Show Toppers: ‘Cannon’ (1971)

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Light the fuse – it’s time for Cannon!
‘Cannon’ TV title card, 1971

Cannon starred William Conrad (d. 1994) as the title character, who quits the LAPD after his wife and son die in an accident and becomes a private detective. The rotund and robust gentleman charged high fees for his services, liked fine wine and fancy foods and drove around Southern California in a Lincoln Continental. When in a tight situation, Cannon would use his mighty girth to subdue the bad guys.

William Conrad is private detective Frank Cannon.
‘Cannon’ TV intro, 1971

Cannon aired from September, 1971 to September, 1976 on CBS. The show ran on Tuesday nights during its first season, moved to Wednesday for the bulk of its run and ended up on Sunday in the summer of ’76.

The intro below is from the Cannon debut, “The Salinas Jackpot,” which originally aired on September 14, 1971. Tom Skerritt and Vincent Van Patten co-starred in the episode.

‘Cannon’ TV Intro, Season One: Episode One, 1971

Cannon Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: Phyllis

70s Spots: Rolo Candies

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The dancing Rolo scamps are at it again!
Rolo candy commercial, 1970s

Here’s a pair of 1970s-era TV spots for Rolo candies. In the first commercial you’ll enjoy a team of dancing Rolos and a delightfully ‘chewy’ sing-a-long song. I hadn’t seen this ad in something like 35 years but I remembered it well and I got that buzzy flashback feeling I love where I’m transported back to my candy-obsessed youth.

Casting Call: One young lady who REALLY likes Rolos
Rolo candy commercial, 1979

The second spot (from 1979) features the “Roll a Rolo to your friend” campaign which lasted into the 80s. Chew ’em up!

Rolo Candies: Dancing ‘Chewy’ Rolos, Mid to late 70s

Rolo Candies: ‘Roll a Rolo to Your Friend,’ 1979

Previously, on 70s Spots: Right Guard, ‘Hi, Guy!’

Trailer Tuesday: Donald Sutherland in ‘Alex in Wonderland’

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Alex Morrison is searching for inspiration. Can you dig it?
Donald Sutherland in ‘Alex in Wonderland,’ 1970

In December of 1970 Paul Mazursky released Alex in Wonderland – a film about a movie director struggling to follow up his successful debut film. Alex in Wonderland was Mazursky’s second film, following the great success of his 1969 debut Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Yes, Mazursky seems to have made a movie inspired by real life events.

Donald Sutherland stars as the title character and Ellen Burstyn plays his wife. Famed European directors Federico Fellini and Jeanne Moreau appear as themselves. Mazursky portrays a Hollywood exec. The film contains many strange dream sequences and garnered mixed reviews. Roger Ebert rather liked the movie in his March ’71 review. Take in the trailer below.

Alex in Wonderland Theatrical Trailer, 1970

Alex in Wonderland Wiki, IMDb
Alex in Wonderland review at Every70sMovie

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Robert Redford in ‘The Hot Rock’

Music for Monday: Angel, ‘The Winter Song’ (A Hard Rock Holiday Classic, 1978)

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‘Hear the angels join the choir’
Angel, ‘The Winter Song,’ 1978

Androgynous glam rock band Angel were discovered by Gene Simmons of Kiss and signed to the Casablanca label in 1975. Angel dressed in white, featured a keyboard-laden sound and weren’t afraid to look pretty while rocking out.

The group never really cracked the big time but they did appear in the Jodie Foster flick Foxes and they scratched the top 50 with a cover of The Young Rascals’ “Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore.”

The song I’ve got for you today is in the holiday spirit and will likely blow your mind. At least a little bit. Here’s Angel with “The Winter Song” which appeared on the band’s 1978 L.P. White Hot.

“There’s a feeling in the air. Feel the spirit everywhere…”

Angel, ‘The Winter Song,’ 1978

Previously, on Music for Monday: Gordon Lightfoot, ‘Sundown’

Rad Ads: LIFE magazine, Dec. 03,1971

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A lazy Sunday is upon us and the time is right for some Rad Ads! Let’s blow 41 years of dust off the cover of the December 3rd, 1971 issue of LIFE magazine and take a peek inside.

‘Tis the season and all that so you’ll find a few Christmas-themed ads mixed in there. Have a look. (By clicking one image you can easily enlarge and scroll through them all. Look to the lower right and click the next image link).

He loves him some bourbon!

Jaunty topper and stripey trousers. Someone’s sure to stop soon…

Bastard. That cigarette was keeping my lungs warm!

Singer in a snow globe. Shake that sucker, Santa!

That sure is a nice looking…thing…in the driveway

Raise your hand if you miss yellow shag carpet. Anyone?

Santa…you didn’t.

Flowery, yes. But I like it too.

Previously, on Rad Ads: Black Belt magazine (Nov. ’79)

(Source: Google Books/LIFE)

Happy Birthday, Richard Pryor

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Happy Birthday, Richard Pryor!

Comedian, actor and social commentator Richard Pryor would have been 72 years old today. The sorely missed, boundary-pushing funnyman was born December 1st, 1940 in Peoria, Illinois.

Let’s celebrate Pryor, who appeared on TV and in film throughout the 1970s, by watching a brief clip from his NBC TV special from May of 1977. And before you go, check this article at HuffPost: “Happy Birthday Richard Pryor: 25 Reasons To Love The Legendary Comedian.”

The Richard Pryor Special?, 1977

Richard Pryor Wiki, IMDb

More Richard Pryor at Bionic Disco