70s stories in the news: Abba’s Agnetha returns, cell phone is 40, recent passings

ABBA's Agnetha Fältskog returns with a new album in 2013

ABBA’s Agnetha Fältskog returns with a new album in 2013

The 1970s-related news stories have been piling up over the past weeks – so let’s get right to it. First up, comes the news that ABBA’s Agnetha Fältskog has released a new single and an album is due May 13th. “When You Really Loved Someone” is the name of Fältskog’s single and you can take in the official video below. For more info hit stories at The Guardian and Billboard and Agnetha Fältskog’s Web Site.

Agnetha Fältskog ‘When You Really Loved Someone’ Video, 2013

‘OMG! The cellphone turns 40’

London UK, a model demos a new mobile phone, 1972. (Photo: Getty Images/CNN)

London UK, a model demos a new mobile phone, 1972. (Photo: Getty Images/CNN)

Next up, mobile communication is celebrating a milestone as the cellular phone turns 40-years-old. Doug Gross at CNN has a story about the first mobile handset making its debut on April 3, 1973.

More 1970s-related stories you may want to ingest:

The Bay City Rollers Did NOT Suck… (HuffPost)

Cheryl Tiegs Lists L.A. Mansion For Sale (HuffPost)

Voyager Solar System ‘exit’ debated (BBC)

‘Dark Side of the Moon,’ ‘Saturday Night Fever’ Added to National Recording Registry (Time)

‘Big Bang Theory’ cast members find their inner ‘Rocky Horror’ (L.A. Times)

Barbara Walters to retire in 2014 (EW)

Steven Soderbergh’s Liberace Movie Looks Glorious (Slate)

Jane Fonda Calls Vietnam Photo ‘An Unforgivable Mistake’ (HuffPost)

Valerie Harper reunites with co-stars (USA Today)

25 Terrifying Characters From Your Childhood (Babble)

Recent passings of 1970s-era notables

Milo O’Shea – Actor

Roger Ebert – Film Critic

Jane Henson – Co-Creator, The Muppets

Phil Ramone – Record Producer

Harry Reems – Pornography Actor

James Herbert – Horror Author

Frank Thornton‘Are You Being Served?’ Actor

Bobbie Smith – Spinners Singer

Previously, on 70s stories in the news: Star Wars, Willie Tyler & Lester, recent passings

Daily 70s Spot: Pepsi ‘Live!’ (1973)

Pepsi adds...live? (1973)

Pepsi adds…live? (1973)

“You’ve got a lot to live – and Pepsi’s got a lot to give.”

Time to drink up your Daily 70s Spot. Here’s Pepsi Cola with an ad in their “Live!” campaign. I suppose this was Pepsi’s answer to “Coke adds life,” but I can’t attest to the timing of the competing soft drink campaigns. Commercial aired in February of 1973.

Daily 70s Spot #86: Pepsi ‘Live!’ Commercial, 1973

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Poulan Chainsaws (1978)

Daily 70s Spot: Poulan Chainsaws (1978)

The Muscle Car of chainsaws. (Poulan, 1978)

The Muscle Car of chainsaws. (Poulan, 1978)

“For over 30 years they’ve been mispronouncing our name.”

Our Daily 70s Spot is something you don’t see everyday – an ad for Poulan Chainsaws. Heck, I can’t remember seeing any recent chainsaw commercials either. Apperently, Poulan is still going strong today. Spot aired in November of 1978. Cut that sucker down.

Daily 70s Spot #85: Poulan Chainsaws Commercial, 1978

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Time Magazine (1977)

Funshine Friday: ‘The Pink Panther,’ ‘Pinky Doodle’ cartoon (1976)

Pink Panther and pal in 'Pinky Doodle,' 1976

Pink Panther and pal in ‘Pinky Doodle,’ 1976

Happy Funshine Friday, funky folks! Here’s a complete Pink Panther cartoon, Pinky Doodle, which originally aired in May of 1976. Befitting the Bicentennial fever years, Pink is a Blue Coat warring with devilish Red Coats in 1776. Light it up.

‘The Pink Panther,’ ‘Pinky Doodle’ Cartoon, 1976

Previously, on Funshine Friday: ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ (animated series, 1972)

Daily 70s Spot: Time Magazine (1977)

Time knows what sells. (Subscription commercial, 1977)

Time knows what sells. (Subscription commercial, 1977)

Friday’s Daily 70s Spot is a TIME Magazine subscription commercial featuring hot, 70s-era cover stories on Charlie’s Angels, Jimmy Carter, pornography, hockey and much more. Spot aired in 1977.

Daily 70s Spot #84: Time Magazine Commercial, 1977

Previously, on Daily 70s spot: Rolaids ‘Spells Relief’ Commercial (1976)

Show Toppers: ‘The American Girls’ (1978)

'The American Girls,' TV title, 1978

‘The American Girls,’ TV title, 1978

On this edition of Show Toppers we have a little-known series that aired briefly in the late 70s. The American Girls originally ran Saturday evenings on CBS from late September to early November, 1978. The hour-long drama about TV news magazine reporters starred Priscilla Barnes (Three’s Company) as Rebecca Tomkins, Debra Clinger as Amy Waddell and David Spielberg (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice) as TV producer, Francis X. Casey.

Priscilla Barnes (Rebecca) and Debra Clinger (Amy) are 'The American Girls,' 1978

Priscilla Barnes (Rebecca) and Debra Clinger (Amy) are ‘The American Girls,’ 1978

These spunky reporters weren’t content to simply report the stories they uncovered. The two would dive into dangerous, Charlie’s Angels-style adventures while digging up news for their TV show, The American Report.

I’ve got to admit, this show hasn’t held a place in my memory banks. Perhaps this one rings a bell for you? Take in the intro below.

The American Girls TV Intro, 1978

The American Girls Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: ‘Delta House’ (1979)