Original Zoom PBS 70s Show

Original Zoom PBS 70s Show design reference background & notes

The show: ZOOM, PBS, 1972 to 1978, made by WGBH Boston
Who made it: kids, on camera, in striped rugby shirts
The arm thing: Bernadette Yao's rolling arm swirl, seasons two and three
The language: Ubbi Dubbi
The address: Box 350, Boston, Mass, 02134
The revival: a second ZOOM ran on PBS from 1999 to 2005
This shirt: Zoom-a-zoom, from the theme song, and that thing with your arms

How did Bernadette do the arm thing on ZOOM?

She learned it from her father, who knew it from Chinese opera, and did it on air until the mail became a problem: thousands of kids wrote in asking how. There is a tutorial. Most people still can't.

Why were the ZOOM kids in striped shirts?

Because the shirts came from a Sears sale during the pilot and the budget never allowed a second idea. The stripes became the look of the show, and then the look of the decade.

Can you still speak Ubbi Dubbi?

If you learned it in the 70s you can, because the brain keeps the useless things. Put "ub" before every vowel sound. Now stop, because the person next to you has heard enough.

PRODUCT FEATURES

Fabric

100% cotton, pre-shrunk.

Sport Grey is 90% cotton / 10% polyester. Ash Grey is 99% / 1%. Heather colors are 50% cotton / 50% polyester.

Fabric weight: 5.0–5.3 oz/yd² (170–180 g/m²).

Fit and build

Classic unisex fit. Relaxed through the body, not boxy.

Tubular fabric, open-end yarn.

Taped neck and shoulders. Double seam at the sleeves and bottom hem.

Print

Printed directly onto the shirt with water-based inks that soak into the cotton fibers rather than sitting on top.

The print stays soft and flexible, does not crack, and holds fine detail and full color.

Non-toxic, vegan inks; the process uses no wastewater.

Care and sizing

Wash cold, inside out. Tumble dry low.

True to size. Check the Size Guide before ordering: no returns or exchanges for size.

Sizes S to 2XL.

Product F.A.Q.

How do you keep prices so low? Is this just more low-quality crap?

There’s no doubt: the interwebs are lousy with $8 tees printed on cellophane from the same place that makes everything Temu sells. Ours are 100% pre-shrunk cotton (a few colors, like Sport Grey and the heathers, are cotton/poly blends), and midweight – a solid 5.0–5.3 oz, which means they’re sturdy, soft, comfortable, and don’t feel like you’re wearing a box on one hand - or the scratchy tissue from the box on the other. Think of these as the classic tee: relaxed through the body, but not boxy, getting better with each wash. But no, it’s not a $105 designer tee to wear on the red carpet, ya prima donna.

Our secret for keeping prices low? Simple: We’re not robber barons. We’re a small company trying to do something cool. We have to make a living but we don’t have to make a killing, so we keep our margins really thin, our marketing and operations smart but inexpensive, and hope you’ll join us for the ride.

How do I make my T-Shirt last as long as possible?

Time to let your OCD shine, my friend! With every, single wash, flip that baby inside out, use cold water regardless of the shirt color, and tumble dry slow and low. Or ignore it all and throw it in with all your other stuff (we know you’re gonna). What do we care? We’re not your mom. But just so you know, she says that if you want the print to stay crisp longer, the inside-out thing is the way to go. She also says, “Hi.”

Can I return or exchange my order?

That's a no go, friend. Limited Time Pricing makes it impossible for us to make this one work (every tee is printed to order just for you, so there's no rack of spares to swap it for, and a shirt coming back is a shirt nobody else can buy). Unfortunately, we don't accept returns or exchanges for size or preference. Please, for the love of all that's holy and unholy, use the Size Guide before ordering.

What if my item has a defect?

That would suck and be rare - but it happens. If there's a manufacturing defect or misprint, email us within 5 days of delivery with a photo. We'll replace or refund it.

Can I change or cancel my order after purchase?

Sorry, Charlie. Once you click that buy button, Pandora down in fulfillment ain't never gonna get everything back in the box. But for real, we can't change or cancel your order once you've submitted it. Double-check everything before you checkout. Have you checked our Size Guide?

How long does shipping take?

Most orders arrive 3–8 business days after processing (which takes about 1-3 days). During holidays, allow us some additional time, just in case. But real talk, most of the time, you'll get the goods in 4-5 days. Just don't be disappointed if it's more than that.

What's with your sizing? Are your products unisex?

Yes...for now. To keep prices low, this is how we make it work. The great news though is we pick apparel that fits comfortably on everyone. You just have to size it right. Which means, and we know you've had to hear it a few times now but some people still ain't listening: Check 👏 the 👏 Size 👏 Guide on each product page.