BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of a Generation

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Quiz Show

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:35:00 +0000

Certainly television of the 1950s was the great informer and the ultimate entertainer of the era. But little did we know that TV was also the big lie. The late night quiz shows were usually on too late for baby boomers, but they certainly made an impression as every boomer has at least a vague recollection of the TV show "21." The rest is history. Listen to the iconic quiz show that was exposed as fraudulent by Congress not long after this broadcast. Unfortunately, you can only hear the proceedings. You will not be able to see the facial expressions, the wiping of the sweat off the brow and the rolling of eyes by contestants when they get tough questions. They pretty much pull it off - until the question about King Henry. That seems a stretch! Complete with commercials.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Halloween Spectacular Vol 1 - Sci-Fi

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:05:00 +0000

Alien Creatures,Giant Insects & Mad Scientists There is no question that the 1950s were a "golden age" for a lot of things. Baseball, TV, Rock & Roll...and Science Fiction. Herein you will hear clips from the 10 best science fiction films of the 1950s. You are welcome to argue the list. Sci-Fi films of the'50s preyed on three dominant fears of the era; The "alien-from-another-planet" theme was fueled by Roswell and the Cold War; "Giant insects" were nightmarish distortions of our fears that insects would deplete our food supply (hence the heavy use of DDT); And "Mad Scientists," although not a new theme, was refueled by a giant, decade-long leap in scientific research, not to mention the sudden popularity of Dr Spock and Sigmund Freud.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - "Sweet Tooth"

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Childhood obesity? Sugar high? Childhood osteoporosis? Huh? Why do so many young people today find it funny that their parents (boomers) always get excited and giddy when the topic of conversation turns to candy, the candy store and snacking? Baby boomers, then, felt entitled to eat every delicious item they could find in the candy store or at the soda fountain. No one worried about the harmful effects of sugar, food coloring and additives. Lay it on! "Don't spoil your dinner" was the only prohibition. At 5 cents an item it really wasn't a financial problem, either. A trip to the candy store - much simpler times! Candy bars, sodas, twinkies, chewing gum - they were icons of privilege and a world free of limitations or warnings. Enter at your own risk. These clips will probably have you taking that trip to the candy store. Just remember - things are a little different for us now!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Saucer Invasion

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:38:00 +0000

Saucer Invasion! Joe reflects on how the Roswell Incident of 1947 later influenced baby boomer culture----then treats listeners to an ear carnival of film clips, newscasts and interviews all dealing with the ufo phenomenon of the 1950s. Watch the skies! Keep watching the skies!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Joe Speaks

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:14:00 +0000

"Joe Speaks" - The creator of Boomerbyte podcasts steps out from behind the keyboards and dials and discusses his views of the baby boomer era and the inspired podcast as well as inviting listeners to email their recollections.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - LBJ

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:15:00 +0000

He came to power in 1963 as a result of a shocking, tragic assassination. He left power in 1968 amidst similar circumstances. In those five years, however, no President attempted more than LBJ except, perhaps, FDR and Abraham Lincoln. Although he lacked Kennedy’s charisma, he carried forth JFKs ideals by putting an end (at least legally) to discrimination and waging a war on poverty heretofore not seen. His Achilles heal, of course, was Viet Nam. His landslide victory over Goldwater in 1964 signaled to boomer teens that he would be THE man to confront the difficult issues of our time. And whether one agrees or not that he was successful or a good President, LBJ certainly was at the center of controversy during the height of the 60s. Caught between his own party’s left wing who wanted the U.S. out of Viet Nam altogether, and the right wing who wanted to use nuclear weapons and end the war, LBJ dropped out of a second elected term and called it quits.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - The Ads They Are 'A Changin'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:18:00 +0000

By the late 1960s it was more than clear that boomers were not going to repeat the sheltered, conservative lifestyles of their parents. Elvis, Rock&Roll and The Beatles saw to that! Madison Avenue adeptly picked up on notions and nuances of change in their young customers. Advertisements adroitly packaged our needs to be young, fresh and alive all into highly marketable products that appealed to our libidos. This mash-up of tv ads takes us from the 50s through the 60s and reflects the changes in our maturing boomer society. Do you know what's going on, Mr. Jones?

