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

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

Just under 41 years ago, in April of 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, spoke to the press about his idea of a “national teach-in on the environment”. After building a large national staff and promoting the idea across the county, Nelson’s idea began to take off.

Walter Cronkite’s Earth Day report, April, 1970

On the 22nd of April, 1970, an estimated 20 million Americans demonstrated in rallies across the United States. Colleges, in particular, organized protests in defense of the environment. Groups speaking out against pollution, oil spills and toxic dumping now found like-minded individuals to band together with in common cause. The hippies of the sixties had finally become organized.

April 22, 1970. Earth Day gathering in Philly.

Earth Day is still celebrated today and it all began at the beginning of the so-called “Me Decade”. See that? The 70s weren’t only about plush shag carpeting and Key Parties now were they? To quote EarthDay.org:

“The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. ‘It was a gamble,’ Gaylord recalled, ‘but it worked.’ “

Read more about Earth Day at EarthDay.org and the Earth Day Wiki.

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

Benny Bell, ‘Shaving Cream’ ad via Cash Box March 08, 1975

Benny Bell wrote the novelty number “Shaving Cream” and issued it as a single on his own label in 1946. The singer, as far as I can gather as it’s a convoluted story, is Phil Winston under the pseudonym Paul Wynn.

After Dr. Demento began playing the record on his syndicated radio show in the 70s, Vanguard Records re-issued the single and it went all the way to #30 on the US Hot 100. Have a listen to the hit – but be careful not to step in a pile of sh…aaaaving cream!

BENNY BELL, ‘SHAVING CREAM’ (1946/1975)

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: Melanie, ‘Bitter Bad’ (1973)

70s Spots: Franco-American (1974), Milky Way (1975) & More

In this assortment of vintage seventies commercials everything is edible. You can even eat the dishes. Well, maybe don’t eat the dishes.

For the first course, we have Fruity Pebbles. Followed by hot Franco-American Spaghetti with Meatballs featuring a Barry Manilow jingle. After that, its Taster’s Choice and Milky Way for dessert. Enjoy your meal.

FRUITY PEBBLES CEREAL COMMERCIAL (‘THE FLINTSTONES,’ 1974)

Post Fruity Pebbles cereal commercial featuring ‘The Flintstones’ with Wilma hankering for fruity flavor aired in 1974.

FRANCO-AMERICAN SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS COMMERCIAL (1974)

Franco-American canned Spaghetti with Meatballs commercial featuring Barry Manilow singing a jingle aired March 1974.

TASTER’S CHOICE COFFEE COMMERCIAL (1975)

Taster’s Choice freeze-dried coffee commercial featuring ‘The Making of Taster’s Choice’ aired December 1975. Narrator may be Ken Nordine.

MILKY WAY CANDY BAR COMMERCIAL (1975)

Milky Way chocolate candy bar commercial, featuring The Ward family from Saugus, California, aired December 1975.

Previously on 70s Spots: Volkswagen & Kodak (1972), Tums & Quasar (1973)

More Post Cereals & Flintstones: 70s Spots: Carnation, Sanka, Cocoa Pebbles & Alpha-Bits (1973-79)

More Franco-American & Barry Manilow: Saturday 70s Spots: SpaghettiOs & Fannie Flagg (1974)

More Candy Bars: 70s Spots: Almond Joy & Mounds (1977) & Trident Mints (1978)

Classic 70s Ads: Melanie, ‘Bitter Bad’ (1973)

Melanie, ‘Bitter Bad’ ad via Billboard April 07, 1973

Melanie’s “Bitter Bad” released in early 1973 and made its way to #36 on the US Hot 100. The song was written by Melanie and produced by Peter Schekeryk. As far as I can gather after some internet sleuthing, the studio version of “Bitter Bad” did not appear on an LP at the time. A live version did appear on 1973’s Melanie at Carnegie Hall.

Have a listen to the tune below. It’s a short, sweet slice of pop and a personal favorite from Melanie’s catalog of classics.

MELANIE ‘BITTER BAD’ (1973)

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: Aretha Franklin, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (1971)

More Melanie: Daily 70s Ad: Melanie, ‘#1 Female Vocalist’ (1971)

70s Spots: Volkswagen & Kodak (1972), Tums & Quasar (1973)

Look out!!!

Welcome one and all to the latest batch of seventies commercials. Today, you’ll find spots for the 1973 Volkswagen 412 wagon and sedan, Kodak, Tums, and Quasar. I hope your journey back in time is a pleasant one. Have a wonderful weekend!

(Check out the Bionic Disco YouTube channel for thousands more 70s commercials.)

’73 VOLKSWAGEN ‘412 SEDAN & WAGON’ COMMERCIAL (1972)

Volkswagen commercial featuring the new 412 sedan and wagon aired November 1972.

CLASSIC KODAK ANIMATED COMMERCIAL (1972)

Animated Kodak commercial featuring a film cartridge and Prepaid Processing Mailer aired November 1972. Narrator sounds like Sterling Holloway.

TUMS ‘FLAVORS’ COMMERCIAL (1973)

Tums antacid tablets commercial featuring peppermint, lemon, orange, wintergreen, and cherry flavors aired October 1973.

QUASAR TV ‘WORKS-IN-A-DRAWER’ COMMERCIAL (1973)

Motorola Quasar television set commercial featuring Works-in-a-Drawer technology aired October 1973.

Previously on 70s Spots: Vicks NyQuil (Sherman Hemsley, 1972) & Big Wally (Cathryn Damon, 1974)

More Volkswagen: Daily 70s Spot: Volkswagen Rabbit (1976)

More Kodak: Rad Ads: Kodak ‘Voter’s Choice’ Watch (1972)

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

More Quasar: Saturday 70s Spots: GE & Motorola TVs (1972)

From The Vault: Rare McDonald’s ‘McDonaldland’ Industrial Film (1972)

**Time to pull a classic post from the Bionic Disco vault. The following originally appeared April 3, 2013**

Hangin' with Mayor McCheese. ('McDonald's Setmakers,' 1972)

Hangin’ with Mayor McCheese. (‘McDonald’s Setmakers,’ 1972)

Here’s a rare and delightful time warp back to your childhood – when a visit to McDonald’s was still something to look forward to. In this 11-minute industrial film from 1972, Setmakers shows off the large line of park-like attractions they can build and install to attract customers to McDonald’s.

Why not vote for your McDonaldland favorite? Will it be the ‘Captain Crook Spiral Slide,’ ‘Mayor McCheese Roundabout,’ ‘Big Mac Climber’ or the ‘Pond with Filet o’ Fish Fountain’? Me, I’m going with the ‘Apple Pie Tree.’ Oh, yes.

Huge crowds at the first McDonaldland opening. ('McDonald's Setmakers,' 1972)

Huge crowds at the first McDonaldland opening. (‘McDonald’s Setmakers,’ 1972)

The 'Apple Pie Tree.' I need this in my dining room. ('McDonald's Setmakers,' 1972)

The ‘Apple Pie Tree.’ I need this in my dining room. (‘McDonald’s Setmakers,’ 1972)

MCDONALD’S ‘MCDONALDLAND’ SETMAKERS INDUSTRIAL FILM, 1972

Thanks, to YouTube poster, Panafelx. Visit his channel.