priortimes

Aesop & Son

2012-01-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Aesop & Son was a supporting feature from the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. It was similar to Fractured Fairy Tales, complete with the same theme music, except it deals with fables instead of fairy tales.
A typical episode consists of Aesop attempting to teach a lesson to his son using a fable. After hearing the story, the son subverts the fable's moral with a pun.

The opening titles, which showed Aesop painstakingly carving his name in marble using a mallet and chisel and then his son, with a jackhammer and raising a cloud of dust, appending "& Son."
From: Wikipedia.org

Aesop & Son opening

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The Electric Company

2012-01-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

The Electric Company was an educational American children's television series that was produced by the Children's Television Workshop for PBS in the United States.

PBS broadcast 780 episodes over the course of its six seasons from October 25, 1971 to April 15, 1977.

The Electric Company employed sketch comedy and other devices to provide an entertaining program to help elementary school children develop their grammar and reading skills. It was intended for children who had graduated from CTW's flagship program, Sesame Street.

The original cast included Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, Judy Graubart, Lee Chamberlin and Skip Hinnant.

Each show ended with one of the cast members announcing, "The Electric Company gets its power from the Children's Television Workshop." After the copyright notice, the list of corporate sponsors would be flashed on the screen.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Electric Company opening & closing

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The Saturday Superstar Movie

2012-01-14T04:55:00.000-08:00

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie — renamed The New Saturday Superstar Movie in its second season — was a series of one-hour animated TV-movies (some of which also contained live action).

The program was broadcast on the ABC television network on Saturday mornings from September 9, 1972, to November 17, 1973.

Intended as a "Movie of the Week" for kids, this series was produced by several production companies — including Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, and Rankin/Bass — and mostly contained features based on popular cartoon characters and TV shows of the time, such as Yogi Bear, The Brady Bunch, and Lost In Space.
From: Wikipedia.org

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie

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Lawman

2012-01-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

Lawman was an American Western television series originally telecast on ABC from 1958 to 1962 starring John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop and featuring Peter Brown as Deputy Marshal Johnny McKay.

The series was set in Laramie, Wyoming during the mid to late 1870's.

Dan Troop, played by John Russell, was the town marshal of Laramie. Dan was a hardnosed, by-the-book, seasoned lawman, who is quick with a gun.

Johnny McKay, played by Peter Brown, is the deputy marshal of Laramie. Dan was hesitant to hire Johnny as his deputy, because of his young age, but he later proved his worth. Johnny was orphaned at age 10 in Kansas. His father was killed by raiders, and his mother died on a wagon train.

Being part of the Warner Bros. array of westerns, Lawman participated in two crossovers. John Russell and Peter Brown appeared in the "Hadley's Hunters" episode of Maverick. Peter Brown and Adam West also appeared as Johnny McKay and Doc Holliday, respectively, in the Sugarfoot episode "The Trial of the Canary Kid", which was a sequel to the Lawman episode, "The Wayfarer." The premise was that the Canary Kid, Sugarfoot's twin cousin, was in the Laramie jail at the same time as Holliday, and McKay and Holliday were called in to testify to that.
From: Wikipedia.org

Lawman opening

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Rebus

2012-01-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

Rebus was the title of the detective drama TV series based on the Inspector Rebus novels by the Scottish author Ian Rankin set in and around Edinburgh.

Four seasons have been aired; Series 1 starred John Hannah. A new cast featuring Ken Stott as DI John Rebus was introduced for the second and subsequent series.

In February 2008, ITV announced that it had cancelled the drama series, but indicated that "one-off specials are a possibility for the future."
From: Wikipedia.org

Rebus opening

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The Addams Family

2012-01-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

The Addams Family was an American television series based on the characters in Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons.

The 30-minute series was shot in black-and-white and aired for two seasons in 64 installments on ABC from September 18, 1964 to April 8, 1966. It is often compared to its working-class rival, The Munsters, which ran for the same two seasons and achieved somewhat higher Nielsen Ratings.

The Addams were a close-knit extended family with decidedly macabre interests. They all have supernatural abilities, although no rationale for their powers is ever explicitly given.

