Kim Fields for Kellogg's SUGAR Frosted Flakes. We loved our sugar cereals in the 70s.
Welcome to September, Bionic pals. Here’s a nice collection of commercials from the year 1978. Included in the bunch are:
Peter Paul Candies (York Peppermint Patty)
Dolly Madison Pies
U.S. Stamp Collecting
Kellogg’s Sugar Frosted Flakes (Tony the Tiger)
– Have fun!
Susan George and Peter Fonda are Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry - 1974
Welcome to Trailer Tuesday, good folks. Today, we have something a little bit personal. My wife’s uncle, Dicky Deats, passed away last month and a memorial was held this past Sunday. Dicky was a well-known and respected Key Grip in Hollywood and worked on tons of films and commercials in his life. During the 1970s the biggest thing he worked on was likely Close Encounters of the Third Kind. However, I thought we’d look at something else he worked on that’s a bit less famous – Dirty Mary Crazy Larry from 1974. Enjoy, and raise a glass to Mr. Deats.
'Tommy Gun' on telly. Joe Strummer & Paul Simonon of The Clash belt it out, 1978.
Happy Monday, Bionic friends. Let’s lace up our boots and pogo along to this gem – The Clash performing “Tommy Gun” on the UK’s Something Else TV series in 1978. This is likely from very early 1978 and is the one and only appearance The Clash made for the BBC. For my money, The Clash are the second greatest rock band of all time, slotting in just after The Beatles. Enjoy!
Wacky Races and those lovable bastards - Dastardly and Muttley
Here at the ‘Disco, Friday will henceforth be known as “Funshine Friday” and we’ll feature 70s cartoons and kids stuff.
We’ll get things rolling with Wacky Races. Hanna-Barbera’s Wacky Races cartoon originally ran from September, 1968 to September, 1970. The show ran off and on throughout the 1970s, and can still be found on TV today. I was a big fan as a kid. It was the closest thing we had in North America to my all-time favorite, Speed Racer. Grab a look at the show’s intro below and have a happy Funshine Friday!
Buy some cardboard and a certificate...fun will arrive eventually.
When Star Wars was released in May of 1977 it was such an unexpected smash that toys simply weren’t ready to hit stores in time to meet demand. As this ’77 TV spot shows, Kenner sold “Eary Bird Certificate Packages” with the promise of action figures that “Will be sent between February 1 and June 1 (1978)”! And, yes, we bought it anyway, such was our desire.
“R2-D2. Chewbacca. Luke and Princess Leia. They’re the Star Wars Early Bird set of figures. These action figures are not yet available.”
Rhoda, 1974. The Morgenstern sisters - Valerie Harper (right) and Julie Kavner.
In honor of actress Valerie Harper’s 72nd birthday (on August 22nd,) let’s have a look at the into to her hit show Rhoda, which ran from 1974 to 1978. Rhoda was a spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and co-starred Julie Kavner, Nancy Walker, Harold Gould, David Groh and Lorenzo Music.
Interesting Factoids:
The October, 1974 Wedding episode, where Rhoda marries Joe Gerard (Groh,) was the highest-rated TV episode of the 70s until Roots grabbed the title in 1977.
Julie Kavner went on the voice Marge Simpson on The Simpsons.
Lorenzo Music, who played Carlton the Doorman, never appeared onscreen and only his distinctive voice was heard.
Valerie Harper won an Emmy Award for Rhoda for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series” 1975.