My Bicentennial Memories
I’m not sure I believe in fate, but there must be a reason why I could never bring myself to throw out my Ross Bicentennial bicycle. My parents, despite complaining about its prolonged residence in the cellar of 1710 78th street, could never bring themselves to roll the bike out with Tuesday trash (something they had no issue doing with all my other toys and preciouses). Maybe I or they knew the Bicentennial would be something I’d one day revisit. Or maybe we all knew, as long as the bike remained, so would those wonderful hazy summer day memories of years past.
Keep checking back, I’ll be adding some wonderful star-spangled, red, white, and blue blasts from the past as we countdown to America 250.
Bicentennial Rocks #1
“No More Kings” was the first of the America Rock/SchoolHouse Rock videos to premiere in late 1975 to celebrate the Bicentennial.
Bicentennial Kodak
1976 was the first Christmas with Kodak instant cameras. Can you feel a brand new day?
Bicentennial Burger King
Not to be left in the cold - America’s Burger King had their own gift certificates available in 1976. And yes, America does love Christmas.
Bicentennial McDonald’s
Easily placing in the top 5 best Christmas gifts for 1976 - McDonald’s gift certificates.
Bicentennial Old Spice
Top 5 Christmas Gift of the Bicentennial and every year after - Old Spice!
Bicentennial Election
During the Bicentennial, General Mills repeated their 1968 campaign in which children were encouraged to send in a cereal box top to vote "yes" or "no" to the question of “Should the rabbit eat Trix.” They’d hold one more election in 1980. In all three instances, the "yes" vote won by a landslide, and subsequent commercials showed the Trix Rabbit enjoying a bowl of the cereal.
Bicentennial Lynde
On October 29, 1976, The Paul Lynde Halloween Special aired for the first and only time. was a "fabulous train wreck" of a 1970s variety show that threw together disco, comedy sketches, and a baffling cast of celebrities, including:
The Wicked Witch of the West
Witchiepoo from H.R. Pufnstuf
Mrs. Brady herself, Florence Henderson
And the rock band KISS, whom Lynde clearly had no idea how to introduce.
Bicentennial Necktie
In honor of National Necktie Day - this handsome Bicentennial necktie fashionable no matter the year or occasion.
Bicentennial in Search of
Premiering in September of 1976, the original run of in Search of is still the gold standard of paranormal investigation.
Bicentennial Baby
Professional wrestler Big Bad John donned the stars and stripes to adopt the moniker of “The Bicentennial Baby” in 1976.
Bicentennial Fantastic 4
From the 1976 Marvel Bicentennial Calendar. History neglects to mention that Washington’s retreat from New York City would have ended in disaster if not for the assistance of the Fantastic Four.
Bicentennial Ice Cream 2
Happy National Ice Cream Day. I’ll have a scoop of Yankee Doodle Double Fudge Marble please.
Bicentennial Horizons
Actor James Whitmore (Brooks from Shawshank Redemption) telling us about the Horizons on Display initiative in this Bicentennial PSA.
Bicentennial Topps 2025
The 2025 Topps Heritage set pays tribute to the Bicentennial with both its design and featured cards. Pictured here is Alexander Hamilton representing one of the Notable American cards. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are 2 of the 200 cards spotlighting 1776-1976 in raised gold.
Bicentennial Harleys
In honor of National Motorcycle day - I don’t ride or collect them, but if I did, I’d own one of these special Bicentennial Liberty Editions.
Bicentennial Minute July 4, 1976
Transcript from Betty Ford’s Bicentennial Minute delivered on July 4, 1976.