Category: 1980’s

Jeep Mail Trucks

The Jeep, after proving itself as a reliable, go anywhere vehicle during World War II, the United States Postal Service used the Jeep CJ-3A two wheel drive Jeep Dispatcher from 1955 through 1964 and the DJ5 model which had a 4 wheel drive option. The last Jeep used was a Jeep Cherokee 4×4 in 2001.

Many of us remember the iconic red, white, and blue paint scheme for the carrier trucks and mailboxes. I remember someone saying the truck went from being primarily white and the mailboxes going to all blue as a cost saving measure since they only have to stock one color to paint them. However, I have not been able to confirm this at this writing. It was probably something I heard on the news.

The post office then switched to the Grumman LLV (Long Life Vehicles) trucks, these are the truck we see on the road at this writing (2021). It’s the same Northrop Grumman Corporation that manufactured the F-14 and F-18 fighter aircraft. These vehicles are coming to an end of their life cycle. There are many companies vying to replace the Grumman’s, many companies from overseas. Hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles are being considered. My mail carrier just started driving a white Dodge Ram van with a USPS sticker on the front doors.

Julie Newmar- Then and Now

Born Julia Chalene Newmeyer we know her better as Catwoman in the Batman television series. She stared in 12 episodes. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Newmar appeared in several low-budget films. She also guest-starred on TV shows including The Love Boat, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Hart to Hart, CHiPs and Fantasy Island. She was seen in George Michael’s video clip Too Funky in 1992 as well as appearing as herself in a 1996 episode of Melrose Place. A legal altercation with her neighbor, Jim Belushi, ended amicably with an invitation to co-star with him on his sitcom According to Jim in an episode that poked fun at the feud. Not too bad for being 75 years old!

Milk And Cereal

This is sort of a history of cereals we enjoyed as kids. Cereal actually started as a granola style concoction in the 1800’s that needed to be soaked in liquid to soften it up. Water made it soggy but the milk did the trick!

So which was your favorite as a kid? How about now as an adult? My all-time favorite is probably Lucky Charms. I also like Count Chocula from time to time. Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, Wheaties have stood the test of time unlike fad cereals like Mr. T and CP3Os . But what about Crispy Critters? Wow, think about that!

https://www.theretrosite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Milkand-Cereal-1.mp4

Flo: A Sitcom Spinoff Disaster

The popular CBS sitcom Alice, which ran from 1976 to 1985, was loosely based on the successful 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The plot had recently widowed Alice Hyatt (played by Linda Lavin) taking a waitress job in Mel’s Diner, a Phoenix eatery, to make ends meet. One of her waitress colleagues was feisty Florence (Flo) Castleberry played by Polly Holliday. The character became so popular that CBS launched a sitcom focusing on Flo. The premise of the spinoff was that Flo had moved back home to Cowtown, Texas to assume the management of a rundown roadhouse which she re-christened Flo’s Yellow Rose. As a mid-season replacement, Flo aired on Monday nights in March and April 1980 and got as high as number seven in the Neilsen ratings. However, when Flo returned in the fall of 1980 its time slot was moved several times. Ratings tanked and it was gone after a total of 29 episodes. The Flo character never returned to Alice (with the exception of old clips in the series finale). Here is the opening montage of Flo.

Lorraine Warren Interview Part 1

Both videos were recorded on October 29, 2009 at their home in Monroe – Stepney home. I don’t know why she had a WV pillow behind her.

Since 1952 the Warrens have been the directors of the New England Society for Psychic Research and they have investigated over 4,000 hauntings. Here is a detailed early history of how they met. Here is Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DJeUcyS82g

Lorrain Interview Part 2

Ed and Lorraine Warren ghost hunters always called Connecticut home. I had the privileged of interviewing Lorraine on October 29, 2009 and posted it right away. I forgot about Part 2 but many have asked for it so here it is. Part 1 can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow2RgO30lPk

When we left off at the early years interview Ed was in the north Atlantic when the US Navy ship he was onboard collided with another ship and Ed’s strong ability to swim helped save a shipmate who did not know how to swim. Lorraine’s had appendix ruptured and doctors were afraid to operate. In Part 2 we pick up with Ed and Lorraine’s marriage and how they became know as “Artists on the Hill” in Stepney Village in Monroe, Connecticut way before their ghost-busting days.

I Wish I Could Go Back To The Future For This Sale!

Early in 1982 Bank of America seized 1,400 DeLorean DMC-12’s because John DeLorean’s company failed to make payments on a loan. If you recall, John DeLorean was charged with cocaine trafficking DeLorean attempted to sell 220 pounds of cocaine worth about $24 million back then. DeLorean was found not guilty due to police entrapment.

Enter Sol A. Shenk, a Russian immigrant to the United States. He started Consolidated International in 1967 selling closeout and overstocked auto parts. Shenk later started a consumer Consolidated Stores which you may recognize his stores like Big Lots and Odd Lots. Shenk was the only distributor of the DeLorean DMC-12’s and parts. Although he had the right to continue manufacturing the car it was determined that the car could not be sold for a profit. He only produced about 100 cars.

John DeLorean managed the development of such muscle cars like the Pontiac GTO muscle car, the Pontiac Firebird, Chevrolet Vega, and the Pontiac Grand Prix. The DeLorean Motors downturn was due to cost overruns, lack of demand and unfavorable exchange rates as the car was manufactured in Ireland. Sammy Davis Jr. and Johnny Carson were initial investors in the company. To this day I remember Johnny Carson said in his monologue on The Tonight Show that the rebate was in the trunk of the DeLorean after DeLorean’s cocaine arrest.

10cc – It Doesn’t Matter At All – non-charted promo single of 1980

It Does not Matter at All is a 10cc single . It comes from their album Look Hear? .

The single is about a love, to which everyone seems to have comment; the singer continues. The picture with B-side From Rochdale to Ocho Rios was a flop. It did not make good sales figures anywhere.

Musicians
Eric Stewart – vocals, electric guitar , backing vocals
Graham Gouldman – bass guitar, acoustic guitar
Rick Fenn – electric guitar, background vocals
Duncan Mackay – Yamaha CS80 , electric piano
Stuart Tosh – percussion , background vocals
Paul Burgess – percussion

https://www.theretrosite.com/uploads/videos/951121e4.mp4
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