70s Moments (Bicentennial Week): 4th Of July Home Movies (1976)

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Happy 4th of July! (Staten Island, NY, 1976 - filmed by Ron Spooner)

Happy 4th of July! (Staten Island, NY, 1976 – filmed by Ron Spooner)

I hope everyone in the US (and any concerned parties abroad) are enjoying this 4th of July holiday. I thought we’d take in some home movies from the 4th of July, filmed during the Bicentennial celebration of 1976.

First up we have a lovely, leisurely look at an all-American parade in Staten Island, New York. The film was shot by Ron H. Spooner and has a focus on horses, local folks and vintage fire engines. If fire engines don’t excite you, you can jump in and start at the three-minute mark.

Travis, Staten Island, NY, 4th Of July Parade, 1976

I love this guy! (Omaha 4th of July parade, 1976)

I love this guy! (Omaha 4th of July parade, 1976)

After that, grab a look at this much shorter (1:45, silent) parade video from the 4th of July ’76 in Omaha, Nebraska. There are some festive and funny bicyclists in patriotic action. Have a great day.

Omaha, Nebraska, 4th Of July Parade, 1976

Previously on the 4th of July: 4th of July, 1972

Daily 70s Spot (Bicentennial Week): ‘The New Land,’ ‘ABC Sunday Movie’ Promo (1976)

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A young Swedish family arrives just in time for the first fireworks display ('The New Land,' ABC promo, 1976)

A young Swedish family arrives just in time for the first fireworks display (‘The New Land,’ ABC promo, 1976)

“An American epic. The victory and the tragedy. The nightmare and the dream of The New Land.”

Happy 4th of July! Our Daily 70s Spot aired exactly 37 years ago. Here’s an ABC promo for The New Land (Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann) airing on The ABC Sunday Night Movie. Spot aired on July 4th, 1976.

Daily 70s Spot #174: ‘The New Land,’ ‘ABC Sunday Movie’ Promo, 1976

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: (Bicentennial Week) ABC Political Conventions Promo With Harry Reasoner (1976)

Daily 70s Spot (Bicentennial Week): ABC Political Conventions Promo With Harry Reasoner (1976)

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Harry Reasoner. Reason enough to tune in. (1976)

Harry Reasoner. Reason enough to tune in. (1976)

“Get to the heart of the convention.”

Daily 70s Spot incoming. Here we have newscaster Harry Reasoner in an ABC promo for the 1976 summer political conventions. Spot aired in early July, 1976.

The Democratic National Convention ran July 12 to July 15 and Carter and Mondale were the nominees. The Republican National Convention ran August 16 to August 19 and Ford and Dole were the nominees.

Daily 70s Spot #173: ABC Political Conventions Promo With Harry Reasoner, 1976

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: (Bicentennial Week) Bufferin Aspirin ‘Mother’ (1976)

Trailer Tuesday (Bicentennial Week): ‘The Omen’ (1976)

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Gregory Peck, 'The Omen' trailer title, 1976

Gregory Peck, ‘The Omen’ trailer title, 1976

The number one film for this week in July, 1976 was The Outlaw Josey Wales, which we’ve already featured. The movie that preceded and succeeded Josey Wales at the box office in June and July was The Omen.

Poor little Damien just wants to be hugged ('The Omen,' 1976)

Poor little Damien just wants to be hugged (‘The Omen,’ 1976)

The Omen, a horror-thriller directed by Richard Donner, is the story of a well-to-do couple who adopt an orphaned child who may be the Antichrist. Gregory Peck stars as the adopting father (and US Ambassador to Great Britain), Lee Remick plays his wife, Katherine and Harvey Stephens portrays the evil toddler, Damien.

The cast is rounded out by David Warner as Jennings, Billie Whitelaw as the nanny, Mrs. Baylock and Leo McKern, who plays the uncredited but memorable role of an archaeologist called Bugenhagen. Your trailer awaits below.

‘The Omen’ Theatrical Trailer, 1976

The Omen Wiki, IMDb

The_Omen_1-Sheet_1976

Previously on Trailer Tuesday: ‘Battle for the Planet of the Apes’ (1973)

Daily 70s Spot (Bicentennial Week): Bufferin Aspirin ‘Mother’ (1976)

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Mother loves her Bufferin (1976)

Mother loves her Bufferin (1976)

“For temporary relief when minor arthritis pain flares up.”

Daily 70s Spot Bicentennial Week time. Here’s one for Bufferin aspirin featuring a hard-working grandmother. Spot aired in July of 1976.

Daily 70s Spot #172: Bufferin Aspirin ‘Mother’ Commercial, 1976

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: (Bicentennial Week): Rally Car Wax ‘Oh, Really?’ (1976)

Music for Monday (Bicentennial Week): Starland Vocal Band, ‘Afternoon Delight’ (1976)

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'The thought of rubbin' you is gettin' so exciting...' (Starland Vocal Band, 1976)

‘The thought of rubbin’ you is gettin’ so exciting…’ (Starland Vocal Band, 1976)

Since I recently posted the #1 tune for this week in July, 1976 (Wings’ “Silly Love Songs”) – here’s the song that replaced it at the top the following week. Starland Vocal Band and “Afternoon Delight.”

The Starland Vocal band was discovered by John Denver and “Afternoon Delight” was so successful the band was given their own summer variety TV show which ran for six weeks in ’77. David Letterman was a writer and performer on the series. They also won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and Best Arrangement for Voices.

Here’s the band performing on the Grammy Awards show and below it, Denver introducing the group on The Merv Griffin Show. Whew. That’s a lot of “Afternoon Delight”!

Starland Vocal Band, ‘Afternoon Delight,’ ‘Grammy Awards’ Performance,’ Feb. 1977

Starland Vocal Band, ‘Afternoon Delight,’ ‘The Merv Griffin Show,’ Feb. 1976

Previously on Music for Monday: Donny & Marie Osmond, ‘I’m Leaving It (All) Up To You’ (1974)