Shirley sings (Thanksgiving, 1977)
“Fred MacMurray and Shirley Jones host a family reunion!”
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you have a nice, relaxing time with friends and family today. Here’s a brief and obscure ABC promo from November 1977 for Thanksgiving Reunion With The Partridge Family And My Three Sons. They need to air this one again as it’s been lost to the ages.
Previously on 70s Spots (Thanksgiving): ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ Promo (1977)
As is tradition here…
Happy Thanksgiving, Bionic friends! Here’s some Thanksgiving holiday favorites from years past. 70s’ style reruns, if you will. May your celebrations be bountiful!
Time to dress up as pilgrims and go door-to-door caroling again!
‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ November, 1973
Happy Thanksgiving, fellow USA-dwellers! It’s time to butter the toast, pop the corn, pass out the jelly beans and get to feasting! And what better way to celebrate the day than to enjoy a few memorable moments from 1973’s A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!
I grew up with this CBS special helping to define the holiday and I’m willing to bet most of you did too.
I’ll be recreating this meal today. Hope my guests are appreciative.
‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ November, 1973
Today, as you sit at your ping pong tables and munch on your pretzel sticks don’t forget to give thanks (yes, for family and friends, but also) to Charles Schulz and the Peanuts gang!
Check out this article where The Wall Street Journal‘s Market Watch says “‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ defines holiday TV” and have a great day.
Wall Street Journal Quote:
“On Nov. 20, 1973, CBS slotted ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,’ — sponsored by Interstate Brands, the parent of Dolly Madison cakes and pies — at 8 p.m. Eastern to kick off its Tuesday night lineup. The Peanuts cartoons had become such ratings blockbusters by this time that the network had no problem preempting ‘Maude,’ the ‘All In The Family’ spinoff that would finish as the sixth most-watched show of the 1973-74 season.
Against the short-lived NBC crime drama ‘Chase’ and the medical sitcom ‘The New Temperatures Rising Show,’ ABC’s second attempt to find a starring vehicle for comedian Paul Lynde, ‘Thanksgiving’ easily won the time period, averaging a 27.8 rating and 43 share of the television audience.”
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Wiki, IMDb
UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly says: “‘Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ draws biggest audience in 4 years”
‘Our Pilgrim Fathers’ aka ‘Through Hardship To Freedom’ written, produced and directed by Gregory Brady. Music direction and narration by Gregory Brady
‘The Brady Bunch,’ 1970
And now, we turn to our favorite family and their seasonally-relevant episode. In season two‘s “The Un-Underground Movie,” which originally aired October 16, 1970, we watch Greg’s homemade film entitled Our Pilgrim Fathers.
Capt. Jones of The Mayflower takes an imaginary arrow to the hambone
‘The Brady Bunch,’ 1970
Watch Greg’s cinematic masterpiece in its entirety below. You’ll especially enjoy the dramatic slo-mo “Special Effects” just “like in those real ‘arty’ movies.”
And as an added holiday treat – here’s another BBM from a few months back that’s been getting a ton of search-engine hits the past two weeks: Alice’s Thanksgiving Moustache
The Bradys pause to mock Alice during the filming of Greg’s docudrama, ‘Our Pilgrim Fathers,’ October, 1970
On this mesmerizing edition of “Brady Bunch Moments” – filming for Greg’s Thanksgiving school project is going well despite problems with his (over) actors and some unexpected wardrobe malfunctions.
Click below to enjoy this two-minute clip from “The Un-Underground Movie” episode which originally aired during the second season of The Brady Bunch on October 16, 1970.
Just because…
Where’s the Tofurky, Chuck?
“Charlie Brown is cooking up a special treat…”
Here’s a short and sweet CBS promo for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving that aired almost 40 years ago to-the-day.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was the 10th Peanuts special to air and first hit TV screens on November 20, 1973.
Previously on 70s Spots (Thanksgiving): Mrs. Cubbison’s Stuffin’ Mix (1979)
David Cassidy on ‘The Partridge Family,’ circa 1973
The sad news we were hoping not to hear so soon has come in. Musician, actor, and pop idol David Cassidy has died at the age of 67.
This one really depresses me as, like many of you, I’ve been a fan since childhood. I’ve also felt that The Partridge Family and The Brady Bunch have been the pop culture pillars propping up Bionic Disco.
That said, I’d prefer not to dwell on the loss of the man, but instead to celebrate David Cassidy’s talent and charisma. The things that helped make him one of the most popular personalities of the Seventies. Let’s enjoy a few Partridge Pop installments from days past. Thank you for the music and entertainment, David!
Partridge Pop: ‘I Can Feel Your Heartbeat’ (1970)
(Originally appeared on Bionic Disco June 5, 2014)
“I’m a man of my word…” (David Cassidy, ‘The Partridge Family,’ 1970)
“I Can Feel Your Heartbeat” appeared on The Partridge Family Album, the fictional pop rockers’ debut disc. The tune is a funky, wah-wah pedal-flavored number written by Wes Farrell, Jim Cretecos and Mike Appel.
“Love. Love. Can’t you feel your heartbeat..?” (Susan Dey, ‘The Partridge Family,’ 1970)
“I Can Feel Your Heartbeat” has always been a favorite of mine. And at a brief two minutes in length – it’s over much too soon. Feel the heart…beat.
Partridge Pop: ‘Walking In The Rain’ (1973)
(Originally appeared on Bionic Disco November 14, 2012)
David Cassidy sculpted his hair into some really interesting shapes in the 70s
‘The Partridge Family,’ 1973
In our second installment of Partridge Pop we feature The Partridge Family singing the Phil Spector-Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil classic, “Walking in the Rain.”
This short and sweet tune comes from season three of The Partridge Family and the episode entitled, “The Eleven-Year Itch.” It originally aired February 2, 1973. Bert Convy and Jodie Foster were featured co-stars and can be seen in the clip.
Emmy Award-winner, Bert Convy and Academy Award-winner, Jodie Foster together again – for the very first time.
‘The Partridge Family,’ 1973
“Walking in the Rain” appeared on the L.P., The Partridge Family Notebook, which released in November of 1972.
German single for ‘Walking in the Rain,’ 1972
Note the fantastic face on Jeremy Gelbwaks in the lower left. That’s the kind of thing that got the kid booted from the show.
Mrs. Cubbison’s Stuffin’ ‘n’ Dressin’
“Beats the stuffin’ outta any other!”
With the Thanksgiving holiday almost upon us, it’s time to bring out a few commercials appropriate to the season. Today, enjoy a spot for Mrs. Cubbison’s Dressing and Stuffin’ Mix from November of 1979. More Thanksgiving goodness tomorrow.
Previously on 70s Spots: Triscuits (Betty Buckley) & Wheat Thins (Sandy Duncan) (1977)
A Triscuit, a truscuit. A yellow box so rustic.
“Baked only by Nabisco.”
We’ll call today’s post: “Snackin’ 77!” First up, Betty Buckley (Eight Is Enough) in a January 1977 commercial for Nabisco Triscuits.
After that, Sandy Duncan (Funny Face) in an April ’77 spot for Nabisco Wheat Thins. You may remember that Duncan did a series of spots for Nabisco.
Previously on 70s Spots: Enjoli Perfume & Aqua Velva After Shave (Pete Rose, 1979)
More Sandy Duncan at Bionic Disco: Mood Music: Paul Lynde, Sandy Duncan – ‘Bad, Bad Leroy Brown’ (1974)