Funshine Friday: Yogi’s Gang

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Yogi’s Gang, 1973. Thanks for saving our environment, fellers!

While I hope everyone enjoys today’s post, this one is especially for my wife who likes to sing “We’re on our way to the perfect place. The perfect place!” whenever we go on a road trip.

Hanna-Barbera’s animated series, Yogi’s Gang, debuted in September of 1973 on ABC. 15 episodes were produced for this spin-off (of sorts) of the Yogi’s Ark Lark TV-Movie. The series featured a great assortment of Hanna-Barbera characters together – attempting to stop pollution – while searching for the perfect place. Enjoy the show’s intro and have a happy Funshine Friday.

Outta Sites: 70s stories from the Web

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It’s time for another look at 1970s-related stories poking around the Web and the groovy Web Sites that forced them upon us. This time around we take a look at Every ’70s Movie, Susan Olsen.tv and Mego Museum. Dive in!

Every ’70s Movie

Every ’70s Movie. Admire the ambition!

Holy kumquats! I just discovered this site a few days back and found it to be rather amazing. Every70sMovie.blogspot.com is run by Peter Hanson and boasts “A New review Every Day Since October 2010”. Hanson seems to be on a mission to watch and review every film ever released in the 1970s and I applaud his tenacity and choice of subject matter. In just the last week you can find short reviews of Godspell, The Onion Field, Hooper and more. Bookmark that sucker!

Every70sMovie Quote:

“From a review of The Onion Field (1979):
Woods’ performance dominates, not only because he’s got the showy role of a psychotic chatterbox, but also because Woods adds textures of deviousness, humor, intelligence, perversion, and self-loathing. (He received his first Golden Globe nomination for The Onion Field.)”

Susan Olsen.tv

Olsen and friend via SusanOlsen.tv

Actress and radio host Susan Olsen, best-known for playing Cindy Brady on The Brady Bunch, has launched a new personal Web Site. At the new HQ you can delve into Olsen’s blog, explore her acting history and view a “Fluffart” gallery. What the Fluff? Find out for yourself.

SusanOlsen.tv Quote:

“Susan seemed set for a ‘normal life’ until the age of five when lightning struck again: a talent scout picked her out of her kindergarten class to sing ‘I’m a Believer’, on ‘The Pat Boone Show’. Figuring it was fate, Susan’s mother gave her the chance to pursue an acting career like her brothers and sister had done and got her an agent. Other opportunities quickly followed, including a role in Elvis Presley’s second-to-last film ‘The Trouble with Girls (and How to Get Into It)’. A number of supporting roles followed for Susan, appearing in popular television shows such as, ‘Ironside’, ‘Gunsmoke’ and ‘Julia’.”

Bionic Treats via Mego Museum

Bif Bang Pow’s new Six Million Dollar Man ‘Bigfoot’ toy

Mego Museum.com – “Serving the Mego (Toys) Collector since 1996” – has a fresh story up unveiling some upcoming Six Million Dollar Man-branded toys from Bif Bang Pow! Apparently, actor Richard Anderson, who portrayed Oscar Goldman on the show, will be at Comic-Con in San Diego on Thursday, July 12, 2012 promoting an “Oscar Goldman briefcase replica tin tote – otherwise known as a lunchbox.” A new Bigfoot action figure will also be revealed. Hit Mego Museum for more.

Mego Museum/Bif Bang Pow Quote:

“Richard Anderson, who portrayed Oscar Goldman in The Six Million Dollar Man, gives us his greatest assignment of all as he launches our Bif Bang Pow! line of The Six Million Dollar Man merchanidse at Comic-Con!…
This all-new tin tote also includes The Three Faces of Dr. Rudy Wells 8-inch EMCE action figure – an action figure of Dr. Rudy Wells that includes three separate heads – representing the three actors who portrayed him – Martin Balsam, Martin Brooks, and Alan Oppenheimer!”

70s stories in the news: Willy Wonka auction, rare ’72 Stones pix

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Two 70s-related stories have recently been in the news and I’d like to draw your easily-distracted attention toward them.

