On this day April 11
April 11 is a busy day.
It is National Poetry Day in Hungary, World Parkinson’s Day Internationally and International Louie Louie Day. In the US it is National Barber Shop Quartet Day, National Cheese Fondue Day, National Eight Track Tape Day, National Pet Day, National Submarine Day and finally National Teach Children to Save Day. I found all this on a site called … “There is a Day for That.” And I’m certain if I kept searching I’d find many more holidays.
Out of all these days National Eight Track Tape Day struck a chord in me because I remember the excitement of getting an 8 track player when I was a kid. The whole phenomenon was such a short lived thing … about 20 years.
These tapes were popular from the mid 1960’s to the early 1980’s. The tape was created in 1964 by Bill Lear of Lear Jet with Ampex, Ford, GM, Motorola and RCA. And the first player was released in 1965.
Interestingly, the player was an upgrade option in the new 1966 Ford Thunderbird, Mustang and Lincoln cars. And became an upgrade option in all its 1967 models. Popularity of the eight track tape reached its peak around ‘78 and losing popularity by ‘82 or so. Who knew.
Thanks for reading.
Until the next time.