Any real oldheads around, or anyone who knows what it was like being a Rams fan back in the 50s–70s?

[ramzie4718]

Back then the Rams were the only team in LA, so I imagine the fan support was strong. Really curious what it was like being a fan during that time.

 

[Tano]

I started watching the Rams in the early 70s and was so frustrated that they couldn't get to the superbowl until 79 and that was their worst team in the entire 70s after Prothro

 

[sloramfan]

started watching in '65...

gabriel, snow, the deacon, merlin, pardee, potios etc etc...

lots of ramfans in socal, but the coliseum rarely sold out so it was usually enberg on the radio for home games...

go rams

slo

 

[Ground Chuck]

The only football team you mean? Because of course there was the Dodgers, and Lakers.

I started following in ‘72 or ‘73 probably. My dad would watch the games and I slowly started getting into the games. The Seventies were great. When we moved to the Bay Area in ‘74 my dad would take us to Candlestick for all the Rams games, $10- a ticket. We would walk right up to the Ticket counter “Three tickets please.”

Rams would win. All the time. Suck it Niners.

 

[ReekofRams]

1964 and forever more.

 

[Noregar]

Started liking them in 1976 when I was 10. Really became a die-hard in 1978 despite the playoff losses. Not sure I can add much color to the earlier teams, but I was technically a fan during a small portion of that time period.

 

[RamsnDodgers]

I was watching our Rams play when we adjust the 'rabbit ears' enough to minimize the 'snow' in the early to mid 60's. I wrote the Rams and received in turn an autographed picture from Roman Gabriel. I would have been about 7-8 yrs old

 

[PhillyRam]

I started in the early 70's because my dad was a Rams fan growing up in the 50's and he was a big Roman Gabriel fan. My dad is still kicking at 86, but doesn't really follow the Rams anymore. He just watches football and likes yelling at the refs and the QBs. Apparently an 86 yr old can make quicker and better decisions than a 26 yr old QB who has 300 lb guys chasing him around a field.

Anyway, the 70's were bitter sweet. Most seasons the Street & Smith preseason magazine would predict the Rams to go to the Superbowl, and you knew they were going to be a playoff team, but in the end you would be bitterly disappointed after another NFCCG loss.

 

[muggmeister]

I started in the early 70's because my dad was a Rams fan growing up in the 50's and he was a big Roman Gabriel fan. My dad is still kicking at 86, but doesn't really follow the Rams anymore. He just watches football and likes yelling at the refs and the QBs. Apparently an 86 yr old can make quicker and better decisions than a 26 yr old QB who has 300 lb guys chasing him around a field.

Anyway, the 70's were bitter sweet. Most seasons the Street & Smith preseason magazine would predict the Rams to go to the Superbowl, and you knew they were going to be a playoff team, but in the end you would be bitterly disappointed after another NFCCG loss.

Street & Smith was like the yearly football Bible to me in the '70s. Bought it every year as soon as it hit the newsstands.

 

[Selassie I]

My Ram fandom started in the 70's.

 

[SWAdude]

73 on for me.

Football was not a big business back then so hard to compare to today.

LA over those years has become a huge melting pot of people. Not having an NFL team for over 20 years during its high growth period I believe affected the teams fanbase.

In time it will grow. We keep up this quality of a product will get a strong fan base faster.

So far we have 9 years in this market. Kids have to grow up and earn an income to afford being a fan. I thinks its getting better.

GO RAMS!!!

 

[majrleaged]

STarted late 60s. Its hazy but, back then football was about who was the toughest and the rams were always one of the big dogs. It always seemed like the weather or something out of there control or QBs would screw them. Then midway thru Chuck Knox time, being the toughest wasnt enough anymore. Other teams started coming up with tactics that stumped the rams coaches in the playoffs. Then Walsh happened and the rams were never more than second best.
After al those years being at the cutting edge in 99 was amazing only to short lived.
Now is the best ever.

 

[snackdaddy]

1967. Late in the season they were playing the Packers, Down 4 points the final minute Rams blocked a punt. Returned it to the 5 give or take. Roman Gabriel throws the game winning touchdown to Bernie Casey. That one started it for me. The following week the Rams routed the undefeated Colts to win the division and make the playoffs. That one sealed it for me.

I was a Dodger fan the year before when I was home sick with the mumps during the World Series. I watched because the two other channels at that time had soap operas on. There was nothing else. So I rooted for the California team. Unfortunately they got swept by the Orioles. But it only made sense to be a Rams fans since I was a Dodger fan. And I grew up in 49er/Giants territory.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Pops took me to my 1st game, 1958 vs the 49ers, I just turned 5. Attendance at the Coliseum was over 103,000, a record that stood for almost 70 years.
Been an avid an ever since.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Pops took me to my 1st game, 1958 vs the 49ers, I just turned 5. Attendance at the Coliseum was over 103,000, a record that stood for almost 70 years.
Been an avid an ever since.

I just had to look-up the 1958 Rams' home game against the 49ers.

The Rams defeated the Niners on November 9th by the score of 56-7!

The Niners QBs were Y.A. Tittle and a young John Brodie.
The Rams had 600 yards of offense ... and ... Lamar Lundy, playing TE, caught a touchdown pass!

 

[RamFan503]

Since ‘67 for me. My dad took me to my first game back then. We absolutely whacked the viqueens. My dad bought me a Rams uniform for my birthday that year too. I was a big Roman Gabriel and Jack Snow fan. Football was just fun to watch as a 5 year old.

 

[Gomorgan]

My first Rams game was December 6, 1958 against the Baltimore Colts with Johnny Unitas. Game was at the Coliseum with a crowd of 100,202. The Rams won 30-28.

 

[RamFanWA]

Started following the Rams around 1965/66 or so - when they played in the Coastal Division (with Atlanta, Baltimore and SF). That was a really odd split - but the Patriots were horrible and living in Rhode Island I guess we got more than our share of "out of market" games and/or a good amount of Atlanta/Baltimore games. Sort of pre-dated the Internet and even cable TV in some parts - so we were relegated to the big three stations... it was difficult to even find the scores some days...

But mah hero: Roman Gabriel was a stud!

Then I left to "see the world" and didn't follow much of anything for 6 years.

 

[AZRams]

I started watching the Rams in the early 70s and was so frustrated that they couldn't get to the superbowl until 79 and that was their worst team in the entire 70s after Prothro

Watched a You Tube video that chronicled the Knox/Allen/Malavasi era. It's primary focus was on the defense but did a great job discussing the roles of Offense and ST as well.

Worst defensive team of the decade with injuries all over the roster and an unproven QB. That's the team that got to the SB...

 

[VegasRam]

My first Rams game was December 6, 1958 against the Baltimore Colts with Johnny Unitas. Game was at the Coliseum with a crowd of 100,202. The Rams won 30-28.

You.
Are.
Shitting.
Me.

Me too - Billy Wade, Jon Arnett, Les Richter and Del Shofner. I was 10.