1974 – A Geek’s First Journal

Booksteve in the early 70s - presumably writing a journal entry

Some time ago I told you about Booksteve and his wonderful site, A Geek’s Journal – 1976. Booksteve presented his daily journal, written in 1976, as a modern day blog.

Well, the year has come and gone and Booksteve has gone further back in time and is now presenting his first journal from 1974. Hop on over to 1974 – A Geek’s First Journal and begin visiting daily. It’s a lot of fun and will bring back many memories and forgotten feelings of the coming-of-age years.

1974 – A Geek’s First Journal Quote:

“Tuesday, January 15th, 1974
I answered my pen-pal letter this evening.

Earlier in the day, I started Health class at school, the first day of the second semester.

Today seemed like early Spring to me and that got me thinking about Debbie, again.

I read THE SANDY DUNCAN STORY today for my English book report.

NOTES: My pen-pal was relatively recent at this point, a Japanese girl my age named Yoshiko. We would correspond for about 5 years.

Sandy Duncan is sadly pretty much a trivia question, today, but she was a fun actress/comedienne in the early seventies whose rising star was shot down by surgery that left her blind in one eye and caused her hit sitcom, FUNNY FACE, to be put on hold. When it returned, it was completely revamped but never quite as popular. She stayed in the public eye for the remainder of the decade, her most notable role being as PETER PAN onstage. The book I read was found on the shelf in English class and was by Rochelle Reed. Seen above, should you be interested, copies can be had for a penny via Amazon.”

Funshine Friday: Shazam!

Shazam!, 1974. Les Tremayne (left), Michael Gray (right).

“Oh, Elders, fleet and strong and wise, appear before my seeking eyes!”

It’s Friday, Bionic friends, and that means it’s time to bring a little Funshine into our day. Today, we take a gander at the intro for Shazam! from 1974.

Shazam! ran on CBS for a total of 28 episodes from 1974 to 1977. The series, produced by Filmation, began as a solo enterprise but from ’75-’77 appeared as part of The Shazam!/Isis Hour. Michael Gray starred as Billy Batson, Les Tremayne played Mentor and both Jackson Bostwick and later, John Davey played the part of Captain Marvel. Watch the ’74 intro below.

Shazam! Wiki, IMDb

Trailer Tuesday: Earthquake

Universal Pictures' Earthquake, 1974

Better late than never, it’s Trailer Tuesday – so let’s get down to it. Take a gander at one of the big “Disaster” films of the 70s – Earthquake. Earthquake was chock full o’ screen stars and released in November of 1974. The long list of famed actors appearing in the film included Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene and Geneviève Bujold.

We went through a real life massive rumbler in L.A. in 1971 so the topic was a still a scary and fresh one. Shake it!

Earthquake Wiki, IMDb

Funshine Friday: Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, 1973. 'Everybody needs friends!'

Sid & Marty Krofft’s Sigmund and the Sea Monsters ran for two seasons from September, 1973 to October, 1975. The live-action show featured Johnny Whitaker (of Family Affair) and Scott Kolden as brothers, Johnny and Scott, and Billy Barty as the costumed sea monster, Sigmund.

Kind, wimpy Sigmund was usually on the run from his mean monster family and the shows often revolved around the boys attempting to hide Sigmund from their housekeeper, the public and Sigmund’s angry kin. Catch the intro below with its sing-a-long theme song and have a happy Funshine Friday!

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters Wiki, IMDb

CBS Fall ’77 Promo: ‘On Our Own,’ ‘CBS Galaxy’

'On Our Own', October, 1977. Search your memories..you know it to be there.

Here’s a CBS promo from Fall of 1977 for the new show On Our Own and a one-off look at the upcoming season entitled CBS Galaxy.

On Our Own starred Bess Armstrong and Lynnie Greene as advertising executives at a New York firm. The show ran for one season until August of 1978.

'CBS Galaxy', 1977. Yes, that's Betty 'freakin' White. Right on!

CBS Galaxy was a one-hour “dazzling” special hosted by Dick Van Dyke where viewers were taken “behind-the-scenes” for a look at the upcoming slate of CBS shows. The Waltons, Alice and M.A.S.H. are some of the series featured.

CBS Fall 1977 Promo

Trailer Tuesday: High Anxiety

Mel Brooks in High Anxiety, 1977 - 'A Psycho Comedy'

Trailer Tuesday time! Mel Brooks wrote (along with a few others), directed and starred in 1977’s High Anxiety – a comedic tale about Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke and his very special disorder.

High Anxiety riffs on various Alfred Hitchcock suspense and horror films and many laughs can be enjoyed in this parody. Watch the trailer below.

High Anxiety Wiki, IMDb