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - "Nukes On Main Street"

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:30:00 +0000

It was tough enough for baby boomers to be popular, make the cheerleading squad or get Betty Joe to say "yes" to the prom invite. Add to all this the fear of nuclear bombs and fallout raining on their front lawns!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Showman of Horror

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Horror film director William Castle didn't want his audiences to just watch his films. He wanted them to interact with them. He seemed to understand that horror film fans of the boomer type loved to be manipulated in that dark theater on a Saturday afternoon. He often joined audiences (on screen) by appearing at the beginning or ending of his films and serving up some sort of gimmick such as the Mr Sardonicus Mercy Cards handed out by the theater management before the film. His use of "Percepto" during The Tingler, where certain seats in the theater were equipped with vibrating devices so that viewers could feel their own fear was the kind of showmanship that just couldn't last - and so we honor and remember it here in "Showman Of Horror."

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - The ABCs of Marriage

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:31:00 +0000

The ABCs of Marriage - Listen in on this vintage instructional film about marriage. Two very well meaning teens consult a marriage counselor who pulls out all the tools of his graduate work;"psychological distance," "the boing effect" and "Cupid's List." There's even a happy ending!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Bedlam From Boomerville

Tue, 26 May 2009 04:44:00 +0000

The Cold War helped shape a world of "good guys" and "bad guys" for Boomer children in the '50s and 60s. Lines were well defined. One was either "good" or "bad." Not much nuance. Once again television was a perfect medium for this duality to play out. Science fiction films, westerns, detective shows delivered tons of villians to mistrust and/or despise. But it was professional wrestling that did the best job creating villians for us to hate. Consider: The Crusher, The Bruiser, Skull Murphy. They were all dead ringers for Khrushchev! Of course, they mostly won - to our dismay - but only to set up the occasional reversal where the good guy got even, restored order - and the world was once again safe.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - In Living Color

Fri, 01 May 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Remember when you went over to a friend's house on Sunday night to watch Bonanza---because they had color television? Boomers got "two for the price of one" when they witnessed, first, black and white TVs and then got the bonus of color later in the 1960s. This short episode should appeal to vintage tv lovers as well as technology geeks.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - TV Horror Hosts

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:52:00 +0000

A staple of boomer era television that lasted well into the 1980s was the Saturday night horror film. Boomers had been treated to a complete education of classic horror in the 1950s on those new magical boxes their parents bought and placed in the living room. The old Universal goodies, particularly, got a great workout. 1930s and 40s horror films were collecting dust on the shelves until television gave them new life. Horror became so popular that hundreds of local tv outlets created their own Saturday night horror venues hosted by a personality. Cool Ghouls, as they are now known. Budgets were low, the movies were often lower and moments of tongue in cheek comedy made them Saturday night favorites all across America.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Kids TV Shows

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:08:00 +0000

Get any group of boomers together and before long they will be recalling kid tv shows. It's trivia paradise! Some of the cartoon and tv live host shows herein are readily identified. Others are not. See if you can remember or guess them all.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - A Hard Road Recalled

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:03:00 +0000

"A Hard Road Recalled" The media often obscures some of the more difficult passages of the 1950s and 1960s. One of the unique aspects of the Baby Boomer era is its dual aura. On one side it was "Happy Days, Elvis, Malt Shops and Groovy Times," while on the other, the world often teetered on destruction and our nation was deeply troubled and divided. Putting together a short podcast that fully encompasses the Civil Rights Movement and how it profoundly shaded the lives of all growing baby boomers is nearly impossible. This is a mere "souvenir matchbook" or "ticket stub" recollection of those turbulent times. One thing is for sure. Baby Boomers entered a world that was deeply racially divided, lived to witness the excruciating pain of the subsequent violence and struggles---and lived to see a Black President take the oath of office on January 20, 2009.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Passion Pit

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:31:00 +0000

"Passion Pit" In the 1950s Boomer kids were gleefully carted to the drive-in movies by their parents. Little did anyone know this action was an early part of our sex education. In the 1960s, armed with car keys and a summer job's salary, teens flocked to the drive-in for....other reasons than watching the film. In fact, who really CARED what movie was on the screen? The windshield was far too foggy to tell. As we petted, a parade of blood thirsty queens, motorcycle maniacs, 3rd rate spies and shimmying Go-Go dancers all tried in vain to get our eyes on THEM...and off our dates. And what do Wendell Corey, Dennis Hopper, Jan Murray (of TVs Treasure Hunt), Diane McBain and Russ Tamblyn all have in common? They all appeared in the perfectly lurid and awful '60s films hereby presented. Time for a cheeseburger wrapped in tin foil!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Mersey, Mersey

