Getting To Know Lucille Ball In 1977

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Lucy and Vivian Vance on Lucy's Nov. 1977 TV Special

Following on from Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday last week we have actor and comedian Taylor Negron’s personal memories of getting to know Lucy back in 1977. Lucy taught a comedy class over the course of eight weeks at the Sherwood Oaks Experimental Film School in Hollywood and Negron describes the slightly surreal experience.

Here’s a quote below but you’ll want to hop over for the complete article. (Thanks Emmapeel007!)

“A few months later, Lucy’s sold out class began, at $125.00 for eight weeks. I arrived at work that day and could barely contain my excitement. Gary was nonchalant when he asked me to go to the store and buy Lucille Ball stuff for the green room that we had arranged for her. Lucy had requested a pack of Pall Mall non-filtered cigarettes, a bag of Chocolate Pogen Cookies, and a bottle of Scotch…

Shirley Hemphill was one of the students. Shirley, a rotund girl with a sloppy afro, had yet to make a name for herself as the waitress on the sitcom What’s Happening. She was still working at a fast food restaurant on La Brea. She stood up. ‘I want to be on a TV show now! I am ready. Where do I go? I want to know where to go. You can get me on TV.’ Shirley’s voice was filled with impatience. Lucy pointed to her with her cigarette, then stabbed it out in the ashtray.

‘You’re not ready, and you will never make it with this attitude of yours. Terrible. Awful.’ Lucy rubbed more Vaseline on her teeth. You could hear a pin drop. ‘Hollywood does not stand for that.’ “

Trailer Tuesday: Woody Allen’s ‘Bananas’ (’71)

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According to Woody - there are no bananas in 'Bananas'


Shall we go ahead and start calling this “Trailer Tuesday”? Sure, why the heck not! Sit back and take in the theatrical trailer for Woody Allen’s Bananas which was released in April of 1971.

Interesting factoids: Woody’s co-star in the film is his ex-wife Louise Lasser (they were divorced in 1969). Lasser went on to star in the 1976-77 TV series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

Sylvester Stallone has a bit part in Bananas as a thug on the subway.


Go ahead and hit play – the quality is better than the still frame implies.


Bananas Wiki, Bananas IMDb, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Wiki

Music for Mondays: The Ramones ‘Judy is a Punk’ (’77)

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Joey Ramone says 'Judy is a Punk.' I believe him. Aug. 1977

Happy Monday, Bionic ones. It’s time for an injection of music to get our day started off right. Here now is the Ramones (who formed in 1974) performing “Judy is a Punk” on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert on August 9th, 1977. One minute and 20 seconds of pure bliss.

I remember watching the Ramones on Rock Concert (one of the very few TV programs presenting rock and roll played live) but I’d guess it was a re-run sometime around 1979.



Ramones Wiki

A Geek’s Journal – 1976

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Today, I’d like to point you in the direction of a wonderful 1970s blog entitled “A Geek’s Journal -1976.” The blog is written by a gentlemen who goes by the nickname “Booksteve” and is based on his actual teenage diary from 1976.

Early Geek culture uncovered

Each day Booksteve graces us with a new entry taken from his ’76 journal and ends with an explanation of the more cryptic life moments described. It’s a fantastic slice-of-70s-life and comes highly recommended. Here’s a sample chunk from today’s entry:

“Sunday, Aug 8th, 1976

I’ve been thinking about getting out my Hot Wheels tracks again for the first time in a few years. May do that tomorrow.

Terry called and gave away the ending of yet another ELLERY QUEEN episode I’ve missed, damn it!

I’ve also committed myself to taking the bus out to the Village Theater tomorrow night to catch the movie I skipped this weekend but because of SS work, I probably can’t go. Who knows? Maybe I’ll see SILENT MOVIE instead.”

‘Here’s Lucy’: Donny Osmond Sings for Brady and Ball (1972)

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Ball and Plumb flippin' out for Osmond - Here's Lucy, Nov. 1972

Happy 100th Birthday Lucille Ball! I Love Lucy (filmed in the 1950s) was a daily syndicated staple of our 1970s TV viewing. I watched Lucy cause trouble for husband Ricky pretty much every weekday and was a big fan. Really though, who wasn’t? The fact that the show ran right before The Brady Bunch re-runs didn’t hurt either.

Let’s celebrate this fine comedic actress with a scene from her 1970s series Here’s Lucy. Below, we have a snippet of teen heartthrob Donny Osmond singing “Too Young” to Lucy and Eve Plumb (aka Jan Brady) in the November 20, 1972 episode. Happy Birthday!

Here’s some additional Lucy reading for your celebration today: L.A. Times‘ “Lucille Ball, 100 and ageless,” Lucille Ball museum, I Love Lucy Wiki, Here’s Lucy IMDb

Muppet Show: Elton Sings ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’

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Elton sings 'Goodbye Yellow Felt Toad' on The Muppet Show, Oct. 1977

I’m not sure how to classify this amazing mixture of Elton John and The Muppets. It’s music, TV, comedy and 70s culture all rolled up into one fuzzy ball of awesomeness. Just press play and enjoy Elton singing “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem on episode 214 of The Muppet Show from late 1977.

Muppet Wiki – Episode 214