Flashback to 1972

[markr]

I wasn't sure whether to categorize this as off topic or a Kings Island topic-I decided to categorize it as the latter since it is sort of related to KI, ie what was happening in 1972, KI's opening year. Anyway, I thought it would be fun for us old geezers who were alive then to reminisce about what was happening in the world then in such areas as pop culture.

I remember that at the time of Ki's opening, the top movies were The Godfather, Cabaret and What's Up Doc? ( And this was also a time when such movies would play for many months in exclusive engagements at downtown movie theatres such as What's Up Doc's exclusive run at The Times Towne Cinema in downtown Cincinnati.) The top TV shows included the Saturday night line up of All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. ( And at that time there were just four television stations which included the three national networks of NBC, CBS, and ABC and the local UHF station of channel 19 in Cincinnati. ) And Saturday mornings still had those wonderful cartoons like The Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour. ( What happened to those wonderful Saturday cartoons?)

I am sure ohers in my age group such as Terpie will want to put in their two cents on this topic.

[standbyme]

I just wanted to say that I liked your post VERY much...I just can't think of anything to add.

[Guest KingsIslandPR]

Below are some happenings from the year Kings Island opened in 1972:

• Richard Nixon wins his re-election bid for the Presidency.
  
• Swimmer Mark Spitz wins seven gold medals amid terrorism at the Munich Olympics.
  
• Troop withdrawals and truce negotiations begin in Vietnam.
  
• Man continues to walk on the moon during Apollo moon flights numbers 16 & 17.
  
• The Cincinnati Reds win the National League Pennant but lose the World Series in seven games to the Oakland A's.
  
• Gasoline is $0.37 per gallon.
  
• The last passenger train leaves the historic Union Terminal in Cincinnati.
  
• The "Godfather" wins the Academy Award for best movie.
  
• Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" spends six weeks at number one on the pop charts.
  
• The Dallas Cowboys beat the Miami Dolphins 24-3 to win the Super Bowl.
  
• More people watch "All in the Family" on a weekly basis than any other television program.
  

[jcgoble3]

Thanks for the input, Don!

Gasoline is $0.37 per gallon.

Figure out a way to get it back to that price and I'll be able to double the number of trips I make to KI this year.

[markr]

Below are some happenings from the year Kings Island opened in 1972:

• Richard Nixon wins his re-election bid for the Presidency.
  
• Swimmer Mark Spitz wins seven gold medals amid terrorism at the Munich Olympics.
  
• Troop withdrawals and truce negotiations begin in Vietnam.
  
• Man continues to walk on the moon during Apollo moon flights numbers 16 & 17.
  
• The Cincinnati Reds win the National League Pennant but lose the World Series in seven games to the Oakland A's.
  
• Gasoline is $0.37 per gallon.
  
• The last passenger train leaves the historic Union Terminal in Cincinnati.
  
• The "Godfather" wins the Academy Award for best movie.
  
• Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" spends six weeks at number one on the pop charts.
  
• The Dallas Cowboys beat the Miami Dolphins 24-3 to win the Super Bowl.
  
• More people watch "All in the Family" on a weekly Sorrybasis than any other television program.
  

Sorry Don but have to correct you on one fact. The Godfather was released in 1972 but did not win Best Picture until the following year along with Marlon Brando for Best Actor for The Godfather and Liza Minnelli for Best Actress for Cabaret., ( remember, Oscars are awarded for movies in the prior calendar year.) The oscar winner for Best Picture in 1972 was the 1971 release The French Connection. The Best Actor winner was Gene Hackman for The French Connection and the Best Actress winner was Jane Fonda for Klute.

[KI-ORIG-EMP]

When Kings Island opened in 1972, I was a junior at Kings High School and I had a full head of red hair! Oh yea, I was first hired by Kings Island as a litter getter and it was my very first job!!

