The Long Seventies Podcast
A biweekly history podcast focusing on America between 1968 and 1984.
Wed, April 02, 2025
Gabriel Kennedy Interview on Robert Anton Wilson Part Two
We continue our discussion with author and Robert Anton Wilson biographer Gabriel Kennedy, this time focusing specifically on the Long Seventies period of Wilson's life.
Mon, February 03, 2025
Interview w/ John Stevenson: Barbadian Spouge & Afrobeat
We interview music journalist and writer John Stevenson about two of the Long 70s most interesting musical genres -- Barbadian Spouge and Afrobeat.
Sun, January 12, 2025
Interview: Gabriel Kennedy author of "Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson"
We interview Gabriel Kennedy, author of the deeply researched and definitive #RAW biography "Chapel Perilous: The Life & Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson." Gabriel Kennedy's Website Buy the book on Lulu Buy the book on Amazon Gabriel Kennedy AKA Prop Anon's Substack
Sat, December 14, 2024
Fear City: The Tom Berenger Movie not the War on the Mafia
We discuss (in a short episode) the 1984 movie Fear City, starring Tom Berenger at his scowling best.
Fri, November 15, 2024
Andrew Nette Interview: Revolution in 35mm
We interview editor and author Andrew Nette about his new book, co-edited with Samm Deighan, “Revolution in 35mm: Political Violence and Resistance in Cinema from the Arthouse to the Grindhouse, 1960–1990” You can buy the book at PM Press: https://pmpress.org/ index.php?l=product_detail&p= 1656 Amazon: https://www.amazon. com/Revolution-35mm-Political- Resistance-Grindhouse-ebook/ dp/B0CRNHVK68 Andrew's Substack newsletter: https:// andrewnette.substack.com/ X: @Pulpcurry Bluesky: @pulpcurry.bsky. social Instagram: @pulpcurry Letterboxd: https:// letterboxd.com/AndrewNette/
Sun, November 03, 2024
Psychotronic Films
We discuss Psychotronic Films, a wild genre blend of low-budget exploitation films almost universally panned by critics but loved by fans.
Tue, October 15, 2024
The Phoenix Program: Stage Two
We talk about the phoenix program some more.
Sat, September 14, 2024
Dolemite (1975): Movie Magic and Mayhem
We discuss Dolemite (1975), the first of blaxploitation auteur and stand-up comedian Rudy Ray Moore's brilliant two year, four film run of seventies classics.
Sun, September 01, 2024
The Phoenix Program: Stage One
We start a planned trilogy of episodes on the secret Vietnam-era Phoenix Program, nominally a joint Military and Intelligence pacification and assassination program aimed at the Vietcong, but in reality a sweeping nation-building enterprise.
Thu, August 15, 2024
Zardoz (1974): The Saga of the Red Diaper
We discuss John Boorman's 1974 magnum opus Zardoz, starring Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling. It's a whirlwind of ideas and visual delights. Connery is the chosen one, a Mega-Connery in a post-apocalyptic world waiting for him to arrive and tear the place down.
Thu, August 01, 2024
Colin Babb Interview: Author of 1973 and Me
We interview author, BBC broadcaster and journalist Colin Babb and discuss his book "1973 and Me: The England v West Indies Test Series and a Memorable Childhood Year." Join us for a fascinating interview on Cricket, culture, British and American sports and why the year 1973 inspired Colin to write this very personal book.
Mon, July 15, 2024
Jerry Barmash Interview -- Here Now the News: An Inside Scoop into New York's Best-Loved Anchors
We're joined by author, veteran broadcast journalist, Patch.com journalist and podcaster Jerry Barmash to talk about his recent book "Here Now the News: An Inside Scoop into New York's Best-Loved Anchors." Join us as we explore the world of 70s New York City news anchors.
Mon, July 01, 2024
Jared Stearns Interview: Pure: The Sexual Revolutions of Marilyn Chambers
We welcome author and collector Jared Stearns to the show to discuss his book “Pure: The Sexual Revolutions of Marilyn Chambers. This is a unique exploration of one of the early adult film industries biggest stars and her wild life.
Sat, June 15, 2024
Spectre (1977): Rock Me Asmodeus
We discuss Gene Roddenberry's 1977 television pilot "Spectre" about an Occult Detective (Robert Culp) and his rational-minded medical doctor sidekick/partner (Gig Young). Sound familiar? We're looking at you, X-Files. The duo do detective things and battle an ancient Mesopotamian demon.
Sat, June 01, 2024
Aaron Leonard Interview: Meltdown Expected
We interview esteemed author and historian Aaron Leonard and pick his brain about his new book "Meltdown Expected: Crisis, Disorder, and Upheaval at the end of the 1970s." The title really says it all.
Sun, May 19, 2024
Capricorn One: How to Fake a Moon Landing in Six Easy Steps
We discuss the 1978 film Capricorn One, conspiracy theories, how the government keeps secrets and how to fake a moon landing in six easy steps.
Mon, May 06, 2024
Me and the Orgone by Orson Bean
We discuss the 1971 autobiography "Me and the Orgone: The True Story of One Man's Sexual Awakening" by actor Orson Bean. It's a fun journey through the therapeutic methods of Wilhelm Reich and its associated offshoots in the Wellness Movement.
