BRIGHT LIGHTS & SURF

At first glance, these pictures may seem the same, but look a little closer and you'll see the differences.  Dating from August 1972, the photos come from Jacksonville, according to the Florida State Archives.  More specifically, they're obviously from the Beaches area, but does anyone know the exact location?  Or the circumstances surrounding this colorful carnival?

A few of these surfside revelers may've been sporting the once-popular "Archie Bunker for President" buttons, since the presidential election lay only three months away.  The taboo-breaking "All in the Family" had already climbed to the top of TV ratings, and it was around this time that an infamous magazine unsuccessfully offered $1 million to a slim Sally Struthers to pose nude.  During the election, George McGovern badly failed to unseat President Nixon, who tried to insure a victory anyway with his Watergate antics.  Neither candidate had to seriously worry about the racist demagogue George Wallace from Alabama after a crazed assassin shot and paralyzed him in May.  Reportedly, the would-be assassin, Arthur Bremer, served as the inspiration for Robert DeNiro's creepy character in the bloody 1976 film "Taxi Driver."

Violence dominated four of the five most popular movies in '72.  From #1 to #5, they were "The Godfather," "The Poseidon Adventure," "What's Up Doc?," "Deliverance" ("Come on, boy, you can squeal louder than that!"), and "Jeremiah Johnson." Music-wise, 1972 proved a pivotal year, according to About.com.  The '60s psychedelia gave way to an authentic '70s sound, featuring stars like Elton John, Roberta Flack, Mac Davis, and Cat Stevens.  How many of the year's top tunes do you remember? 

#1 -- "American Pie" from Don McLean, who actually did continue to play this epic in concert, contrary to urban legend.

#2 -- "Alone Again (Naturally)" from Gilbert O'Sullivan, an Irish singer once popular in both Britain and America.

#3 -- "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," from Roberta Flack, who achieved her first hit because Clint Eastwood put this gorgeous song in a nude love scene in his blood-drenched thriller "Play Misty for Me."

#4 -- "Without You," from the late, legendary Harry Nilsson, John Lennon's former drinking buddy, whose brother has served as a teacher in Palatka, Florida, for many years.

#5 -- "Lean On Me," from Bill Withers, who penned this emotional song in honor of his co-workers at an airplane factory.

#6 -- "I Gotcha," from  Joe Tex, an African American, southern soul singer who gained popularity as a down-home storyteller, mixing gospel with country music. 

#7 -- "Candy Man," from Sammy Davis Jr., who kissed a stunned Archie Bunker in 1972 during the funniest "All in the Family" episode ever.

#8 -- "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me," from Mac "It's Hard to be Humble" Davis, who hails from Buddy Holly's hometown of Lubbock, Texas.

#9 -- "Brand New Key," from the cute, shy Melanie, who wrote this little ditty to serve as a light-hearted break during her more serious songs in concert.

#10 -- "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast," from Vegas lounge lizard Wayne Newton.

#11 -- "Let's Stay Together," from soulster Al Green, who suffered bad burns two years later when an ex-girl friend hurled boiling grits on him as he exited a bathtub. (She then killed herself with his gun, and this incident triggered a spiritual awakening in Green, who became a minister.)  

#12 -- "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)," from one-hit wonder Looking Glass, a band which couldn't score another chartbuster because it favored harder rocking songs over the pop sound of their signature tune.

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