Bionic Disco

70s Commercials: Eureka Vacuum, Mazda Wagon, ‘Three Musketeers’ & More (1974-75)

Posted on May 18, 2021 by David Moore

Our new batch of seventies commercials is a mix of products from 1974 to 1976 (or thereabouts). Firstly, the Eureka vacuum. Following that, Horizon Coffee with Pernell Roberts playing a bean-grower called Simon Stone. Finally, the Mazda wagon and a great film, The Three Musketeers. Have at ’em.

EUREKA VACUUM CLEANER COMMERCIAL (MID-1970S)

_{Eureka Sweet 16 vacuum cleaner commercial aired in the mid-1970s (best guess 1974-76).}

HORIZON COFFEE COMMERCIAL (PERNELL ROBERTS, MID-1970S)

_{Horizon Coffee commercial starring actor Pernell Roberts (‘Bonanza,’ ‘Trapper John, M.D.’). Spot aired in the mid-1970s (best guess 1975 , give or take a year).}

MAZDA WAGON ‘CLEARANCE SALE’ COMMERCIAL (1975)

_{Mazda wagon car commercial featuring a ‘first official’ clearance sale aired October 1975.}

‘THE THREE MUSKETEERS’ MOVIE TRAILER (1974 )

_{TV trailer for the motion picture ‘The Three Musketeers’ starring Michael York, Oliver Reed, and Raquel Welch. Spot aired (the day before the movie opened) in March 1974.}

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

More Mazda: Daily 70s Ad: Mazda GLC Hatchback (1977)

Music For Monday: Tony Bennett, ‘Get Happy’ (Live, 1970)

Posted on May 17, 2021 by David Moore

Music for Monday time! Here’s something to brighten the start of your week. It’s Tony Bennett performing a driving, less-than-two-minute version of “Get Happy” on The Ed Sullivan Show, October 18, 1970.

Tony Bennett is still with us and performing at the grand age of 94. His studio version of “Get Happy” appears on the 1968 LP Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Roll the clip and try not to tap your feet – it’s darn near impossible. Although the audience do seem to be doing their best to remain disinterested. Whew. Tough crowd.

TONY BENNETT, ‘GET HAPPY’ (LIVE ON ‘THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW,’ 1970)

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

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)