Ma Bell’s goodbye, a Wimbledon White Mustang, and a drive-in sign glowing at dusk.

Evening, friend, Jack Reynolds checking in.

December 31 always takes me back to those nights when the house was quiet, the radio was on low, and you could feel the year turning over like a page.

Stick close for that moment when Ma Bell split up and the whole country learned new phone-company names, and for the Wimbledon White Mustang my brother would have waxed until you could see your face in it.

Brings it all back, doesn’t it?

On December 31, 1983, Ma Bell finally rang off, and I remember my dad shaking his head at the evening news. The old AT&T monopoly split into seven Baby Bells, touching nearly every phone in America. It reshaped business and tech overnight. Click the image to see how one decision rewired the country.

This 1965 Mustang Fastback in Wimbledon White started around $2,530 new; today clean V8 cars bring $80,000 or more. With the 271-horsepower Hi-Po option, it finally gave young drivers something sharp and affordable. My brother taped one to his wall. Click for factory specs, options, and auction results.

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That Skyvue Drive-In sign in Dothan feels like a warm summer night you can almost hear. The place could hold about 400 cars, then it closed after the 1983 season and was torn down in the late 1980s. I sure miss nights like that. Click for the full-size slide and the exact spot on the map.

That pink Energizer Bunny barging into the middle of a “serious” commercial in 1989 still makes me grin. It began as a parody of the old drum bunny ads, then turned into a full-blown American icon. My kids copied that drumbeat for weeks. Click to watch the whole spot and hear the line again.

Back in 1984, Ralph Macchio was the underdog kid with the headband, and every boy in America tried that move in the living room. By 2025, he is still carrying Daniel LaRusso, with “Cobra Kai” ending in February and “Karate Kid: Legends” set three years later. Click for the full timeline and how it all connects.

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Tonight’s “Your Memory” comes from Danny in western Pennsylvania, thinking back to New Year’s Eve of 1976, because a lot of us are listening close for the year to turn right now. He says his dad kept the garage warm with a little space heater while they tuned the radio and shared grape soda. That sounds just about perfect, does it not?

Tonight’s Quote comes from Vince Lombardi, who told folks, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” I like that because it keeps a man honest, and still hopeful. You can learn more about him here. Click and see how he lived those words, too.

See you tomorrow. Same time, same station.

– Jack

Images are AI-generated or sourced from public-domain archives. Reader photos used with permission.