Show Toppers: Swiss Family Robinson

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Irwin Allen’s slight ‘disaster’ – ‘Swiss Family Robinson,’ 1975

Only 20 episodes of Irwin Allen’s Swiss Family Robinson were filmed and they originally ran Sunday evenings on ABC from September, 1975 to April, 1976.

Yep, that young gal in pony-tails is Academy Award winner, Helen Hunt

The TV show, based on the adventure novel and influenced by the Disney flick, starred Martin Milner (Adam-12) as shipwreck-survivor, Karl Robinson, who builds a new life on a desert island. The Robinson family were played by Pat Delaney (Lotte Robinson), Willie Aames (Fred Robinson) and Eric Olson (Ernie Robinson.) An 11-year-old, Helen Hunt played fellow survivor, Helga Wagner. Cameron Mitchell played, Jeremiah Worth (who was on the island years earlier following a shipwreck of his own.)

Swiss Family Robinson Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: Diana Rigg in ‘Diana’

70s Spots: ‘Big Fig’ for Fig Newtons

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‘Big Fig” for Fig Newtons circa 1970s.
I was going to put a bad pun here about “Gettin’ figgy with it,” but thought better of it.

Here’s a pair of spots for a lovable advertising mascot of the 1970s, “Big Fig,” who extolled kids and their parents on the virtues of Nabisco’s Fig Newton cookies.

First up, we have “Big Fig,” (played by actor, James Harder) singing his theme song and dancing. This spot seemed like it ran during every commercial break for a year or two. It was ingrained in our young impressionable minds.

Next, we have a more general, family spot where “Big Fig” invades the kitchen. Scary and wonderful. Enjoy.

Previously, on 70s Spots: Doritos with Avery Schreiber

Return to the Bionic Disco homepage for more mind-expanding 1970s pop culture!

Trailer Tuesday: Over the Edge

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Matt Dilion is Ritchie White in his debut film, ‘Over the Edge,’ 1979

Over the Edge arrived in theaters at the tail-end of the 70s in November of 1979. The film, directed by Jonathan Kaplan, features future star Matt Dillon in his first-ever role.

Over the Edge was inspired by real-life events and focuses on a group of extremely bored (read: troubled) teens in suburban Northern California who rebel against the establishment and end up causing major havoc in and around their high school. All of this angst and destruction is set to an excellent soundtrack featuring Cheap Trick, The Cars and The Ramones.

Though later re-packaging of the film focuses on Dillon – the real star of the movie is Michael Kramer who (besides a brief comeback in the 90s) seems to have left acting behind.

Michael Kramer is Carl in ‘Over the Edge,’ 1979

God, this could almost be a scene from my Junior High years. The horror!

Over the Edge Wiki, IMDb

Music for Monday: Lynyrd Skynyrd, ‘Gimme Three Steps’

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Skynyrd Ronnie rocks Knebworth – August 21, 1976

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Gimme Three Steps” first saw release on the band’s 1973 debut L.P., (Pronounced ‘lĕh-‘nérd ‘skin-‘nérd).

A single of “Gimme Three Steps” was released but never charted. The tune was greatly overshadowed by the L.P.’s breakout hit, “Free Bird.” These days, “Steps” maintains its rightful status as a classic rock radio staple.

Here’s the band performing live at the Knebworth festival in England in August of 1976. Just 14 months later, band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines would die in that damned plane crash of October, 1977.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Wiki, LynyrdSkynyrd.com

Previously, on Music for Monday: David Bowie, “Be My Wife”

Outta Sites: 70s Funny Cars, Harvest Gold Memories, Dangerous Minds

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Having a nice, lazy Sunday? I certainly hope so. Here’s a trio of 1970s-related Web Sites you may wish to peruse and bookmark for future nostalgic surfing.

70s Funny Cars

70s Funny Cars.com – for all your humorous racing vehicle needs

First up – if you need a healthy injection of 1970s drag racing then you’ll want to burn rubber and race over to 70sFunnyCars.com. Did I shove enough racing terms into the previous sentence? I hope so. Get Funny!

Harvest Gold Memories

Harvest Gold Memories

Next up, we have a fun, highly-readable blog named after the most desirable color of kitchen appliances in the 1970s – Harvest Gold Memories.

Proprietor Scott S waxes nostalgic on 70s and 80s topics ranging from John Ritter and Three’s Company to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 to Atari. Many audio and video clips are included. Highly worthy of a look-see.

Dangerous Minds

Circus Magazine, 1970 – via DangerousMinds.net

Lastly, we have Dangerous Minds. DangerousMinds.net isn’t strictly a 70s site, but they have so many wonderful stories about the era that you’ll want to check in regularly. Just within the last few weeks a handful of visits turned up these cool stories;

Hope I die before I get old: Will these rock stars live out the 1970s?

Angel: Helluva Progressive Hair Metal 70s Glam Rock Band

A must-see documentary on England’s Hells Angels, from 1973

Pimpin’ Aint Easy: Electrifying 1977 Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson show

One of the first and best reggae documentaries ever made

Have fun storming the 70s!

Previously, on Outta Sites: Every 70s Movie & More

Partridge Pop: ‘Together We’re Better’

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‘Together We’re Better,’ Royal Command Performance,
The Partridge Family, September, 1972.

Welcome to a new segment here at Bionic Disco we’ll be calling “Partridge Pop”. As you might have guessed, this will be a series of occasional posts featuring moments of pure pop perfection from The Partridge Family.

Susan Dey.
Breakin’ hearts since Sept. ’70.

We’ll get started today with the tune, “Together We’re Better”. This performance comes from the “Princess and the Partridge” episode from season three and was first broadcast on September 29, 1972.

Remember, no matter how much you are enjoying the song please maintain the proper sense of Partridge decorum. Do no more than tap your fingers gently on the table and nod with a smile to your neighbor.