A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (and appreciating our pop culture)

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Time to dress up as pilgrims and go door-to-door caroling again!
‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ November, 1973

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow USA-dwellers! It’s time to butter the toast, pop the corn, pass out the jelly beans and get to feasting! And what better way to celebrate the day than to enjoy a few memorable moments from 1973’s A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!

I grew up with this CBS special helping to define the holiday and I’m willing to bet most of you did too.

I’ll be recreating this meal today. Hope my guests are appreciative.
‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ November, 1973

Today, as you sit at your ping pong tables and munch on your pretzel sticks don’t forget to give thanks (yes, for family and friends, but also) to Charles Schulz and the Peanuts gang!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Opening/Football Kick-Off

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Feast Preparation

Check out this article where The Wall Street Journal‘s Market Watch says “‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ defines holiday TV” and have a great day.

Wall Street Journal Quote:

“On Nov. 20, 1973, CBS slotted ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ — sponsored by Interstate Brands, the parent of Dolly Madison cakes and pies — at 8 p.m. Eastern to kick off its Tuesday night lineup. The Peanuts cartoons had become such ratings blockbusters by this time that the network had no problem preempting ‘Maude,’ the ‘All In The Family’ spinoff that would finish as the sixth most-watched show of the 1973-74 season.

Against the short-lived NBC crime drama ‘Chase’ and the medical sitcom ‘The New Temperatures Rising Show,’ ABC’s second attempt to find a starring vehicle for comedian Paul Lynde, ‘Thanksgiving’ easily won the time period, averaging a 27.8 rating and 43 share of the television audience.”

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Wiki, IMDb

UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly says: “‘Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ draws biggest audience in 4 years“

Brady Bunch Moments: Greg’s Thanksgiving movie

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‘Our Pilgrim Fathers’ aka ‘Through Hardship To Freedom’ written, produced and directed by Gregory Brady. Music direction and narration by Gregory Brady
‘The Brady Bunch,’ 1970

On this day-before-Thanksgiving Brady Bunch Moments we turn to our favorite family and their seasonally-relevant episode. In season two‘s “The Un-Underground Movie,” which originally aired October 16, 1970, we watch Greg’s homemade film entitled Our Pilgrim Fathers.

Capt. Jones of The Mayflower takes an imaginary arrow to the hambone
‘The Brady Bunch,’ 1970

Watch Greg’s cinematic masterpiece in its entirety below. You’ll especially enjoy the dramatic slo-mo “Special Effects” just “like in those real ‘arty’ movies.”

Previously, on Brady Bunch Moments: ‘Trick-Shot’ Bobby

And as an added holiday treat – here’s another BBM from a few months back that’s been getting a ton of search-engine hits the past two weeks: Alice’s Thanksgiving moustache

Brady Bunch Moments: Alice’s Thanksgiving moustache
Originally posted on August 5, 2012 by David Moore

The Bradys pause to mock Alice during the filming of Greg’s docudrama, ‘Our Pilgrim Fathers,’ October, 1970

On this mesmerizing edition of “Brady Bunch Moments” – filming for Greg’s Thanksgiving school project is going well despite problems with his (over) actors and some unexpected wardrobe malfunctions.

Click below to enjoy this two-minute clip from “The Un-Underground Movie” episode which originally aired during the second season of The Brady Bunch on October 16, 1970.

Just because…

Previously, on “Brady Bunch Moments”: Whipped cream wipe-out

Trailer Tuesday: ‘1776’ (Movie Musical, 1972)

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Sing proudly!
Howard Da Silva as Ben Franklin, ‘1776,’ 1972

Heading back 40 years once again – a movie you may have seen with the family for Thanksgiving was the musical 1776.

Released November 17, 1972, 1776 was the celluloid version of a successful stage hit and starred William Daniels as John Adams, Howard Da Silva as Ben Franklin, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson and Blythe Danner as Martha Jefferson.

Interesting 1970s-era facts: The exteriors for the movie were filmed in Burbank, CA at the Warner Ranch and an entire colonial Philadelphia street was created. Unfortunately, most of the sets were destroyed by fire in the mid-70s.

President Richard Nixon asked producer Jack Warner to have the song “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men” removed from the movie version as it offended his political sensibilities – and it was. Many years later it was restored. Thankfully, the editor did not destroy the negative as he was asked to do.

‘1776’ Movie Trailer, 1972

1776 Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Jeremiah Johnson

Music for Monday: Johnny Nash, ‘I Can See Clearly Now’

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“Gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day.”
Johnny Nash, ‘I Can See Clearly Now,’ 1972

Good Monday to you, folks. Thanksgiving is fast approaching and that got me to thinking about songs that were hits over past seasons. 40-years-ago, for the entire month of November, 1972, a single song sat at the very top of the Billboard US “Hot 100” charts. That song was “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash.

“I Can See Clearly Now” came from the album of the same name which released in July of ’72. An interesting note: Nash’s L.P contains tunes written by Bob Marley including “Stir It Up.” Some of Marley’s first work to be heard outside of Jamaica.

Here’s Nash singing live on The Midnight Special in 1973. Let it cheer you up. Don’t cost nuthin’.

Previously, on Music for Monday: Elton John, ‘Honky Cat’ (live, ’72)

A Johnny Carson Moment: Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles (11.12.76)

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Johnny Carson to Frank Sinatra: “When you’re in a romantic mood…when you’re trying to make out. Whose records do you put on?”
‘The Tonight Show,’ Nov. 12, 1976

On the evening of November 12, 1976 The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson welcomed a special guest by the name of Frank Sinatra. As happened fairly often in the 60s and 70s, Don Rickles made a “surprise” appearance, walking onto the set mid-conversation. Watch the Hollywood shenanigans unfold below.

Previously, on A Johnny Carson Moment: Carnac the Magnificent (05.25.76)

Mood Music: Nazareth, ‘Dear John’

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Dan McCafferty wants to be your man
Nazareth, ‘Dear John,’ 1972

Are you in the mood to groove? I said…are you in the mood?! Well, damnit – this will help. Here’s Nazareth performing “Dear John” live on TV in 1972.

“Dear John” (pay no attention to VH1 calling the song “I Wanna Be Your Man”) appeared on Nazareth’s self-titled debut L.P. released in November of 1971.

I know it looks like the drummer is wearing a costume. He isn’t. Can you dig it?

Previously, on Mood Music: Bob Marley and the Wailers, ‘Concrete Jungle’