Mmmm. That baby smells Downy fresh!
Our Daily 70s Spot offers up a pleasant scene featuring a slightly overbearing grandmother and a bottle of Downy Fabric Softener. Commercial aired Christmas Eve, 1977.
“The April Fresh smell of Downy. A noticeable improvement.”
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Folger’s Coffee ‘Mrs. Olsen’ commercial (early 1970s)
‘Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch’ title card, 1974
Happy Funshine Friday! Here’s a cartoon that was a childhood favorite of mine. Hanna-Barbera’s Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch originally ran Saturday mornings on NBC from September, 1974 to August, 1975. 13 lucky episodes were produced.
Wheelie with Fishtail and Captain Tough
The show centered on a pair of anthropomorphic vehicles; a VW Beetle named Wheelie and his girlfriend, Rota Ree. Wheelie, a stunt and racing car, communicated by honking and flashing symbols across his windshield. He also had a pair of magical, mechanical hands which could produce a wide variety of helpful devices from his trunk. Wheelie and Rota Ree were at constant odds with The Chopper Bunch, a dastardly gang of motorcycles made up of Chopper, Revs, Hi-Riser and Scrambles.
The Chopper Bunch roaring into trouble
Voice acting vets; Frank Welker, Don Messick, Lennie Weinrib, Judy Strangis and Paul Winchell provided the speaking parts and mechanical mumblings.
Warner Brothers has a tight lock on what’s available on YouTube, but below you’ll find a short Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch clip. You can hop here if you’d like to order the complete collection on DVD.
Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch Wiki, IMDb
Previously, on Funshine Friday: The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show
Commander Decker enjoying a fresh-brewed cup of Folger’s (Stephen Collins, early 1970s)
Daily 70s Spot time. Today, we find actor Stephen Collins from Star Trek: The Motion Picture insulting his wife’s coffee. Not to fear. Mrs. Olsen (Virginia Christine) steps in to save the day with a steaming pot of Folger’s. Commercial aired in the early 1970s. Brew it up.
Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Ajax Dishwashing Liquid (1977)
‘The Betty White Show,’ TV title, 1977
Pretty much everyone loves watching Betty White on TV and she’s still successful and going strong at age 91. Most of us know White best from her roles as Sue Ann on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rose on The Golden Girls, but how many remember her short-lived 70s sitcom The Betty White Show?
The Betty White Show ran for a paltry 14 episodes, Monday evenings on CBS from September, 1977 to January, 1978. White starred as aging actress, Joyce Whitman whose career is in decline. Out of desperation, she takes a gig fronting a cop show called Undercover Woman (a take on Police Woman). Fellow Mary Tyler Moore alum, Georgia Engel, co-starred as White’s pal, Mitzi. John Hillerman played White’s stuffy ex-husband, John, who also happened to be the director of Undercover Woman.
John Hillerman and Betty White (‘The Betty White Show,’ 1977)
The Betty White Show couldn’t stand up to ratings competition in the same time slot from Monday Night Football and The NBC Monday Movie and soon suffered the axe. This was, in fact, the comedienne’s second attempt at a series entitled The Betty White Show. Her variety show in 1958 also suffered the same fate, lasting only two months.
The Betty White Show Wiki, IMDb
Previously, on Show Toppers: Adam-12
‘You and Ajax sure know how to treat a lady…’ (Ajax Dishwashing Liquid, 1977)
Ajax Dishwashing Liquid is mild on hands, tough on grease in our Daily 70s Spot. Watch the dishwasher (Eugene Roche) massage his co-worker’s neck and make a plate squeak with cleanliness. You’re gonna love the “new clear bottle” too. What will they think of next?
Previously, on Daily 70-s Spot: ‘Elvis in Hollywood’ commercial (1977)
‘Everybody’s smiling. Everybody’s laughing…’ (‘It’s a Sunshine Day,’ 1973)
“I just can’t stay inside all day. I gotta get out. Get me some of those rays!”
Hold onto your ears…I mean, hats…it’s the Brady kids singing “It’s a Sunshine Day” on The Pete Stearne Amateur Hour.
Bobby Brady (Mike Lookinland) takes a well deserved double solo
This classic sing-a-long first aired January 26, 1973 during season four of The Brady Bunch as part of the “Amateur Nite” episode. Take particular note of the singing solos by Jan, Cindy, Marcia and Bobby. Sorry, fans of familial equality – no Peter or Greg vocal solos allowed in this sun-soaked tune. Bask in it below.
“It’s a Sunshine Day” appeared on the 1972 L.P. “The Kids from the Brady Bunch” which you can read about at AllMusic.
Previously, on Brady Bunch Moments: ‘Groovy Products!’