Bionic Disco: Celebrating two years online!

Bionic Disco - celebrating two years online

Bionic Disco – celebrating two years online

Greetings, ‘Disco faithful! This here Web Site debuted with a “soft launch” on May 30th, 2011. By my shaky calculations that makes Bionic Disco two year’s young. Technically, the site is a bit older than that – I was writing articles and preparing things in the months preceding – but May 30th is the official celebration day. (I kind of missed it by a few hours. But what the heck.)

Thanks!

Thanks for visiting the site and thanks for your comments and compliments. I hope you are enjoying the 1970s memories. There’s much more to come…

Funshine Friday: ‘Sesame Street,’ ‘The People in Your Neighborhood’ (1971)

Remember singing around the newsstand? Whaddya mean 'What's a newsstand?!'

Remember singing around the newsstand? Whaddya mean ‘What’s a newsstand?!’

It’s been far too long since Sesame Street has graced the ‘Disco. Let’s remedy that right away with a fine, sing-a-long song, “The People in Your Neighborhood.”

This top tune was written by Jeff Moss and is sung by Bob McGrath (he’s the friendly humanoid in the video), Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz and Jim Henson. The clip originally aired on Sesame Street episode 0276 on November 8, 1971. Have a happy Funshine Friday!

‘Sesame Street,’ ‘People in Your Neighborhood,’ 1971

Sesame Street Wiki, Muppet Wiki

Previously on Funshine Friday: The Ant and the Aardvark, ‘Ants in the Pantry’ (1970)

Daily 70s Spot: Andeker Beer (1978)

Andeker Beer's aggressive marketing pitch didn't help sell enough beer. (1978)

Andeker Beer’s aggressive marketing pitch didn’t help sell enough beer. (1978)

“The most expensive taste in beer.”

Let’s fill our glass with the Daily 70s Spot. Here’s a fairly rare ad for the Pabst Brewing Company’s lesser-known tipple, Andeker Beer. Andeker went bye-bye in 1986. I guess it was just too rich for our taste buds. Commercial aired in March, 1978.

Daily 70s Spot #140: Andeker Beer Commercial, 1978

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: Avon ‘Tempo’ fragrance (1978)

Show Toppers: ‘Baretta’ (1975)

'Baretta' TV title, 1976

‘Baretta’ TV title, 1976

Baretta (a re-tooling of the cop show, Toma) originally ran on ABC from January, 1975 to June, 1978. The police drama stars Robert Blake as undercover detective, Tony Baretta, who works without a partner in an East Coast-based city (though the show was mostly filmed in Downtown, Los Angeles).

Bartetta is assisted by an informant named Rooster (Michael D. Roberts) and is rarely far from his pet cockatoo, Fred.

Baretta and Fred. Awwwww. (1976)

Baretta and Fred. Awwwww. (1976)

Baretta lives in a run-down hotel, dresses in t-shirts and jeans, blends in easily with the rough crowd and drives a beat-up ’66 Impala. The streetwise detective is often heard uttering his catchphrases; “Dats da name of dat tune” and “You can take dat to da bank.”

Co-stars included; Tom Ewell, Edward Grover, John Ward and Sharon Cintron. Blake’s real-life wife, Sondra Blake, made a few guest appearances.

Baretta TV Intro (Instrumental, 1975)

Baretta TV Intro (Sammy Davis, Jr. Vocal, 1976-78)

Baretta Wiki, IMDb

Previously on Show Toppers: ‘Struck by Lightning’ (1979)

Daily 70s Spot: Avon ‘Tempo’ Fragrance (1978)

Gee, your wrist smells terrific! (Avon commercial, 1978)

Gee, your wrist smells terrific! (Avon commercial, 1978)

“With Avon – you’ve never felt so good.”

Time to spray on our Daily 70s Spot. This commercial for Avon products features the Tempo fragrance. Aired in September of 1978.

