35 Years Ago This Week: Atari 2600 Console Launches

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Ready for a spot of Skiing?
Atari 2600 photo by David Moore/Bionic Disco

The Atari 2600 console hit stores 35 years ago this week on October 14, 1977. Originally called the Atari VCS, the unit shipped with two Joysticks, two paddle controllers and a copy of the cartridge-based game Combat.

To celebrate this awe-inspiring entertainment event view the historic 1977 video below starring Chuck McCann as the excitable customer, George.

Sorry, George, the Atari VCs is completely sold out
Chuck McCann Atari TV spot, 1977


Chris Morris at Plugged In Quote:

“While Atari first burst onto the video game scene in 1972 with Pong, for many gamers, the company’s lasting legacy will always be the Atari 2600.

October 14 marks the 35th birthday of the legendary game console, which landed with a bang in 1977. It wasn’t the first home video game system — that honor belongs to the Magnavox Odyssey — but it quickly became the most widely adopted and set the standard for many, many years.”

Atari 2600 Wiki

Funshine Friday: ‘The Red Hand Gang’ (1977)

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“La la la la la la la,” C’mon sing along, “La la la la la la la!”
The Red Hand Gang, 1977

A little live-action…action…for your Funshine Friday today. The Red Hand Gang ran for one season in 1977 with a grand total of 12 episodes produced. The show featured a crime-solving collection of kids and could be seen Saturday mornings on NBC.

It was 1977. Cool kids had to be skateboarding.
Matthew Laborteaux, The Red Hand Gang, 1977

The leader of the pre-teen detectives, Frankie, was played by Matthew Laborteaux (Little House on the Prairie) and his partners in crime-solving were J.R. Miller (J.R.), Jolie Newman (Joanne), Johnny Brogna (Lil’ Bill) and James Bond III (Doc).

And now the downer: I’m sad to say that two of these actors have already passed away. Jolie Newman died in 2002, age 36, and Johnny Brogna passed away in 2009, age 40.

The Red Hand Gang Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Funshine Friday: The Pink Panther, ‘Pink-In’

Show Toppers: Code R

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The “R” stands for “Rescue!”
‘Code R’ TV intro, 1977

We have a real rarity for you on this edition of Show Toppers – Code R from 1977. Code R was a short-lived adventure series that ran on CBS for 13 episodes from January to June ’77.

“Chief of Beaches,’ George Baker – played by Martin Kove.
You know that face.

The show featured the police, fire and ocean rescue services for California’s Channel Island and starred James Houghton, Tom Simcox, Martin Kove and Susanne Reed.

Don’t blame the writers and stars too harshly for failing in the ratings. Their Friday, 8 PM time-slot competition? The Donny and Marie Show, Sanford and Son and Chico and the Man. Even the combined police, fire and ocean rescue teams couldn’t combat that triple threat.

Code R Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: Battlestar Galactica (1978)

Original SNL cast debut with Tom Snyder, 1975

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Holy SNL! The ‘Not Ready for Prime Time Players’ make their television debut on ‘The Tomorrow Show,’ October 04, 1975

The endlessly interesting Mark Evanier at News From ME posted this video and it’s just too fascinating not to re-post it for you here.

Hit the short clip below for the television debut of Saturday Night Live‘s “Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” The cast, along with producer Lorne Michaels, chat with Tom Snyder on The Tomorrow Show on October 4th, 1975. The week before their show premiered and became a break-out hit.

America did not yet know these faces. That would all change the following week.
Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd, Jane Curtin, ‘The Tomorrow Show,’ Oct. ’75

The Tomorrow Show ran a special Saturday evening edition on October 4th with the single guest of Jerry Lewis to fill the time slot. SNL was originally set to air that evening but wasn’t ready. Tom Snyder brought the cast on at the end of his show and introduced them to America. Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman and (a surprisingly quiet) John Belushi appeared.

The references you’ll hear to Howard Cosell’s show are due to the fact that he currently had his own series entitled Saturday Night Live running on ABC. During SNL’s first season the show was known as NBC’s Saturday Night.Watch it.

Saturday Night Live Season One Wiki

Trailer Tuesday: Saturday Night Fever

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“Hey…don’t touch the hair!”
John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever, 1977

It had to happen one of theses days. I had to feature the quintessential 70s disco flick here at Bionic Disco. Here today, we have the trailer for Saturday Night Fever.

Saturday Night Fever was released in December of 1977. The hugely successful film (a hit with critics and film-goers) was directed by John Badham and and stars John Travolta as the young and troubled Brooklyn stepper, Tony Manero. The film was based on a 1976 New York magazine article (which later turned out to be a fabrication, not based on real life) and launched Travolta’s star into the stratosphere.

The soundtrack for the film, largely featuring the music of the Bee Gees, sold over 15 million copies. The trailer below includes a sales clip for the L.P. at the end. If you haven’t seen Saturday Night Fever in a while you may have forgotten how dark and angst-ridden it is. It’s time for another viewing!

My personal anecdote: I’m 11. My sister, three years older than me at age 14, persuades my grandmother to take us to see Saturday Night Fever in late ’77 or early ’78. After becoming confused by the teenagers conversing onscreen I lean over and ask, “Grandma, what’s a blowjob?”

My sister cracks up laughing and my Grandma lithely side-steps and says something to the effect of, “Discuss that with your parents.”

Saturday Night Fever Wiki, IMDb
Saturday Night Fever review at Every70sMovie

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: The Man with the Golden Gun

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

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“Get down on your knees”
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Playground Twist,” Summer, 1979

“Hanging from your daisy chain, swinging in your trees…”

The only single released from Siouxsie and the Banshees‘ second L.P., Join Hands, “Playground Twist” was released in July of 1979.

This slightly sinister, gorgeous and swirling tune made it to #28 on the UK charts. Have a delightful October Monday.

Previously, on Music for Monday: The Brothers Johnson, ‘I’ll Be Good to You’