“Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the police academy...”

On Sept. 22, 1976, “Charlie’s Angels” debuted on ABC with the episode “Hellride,” following the success of the made-for-TV movie, which had aired that March.

The original lineup: Kate Jackson (Sabrina Duncan), Farrah Fawcett (Jill Munroe), and Jaclyn Smith (Kelly Garrett). Considering the mega star Farrah became, it’s hard to believe she actually only starred in the first season (and appeared in six more episodes throughout seasons three and four as part of a legal settlement).

The concept: three sexy former cops who agree to work for the mysterious Charles Townsend, voiced by John Forsythe, who sends them on exciting and sometimes dangerous missions.

And in my opinion, nobody in the business worked harder than the Angels’ stunt doubles. From scaling buildings to driving cars without brakes and even chasing a suspect on skateboard. My hat goes off to you all.

Cheryl Ladd came aboard as Jill’s sister Kris Munroe in season two, remaining on the show until the end (Cheryl is an “original” Angel as far as I’m concerned). Shelley Hack, the face of Charlie perfume for Revlon, got the tough job of replacing Kate Jackson in season four as Tiffany Welles. Kate had worked heavily in the development of the show (and was not always credited), even encouraging a name change from the show’s original title “The Alley Cats.” Had you noticed Kate was the only actress who never wore a bikini on the show? She had that written into her contract.

I was sad to see Shelley dropped after only one season, being replaced by final Angel Tanya Roberts, who played Julie Rogers in season five — a former model turned investigator.

Jaclyn Smith appeared in every episode, as well as David Doyle, who played John Bosley, their associate. It was only recently I learned that David was the original voice of Grandpa Lou on the “Rugrats.”

In honor of the anniversary, I spent several months binge-watching all 109 episodes of the show. My four-year-old daughter Louisa’s favorite episode is “Of Ghosts and Angels.”

One thing that hasn’t changed in 50 years? America’s obsession with “Charlie’s Angels” memorabilia. I recently chatted with “Angelologist” Mike Pingel, who has written several books on the Angels and runs www.charliesangels.com. Pingel worked as Farrah’s assistant from 200 to 2007 and managed official websites for Cheryl and Tanya. He’s the go-to guy for consultations on Angels projects.

Sara Jordan-Heintz is a journalist, author, and editor based in Iowa. An “old soul” she is an avid collector of vintage jewelry, Russian stacking dolls, and autographs. In her free time she’s a voracious reader and lover of classic movies — “All About Eve” being her top pick. Her favorite fictional sleuths are Columbo and Jessica Fletcher. She holds a degree in American Studies from the University of Iowa. Connect with her at: sara.jordan909@gmail.com.

It’s the late 1990s, and I’m watching “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” on television. While many felt her talking black cat Salem stole the show, what always captured my attention the most was Sabrina’s bedroom, decorated with sun and moon imagery, which I emulated to a certain extent in my childhood bedroom.

Celestial décor burst onto the scene in the ‘90s, and it wasn’t just teenage angst driving its popularity. I think most of us owned at least one blue and yellow Libbey celestial mug like the ones seen in Monica Geller’s apartment on “Friends.” I priced these vintage beverage vessels on eBay and Etsy, noting they go for $50 to $100 apiece. The brand’s celestial wine glasses can be had for $135 to $150 for a set of four. Items in new/unused condition are always going to be priced higher. Glassware with some chips, known as “flea bites,” can lower the value, as well as fading/scratching on the yellow celestial decals.

The sun/moon/star craze extended to bedspreads, throw pillows, rugs, curtains, towels, table runners, tapestries, lamps, wall hangings, wind chimes, candleholders, storage chests, mirrors, sun catchers, and more.
Shelby Deering wrote in her column “I’m a Vintage Seller, and I Can’t Keep This ‘90s Decor Staple Stocked” that buyers should pay attention to color palette selection. “Many of the era’s suns and moons appear on blue backdrops, and these pieces tended to feature other hues that were popular during the era like burgundy and dark yellow,” she says.

This aesthetic is sometimes called Whimsigoth (or Whimsy Goth), brought into the mainstream through shows including “Charmed” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” plus the ever-popular 1998 film “Practical Magic” and movies made by Tim Burton. Evan Collins, co-founder of the Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute (CARI), first used the term Whimsigoth. If you’re looking for the living embodiment of the term, look no further than Stevie Nicks.

