Show Toppers: ‘The Streets of San Francisco’ (1972)

This is the city...

This is the city…

The Streets of San Francisco ran for five seasons on ABC from September, 1972 to June of 1977. This hour-long detective drama starred Karl “Don’t leave home without it” Malden as veteran Detective Mike Stone and Michael Douglas as the young and green, Inspector Steve Keller.

Michael Douglas is Assistant Inspector Steve Keller ('The Streets of San Francisco,' 1972)

Michael Douglas is Assistant Inspector Steve Keller (‘The Streets of San Francisco,’ 1972)

Guest stars on The Streets of San Francisco were abundant and a tiny list would include names like; David Soul, Paul Michael Glaser, Mark Hamill, Martin Sheen, Tom Selleck, Brenda Vaccaro, Patty duke, and on and on. For the final season, after Douglas left to pursue his film career, Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica) played Malden’s new partner, Dan Robbins.

Karl Malden is Lt. Mike Stone ('The Streets of San Francisco,' 1972)

Karl Malden is Lt. Mike Stone (‘The Streets of San Francisco,’ 1972)

‘THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO’ INTRO/OUTRO

The Streets of San Francisco Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: The Courtship of Eddie’s Father

Daily 70s Spot: ‘I Love New York’ commercial (1978)

Are you singing the jingle right about now?

Are you singing the jingle right about now?



For our Daily 70s Spot today, we have a commercial that ran in May, 1978 as part of the “I Love New York” campaign. The “I Love New York” advertising campaign began in 1977 and may just run for as long as there is an NY.

Oh yeah, baby. Straight outta Brooklyn!

Daily 70s Spot #13: ‘I Love New York’ Commercial, 1978

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Hostess ‘King Ding Dong’ commercial (1971)

Mood Music: Chet Atkins plays Joplin’s ‘The Entertainer’ (1975)

Chet Atkins entertaining the audience in 1975

Chet Atkins entertaining the audience in 1975



A very pleasant Wednesday to you. Here’s a short & sweet, two-minute slice of near-perfect music to mellow your hectic minds. Guitar legend, Chet Atkins performing a Scott Joplin classic, “The Entertainer,” in 1975.

Joplin’s turn-of-the-century ragtime music, and “The Entertainer” in particular, experienced an upsurge in popularity in the 1970s. This was mostly due to the Oscar-winning film, The Sting (1973) using a number of his tunes. Enjoy this melding of two masters.

Chet Atkins Plays Scott Joplin’s ‘The Entertainer,’ 1975

Previously, on Mood Music: Lenny and the Squigtones, ‘StarCrossed’

Daily 70s Spot: Hostess ‘King Ding Dong’ commercial (1971)

You delicious little monarch! When the coup comes I'm going to eat you up and usurp your kingdom!  (Hostess' King Ding Dong, 1971)

You delicious little monarch! When the coup comes I’m going to eat you up and usurp your kingdom! (Hostess’ King Ding Dong, 1971)



Today, we join delusional young Jimmy (who seems to be seeing things) for this Hostess “King Ding Dong” commercial from 1971.

Just who declared this chocolate-covered, cream-filled little fellow king? I don’t know but he sure looks yummy. Attack!

Daily 70s Spot #12: Hostess ‘King Ding Dong’ Commercial, 1971

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Jif Peanut Butter, ‘Taste Test’ commercial (1977)

Trailer Tuesday: Play It Again, Sam

Woody Allen is Allan Felix with a Humphrey Bogart complex ('Play It Again, Sam,' 1972)

Woody Allen is Allan Felix with a Humphrey Bogart complex (‘Play It Again, Sam,’ 1972)



Play It Again, Sam, written by and starring Woody Allen, is based on a play of the same name. The movie version was directed by Herbert Ross and made it to theaters in May of 1972.

Allen stars as Allan Felix, a nervous klutz around women who finds inspiration and bravery in visits from the ghost of Humphrey Bogart. Tony Roberts stars as Allan’s buddy, Dick and Diane Keaton plays Dick’s wife and Allan’s love interest, Linda. Somewhat surprisingly for the New York-obsessed Woody Allen, this very enjoyable relationship comedy is set in San Francisco. Catch the trailer.

Play It Again, Sam Theatrical Trailer, 1972

Play It Again, Sam Wiki, IMDb

Play_It_Again_Sam_1-sheet_1972

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Daily 70s Spot: Jif Peanut Butter, ‘Taste Test’ commercial (1977)

Choosy Carol chose Jif  (Jif Peanut Butter, 1977)

Choosy Carol chose Jif (Jif Peanut Butter, 1977)



Tension! Suspense! Peanuts! In this Jif Peanut Butter commercial, snatched from the TV in December, 1977, Mrs. Carol Heintzelman bravely digs into a disguised jar and samples a mysterious substance.

Jif’s blind taste test and the “Choosy mothers choose Jif” campaign ran throughout much of the 1970s and well beyond. Bite into it.

Daily 70s Spot #11: Jif Peanut Butter ‘Taste Test’ commercial, 1977

Previously, on Daily 70 Spot: Hillbilly Bread (1978)