I was born after the Bicentennial, but grew up in the 1990s when there was a wave of 70s nostalgia (Brady Bunch Movie, That 70s Show, reunion tours from Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, The BeeGees...). I was recently thinking about all of the Bicentennial merchandise I used to see at flea markets and antique stores as a kid and how it seemed like a HUGE celebration with lots of anticipation. Disney opened America Sings to commemorate the Bicentennial... in 1974! Here we are a week from the 250th and there seems to be little fanfare, beyond the contrived, forced, or partisan. The World Cup has given me a boost of optimism too, but it doesn't feel nearly as rooted as what I always imagined the patriotism of 1976 looked like.
Thanks, Heath. We are similar ages and I recall the exact same thing about the 70s nostalgia wave. There was so much stuff from 1976 in thrift stores up until very recently (I guess it’s finally aging out). I had some commentary on that but the piece was getting a bit unwieldily.
I agree that we are not getting back to those heights for this celebration. It is sad. But I could imagine how much sadder it would have been if there wasn’t a World Cup happening. Some of the images are already pretty pathetic (the Great American Fair). A long drop…
I was born after the Bicentennial, but grew up in the 1990s when there was a wave of 70s nostalgia (Brady Bunch Movie, That 70s Show, reunion tours from Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, The BeeGees...). I was recently thinking about all of the Bicentennial merchandise I used to see at flea markets and antique stores as a kid and how it seemed like a HUGE celebration with lots of anticipation. Disney opened America Sings to commemorate the Bicentennial... in 1974! Here we are a week from the 250th and there seems to be little fanfare, beyond the contrived, forced, or partisan. The World Cup has given me a boost of optimism too, but it doesn't feel nearly as rooted as what I always imagined the patriotism of 1976 looked like.
Thanks, Heath. We are similar ages and I recall the exact same thing about the 70s nostalgia wave. There was so much stuff from 1976 in thrift stores up until very recently (I guess it’s finally aging out). I had some commentary on that but the piece was getting a bit unwieldily.
I agree that we are not getting back to those heights for this celebration. It is sad. But I could imagine how much sadder it would have been if there wasn’t a World Cup happening. Some of the images are already pretty pathetic (the Great American Fair). A long drop…