Willy Wonka Auction

Wow! Wilder’s wonderful Wonka wear!

First up, comes the news that Profiles in History are holding a Willy Wonka auction in July and Gene Wilder’s original costume, a screen-used Everlasting Gobstopper, a Golden Ticket and Golden Egg are all up for grabs. Wilder’s Wonka garb is expected to sell for at least 80 grand. Check this story at Movie Line for more info or go right to the press release at PiH.

PiH Quote:

“The costume consists of flamboyant purple velvet frock coat, wool & camelhair slacks, off-white shirt, distinctive purple & violet lamé vest with floral design and satin bow tie. Originally obtained from Michael D. Beinner, Director of Field Advertising and Publicity for Paramount Pictures who was gifted the costume following its promotional tour of several key cities around the U.S. Without doubt, one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable costumes in the history of film. It is estimated to fetch $80,000 – $120,000.”

Rare Rolling Stones Pix (1972)

Mick Jagger, summer 1972. Image by Jim Marshall from “The Rolling Stones 1972,” Chronicle Books 2012, copyright Jim Marshall Photography LLC, courtesy the Steven Kasher Gallery.

Also in the news, the CNN Photo Blog is showing off a dozen never-before-seen images of the Rolling Stones taken by photographer Jim Marshall. The shots are from the 1972 Exile on Main Street tour and will be part of an upcoming book entitled “The Rolling Stones 1972” (Chronicle Books), due August 15. Ogle!

CNN Quote:

“Based on Mick Jagger’s serious expression and Keith Richards’ focused stare, it was clear the pressure was on. It was the summer of 1972, and the Rolling Stones were on their American concert tour for their acclaimed ‘Exile on Main Street’ album. But when they were not onstage and rocking out with their fans, they were hard at work remixing tracks at the Sunset Sound studio in Hollywood.

It was a heady time filled with parties and recording sessions and only one person was there to capture it all intimately — famed music photographer Jim Marshall, who was covering the tour for Life magazine. Now the estate of Marshall is releasing some of the never-before-seen photos of the band in a new book “The Rolling Stones 1972″ (Chronicle Books), out on August 15. There will also be a show at New York’s Steven Kasher Gallery from July 5 to September 8, and an exhibit at EMP Museum in Seattle, opening on July 14.”

Trailer Tuesday: Sounder (1972)

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Sounder, 1972

Sounder, directed by Martin Ritt and based on the book by William H. Armstrong, was released in September of 1972 and ended up as the 15th most successful film of the year. The movie stars Paul Winfield (King, 1978), Cicely Tyson (Roots, 1977) and Kevin Hooks (The White Shadow, 1978) and is guaranteed to bring a few tears to your jaded eyes.

I saw this one in the theater when I was six. I think it’s high time I gave it another viewing. Enjoy the trailer below.

Sounder Wiki, IMDb

Music for Monday: M, ‘Pop Muzik’ (1979)

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“New York, London, Paris, Munich. Everybody talk about…” Pop Muzik, 1979

English musician Robin Scott, aka “M”, released his “Pop Muzik” single in May of 1979 in the UK where it rose to #2 on the charts. The song released in August ’79 in the US and it climbed all the way to #1.

I was a fan of the tune and bought the 45 when it came out. I’d have been 12 years old or perhaps a freshly-turned 13-yr-old if I picked it up closer to when it hit #1 in November in the US. New Wave for young teens. Turn up your internal synthesiser, put on your skinny tie and enjoy.

M: ‘Pop Muzik,’ 1979

Funshine Friday: Return to the Planet of the Apes

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Return to the Planet of the Apes intro, 1975

DePatie-Freleng produced 13 episodes of the animated series Return to the Planet of the Apes and they aired on NBC in 1975 and ’76. The animation was quite limited and there was a distinct lack of Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter, but hey, it was more Planet of the Apes, so we watched and vaguely enjoyed.

Here’s the intro. Hit the IMDb link below for full episodes if your ape interest is piqued.

Imagine the eyes blinking and the camera zooming and there you have it… spine-tingling animation!

Return to the Planet of the Apes Wiki,

Watch full episodes at IMDB.