Things that have started AND ended in the last 50 years
June 16, 2023 6:16 AM Subscribe
If something started in 1973 and is still going, what has it outlasted?
I'm blocked on a toast for a 50th anniversary. I feel like this approach has some potential, but google is too bad to help me right now. Because it's for a happy occasion I'd prefer things that are funny and not too dark, but we're Jewish, so a little dark is fine. (Please don't ask ChatGPT, I could do that myself if I wanted to relentlessly fact-check a robot.)
I'm blocked on a toast for a 50th anniversary. I feel like this approach has some potential, but google is too bad to help me right now. Because it's for a happy occasion I'd prefer things that are funny and not too dark, but we're Jewish, so a little dark is fine. (Please don't ask ChatGPT, I could do that myself if I wanted to relentlessly fact-check a robot.)
Response by poster: One provision I should maybe add: obviously many many many many things have begun and ended during this time, so the longer-running, more indelible things are preferred. In the field of TV shows, for instance, outlasting Seinfeld is a good one, outlasting Peaky Blinders is less useful. Okay I'll go away!
posted by babelfish at 6:28 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by babelfish at 6:28 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
The US Space Shuttle program lasted from 1972 to 2011.
Playgirl magazine lasted from 1973 to 2015.
The Sony Walkman was from 1975 to 2010.
The Floppy disk first appeared in 1971.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:33 AM on June 16, 2023 [19 favorites]
Playgirl magazine lasted from 1973 to 2015.
The Sony Walkman was from 1975 to 2010.
The Floppy disk first appeared in 1971.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:33 AM on June 16, 2023 [19 favorites]
There's a lot of technology that's been introduced and become obsolete in that time. Betamax was first released in 1975. I'm surprised that the recorders, per Wikipedia, weren't discontinued until 2002. I'm not sure whether you'd consider VHS as being outlasted or not, since it still exists and people use it.
I'm sure there are many bands, but someone younger that I am should weigh in on that, since all my favorite bands predate that era. The only thing that comes to mind for me is Milli Vanili.
Political careers could work. Gary Hart's presidential aspirations maybe. JFK Jr.'s magazine George lasted from 1995 until 2001, though I don't know how well people remember it now.
posted by FencingGal at 6:36 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm sure there are many bands, but someone younger that I am should weigh in on that, since all my favorite bands predate that era. The only thing that comes to mind for me is Milli Vanili.
Political careers could work. Gary Hart's presidential aspirations maybe. JFK Jr.'s magazine George lasted from 1995 until 2001, though I don't know how well people remember it now.
posted by FencingGal at 6:36 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: What about local businesses whereever you live? That restaurant/bar everyone knows, but closed down after 50 years in business.
posted by jozxyqk at 6:39 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by jozxyqk at 6:39 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: In addition to TV shows, food items have a tendency to come and go, e.g. The Choco Taco (1983-2022).
More concretely, ports stadiums also tend to have a lifespan under 50 years. Giants Stadium was open 1976-2010, though the groundbreaking was late 1972.
posted by thecaddy at 6:41 AM on June 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
More concretely, ports stadiums also tend to have a lifespan under 50 years. Giants Stadium was open 1976-2010, though the groundbreaking was late 1972.
posted by thecaddy at 6:41 AM on June 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
I googled for celebrities married that year. Jane Fonda/Tom Haden (divorced 1990) and Farrah Fawcett/Lee Majors (divorced 1982) seem the most recognizable to me. Also, people who have been married for fifty years (if this is a wedding anniversary) will remember the famously short Cher/Greg Allman marriage (1973-1974). That got a lot of press.
posted by FencingGal at 6:47 AM on June 16, 2023
posted by FencingGal at 6:47 AM on June 16, 2023
Best answer: Martina Navratilova played professional tennis from 1974 to 2006. She had the longest career of any professional tennis player
posted by cali59 at 7:01 AM on June 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by cali59 at 7:01 AM on June 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
I'm surprised that the recorders, per Wikipedia, weren't discontinued until 2002.
