1970s Archives - Awful Library Books

The Cycle Jumpers

March 9, 2022 Mary Kelly Sports, Games, and Exercise 3 comments

The Cycle Jumpers
Spiegel
1974

It’s time for another Evel Kneivel book. This little paperback is still alive and kicking at a library. This paperback should have been weeded on condition, and evidently the owning library taped it enough to survive a nuclear war. I can’t believe it wasn’t weeded when libraries were went to computers in the mid 1990s. It also has an RFID tag. I would be willing to bet the tag cost more than the book. My favorite part is the blurb on the back cover that says “exciting black and white photos”.

Remember, paperbacks are not intended to last 50 years. This is also geared to kids. Why rescue a paperback that won’t get any play from the kids. Maybe they can read it with Grandma and Grandpa.

No! Knot Again!

March 3, 2022 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 6 comments

Macrame
Bogen
1974

Time to take another ride in the way back machine to the early 1970s for some more groovy macrame. There are some nice choices in accessories for both home and to wear. Note the collar necklace. I am trying to think of an occasion that would call for such a necklace, but I am fresh out of ideas. Maybe you should pair it with the “skirt” featured in the next picture. (I think it goes without saying that you will need some kind of legging under the skirt.)

In the final picture there is a “vest” to wear, which I thought was a tote bag. Of course I have to wonder what one would wear underneath. Next to the vest there is some kind of costume. Maybe it is for a Halloween party where you are dressed up as a macrame wall hanging.

70s TV for the youngsters

February 24, 2022 Mary Kelly Entertainment 23 comments

TV Album
Herz
1978

If you are under the age of 50 or so, you might not recognize some of these programs unless you got lucky in re-runs. This little paperback is made up of what looks like publicity stills and script summaries. It’s pretty much a “meh” choice in the late 1970s.

We have featured a bunch of these nonfiction tv profiles for kids. Check it out here, here, and here. They are basically all the same book. The author, Peggy Herz has written a bunch of books about television shows for the juvenile audience for Scholastic.

David Cassidy-Teen Idol

February 18, 2022 Mary Kelly Biography 7 comments

Meet David Cassidy
Hudson
1972

As the resident “elder” at ALB, I can tell you that Cassidy was all that and a bag of chips in the early 1970s. Since this was the early 1970s and Cassidy was about 22, so this is mostly just fluff and stuff about the television show. I would imagine this was probably done by a publicity department with stills from the shows and his concerts.

Cassidy struggled with his fame and public perception his whole life. Struggles with alcoholism, issues with his father, the actor Jack Cassidy and toward the end of his life, dementia. Cassidy did pen a couple of memoirs: C’mon, Get Happy … Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus 1994 and Could It Be Forever? My Story 2007. Cassidy died in 2017.

The “Now” Look

December 6, 2021 Mary Kelly Be Pretty, Guy Stuff 6 comments

Complete Book of Men’s Hairstyles and Hair Care
Rudoy and Cordwell
1974

Men! Are you in the market for a new look? This is your chance to make a statement with your hair. All the favorite looks are here. Try the California look. The long hair with curled ends really goes together with a stylish leisure suit. You will also be happy to know that sideburns can go well with the center-parted smooth short look. It’s not a hippie look, but short and modern. This is your chance to be fashionable, but not sloppy.

Groovy Teen Decor

October 18, 2021 Mary Kelly Home and Garden, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 19 comments

New Young Ideas in Decorating
Walton
1970

Groovy teens everywhere will want to get their own rooms in shape…just like Grandma. All the decorating fads of the late 1960s and the early 1970s are here. Street signs? Check. Beaded curtains? Check. Gauzy drapes? Check. Peace sign? Double check. In 1970 this would have been nice choice for the young adult collection. The entire book reminded me of Rhoda’s Minneapolis apartment from the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Bicentennial Beef

October 7, 2021 Mary Kelly You Ate What? 8 comments

The Bicentennial Beef Cookbook
The 100 Greatest Beef Dishes of America’s First 200 Years
Beef Industry Council
1975

I was in high school at the time of the never to be forgotten US Bicentennial. Just about every product made seemed to issue a special bicentennial version of whatever was produced. I imagine this cookbook was probably one of a thousand “special” cookbooks published in honor of the bicentennial. (I posted last year about a Bicentennial leftover from my own weeding project.)

As you can see from the totally appetizing pictures, you are really missing some serious culinary highlights in meat. Remember the subtitle is The 100 Greatest Beef Dishes of America’s first 200 years. I can imagine that great historical moment when George Washington begs Martha to make Blanketed Meat Loaf after that tough winter at Valley Forge.

Finger Craft

September 20, 2021 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 7 comments

The Basic Book of Finger Weaving
Dendel
1974

Another craptastic craft book for your consideration. The copy I happened to see was pretty beat up. That said, all I had to do was note the quasi “harvest gold” palette of colors to determine that this book was straight out of the 1970s. Looking at the crafts, you can see this is related to the macrame books of the same era. Everyone knew about macrame, but I never heard the term finger weaving used.

Of course we have some perennial 1970s looks: ponchos, vests, and a decorative collar. I believe I have seen a similar example of an afghan on every couch when I was a kid.

This is a weeder. The dirt on the book and a somewhat broken binding qualifies it for the recycle pile. Retro crafts can be something fun, but how about a book from this century?