We're all about the history of rock & roll at BoomtownAmerica.com!
Every week, we present “ROCK REMEMBERED,” a deep dive into the hidden history of rock & roll, the stories behind the artists and songs that changed the world. Join host, “Boomtown Bill” Cross each Wednesday at 7 pm (Eastern) with an encore broadcast on Saturday at noon (Eastern).
Join us this Saturday for the seldom-told story of "The Beatles' Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year!"
Return with us to the days when the circus was still a major entertainment attraction, when clowns were funny, not scary and small boys were allowed to roam TV’s vast wasteland years before finding lasting fame as rock stars!
Of course, we’re talking about that TV treasure, Circus Boy, which ran for many a Saturday morning during our youth, but actually began life as a for-real prime-time series. Circus Boy was set in the 1890s which allowed it to cast itself as a sort-of Western (back when that genre ruled the airwaves). Because the circus changes very little from generation to generation, the only way you’d know we were back in the 19th century is the folksy outfits worn by the audiences who gather under the big top as well as the old-fashioned circus wagons and horses we glimpse in those scenes when the show is moving from town to town.
Circus Boy is primarily remembered today as the launching pad for Mickey Dolenz’s show biz career. Using the stage name Mickey Braddock, the future Monkee starred as Corky, the son of circus trapeze artists who died while performing. In the true spirit of 1950s television, Corky is adopted by the entire circus family and in particular, by Joey the Clown, played by a pre-Rockford Files Noah Beery, Jr. Rounding out the rest of the regular cast were Robert Lowery as “Big Tim” Champion, owner and manager of the circus and Guinn Williams as Pete, billed as the circus’ advance man, but always exactly where the circus is playing, never in the next town, where a real advance man would be.
While most shows featured a boy and his dog, Circus Boy featured a boy and his elephant as Corky was paired with the unfortunately named Bimbo the Elephant.
Typically, the plots involved trouble with one of the circus’ acts (a lion tamer who lost his nerve, a high-wire artist whose vanity is ruining the harmony of the troupe, etc.) or trouble in one of the towns they’re playing. Corky is always at the center of the action, frequently receiving the patented fatherly advice most shows of the era were overrun with from Beery’s character, Joey.
The show ran on NBC during the 1956-57 season, then transferred to ABC for a second season. After that, reruns began on Saturday mornings back on NBC in 1958 and eventually on local stations through syndication.
The show was popular with the Boomers, spawning the usual raft of comics books, toys and other merchandise. Today, outside of the connection to the Monkees, the show has been mostly forgotten. It’s a shame because, thanks to its initial run in prime-time, the scripts and production values are higher than the typical Saturday morning fare of that era.
During the early part of the 1960s, the absolute, “must-have” piece of jewelry for young men was the I.D. bracelet, most famously made by Speidel. They were relatively inexpensive as jewelry goes and came in silver or gold.
The purpose of the bracelet was not really to be worn by the male who purchased it and had his first name engraved boldly on it. It was to be given away to his girlfriend, who would then wear it as a symbol that the particular male in question was “taken.” It also provided something concrete that the girl could give back to the guy to establish in physical terms that she was breaking up with him.
The bracelets were large and clunky. They fit on guys’ wrists rather loosely, so you can imagine the trouble some females had keeping them on their arms. But it didn’t matter. Your boyfriend’s letterman jacket could only be worn outdoors (and then only in cooler weather and only if your boyfriend had a letterman jacket), the I.D. bracelet would announce your relationship status no matter where you were or how athletic your boyfriend was.
There is no record of where the fad started, but it faded as the decade wore on. Yet, those bracelets are still available from multiple sources today (including Speidel), so somebody must still be wearing them.
For those who can’t get enough of the Swedish supergroup, we may have good news for you.
In 2021, ABBA surprised everyone by releasing their first album of new material in forty years (Voyager). Their holograms are also playing shows in a specially built theater in the UK. Sadly, there are no further announced projects featuring the four original members, but there have been a number of albums that come close to capturing the ABBA sound.
That’s because Benny Andersson, one of the B’s in ABBA, formed another group called Benny Anderssons Orkester (possessives in Swedish do not use apostrophes). This group has, so far, released six studio albums, a Christmas album, a live album, and two compilation albums.
What sets the group (also known as BAO) apart from most other recording and performing acts is the really eclectic blend of genres they embrace. Each album combines traditional Swedish folk music with classical, pop, and jazz influences. Most of the tracks are pure instrumentals with the occasional vocals being provided by Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg, two performers well-known in Sweden.
While Benny writes all of the original music for the group when they do need lyrics, more often than not, those are provided by the other B in ABBA, Björn Ulvaeus.
BAO has been very successful in their native country. Each of their albums has landed in that country’s top 10, three reaching #1, Their single, "Du Är Min Man" (“You Are My Man”), was featured on the Swedish weekly radio charts for an astounding 258 weeks (spending 65 of those weeks at #1). The group has also toured Sweden where Benny insists that a dance floor be provided in the audience so concertgoers can dance as well as listen.
The group has released one album aimed primarily at an English-speaking audience. Story of a Heart came out in 2009. Released under the name Benny Andersson Band, it charted in both the UK and Norway. The album is a mix of previously released tracks (instrumentals needing no translation) and English-language versions of some of their more popular songs.
So, if you’re still looking for more ABBA-flavored pop, be advised that each album contains tunes well outside the boundaries of conventional pop and rock. But the most ABBA-like tunes in the BAO catalog include (the first four all feature English lyrics):
“Story of a Heart”
"Fait Accompli"
“Crush on You”
“You Are My Man” (Re-recording of "Du Är Min Man" with English lyrics)
“Bara, Bara Du” (“Only, Only You”)
“En Dag i Sänder” (“One Day at a Time”)
“Hem Till Mamma” (“Home to Mamma”)
As we age, our bones lose some of their density. But there are some exercises that can help your bones maintain their health.
If running isn’t the right fit for you, experts say go for a walk and stomp your foot 2 or 3 times every 10 steps (alternating feet, naturally).Pretend like you're trying to crush an empty soda can. That can actually help stimulate and protect your bones.
BTW – walking on real ground rather than a treadmill is also better for your legs.