In my first television production job, in the very early 90s, we used Betamax. I'm assuming it was common in the industry even if consumers didn't favor it, and that the manufacturers continued to support industry use for a while.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 7:06 AM on June 16, 2023
In my first television production job, in the very early 90s, we used Betamax. I'm assuming it was common in the industry even if consumers didn't favor it, and that the manufacturers continued to support industry use for a while.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 7:06 AM on June 16, 2023
There are a number of nations and political entities that formed in 1973 or after, some of which no longer exist. The nation of Serbia and Montenegro comes to mind. Most of these involved involved civil wars, so maybe not the best subject for an anniversary toast.
There are probably a number of manmade lakes that were created by dams since 1973 that have since been removed, although I haven't had much luck finding one with a quick web search.
posted by adamrice at 7:14 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
There are probably a number of manmade lakes that were created by dams since 1973 that have since been removed, although I haven't had much luck finding one with a quick web search.
posted by adamrice at 7:14 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The UK's membership of the EEC/EU: 1973-2020, alas.
posted by misteraitch at 7:57 AM on June 16, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by misteraitch at 7:57 AM on June 16, 2023 [13 favorites]
Just over 5% of the US population born in 1973 were no longer alive in 2021.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:34 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:34 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Having a Designated Hitter in one baseball league? (Rule was introduced in 1973, AL-only until 2020/22)
posted by staggernation at 8:49 AM on June 16, 2023
posted by staggernation at 8:49 AM on June 16, 2023
Best answer: Probably a little too dark, but the World Trade Center opened on April 4, 1973.
posted by neroli at 8:57 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by neroli at 8:57 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The VCR
The Space Race, the Berlin Wall AND the Cold War (all a bit earlier than 1973 but I think you can fudge it)
New Coke
Entertainment Weekly
8 Track Tapes
ShowBiz Pizza
Compact Discs
PT Cruisers
The Space Shuttle
Three Mile Island (10 / 1974 - 9 / 2019)
posted by Mchelly at 8:57 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Space Race, the Berlin Wall AND the Cold War (all a bit earlier than 1973 but I think you can fudge it)
New Coke
Entertainment Weekly
8 Track Tapes
ShowBiz Pizza
Compact Discs
PT Cruisers
The Space Shuttle
Three Mile Island (10 / 1974 - 9 / 2019)
posted by Mchelly at 8:57 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Blockbuster Video, even though it lives on in some form, the stores are gone. Probably other retail operations, as well. Also, lots of automobile makes, for example the AMC Pacer (1975-1980) and the VW New (and newer) Beetles (1997-2011-2019).
posted by Rash at 10:14 AM on June 16, 2023
posted by Rash at 10:14 AM on June 16, 2023
Regarding obsolete, post-1973 storage media, I wouldn't be so quick to relegate the Compact Disk to the dustbin of history (in fact one hears of a revival in some quarters) but I think the Floppy Disc is pretty much there and (even though I'm a collector) the Minidisc, as well.
posted by Rash at 10:27 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Rash at 10:27 AM on June 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Musical groups could be a good category for you, and Wikipedia seems to have a bunch of pages along the lines of groups formed in 1972 (e.g., ABBA, Styx, Twisted Sister) and 1973 (e.g., AC/DC, Ultravox, KC and the Sunshine Band). Maybe there's an act that has meaning to the toastees which is recently defunct?
posted by Rumple at 11:37 AM on June 16, 2023
posted by Rumple at 11:37 AM on June 16, 2023
Best answer: Several electronics companies: Namco, Gateway, Atari, Compaq, e machines, Next
And retailers: Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry’s, The Good Guys, the Sharper Image, Hollywood Video, Waldenbooks, Tuesday Morning
And internet companies: Prodigy, AOL, Netscape, Alta Vista, etc.
posted by Just the one swan, actually at 11:44 AM on June 16, 2023
And retailers: Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry’s, The Good Guys, the Sharper Image, Hollywood Video, Waldenbooks, Tuesday Morning
And internet companies: Prodigy, AOL, Netscape, Alta Vista, etc.
posted by Just the one swan, actually at 11:44 AM on June 16, 2023
Also, those lists are not necessarily complete, Devo isn't on them for example. The parallel lists from Wikipedia like "1973 the year in music" might be useful, for example, e.g., Dark Side of the Moon was released, ELO makes their debut appearance, James Taylor and Carly Simon get married (that has potential lol) etc.) Trick is to find something that resonates.
