Wayback Wednesday: 1974

Wayback Wednesday: 1974

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Public Domain Pictures

The 1970s doesn’t feel like long ago until you do the math and discover that decade commenced over fifty years ago. I’m a child of the 70s and have enjoyed walking down Memory Lane while researching and writing Dial S for Second Chances, a story about high school sweethearts who reconnect at their 45th reunion.

Turbulence from the 60s carried over into the 70s as demonstrations continued about the Vietnam War, racial injustices, and women’s rights. Globally, there were lots of coups, civil wars, and political upheavals, some of which broke into armed conflict. However, the WWII post-war economic boom continued, giving people greater financial freedom. The Watergate scandal shocked the American nation and President Nixon resigned in disgrace.

Perhaps as a way to get the public’s minds off current events, 1974 filmmakers produced quite a few

comedies such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Front Page. Disaster films were also popular and that same year and audiences were reportedly traumatized by the “Sensurround” effects of Earthquake.

One-hit-wonder Bo Davison released “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero,” but many musical groups hit their stride in 1974 with such popular songs as “Already Gone” by the Eagles, “I Shot the Sheriff” by Eric Clapton, “I Love You” by Olivia Newton John, and “You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt.

Interestingly, 1974 also saw The Partridge Family and The Brady Bunch go off the air to be replaced by Happy Days with Richie Cunningham and The Fonz, and Little House on the Prairie. Both shows hearkened back to simpler times. James Garner continued his success in television with The Rockford Files and Angie Dickinson made a splash with Police Woman.

WikiImages

Several prominent figures passed away in 1974: the controversial pilot turned activist Charles Lindbergh, jazz pianist and band leader Duke Ellington, vocalist Cass Elliot of “The Mamas and the Papas,” Ed Sullivan whose television show was the longest-running variety show in US broadcasting history, and Jack Benny who rose from modest vaudeville success with his violin to worldwide fame on radio, television, and film.

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Dial S for Second Chances

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?

Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Reunion festivities include calling into to WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love with fake relationship problems. When both use their real situation, the stakes are raised higher than either imagined.

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