In 1978 Mark Hamill went on a publicity trip to Japan to promote Star Wars. YouTuber “btm0815ma” has posted a 23-minute video of behind-the-scenes footage of the visit.
The footage is unedited and only fanatics, like myself, will want to view it in its entirety. However, brave explorers will uncover much that fascinates like a pre-Empire Strikes Back Hamill enjoying himself at a press conference, appearing on a TV show, and interacting with fans. Fun fact: Hamill likely feels comfortable in Japan as he spent a few teenage years living in Yokosuka and attended high school in Yokohama.
You’ll also get a look at some classic Star Wars merchandise, Star Wars characters in a parade, and Japan in the late 70s. Well worth a watch…or a scan through to find the bits that interest you.
Here’s a Hidden Gem that may be new to you. New York-born singer-songwriter Paul Siebel released the “Jack-Knife Gypsy” single in early 1971. The song was recorded in Los Angeles with Robert W. Zachary Jr. producing and comes from the album of the same name.
Have a listen to this crackin’ tune. It should have been a fair-sized hit in ’71. Alas, Siebel is best-known for writing songs for other artists or being covered by the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and Waylon Jennings.
Time to switch on the memory box for an assortment of vintage commercials. This time around you’ll find spots for Cool Whip, Hasbro’s Ricochet Racers, Air France with Brigitte Bardot, and Winnebago with Tom Kennedy. Have at ’em.
Cool Whip Desserts Commercial (Mid-1970s)
Birds Eye Cool Whip commercial featuring layered pound cake aired in the mid-1970s.
Ricochet Racers Toy Commercial (Hasbro, 1976)
Hasbro Repeat’in Ricochet Tracer Racers toy commercial featuring glow-in-the-dark capabilities aired in 1976.
Air France Commercial (Brigitte Bardot, 1974)
Air France airlines commercial featuring actor Brigitte Bardot aired March 1974.
John Lennon ‘Power To The People’ / Yoko Ono ‘Open Your Box’ via Cash Box March 20, 1971
Being the 50th anniversary of this Plastic Ono Band release (Mar. 12 ’71 UK/Mar. 22, ’71 US), let’s listen in to John Lennon’s “Power To The People” and Yoko Ono’s “Open Your Box.”
“Power To The People” was recorded, with Phil Spector producing, during sessions for Lennon’s Imagine album. The anthem hit #11 in the US and #7 in the UK. The song has an undeniable sing-a-long and stomp your feet quality but doesn’t really rank up there with Lennon’s best. The artist himself later admitted to being a bit embarrassed by the tune.
Yoko Ono’s “Open Your Box” faced some controversy due to its racy lyrics and Capital Records refused to release it in the US. It was replaced by the tune “Touch Me.” “Open Your Box” was produced by Lennon-Ono and features Lennon on funky guitar.
The star of our block of seventies commercials today is Heinz Ketchup featuring Carly Simon’s “Anticipation.” I’m sure you remember this running series of spots featuring the tune. You’ll also find the Body Buddies, Jeanne and Bernie Ernst, syndicated TV fitness instructors, Revlon, and the ’79 Ford Futura. I’ve arranged them in chronological order for your viewing pleasure.
Revlon Super Lustrous Cream-On Shadow makeup commercial featuring a model flying a helicopter aired March 1976.
Heinz Ketchup ‘Anticipation’ Commercial (1977)
Heinz Tomato Ketchup commercial featuring Carly Simon’s “Anticipation” aired August 1977. Narrator is Casey Kasem.
Win’s Super Belt Commercial (‘Body Buddies,’ 1978)
Trim With Win Super Belt commercial featuring syndicated TV fitness instructors, Dr. Bernie & Jeanne Ernst – the ‘Body Buddies.’ Spot aired May 1978 (produced in ’77).
Ford Futura ‘Now!’ Commercial (1979)
’79 Ford Futura commercial featuring actor Morgan Brittany (‘Dallas’) disco dancing aired February 1979.
I’ve gathered up a few seventies-related stories from the past week for you to peruse. I hope you find them retro-actively enlightening. Is that a thing?
LET’S TALK MEGO’S 2-XL TALKING ROBOT
Boing Boing has some fun chatter (an article & podcast) analyzing Mego’s 2-XL Talking Robot toy from 1978. This charming little fellow provided minutes of quality entertainment!
Boing Boing quote:
“So what you’re looking at, actually, is not a robot but a VERY clever use of eight track tapes. The 2-XL has four buttons, which are the same buttons you’ll find on an 8-track player. The data cartridges inside the 2-XL were merely 8-track tapes, and the 2-XL is really just an 8-track player with blinking eyes – but that shows the brilliant idea on how to use the format for something interactive.”
The article contains a commercial for the 2-XL from 1981 – so, here’s a bonus commercial from 1978. I have a need to keep things 70s-centric. Thank me later!
Mego 2-XL Robot Commercial (1978)
LOOK WOT HE DUN!
Dave Hill and Slade (1974)
The Guardianchats with Slade guitarist Dave Hill and the memories flow like strawberry wine and foot-stompin’ glitter.
The Guardian Quote: “…Lead guitarist Hill was always the crazy one. He was famous for his pudding-basin fringe, glittering face, gold capes, mighty stacks (disguising his diddy, 5ft 4in stature) and ray-gun-shaped guitar called Super Yob. In his heyday, he drove a silver Jensen Interceptor and a gold Rolls-Royce with the number plate Yob 1. Hill was marketed as the yob’s yob.”
HAMILL? HE’S HORRIFIED
‘An elegant weapon.’ Star Wars (1977)
There’s a quick little piece at the Hollywood Reporter on Mark Hamill’s reaction to a viral Star Wars meme and some on-set photography.
Hollywood Reporter Quote: “‘This makes me cringe every time I see it,’ said Hamill of the meme, adding, ‘I don’t remember doing this in the movie. I think it’s just an on-set production still, otherwise Obi-Wan wouldn’t look so remarkably unconcerned.’ And he is correct. In the film, Luke does not look at the lightsaber as he does in the meme.”
BUNNY WAILER PASSES
Bunny Wailer at Rototom Sunsplash (2015)
It’s likely you caught the news of reggae master Bunny Wailer’s passing at age 73 last week. However, it’s worth jumping over to Rolling Stone for a nice overview of why Wailer is so revered.
Rolling Stone Quote: “While Marley and Tosh served as the Wailers’ primary singers and songwriters, Livingston played an indispensable role in providing harmonies to the trio’s songs. The Wailers next teamed with Perry and his Upsetters for 1970’s Soul Rebels and 1971’s Soul Revolution; around that time, Livingston wrote and recorded one of his signature songs, ‘Dreamland,’ a track he revisited when he released his solo LP Blackheart Man in 1976.”
