Saturday 70s Spots: McDonald’s ‘Quarter Pounder People’ (1974 & ’77)

Love & a Quarter Pounder. (McDonald's Commercial, 1977)

Love & a Quarter Pounder. (McDonald’s Commercial, 1977)

“Oh, you Quarter Pounder People…”

Hi folks! Well, the ol’ work schedule has been keeping me mighty busy of late and you’ve likely noticed a lack of updates in the past two weeks. Never fear, things are normalizing somewhat and we now return you to your regularly scheduled commercials – already in progress.

Two fun spots for McDonald’s can be found below. Firstly, a spot from July of 1974 with a “money shortage” theme. Following that, one from December 1977 featuring a collection of “Quarter Pounder People.”

McDonald’s ‘Money Shortage’ Commercial, 1974

McDonald’s ‘Quarter Pounder People’ Commercial, 1977

Previously on 70s Spots: Eastern Airlines (1978 & ’79)

Sunday 70s Spots: Eastern Airlines (1978 & ’79)

Frank Borman and 'Red Jacket Guy' (Eastern Airlines commercial, 1979)

Frank Borman and ‘Red Jacket Guy’ (Eastern Airlines commercial, 1979)

“We have to earn our wings every day.”

Sunday armchair travelers! Here we have two spots for Eastern Airlines featuring company president and former astronaut, Frank Borman.

The first spot, with a “people” theme, aired in the summer of 1978. The second clip, focused on “crowded airports, ran in January of 1979. Eastern ceased operations in 1991.

Eastern Airlines ‘People’ Commercial, 1978

Eastern Airlines ‘Crowded Airports’ Commercial, 1979

Previously on 70s Spots: Joe Namath & ‘Mother Tums’ (1977)

Saturday 70s Spots: Joe Namath & ‘Mother Tums’ (1977)

Joe Namath, Salesman of the Seventies. (Hamilton Beach commercial, 1977)

Joe Namath, Salesman of the Seventies. (Hamilton Beach commercial, 1977)

“It cooks and fries anything at all.”

Greetings, one and all! It’s high time I updated the ‘Disco and rolled out some vintage commercials.

Today, we’re visiting with Joe Namath and “Mother Tums.” Our first spot finds Broadway Joe offering up some cooking options with the Fry-All Deep Fryer from Hamilton Beach. After that, an appearance by “Mother Tums,” a product mascot who didn’t quite catch on. Both spots aired in December of 1977.

Joe Namath For Hamilton Beach Fryer, 1977

Tums Commercial With ‘Mother Tums,’ 1977

Previously on 70s Spots: Vic Tayback & Wally Schirra (1970)

Sunday 70s Spots: Vic Tayback & Wally Schirra (1970)

Before Mel opened his diner he was a ship's captain - and shaving specialist! (Vic Tayback, Edge commercial, 1970)

Before Mel opened his diner he was a ship’s captain – and shaving specialist! (Vic Tayback, Edge commercial, 1970)

“To cut yourself you almost have to try.”

Here’s two commercials from November of 1970 featuring known personalities. First, we have actor, Vic Tayback (prior to being cast as Mel on Alice) for Edge shaving gel.

After that, one of the first US astronauts, Wally Schirra, for America’s railroads.

Edge Shave Gel Commercial With Vic Tayback, 1970

America’s Railroads Commercial With Wally Schirra, 1970

Previously on 70s Spots: Gatorade & Swiss Colony Wine (1975)

More Vic Tayback at Bionic Disco: Autolite Sparkplug ‘Gangsters’ With Vic Tayback (1972)

Saturday 70s Spots: Gatorade & Swiss Colony Wine (1975)

You, sly dog, you! (Italian Swiss Colony wine commercial, 1975)

You, sly dog, you! (Italian Swiss Colony wine commercial, 1975)

“You should have seen this terrace when I was a bachelor. Every night, girls in satin pant-suits, see-through blouses, and lots of imported wine.”

I hope everyone has recovered from their holiday feasting. As you kick back relaxing and reminiscing, why not enjoy some vintage commercials?

First, an oh-so-70s spot for Italian Swiss Colony wine featuring a (former) swinging bachelor. After that, a humorous Gatorade spot with a Western movie star and his stunt double. Both commercials aired in July of 1975.

Italian Swiss Colony Wine Commercial, 1975

Gatorade ‘Stuntman’ Commercial, 1975

Previously on 70s Spots: Kentucky Fried Chicken (1972 & ’75)

Thanksgiving Holiday Repeats: ‘Charlie Brown’ & ‘The Brady Bunch’ (1973 & ’70)

As is now tradition here…

Happy Thanksgiving, Bionic pals! Here’s some Thanksgiving holiday favorites from years past. 70s’ style reruns, if you will. May your celebrations be bountiful!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (And Appreciating Our Pop Culture)

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!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Opening/Football Kick-Off

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Feast Preparation

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

Brady Bunch Moments: Greg’s Thanksgiving Movie

‘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

Brady Bunch Moments: 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…