Mon, April 15, 2024
The Gauntlet with Toby Roan
We're joined by author and film connoisseur Toby Roan to talk about his book "Another Run Through The Gauntlet" and the Clint Eastwood film The Gauntlet. It's one of Eastwood's most underappreciated (yet over the top) films and Toby knows it inside and out. Another Run Through The Gauntlet by Toby Roan on Amazon Toby's Blog 50 Westerns From The 50s Toby's Blog The Hannibal 8 Toby's The Sorcerer Blog
Mon, April 01, 2024
James Riley Interview: Author of Well Beings - How the Seventies Lost Its Mind and Taught Us to Find Ourselves
We interview James Riley, author of "Well Beings - How the Seventies Lost Its Mind and Taught Us to Find Ourselves." A fascinating interview with a Cambridge scholar pulling together the various threads of the Wellness industry into a truly wild Long Seventies story. https://www.iconbooks.com/ib-title/well-beings/
Fri, March 15, 2024
Altered States by Paddy Chayefsky
We discuss Paddy Chayefsky's 1978 novel Altered States and the 1980 film adaptation. It's an epic story of scientific zealotry, psychedelic adventure, the power of love and 4 foot protohumans.
Fri, March 01, 2024
Get Crazy (1983): Punk Rock World and 80s Eclecticism
We discuss Allan Arkush's 1983 film Get Crazy, a truly will and crazy cinematic experience and a spiritual follow up to his earlier film Rock 'n' Roll High School.
Thu, February 15, 2024
Joseph Matheny Interview: Ong's Hat & The Alchemy of Alternative Realities
We're honored to interview poet and Ong's Hat creator Joseph Matheny. Great stories and some original perspectives on life from a truly original and creative thinker.
Fri, February 02, 2024
The Peoples' Temple and Jonestown
We discuss Jim Jones' The Peoples Temple, it's life and tragectory which ended in tragedy.
Wed, January 03, 2024
Long Seventies Awards II
Round two of of Long Seventies Award Show. We're joined again by Sean from Fringe Biology Records.
Sat, December 16, 2023
Cowboys to Cops
We discuss the transition from Westerns to Cop movies during the Long Seventies, focusing primarily on actors that started their career as Cowboys and ended the LS as Cops.
Wed, November 15, 2023
Soul City, NC
We discuss Floyd McKissick's intentional community Soul City, North Carolina, its context, goals and why the project ultimately failed.
Wed, November 01, 2023
The Amityville Horror & Alien: Outsideness Inside
We discuss the theory that The Amityville Horror and Alien are conceptually the same movie and why these movies terrified audiences in the Long Seventies and beyond.
Mon, October 16, 2023
Rajneeshpuram: A Story of New Age Manifest Destiny
We discuss the story of the founding of the intentional community of Rajneeshpuram in the backcountry of Oregon and the crazy events that followed.
Mon, October 02, 2023
Firefox & Red Dawn -- Hollywood Cold War
We discuss two important films that helped revitalize the American Cold War and militarism.
Fri, September 15, 2023
Super Synthtracks of the Seventies
We discuss some super synth-based soundtracks and scores from Long Seventies films
Fri, September 01, 2023
Sean Howe Interview -- Agents of Chaos: Thomas King Forçade, High Times, and the Paranoid End of the 1970s.
Author Sean Howe joins the show to talk about his new book "Agents of Chaos: Thomas King Forçade, High Times, and the Paranoid End of the 1970s.”
Tue, August 15, 2023
Wall Street (1987): Rebranding Dystopia
We talk about Oliver Stone's 1987 drama Wall Street, starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen, and wrap up the Decade of Dystopia series.
Tue, August 01, 2023
Financialization
We discuss the rapid and sweeping financialization, corporate raiding and deindustrialization that took place during the Long Seventies and what effect it had on society.
Sat, July 15, 2023
The Crazies (1973) & Wizards (1977): Techno-totalitarian Dystopian Horrors
Decade of Dystopia continues with two movies, The Crazies and Wizards. We discuss what these movies have in common, the dystopian visions they provide and what critique they make of the world of the Long Seventies.
Sat, July 01, 2023
The Twin Crises of Continuity & Progress -- Decade of Dystopia
We discuss why the Long Seventies gave birth to so many dystopian creative works, specifically in the context of crises of continuity and progress.
Wed, June 14, 2023
Logan’s Run: There Is No Sanctuary
We discuss the 1976 dystopian sci-fi classic film Logan's Run, societal symbolic illiteracy, announce the Decade of Dystopia series and much more.
Thu, June 01, 2023
The Atrocity Exhibition: J.G. Ballard’s Syncromystical Masterpiece
We discuss acclaimed author JG Ballard’s 1969 experimental piece of transgressive syncromystical literature. Love, death, loss, trauma, tragedy, eroticism, car accidents as immanent mystical experiences, JFK, Ralph Nader, Elizabeth Taylor, WWII, Vietnam, art etc.
Sun, May 14, 2023
Top Ten: Audio and Musical Gear
We each choose ten pieces of audio and musical gear that we think were important to the audio/musical landscape of the Long Seventies.
Mon, May 01, 2023
Rollerball (1975): Skate or Die
We discuss the eerily prescient 1975 dystopian film Rollerball, starring James Caan. Skates, motorcycles, fire, blood, murder, drugs, multivision tv and more!
Sun, April 23, 2023
The Americanization of the South -- We finish our discussion of John Egerton’s 1974 book The Americanization of the South, focusing on Politics, Industrialization, City growth and Culture. Part Two
We finish our discussion of John Egerton’s 1974 book The Americanization of the South, focusing on Politics, Industrialization, City growth and Culture.
