A Very Bionic Christmas, 1978

Nothing says Christmas like Col. Steve Austin beating down a bad guy in a department store. And, of course, nothing says Christmas classic like a poor voice actor doing his best to make kids believe he's Lee Majors.

The all-knowing Bionic Wiki has the story behind this effort. A kind YouTuber has uploaded one of its bionic tales for your listening pleasure.

-- Joal R.

Snapshot No. 12: A Long Time Ago...

We found this ultra-cool, ultra-definitive shot of a Star Wars Christmas via illustrator Jason Chalker's Flickr page. That's the 1978 version of Jason showing off his haul at the homefront in Abilene, Texas. As Jason tells us:

"I was so damn excited about the toys. Especially the Stormtrooper blaster. It was killing me having to wait for my mom to take pictures. All I wanted to do was bust open the toys, and start playing."

Thanks, Jason, for getting us geeked, too. Got a story and a picture to share yourself? Email away!

-- Joal R.

Ruh-Roh, 1978

I picked this up a few years ago at a thrift store. The collection is nothing special (Roger Whittaker, Arthur Fiedler, Robert Shaw Chorale, zzz...) The dog with the Alpo face is awesome.

--Joal R.

Snapshot No. 6: The Year I Got an Oscar

As I've written, despite my interest in Christmas in the 1970s, I don't have a lot of pictures of my own 1970s Christmastime self.

Which makes the shot to your left all the more precious.

It's from 1978. I'm 11. I'm holding a bag of off-market Bubble Yum, and an Oscar Goldman "action" figure. My father's standing behind me, and my older brother's to the left, but I cropped them out because, well, would you really be able to see them anyway? It is not often, after all, one is confronted by such stunning dorkiness.

And, no, I'm not talking about Oscar Goldman. I would never, ever trash talk a doll that came armed with an exploding suitcase.

--Joal R.

Michael Jackson Holidays on "Sesame Street"

And, in retrospect, it's too bad for his own good that he didn't move there permanently. No way Oscar would have stood for talk of Diprivan near his can. A tough-love sort if ever there was one.

--Joal R.