Throwback Thursday is a weekly online feature where we look back at an archived issue of the Straight to rediscover old stories and stir up a little nostalgia.

Opening the December 8, 1978 issue of the Georgia Straight induces a sensory overload: The newsprint is rough to the touch, the pages are devoid of colour except for the vibrantly illustrated cover, and the smell makes me wonder if somewhere among the stories and advertisements, the scent of the Straight's 70's-era office is somehow woven into the very fabric of the paper. 

Stories about the state of Iran, a local boxing sensation, and Dan McLeod's review of The Wiz were all eye-catching pieces, but nothing struck me more than the advertisements.

Among them was an ad for the Canadian government's Employment Tax Credit Program, which ran from 1978 to 1981. The goal was to stimulate incremental employment in the private sector by providing general tax incentives to employers. By the end of 1979, some 26,000 employers had participated in the program, and 66,000 jobs were created. An evaluation of the program later found that 63 percent of those jobs would have been created without the program. A report released by the federal government in 1998 stated that cost far outweighed the benefits.

Next was an advertisement inviting skiiers to visit Big White. Transportation, accomodation, lift tickets, and dinner for just $89. Today's price for a peak season lift ticket at Big White costs $95. 

Last year, $50 would get you into the New Year's Eve Slow Jam Sunday dinner and dance at the Commodore Ballroom, but in 1978, you could ring in the new year and groove to James Cotton for just $12.

 The budget for 1978's Superman was $55 million, and the movie grossed a total of $134 million, coming second at the box office that year only to Grease. Fastforward to 2013, and the remake Man of Steel pulled in a total of $291 million, falling short of its $300 million budget. 

An advertisement for Queen's December 14 concert at the Pacific Coliseum sat near the front of the paper. The band played to a crowd of 15,500. In 2014, Adam Lambert served as Freddie Mercury's replacement, and the band played at Roger's Arena to a crowd of almost 20,000.

The final page of the issue featured a rather unique piece of jewlery. Made from sterling silver and jade, the Roach Ring promised to help you avoid burning your fingers in "sticky-icky" situations. Am I the only one who thinks a product like this should still be on the market?