“Dark of the moon on the sixth of June”

During the past few days I’ve been sick with the flu, and for as long as I can remember this has meant piling on the blankets, grab a bottle of Sprite, some saltine crackers, and watching every movie and television show possible. What really got my attention and interest was “The History Channel’s: Modern Marvels- The CB Radio”

Back before cell phones, Facebook, and the Internet, the social craze of the nation was the Citizens Band radio, more commonly known as the CB radio. Much like the internet, the government tried their best to regulate it. Initially they imposed a $20 dollar licensing fee which was soon expunged after the FCC was overwhelmed by nearly a million applications per month. This amazing tool not only connected truckers it connected every person with the minimal means to do so. In the 1970’s the average cost of a CB radio...$142, not bad considering that put in today’s dollar, that’s roughly 100 bucks less than a new iPad! CB radio technology has advanced through the years, and for $180 you can get a multi-band CB with Bluetooth Technology enabling you to make and receive phone calls from your radio!

This social enigma consumed pop culture for nearly a decade. Spurring a music genre, several films, and in one instance a film inspired from a song “C.W. McCall’s Convoy”.  This is where the “Get Connected film fest” began. Starting with “Convoy” which in this movie trailer you can clearly see how Oscar-worthy this epic truly was. Although rather cheesy, Convoy did a great job illustrating the inspiring power of people and trailers getting connected.

My first experience with the CB was when I was 12 years old my family moved from Colorado back to Wisconsin.  We used them to coordinate and monitor our trailer and boat packed with furniture that we were towing with the hitch on our Ford Explorer.  Now we mostly use CB and Marine band radios to coordinate our positions during coyote hunting.

So next time some Luddite knocks your Facebook page, ask them if they liked or ever used the CB radio!

Other films inspired by the Citizens Band social movement.

The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)
Breaker! Breaker! (1977)
Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
High Ballin (1978)
more…

Travis Mai - Hitch Guy
  

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