Those were the days, my friends - Page 32

Acajack · #**621** Posted **Mar 17, 2022, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I personally believe that the preservation of Vieux Montreal was, to a large extent, what the late great Bob Ross would refer to as a happy accident": a silver lining of the economic stagnation that Montreal experienced in the 70s-80s, largely due to the winds of political change but also due to the de-industrialization that decimated many cities in North America during that time period. Much of the area below the VM expressway (Little Burgundy, St. Henri, the Pointe, Griffintown, Ville Emard, etc.) was in a time freeze. Next to no redevelopment, and plenty of vacant buildings. The entire area around the former Dow Planetarium (south of Windsor Station) was mostly abandoned factories for decades, right on the doorstep of downtown Montreal.

Good points.

esquire · #**622** Posted **Mar 17, 2022, 4:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I personally believe that the preservation of Vieux Montreal was, to a large extent, what the late great Bob Ross would refer to as a happy accident": a silver lining of the economic stagnation that Montreal experienced in the 70s-80s, largely due to the winds of political change but also due to the de-industrialization that decimated many cities in North America during that time period. Much of the area below the VM expressway (Little Burgundy, St. Henri, the Pointe, Griffintown, Ville Emard, etc.) was in a time freeze. Next to no redevelopment, and plenty of vacant buildings. The entire area around the former Dow Planetarium (south of Windsor Station) was mostly abandoned factories for decades, right on the doorstep of downtown Montreal.

That was basically the same set of circumstances that ended up saving the Exchange District in Winnipeg. It was never abandoned but there were many buildings that were dramatically underused for decades, huge 8 storey warehouses just filled with random junk. There are still a couple like that to this day, this building for instance is filled with inventory for sale that has probably been sitting on the shelves for 40+ years, it is absolutely mind-bending.

More here: https://winnipeglovehate.com/2015/02...werier-co-ltd/

harls · #**623** Posted **Apr 11, 2022, 5:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Pong? Atari? Colecovision?

I am too young for Pong, but my first console was a Colecovision with Frontline and Mousetrap. I think I was 6 or 7.

I then upgraded to the Atari 2600 and my mind was blown. Starmaster was amazing. Toggle the black and white switch to warp? Amazing.

1988 - Got an Amstrad PC. Played King's Quest, Space Quest and Leisure Suit Larry (No mom, that age thing on the box is just a suggestion).

Gresto · #**624** Posted **Apr 11, 2022, 9:10 PM**

This, for me, evokes acute feelings of nostalgia. Back in the '80s, Global ran two series, "Night Ride" and "Night Walk", every night at about 3:30 a.m. I watched them at the time, if I happened to be awake. The steadicam and the relaxing jazz would invariably put me into a trance. Those were the days, indeed.

• Video Link

Acajack · #**625** Posted **Apr 11, 2022, 9:18 PM**

This is the thread that reminds me of stuff I haven't thought about in decades.

So I do remember Night Walk and Night Ride, but this is the first time they've been in my mind in over 30 years.

Acajack · #**626** Posted **Apr 11, 2022, 9:25 PM**

Tales from the Darkside

Since we're doing late-night TV... this was kind of the "Black Mirror" of the 1980s. A totally different storyline in each episode, usually with different actors.

You'd generally watch it on US border stations.

It was quite freaky watching it all by yourself in your parents' basement when you were 15 years old (lights on) or with a group of friends (lights off).

• Video Link

thewave46 · #**627** Posted **Apr 11, 2022, 9:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gresto

This, for me, evokes acute feelings of nostalgia. Back in the '80s, Global ran two series, "Night Ride" and "Night Walk", every night at about 3:30 a.m. I watched them at the time, if I happened to be awake. The steadicam and the relaxing jazz would invariably put me into a trance. Those were the days, indeed.

Cool videos, but man.

I hooked the epitome of Clinton-era home video technology (the VCR) to a 60" high-def TV recently, as I was looking for something recorded decades ago.

I feel the same way about these videos. High definition has ruined me.

MolsonExport · #**628** Posted **Apr 11, 2022, 9:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harls

I am too young for Pong, but my first console was a Colecovision with Frontline and Mousetrap. I think I was 6 or 7.

I then upgraded to the Atari 2600 and my mind was blown. Starmaster was amazing. Toggle the black and white switch to warp? Amazing.

1988 - Got an Amstrad PC. Played King's Quest, Space Quest and Leisure Suit Larry (No mom, that age thing on the box is just a suggestion).

I had a colecovision. Donkey Kong, Venture, and Zaxxon were the games I remember best.

Man, those graphics.

MonkeyRonin · #**629** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 8:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gresto

This, for me, evokes acute feelings of nostalgia. Back in the '80s, Global ran two series, "Night Ride" and "Night Walk", every night at about 3:30 a.m. I watched them at the time, if I happened to be awake. The steadicam and the relaxing jazz would invariably put me into a trance. Those were the days, indeed.

Those were still on the air late-night into the 90s at least. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of being unable to sleep at night, and sitting in front of the TV watching those shows with a glass of warm milk 'til I dozed off again.

