July 12, 1971: Elliot Gould & Barbra Streisand’s Quickie Divorce

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40 years ago Time Magazine reported on the quickie divorce of Elliot Gould and Barbara Streisand in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on July 9th, 1971. Gould, aged 32 at the time, was dating (a pregnant) Jenny Bogart, age 19.

Gould and Bogart (and presumed law team) in '71.

Time Quote:

“In the Dominican Republic to file for a quickie divorce from Barbra Streisand, Actor Elliott Gould, 32, walked hand in hand from the courtroom with pregnant Jenny Bogart, 19. Gould announced that he was the father of her baby, due to be born ‘around Christmas.’ Furthermore, Jenny announced defiantly, she and Elliott will continue to live together out of wedlock because ‘we don’t believe in marriage.’ “

Note: Gould and Bogart were, in fact, married twice. In 1973 and again in 1978.

Gould appeared in Ingmar Bergman’s film The Touch and Alan Arkin’s Little Murders in 1971. Streisand released the albums Stoney End and Barbra Joan Streisand in 1971.

Elliot Gould Wiki, Barbra Streisand Wiki, Time article

Music for Mondays: Billy Preston’s “Will It Go Round in Circles”

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Billy Preston, his band, and their incredible afros on The Midnight Special '73

Happy Monday, Bionic Pals! I know just what you need to get your week started off with a bang – a top tune! Hit the clicker below and enjoy Billy Preston performing his #1 hit “Will It Go Round in Circles” on The Midnight Special in 1973. “Will It Go Round in Circles” first appeared on Preston’s “Music Is My Life” L.P. in 1972. Warning: you will want to grow out your afro after viewing this video. Can you dig it?

“Will it go round in circles?
Will it fly high like a bird up in the sky?”

*Note: The original video was deleted from YouTube. Enojy Preston on The Tonight Show from Aug. ’73 instead.

Billy Preston Wiki, “Music Is My Life” Wiki

TV Time: Joe Namath for Brut

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Broadway Joe for Brut cologne - 'If you're not gonna go all the way, man...why go at all?'

Here’s 30 seconds of pure manly bliss. 70s superstar, NY Jets Quarterback Joe Namath for Brut cologne. Blow-dried locks, beige suit and giant shirt collar all present and accounted for. You know you want to rush out and buy a bottle after viewing this one. Go Joe!

“After the game. After anything. Brut goes all the way.”

Betty Ford Has Died

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Former First Lady, Betty Ford has died at the age of 93. The wife of U.S. President Gerald Ford, who served (post Watergate scandal) from August, 1974 to January, 1977, Betty Ford will be remembered for bravely speaking out about her breast cancer surgery and for founding the substance abuse recovery center which carried her name.

Betty and Gerald Ford. A hug in the White House, 1970s.

Betty Ford was well-liked by the 70’s public who admired her candid, public mentions of her family’s trails and tribulations, support of women’s rights and her populist overtures, such as the wearing of a trendy Mood Ring and chattering on a CB radio where she went by the handle “First Mamma.” Some folks were so fond of her they wore Gerald Ford campaign buttons that read “Betty’s Husband for President ’76.”

Here’s an ABC News snippet of Gerald Ford’s 1974 inauguration with Betty Ford at his side.


Betty Ford WSJ Obit, Betty Ford Wiki, Gerald Ford Wiki

Farrah Fawcett & Lee Majors Star in ‘Jogging ’77’

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Jogging became a bone fide craze in the late 1970s and Hollywood celebrity couple Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man) and Farrah Fawcett (Charlie’s Angels) spoke about their favorite form of exercise in the July 4th, 1977 issue of People Magazine.

Let’s take a peek at this moment of sweat-inducing hilarity:

“Though they’ve been accused recently of running out on their contracts, Lee and Farrah Fawcett-Majors (opposite) insist that the only real running they do is for exercise. “It makes us feel good and healthy,” says ABC’s Six Million Dollar Man, who points out that he also jogs every week on TV—’at 60 miles an hour.’

One of Hollywood’s more athletic couples, Farrah is a devoted tennis player, Lee plays racquet-ball and touch football, and they started jogging together several years ago. Unlike some stars, they never got hooked on a particular time of day, and when busy schedules make it impossible for them to run together, the Majorses do it separately. Says Farrah: ‘It’s part of my life—like brushing my teeth.’ ”

Gratuitous 70s bun shot number 614

Adding weight to Farrah Fawcett-Major’s athletic buns and Lee Major’s bionic leg sound effects – Jim Fixx‘s The Complete Book of Running was released in September of ’77. It sold over a million copies, became the best selling non-fiction title of the day and helped bring jogging into the mainstream. Oh, and there was Run, Joe, Run too. That title alone probably helped make running popular as well.

I’ll leave you with a bonus ad from the same July 4th, 1977 issue of People Magazine. Keep on runnin’!

American soccer star Kyle Rote Jr. Dallas Tornado forward in 1977. Look at them shiny choppers!



People Magazine, Six Million Dollar Man, Charlie’s Angels

Welcome Back, Kotter: Bar-Bar-Barbarino

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The Bee Gees weren’t the only sexy fellows with long wavy hair who slipped into gold lamé and sang their hearts out during the 1970s. We mustn’t forget about the “Sicilian Songbird” – the one, the only Vinnie Barbarino. Here he is comin’ at ya “live” from the “Sweathog Telethon” in Brooklyn, New York (aka ABC Television Studios in Los Angeles) in February of 1976.

Nobel Laureate Vincent Barbarino, Feb. 1976

John Travolta played “Sweathog” Vinnie Barbarino in 78 episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter on ABC TV between 1975 and 1979. After Travolta’s movie career exploded into the stratosphere with Carrie, Saturday Night Fever, and Grease, he began appearing on Kotter less and less. He shoved his last rubber hose up a nose in the “Barbarino’s Baby” episode of February 3rd, 1979.

The Barbarino dance, however, lives on forever. Evidence on display below.



Welcome Back, Kotter Wiki, Kotter IMDb