Mon, April 03, 2023
Bareknuckle Boxing Movies
We discuss some of the best bareknuckle boxing movies from The Long Seventies, in particular Charles Bronson's Hard Times and Clint Eastwood's Every Which Way But Loose.
Sun, March 19, 2023
The Americanization of Dixie -- Part One
We discuss the meaning of "Americanization" the first three chapters of John Egerton's fascinating 1974 book "The Americanization of Dixie."
Sun, March 05, 2023
Thief (1980): A Faustian Heist
We talk about the 1980 Michael Mann film Thief, starring ultimate tough guy James Caan as a besieged jewel thief working the mean streets of Chicago.
Sun, February 19, 2023
Paperbacks From Hell: Hi-Octane Horror
We discuss the flourishing of the horror genre during the long seventies as hauntology and Grady Hendrix's fantastic book Paperbacks From Hell.
Sun, February 12, 2023
The Beast (1988): The Great Game On The Big Screen
We discuss the 1988 movie The Beast depicting a lost Russian tank crew hunted by Mujihadeen during the Russian-Afghanistan War. Peak cold war cinema!
Mon, January 30, 2023
The Tunnels Of Cu Chi: Our Subterrenean Entrance To The Vietnam Conflict
We discuss the vast network of tunnels the Vietnamese National Liberation Front dug underneath Cu Chi district 25 miles NW of Saigon, how they were used, how the US Army dealt with this unusual tactic, and how the tunnels origins were in the French Indochina Wars after WWII.
Sun, January 15, 2023
Turk 182: Terry Flew, Tyler Knew
We discuss the 1985 film Turk 182 about a young graffiti artist fighting New York City Hall and finding love along the way.
Mon, January 02, 2023
The Rise and Fall of the Pop Culture Empire
We discuss 20th century mass communication technologies and how they facilitated the Pop Culture Empire that saw its zenith during the Long Seventies and has since crumbled.
Mon, December 19, 2022
E. Howard Hunt: Pulp Fiction Plumber
We talk about E. Howard Hunt, CIA agent and Watergate break-in planner, and his work as an author of numerous pulp fiction novels like The Coven and Diabolus.
Tue, December 06, 2022
From Foxy Brown to Jackie Brown
We talk about 1974's Foxy Brown and the ways Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown pays homage to the blaxploitation genre and provides a mature exploration of its themes.
Tue, November 15, 2022
Museum of Masculinity
We discuss the transitionary Masculinity and Masculine stuff of the 70s, sandwiched in between John Wayne and John Rambo.
Tue, November 01, 2022
Giallo: Motel Money Murder Madness
Join us and special guest Sean to discuss Italian Giallo. Black leather gloves. Straight razors. Murder. Betrayal. Thrills. Horror. Sex. Booze. More sex. Great music. Literal backstabbing. Saturated colors. Crumbling country estates. Swank 70s hotel rooms and apartments. Everything good in life.
Sun, October 16, 2022
Police Academy: Entrance to Absurdity
We talk about the 1984 comedy Police Academy, a metaphysical yet socially grounded intermediary between Animal House and The Naked Gun.
Sun, October 02, 2022
Ong's Hat: Alternative Reality Games Are Not Games
We discuss an early example of the Alternative Reality Game genre of multimedia participatory "fiction."
Sat, September 10, 2022
Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K Dick
We discuss one of Philip K Dick's weirdest novels (genetically augmented variety show host timeline surfing on someone else's dope trip) and connect the dots between his timeline-jumping ideas and other similar philosophical concepts in the memesphere.
Wed, July 13, 2022
The Occult In Cinema
We discuss the various forms the Occult takes in Long Seventies cinema and why this medium informs all other media for decades when it comes to depictions of the Occult.
Fri, June 17, 2022
The Myth and Marketing of the Occult in Rock Music
We talk about how the occult was used to promote rock and roll in the long seventies and Matt goes on massive digression about ancient magic and messianic mysticism.
Sat, June 04, 2022
Pumping Iron (1977): From Jagger Swagger to Barbarian Builds
We discuss the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron following the epic and hilarious lives of the contestant of the 1975 Mr. Olympia competition in South Africa. Arnold Schwartzenegger vs. Lou Ferrigno. Conan vs. The Hulk. Nuff said.
Sat, May 14, 2022
The Tayos Caves Expedition feat. Neil Armstrong
We discuss the 1976 Tayos Caves Expedition organized by Stanley Hall featuring special guest explorer astronaut Neil Armstrong, ancient metal libraries of occult knowledge, bad weather, South American bureaucracy, cave spiders, archaeological treasures and Montezuma's Revenge.
Sun, May 01, 2022
The White Album by Joan Didion
We talk about journalist Joan Didion's second compilation of articles, published in 1979. Didion might be the harshest, most biting social commentator while at the same time managing to be perfectly nice about it.
Thu, February 17, 2022
Trouble Man (1972)
We talk about the 1972 film Trouble Man featuring one of the coolest private eyes in cinema history.
Thu, February 17, 2022
Season of the Witch: A San Francisco Love Letter
We discuss David Talbot's love letter to San Francisco during the latter half of the 20th century.
Sun, January 23, 2022
The Smoothening
We discuss a mysterious & little known Long Seventies aesthetic phenomenon we call The Smoothening.
Sun, January 09, 2022
Fear City: New York vs. The Mafia
We discuss the Netflix documentary Fear City about the Feds' and NYC govt's takedown of the New York Mafia.