Razor · #**630** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

The initial version didn't refer to the Professor and Mary Ann. It named all the characters and when it got to them, it said something like "... and all the rest".

In later years when the Professor and Mary Ann became more popular characters, they changed the song to end with "... the Professor and Mary Ann..."

Yes correct, and I think the later version advertised as being filmed in "Technicolor", or was that the earlier version?

Regardless, you passed the "Whew, I'm still a gen Xer, but almost a boomer" test.

Razor · #**631** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 8:57 PM**

If you are from Ontario, and remember that adoption show which ran every Saturday at lunch time on CFTO, than you are also on the cusp of being a boomer..It ran after all the Saturday morning cartoons ran their course..It was hosted by David Devall, and the show's opening theme song was The Beatles - All you need is love.

It was called Family Finder, and lttle kids were paraded in front of the camera so people can adopt them via phone..He often said "and his one goes with this one, etc." referring to two siblings...Boy, have times changed!

MolsonExport · #**632** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 9:04 PM**

And that chicken in the bag:

• Video Link

esquire · #**633** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 9:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

If you are from Ontario, and remember that adoption show which ran every Saturday at lunch time on CFTO, than you are also on the cusp of being a boomer..It ran after all the Saturday morning cartoons ran their course..It was hosted by David Devall, and the show's opening theme song was The Beatles - All you need is love.

It was called Family Finder, and lttle kids were paraded in front of the camera so people can adopt them via phone..He often said "and his one goes with this one, etc." referring to two siblings...Boy, have times changed!

I'm sure their hearts were in the right place, but man, that sounds depressing

harls · #**634** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 9:14 PM**

The Friendly Giant always terrified me. Something about him was creepy.

The 1980s Incredible Hulk dude also scared me to death. I hear he became a rusty canuck..

logan5 · #**635** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 9:29 PM**

All the children's show with middle aged men were creepy. Sesame Street never had the creepy feel because it was mostly puppets.

MolsonExport · #**636** Posted **Apr 12, 2022, 9:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harls

The Friendly Giant always terrified me. Something about him was creepy.

The 1980s Incredible Hulk dude also scared me to death. I hear he became a rusty canuck..

Gresto · #**637** Posted **Apr 13, 2022, 2:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Those were still on the air late-night into the 90s at least. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of being unable to sleep at night, and sitting in front of the TV watching those shows with a glass of warm milk 'til I dozed off again.

Come to think of it, I probably watched them in the early-'90s also. I was just a kid in the '80s, and didn't start staying up late into the night until about 1989.
The Night Walk/Ride shows were ineffably soothing. I'm not sure Toronto was a better city back then, but there was something really beguiling and jazzy about 1980s Toronto that doesn't exist anymore, probably because I was a kid, and everything is better when one is a kid.

Loco101 · #**638** Posted **Apr 13, 2022, 2:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gresto

Come to think of it, I probably watched them in the early-'90s also. I was just a kid in the '80s, and didn't start staying up late into the night until about 1989.
The Night Walk/Ride shows were ineffably soothing. I'm not sure Toronto was a better city back then, but there was something really beguiling and jazzy about 1980s Toronto that doesn't exist anymore, probably because I was a kid, and everything is better when one is a kid.

You made me think about Global TV back then and its jazzy saxophone music. My Dad would often watch the Toronto-based news at 5:30pm before supper. I remember Mike Anscombe, Susan Hay and Bob McAdorey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw_pJHiVKj4

Mike Anscombe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwWmRC6rXnM

Susan Hay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfqSrGvtclc

Bob McAdorey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPFLXWffAeI

Gresto · #**639** Posted **Apr 13, 2022, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco101

You made me think about Global TV back then and its jazzy saxophone music. My Dad would often watch the Toronto-based news at 5:30pm before supper. I remember Mike Anscombe, Susan Hay and Bob McAdorey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw_pJHiVKj4

Mike Anscombe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwWmRC6rXnM

Susan Hay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfqSrGvtclc

Bob McAdorey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPFLXWffAeI

I remember those three well. I don't know what happened to Anscombe, but Susan Hay is still there. She's the nightly newscast's delegate for feel-good stories. McAdorey, whose tongue-in-cheek entertainment reports I always enjoyed, died quite a few years ago.

Loco101 · #**640** Posted **Apr 13, 2022, 4:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gresto

I remember those three well. I don't know what happened to Anscombe, but Susan Hay is still there. She's the nightly newscast's delegate for feel-good stories. McAdorey, whose tongue-in-cheek entertainment reports I always enjoyed, died quite a few years ago.

I remember when Anscombe just suddenly wasn't there anymore at some point in the late 1990s. The network didn't say anything at all. I was a teenager but I remember hearing that he got fired because Susan Hay didn't like him and that he offended her. She was married to one of the network executives if I'm not mistaken. I can't remember the whole story but I figured that Anscombe was let go but probably got a pretty good settlement of some sort.

McAdorey was hilarious. He was never afraid to say if a movie or musical artist's album was terrible. And he did it in such a funny way. He was so good at making fun of celebrities.