It is hard to describe the KISS explosion of 1976. KISS had been a band for a little over three years at that point so it while I’m sure it didn’t feel like an overnight sensation to the band, it sure seemed like that from my perspective. I’ve given this some considerable thought and I cannot put my finger on my first contact with KISS. In fact, I can’t really remember not knowing about KISS. What seems to come to mind is a guy in my class bringing that first poster to school.
Here it is. What I currently belive is the entry point into the KISS Age. How could you mot look at that poster and be mesmerized by it? Who were these guys? I had to find out more. You have to hand it to the minds behind the band. They were able to take some very basic music music and surround it with an aura that made the entire thing so much more.
In my mind, the KISS age went of for about a decade it seemed as I collected album after album as they were released. Buying magazines that had pictures of KISS it seemed huge. When I do the math, however, it turns out that the KISS age really only amounted to about maybe just shy of three years. For a 12 year old, that is a quarter of your life so I guess I can see why it seemed like more.
I just remember that I was into KISS and there seemed to be no shortage of it. In October of 1976 Paul Lynde got out of his box on Hollywood Squares and hosted an Halloween Special that features KISS. I guess with all the focus on KISS, I never stopped to consider why Paul Lynde would have a Halloween Special. We all knew Paul Lynde from Bewitched and Hollywood squares and a few bit parts in some 1960’s movies but a Halloween special?
It didn’t matter. I was going to be able to see KISS on my TV. I wondered what they would be like. If VCR’s were aroiund then I’m sure we would have taped it.
This is the first time I’ve seen this in nearly 40 years and I almost remembered the dialogue verbatim. Strange.