Hannah Baxter, writing in Architectural Digest, points out that Whimsigoth isn’t just for witches. Was it ever?

“Was there a ’90s kid that didn’t have glow-in-the-dark stars in their bedroom?...If you’re unsure about how to test celestial elements without reaching for a pack of stickers, start with an elevated accent piece (a Tiffany lamp perhaps?) and build out the room from there,” she notes.

The Yin Yang is used in Taoist philosophy as a symbol of balance and harmony between opposing forces. The sun is often associated with masculine or yang energy while the moon represents feminine yin energy.

Sara Jordan-Heintz is a journalist, author, and editor based in Iowa. An “old soul” she is an avid collector of vintage jewelry, Russian stacking dolls, and autographs. In her free time she’s a voracious reader and lover of classic movies — “All About Eve” being her top pick. Her favorite fictional sleuths are Columbo and Jessica Fletcher. She holds a degree in American Studies from the University of Iowa. Connect with her at: sara.jordan909@gmail.com.

The “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci may be the most recognized painting in the world, but one could argue that “American Gothic” by Grant Wood is the most parodied. Countless variations of the work have permeated popular culture since its creation in 1930: the stoic man holding a hayfork while a pensive woman looks off into the distance, standing before a house designed in the Carpenter Gothic style. The real home, known as the Dibble House but universally called the American Gothic House, is situated in the small town of Eldon, Iowa. The original part of the house that harbors the two Gothic windows (one on the front of the house, one on the back) was constructed in 1881-82 by Catherine and Charles Dibble. It’s a fun stop to make while celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.

My first visit to the house took place in September 2013 when my now-husband Andy and I made the short drive there from nearby Ottumwa, Iowa, where we were residing at the time. We felt as though we’d stepped back in time and into an iconic moment when we donned the borrowed costumes (they just go over your head) and smiled for a photo we’ve had on display ever since.

I recently sat down with Cari Nicely, administrator of the American Gothic House Center, who shared insights into what the house and center offer to visitors. She noted the exterior of the house is open dawn to dusk with the inside available to tour on select dates or for pre-arranged groups. Only the ground floor is safe for tourists to traverse.

The exhibits, gift shop, media room and costume closet are next door at the visitors’ center, which opened in 2007 and is approximately 2,500 square feet in size. Tourists from all over the world visit each year, viewing a collection of original Grant Wood artwork and pieces of Americana interest.

“When I first became the administrator almost five years ago, there was nothing here for children. So one of the first things that I did is, I put in six children’s exhibits that are specifically for them with hands-on activities. They discover patterns by playing with Legos. With flexible straws they can make a gothic window — where they can draw connections between playing and the painting itself,” she notes.

And if you’re one of those people who aren’t really all that into history or art and get “dragged” to places like the American Gothic House (you know who you are), take heart.
On the property is the Chippewa Creek 18-hole disc golf course, which draws folks from near and far. Nature lovers can enjoy the lavish prairie gardens and trail.

But honestly, how can you come out to the house and not be even a little intrigued by the backstory?

Sara Jordan-Heintz is a journalist, author, and editor based in Iowa. An “old soul” she is an avid collector of vintage jewelry, Russian stacking dolls, and autographs. In her free time she’s a voracious reader and lover of classic movies — “All About Eve” being her top pick. Her favorite fictional sleuths are Columbo and Jessica Fletcher. She holds a degree in American Studies from the University of Iowa. Connect with her at: sara.jordan909@gmail.com.

Owls have come to symbolize wisdom and intuition, and occasionally hidden knowledge. In the 1970s especially, owl imagery swooped into popular culture largely thanks to the back-to-nature movement. Who can forget the Woodsy Owl, officially introduced in September 1971 by the U.S. Forest Service with the catchy motto “Give a hoot — don’t pollute”? Readers may also be acquainted with the Tootsie Pop owl commercials (how many licks does it take to get to the center)? Plus, don’t forget Archimedes from Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone.” Millennials recall Hedwig, the snowy owl from “Harry Potter.” My favorite animated owl is simply known as owl, a character from the children’s series “Little Bear,” based on the books penned by Else Holmelund and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Certainly, many of us first came in contact with owls as children (outside of nature) via cartoons, marketing techniques, and in décor and jewelry.

