Washington in the '70s: Share Your Memories

I remember walking down to Pennsylvannia Ave to see the parade for the world champion Bullets. I had gone to my first Nats game in 1954 and first Skins game in 1956 at Griffith Stadium both with my Dad.

I didn't know how to act because in all my years none of the local teams had ever won a thing. I was just sorry my Dad wasn't there to see it.

As a Foreign Service Officer (now retired), I accompanied National Zoo Director Ted Reed to China and brought back to Pandas, for me, a fabulous opportunity. I would be happy to help WETA with memories, i.e. what animals did we give China in return and why? Who were Milton and Matilda? Why did Milton's cold prevent President Nixon from giving the Chinese our gift? Where did the Pandas get their first American meal? What was the overriding concern of Washington Zoo officials with their new pandas, beyond keeping them alive? Please let me know if I can help.

I remember going to see my very first go-go band in 1978. The name of the band was called Una-Funk, and they were performing outside in an old school yard. From that moment on, I was hooked on go-go, even at age 8. Other bands during the late 70's I had the pleasure of seeing back then were, Rare Essence, Experience Unlimited, Mass Extinction, and The Mighty Peacemakers. Those were the days, and those are just a handful of the bands that helped Chuck Brown make go-go music the driving force of the inner-city today.

One of my fondest memories of the 1970's was being in high school in Bethesda and growing up with WHFS radio. There has never been a station like it since...it was so wonderful to hear exciting, diverse music that no other station played.

The DJ's were like family to us. I remember Cerphe interviewing Bonnie Raitt, Frank Zappa, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat. And Damien interviewing the great Muddy Waters and so many other blues legends.

How about someone bringing back that kind of radio? Alot of us would listen, thanks!

I remember when President Nixon made a television address April 30, saying that he has ordered U.S. combat troops into part of Cambodia to destroy North Vietnamese "headquarters" and "sanctuaries." The action was intended to save U.S. lives, he insists, and is essential to his plan for "Vietnamizing" the war.Simply a great year to remember.

Can't wait for the airing. But there was no 1970s without EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE. Are you kidding? Ask the early programmers at WHUR, for goodness' sake.

From the group's '73ish concert at Cole Field House, when they opened for the Commodores, to their sellout lovefests at the Capital Centre, when the after-concert parties took place in the parking lot -- as every car radio blared EWF and no one was in a hurry to get home -- EWF and DC were in lock-step: super-hip, sophisticated, and fun!
I graduated high school in 1975. Our class theme was "Head to the Sky," inspired by EWF.

Illegally parking in front of the Warner Theater for a Little Feat concert - not a good idea. The music was unforgettable too!

I liked the Washington in the 60s show a lot, but I thought this really missed the mark. With all respect to the limits of an hour, I've got to say that as a white, middle-class, native Washingtonian, very little in this show had anything to do with my life.

For example, everyone I knew was watching Martin Agronsky, not Petey Greene. For drive-time morning radio, adults I knew where listening to Harden and Weaver on WMAL and news on WRC, not Donnie Simpson. Kids were listening to music on WPGC, WWDC, and WAVA, not WHUR. At night, I heard a lot more Felix Grant than "Quiet Storm."

I remember things like:
-- Clyde's being the cool Georgetown place to go (and the Starland Vocal band writing a song about the menu)
-- City pride about the Blackbyrds' hit Walking in Rhythm
-- Mazza Gallerie opening
-- Creature Feature on channel 20 (hosted by Captain 20)
-- The Biograph, the Key, the Outer Circle
-- The expensive collapse of Union Station
-- the decline and closing of Marshall Hall
-- eating at the few remaining Little Taverns
-- "Washington Shopper's Plate" credit cards that worked at Hecht's, Woodies, Raleighs, Garfinckel's, Landsburgh's, and a few others
-- eating giant sundaes at Farrell's and Swensen's
-- listening to, "Oh you always get your way at Ourisman Chevrolet!" in every other commercial
-- talk about planned communities like Columbia, Reston, and -- can you even believe it? -- Germantown
-- George Wallace getting shot in Laurel
-- the blizzard of 79
etc.

Dig a little deeper next time and don't rely so much on the news archive, Marion Barry-focused history of Washington. There's a lot more to the city than just the black history.

Can't believe you neglected to cover the still-unsolved disappearance of the Lyons sisters. For those of us who grew up in the 70s, it was haunting -- I have a friend whose mother STILL reminds her of that incident when she's going out alone.

I was born in 1965. I vaguely remember the '60s at all. As far as what I remember from the 1970s....

I remember being 5 years old in 1970, my 6-year old sister and I sticking to my mother like glue because we were outside and terrified by the cicadas that year.

In 1971 I remember being asked to read a book for some teachers. I had no problem reading it because I was at a good reading level. But what I remember most was the several teachers around me while I was reading. Even at that age, I knew they were fascinated that a kid my age could read so well.

I remember my aunt and uncle's wedding in 1972.

I saw Lyndon Johnson's funeral on TV in 1973. I remember TV shows like the Jacksons and Osmonds cartoons, HR Puffinstuff Rocky & Bullwinkle and Speed Racer.

I remember seeing Nixon's resignation speech on TV in 1974. I also recall looking out on the porch the next day and seeing the Post paper staring back up at me with the headline "Nixon Resigns." Incidentally, I grew up very near Walter Reed Hospital and it wasn't until a few years ago that I realized presidents from Johnson to Bush Sr. went right by my front door on the way to a checkup.

In 1975, I was in school and the teacher was telling us about the fall of Saigon. The atmosphere in the classroom that day felt like somebody died or something.

My family and I were down on the mall for the Bicentennial celebration in 1976. My class also visited the Air and Space museum that year shortly after it opened.

I remember seeing Star Wars at the Uptown Theatre in 1977 and Grease in 1978. By the way, I got into a big flame war with some people on imdb.com a couple of years ago because I SWORE when I saw the movie that year, the opening "crawl" began with "Episode IV: A New Hope." My fist thought was, "Did I miss something? I thought this was brand new!" Anyway, some people insisted the line was not in the original release and I didn't know what I was talking about. But I know what I saw.

I remember starting high school in 1979 and the last day of the year, being excited that the '70s were finally over. But were the '80s any better?

I wish WETA had been able to use songs from local musicians instead...The Nighthawks, Rootboy Slim, Grits, Small Talk, Fancy Colors, and the TONS AND TONS of masterful funk and soul that was everywhere.
DC had a very impressive funk and soul scene and that surely belongs in this film.

Jeff H
Walter Johnson HS 1975