Jeff Conaway, best known to 70s fans as Kenickie in the film Grease and Bobby Wheeler on TV’s Taxi, has passed away at the age of 60. Conaway had been in a coma since May 11th and was under care at Encino Tarzana Medical Center where “the actor’s family decided to take him off life support on Thursday, after doctors said there was no hope of recovery.” You can find further details at CBS News.
Conaway with Kaufman on Taxi, 1978
Interesting Factoids:
The film Grease was released in 1978. According to IMDB, Conaway “had to walk slightly stooped so John Travolta would appear taller.” Additionally, although Conaway played the role of Kenickie in the film, in the Broadway production he was cast as Danny Zuko.
Conaway played the role of hillbilly kid Willie in 1977’s Pete’s Dragon and appeared on Happy Days in both ’75 and ’76 as Rocko.
Conaway was nominated for Golden Globe Awards for TV Supporting Actor for Taxi in 1979 and 1980.
It’s time for some Bay City Rollers methinks. Let’s take a loving look at the lads from Edinburgh performing “Money Honey” on what appears to be German television. This would likely be from sometime in spring 1976 when said single was released.
There's a flood a-comin' - but the Rollers are prepared!
“Money Honey” was the first piece of vinyl I ever bought. I walked down to a small record shop on Fairfax Avenue (near Rosewood) and picked up the Arista 45 rpm in a plain light blue sleeve (which I still have.) The tune ‘Maryanne’ appeared on the B-side.
What the hell was I doing walking down to the record shop on my own at nine-years-old anyway?
“Money (Money, Money) can’t make you turn your head now. Money (Money, Money) can’t get you into bed now. Money, Honey can’t give more than you get now.”
Holmes & YoYo only ran for 13 measly episodes during the 1976-77 season, but it has really stuck in my mind. Something about a 427 pound robot cop with a heart of gold captured my fidgety nine-year-old imagination and never completely let go. The series seemed like a faded dream and I could never find any information on the legendary-to-me comedy. Thankfully, with the passing of time and the rise of YouTube and Wikipedia I can now foist some of that Holmes & YoYo magic upon you.
Oh no! Yo-Yo's a Ro-Ro!
Holmes & Yo-Yo made its debut September 25, 1976 on ABC. Each episode ran 30 minutes in length and starred Richard B. Shull as luckless Detective Alex Holmes and John Schuck as Gregory Yoyonivich aka “YoYo.” YoYo the android, or as the show’s opening calls him “A completely mobile computer specially programmed for police work,” could perform many dandy crime-fighting feats such as, uh, twirling head-over-heels, absorbing bomb blasts and taking Polaroid photographs with a push of his nose.
Have a look at the show’s opening which sets up the premise beautifully:
Unfortunately, some critics, such as TV Guide which voted Holmes & YoYo onto their ’50 Worst TV Shows of All Time’ list, haven’t remembered the show as fondly as I have. To which I say “Phooey, sir or madam critic!”
Check out part one of episode three, ‘The Dental Dynamiter’ below. If you enjoy the first nine minutes you can easily find parts two and three afterward. This is the most I’ve seen of Holmes & YoYo since 1977. The nine-year-old inside me is dancing The Robot with joy.
Venerable news weekly Time Magazine provides us all with a “time” capsule of history stretching from 1923 to the present day. We here at Bionic Disco are concerned with all things 70s, so let’s take a look at a choice selection of Time Magazine covers from the year 1970. It’s a fascinating collection and we’ll be sure to check in with ’71-’79 in future posts.
Hey kids, it’s Commercial time at Bionic Disco. Today, we feature a battle of kid-powered racers; Big Wheel versus The Green Machine.
Big Wheels are a'rollin'. Listen to them turn!
Most everyone had a Big Wheel. The really cool kids had a Green Machine. The Green Machine was extra-fast and had multiple levers – so you knew it was for badasses only. Yeah. I had a Big Wheel.
Today is May 10th, 2011. A date so futuristic it makes my head hurt. Let’s cast ourselves back in time 33 years to a simpler time – May 10th, 1978 – and take a look at some of the events we enjoyed on this carefree late-70s Wednesday.
A promo aired for the “Amayzing” CBS TV movie Murder at the Mardi Gras starring Didi Conn and David Groh (with a “Special appearance” by Wolfman Jack.)
In the News:
According to the CBS Evening News with Roger Mudd:
The EPA issues a recall order for almost all AMC cars from 1976.
President Carter requests labor leaders hold down wage demands and AFL-CIO president George Meany objects.
Kensington Castle officials announce the impending divorce of “Britain’s Princess Margaret from Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowdon.”
In Sports:
The St. Louis Cardinals battled the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Cards defeated the Dodgers 6 to 5. (The Dodgers later went all the way to the ’78 World Series where they lost to the Yankees.)
The Seattle Mariners fought the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland Stadium. The Indians emerged victorious 6 to1.
In Music:
Alice Cooper rocked Saginaw Auditorium in Saginaw, Michigan with tunes such as “Only Women Bleed” and the show closer, “School’s Out”.
The Grateful Dead played Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut, opening the set with “Jack Straw” and closing with “U.S. Blues”.
Van Halen shook the Matador Theater in Paris, France (exactly three months after releasing their debut album) with tunes including “Runnin’ With The Devil” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”.
Van Halen's 1978 debut - Paris discovers Hair Metal
In the Comics:
Issue #24 of Howard the Duck and issue #180 of The Amazing Spider-Man (with The Green Goblin on the cover) go on sale.
And finally – actor/comedian (and Saturday Night Live cast member) Kenan Thompson known for the modern, live-action remake of the 70s cartoon hit Fat Albert was born on this day in Atlanta, Georgia.