Fri, December 31, 2021
New Year's Eve Retroperspective
We retroperspect on the last year's episodes and make some long shot predictions about 1970s history podcast episodes in the next year.
Mon, December 20, 2021
Joey Coyle: Free Money Ain't Free in Philly
In Feb 1981, Joey Coyle, a Philly longshoreman, found $1.2 million in cash in the middle of the road and decided to keep it. Too bad the money belonged to the Federal Reserve and they wanted it back.
Sat, December 11, 2021
MKULTRA: From Mind Control to Marketing
We discuss the broad course of 20th century scientific inquiry into the ability to control the Mind of Man, and how initial projects aimed at creating secret super assassins trickled down to manipulating people into buying running shoes and bad pop albums.
Sun, November 28, 2021
Good Guys Wear Black
We talk about the Chuck Norris classic Good Guys Wear Black and the best stretch jeans on the market.
Fri, October 01, 2021
The Acali Experiment: Science On the High Seas
We discuss the Acali Experiment, an "only could have happened in the 70s" adventure/scientific experiment where a scientist sets sail on the high seas with a nubile crew of test subjects to determine how human nature will manifest in the worst of conditions.
Fri, July 09, 2021
The Towering Inferno
We talk about the movie The Towering Inferno.
Mon, May 31, 2021
Long Seventies Awards
We do a Long Seventies Award show.
Sun, May 23, 2021
From Liberalism to Neoliberalism
We have an off the cuff discussion of the Long Seventies paradigm shift from Liberalism to Neoliberalism witnessed across society and Foreign Relations.
Mon, April 19, 2021
Over the Edge: Children of the Suburban Corn
We talk about the 1979 film “Over the Edge.” Misunderstood miscreants, Jr. High School dope dealers, antisocial antiestablishment antimonies take on suburban america in this surreal and absurdist take on youth in America during the Long Seventies.
Mon, April 12, 2021
Alcatraz Is Not An Island: The 1969 Indian Occupation
We talk about the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz Island in SF Bay by the Indians of All Tribes activist group, and provide some important context and background to understand this important event.
Mon, April 05, 2021
Substitute Teachercast — Drug Abuse: The Chemical Tomb (1969)
In this holiday Substitute Teachercast we present another educational film from the golden years of American 16mm (1969). This is “Drug Abuse: The Chemical Tomb.” The title says it all.
Mon, March 29, 2021
Go Ask Alice: No One Here Gets Out Alive
We talk about the tragic but probably fictional story about 15 year old Alice and her decent into drug abuse as portrayed in the 1973 made for tv movie Go Ask Alice.
Mon, March 22, 2021
The 1973 Oil Crisis
We talk about the 1973 Oil Crisis. Obviously.
Mon, March 15, 2021
The Parallax View: Paranoia Runs Deep and Puts America to Sleep
We talk about the 1974 film The Parallax Movie starring Warren Beatty and talk about how paranoia and distrust of institutions sunk roots deep into the American psyche during the long seventies.
Mon, March 08, 2021
Space Is the Place: Sun Ra & Afrofuturism
We talk about the eccentric and brilliant jazz musician/band leader Sun Ra’s 1974 movie Space Is the Place and its connection to Afrofuturism and Afrofuturism’s 20th century roots in new religious movements.
Mon, March 01, 2021
The Japanese Music Gear Import Boom
We talk about the giant boom in imported Japanese musical gear during the Long Seventies and what effect it had on music during and after the time period.
Mon, February 22, 2021
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: Rural Decay as Materialist Lovecraftian Outsideness Horror
We talk about 1974’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a seminal film in the annals of the horror genre and doing a little brainstorming as to why the movie was so frightening to audiences of the Long Seventies.
Mon, February 15, 2021
The Citizen’s Commission to Investigate the FBI
In 1971 a small group of anti-war activists successfully pulled of a plot to break into an FBI office, steal secret files & get them published by a major newspaper, beginning the process of outing COINTELPRO.
Mon, February 08, 2021
Chariots of the Gods: Ancient Aliens & Epistemic Crisis
We talk about the 1970 documentary Chariots of the Gods based on Erich Von Daniken’s book the spawned the ancient aliens craze. Also some rambling about memetic theory and how the west went through an epistemic crisis in the Long Seventies.
Mon, February 01, 2021
The Nixon Shock: A Brief Survey of America’s Dromotropic Monetary Policy
We talk about the history of American MONEY, banking & Nixon closing the Gold Window in 1971 after a bank run on the Federal Reserve and Fort Knox.
Mon, January 25, 2021
Existential Car Chases
We talk about the era of existential car chases through the lens of Hollywood vision and Detroit muscle.
Mon, January 18, 2021
Decade of Dope: Introduction
We introduce the Decade of Dope series and talk about the history of drugs from Mesopotamia to Richard Nixon.
Mon, January 11, 2021
The “Friends” of Eddie Coyle
We talk about the quintessential Boston crime novel, The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1970) and compare it to the film adaptation, starring Robert Mitchum. Hard boiled dialogue and hard nosed criminals trying to avoid doing hard time.
Mon, January 04, 2021
The Hauntology of Horror Movies
We talk about post-period horror movies that are throwbacks to the Long Seventies genre and discuss how the concept of Hauntology might explain why TLS is such a rich source of cultural artifacts for filmmakers to unearth and recycle.