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:21:00 +0000

MERSEY! MERSEY! While anyone can argue who was more influential in the music business - Elvis or The Beatles - there's no question the Beatles had a bigger influence on baby boomers. The oldest boomer was only 10 when Elvis graced our tv sets. But the Beatles arrived just as boomers were entering those crucial adolescent years when "finding oneself" was the biggest psycho-social-sexual challenge. Just listen to these girls talk about the Fab 4. You will hear obvious teenage giddiness, but if you listen carefully, you will also pick up subtle moments foreshadowing the blossoming and liberation of the baby boomer female. Romance and talk of marriage and settling down are prevalent. But listen early on to the response of the girl when asked if she's going to get into a nice pretty dress for a Beatles concert. Her response: "Nah - I'm going just like this (jeans and sweatshirt) because the Beatles really like casual clothes." There is definitely somethin' happening' here!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - "Number Please!"

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:11:00 +0000

"Number Please!" Do you remember as a kid inadvertently getting the operator on the telephone and going into a slight panic? She was the authoritative voice moving our phone conversations at ever faster lightning speeds (so say these clips). Upon listening to these tributes to telephone operators and the Bell System of the 1950s you will find it difficult not to chuckle (we promise) at how ridiculously slow and laborious it all was. Just ask Englewood, New Jersey! And what ever became of "BellBoy," the VHS cassette-sized device we were all going to carry around so as to hear a beep when someone called us at home? Or the card we were going to insert into our dial phones so that they would dial the number automatically. Never saw it! Did you? No matter - here's to those hard working, professional and sassy telephone operators we barely hear anymore! Get BoomerByte episodes on cd. Listen in your home stereo, car or boat. Email boomerbyte@gmail.com for details. Blog at www.boomerbyte.blogspot.com

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Spies Like Us

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:39:00 +0000

"Spies Like Us" The first baby boomers were barely in high school when, on May 1st, 1960 Francis Gary Powers was caught spying on the Soviet Union in what is widely known as the U-2 Incident. Khrushchev pounced on the event just days before a world summit at the Kremlin pronouncing the United States aggressors in the Cold War. Eisenhower responded saying first that Powers was not spying but then, when evidence surfaced otherwise, said that spying has been nothing new. Still, the Soviets seemed to grab the momentum putting the U.S. back on its heels. Two and one half years later our spying paid off in the Cuban Missile Crisis providing JFK with a needed comeback following the Bay of Pigs debacle and a last hurrah for an old warrior - Adlai Stevenson who addressed the Soviet ambassador at the U.N. with his famous "I am prepared to wait until Hell freezes over for your answer" quip. In this segment listen to JFK's chilling address to the nation in October of 1962 that prompted this boomer to ask his mother, "will there be a nuclear war?" (I don't remember her response!) BLOG AT http://boomerbyte.blogspot.com/ Get BoomerByte episodes burned on a cd for $4.95 per episode plus $3.50 shipping and handling per cd. Email boomerbyte@gmail.com for further info.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Christmas Holiday Episode

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:35:00 +0000

"A Christmas TV Extravaganza" Enough said! We survived the atomic hysteria and we remember more television than we care to admit. So, as a way to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, BoomerByte presents a dazzling mashup of yesteryear. No need to think - just sit back and enjoy the ride. BLOG AT http://boomerbyte.blogspot.com/ Get BoomerByte episodes burned on a cd for $4.95 per episode plus $3.50 shipping and handling per cd. Email boomerbyte@gmail.com for further info.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - A Day Called "X"

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:39:00 +0000

"One Half Hour Of Mid-50s TV" Not to belabor the nuclear hysteria of the last episode,"Holy Nukes," this edition of BoomerByte is a perfect pairing for that show. In the mid-1950s CBS Television broadcast a half hour special entitled "A Day Called X." It attempted to illustrate how Portland, Oregon would respond to a nuclear attack. It may well be the first televison show of its kind, eclipsing the 1980s TV production of "The Day After." Introduced by actor Glen Ford, this now-public domain show was produced in coordination with the nation's Civil Defense Office and richly illustrates how early television was often used for government purposes as well as entertainment and pitching products. A few vintage ads have been thrown in to create the original ambience.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Holy Nukes!

