The 70s – In The News: ‘Sesame Street,’ Plastic Ono Band, Bay City Rollers

THE ‘GANG’ MAKES GOOD

A few months back I mentioned the upcoming documentary Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street. Now, you can you can find the doc in theaters and it will be hitting streaming services on May 7th. Polygon has a positive review available and you can take in a new trailer just below.

Polygon Quote:
Street Gang had the potential to be a dry story about lesson plans and case studies, but from the very start, the footage of wide-eyed children reacting to Sesame Street’s engaging early human cast is compelling. It’s one thing to have read in the past that Sesame Street was heavily designed to give poorer inner-city kids the educational boost that would let them start school on the same level as their white suburban peers. It’s another thing entirely to see how Street Gang was integrated from the start, in a TV environment that wouldn’t take up ‘diversity’ as a watchword for another five decades.”

PLASTIC ‘OH, YES’ BAND

With a new 8-disc boxed set available, John Lennon’s 1970 solo LP Plastic Ono Band is receiving much attention this week. Ringo Starr (drummer on the disc) hosted a listening party over Twitter and several stories are in the media. Variety chats with “Fifth Beatle” Klaus Voormann about his bass duties and Salon has a good overview of the new collection.

Variety Quote:
“Klaus Voormann: Playing with Ringo, what he can play, it was heavenly. Fantastic. Us playing together was never a problem. He knew I was playing the right thing. I knew he was playing the right thing. That just glued itself together naturally, like one thing. Don’t forget John’s rhythm guitar in there. I feel as if his rhythm guitar playing has long been underestimated. It’s amazing. I don’t know another who is that good. That was, for me, the best part of the Beatles – John’s rhythm guitar and Ringo’s drumming.”

REMEMBERING LES MCKEOWN OF THE BAY CITY ROLLERS

I was greatly saddened by the death of the Bay City Roller’s Les McKeown last week. I was a big fan and, as I wrote about years ago, the first record I ever bought was the Roller’s “Money Honey.” NewsFromME‘s, Mark Evanier has posted two stories; Les McKeown, R.I.P. & ASK me: The Bay City Rollers Show, looking back on his time as Head Writer for The Bay City Rollers Krofft television series.

News From ME Quote:
“In 1978, I was the Head Writer on The Krofft Superstar Hour, a live-action variety and adventure series on NBC’s Saturday morning schedule. It featured the Bay City Rollers, a once-popular Scottish rock group, mixed in with a bevy of other characters left over from other Saturday morn shows from the world of Sid and Marty Krofft. The program didn’t perform well in the ratings as an hour but after they cut it to a half-hour and renamed it The Bay City Rollers Show, it did well enough that NBC reran the thirteen episodes for several years.”

PASSINGS

Unfortunately, a heck of a lot of seventies notables have passed away in recent weeks. If it isn’t too depressing of an exercise you can read more at the links.

NPR: Paul Jackson, Headhunters Bassist Who Played With Herbie Hancock, Dies At 73

Hollywood Reporter: Walter Olkewicz, Actor on ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Grace Under Fire,’ Dies at 72, James Hampton, ‘F Troop,’ ‘Longest Yard’ and ‘Teen Wolf’ Actor, Dies at 84

Variety: Anne Beatts, ‘Saturday Night Live’ Writer and Creator of ‘Square Pegs,’ Dies at 74, A Tribute to Richard Rush: The Maverick Who Made ‘The Stunt Man’ Didn’t Direct Many Films, but Was Always Ahead of the Curve

Rolling Stone: Monte Hellman, Cult Director of ‘Two-Lane Blacktop,’ Dead at 91, Jim Steinman, Hitmaker for Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Dead at 73

____________

Previously on 70s In The News: Fanny, ‘Brady Bunch,’ Ringo Starr

70s Spots: Shirley Jones & Shaun Cassidy (1978), ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Toys (1977)

Here’s a fun pairing; mother and son commercials from the same month in 1978. It’s Shirley Jones for Sunbeam’s Coney Island Steamer and Shaun Cassidy as People magazine’s cover star.

Following that, you’ll find 1977 spots for the Charlie’s Angels Deluxe Hideaway House toy and the Shower Massage by Water Pik. Hope your weekend is a pleasure.

CONEY ISLAND STEAMER COMMERCIAL (SHIRLEY JONES, 1978)

Sunbeam Coney Island Steamer commercial starring Shirley Jones (“Oklahoma!,” “The Partridge Family”) aired May 1978.

‘PEOPLE MAGAZINE’ SHAUN CASSIDY COMMERCIAL (1978)

‘People Weekly’ magazine commercial featuring Shaun Cassidy and “Liz” Taylor aired May 1978.

‘CHARLIE’S ANGELS’ DELUXE HIDEAWAY HOUSE TOY COMMERCIAL (1977)

Hasbro ‘Charlie’s Angels’ toy dolls commercial featuring the Deluxe Hideaway House aired in 1977.

SHOWER MASSAGE BY WATER PIK COMMERCIAL (1977)

The Shower Massage By Water Pik commercial with actors Roger Bowen and Steve Guttenberg aired August 1977.

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

More Shirley Jones: Partridge Pop: ‘This Is Your Life’ Surprises Shirley Jones (1971)

More People magazine: People Magazine: Steve Martin, May, 1978

More Shaun Cassidy: Music For Monday: Shaun Cassidy, ‘That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll’ (1977)

More Charlie’s Angels: Daily 70s Spot #511: ‘Charlie’s Angels’/’Baretta’ ABC Promo (1977)

More Shower Massage: Daily 70s Spot #538: Shower Massage By Water Pik (1976)

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)