‘It’s Lionel Trains ‘n’ Truckin’ – where the highway meets the track.’
Here’s a pair of mid-1970s spots for Lionel Trains featuring Johnny Cash.
As a special bonus treat we have a video featuring Cash in his 1974 TV feature “Ridin’ the Rails.” Trains, Americana and Christmas. Choo choo! Have a great Sunday.
Previously, on 70s Spots: Rolo Candies
‘Put one foot in front of the other – and soon you’ll be walkin’ out the door!’
Today, you’ll want to hit the clicker below and rock the bells along with Santa as he belts out “One Foot in Front of the Other.” This one will cheer you right up and we can all use a shot of joy right about now.
‘One Foot in Front of the Other,’ Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, 1970
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town Wiki, IMDb
Previously, on Mood Music: biG GRunt, ’11 Mustachioed Daughters’
‘The greatest team the world has ever known – the Space Sentinels!’
A trio of superheroes, Hercules (strength), Mercury (speed) and Astrea (shape-changer), team up to help humankind “survive and flourish.” The young do-gooders are aided by a powerful alien named Sentinel One and his maintenance operations robot, MO.
‘Space Sentinels’; Mercury, Astrea, Hercules. Filmation, 1977.
Previously, on Funshine Friday: The Krofft Supershow
Herb Edelman in ‘Big John, Little John,’ 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
Big John, Little John Wiki, IMDb
Previously, on Show Toppers: Cannon
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, 1971: David Sarnoff, CEO of RCA and the founder of NBC, dies in NY. Alice Cooper plays the Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio.
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, 1974: Jimmy Carter announces his presidential candidacy. Mick Taylor quits the Rolling Stones.
December 12, 1975: Actress Mayim Bialik (Blossom, Big Bang Theory) is born. Elvis Presley plays the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.
December 12, 1976: Quarterback Joe Namath plays his last game with the NY Jets. Actor Jack Cassidy (father of David & Shaun Cassidy) dies.
December 12, 1977: Kiss and AC/DC play Freedom Hall, Lexington, KY. Baroness Clementine Spencer-Churchill, member of the House of Lords and wife of Winston Churchill, dies.
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.
(Photo source: Goatley.com)
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.
Black Christmas Wiki, IMDb
Black Christmas review at Every70sMovie
Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Donald Sutherland in ‘Alex in Wonderland’