Thu, December 31, 2020
We’re Back for 2021
We intro our new plans for 2021 including new release schedule and some soon to be covered episode topics.
Thu, October 08, 2020
Raw Force: Kung Fu Cannibals
We talk about 1982’s Mt. Everest of B-Movies, Raw Force aka Kung Fu Cannibals. Nudity - Adventure - Martial Arts - Zombies - Monks - Action - Explosions & Cameron Mitchell!
Thu, October 01, 2020
Gus Hall: Revolutionary Optimism
We talk about Gus Hall, the Communist Party USA candidate for President from ’72 - ’84. Old Left vs. New Left. From industrial strikes to the FBI sterilizing imported stallions… this one get weird.
Wed, September 23, 2020
Joe Namath & the Super Bowl III Guarantee
We talk about the drama and historical importance of possibly the most exciting Super Bowl of all time between the New York Jets & Baltimore Colts.
Thu, September 17, 2020
Whatever Happened to Yuri Bezmenov?
KBG defector? CIA plant? Bircher stooge? Whistleblower who tried to warn us of Russian subversive activities? In light of KGB defector Yuri Bezmenov’s recent pop culture emergence we look into this mysterious figure who has played such a big part in the shadowy side of many peoples’ conception of The Cold War.
Tue, September 08, 2020
The Jupiter Effect: Echoes of End Times
We talk about the 1974 book “The Jupiter Effect: The Planets As Triggers of Devastating Earthquakes” by John Gribbin & Stephen Plagemann and try to put it in context with the plethora of other End Times predictions said to take place during the Long Seventies.
Tue, September 01, 2020
Boneyard of Bands
Why did so many powerhouse mega-bands of the 60s and Long Seventies fail to survive the long decade? We investigate this question and discuss a number of theories and examples.
Sun, August 23, 2020
1980 Norco Shootout: Immanentizing the Eschaton In the Inland Empire
3:32pm. May 9, 1980. Norco, Ca. Security Pacific Bank. 5 men. 2 shotguns. 3 handguns. 4 high powered semi auto rifles. Homemade grenades. Molotov cocktails. Incendiary diversion device. 1 katana. 1 hostage. 1 stolen van. Dozens of police officers. 2 police helicopters. 25 miles later…. 30+ damaged cop cars. 1 dead deputy. 2 dead robbers. 8 wounded officers. 46 felonies.
Mon, August 17, 2020
Liminal Series: The Breakfast Club
We talk John Hughes’ most famous film and explore why this 1985 teen comedy resonated so much with viewers. At some point we might even mess with the bull and get the horns. The Brain. The Athlete. The Basketcase. The Princess. The Criminal. All Jung’s Suburban archetypes.
Sat, August 08, 2020
Liminal Series: Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
1985. Bret Easton Ellis’ debut novel. Los Angeles. Mtv. Drugs. Narcissism. Hip to be numb. Absent parents. Disaffected youth. A dead body. Punk rock. Palm Springs. Matt offers an insane interpretation involving an Aztec god of chaos. Stay tuned to the end for a special coda where we revise our initial thoughts on the book after new information comes to our attention.
Sat, August 01, 2020
Liminal Series: St. Elmo’s Fire
We talk about 1985’s Brat Pack coming-of-age-social-commentary drama St. Elmo’s Fire and what unique problems the youngest Baby Boomers might have faced upon entering the adult world at the end of The Long Seventies. Also, the Yamaha DX7.
Thu, July 23, 2020
Liminal Series: Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney
You talk about Jay McInerney’s 1984 debut novel “Bright Lights, Big City” in an effort to explore the transition from the Long Seventies to the Eighties and what liminal properties you can pinpoint about this unique time period.
Fri, July 17, 2020
UFO Religions: Raelism & New Age E.T. Super Scientists
We talk about UFO religions in general and then get into what is considered by sociologists to be the most successful UFO religion, Raelism.
Wed, July 08, 2020
David Cronenberg’s Shivers & The Brood
Mind melting venereal parasites. Creepy murderous mutant kids in red snow suits. We explore the early years of Canada’s master of body horror David Cronenberg’s body of work focusing on two movies, Shivers (1975) and The Brood (1979).
Wed, July 01, 2020
Country Music: Cheatin’ Hearts & Empty Bottles
We talk about the big picture of country music during the Long Seventies and why it assumed the role of counter-counterculture music and became popular not just in the rural areas it was born, but in far away urban centers and suburbs.
Tue, June 23, 2020
Tribal Thumb & San Francisco Militant Radicalism
Long Seventies EXCLUSIVE! This week we do a little investigative history and dig the story of SF Bay Area radical group The Tribal Thumb out of newspaper archives. The Tribal Thumb is still a mysterious group. The membership is not well known and it seems to have been connected to a number of other SF Bay Area militant radical groups. You won’t find this story anywhere else!
Wed, June 17, 2020
Walk The Outer Stars: 70s Science Fiction
We talk about 70s science fiction literature and film and how in a general sense it is distinct from other periods but also a continuation of the new wave that started a decade earlier.
S2 E1 · Wed, June 10, 2020
Bonus: A Brain Between the Two of US Interview -- Sean
In the prototype for our new interview segment, Alex interviews regular guest and indie music label chief Sean about his influences and creative process. Check out Sean’s work at fringebiologyrecords.com and fringebiologyrecordings.bandcamp.com
Mon, June 08, 2020
Ford’s Femme Fatales
We talk about the two women who, only weeks apart, tried and failed to kill President Gerald Ford. One of them was even a former member of the Manson Family.
