Gee, your wrist smells terrific! (Avon commercial, 1978)
“With Avon – you’ve never felt so good.”
Time to spray on our Daily 70s Spot. This commercial for Avon products features the Tempo fragrance. Aired in September of 1978.
Previously on Daily 70s Spot: Cam2 motor oil ‘race cars’ (1977)
Numerous 1970s-related stories have been piling up in the ‘Disco files. Here now is a collection of news items you may find interesting reading including bits on the new Abba museum and recent passings of known persons. Investigate.
Abba fans take a chance on Sweden’s newest museum – and declare it a hit
The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis visits the ABBA museum in Stockholm
The Guardian has posted an article entitled “Abba fans take a chance on Sweden’s newest museum – and declare it a hit” and the review of the recently-opened museum is accompanied by a video visit.
‘Rocky’ musical bound for Broadway in 2014 at USA Today.
“Stallone, who both starred in and wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for the film, said in a statement that he ‘couldn’t be more proud or more excited about this production and how my original story of Rocky Balboa has been brought to spectacular life onstage.'”
Polaroid’s SX-70, the Greatest Gadget of All Time, Is 41 at Time.
“Polaroid co-founder Edwin Land stood before an audience inside a warehouse in Needham, Massachusetts and announced the SX-70. It was the first instant camera which, with one press of a button, delivered a photo that developed in daylight.”
Friedkin, Who Pushed Film Forward, Looks Back at NPR.
“When Friedkin directed these films in the 1970s, he was breaking all the rules. In his new memoir, The Friedkin Connection, the 77-year-old director describes how he brought a new look — and a new feel — to Hollywood films.”
Gary Burghoff’s after ‘M*A*S*H’ at AmericanProfile.
“The Emmy Award-winning actor, 69, who splits his time between California and Florida, enjoys hunting and fishing. As an avid philatelist, he made a video for the U.S. Postal Service for beginning stamp collectors.”
How we made: Heart of Glass – Blondie article at The Guardian.
“Singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein remember how the band overcame the disco haters – including their own drummer – to transform one of their earliest songs into a worldwide hit.”
Hot Docs premiere Unclaimed finds a Vietnam veteran left behind for 44 years at thestar.com.
“Special Forces Green Beret Master Sgt. John Hartley Robertson had forgotten how to speak English over the 44 years since he was left behind in the Vietnam War.”
31 Lunch Boxes From The 1970s That Are Worth A Lot Of Money at Buzzfeed.
“Time to dig through the attic because that old lunch box might be worth more than you think.”
David Bowie by Brian Duffy – in pictures at The Guardian.
“Duffy Archive presents David Bowie at the White Cloth Gallery, Leeds. The exhibition features previously unseen and behind-the-scenes images of the Lodger and Aladdin Sane cover shoots.”
A ’70s Newsletter for Feminist Men at Slate.
“This newsletter was produced by a group of men based in Berkeley, Calif., who were working for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.”
New Elvis exhibitions open in Memphis – video at The Guardian.
“Two new exhibits documenting Elvis Presley’s relationships with Hawaii and Vegas open at his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee.”
Recent Passings
Actor, Steve Forrest (S.W.A.T.)
Sitcom director, Jack Shea (The Jeffersons)
Visual effects master, Ray Harryhausen
TV psychologist & columnist, Joyce Brothers
Country musician, George Jones
Musician, Richie Havens (a remembrance)
Actor, Allan Arbus (M*A*S*H)
Special Effects artist, Marcel Vercoutere (The Exorcist)
Album artwork designer, Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd)
Actor, Richard LeParmentier (Star Wars)
Disco musician, Vincent Montana Jr
Wienerschnitzel founder, John Galardi
Film & TV writer, Mickey Rose (Take the Money and Run, All in the Family)
Test-tube baby pioneer, Sir Robert Edwards
Record producer & engineer, Andy Johns (a remembrance)
Cool, 70s stock cars running on Cam2 motor oil (1977)
“You know it’s tough and you love it.”
Let’s take our Daily 70s Spot out of the garage and run it around the block. Today we have a commercial for Cam2 motor oil that name checks Roger Penske of Penske Racing and shows off some classic 70s race cars. Spot aired in July of 1977.
Previously on Daily 70s Spot: Clorox Bleach ‘clean sneakers’ (late 1970s)
‘The Lords of Flatbush,’ trailer title, 1974
Low budget, coming-of-age story, The Lords of Flatbush, rumbled into theaters in May of 1974. The film will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year.
The movie stars Perry King (Chico), Sylvester Stallone (Stanley), Henry Winkler (Butchey) and Paul Mace (Wimpy) as a quartet of young, leather jacket-wearing Brooklyn, New Yorkers in the late 1950s.
The slice-of-life plot revolves around Chico’s attempt to woo a gal named Jane (Susan Blakely) and also follows Stanley and his girl, Frannie (Maria Smith) who are expecting a baby and arguing about marriage.
The Fonze, Rocky and,uh, Wimpy (‘The Lords of Flatbush,’ 1974)
Interesting facts about The Lords of Flatbush: Richard Gere was originally cast in the film but had to drop out due to differences with Stallone. Sly Stallone wrote some dialog for the movie. Paul Mace (Wimpy) died in a road accident at age 33 in 1983.
The Lords of Flatbush Wiki, IMDb
The Lords of Flatbush review at Every70sMovie
Previously on Trailer Tuesday: ‘Oh, God!’ (1977)
I suppose she’d be offering $500 bucks for those ratty sneakers these days.
“I’ll give you $50.00 for those sneakers.”
Time to hang out and dry our Daily 70s Spot. Today we have one of those Clorox Bleach commercials featuring an “actual interview” with an actual human being. The spot aired in the mid-to-late 1970s. My best guess would be 1977.
Previously on Daily 70s Spot: Bill Russell for long distance telephone (1975)
Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward and Tony Iommi cooking ‘War Pigs.’ (Paris, 1970)
Good day, fine people. I hope those of you in the US are enjoying the extended Memorial Day weekend. In remembrance of soldiers who fought for us in recent and long-past battles – here’s Black Sabbath with a stomping anti-war song, “War Pigs.” Not one, but two versions. The first finds the band in taught, supreme form, blasting Paris, France in December of 1970.
The second video is more of a curiosity, with the band out of their element – outdoors in the warm sunshine (with a rainbow backdrop no less) at the California Jam in April of 1974.
(Video from: HDBlackSabbath‘s YouTube channel.)
Previously on Music for Monday: Triumph, ‘Lay It on the Line’ (1979)