Your beer…should you choose to accept it. (Peter Graves, Natural Light, 1978)
“Take a Natural break.”
Daily 70s Spot time. Here’s Peter Graves (Mission: Impossible) for Anheuser-Busch’s Natural Light beer. It’s nice to see Graves pitching in with some heavy lifting while preparing for the beer party. Commercial aired in January of 1978.
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Pepsi Challenge at Tulane University (1977)
Winner, ‘Miss Photogenic,’ Johanna Raunio of Finland. (‘Miss Universe 1974’)
Here’s an enjoyable five minutes of video rescued from the Health & Beauty section of the “Anachronism Files.” Host extraordinaire, Bob Barker presenting a dozen Miss Universe 1974 finalists in the “Evening Gown Competition.” The event took place on July 21, 1974 in Manila, Philippines.
Have a look at the competitors from countries including England, USA, Panama and India and marvel at the early-70s fashions folks around the world found fabulous. Really though, what makes this clip a classic is the groovy music provided by the organist (firing up just before the 3:00 mark). Why pay for a band when one person can create all those wunnerful wunnerful sounds on a Wurlitzer?
And in case you were wondering, the winner of Miss Universe 1974 was Amparo Muñoz of Spain.
“We asked these students at Tulane University to have a little fun conducting their own Pepsi Challenge.” (1977)
Your Daily 70s Spot features Pepsi Cola and this one is part of the “Pepsi Challenge” series. The nail-biting “challenge” is a blind taste test between Pepsi and Coca-Cola. This spot was filmed at Tulane University in Louisiana. Spot aired in 1977.
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Don Adams & Penny Marshall for Hertz Rent-a-Car (1971)
“All they wanted was a couple of girls, a few laughs, some good times…and then they crossed the Macon County Line.”
Macon County Line hit theaters in August of 1974. This low budget story about two brothers on a fateful road trip in 1954 was advertised as a true story but was in fact, a fabrication. Audiences bought into the tale and (according to Wikipedia) Macon County Line ended up “the single most profitable film of 1974 (in cost-to-gross ratio) earning over $30 million dollars at the box office.” How about them road apples?
Alan and Jesse Vint star in ‘Macon County Line,’ 1974
Macon County Line starred real-life brothers Alan and Jesse Vint, Cheryl Waters and Max Baer, Jr. and was directed by Richard Compton. The film also boasts an appearance by a 13-yr-old, future teen heartthrob, Leif Garrett.
Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: The Return of the Pink Panther
Would you believe you’ll have your own hit series in five years?
Here’s a nifty spot with an unexpected pairing of celebrities. Don Adams (Get Smart) and Penny Marshall (Laverne & Shirley) for Hertz Rent-a-Car. Adams was already well-known to TV viewers but Marshall was still in the process of becoming popular. She had guest-starred on a number of TV series and other commercials but hadn’t yet hit the big time. Commercial aired in April of 1971.
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Indy ’70 Sears DieHard Battery commercial (1971)
“I may be too young to fall in love, but I’m still hangin’ round!” (Suzi Quatro, 1975)
A very splendid Monday to you. The start of the week means a shot of music at Bionic Disco, so here’s trailblazing rocker, Suzi Quatro performing “I May Be Too Young” on European TV.
“I May Be Too Young,” and this performance, are from 1975. The song was written by hit-makers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and released as a single in various European countries. It does not appear on any of Quatro’s 1970s L.P.s making it something of a rarity. I love Quatro’s Evel Knievel-style leather outfit and Thunderbird bass guitar in this clip. Rockin’!
Suzi Quatro Wiki, SuziQuatro.com
Previously, on Music for Monday: John Travolta and Captain & Tennille, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’