[Monroe]

( And at that time there were just four television stations which included the three national networks of NBC, CBS, and ABC and the local UHF station of channel 19 in Cincinnati. )

You forgot wcet the first licensed pbs station in the nation, and at the time (1972) had more viewers than wxix 19, and at some peak times, more that the local ABC affiliate wkrc 12.

[markr]

( And at that time there were just four television stations which included the three national networks of NBC, CBS, and ABC and the local UHF station of channel 19 in Cincinnati. )

You forgot wcet the first licensed pbs station in the nation, and at the time (1972) had more viewers than wxix 19, and at some peak times, more that the local ABC affiliate wkrc 12.

Sorry about that. Speaking of UHF, does anyone still remember if Larry Smith and His Puppets was still around in 1972? ( Battie Hattie from Cincinnati.)

[Monroe]

No problem Mark, and yes Larry Smith was around until around 1974 or 1975. I remember watching the show when I was laid up for a little while then.

[westcoaster]

Great thread, thanks for the informative, interesting thread!

[westcoaster]

72 the reds make it to the World series but lose to the a's also.

The union terminal thing interested me, as they kept trains in cincinnati at a new amtrack facility then moved back to union terminal

sometimes history does repeat itself!!!

[markr]

Great thread, thanks for the informative, interesting thread!

You're very welcome. I'm having such a blast reminiscing about that year when I was 11 years old and in the 5th grade.

[The Interpreter]

And the Terpster was hawking cheeseburgers, fish, french fries, fried chicken and roast beef from behind a stainless steel counter in front of a spherical glass bowl full of uncarbonated Orange Crush (often fermented) recirculating through a plastic three tier fountain.

Driving a huge, dilapidated '67 Ford LTD to haunted houses (tell me people don't change!), and plotting his escape from the small Kentucky city where he was born and raised.

Even then, his career interests were much the same as now....the restaurant industry, marketing, planning, writing, and interpreting. It was a very different world, then, though. A 20 minute state to state direct dialed weekend long distance call was promoted by Bell Telephone as $3 or less.

Operators were still common, and many people placed person to person calls (you didnt pay unless the operator reached the person you asked for, you didnt even have to have the phone number) and asked for a fake name. The operator would ask for that person, and, say, your parents would then know you made it back to college safely. If they slipped up and accepted the call, the charge was huge, with a three minute minimum, typically $4 or so. (minimum wage was $1.60).

911 didn't exist. In an emergency, you just dialed the Operator.

Most gas was sold at full service gas stations, nearly all of which had lube and light repair service. A full tank often got you a glass or plate or bowl.

Fast food included fresh cut fries (although McDonalds was switching to frozen), slaw made in the store, and very little pre-prepared items. Orders were taken on a pad with a pencil, manually added, only the total rung on the register, and orally called out to the kitchen. Cameras to observe employees were big, expensive and rare. Employee theft was far more common.

Driving was actually probably far more expensive than now. Yes, gas was 36.9 cents a gallon, but cars broke down frequently, flat tires were very common, tune-ups were required far more often, carburetors required far more maintenance and spark plugs fouled quickly on the leaded gas then used. Premium fuel was called Ethyl, from the company that made most of the lead additive.

The Racer was the biggest roller coaster I had ever seen, and I thought I'd never see one larger. Kings Island was brand new, no one knew its future. It was owned by a broadcasting company that many saw as on a par with Disney in many ways. The park was a gleaming showplace, and the entire region was very proud of it. It was a family attraction, with a balance of incredible entertainment produced at a near Broadway level, exquisite carefully prepared food, lush landscaping and oh, yes, rides--some themed but many not.

It was a different time, it was a simpler time.

And 40 years from now, someone will say the same of now.

The circle of life continues. My parents took me to Kings Island because they knew how strongly I was attracted to it and they wanted to enjoy a family experience. Today, thrills connect.

[jcgoble3]

Great post, Terpy! (I'd "like" it but I'm out of likes at the moment.)

[markr]

Was waiting for your two cents ( nickels?) on this subject, Terpy and, as usual, you did not disappoint. That was absolutely beautiful.