Generation Gap, Beatle decorations v. Sinatra records
November 18, 2009 – 5:09 pm
April 7, 1968
The gulf between the generations plays out in the advertisements in Family Weekly magazine. In the spring after the Summer of Love in 1967 the generation gap could be measured here.
In the near corner, weighing in teen age – Complete set of 20 Wide-Eyed dancers and decorations that will magically convert walls into gaily colored room setting.
Beatle haircuts and mod styling mixed with images of malt shops, transistor radios, portable phonographs and corded phone. Uncoolness alert, malt shops were a 1950’s icon. Price, ALL 20 only $1. (Extra set makes a perfect gift.) No actual Beatles were harmed in the creation of this wall art.
In the far corner, weighing in at a sensible adult’s age – Frank Sinatra, The songs…the style…the magic moments of music…that won him fame as the most fabulous entertainer of our time.
Ole blue eyes croons in a necktie and hat classic songs like”Young
At Heart” and “High Hopes”. Price, 6-record album set of 60 songs for $14.95
Both ads show round platter shaped high fidelity discs of vinyl.
I have to admit, I am more open to the idea of a Sinatra song today than in 1968, but I am more likely to buy the remastered Beatles albums than a Sinatra set. My mind began to open to Sinatra after the crooner’s cameo in Roger Rabbit as the singing sword, warbleing the song “Witchcraft”. The intro to Married with Children with the song “Love and Marriage” was another interesting placement.
Don’t know if anyone can make “High Hopes” a bearable song. (If not absolutely delighted, return it and pay nothing.)
Keep the generation gap alive, post a comment. Beatles or Sinatra?
2 Responses to “Generation Gap, Beatle decorations v. Sinatra records”
Although I’m a lifelong Beatles fan, I got introduced to Frank Sinatra — not by my parents or grandparents — but by my peers during the brief-lived swing craze of the late 1990s.
Suddenly, hep kats and kittens everywhere were polishing their wingtip shoes, piling their mop-tops into pompadours and dusting off their record players. Bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Squirrel Nut Zipper reigned supreme.
It was in that heady atmosphere, enveloped in a comforting mist of economic boom times and Aquanet hairspray, that I first hear Ol’ Blue Eyes’ melodic voice. (I had been listening to Nat King Cole sing since grade school, of course.) His albums “Frank Sinatra Sings For Only the Lonely” and “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers” made me an instant fan.
So, to answer your question, I’m both a Beatles fan and a Sinatra fan. I’m in my late 20s.
Now, here’s another query: Beatles or Rolling Stones?
By Sarah on Nov 18, 2009
he’s got high hopes. Sarah, BEATLES OF COURSE. and frankie boy. i saw him the other day when he was a very young man. hot dang he was cute.
By nancy on Nov 19, 2009