Bionic Disco

70s Commercials: Hasbro’s Wacky Wheel (1971), ’74 Chevy Monte Carlo & More

Posted on May 14, 2021 by David Moore

An eclectic selection of early to mid-seventies commercials on display today. First up, we have Hasbro’s Wacky Wheel toy in a goofy spot I think you’ll enjoy. Following that, it’s an animated ad for GE light bulbs, the 1974 Chevy Monte Carlo, and a rather obscure candy (which I do vaguely remember) Pacers Mint Chews. Have a grand weekend.

WACKY WHEEL TOY COMMERCIAL (HASBRO, 1971)

_{Hasbro Wacky Wheel toy commercial featuring a zany spokesperson and a gang of kids aired in 1971.}

GE LIGHT BULBS ANIMATED COMMERCIAL (1972)

_{Animated General Electric Soft White Plus light bulbs commercial featuring an anthropomorphic light bulb family aired November 1972.}

’74 CHEVY MONTE CARLO COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{1974 model Chevrolet Monte Carlo commercial featuring a Leonardo da Vinci theme aired October 1973.}

PACERS MINT CHEWS CANDY COMMERCIAL (MID-1970s)

_{Pacers Mint Chews candy commercial featuring a movie theater song-and-dance routine aired in the mid-1970s (best guess 1974-1976).}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Doritos With Avery Schreiber, Betty Crocker, Pepsi Light, Kraft (1978-79)

More Hasbro Toys: 70s Spots: Keebler Elves & G.I. Joe (1975-76)

More General Electric: Daily 70s Spot: General Electric ‘Best Products’ (1975)

More Chevrolet: 70s Spots: ’74 Chevy Caprice & Mercury Montego (1973)

More Candy: Funshine Friday: Willy Wonka’s Candy Factory Kit (1971)

From The Vault: Show Toppers – ‘Struck By Lightning’ (1979)

Posted on May 13, 2021 by David Moore

**Time to pull a classic post from the Bionic Disco vault. The following originally appeared May 23, 2013**

_{‘Struck by Lightning” TV title, 1979}

Today on Show Toppers we have a real rarity. Give yourself a hearty pat on the back if you remember this one. Struck by Lightning originally ran Wednesday evenings on CBS from September to October, 1979. 11 episodes were filmed but only three were ever shown in the US (the UK saw them all in 1980).

The sitcom stars Jeffrey Kramer as Ted Stein, the great-great-grandson of Dr. Frankenstein, who inherits an ancient inn in Massachusetts. Frank (aka Frankenstein), played by Jack Elam, still lives at the Brightwater Inn and convinces Ted to stick around and recreate a formula that will keep him alive.

_{Frank (Jack Elam) and Stein (Jeffrey Kramer) (‘Struck by Lightning,’ 1979)}

The Struck by Lightning cast was rounded out by Millie Slavin as innkeeper Nora, Jeff Cotler as her son, Brian, Bill Erwin as a boarder called Glenn and Richard Stahl as Walt, a real estate agent. Catch the shocking intro below with its surprising theme song, “You Are So Beautiful.”

‘STRUCK BY LIGHTNING’ TV INTRO (1979)

Struck by Lightning Wiki, IMDb
(Additional reference: The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh)

Previously on Show Toppers: ‘Hawaii Five-O’ (1970s)

Classic 70s Music Ads: The Marmalade, ‘My Little One’ (1971)

Posted on May 12, 2021 by David Moore

_{The Marmalade, ‘My Little One’ ad via Record World April 10, 1971}

Glasgow, Scotland’s The Marmalade are best known in the US for their #10 hit “Reflections Of My Life.” They also created one of my favorite songs of the sixties, “I See The Rain.” Here, we have an ad for 1971’s single “My Little One.”

“My Little One” was a non-LP release written by the group’s Junior Campbell and Thomas McAleese. The song didn’t manage to crack the US Hot 100 but it did land in the UK Top 20 (#15). Have a listen.

THE MARMALADE, ‘MY LITTLE ONE’ (1971)

Previously on Classic 70s Music Ads: Nilsson, ‘The Point!’ (1971)

70s Commercials: Doritos With Avery Schreiber, Betty Crocker, Pepsi Light, Kraft (1978-79)

Posted on May 11, 2021 by David Moore

_{“Cheese!”}

And the hits just keep on comin’. This time around on the seventies commercial round-up we have the always-lovable Avery Schreiber in one of his many spots for Doritos. Following that, its Betty Crocker SuperMoist with an early appearance by Melanie Chartoff. For the final course, its Pepsi Light and Kraft Singles. I hope you enjoy your 43-year-old snacks.

(Check out the Bionic Disco YouTube channel for thousands more 70s commercials.)

DORITOS ‘NACHO KNIGHT’ COMMERCIAL (AVERY SCHREIBER, 1978)

_{Nacho Cheese Flavor Doritos commercial starring actor-comedian Avery Schreiber as a knight aired May 1978.}

BETTY CROCKER SUPERMOIST CAKES COMMERCIAL (1978)

_{Betty Crocker SuperMoist cake mix commercial featuring actor-comedian Melanie Chartoff (‘Fridays,’ ‘Rugrats’) as a cake-baking mother. Spot aired May 1978.}

PEPSI LIGHT JINGLE COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Pepsi Light commercial featuring a “1 calorie” jingle aired November 1979.}

KRAFT ‘LIGHT N’ LIVELY’ SINGLES COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Kraft “processed cheese product” Light n’ Lively American Flavored Singles commercial featuring a jogging party aired February 1979.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Big Jim Toy (1973), Jenos Pizza Rolls (1972) & More

More Doritos & Avery Schreiber: 70s Spots: Doritos With Avery Schreiber

More Betty Crocker: Daily 70s Spot: Betty Crocker Potatoes (1974)

More Pepsi Light: 70s Spots: Pepsi Light & Schlitz ‘Clambake’ (1976)

More Kraft: Sunday 70s Spots: Kraft Parkay Margarine & Spaghetti Meals (1974)

Music For Monday: The Temptations, ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy’ (1970)

Posted on May 10, 2021 by David Moore

_{The Temptations on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ April 5, 1970}

*Bionic Disco insider note: We used to have a regular “Music For Monday” post here so I’m re-instating that going forward. Hurray!

“You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” was co-written and originally performed by Brenda Holloway in 1967. It reached #39 on the US Hot 100. Most of us will likely remember Blood, Sweat & Tears’ 1969 version, which hit #2, a bit better.

Here now, we have The Temptations performing their version of the tune on The Ed Sullivan Show in April of 1970. It will hopefully help make your Monday so very happy.

THE TEMPTATIONS, ‘YOU’VE MADE ME SO VERY HAPPY” (‘THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW,’ 1970)

Previously on Music For Monday: Buzzcocks, ‘Everybody’s Happy Nowadays’ (1979)

More Temptations: Music For Monday: The Temptations, ‘Plastic Man’ (1973)

70s Commercials: Big Jim Toy (1973), Jenos Pizza Rolls (1972) & More

Posted on May 7, 2021 by David Moore

As we prepare to roll into the weekend, I’ve gathered together another fine set of seventies commercials for you. They range from 1971 to 1974 and feature the Ford station wagon, Jenos Pizza Rolls, Big Jim’s Rescue Rig, and Green Giant. See ya on Monday.

GREEN GIANT CORN NIBLETS ANIMATED COMMERCIAL (1974)