Over 50 years later, the 1969 Woodstock festival remains a touchstone event not just in rock music, but in world history. It demonstrated the massive influence rock had on the entire Baby Boomer generation as well as our ability to assemble in such a large number peacefully.

The film of the festival became a huge box office hit in the summer of 1970 and helped boost the careers of many of the festivals acts. However, not all of the acts that excited big post-Woodstock frenzy were able to sustain it.

Herewith, at the distance of more than half a century, are the Winners & Losers of Woodstock!

LOSERS:

Sly & the Family Stone – No band lost more opportunity than Sly & the Family Stone. At a point when pop music was about to be siloed into Top 40, Album Rock, and Soul, only Sly’s band could cover all those bases. The group’s performance of “I Want to Take You Higher” was one of the film’s highlights, but the tour they undertook following the film’s release only took them lower. Plagued by chronic lateness, sloppy playing and related drug issues, Sly Stone’s career went down in flames following a riot at his free concert in Chicago’s Grant Park. Several attempts at a comeback over the years did not recapture the enormous success that could have been his.

Alvin Lee & Ten Years After – Another act that really stood out in the movie, Alvin Lee was never to sustain his career at the top-most level, as the kind of blues-flavored metal he promoted was eclipsed by bands who went on to much greater glory – Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and a few more.

Country Joe & the Fish – One of the bands at the forefront of the “San Francisco Sound” during 1967’s “Summer of Love,” Country Joe & company delighted people with their “Fish Cheer,” but never produced music that really caught on with the masses following the festival

WINNERS:

The Who – Having finally broken through to the American market with their rock opera, Tommy, the Who gave their career a second kick in the ass with their performance at Woodstock. Demonstrating a live act that was absolutely unrivalled at that time, Townsend, Daltrey, Moon and Entwistle finally made it to the top of the rockpile.

Joe Cocker – Had anyone heard of this British singer prior to seeing Woodstock? The combination of his great blues-style singing with his spasmodic performing style made Cocker – what’s the phrase again – oh yeah, an overnight sensation.

Santana – Virtually unknown outside of California before the film’s release, Santana’s fresh style of Latino-flavored rock was a revelation to moviegoers. While their segment in the film didn’t generate as much buzz as some of the others, it was enough to put them on the map. Carlos Santana’s talent and showmanship have kept him a headliner ever since.

Sha Na Na – How these guys got themselves on the bill is a complete mystery. Their one-song appearance in the film provided some genuine comic relief. Little did we know what a long & successful career lay ahead for the band – and really, they were instrumental (pun intended) in the fifties revival that was soon to come.

Let’s be clear. There were plenty of acts that performed at the fest who came off quite well in the film, but acts like Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, and others were already well-established and the film merely sustained what were already substantial careers.

So, on this 56^th anniversary of Woodstock, let’s raise a glass (or take advantage of our medical marijuana card) and salute one of the defining moments of our generation. Give me an “F”…

Early in her career, actress Elinor Donahue actually dyed her dark brown hair blond and posed for what were then the near-obligatory cheesecake photos expected of every young starlet.

Just don’t tell Jim Anderson. We’re not sure which would upset him most – that his “Princess” posed in a bathing suit or that she dyed her hair!

Does anybody remember a supermarket that was stocking LPs? Well, if they were, the ad is correct, they probably weren't stocking these. The state of hipsters, circa 1960:

In the olden days (you know, when we were kids), comparison shopping took real commitment. You'd have to physically travel from store to store. Even in the heyday of the shopping mall, it still took some footwork to ensure you were getting the best deal.

No longer is that the case. Thanks to the internet, price shopping just takes a couple of clicks – and it can save you. In some cases, it can save you hundreds of dollars.

Just Google the product you want by its complete brand name. Then check out the prices offered at major retailer websites. You’re going to be surprised at how much the prices can vary. If the price appears too low, you may be dealing with a shady retailer. In that case, make sure you check out their Google reviews before your order!

As we age, we become more susceptible to diabetes. The experts say there are 3 pretty simple ways to reduce your risk:

1.) Lose A Little Weight – Even a small weight loss (say 7% of what you weigh now), can  lead to huge improvements in your insulin levels.

2.) Drink More Water – Studies have shown that those who drink less than half a liter of water today are at a significantly greater risk of developing diabetes, so make sure you’re staying hydrated.

3.) Get More Protein in Your Diet – Protein can stimulate hormones that contribute to blood sugar regulation. So, try adding more fish, chicken or plant-based sources of protein, like beans, nuts & tofu, to your diet.

Sequels & remakes? Nothing new here – Hollywood’s been recycling stuff ever since the first “magic lantern shows.” Want proof? Let’s settle in to watch one of those terribly puritanical “sex comedies” from the Sixties – Lover Come Back!

When Doris Day & Rock Hudson scored big at the box office with Pillow Talk in 1959, it was a no brainer to do it all again. A sequel was out of the question because Pillow Talk had ended with Doris & Rock embarking on the blissful sea of matrimony, so the “will-she-or-won’t-she come across” formula wouldn’t work. She’d already come across.

