Funshine Friday: The Roman Holidays

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“Hop in your chariot and come this way…meet the groovy Holidays!”
‘The Roman Holidays,’ 1972

Hanna-Barbera’s short-lived cartoon, The Roman Holidays, originally ran for 13 episodes from September through December, 1972. The show was something like a Flintstones in the Roman Era (63 AD) and featured Dave Willock as Gus Holiday. You’ll probably remember Willock’s voice as the announcer for Wacky Races.

‘The Roman Holidays’ cast; Precocia, Gus, Laurie and Happius

I’ve got to admit that this is one cartoon that doesn’t reside within my memory box. I would have been a mere five-years-old when it was on and I either missed it or simply don’t remember watching. The show hasn’t seen much re-run action. How about yourselves? This one ring any Roman bells?

The Roman Holidays Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Funshine Friday: The Red Hand Gang

Show Toppers: The Invisible Man (1975)

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‘The Invisible Man’ TV title card, 1975
You can see through the lettering. See what they did there?

The Invisible Man ran for a single season on NBC, Mondays at 8 PM, from September 8, 1975 to January 19, 1976. The show starred David McCallum (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) as the “Man” in question, Dr. Daniel Westin.

‘The Invisible Man’ cast is clearly visible in this shot: Melinda Fee, Craig Stevens, David McCallum

Westin was stuck in his invisibility and wore a mask and plastic hands to appear normal. He, along with his wife, Kate (Melinda Fee) worked for the KLAE Corporation while attempting to concoct a cure. Meanwhile, the good doctor took on secret KLAE missions doled out by his boss, Walter Carlson (Craig Stevens). Oh, and the show had a cracking theme song – don’t you think?

The Invisible Man Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: Code R

Time covers 1979

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In posts past, we explored exceptional Time Magazine covers from 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978. Today, in our final installment, we turn our attention to the end-of-the-decade and 1979.

Major events included China’s Teng Hsiao-ping as ‘Man of the Year,’ Iran and the US hostage crisis, the Three-Mile Island nuclear disaster and the Carter-Brezhnev SALT II Summit as well as entertainment stories on Robin Williams, Woody Allen, Diane Lane and The Who.

By clicking one image you can easily enlarge and scroll through them all (look to the lower right and click the next image link).

Time/CoverBrowser

Trailer Tuesday: Play Misty for Me

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Clint Eastwood as ‘Buster Blue Eyes’/Dave Garver
‘Play Misty for Me,’ 1971

“You’re not dumping me, ‘Buster Blue Eyes’!”

Play Misty for Me, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, released in November of 1971 and ended up as one of the top 20 highest-grossing films of the year.

Eastwood plays Carmel, California radio DJ Dave Garver who is stalked by obsessed fan, Evelyn Draper, played by Jessica Walter. Walter was nominated for a Golden Globe for the part but lost out to Jane Fonda (Klute). Play the ‘Misty’ trailer below.

Play Misty for Me Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Saturday Night Fever

Music for Monday: John Lennon, ‘Stand By Me’

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“I’d like to say ‘Hello’ to all the folks in England. How ya doin’ folks?”
John Lennon, Old Gray Whistle Test, spring, 1975

Here’s a rather sublime tune for your bound-to-be-dreary Monday. John Lennon performing his version of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”

“Stand By Me” was the only single released off Lennon’s Rock ‘n’ Roll L.P. of February, 1975 and made it to #20 on the US charts.

Lennon’s live performance below was specially recorded for the UK’s Old Grey Whistle Test TV show in ’75.

Previously, on Music for Monday: Siouxsie and the Banshees, ‘Playground Twist’

70s shots: Shazam! cast photos

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Thanks to Warner Brothers, who are releasing SHAZAM! The Complete Live-Action Series (1974-76) this Tuesday, we have two freshly unearthed cast photos to enjoy.

In the first we see Les Tremayne (Mentor) and Michael Gray (Billy) hangin’ by their RV (which housed one of those new-fangled mobile phones). In the second shot we see the first actor to play Captain Marvel, Jackson Bostwick.

Warner Archive Shazam! Photos

Mentor and Billy Batson take a breather from the action
Shazam! circa 1974

Jackson Bostwick as Captain Marvel
Shazam! circa 1974

Source: Warner Archive Collection
Shazam! Wiki

Previously, on 70s shots: Anthony Hernandez, ‘Los Angeles Public Transit Areas’ (1975)