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 Buttons
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

Bicentennial Buttons

People don’t wear enough buttons these days. At least not cool ones like these.

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Bee Centennial Minute
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

Bee Centennial Minute

One of my favorite Bicentennial Minute parodies - Garret Morris with a Bee Centennial Minute from the November 15, 1975 SNL.

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January 8, 1976
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

January 8, 1976

Lawrence Luckinbill with his Bicentennial Minute from January 8, 1976.

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Bicentennial Quarters
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

Bicentennial Quarters

The most ubiquitous of all Bicentennial ephemera. Most of mine were spent on comic books.

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Comics!!!
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

Comics!!!

Kirby’s Captain America covers are amazing. Still, I have a very clear memory of reading Superman salutes the Bicentennial while eating a hot-dog at the block party I attended.

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Bicentennial Logo
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

Bicentennial Logo

Created by Bruce Blackburn who also designed a logo for NASA in the 1970s.

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Hysterical History
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

Hysterical History

Topps contribution to Bicentennial-mania. Essentially, wacky packages for history buffs, a too-long ignored audience.

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Daily News
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

Daily News

Fresh from the crook of Paulie’s armpit. Picks for the late daily double at Aqueduct scribbled in the margins. Bet if you dare.

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The Ross Bicentennial
Anthony Ausiello Anthony Ausiello

The Ross Bicentennial

In my humble opinion, the Holy Grail of Bicentennial ephemera. Lucky was the child, like the handsome lad pictured here, who fearlessly roamed the sidewalks atop their Ross Bicentennial commemorative bicycle. Training wheels not included.

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