The Mid Century Vault

Currently Playing: 061 The Mood Ring: How a 1970s Junk Science Fad Became a $250 Million Craze 💍

Welcome back to The Mid Century Vault! Following our look at the Pet Rock, Philip Mershon dives into the second half of the 1970s fad phenomenon: The Mood Ring. In an era Tom Wolfe dubbed the "Me Decade," everyone was looking for self-awareness—and they found it on their finger. But was it science or just clever marketing? We're unboxing the history of Joshua Reynolds’ "biometric window into the soul," from its high-end debut at Bonwit Teller to the "Mood Briefs" underwear (yes, really) that followed. In this episode, we explore: The "thermotropic" tech behind the liquid crystals. How the ring went from a $275 luxury item (in today's money) to a Five-and-Dime trinket. The celebrity influence of Barbra Streisand and Ali McGraw. Why these rings "died" and turned black. 📺 MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO: Check out our deep dive into the world of K-Tel here: https://youtu.be/cwRJRa4gypI?si=JqgyRchkURET70ZJ 💬 WE WANT TO KNOW: What color is your metaphorical mood ring today? Do you still have an original 1975 ring in a jewelry box somewhere? Let’s talk in the comments! If you'd like to further support my work, here's my buy me a coffee link: https://coff.ee/philipmershon For more Mid Century Vault adventures, just go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/philipmershon New episodes release every Friday and Sunday. Please watch videos to the end, this really helps as much as liking and commenting, which, of course, helps like crazy. Be sure to subscribe and become part of our new community, thanks! #themidcenturyvault #popculturehistory #nostalgia #moodring