Bionic Disco

70s Commercials: United Airlines, Gaines Burgers, Wilson Tennis, Miller Lite (1977-78)

Posted on January 28, 2022 by David Moore

We’re hanging out in 1977 and ’78 for today’s batch of commercials. Take in spots for United Airlines, Gaines Burgers dog food with James Beard, the Wilson Extra tennis racquet, and Miller Lite with Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner. Have a grand weekend and I’ll see you on Monday.

UNITED AIRLINES ‘THE BOSS’ COMMERCIAL (1977)

_{United Airlines commercial featuring a ‘confused’ man and a travel agent. Spot aired August 1977.}

GAINES BURGERS DOG FOOD COMMERCIAL (JAMES BEARD, 1977)

_{Gaines Burgers dog food commercial featuring famed chef & TV host James Beard. Spot aired in 1977.}

WILSON ‘EXTRA’ TENNIS RACQUET COMMERCIAL (1978)

_{Wilson Extra large-head tennis racquet commercial. Spot aired October 1978.}

MILLER LITE COMMERCIAL (MARTIN & STEINBRENNER, 1978)

_{Miller Lite beer commercial featuring Billy Martin (Manager, NY Yankees) and George Steinbrenner (Owner, NY Yankees). Spot aired July 1978.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Vicks Sinex, KFC ‘Extra Crispy,’ Mustang II, Kodak (1973-76)

More United Airlines: Daily 70s Spot #432: United Airlines (1978)

More Gaines Burgers: Smack It! Board Game, Gaines-Burgers, Revlon Flex, Nestle Hot Cocoa (1975-78)

More Wilson Tennis: Daily 70s Spot: Wilson Tennis Racket (1978)

More Miller Lite: 70s Spots: Miller Lite (Rosey Grier, 1976)

More Billy Martin: 70s Spots: Yankees Franks & Colonial Bacon (Billy Martin, 1978)

Super 70s Ads: Ford Pickup & Econoline Camper (1972)

Posted on January 27, 2022 by David Moore

“Travel in your own motel-on-wheels!”

This fine-looking Ford ad features a ’73 pickup with matching box cover and the Econoline Camper Special. I’ll take one of each. The ad originally appeared in the October 13, 1972 issue of Life magazine.

Previously on Super 70s Ads: Chevy Camaro (1977)

More Ford: Rad Ads: Ford Courier Pickup (1978)

From The Vault – Show Toppers: ‘Adam-12’ (1968-75)

Posted on January 26, 2022 by David Moore

_{*Post originally appeared on Bionic Disco January 31, 2013.*}

_{‘1-Adam-12, 1-Adam-12. See the post at Bionic Disco. A disturbance.’ (Kent McCord & Martin Milner, 1973)}

Show Toppers is now in session. Today, we take a look at a cop classic featuring a pair of L.A.’s finest, patrolling the streets in Adam-12. Created by Dragnet‘s Jack Webb (along with R.A. Cinader,) Adam-12 originally ran for seven seasons from September, 1968 to May, 1975. The series had a healthy re-run life throughout the 1970s and beyond.

_{William Boyett is Sgt. ‘Mac’ MacDonald (Adam-12, 1973)}

Adam-12 starred Martin Milner as the seasoned pro, Officer Pete Malloy, and Kent McCord as the fresh, young rookie, Officer Jim Reed. William Boyett co-starred as the pair’s station sergeant, “Mac” MacDonald. Gary Crosby (Bing’s son) made frequent guest appearances as the somewhat smug, Officer Wells.

In recent months, I’ve been re-watching Adam-12 (the whole shebang is available on Netflix) and have been enjoying the blast of nostalgia. I’m currently midway through 1971 and the rapport between Malloy and Reed is still a decent reason to watch. However, I take particular pleasure in recognizing various Los Angeles locations and noting what changes the ensuing decades have brought. The hippy-holdover fashions and hip lingo of the youthful citizens is smile-inducing as well.

Two clips are up for you to spy below. The first is the season 6 intro from 1973 and the second is a rather cool and rare promo from around 1975. See the woman. Shots fired…

‘ADAM-12’ SEASON 6 TV INTRO (1973)

RARE ‘ADAM-12’ NBC PROMO (1975)

Adam-12 Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: The Streets of San Francisco

70s Commercials: Vicks Sinex, KFC ‘Extra Crispy,’ Mustang II, Kodak (1973-76)

Posted on January 25, 2022 by David Moore

Today’s mind-bending batch of seventies commercials originally aired between 1973 and 1976. You’ll find Vicks Sinex nasal spray featuring two blockheads, Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Extra-Crispy style, the 1976 Mustang II line-up, and Kodak film. You remember film cartridges. I know you do.

VINEX SINEX ‘THE BLOCKBUSTER’ COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Vicks Sinex decongestant nasal spray commercial featuring two men with concrete blocks for heads. Spot aired September 1973.}

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN ‘EXTRA CRISPY’ COMMERCIAL (1974)

_{Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) commercial featuring an Extra Crispy chicken jingle and a farm family at dinnertime. Spot aired October 1974.}

’76 FORD MUSTANG II LINE-UP COMMERCIAL (1975)

_{Ford Mustang II commercial featuring 1976 vehicles & features; MPG, Ghia, Hardtop, 2 + 2, Stallion, and Cobra II. Spot aired November 1975.}

KODAK FILM ‘TIMES OF YOUR LIFE’ COMMERCIAL (1976)

_{Kodak film commercial featuring kids playing in a park. Spot aired July 1976.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Sara Lee, Pepto-Bismol, McDonald’s Fries, Baby Peek-A-Boo (1970-72)

More Vicks: Daily 70s Spot #512: Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray (1977)

More KFC: 70s Spots: Kentucky Fried Chicken ‘Colonel Talks’ (1971)

More Ford Mustang II: 70s Spots: ’78 Ford Mustang II (1977)

More Kodak: 70s Spots: Kodak Instant Cameras (Dick Van Dyke, 1976 & ’78)

Music For Monday: Anita Ward, ‘Ring My Bell’ (1979)

Posted on January 24, 2022 by David Moore

A very happy Monday to everyone. It’s time for some music and I’ve got a disco classic queued up. Here’s Anita Ward with “Ring My Bell,” performed on Dutch TV’s TopPop show on June 23, 1979.

“Ring My Bell” was written by Frederick Knight and originally appeared on Ward’s debut LP Songs of Love. “Ring My Bell” grabbed the #1 spot on both the US and UK charts.

ANITA WARD, ‘RING MY BELL’ (‘TOPPOP,’ 1979)

Previously on Music for Monday: The Intruders, ‘She’s A Winner’ (1972)

70s Commercials: Sara Lee, Pepto-Bismol, McDonald’s Fries, Baby Peek-A-Boo (1970-72)

Posted on January 21, 2022 by David Moore

Yes, that’s a young Edward Herrmann contemplating a french fry in the above photo. Today, we’re loitering in the early seventies and I’ve got the usual set of dusty but delightful spots for you. Enjoy commercials for Sara Lee chocolate cake, Pepto-Bismol, McDonald’s, and Hasbro’s Baby Peek-A-Boo doll. Let’s hang out again on Monday.

SARA LEE CHOCOLATE CAKE COMMERCIAL (EARLY 1970S)