Forgotten TV Shows From the ’60s and ’70s, Understanding Diabetic Foot Risk, and Financial Planning Strategies for Older Adults

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When people reminisce about “classic television,” the conversation often circles around the same familiar titles:

Yet the 1960s and 1970s produced many other thoughtful, inventive, well-crafted shows that slowly slipped out of public view — not because they lacked quality, but because they didn’t rely on spectacle. Many of these series moved at a humane pace, trusted the audience’s intelligence, and explored everyday life in ways that still feel surprisingly relevant. These series were built on writing, performance, and ideas, and revisiting them today can feel unexpectedly rich and rewarding.

One overlooked gem is The Defenders (1961-1965), featuring E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed as a father-son legal team. Unlike modern legal dramas, this show didn’t rely on flashy courtroom theatrics or melodrama. Instead, it tackled complex moral questions and ethical dilemmas — civil rights, freedom of speech, and personal responsibility — often avoiding tidy endings and leaving issues unresolved. Watching it now feels less like entertainment and more like being invited into a serious conversation.

Another quietly groundbreaking series worth revisiting is Julia (1968-1971), starring Diahann Carroll. At a time when television often relied on stereotypes, Julia focused on everyday life: work stress, parenting challenges, friendships, and quiet resilience. This program portrayed a widowed nurse — an educated, professional woman — who works at a large aerospace company while raising her son on her own, challenging prevailing stereotypes about both race and gender. The show’s strength lies in its normalcy — a significance that was lived, episode by episode — which makes it feel refreshingly grounded even decades later.

From the 1970s, Room 222 (1969-1974) deserves renewed attention for its compassion and realism. Set in an urban public high school, it explored generational tension, social change, and personal responsibility through teachers who cared deeply but weren’t portrayed as heroes. The pacing allowed conversations to breathe. Episodes often ended thoughtfully rather than neatly, making it ideal for viewers who appreciate nuance over drama.

For something gentler and more atmospheric, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968-1970) blended romance, supernatural humor, and quiet emotional depth. Its seaside setting and restrained storytelling about a widow and her children sharing a cottage by the sea with a ghost make it perfect for relaxed evening viewing.

What makes these shows still special today is the absence of noise — no rapid cuts, no manufactured tension. They don’t rush. They don’t shout. They invite you to settle in, listen closely, pay attention to absorb the characters’ inner lives — and they reward you when you do.

“The Piano Bench in the Fellowship Hall”
From the life overview of Margaret E., 88, Athens, GA. Shared with permission.

I learned to play the piano on an instrument that was already well-worn by the time I used it. It lived in the fellowship hall of our church, its keys yellowed and slightly uneven, the middle C chipped like a tooth. Every Tuesday afternoon, I sat on the narrow wooden bench, my feet dangling just above the pedals, practicing hymns while the building creaked and settled around me. The room smelled of floor polish and old sheet music, a scent I came to associate with concentration.

I wasn’t especially talented. I played carefully, counting under my breath, starting over more times than I’d like to admit. Sometimes Mrs. Collins, who cleaned the hall, would pause with her mop and listen, nodding along even when I stumbled. “That one’s my favorite,” she often said, no matter which hymn I was struggling through. Her confidence in me felt outsized, undeserved—and oddly energizing.

One afternoon, I finally played a piece all the way through without stopping. The sound wasn’t perfect, but it held together. I remember sitting there afterward, hands resting in my lap, surprised by how calm I felt. No applause. No announcement. No thrown flowers. Just the echo of the last note fading into the high ceiling.

While those hours of practice didn’t make me a musician, they did give me a lasting lesson in patience, in showing up repeatedly for something difficult and finishing anyway. I carried that lesson with me long after my feet could reach the pedals.

***

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The Internet Archive’s Audio Books & Poetry Collection
A large, non-commercial collection of spoken recordings, including audiobooks, poetry readings, and lectures. The material is easy to access, free, and well suited to listening in short stretches or longer sessions.

Atlas Obscura – Places (Non-Commercial Reference Section)
A catalog of unusual landmarks, historical sites, and overlooked places around the world, documented with straightforward descriptions and sources. It works well for quiet curiosity and armchair exploration rather than travel planning.

CERN Virtual Visits
Recorded and live guided tours of CERN’s research facilities, explaining how large-scale science is done and why it matters. The presentations are clear and measured, aimed at general audiences rather than specialists.

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Many modern hearing aids can connect directly to phones and TVs using Bluetooth, allowing audio to stream straight to your ears. This can improve clarity for phone calls, television, and videos—once everything is set up correctly.

Most Bluetooth hearing aids pair the same way headphones do. Start by making sure your hearing aids are charged and powered on.

For smartphones:

On your phone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, select your hearing aids from the list, and confirm the connection. Once paired, phone calls, videos, and navigation audio will play directly through your hearing aids.

For TVs, many newer models support Bluetooth audio:

Look for Sound > Bluetooth Audio in the TV’s settings. If your TV doesn’t support Bluetooth, a small adapter can help bridge the gap.

Most hearing aid manufacturers offer companion apps that allow fine control over volume, balance, and sound profiles:

These apps can also help resolve common issues like one-sided audio or connection dropouts.

If you watch a lot of television, dedicated hearing-aid TV connectors often provide the most reliable audio connection:

These devices connect directly to your TV and maintain a stable signal without relying on Bluetooth menus.

Bluetooth hearing aids work best when connections are set up once and left alone. With the right pairing and a few small adjustments, phones and TVs can become easier to hear—without extra equipment or complicated controls.

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