Breaker one nine and C.W. McCall

It's funny because these days with our cell phones, and Blackberrys, and Email, we seem to forget that at one point in time getting in touch with someone outside of their home and away from their 'landline" was not an easy thing.
I am not sure how "Citizen Band" radio became such a fad, but there was this point in time when even non-truckers had a CB.
Every great fad or trend needs a pop culture counterpart to assist in its rise to popularity and in C.W. McCall's Convoy they found a advertising tool that spread the wonders of the glorified Walkie Talkie from "sea to shining sea". Convoy by McCall was like a CB education in 3 minutes. Like cliff notes for the neophyte.

The CB rise to popularity came initially from Truckers as a means to communicate with each other on long cargo hauls. There was a lingo developed with coded references that helped produce a short hand for drivers (examples below). Initially the CB required a license and the use of a call sign, but it became so popular that people developed "handles". This helped Truckers and drivers avoid police speed traps, and I suppose engage in other things both legit and nefarious...From weather to the perfect diner.

A few CB Lingo Codes (some of this was culled from military communication such as the numeric codes)
Bear/Smokey = Police
10-4 = I understand
Big Wheeler = HGV or other large vehicle
Bleed-over = Interference from a nearby CB’er on another channel
Breaker = Fellow CB’er
Bucketmouth = Person swearing
Earwigging = Listening
Eyeball = Meeting another CB user
Evil Knievel = Police motorcycle

I would imagine that most truckers use cell/mobile phones these days. I remember my cousin having a CB and we would listen in and occasionally try to broadcast. Normally we would get chewed out by irate truckers for being knuckleheads just playing around.

The glory of the CB reached it's zenith with the Smokey and the Bandit series. If there is any one actor or personality that symbolizes the 1970's, it is indeed Mr. Burt Reynolds. The Seventies was Reynolds decade. When Burt gets involved you know it is big. At some point in the future I will do a Burt entry.

That period from 75-78 was surely the"CB era" with many consumers purchasing them and installing them in either trucks or cars. I remember my cousins having CB's and Deer Spotting Lights. ( A giant powerful hand-held light that plugged into the cigarette lighter in the car)
But this was in Pennsylvania and you are talking about a state in which the first day of Deer Season is an excused absence.

In case someone does come upon this entry and knows what the heck the Squelch button does or did...please let me know...

Oh well...Try to find "Convoy" some time and have a listen.
Like Monster Mash or the Streak these nostalgia songs are a constant reminder of my youth. These days it seems only Weird Al does them anymore.


So for overall 70's signifigance I am giving THE CB
3 out of 5 Nerf Footballs...when tied in with Burt this always ups the score

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