Sarah Wooding, who operates ScatterBrainVtg on Etsy out of Mankato, MN, said artist Margaret Keane’s “big eyes” paintings may have also ushered in the owl craze.

“I think that helps with the need and want for owl art, because they played into the big eyes art scene,” Wooding notes. “There’s probably an owl picture or drawing in every house.”

These creatures also endure in the form of macramé wall hangings, molded foam wall art, figurines, pottery, planters, throw pillows, and more. They can come off as cute and whimsical, childlike even, or serious and dominating depending on the design. Owls have been integrated into Halloween decorations due to their nocturnal nature, spooky calls and some cultures that link them to witchcraft and the supernatural.

HOMCO (Home Interiors & Gifts) figurines were made from 1957 to the late 1990s and early 2000s, with owl varieties being popular. Arjon made a googly-eyed owl thermometer fridge magnet.

Sara Jordan-Heintz is a journalist, author, and editor based in Iowa. An “old soul” she is an avid collector of vintage jewelry, Russian stacking dolls, and autographs. In her free time she’s a voracious reader and lover of classic movies — “All About Eve” being her top pick. Her favorite fictional sleuths are Columbo and Jessica Fletcher. She holds a degree in American Studies from the University of Iowa. Connect with her at: sara.jordan909@gmail.com.

Being a freelance journalist who writes about topics encompassing jewelry, antiques, nature, popular culture, and more, I’m always on the hunt for unique stories. A few years back, I came across Fordite, an eye-catching material that resembles agate and jasper, but is entirely manmade.

Fordite was created as a byproduct of paint overspray baked over time on the walls and assembly stands in manufacturing plants including Ford (where it gets its name) but also Chrysler, General Motors, Kenworth trucks, and Jeep. Sometimes you’ll see it labeled as Detroit agate and Motor City agate. The heyday of Fordite was the 1940s to 1970s — the decades before automated car painting was introduced in the mid-‘80s to curb waste.

As one car after another would be pulled through the bays for painting, the paint would accumulate, destined for disposal. Some factory workers were intrigued by the buildup, or slag, and would cut it out and keep it. In time, they discovered the vibrant-hued chunks could be fashioned into keychains, jewelry, and souvenirs.

Today, you’ll often find it sold by sellers based in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and other places with a history of making cars. Hobbyists obtain the material from abandoned factories, some having been employed at the plants back in the day.

Fordite in its raw form is usually sold by the pound, but can also be sold by the gram. While regarded as an American “gemstone,” in actuality, Fordite can be harvested anywhere in the world where vehicles were painted the old-fashioned way. The swirling and banding of the stone reminds me of a human fingerprint.

What I love about Fordite is no two specimens are alike. Experts can even tell just by looking at a piece what car model(s) had been painted. Possessing a catalog of car paint codes from dealerships can help you with this task. You will encounter some Fordite in the shape of stalactites if the layers had formed from hardened drips of enamel paint. Lead-containing Fordite sometimes has visible layers of gray primer.

When you think back to the muscle car craze of the ‘60s and ‘70s, picture Mustangs. That variety of Fordite is immediately recognizable because of its bright metallic shades. The “bullseye” look comes from Fordite being collected in flat sheets. I’ve commonly seen this with the type from Jeeps, known as Jeepite.

Non-traditional Fordite is harvested outside of the plants. A roadside attraction and art installation called Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, was established in 1974. People bring their own spray paint and decorate the discarded cars. The sun then hardens the paint (sort of), simulating the effect found in automotive factory painting. The color layers are thin and vibrant but can bleed into each other in a bit of a watercolor sort of way. Some artisans shy away from working with Cadillac Ranch because it can be brittle due to not being baked after each coating.

Sara Jordan-Heintz is a journalist, author, and editor based in Iowa. An “old soul” she is an avid collector of vintage jewelry, Russian stacking dolls, and autographs. In her free time she’s a voracious reader and lover of classic movies — “All About Eve” being her top pick. Her favorite fictional sleuths are Columbo and Jessica Fletcher. She holds a degree in American Studies from the University of Iowa. Connect with her at: sara.jordan909@gmail.com.