The Monkees’ Davy Jones Has Died

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Davy Jones on The Brady Bunch, 1971

Sad news alert: The BBC are reporting that Davy Jones of famed rock band and TV show, The Monkees, has died, aged 66. Jones apparently had a massive heart attack while sleeping at his home in Florida. (*Update: Jones likely died while tending his horses, not while sleeping.)

The Monkees TV show (which originally ran from 1966-68) was a re-run staple in the 1970s. Davy Jones’ best-remembered 70s TV appearance is probably his co-starring spot on The Brady Bunch in December of 1971. You will be missed, Mr. Jones. Thanks for the wonderful entertainment!

BBC Quote:

“The band, who included musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, were famous for hits including Daydream Believer and I’m a Believer.

The Monkees were an American pop band, assembled in 1966.

Jones was married three times and had four daughters.

Early on in his showbusiness career he appeared as Ena Sharples’s grandson in ITV soap Coronation Street.

The band found fame through a successful television series, popular in both the US and the UK.

They were famous for their clean-cut image and were marketed as the American answer to The Beatles, notching up nine top 40 hits.”

TV Time: The Bionic Woman Doll And ‘Dome House’

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Jaime Sommers has got an inflatable dome (sold separately)!

It’s the Jaime Sommers, Bionic Woman doll. “She’s back from her mission” and relaxing in her Dome House awaiting Steve Austin’s arrival. You know it’s going to be a sweet and tingly bionic evening because Jaime has slipped into her finest party dress. “She’s so beautiful!”

*Update: Unfortunately, the YouTube poster removed the video in question. Enjoy this Bionic Woman Mission Purse commercial instead.

Trailer Tuesday: Raquel Welch in Kansas City Bomber

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Raquel Welch is K.C. Carr in Kansas City Bomber, 1972

It’s Trailer Tuesday and we turn our eyes to coming attractions of the 1970s. Today, let’s enjoy Raquel Welch in Kansas City Bomber from the summer of 1972.

I definitely need to do an entire post on 70s Roller Derby (I watched the L.A. T-Birds on local TV) and another on sexy superstar Raquel Welch. For now, soak up the filmic madness of the ‘Bomber.

Kansas City Bomber 1-sheet, 1972

Music for Monday: Blondie, ‘Goldfinger’

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Blondie's 'Golden' oldie, Musikladen, 1977

Happy Monday, Bionic friends. I hope your weekend was relaxing. Here’s a song to kick-start your day. Blondie performing the James Bond film tune “Goldfinger” on German television’s Musikladen in 1977. Hot!

Academy Award Winners Of The 1970s

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Welcome to Academy Award Sunday. Before you watch the 2012 event this evening, why not peruse this list of Oscar winners from 1970-1979.

How does the ol’ memory serve? Did you find it surprising that Coppola didn’t win for The Godfather? Poor John G. Avildsen, winning director for Rocky. It’s incorrectly stuck in my mind that Stallone directed that one. Let’s read on and brush up our facts!

1970

Best Picture: PATTON

Best Director: FRANKLIN SCHAFFNER (Patton)

Best Actor: GEORGE C. SCOTT (Patton)

Best Actress: GLENDA JACKSON (Women in Love)

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1971

Best Picture: THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Best Director: WILLIAM FRIEDKIN (The French Connection)

Best Actor: GENE HACKMAN (The French Connection)

Best Actress: JANE FONDA (Klute)

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1972

Best Picture: THE GODFATHER

Best Director: BOB FOSSE (Cabaret)

Best Actor: MARLON BRANDO (The Godfather)

Best Actress: LIZA MINNELLI (Cabaret)

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1973

Best Picture: THE STING

Best Director: GEORGE ROY HILL (The Sting)

Best Actor: JACK LEMMON (Save the Tiger)

Best Actress: GLENDA JACKSON (A Touch of Class)

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1974

Best Picture: THE GODFATHER, PART II

Best Director: FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA (The Godfather, Part II)

Best Actor: ART CARNEY (Harry and Tonto)

Best Actress: ELLEN BURSTYN (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore)

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1975

Best Picture: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

Best Director: MILOS FORMAN (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)

Best Actor: JACK NICHOLSON (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)

Best Actress: LOUISE FLETCHER (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)

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1976

Best Picture: ROCKY

Best Director: JOHN G. AVILDSEN (Rocky)

Best Actor: PETER FINCH (Network)

Best Actress: FAYE DUNAWAY (Network)

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1977

Best Picture: ANNIE HALL

Best Director: WOODY ALLEN (Annie Hall)

Best Actor: RICHARD DREYFUSS (The Goodbye Girl)

Best Actress: DIANE KEATON (Annie Hall)

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1978

Best Picture: THE DEER HUNTER

Best Director: MICHAEL CIMINO (The Deer Hunter)

Best Actor: JON VOIGHT (Coming Home)

Best Actress: JANE FONDA (Coming Home)

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1979

Best Picture: KRAMER vs. KRAMER

Best Director: ROBERT BENTON (Kramer vs. Kramer)

Best Actor: DUSTIN HOFFMAN (Kramer vs. Kramer)

Best Actress: SALLY FIELD (Norma Rae)

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(Oscar reference: Filmsite.org)

70s Spots: Hostess and kids, they go together

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Hostess TV spot, 1976. 'Fresh, wholesome Hostess. cup cakes, fruit pies, golden Twinkies...'

It’s time for a quick commercial break. Watch this clip for Hostess from 1976 (or thereabouts).

When I was a kid I could eat buckets full of Hostess pies, cup cakes and Twinkies if given half a chance. Thankfully, I wasn’t. I did have a Hostess pie-eating contest with myself once and ate something like 7 or 8 pies in-a-row, only stopping when I ran out of money. And no, I didn’t feel ill. I’m not sure I could eat more than one these days without getting a bit queasy.

Pay attention to the TV spot below. Recognize the kid with the headphones and cymbals? That’s Erin “Ahmad Abdul-Rahim” Blunt of Bad News Bears fame.