There's also things like 1973 - year in film - births: Adrien Brody, Neil Patrick Harris, Mos Def) anyway for such lists maybe finding something from the specific day the anniversary commemorates is a related angle, e.g. "so and so were married on April 5th, the same day Pioneer 11 was launched, which has now left the solar system."
posted by Rumple at 11:49 AM on June 16, 2023
There's also things like 1973 - year in film - births: Adrien Brody, Neil Patrick Harris, Mos Def) anyway for such lists maybe finding something from the specific day the anniversary commemorates is a related angle, e.g. "so and so were married on April 5th, the same day Pioneer 11 was launched, which has now left the solar system."
posted by Rumple at 11:49 AM on June 16, 2023
the whole idea of video rentals came and went within that time (I'm sure some still exist somewhere but in general, that's not how we home movie anymore)
posted by kokaku at 12:13 PM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by kokaku at 12:13 PM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Marathon Bar (chocolate-and-caramel, 8" long, ruler on the candy wrapper; 1973-1981)
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:45 PM on June 16, 2023
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:45 PM on June 16, 2023
Rash: I think the Floppy Disc is pretty much there and (even though I'm a collector) the Minidisc, as well.
The way I read the question the OP is looking for something remarkably long-lived, but not exceeding 50 years. So MiniDisc wouldn't fit that bill as its lifespan was maybe a decade and a half. Floppies, in contrast, could still be considered living, being used, and especially so as media is being refurbished, even though Sony, the last manufacturer, halted production over a decade ago.
When looking at motor cars there are indeed some long-lived models, although it could be seriously argued that e.g. the first VW Golf introduced in 1974 shows too little similarity to the current Golf 6 to be considered the same car. In contrast the Renault 4 barely changed beyond some cosmetics over its 32-year production (the Citroen 2CV managed just over 50 years, so hors concours). There will likely be several workhorses on such a list: pickups and panel vans that had long production runs with little change over the years; one example being the Citroen HY at 34 years.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:00 PM on June 16, 2023
The way I read the question the OP is looking for something remarkably long-lived, but not exceeding 50 years. So MiniDisc wouldn't fit that bill as its lifespan was maybe a decade and a half. Floppies, in contrast, could still be considered living, being used, and especially so as media is being refurbished, even though Sony, the last manufacturer, halted production over a decade ago.
When looking at motor cars there are indeed some long-lived models, although it could be seriously argued that e.g. the first VW Golf introduced in 1974 shows too little similarity to the current Golf 6 to be considered the same car. In contrast the Renault 4 barely changed beyond some cosmetics over its 32-year production (the Citroen 2CV managed just over 50 years, so hors concours). There will likely be several workhorses on such a list: pickups and panel vans that had long production runs with little change over the years; one example being the Citroen HY at 34 years.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:00 PM on June 16, 2023
If it's not too dark, you could add any number of celebrities who died young to the list: Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, Jeff Buckley, Chadwick Bozeman, etc.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:31 PM on June 16, 2023
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:31 PM on June 16, 2023
MTV as a station that plays music videos came and went during that time.
PS Retailer Tuesday Morning still exists.
posted by MexicanYenta at 5:35 PM on June 16, 2023
PS Retailer Tuesday Morning still exists.
posted by MexicanYenta at 5:35 PM on June 16, 2023
the whole idea of video rentals came and went within that time
So did the whole idea of video TAPE:
VHS: 1976 - 2016
Beta: 1975 - 2016
(For that matter, LaserDisc as well: 1978 - 2009)
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 12:11 AM on June 19, 2023
So did the whole idea of video TAPE:
VHS: 1976 - 2016
Beta: 1975 - 2016
(For that matter, LaserDisc as well: 1978 - 2009)
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 12:11 AM on June 19, 2023
Saturn car company (1985-2010)
Chrysler Town & Country minivan (1990-2016)
Honda Prelude (1978-2001)
posted by mahorn at 7:30 PM on June 20, 2023
Chrysler Town & Country minivan (1990-2016)
Honda Prelude (1978-2001)
posted by mahorn at 7:30 PM on June 20, 2023
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posted by NotLost at 6:21 AM on June 16, 2023 [1 favorite]