Mon, June 01, 2020
Same Revolution Different Day
We talk about the history of protests and rioting in the US.
Sat, May 23, 2020
The 1st Earth Battalion: Warrior Monks and Corporate Shamans
We talk about a truly unique moment in US History, when the Army asked a Lt. Colonel to travel the country and bring the teachings of the New Age movement into their ranks in the hopes of increasing recruitment numbers for the newly all volunteer Army. They also hoped to gain an advantage over the Russian Army using insight from the Human Potential movement to create New Age Supersoldiers.
Sun, May 17, 2020
Progressive Rock: The Future Is History
Sean joins us to talk about Progressive Rock, one of the Long Seventies’ most distinctive musical genres. Prog Rock was born out of the psychedelic sixties and Romantic era classical music but combined the musical chromosomes it inherited in experimental and unique ways that evolved an ardent fanbase and musical legacy.
Fri, May 08, 2020
The Satanic Panic, Part Two: Ritual Abuse Hysteria and Worried Washington Wives
We talk the rise of the Moral Panic Industry and outline the general evolution of the Satanic Panic Complex from its inception in 1971 to one of its most high profile and prototypical cases, the James Dallas Egbert III disappearance. Part Two will cover the Gary Lauwers Murder to the McMartin Preschool Trial and the mid 80s pivot from Satanism to gangs, Gangster Rap, and the Parent’s Music Resource Center Hearings.
Fri, May 01, 2020
The Satanic Panic, Part One: Media At the Crossroads
We talk the rise of the Moral Panic Industry and outline the general evolution of the Satanic Panic Complex from its inception in 1971 to one of its most high profile and prototypical cases, the James Dallas Egbert III disappearance. Part Two will cover the Gary Lauwers Murder to the McMartin Preschool Trial and the mid 80s pivot from Satanism to gangs, Gangster Rap, and the Parent’s Music Resource Center Hearings.
Wed, April 22, 2020
Death Race 2000 with Sweetback Sean
We have our buddy Sweetback Sean in to talk about Roger Corman’s 1975 film Death Race 2000, an exploitation classic! We also talk about music and kung fu movies whose names nobody can remember.
Thu, April 16, 2020
Dungeons & Dragons: From Simulation to Imagination
We talk about the origin and early days of the ground-breaking and innovative role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. This game not only transformed wargaming and tabletop gaming but also helped spawn a cultural revolution still felt today. Grab a flagon of ale and pull up a stool for this one, because HC SVNT DRACONES!
Mon, April 06, 2020
Hunter S. Thompson, Part 2: Everyday American Apocalypse
We talk about journalist, provocateur, political analyst, wildman & drug aficionado Hunter S. Thompson and discuss why he is the perfect avatar for The Long Seventies. Part two starts with Thompson’s most famous work Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and hits the gas from there right past the ’72 election, Zaire disaster and goes over the edge at Reagan’s invasion of Grenada.
Wed, April 01, 2020
Hunter S. Thompson: Fear & Loathing in The Long Seventies, Part One
We talk about journalist, provocateur, political analyst, wildman & drug aficionado Hunter S. Thompson and discuss why he is the perfect avatar for The Long Seventies. Part one works its way from his earliest years to right before the publication of Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.
Mon, March 23, 2020
Once Upon A Time In The Long Seventies
We talk about Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and discuss what the film says about The Long Seventies and how the film differs from the underlying context: the murder of Sharon Tate and her three friends on the night of August 8th, 1969.
Tue, March 17, 2020
Substitute Teachercast: “The Mount St. Helens Story” (1984)
We have another educational film on 16mm for you today. Today’s film was released in 1984 by the USDA and US Forest Service, and is about the massive eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. It’s a dramatic story. Enjoy that special Federal Government film flair. We hope to be back to regular episodes soon.
Sun, March 08, 2020
Substitute Teachercast: “Day of the Killer Tornadoes (1978)”
We apologize, but one of us is sick so it’s time for the substitute teacher to show the class an educational film on 16mm. Today’s film was released in 1978 by the US Government Defense Civil Preparedness Agency and US, and is about the Super Outbreak of tornadoes on April 3, 1974 that spawned over 140 tornadoes in a 24 hour time period and took the lives of over 300 people. In a future episode we’ll talk more about this and add our own commentary tying these events into the larger picture of the Long Seventies.
Sun, March 01, 2020
Death Wish 2: Kersey Strikes Back… Again
1982’s Death Wish 2 lacks a lot of what made the first movie interesting and engaging and basically retells the same story, but it allows us a peek into the world of 1982 and to see some differences between that world and the early 70s that spawned the original Death Wish.
Sun, February 23, 2020
The Parliament-Funkadelic Collective, Part Two
The P-Funk Collective…. Decades of musical genius influential in multiple genres of music. Dozens of musicians and singers. At least five different names and sub-groups. Afrofuturism. Riches. UFOs. Guitar players wearing diapers on stage. Financial ruin. LSD and cocaine. Drug addictions. The band that birthed a thousand sample based hip hop tracks. This is part one of their story.
Mon, February 17, 2020
The Parliament-Funkadelic Collective, Part One
The P-Funk Collective…. Decades of musical genius influential in multiple genres of music. Dozens of musicians and singers. At least five different names and sub-groups. Afrofuturism. Riches. UFOs. Guitar players wearing diapers on stage. Financial ruin. LSD and cocaine. Drug addictions. The band that birthed a thousand sample based hip hop tracks. This is part one of their story. Part two coming up next week.
