The Baby Boomer Radio, TV, Movies, Magazines, Music, Comics, Fads, Toys, Fun, and More Show!

We're talking about novelty shops, joke shops, and gag gifts on this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site. Mike, Smitty, and Mike Z recall the great catalogs such as the Johnson-Smith catalog of days gone by where you could order all kinds of gag gifts, and novelty items. Such classic items as the squirting lapel flower, and hand buzzer are well remembered. We also talk about the walk-in joke and...

Surplus stores, electronic mail-order supply houses of the past, and correspondence schools are the topics on this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site. Mike Z shares his memories of growing up in New York and visiting the shops on Canal Street in lower Manhattan. He describes some of the neat items one could find back in these stores back in the day. Mike B shares his experiences going to the sh...

It's Christmas time here on Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site as Mike, Smitty, and George reflect upon TV Christmas shows and specials of the past. George shares wonderful insight on how these special programs from the 50s and 60s placed emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas: The Birth of Christ. The meaning and devotion placed into the many variety specials of the day are recalled. We also remember...

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World! Mike Z joins Smitty and Mike as we remember this classic 1963 motion picture. The greatest gathering of comedians and funny people to ever appear in a film. This extravaganza of a film is still remembered by many to this day, not only those old enough to recall when it first came out, but newer generations who appreciate the humor and storyline of this film. Mike...

December 7, 2011 marks the 70th anniversary of the attack of Pearl Harbor. On this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, we commemorate that anniversary, briefly recounting the events leading up to Japan's attack on that Sunday morning in 1941. How that attack was reported by radio, and what the impact was across the country. The nation mobilized as it entered World War II. Mike talks about the b...

Do you know who the "Englishman from St. Louis, Missouri" is? If you guessed Vincent Price, you are correct! On this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, we remember Vincent Price, who would have been 100 years old this year. We recall his long and varied career, from his first films, through his famous Rap on Michael Jackson's Thriller. Mr. Price was one of our favorite horror movie stars and e...

San Diego radio personality Jeff Prescott joins the Galaxy Gang to discuss the world of newspapers. Jeff is a collector of vintage newspapers. His knowledge on the acquisition, and preservation of vintage newspapers will be of interest to those who might be considering starting their own collections. In addition, Jeff talks to us about the way newspapers were printed back in earlier times. He tell...

The title of this episode of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site is "Man, Moon, Media, and Myth". We are pleased to welcome George Haloulakos to our program. George, a professor at a local university and Sci-Fi enthusiast, and his father have written a thesis titled "The Science of Space Flight in Classic Sci-Fi Cinema". The focus of this paper is on the space flight technology featured in the 1964 un-aire...

We remember a number of musical artists and song writers, among others, who passed away in the previous months. Such notables as Jerry Lieber, Nick Ashford, Dan Peek, and Norma Zimmer are recalled. Mike, Smitty, and Ian pause to mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. They recall how they first heard the news, and their recollections of that sad day. In addition, that day is equa...

Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site is pleased to present our very first hour-long program. Mike and Smitty pay a visit to legendary San Diego Radio Personality Jack Vincent. Jack is the dean of San Diego Radio Broadcasters. A youngster who is approaching his 94th birthday, Jack recalls his long and interesting life, his early years, his varied jobs, his service in the Marines, and his many years at famed...

On this episode of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, we remember Gettysburg, both the town and the battle. Ian recalls details of the brutal battle that ensued there on July first through third, 1863. Smitty and Mike add their thoughts on this turning point of the Civil War. Mike tells us all about slot cars. Remember the slot car tracks you could go to back in the 1960s? You could race your slot car ag...

Remember the music known as "Sunshine Pop"? On this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, Mike presents an engaging look back at this sub-genre of music from the 60s and 70s. Such artists as Peppermint Rainbow, The Fifth Dimension, and The Beach Boys all had songs that were Sunshine Pop hits. Mike relates the need for escape that these songs provided at a time when so much social upheaval was hap...

Do you remember Jackie Cooper? He was the child star in the "Our Gang" Comedies, acted with Wallace Beery in "The Champ", and years later as an adult had comedic roles on TV in "People's Choice" and "Hennesey". On this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, Ian Rose recalls the career of Jackie Cooper. Not only as an actor but also as producer and director. An individual with a versatile and long-...

