Saturday, December 17, 2016

7 Days to Christmas!

Forty years ago this month, the 1976 Houston Post ran a Christmas special with photos of Almeda Mall all decked out for the holidays. It brings back a truckload of fond Christmas memories for me and, I hope, for you too.




The Center Atrium with its Poinsettia Tree



Looking south with the Gulf Freeway at left

The kiddie train around the center of the mall






Baldwin Pianos and their forest of trees



The window display at Palais Royale facing the atrium
  


Count the Candy Canes on the Christmas Tree, win $250 in Mall Money!
(That's about $1050 in today's money!)







A little 1976 trivia for you

Stretch Armstrong makes his debut. Check out: 10 Toys Every Kid Wanted in 1976

Ronald Wayne was a third cofounder of Apple, along with Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. In 1976, he sold his 10% share of the company for $800. Today, his 10% would be worth of 35 billion dollars.

While accepting the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1976, Paul Simon thanked Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album that year. Wonder had won the award in 1974 and 1975 (and would win it again 1977 for Songs in the Key of Life). 

There were no red M&Ms from 1976 until 1986.


Cost of Things in 1976 (adjusted for inflation prices in parenthesis)
Average Cost of new house $43,400.00 ($182,125.00)
Average Income per year $16,000.00 ($67,143)
Average Monthly Rent $220.00 ($923.00)

A gallon of Gas .59 cents ($2.48)
Polaroid Camera $28.00  ($117.50)
Zenith 25" Color TV $599.00 ($2514.00)
CB Radio $147.00 ($617)

Microwave  $169.00  ($710)


The Trix Rabbit was finally allowed to eat a bowl of Trix Cereal as a result of the 1976 "Let The Rabbit Eat Trix" contest. (Please note: I proudly wore my "Yes" button to school that year!) 





The Muppet Show premiered on television as a series

(T.V. Guide ad)


as did Laverne and Shirley
T.V. Guide Cover May 1976


and Family Feud

1976 Most Popular TV shows:
1. Happy Days (ABC)
2. Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
3. M*A*S*H (CBS)
4. Charlie's Angels (ABC)
5. The Big Event (NBC)
6. The Six Million Dollar Man (ABC)
7. Baretta (ABC)
8. One Day at a Time (CBS)
9. Three's Company (ABC)
10. All in the Family (CBS) 

From the Top 20 Grossing Films of 1976
Rocky
A Star Is Born
All the President's Men
The Omen
King Kong
Bad News Bears
Carrie
Taxi Driver
Freaky Friday
Logan's Run

Still not enough? Here's a 20 minute video of commercials that were airing the same week the photos above were taken at Almeda Mall


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