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:37:00 +0000

"Holy Nukes!" As many baby boomers were growing up in what seemed to be a utopia of security and protection, our government was playing with a new toy almost with the fascination of a kid. Seems it wasn't enough to obliterate Hiroshima and Nagasaki. No, Uncle Sam wanted to test atom bombs to see what they could really do! Nevada or New Mexico seemed like good enough sites. Why not? And don't worry - as these sound bytes readily attest - our military, the Atomic Energy Commission and our national Civil Defense System had it ALL figured out. With the assured swagger of a chemistry teacher explaining to students how, say, oxygen combines with hydrogen to make water, we were all "assured" that nothing could go wrong, a simple set of goggles would protect our eyes and the dangers of fallout were greatly exaggerated! In hindsight, the "enemy" may well have been our own government until things got under control. BLOG AT http://boomerbyte.blogspot.com/ Get BoomerByte episodes burned on a cd for $4.95 per episode plus $3.50 shipping and handling per cd. Email boomerbyte@gmail.com for further info.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Sex Education

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Face it, in the 1950s and early 60s girls were far better prepared in their sexual education than boys. Might this be because girls tended to stay around the house more, cook fudge with Mom and be much more available for those important "woman to girl talks?" Meanwhile, Junior was too busy being a boy playing cowboys & Indians, or baseball. Dad never really got around to that sensitive issue! Oh well. Instructional films to the rescue! In the first clip we hear how young boys are taught how "everything works" by a manly coach in a gym setting sitting on bleachers. That's right - treat em like men! No nonsense stuff. "We can take it!" Meanwhile, the girls are treated to a more homey educational setting. Finally we see how, in this era, good always won over evil. Given a shot to be all alone in a house our dating couple----decides NOT to "do it!" Sometimes graphic but always tastefully done!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Election Returns 1960

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:46:00 +0000

ELECTION NIGHT 1960 featured the RCA 501 computer with the ability to "do the work of 60,000 clerks." In highlights note the outdated reference to African-Americans as "Negroes," Nixon's cleverly disguised concession speech at 3 a.m. eastern time and JFK's low key victory statement from Hyannisport, MA at 10 am the following morning.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - American Roadster

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:46:00 +0000

"AMERICAN ROADSTER" Many boomers were raised on a house built on developed farmland. As the suburbs grew, cars became important possessions. With salaries going higher, more leisure time and a car in the driveway boomer families took to the road in droves. First, check out the highly subliminal "sex sells" car ad from 1950. Bet you won't be able to tell the difference between the car and the female models when "smooth lines and contours" are discussed! Then, let's hit the drive-in movies for awhile! Finally, with the highly successful Disneyland pulling tourists from all over America, we get a glimpse of the east coast's attempt to duplicate Walt's concept - FREEDOMLAND! Drive Safely!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - The Tube

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:41:00 +0000

Every BabyBoomer might want to think, just for a moment, how life would have turned out without television. It's an impossible thought. We were the first generation raised on the picture tube and no other technological invention or development influenced us more. These early BoomerBytes give a good glimpse of our nation's mentality once television crossed the threshold of our front doors and changed our lives (for better or worse) forever. At this time there seemed to be no end to the possibilities of what this square box could do for us. Some came true. Some came and went. But a singing tv salesman breaking into song when a pretty female customer enters the shop is something we will never see again! And, oh the technology!

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - By The Book

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:21:00 +0000

Two of every three mothers read most or all of Dr. Spock's now famous child-raising books and companies like Coronet Films churned out hundreds of instructional and how-to productions shown nationwide in school assemblies and workplaces. As targets of these efforts we were instructed on how to do everything but breathe. Posture, eating habits, manners, resolving conflicts, what to do on a date, thinking of others, how to be popular and avoiding strangers were just a few of them. Baby Boomers were probably the most intensively raised children in the history of our nation. In this installment kids learn that wasting their time might make them losers and adults grapple with the real meaning of a coffee break! Contact: boomerbyte@gmail.com

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Our Fascination With Outer Space

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:18:00 +0000

"Our Fascination With Outer Space." What DIDN'T come from outer space in the 1950s? - Teenagers, commies, queens, aliens, saucermen. In spite of ALL those obstacles JFK spurred us on to the far beyond. (Visit my favorite podcast: B Movie-cast)

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - Election 1960

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:45:00 +0000

As Baby Boomers hit junior high school and beyond, John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon fight for the chance to lead the nation into the 1960s. Who could have imagined what a tumultuous decade it would be? Hear nomination speeches, campaign ads, stumping on the campaign trail and events leading up to the first televised Presidential debate.

BoomerByte - The Soundtrack of A Generation - I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Communism move over! A new problem to deal with. Juvenile Delinquency. How to tackle it? Schools roll out an army of instructional films that teach kids how to be good citizens, behave on a date, follow rules and get along with everyone. Better yet, hook 'em up to a polygraph and teach them about emotions! Unfortunately kids were left with the choice of either being a juvenile delinquent or a homogenized square!