Bionic Disco

70s Commercials: Underwood Deviled Ham, Don Rickles, Star-Kist (1974-77)

Posted on May 4, 2021 by David Moore

Here’s a good batch of time capsules ranging from 1974 to 1977. You’ll find child actor Mason Reese in one of his numerous spots for Underwood, Don Rickles for National Car Rental, Charlie the Tuna for Star-Kist, and a trio of cats for Tabby. I don’t remember Tabby, but the other products certainly, and they’re still around today.

UNDERWOOD DEVILED HAM COMMERCIAL (MASON REESE, 1974)

_{Underwood Deviled Ham commercial starring actor Mason Reese aired March 1974.}

DON RICKLES FOR NATIONAL CAR RENTAL (1975)

_{National Car Rental commercial starring actor-comedian Don Rickles aired October 1975.}

STAR-KIST ‘CHARLIE THE TUNA’ COMMERCIAL (1976)

_{Animated Star-Kist tuna commercial featuring Charlie the Tuna and a monogram scheme aired March 1976. The announcer is Danny Dark. Charlie voiced by Herschel Bernardi.}

TABBY CAT FOOD COMMERCIAL (1977)

_{Bite-size Tabby cat food from Lipton Pet Foods commercial featuring singing kittens aired August 1977.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Funny Face Drink Mix, Dixie Cups & More (1973)

More Don Rickles: A Johnny Carson Moment: Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles (11.12.76)

More Star-Kist: 70s Spots: Charlie The Tuna, Morris The Cat & More

More Cats: 70s Spots: 9-Lives’ Morris & Purina Cat Food (1978 & ’75)

Hidden Gems: The Dramatics – ‘Hey You! Get Off My Mountain’ (1973)

Posted on May 3, 2021 by David Moore

The Dramatics are best-known for their hits “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” and “In The Rain,” but the group has plenty of other excellent tunes in their seventies repertoire. Have a listen to 1973’s “Hey You! Get Off My Mountain” from the LP A Dramatic Experience.

This Hidden Gem, written by producer Tony Hester, is a real grower and deserves to be discovered or re-discovered. It just missed the US Top 40, climbing to #43 on the Hot 100, faring better on the R&B chart where it grabbed #5. Give it a few spins.

THE DRAMATICS, ‘HEY YOU! GET OFF MY MOUNTAIN’ (1973)

Previously on Hidden Gems: Redbone, ‘When You Got Trouble’ (1971)

70s Commercials: Funny Face Drink Mix, Dixie Cups & More (1973)

Posted on April 30, 2021 by David Moore

I’m pleased to have an especially fine quartet of seventies commercials to present today. First up, something of a holy grail for me – a spot for Funny Face drink mix. These are hard to come by and really bring back the childhood memories.

You’ll also find commercials for Dinty Moore, Dixie Riddle Cups (another good memory-maker), and Pillsbury Fruit ‘n Snack cakes. What a meal!

FUNNY FACE DRINK MIX COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Pillsbury Funny Face drink mix commercial featuring Goofy Grape and Choo Choo Cherry aired in 1973.}

DINTY MOORE BEEF STEW ANIMATED COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Animated Hormel Dinty Moore Beef Stew commercial featuring a singing lumberjack mascot aired October 1973.}

DIXIE RIDDLE CUPS COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Dixie Riddle Cups, Plates & Bowls commercial featuring jokes and riddles for little ones aired in 1973.}

PILLSBURY FRUIT ‘N CRUNCH CAKE COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Pillsbury Fruit ‘n Crunch cake mix commercial featuring cherry, apple, and blueberry flavors aired October 1973.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Fritos ‘Munch-A-Bunch’ & Mercedes-Benz (1979)

More Pillsbury: 70s Spots: Morton Donuts, Pillsbury Cake, Wheaties, Checkerboard Entrées (1971-77)

Classic 70s Ads: The Impressions, ‘Ain’t Got Time’ (1971)

Posted on April 29, 2021 by David Moore

_{The Impressions, ‘Ain’t Got Time’ ad via Cash Box February 20, 1971}

After Curtis Mayfield departed The Impressions for a solo career in 1970 he continued to work for and promote the band. Here we have an ad for The Impression’s “Ain’t Got Time” single released in late ’70. The tune was written and produced by Mayfield and released on his record label Curtom.

