Trailer Tuesday: Play Misty for Me

Posted on by

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’

Posted on by

“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

Posted on by

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)

35 Years Ago This Week: Atari 2600 Console Launches

Posted on by

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)

Posted on by

“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

Posted on by

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)