Two years later was too soon for a simple remake. So, Universal Studios decided to do a remake of the same basic elements, but with a twist. First, they reunited Pillow Talk’s top 3 stars, Day, Hudson and Tony Randall. They kept the setting in contemporary New York, but this time the plot involved the exciting and still relatively new to moviegoers (and hence, exotic) world of advertising. Think of this as Mad Men, only without the irony and played strictly for laughs.

Hudson is high-powered ad man, Jerry Webster. He wins clients the old-fashioned way – taking them out, getting them drunk and buying them hookers (although because it’s still 1961, they’re referred to here as "showgirls,” wink, wink). Doris Day is his plucky adversary, rival ad woman Carol Templeton, fresh off the midwestern farm and loaded with scruples. Tony Randall plays Hudson’s boss, doing another variation on the metrosexual character he played for years before anyone knew what the hell metrosexual meant.

For some reason, Day is shocked, shocked I tell you, that an ad exec would take a client out & get them drunk & laid to land an account. And then the movie asks us to believe that her boss is also shocked and even more unbelievably, there would be some kind of Ad Council that would be aghast, aghast I tell you, at this kind of behavior. So, clearly, we’re dealing in a totally make-believe ad business in a New York that never existed anywhere except just east of Oz.

Anyway, without getting into the weeds of a very complicated plot, Hudson invents a totally made-up product. The next thing you know, Doris Day is determined to steal this fictional account from Hudson’s agency. And of course, she mistakes Hudson for the non-existent client – repeating Pillow Talk’s mistaken identity gambit.

As before, the plot really centers on Hudson’s attempt to get perpetual virgin Day between the sheets while pretending to be somebody he’s not. Shockingly, she almost gives up the goods without the benefit of a marriage license. But the emphasis is on “almost” as this is still only one year after the birth control pill was first introduced. The sexual revolution was just in its infancy.

What makes this film extra fun is that it’s positively loaded with familiar faces, right down to the bit parts. Ann B. Davis (of Brady Bunch fame) play Day’s personal assistant. Muriel Cigar pitchwoman ("Why don't you pick me up and smoke me sometime?"), Edie Adams plays the key showgirl, Rebel Davis. Jack Albertson (Chico & the Man) has a recurring bit as a bystander constantly marveling at Rock Hudson’s way with the ladies.  If you look quickly, you’ll also see Donna Douglas as a secretary at Hudson’s ad agency and even Ted Bessell (That Girl) in a two-line part as an elevator operator.

The film was co-written by Paul Henning, who went on to conquer the world of 60’s TV by creating The Beverly Hillbillies (where he gave Donna Douglas a much bigger role), Petticoat Junction & Green Acres.

Like its predecessor, Lover Come Back was a huge hit, grossing almost $17 million (a really big sum back in those days). It’s fun to watch today if only to gawk at the almost endless parade of ridiculous-looking hats Day wears thru the film and wonder how they ever could have been considered fashionable.

At a time when we should be enjoying life, many of us are still struggling with credit card debt. Financial wizards say there are 4 strategies that can eliminate that debt – if you have the will power to stick to the particular strategy you pick.

They all start with you sitting down and determining how much you still owe on each card and what the annual percentage rate (APR) is for each card.

Start with the Card with the Highest APR – Interest is really the backbreaker with most cards. You wind up paying far more for the things you bought that if you had paid the full purchase price in the first place. So, find out which of your cards charges you the most interest (APR). Work on paying that balance off while you make minimum payments of the rest of your cards. Once that card is paid off. Move the next highest APR. And so forth.

Start with the Card with Highest Balance – Carrying a huge balance on any given card can be a real pain point for many people. So, this strategy involves starting with the card with the biggest balance. Concentrate on paying off as much of that balance as possible while making minimum payments on the other cards. Again, when that card is paid off, move on to the next biggest balance.

Start with the Card with the Lowest Balance – Sometimes you need “wins” – feeling that you’re making real progress to conquering your debt problem. Bu starting with the cards with the lowest balance, you can get those paid off quickly, giving you a number of quick “wins” before you turn your attention the cards with the bigger balances.

Take Advantage of Low APR Balance Transfer Offers – Frequently, credit card companies will offer low or even 0% APR rates to get you to transfer balances from other credit cards. This offers you the opportunity to pay offer a balance while avoiding the extra dollars a high interest rate can add to the debt. A word of warning, though. Avoid the temptation to add additional purchases (and more debt) onto the new card or the card from which you transferred the funds.

Just a little light reading for the summer months...

When It Comes to Diagnosing Health Problems – Look to Your Feet

You might not think about them (unless you stub one of them), but your toes can sometimes provide early clues about your health.

• For example, if you have numbness, tingling or burning in your toes, that can be an early indicator of diabetes.

• Or cold or blue toes often results from poor circulation and that can be an indicator of heart disease.

Should you start noticing any abnormalities in you toes or toenails, make sure your contact your health professional as soon as possible

And why does the adopted son look so much like the 3rd birth son?