The Impressions’ version of “Ain’t Got Time,” featuring new lead singer Leroy Hutson, did not appear on an LP at the time but did make it to #53 on the US Hot 100. Mayfield released his own take of the song on his 1974 album Sweet Exorcist.

Have a listen to the Impressions below. And pay no attention to the YouTube poster saying this is Mayfield’s version.

THE IMPRESSIONS, ‘AIN’T GOT TIME’ (1970)

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: Benny Bell, ‘Shaving Cream’ (1975)

From The Vault: 70s Celebs – Flip Wilson

Posted on April 28, 2021 by David Moore

**Time to pull a classic post from the Bionic Disco vault. The following originally appeared April 16, 2011**

Clerow Wilson, Jr., was born December 8, 1933 in Jersey City, New Jersey into a family of 18 children. After early years in foster homes and a reform school, 16-yr-old Wilson fibbed about his age and entered the US Air Force.

The young serviceman’s bubbly personality and outgoing manner earned him the nickname “Flip”, short for “Flipped out!” After discharge from the Air Force in 1954, Flip began working as a bellhop at the Manor Plaza Hotel in San Francisco where he eventually found comedic fill-in work between acts.

By the 1960s Flip had perfected his act, performing regularly at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem. Stardom beckoned and Flip began booking slots on TV staples such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show.

In 1970 Flip scored a Grammy Award for his comedy album The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress and launched The Flip Wilson Show on NBC. The hour-long variety show was a break-out success, airing from September 17, 1970 until June 27, 1974, leading Time magazine to place Flip on its cover and dub him “TV’s First Black Superstar.”

Flip is best-known for his characters Geraldine Jones (a feisty Wilson in drag), the outrageous Reverend Leroy (Pastor of the “Church of What’s Happening Now”) and lovable everyman, Freddie Johnson. The sight of Flip’s name spelled out in flashing lights from the show’s opening is forever etched in the minds of 70s TV watchers, as is the Flip handshake, which involved greeting each guest on the show with a series of hand, elbow and hip bumps.

One of the writers on Flip’s show was comedian George Carlin, who appeared in sketches on numerous occasions. Wilson also featured a great number of exceptional musical guests such as James Brown, Louis Armstrong, and The Jackson 5.

Other notable 1970s Flip Wilson TV appearances included 1972’s animated Clerow Wilson and the Miracle of P.S. 14, and The Six Million Dollar Man (’76). Film appearances included 1974’s Uptown Saturday Night and 1979’s The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. Flip passed away at age 64 on November 25, 1998.

Read up on Flip:
Flip Wilson Wiki, Flip Wilson IMDb, Flip at TV Party

We’ll leave you with a nice clip of Flip. Enjoy.

Previously on From The Vault: The First ‘Earth Day’ – April, 1970

70s Commercials: Fritos ‘Munch-A-Bunch’ & Mercedes-Benz (1979)

Posted on April 27, 2021 by David Moore

After a decade of calling these posts “70s Spots” I’m just going to start calling them “70s Commercials.” When I worked in advertising we called commercials and trailers “spots,” but I think a general audience may not make as quick a connection with the word. So, there ya go. Not important, but thought I’d mention it for longtime readers.

Today, you’ll find 1979 commercials for Fritos and Mercedes-Benz and 1978 commercials for Raid and the Detroit News. Enjoy the…spots!

FRITOS ‘MUNCH-A-BUNCH’ JINGLE COMMERCIAL (1979)