Episode 136: KISS, The Bicentennial and the Year 1976 (Classic)
In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.
Why 1976? Plenty of reasons. We discuss each of our ages in this, the banner year our nation was turning 200 and everything in sight had bunting and was painted red, white and blue. KISS was at the height of their powers as Michael Doret’s amazing album art from Rock and Roll Over was gracing turntables from coast to coast and the timeless bicentennial star logo from designer Bruce Blackburn was on everything from postage stamps to NASA equipment. And last but not least, Richard Nixon enters the conversation (but not the bar).
E X T R A S :
Bicentennial Logo
Official Graphics Standards Manual
Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv Case Study
“The 40-Year-Old Logo America Really Needs Right Now” (Wired Magazine article)
“Another underappreciated part of the USPS? Its exceptional design” Fast Company article (which includes the bicentennial stamp)
Symbols of NASA
(Top to bottom): Michael Doret’s incredible album artwork; the Idea magazine cover, also by Doret, that inspired KISS to reach out to him; a later album by the metal band Anthrax inspired by Doret’s work
KISS Rock and Roll Over
Michael Doret
The Making of a Klassic Kiss Kultural Icon
The IDEA Magazine Inspiration
Strange and Wonderful Coney Island Signage
Dorton Arena (Wikipedia article)
Further Reading:
“America has a new logo for its 250th birthday. Not everyone is impressed” (The current logo and accompanying explanation) from Chermayeff & Geismar & Hadid (Marketing Brew article)
“America250 Underway with Landor Branding” (The initial approach for the 250th anniversary of the United States; we’re not sure what happened.) from Landor (GDUSA article)