Daily 70s Spot #139: Avon ‘Tempo’ Fragrance Commercial, 1978

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: Cam2 motor oil ‘race cars’ (1977)

70s stories in the news: ABBA museum, ‘Rocky’ musical, recent passings

Numerous 1970s-related stories have been piling up in the ‘Disco files. Here now is a collection of news items you may find interesting reading including bits on the new Abba museum and recent passings of known persons. Investigate.

Abba fans take a chance on Sweden’s newest museum – and declare it a hit

The Guardian's Alexis Petridis visits the ABBA museum in Stockholm

The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis visits the ABBA museum in Stockholm

The Guardian has posted an article entitled “Abba fans take a chance on Sweden’s newest museum – and declare it a hit” and the review of the recently-opened museum is accompanied by a video visit.

‘Rocky’ musical bound for Broadway in 2014 at USA Today.

“Stallone, who both starred in and wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for the film, said in a statement that he ‘couldn’t be more proud or more excited about this production and how my original story of Rocky Balboa has been brought to spectacular life onstage.'”

Polaroid’s SX-70, the Greatest Gadget of All Time, Is 41 at Time.

“Polaroid co-founder Edwin Land stood before an audience inside a warehouse in Needham, Massachusetts and announced the SX-70. It was the first instant camera which, with one press of a button, delivered a photo that developed in daylight.”

Friedkin, Who Pushed Film Forward, Looks Back at NPR.

“When Friedkin directed these films in the 1970s, he was breaking all the rules. In his new memoir, The Friedkin Connection, the 77-year-old director describes how he brought a new look — and a new feel — to Hollywood films.”

Gary Burghoff’s after ‘M*A*S*H’ at AmericanProfile.

“The Emmy Award-winning actor, 69, who splits his time between California and Florida, enjoys hunting and fishing. As an avid philatelist, he made a video for the U.S. Postal Service for beginning stamp collectors.”

How we made: Heart of Glass – Blondie article at The Guardian.

“Singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein remember how the band overcame the disco haters – including their own drummer – to transform one of their earliest songs into a worldwide hit.”

Hot Docs premiere Unclaimed finds a Vietnam veteran left behind for 44 years at thestar.com.

“Special Forces Green Beret Master Sgt. John Hartley Robertson had forgotten how to speak English over the 44 years since he was left behind in the Vietnam War.”

31 Lunch Boxes From The 1970s That Are Worth A Lot Of Money at Buzzfeed.

“Time to dig through the attic because that old lunch box might be worth more than you think.”

David Bowie by Brian Duffy – in pictures at The Guardian.

“Duffy Archive presents David Bowie at the White Cloth Gallery, Leeds. The exhibition features previously unseen and behind-the-scenes images of the Lodger and Aladdin Sane cover shoots.”

A ’70s Newsletter for Feminist Men at Slate.

“This newsletter was produced by a group of men based in Berkeley, Calif., who were working for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.”

New Elvis exhibitions open in Memphis – video at The Guardian.

“Two new exhibits documenting Elvis Presley’s relationships with Hawaii and Vegas open at his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee.”

Recent Passings

Actor, Steve Forrest (S.W.A.T.)

Sitcom director, Jack Shea (The Jeffersons)

Visual effects master, Ray Harryhausen

TV psychologist & columnist, Joyce Brothers

Country musician, George Jones

Musician, Richie Havens (a remembrance)

Actor, Allan Arbus (M*A*S*H)

Special Effects artist, Marcel Vercoutere (The Exorcist)

Album artwork designer, Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd)

Actor, Richard LeParmentier (Star Wars)

NFL announcer, Pat Summerall

Disco musician, Vincent Montana Jr

Wienerschnitzel founder, John Galardi

Film & TV writer, Mickey Rose (Take the Money and Run, All in the Family)

Test-tube baby pioneer, Sir Robert Edwards

Record producer & engineer, Andy Johns (a remembrance)