From Time: March 23, 1970, and Flickr

I’ve been watching the news on the swine flu outbreak originating from Mexico, and was surprised to learn that worries over the swine flu are not new here in the U.S.

Check out these public service announcements from 1976 (the second one especially is somewhat disturbing… can anyone say panic?):

Today I feel like celebrating a little girl power!  And what better way to do it then with this Enjoli perfume commercial from the 1970s?

On the one hand, the ad sings the praises of womanhood - as women increasingly began to enter the working world back in the 1970s they found themselves in the position of not only being wage earners but that of a wife and mother too who had to keep their households running.

But on the other hand, the commercial firmly plants women into stereotypical feminine roles - why doesn’t the husband do any of the cooking? The woman is not only working, but having to do all of the work around the house.

Regardless, the commercial is priceless and has perhaps the most (unintentially) hilarious lines in advertising history:  “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never never never let you forget you’re a man!  Cuz I’m a woman!”

Enjoy

Thanks to my friend Nicolle Moser for turning me on to this ad

I have a cold.  Bleh.

I feel like the guy in this commercial.

I found this picture of 1980s icon David Hasselhoff in a 2005 Australian Pepsi advertisement and I couldn’t resist sharing it.

Because who can resist the Hoff?  I know I can’t.

We’re not big sports fans here at The RollerBlog household.  We do enjoy baseball (well, specifically, we’re loyal Mariners fans) and RollerReggie likes to watch the occasional soccer game, but that’s about it.  We really don’t follow football, and the only Super Bowl game that I can recall watching took place three years ago when our own Seattle Seahawks were actually in the Super Bowl.

However, like most other households across the country, we’ll be tuning in to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Arizona Cardinals today in Super Bowl XLIII.  Why?  Because it’s a darn good excuse to eat nachos and chicken wings.  Because we’d like to see the Steelers go down after beating the Seawhawks three years ago.  And, perhaps most importantly, because we’ll get a chance to watch all of the Super Bowl ads.

Advertisements have been providing an entertaining diversion during the Super Bowl for years.  For a taste of the kinds of ads presented during the Super Bowl thirty years ago, check out the following advertisements from Super Bowl XIII in 1979:

Enjoy the game!

For your edification, I present an advertisement for Blue Jeans brand cologne, from the 1979 issue of Tiger Beat magazine:

What’s not to love about this advertisement? Seriously…

Image from here.

I was sad to learn that Ricardo Montalbán, who starred in films such as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan as well as the television show Fantasy Island, passed away yesterday.  He was also well known for a series of commercials from the 1970s for the Chrysler Cordoba, such as this one.

Farewell, Ricardo, you will be missed.

Today is a rather big day for me. It is the first day of my new job. After four years, I am moving to a new position within my company - new team, new building, new everything.

And so, the real question is, of course, what on earth should I wear?

I shall turn to the 1970s working woman for inspiration.

Images courtesy of the 1976 JC Penney’s Christmas Catalog

Polyester Knit Coordinates

The Luxurious Look and Feel of Suede -
With the Machine-Washable Convenience and Supple Softness
of a Polyester Knit!

Dyed-To-Match Separates -
Real Wardrobe Expanders!

My true source of seventies fashion inspiration:

I wish I owned satin nightwear of Arnel triacetate and nylon with elbow-length sleeves, self-tie sash, contrast trim, two waist pockets and an elastic waistband.  Le Sigh.

Courtesy of the 1979 Sears Wishbook.