The Great Debate of 1972, A Give-Away, & My First Brush with Fame

I am not referring to the Presidential debate between contenders Nixon and McGovern. Two recent thrift store finds prompted a very vivid memory, and I thought I'd share it with you.

I was twelve years old and the greatest debate running around Robious Road Elementary school in Richmond, VA between me and my friends concerned who was better: David Cassidy or Bobby Sherman? The factions in my sixth grade class were strongly divided. The David Cassidy supporters sang "I Think I Love You" at recess and extolled the virtues of travelling with your mom and multiple siblings on a psychadelic bus to different rock and roll gigs in such exotic locales as Knott's Berry Farm. David Cassidy had winged bangs which pre-dated Farrah Fawcett, and he sang into his microphone with his head tilted as if he sincerely believed every word. I didn't like him much. I thought he was skinny and looked like a girl.

I was on the Bobby Sherman side of the debate. Bobby was a few years older than David. He was more rugged looking. He had blue eyes that could penetrate your soul. And he sang songs like "Hey, Little Woman," which I swore were for girls like me--heck, I thought it was written for me! He was in a show called "Here Come the Brides" about a bunch of sex-starved loggers in Seattle who traveled all the way to Boston (with no Panama Canal!) to pick up a bunch of women who would be their "brides", but I don't think anyone ever got married in that show, hmmm. I found Bobby more "earthy" and well, sexier than David Cassidy, if I had any concept of what sexy was when I was twelve. This record album, which I found at a thrift store the other day, fully explains my point.

I had this album and hung it on the back of my bedroom door. Sigh. And if you don't believe me when I say Bobby Sherman could beat David Cassidy in a "zoolander" style walk off, may I present this:

Check out the fringes! I did a little reserach and found out today that Bobby is a policeman in California, a grandfather, and still ruggedly handsome.

Now, I know that some of my blogland friends will have no idea about who these guys are. But I bet you have had your own similar debates when you were twelve. Did you argue over who was the yummier: Simon LeBon of Duran Duran OR George Michael of Wham! Or did you and your friends argue about who was cuter: Andy Gibb OR Leif Garrett?

Would you like to share with the rest of us? Please leave a comment to this post with the name of your heartthrob when you were twelve. If you say your heartthrob was David Cassidy, I promise I won't hold it against you. I'll draw a name on Sunday morning, September 14th for these fun books and groovy stickers!

Flower power stickers and two cool craft books! Just leave a comment by midnight EST Saturday (9/13) and you may win them all!

OK, I promised to tell you about my first brush with fame. Again, I was twelve and I read 16 Magazine like a fiend! Bobby Sherman had another TV show (which Ironically was a spin-off from The Partridge Family) called "Getting Together". His guest star was Wes Stern. I thought Wes was quite cute too. I even wrote him a letter care of 16 Magazine. My first fan letter. I thought Bobby probably got enough letters, and that Wes might appreciate one from me.

Well, I was SHOCKED when I got a letter from the editor telling me that I had won the Super Dream in their monthly Dreamsville contest! I about died! My friends didn't believe me until I showed them this:

Apparently Wes Stern was hanging around the 16 Magazine offices and read my fan letter. I can't remember what I wrote to garner such praise from this actor (no doubt highly embellished b y the editorial staff), but it didn't matter. I won an autographed picture, 16 Magazine subscription, lavender turtleneck, blue love beads, and a transistor radio! See Wes holding my goodies? And if you are like my 6th grade friends MaryBeth, Pam, Kim, Susan, and Becky and don't believe me, here's proof:

I still blush at being called a "Super-Dream doll." The language of this article screams 70's! Believe it or not I still have the radio, necklace, and turtleneck packed away in my parent's attic.

Thanks for letting me take you on this journey of my life in 1972. It was fun for me too! Now I need to put Bobby on my i-Pod.~~~Don't forget to comment and tell us your heartthrob when you were twelve! International comments welcome too!~~~Have a lovely day, and to all of my blogland pals on the Gulf coast, stay safe!~~~XXOO, Beth