Guest blog by Maria Spadafora
In the 2011 census I recorded “The Bionic Woman” as my religion. I even added, in brackets, “the 70s one” just to be clear. I have worshipped Jaime Sommers (as portrayed by Lindsay Wagner) for around 35 years, so I wasn’t just being facetious. You may have noticed that children of the 1970s are a peculiar breed. I used to think it was just me, but the internet – window on a twisted world – reassures me there are many thousands of other nostalgic weirdoes out there.
The Test Card Circle, for instance. A group of people who “…discovered they were not alone in enjoying the music played during the BBC and ITV Trade Test Transmissions.” For any youngsters not in the know, the Test Card was transmitted during programme breaks back in the day when we only had three telly channels and no 24 hour broadcasts. You can buy test card music on CD and watch transmissions on youtube, such is the demand for the static image of a young girl playing noughts and crosses with a stuffed clown to a varied and satisfyingly cheesy soundtrack.
And there’s the phenomenon of Blockaboots – fictional footwear designed by children as part of a spoof TV sketch, no doubt inspired by the now iconic platform shoes that typify the era. Most of us saw this at school when they wheeled out the telly for educational broadcasts after dinner. Sometimes we caught a bit of The Flumps, too, which really livened up the school day. In the days before the internet you’d say to people “Do you remember Blockaboots?” and they either exclaimed with enthusiasm and/or sang the theme music. Now they’re all going “OMG!” on Youtube, because, of course, it’s on there.
My own nostalgic yearnings are legion, taking in telly, music, radio, buildings, fonts, formats and footwear. I’ve never given it serious analysis, or sought therapy, but reckon my fetishes are in part due to the childhood I did have, but also the childhood I didn’t have but yearned for.
Which is where I introduce my collection. I never intended to collect toys and 70s TV memorabilia, but over the years have amassed enough for it to be considered such. Lack of money and strict gender divisions meant I never got have Starsky and Hutch or Six Million Dollar Man toys as a child – so I bought them when I grew up. Many items I found at car boot sales and in charity shops, collector magazines, and in more recent times I’ve won the odd ebay item, including Six Million Dollar Man stories on vinyl. I have books, jigsaws, dolls, board games, cars (including a very rare remote control Ford Gran Torino) and mint in box Bionic Woman outfits which, if they were life size, I would wear. Probably not to the shops, but I’d find some excuse. Sadly, these things have spent too much of their life boxed up rather than adored – until now…
‘Silver 70s’ is an exhibition at Leeds City Museum which recreates a home of the 1970s and looks at the decade through its popular culture. From the music of the Bay City Rollers, to Thatcher’s assent to power, the 1970s was a decade of local and national highs and lows. The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee and the nation covered their walls in bonkers wallpaper.
And from December 9th in the Contemporary Collector’s Cabinet (near the shop) you will find my collection of 1970s TV memorabilia – books, games, toys and even a Starsky and Hutch cap gun.
But you can’t play with it, sorry.
The Silver 70s exhibition opens on 27 January to 22 April 2012 at Leeds City Museum. You can upload your own family portraits to their Flickr group here: www.flickr.com/groups/silver70s/
And you can hear a Six Million Dollar Man Christmas story here on Buffet’s radio show via Bradford Community Broadcasting.