‘Wow!’ (Sugar Free Fresca, 1977)
“Wow!”
Daily 70s Spot incoming! Today we have a “sugar free” Fresca soda ad for your consumption. In the 1970s, Fresca was sweetened with saccharin. These days it’s NutraSweet-brand aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Yum? Commercial aired 1977.
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Norm Crosby for Natural Light Beer (1978)
‘When Things Were Rotten’ TV title, 1975
When Things Were Rotten, created and written by Mel Brooks, John Boni and Norman Stiles, originally ran Wednesdays at 8 PM on ABC from September to December, 1975. 13 half-hour episodes of this sitcom about Robin Hood and his Merry Men were produced.
Dick Gautier as Robin Hood. (‘When Things Were Rotten,’ 1975)
In When Things Were Rotten Hood and his gang were portrayed as nitwits and even Maid Marian was something of a numbskull. Although the short-lived series was well-reviewed and featured sight-gags galore and Mel Brooks’ trademark wacky humor it failed to find enough of an audience.
Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck. (‘When Things Were Rotten,’ 1975)
The cast featured Dick Gautier as Robin Hood, Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck, Bernie Kopell as Alan-a-Dale and Misty Rowe as Maid Marian. Brook’s pal, comedian Marty Feldman directed an episode or two. Not long after cancellation, greater TV success awaited Van Patten on Eight Is Enough and Kopell on The Love Boat.
When Things Were Rotten Wiki, IMDb
Previously, on Show Toppers: ‘The Jimmy Stewart Show’ (1971)
‘Just ask for a Natural. That’s easy to vocalize.’ (Norm Crosby, 1978)
“Just say Natural.”
Our Daily 70s Spot is a quick, 10-second number featuring comedian Norm Crosby. Crosby, famous for malapropisms, is extolling the virtues of Anheuser-Busch’s then-new Natural Light Beer. Commercial aired in 1978.
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: McDonald’s ‘family of four’ commercial (1972)
James ‘Scotty’ Doohan, ‘Star Trek’ convention, 1976
Thanks to The Retroist for this excellent find: a brief amateur documentary covering an early Star Trek fan convention in Denver, Colorado in the fall of 1976.
Join the ‘Star Trek’ club. ‘Star Trek’ convention, 1976
YouTube poster, ultimessence, has this to say about his unique video:
“One of the earliest Star Trek conventions occurred in 1976 at the Northgenn Mall in Denver Colorado in Fall of 1976.
Only 7 years after the series ended, Star Trek already had a very strong cult following in the US and even abroad. There were small fan clubs popping up all over the world, so after a while it had such momentum that someone began organizing these gatherings into conventions…At homes, schools, malls, they eventually had to rent large convention halls to accommodate the throngs of devoted ‘trekkies’.
This one had Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and James Doohan (Scotty), so I had to bring my super 8 movie camera to the Mall to film it. I brought my old pal Terry McCoy as the on-camera reporter to interview the cults and play with the toys.”
Leonard ‘Spock’ Nimoy, ‘Star Trek’ convention, 1976
My fellow sci fi geeks – you’ll enjoy this great discovery. Roll it.
“You deserve a break today.” (McDonald’s, 1972)
“Feed a family of four for under $4.00.”
Daily 70s Spot time. Drive on up and accompany this haggard father into McDonald’s as he attempts to feed his starving family for less than five bucks. I apologize for the cliche but I can’t help but adding “Thems were the days!” Commercial aired on New Year’s Day, 1972.
*Note: The actor who plays the father is the same fellow from the 1973 Pringles spot. Wish I knew his name. He was popular in early-70s advertising.
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Harveys Bristol Cream (1974)
Steve McQueen is Henri ‘Papillon’ Charrière. (‘Papillon,’ 1973)
Papillon, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, flew into theaters in December of 1973. This drama about two prisoners (McQueen & Hoffman) attempting to escape from the Devil’s Island penal colony off the coast of French Guiana was the fourth highest-grossing film of the year.
Dustin Hoffman is Louis Dega. (‘Papillon,’ 1973)
I saw Papillon in the theater at seven-years-old and thoroughly enjoyed it. If my mother couldn’t find a babysitter she’d simply take me along to the movies with her. I’m glad she did. I saw a lot of classics that way. I’m sure I watched Papillon again on TV in the 1970s but I haven’t seen it since. I plan on another viewing this evening to see how it holds up. Why not join me? Catch the original trailer below.
Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: ‘Silver Streak’