishes novels and poetry, while son Joe (writing as Joe Hill) writes horror and fantasy books.
Premiering on September 19, 1970, this show about a working woman explored topics like the wage gap, which the main character, Mary, confronts as unfair.
What is The Mary Tyler Moore Show? The program, like much marketing to women in the ’70s, wanted to portray a strong working woman.
Fans of ’80s office humor will know the name of this Scott Adams strip about a white-collar office worker.
What is Dilbert? The strip is so popular it even inspired a video game.
In a role opposite her father, she speaks of reconciliation: “It just seems like we’ve been mad at each other for so long.” Norman Thayer’s humorous reply? “I didn’t think we were mad; I just thought we didn’t like each other.”
Who is Jane Fonda? The touching family film On Golden Pond was shot at Squam Lake, New Hampshire.
This showstopping dessert named for a chilly American state was popular in the ’70s, despite its notoriously finicky construction of ice cream, cake, and meringue.
What is baked Alaska? The treat was invented in New York in 1867, honoring the United States’ purchase of Alaska.
Walkman cassette players, CD players, and Watchman portable TVs
What is Sony? The tech giant gained massive popularity in the ’80s for its portable music players, which were said not to skip when one was walking.
The Dead family is at the center of Song of Solomon, one of her most popular novels.
Who is Toni Morrison? The 1977 novel is acclaimed for tackling tough issues and helping reclaim Black history.
In 1977, a new TV trope was born when Fonzie literally does this, now shorthand for a show’s drop in quality.
What is jump the shark? Now, “jumping the shark” refers to a show employing gimmicky tactics to win back viewers after declining quality.
He is the creator known for The Far Side.
Who is Gary Larson? Larson’s single-panel funnies use surreal humor and anthropomorphized animals to remark on life.
Playing expectant mother Rosemary, some of her most iconic lines include the (accurate) “Witches… all of them witches!”
Who is Mia Farrow? Her performance in Rosemary’s Baby became one of her best-known film roles.
Popular ’70s dessert “Robert Redford cake” contains chocolate, cream cheese, whipped cream, and a crust made with these nuts.
What are pecans? Various magazines capitalized on the food trend by adding their own spin, such as chopped candy bars in the cake mix.
Famously “unbreakable” flip cell phones, equipped with the popular “Snake” game
What is Nokia? Affectionately known as the “brick,” the Nokia flip phones were virtually indestructible.
In this Mildred Taylor novel, the Logan family faces injustice while raising their children in Mississippi in the segregated South.
What is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry? The novel is a popular choice for school reading lists and has been for generations.
In a 1975 episode of M*A*S*H, this colonel dies off-screen when his plane is shot down.
Who is Lieutenant Colonel (Henry) Blake? In this final episode of season three, it is Radar who reports the death to the rest of the hospital staff, in a dramatic moment.
Comic strips directed at older audiences include this Garry Trudeau satire, which often features political and military themes.
What is Doonesbury? The strip was the first daily comic to win a Pulitzer and has its origins in the early 1970s.
Jessica Lange’s Dwan says to this title character: “What are you waiting for? You wanna eat me? Then go ahead! Do it! Go ahead and eat me! Go ahead! Choke on me!”
Who is King Kong? Did you know that the shots of King Kong lifting Lange were shot using hydraulic gorilla arms weighing over 1,500 pounds each?
This company introduced its popular Jelly Belly candy line in 1976.
What is Goelitz? The original Jelly Bellies came in eight flavors, including licorice and cherry.
Lip Smackers, popular lip balms in fruity and soda flavors
What is Bonne Bell? The original lip balm came in three flavors in 1973: strawberry, lemon, and green apple. Dr. Pepper is now a popular flavor as well.
The title of Jeanette Winterson’s 1985 semi-autobiography about the Bradshaw family declares that these “are not the only fruit.”
What are oranges? The novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit covers a Pentecostal family in northern England navigating the coming out of an adoptive child.
This show dedicated a 1980 episode to the real-life Who concert stampede, showing how sitcoms could tackle real issues.
What is WKRP in Cincinnati? This show and others helped pave the way for sitcoms to include both comedy and current events.