The dawn of motion pictures on this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, as the G-Men welcome San Diego film historian Wade Douglas. We remember Allan Dwan, an early film director with the "American Film Manufacturing Company", headquartered in the La Mesa area of San Diego, back in 1911. We recall Dwan's early work in this region, and Wade tells us about a commemorative plaque that will be unve...

How about a nice, cold bottle of Bubble Up? Or maybe Nesbitt's Orange? Or Pennsylvania Punch? Mike and Smitty stop in to the Soda Pop Stop in Highland Park, California, near Pasadena, and visit with John Nese, the proprietor of this great store. Here you can purchase those great old-time sodas, bottled today just as they were years ago. Many of these sodas are bottled by micro-bottlers, small bott...

Smitty and Mike continue their Los Angeles road trip and meet with Bill Earl, notable LA radio historian. Bill is a leading authority on the history of Los Angeles Top 40 Radio, and the state of radio in this region in the 1960s and 70s. Bill remembers how the gift of a six-transistor pocket radio from his late uncle, introduced him to the world of AM Top 40 Radio. Bill talks about legendary stati...

Mike and Smitty continue their visit with legendary Los Angeles Radio and TV personality Larry Van Nuys. In this second part of our interview, Larry recalls his days on LA television. Larry remembers his days as host of "Help Thy Neighbor", an innovative reality program where local residents sought assistance in solving all kinds of problems from viewers. Larry recalls his work on the Arthritis Te...

Mike and Smitty pay a visit to legendary Los Angeles Radio and TV personality Larry Van Nuys. Larry joins the G-Men for the first of a two-part interview. Larry remembers his early days in Los Angeles Radio and TV. Some of the radio stations Larry has worked at were KNX, KGIL, KMPC, and KFI. His work in television included stations KTLA and KCOP, along with numerous stations around the country whe...

3-D Movies are on tap on this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site. Ian Rose recalls the 3-D Movie phenomenon of the 1950's. Remember the first 3-D Movie? It was Bwana Devil. Other movies such as "House of Wax" are recalled by the three G-Men. Put your 3-D glasses on and join in the fun! Mike and Smitty talk about vintage telephones. Can they still work today? Possibly. Listen in for details. Tel...

Ian Rose remembers George Reeves, who is best known for the role of Superman. Ian recalls Reeves' work in another classic film: "From Here to Eternity". Ian tells us interesting facts about this movie, and the part which Reeves played in it. The G-Men talk about the various Superman films, and TV shows throughout the years. If you have wondered what the title of our theme music is, and who it's pe...

May 26, 1971: Don McLean's classic tune "American Pie" makes it's debut on the American music scene. On this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, Mike recalls this iconic song on it's 40th anniversary, and tells us the story of how it came to be. Mike tells us the meaning of some of the lyrics, and some interesting facts that this song conveys in it's words that describe the era of the 1950s and...

Time for a field trip as Mike and Smitty visit John Fox, chief engineer of San Diego County's newest FM station, KOPA 91.3 FM. This station known as Rez Radio, is owned by the Pala Band of Mission Indians and serves the Pala area with programming of interest to the community. We talk to John about his experiences and career in radio, and how he came to be at KOPA 91.3 FM. In addition, Galaxy Moonb...

What does the term "Pirate Radio" mean to you? On this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, Mike tells us all we need to know about Pirate Radio stations. What they were, how they operated, and what they did. Mike recalls his experiences with Pirate Radio, and how some of these operations, although not legal, helped young people interested in radio broadcasting to hone their skills. Ian Rose tri...

Smitty and Mike take a field trip on this edition of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site. The guys are at the Greater San Diego Post Card and Paper Collectibles Show. Learn all about the different types of paper collectibles from Jeremy Leroque, the promoter of this and other paper shows in California and the West Coast. Jeremy tells us what you might find at these shows, what to look for, and what to do i...

We recall the 75th anniversary of Flash Gordon, the Universal Studios science fiction serial that was a standard of the 1930s. These were later seen on early TV in the early 1950s. Ian Rose gives us the details of these serials, the plots, the stars, and all the things that make these old serials so well-remembered. Mike tells us all about Tiger Beat Fan Magazine, the 1960s teen and pre-teen magaz...