Sat, February 08, 2020
Alternative Views TV: Mutiny on the Airwaves
In the early 70s the FCC mandated that all cable companies with a certain number of subscribers had to offer channels for public use and broadcast. This led to the generally wacky programming known as “Public Access Television.” Little did the FCC know, but in 1978 a small group of intellectuals in Austin, Tx would attempt to use Public Access TV to take down the establishment media by telling the stories they wouldn’t tell. This was Alternative News Magazine, a counterculture version of 60 Minutes, and it broadcast over 500 episodes over a period of 20 years.
Sat, February 01, 2020
Project AZORIAN
In 1968 a Soviet submarine sunk in 16,500 of water 1500 miles NW of Hawaii with nuclear missiles and cryptographic material onboard. This is the amazing story of how the CIA recovered part of that sub and pulled off one of the most incredible engineering feats in history, without the Soviets or the American public knowing what was going on until journalist Seymour Hersch published the story a year later, in 1975.
Thu, January 23, 2020
The Farm: From Berkeley Back to the Land
In 1971 hundreds of hippies left Berkeley, California to establish a commune in rural Tennessee. This is the story of why they did it, how they learned to survive and grow their own food, the problems they faced, and why 12 years late the commune eventually chose to re-embrace the the American economy.
Fri, January 17, 2020
To Be or Not to B. Kliban
We talk about quirky cartoonist B. Kliban’s eclectic body of work, including but not limited to Playboy Magazine and millions of coffee mugs and office calendars.
Wed, January 08, 2020
The Source Family: Hummus Plate, side of Jam Band
We discuss a fascinating Los Angeles based new religious group called The Source Family, led by a charismatic WWII vet, hand to hand combat expert, mystic, guru, and possible bank robber. It’s sex, drugs and rock n roll, literally. The Source Family was a short lived group, but during its short life it found its way into the favor of the Hollywood elite, the vegetarian movement, and psychedelic rock history.
Wed, January 01, 2020
Long Seventies Annual #1
We review our first year of shows and see if any of our ideas and assumptions have changed along the way.
Mon, December 23, 2019
Changing Images of Man, Part 4: Perennial Cybernetic Sunrise
We dig into chapters 5-8 (of 8) of Changing Images of Man, a unique study carried out in 1974 at Stanford Research Institute. These chapters offer the Image the study authors consider to be the best remedy for the global crisis, contrast it with the current image, project what might happen if society doesn’t adopt their new evolutionary image, and explain how they think their new image can be implanted in society.
Sat, December 14, 2019
Changing Images of Man, Part 3: Myth, Man & Machine
We dig into chapters 1-4 (of 8) of Changing Images of Man, a unique study carried out in 1974 at Stanford Research Institute. These chapters look at what role images play in society, some historic images from different time periods and cultures, the current image “economic man,” and the impact science and empiricism have made on our images of man.
Fri, December 06, 2019
Changing Images of Man, Part Two: Pax Ecologica
We continue our four part series on the book Changing Images of Man, which is a wild 70s brainstorming session on how to shape the future of humanity by shaping how humans see themselves. In this episode we carry on our investigation into the fascinating long term trends the study synthesizes into the Image of Man, and take a look at the authors of the study and what makes them uniquely accurate in their predictions if not prescient in their vision.
Sun, December 01, 2019
Changing Images of Man, Part One: The Future of Futurism
In this episode we start a four part series on the book Changing Images of Man, which is a wild 70s brainstorming session on how to shape the future of humanity by shaping how humans see themselves. In this episode we delve into the earliest roots of the ideas at play and look at how a number of seemingly unrelated movements and trends intersect during the Long Seventies and are synthesized in this study, including futurism, economics, environmentalism, cybernetics, ecology, and general systems theory.
Fri, November 15, 2019
Super Soulful Soundtracks of the Seventies
During this period talented songwriters and musicians were handed the reins to entire soundtracks and produced a number of very successful albums that not only contributed to the success of their partner films, but helped define the musical landscape of the Seventies.
Wed, November 06, 2019
Cinema Series: 80s Hustle, Ambition & Entrepreneurial Spirit
Summary: We talk movies that illustrate a shift in direction for Hollywood’s portrayal of Americans, precocious teenagers, working class stiffs, and a new optimistic image of a society where hustle, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit are the keys to success.
Tue, October 15, 2019
Wade Davis’ Hunt for Haitian Zombi Powder, Part Two
We continue a two part story about famed explorer, anthropologist, and ethnobotanist Wade Davis’ 1982 expedition to Haiti to figure out what was in the mythical zombi powder. As the story progresses we realize that the real treasure is Davis’ insight into Haitian culture and the Haitian Vodoun worldview.
Tue, October 01, 2019
Wade Davis: The Hunt for Haitian Zombi Powder, Part One
We start a two part story about famed explorer, anthropologist and ethnobotanist Wade Davis’ 1982 expedition to Haiti to figure out what was in the mythical zombi powder. As the story progresses we realize that the real treasure is Davis’ insight into Haitian culture and the Haitian Vodou worldview.
Sun, September 15, 2019
The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea
We enter the humorous, twisted and paranoid world of Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea’s The Illuminatus! Trilogy. It’s an 800 page tome filled with revolutionaries, conspiracies, counter-conspiracies, drugs, sex, rock n’ roll, yellow submarines, talking dolphins, Old Gods, eldritch five-sided sea monsters, Atlantis, John Dillinger, and more sex and drugs.
