A little bit of a twist with Show Toppers today. Instead of nighttime fare we have a show that ran on Saturday mornings, aimed at a younger audience. Sherwood Schwartz’s Big John, Little John originally appeared on NBC from September to December, 1976.
The show starred Herb Edelman (who guest starred on just about every 60s and 70s show imaginable) as Big John and Robbie Rist (The Brady Bunch) as Little John. Joyce Bulifant (Mary Tyler Moore) played John’s wife, Marjorie.
Robbie Rist in ‘Big John, Little John,’ 1976
The story goes that elementary school teacher John took a sip of the Fountain of Youth and at random times transforms into his younger self, aka Little John. Heck, you don’t need me to explain the premise. It’s a Sherwood Schwartz show. The into below describes the plot just like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan’s Island openings did.
Today is December 12, 2012 or 12-12-12. We won’t see triple dates all the same like this in our lifetimes (unless you live to see 01.01.2101).
I thought it might be fun to celebrate the event by looking back at the 1970s and checking significant or plain interesting things that happened on December 12th each year of the decade. Let’s dive in!
December 12, 1977
December 12, 1970: The Doors play their last concert with Jim Morrison. Morrison burns out onstage in New Orleans and is unable to complete the show. Read about it here (scroll down to December). Actress Jennifer Connelly is born.
December 12, 1972: Commander Eugene Cernan of Apollo 17 walks on the surface of the Moon. Soil samples are collected and the US flag raised. Led Zeppelin plays at the Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, Wales.
December 12, 1973: Grateful Dead play at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia. Frank Zappa & The Mothers play The Roxy, Hollywood, CA.
December 12, 1978: Bob Dylan plays The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia. President Jimmy Carter and the First Lady host a Christmas Ball for Members of Congress and their spouses.
December 12, 1979: Zimbabwe Rhodesia becomes Southern Rhodesia (and later simply Zimbabwe). NATO passes the nuclear “Double-Track Decision.” Responding to the hostage crisis, Jimmy Carter orders Iranian diplomats out of the US. Later that evening Carter and his son, Chip watch Star Trek: The Motion Picture in the White House theater.
Should you watch this movie? Two words: Olivia. Hussey. ‘Black Christmas,’ 1974
I rarely feature frightening things here at the site but seeing as how this one is something of a cult classic and the season is right – I couldn’t resist. I’m generally not a big fan of horror films (with some notable exceptions) but there were a ton produced in the 1970s and they need to be represented here.
Black Christmas, also known as Silent Night, Evil Night, was a Canadian production and hit US theaters in December of 1974. The film takes place in a sorority house and stars the gorgeous and talented Olivia Hussey of Romeo & Juliet fame, Margot Kidder (Superman), Keir Dullea (2001) and John Saxon (Enter the Dragon). The amazing Andrea Martin, later of SCTV, also appears. According to Wikipedia, Gilda Radner was originally going to play Martin’s role but had to drop out due to Saturday Night Live commitments.
One final note: Nine years later, Director Bob Clark went on to direct another holiday film. You’re probably familiar with his beloved 1983 classic A Christmas Story.
Those American boys sure are high on life! Van Halen, European TV appearance, 1978
Is it Monday again already? Well, at least we have rousing music to pull us through another one.
Here’s Van Halen performing their version of The Kinks, “You Really Got Me.” The video presents the band on Europe’s “PopRock” show and is likely from 1978. The TV studio crowd seems a bit bewildered by the music as well as David Lee Roth’s antics and outfit. Roth, however, certainly seems to be enjoying himself.
Van Halen recorded “You Really Got Me” in late 1977 for inclusion on their eponymous debut L.P. which released February 10, 1978. Their single of the classic tune rose to #36 on the Billboard “Hot 100.”
Lazy Sunday alert! Time to catch up on some 1970s-related stories in the news. Today, we take a look at rare early-70s Little Richard photos, a Susan Dey ‘Style Evolution’ gallery, modern day Travolta and Newton-John in Grease mode and where the cast of 1977’s Saturday Night Fever are now. Tuck in.
Little Richard, LIFE Magazine Photos, 1971
Good golly! Prince ain’t got nuthin’ on this. Little Richard, 1971 by Ralph Morse/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Photographer Ralph Morse has no recollection of this 1971 photo shoot with Little Richard but that doesn’t make the images any less enjoyable. Slip and slide on over and check them out. Oh, and Happy (recent) 80th Birthday, Little Richard!
LIFE Quote:
“What’s certain is that, four decades after they were made, these portraits of the Macon, Georgia, native — published here on Little Richard’s 80th birthday, December 5, 2012 — capture at least a small part of the unnerving and somewhat unhinged charisma of the man many credit as the true originator of rock and roll. (Little Richard, his backers argue, was the first, true, living, breathing, screaming bridge between R&B and rock.)”
Susan Dey Style Evolution Gallery
Lori and Keith Partridge, style icons, 1972 Getty Images
More fun photos, this time with a focus on actress Susan Dey. Dey, best known for The Partridge Family (1970-74) and L.A. Law (1986-94), has sported many enticing looks over the years. I’d say there’s some questionable attire on display from the 1980s but how many of us can claim to be free of embarrassing 80s photos?
“Though she began her career as a model, Susan Dey launched into true superstardom with 1970s family sitcom ‘The Partridge Family.’ Off screen, the actress favored ’70s color-blocked sweaters and ruffle-y blouses, but then transitioned accordingly to shoulder pads and cowboy boots in the ’80s.”
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John Release Grease-Inspired Video
‘You’re the one that I want! Shoo bop doo wadda wadda!’ Travolta & Newton-John, ‘I Think You Might Like It,’ 2012
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John have recorded a holiday record, This Christmas, and released a new Grease-inspired video which you can catch below. For more details – read the story at People magazine.
People Quote:
“In the video for ‘I Think You Might Like It,’ Travolta flies a plane home while Newton-John drives a classic convertible full of gifts. The pair reunite in a field to perform some dance moves reminiscent of their Grease finale, ‘You’re the One That I Want.'”
John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, ‘I Think You Might Like It’, 2012
Saturday Night Fever ‘Where Are They Now’? Gallery
‘Oh, Tony, your hair is magnificent.’ ‘Saturday Night Fever,’ 1977
Lastly, in celebration of the iconic movie’s 35th anniversary, MovieFone takes a look at the Saturday Night Fever cast in a ‘Where Are They Now?’ gallery.
MovieFone Quote:
“The film grossed $94 million in the U.S. alone, and racked up $237 million worldwide. The soundtrack ruled the charts for 24 straight weeks and is still ranked as one of the all-time bestsellers. (Admit it, every time you hear, ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ you feel like strutting.)”
‘To drink and make thyself divine.’ Vivian Stanshall, biG GRunt, ’11 Mustachioed Daughters,’ 1970
Here’s a wild and wonderful performance from early 1970 you’ll want to see. After the demise of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Vivian Stanshall formed biG GRunt. The band didn’t last very long but thankfully a few songs and videos remain.
Music from and for the brain? biG GRunt, ’11 Mustachioed Daughters,’ 1970
Here’s biG GRunt performing “11 Mustachioed Daughters.” The song was originally a Bonzo tune and appeared on “The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse” in 1967. The performance you’ll see below is a much different, re-vamped version and features numerous contraptions and costumes. Click it and dig it!
