In the capsule today…
We find the Ideal Toy Company unleashing what would become one the year’s hottest Christmas toys... the Evel Knievel stunt-cycle! The company ended up selling over $125 million worth of Knievel toys over the decade, and the stunt-cycle can fetch many hundreds of dollars today.
We find a teen movie written and directed by George Lucas, exploring cruising culture among a group of high schoolers. The studio hated the film, and almost released it as a made-for-TV movie. Eventually the studio relented, and “American Graffiti” went on to become one of the most profitable films of all time.
And we find a song on the radio by the Doobie Brothers. Lead singer Tom Johnston wrote the tune, though the lyrics kept changing every time he sang it live. When the time came to record it, Tom finalized the lyrics on the toilet at the recording studio, while thinking of freight trains.
What is the year? (answer below).
[Photo: Getty Images]
The year... 1973!