Sun, September 01, 2019
Television Families: From Yippies to Yuppies
We examine tv shows like The Brady Bunch, All In the Family, Taxi, Sanford and Son, Good Times, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Magnum PI, Dallas and more in this episode, and try to figure out what they tell us about American society during the Long Seventies.
Wed, August 14, 2019
The Golden Age of Serial Killers
Why was the Long Seventies seemingly such a fertile time for serial killers? We try to answer this question and speculate on what serial killers are up to today. We discuss how serial killers are classified, how they are potentially created or born, and how media attention drives the cultural awareness and fear of these rare individuals.
Thu, August 01, 2019
The Misfits: Jersey Teenagers from Mars
The horror punk band The Misfits was born in Lodi, NJ in 1977 and became one of the most enduring and influential punk bands of the Long Seventies. Their unique blend of violence, angst, b-movie horror lyrics, stage costumes, and one of a kind songwriting and instrumentation made them relevant and attractive to fans long after they originally broke up in 1983.
Mon, July 15, 2019
The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lasch
We talk Christopher Lasch’s 1979 book The Culture of Narcissism and assess how well it characterizes the period, what it means for today’s society, and how technology and advertising have effected personality.
Mon, July 01, 2019
Bank Robbery Boogaloo, Decade of Rage Part Three
Summary: We close out our Decade of Rage mini-series with a discussion about the end of the Weather Underground and some of the late 70s revolutionary groups that had a proclivity for robbing banks and armored cars.
Fri, June 14, 2019
Cinema Series: Death Wish & Hardcore
We discuss the cultural significance of movies Death Wish (1974) and Hardcore (1979), starring Charles Bronson and George C. Scott, specifically how they illustrate (dramatically) mainstream America’s responses to the counter-culture’s effects on society.
Sat, June 01, 2019
Death to the Fascist Insect, Decade of Rage Part Two
We continue our series on revolutionary groups of the period with a look into the Symbionese Liberation Army. Murder. Kidnapping. Bank Robbery -- a violent shootout ending in fiery ruin. Join us and learn about one of the strangest, most dramatic groups of the time period and their weird, short-lived odyssey.
Thu, May 16, 2019
Revolutionary Undergrounds, Decade of Rage Part One
This episode we start a three part mini-series covering radical revolutionary groups of the time period. We begin with the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army.
Fri, May 03, 2019
Underground Comics and R. Crumb
This episode explores the outrageous explosion of intentionally offensive underground comics in the early 1970s, including an emphasis on one of the period's primary figures Robert Crumb.
Tue, April 16, 2019
The Church of the SubGenius
Summary: We talk about culturally subversive parody religion The Church of the SubGenius and also have an unexpectedly long lecture on 20th century art activism history. 80% art activism history 20% CotSG! Don’t miss it!
Mon, April 08, 2019
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
We discuss Melvin van Peebles 1971 groundbreaking film about revolution and sticking it to The Man.
Fri, March 15, 2019
Julian Jaynes and Bicameral Mind Theory
We explore Julian Jaynes' ideas about the origin of consciousness contained in his influential 1976 book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind .
Fri, March 01, 2019
Important Albums of 1969 and 1983
We each pick five albums we think are important from 1969 and five from 1983, compare lists and discuss the historical ramifications.
Fri, February 15, 2019
The 1968 Democratic National Convention -- Part Two
We close out the story of the 1968 Democratic National Convention and talk about some of the event's long term effects.
Fri, February 01, 2019
The 1968 Democratic National Convention -- Part One
The chaos at the 1968 Democratic National Convention spelled the end of the optimistic Sixties for many, causing massive social and political movements to splinter and break apart into smaller but much more varied movements we see grow during the Long Seventies.
Tue, January 15, 2019
The MPAA Rating System & Hollywood Renaissance
For almost forty years the Motion Picture Production Code censored mainstream American films and limited their artistic vision. It's dissolution in the late 1960s due to changing economic and cultural pressures followed by the the institution of the voluntary Motion Picture Association of America Ratings System created a unique environment within which mainstream films were produced by artists that not only pushed boundaries but completely obliterated them. Unfortunately this proved to be a short lived phenomenon lasting only a brief seven to ten years before another economic and cultural sea change caused movies to move in an entirely different direction. This short seven year period has since become known as the Hollywood Renaissance. In this episode we trace the history of this process and go over some of the unique artists and films of the time period, laying the groundwork for future episodes that will delve into specific genres and films.
Tue, January 01, 2019
Steve & Brian Allen and The Love Family
The story of Steve Allen's son Brian joining a new religious group called The Love Family in Seattle, Wa. We talk deprogramming and the difficulties the American public had in the early seventies when dealing with family members that joined "cults" and religious groups. Book List: Allen, Steve Beloved Son. 1982 Wilson, Robert Anton Cosmic Trigger I . 1977 Reference Material: Eric Johannson's documentary "It Takes a Cult." http://vimeo.com/141970978 http://people.com/archive/steve-allens-son-brian-saw-god-on-an-acid-trip-it-turned-him-into-logic-israel-vol-11-no-13/ http://www.context.org/iclib/ic02/isreal/ http://www.historylink.org/File/9313
Tue, January 01, 2019
Making History -- The Long Seventies
This is a quick intro to the podcast, explaining the focus, time period, and the concept of The Long Seventies. We also give a preview of future episode topics.
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