Brady Bunch Moments: Alice’s Thanksgiving moustache

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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

Mood Music: Talking Heads, ‘Life During Wartime’

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David Byrne and Talking Heads sing ‘Life During Wartime,’ 1979

“This ain’t no party. This ain’t no disco. This no foolin’ around…”

Talking Heads recorded their Fear of Music L.P in the spring of 1979 and it was released almost 33-years-ago-to-the-day on August 3, 1979. The first single from the record was the fantastic tune you can find the band performing below, “Life During Wartime.”

Fear of Music was voted the best album of 1979 by Britain’s NME and Melody Maker magazines and by the Los Angeles Times in the US.

*Oh, and one last amazing anecdote: actor Gene Wilder plays congas on “Life During Wartime.”

70s shots: Star Wars footprints at the Chinese Theater

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Here’s a great “70s shot” for you to enjoy on this summer anniversary. 35 years ago, on August 3rd, 1977, Star Wars characters; C-3PO, R2-D2 and Darth Vader signed their names and left their footprints in the cement at Mann’s Chinese Theater (aka Grauman’s Chinese) in Los Angeles, California.

The official Star Wars Facebook page presented the photo below in commemoration of the day. Nice one.

Star Wars characters immortalized barely three months after the film’s release. Mann’s Chinese Theater, August 3, 1977. (Photo via Star Wars Facebook page)

Funshine Friday: Mission: Magic!

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Rick Springfield’s cartoon debut in Mission: Magic!, 1973

Filmation’s Mission: Magic! first aired September through December, 1973 on ABC. 16 episodes of this animated series were produced and they featured the voice and likeness of actor and singer Rick Springfield.

Springfield, aged 23 and still sporting an Australian accent, would usually perform a song in each episode while assisting a group of youngsters called “The Adventurers Club” and the magical Miss Tickle.

Mission: Magic! Wiki, IMDb

Show Toppers: ‘Kojak’ (’73 -’78)

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No lollipop? No shades? What the hell? Telly Savalas as ‘Kojak’,’ 1973.

It’s time to launch a new reoccurring segment here at Bionic Disco with the catchy title of “Show Toppers.” Herein, we’ll post intros for television shows of the 1970s – both well-known and obscure. Let’s start things off with a New York-based detective series you may remember fondly.

Kojak, created by Abby Mann, originally aired on CBS from October, 1973 to March, 1978. The show stars Telly Savalas as the boldly bald Greek American, Lieutenant Theodore Kojak. The character was known for dressing in sharp suits, constantly sucking on a lollipop and uttering the catchphrase, “Who loves ya, baby?”

Other cast members include: Dan Frazer as Captain Frank McNeil, Kevin Dobson as Detective Bobby Crocker and Telly’s real-life brother, George Savalas (aka Demosthenes) as Detective “Fatso” Stavros.

Kojak Wiki

**Watch full Kojak episodes for free at IMDb.

70s stories in the news: CBS to reboot ‘Brady Bunch’, ‘Super Friends’ Alden dies

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It’s time to catch up on recent 1970s-related stories. Ripped from the news we have word on a possible prime time return of The Brady Bunch, actor Norman Alden passing away and more. Read on.

A new Brady Bunch for CBS?

Vaughn reboots the Bunch. (Image skillfully manipulated by Bionic Disco)

Deadline are reporting that actor Vince Vaughn is co-developing and executive producing a possible reboot of The Brady Bunch for CBS. The new version of The Brady Bunch, written by Mike Mariano (My Name Is Earl), will focus on Bobby Brady who is now divorced with a set of his own kids. Read more.

After hearing the news, Susan “Cindy Brady” Olsen took to Twitter to say “BB redux? Who knows? When I heard about the first movie I thought it was a crazy idea – but it turned out great!”

Deadline Quote:

“I hear Vaughn came up with the idea for the new Brady Bunch and teamed with Mariano. Mariano and Lloyd Schwartz, son of the late Sherwood Schwartz, will executive produce the CBS project along with Vaughn, Victoria Vaughn and Peter Billingsley through Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Picture Show Prods.

CBS TV Studios has the rights to the original series as it was produced by its predecessor Paramount Television. The studio has a lot of experience successfully reviving old series. There are three reboots now on the air now: CBS’ Hawaii Five-0 and the CW’s 90210 and Beauty And The Beast — all of them produced by CBS TV Studios.”

Norman Alden has died

Norman Alden

Famed character actor Norman Alden passed away on Friday, July 27th at the age of 87. Alden was a talented man with a distinctive voice who never seemed to be without work throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s.

70s fans will best remember Alden as Frank Heflin on Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976), Coach Fedders on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976) and as the voice of Aquaman on Super Friends (1973, 1977). A small sampling of shows Alden appeared on throughout the 70s include; My Three Sons (1970), Ironside (1972), The Streets of San Francisco (1972-75) and Kojack (1975).

For more on Norman Alden hit Alden’s IMDb, Alden’s Wiki and NormanAlden.com.

Screen Crush Quote:

“Calling Alden prolific undermines his massive contributions to the entertainment industry. Though he’s best known for playing tough guys in ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’ and ‘Semi-Tough,’ he also appeared in ‘Back to the Future’ (where he played diner owner Lou), Tim Burton’s ‘Ed Wood’ (where he played a cameraman), ‘They Live’ and ‘Patch Adams,’ with Robin Williams.

Alden’s television credits are staggering. He had a multi-episode run on ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.’ He appeared on such iconic shows as ‘Perry Mason,’ ‘Bonanza,’ ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’…‘Hogan’s Heroes,’ ‘Dallas,’ ‘The Rockford Files’ and many, many more.”

Norman Alden as Frank Heflin on Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, 1976

Other 70s stories you may be interested in:

American Flags From Apollo Missions Still Standing

Groovy 1973 Archival Film Celebrates Landsat Satellite Launch

Lifetime Picks Up Renee Zellweger-Produced Drama ‘Cinnamon Girl’ To Pilot

Doctor Who (1978-79) actress Mary Tamm dies