The very wealthy, endlessly enthusiastic Gomez Addams is madly in love with his refined wife Morticia. Along with their two children, Wednesday and Pugsley, Uncle Fester and Grandmama, they reside in an ornate, gloomy, Second Empire style mansion, attended by their servants, Lurch, the towering butler, and Thing, a hand that usually appears out of a small wooden box. Occasionally, episodes would feature relatives or other members of their weird subculture, such as Cousin Itt or Morticia's older sister, Ophelia.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Addams Family opening

The Addams Family ABC Promo

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Lost In Space

2012-01-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

Lost In Space was a science fiction television program created and produced by Irwin Allen, produced by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS.

The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between 1965 and March 6, 1968.

The first season was shot in black and white, the rest in color.

The show focused primarily on Jonathan Harris as Dr. Zachary Smith, originally an utterly evil would-be killer who as the first season progressed became a cowardly character, providing comic relief to the show (and causing most of the problems).

The series is a space-age adaptation of the novel The Swiss Family Robinson. The astronaut family Robinson, accompanied by a military pilot and a robot, set out to colonize Alpha Centauri from overpopulated Earth. Their 1997 mission (official Jupiter 2 launch date of October 16, 1997) is immediately sabotaged by Dr. Zachary Smith, who slips aboard the spaceship Jupiter 2 and reprograms the robot to destroy the ship and crew. Smith is trapped aboard, saving himself by prematurely reviving the crew from suspended animation. They save the ship, but consequent damage leaves them lost in space. Eventually they crash on an alien world, later identified as Priplanis, where they must survive a host of adventures. Smith (whom Allen originally intended to kill off) remains through the series as a source of comedic cowardice and villainy, exploiting the forgiving (or forgetful) nature of the Robinsons.

At the start of the second season, the repaired Jupiter 2 launches again, but after two episodes the Robinsons crash on another planet and spend the season there. In the third season, they travel to other worlds in attempt to return to Earth or to settle Alpha Centauri.

Following the format of Allen's first TV series, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, fantasy-oriented adventure stories were emphasized. The show delivered a visual assault of special effects, explosions, monstrous aliens, spaceships, and exotic sets and costumes drenched in the bright, primary colors that were typical of early color television.

It's October 16, 1997 and the United States is proceeding towards the launch of one of history's great adventures: man's colonization of deep space. The Jupiter 2, a futuristic saucer-shaped spaceship, stands on its launch pad undergoing final preparations. Its mission is to take a single family to a planet of the nearby star Alpha Centauri, which space probes reveal possesses ideal conditions for human life. The Robinson family was selected from among 2 million volunteers for this mission. The family includes Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams), his wife, Maureen (June Lockhart), their children, Judy (Marta Kristen), Penny (Angela Cartwright), and Will (Billy Mumy). They will be accompanied by their pilot, U.S. Space Corp Major Donald West (Mark Goddard), who is trained to fly the ship in the unlikely event that its sophisticated automatic guidance system malfunctions.

Other nations are racing the United States in the effort to colonize space, and they would stoop to anything, even sabotage, to stop the U.S. effort. Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), a medical doctor and environmental control expert, is actually a foreign secret agent. He reprograms the Jupiter 2's B-9 environmental control robot (voiced by Dick Tufeld) to destroy critical systems on the spaceship eight hours after launch. Smith is trapped aboard at launch and his extra weight throws the Jupiter 2 off course, causing it to encounter a meteor storm. The robot's rampage causes the ship to become lost.

The Robinsons are often placed in danger by Smith, whose actions and laziness endanger the family. In the second and third seasons, Smith's role assumes a less evil overtone - although he continues to display many character defects. In "The Time Merchant", Smith travels back in time to before the Jupiter 2 launch, changing his fate. He learns that without his weight altering the ship's course, it would be destroyed by an uncharted asteroid. In an act of redemption, Smith elects to re-board the ship, thus saving the Robinsons' lives.
From: Wikipedia.org

Lost In Space opening (Black & White)

Lost In Space opening (Color)

Lost In Space CBS Promo

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The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show

2012-01-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show was a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series spin-off of The Flintstones produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
It ran for 16 half-hour episodes from September 11, 1971 to September 2, 1972 and four 8-minute episodes (as part of The Flintstone Comedy Hour) from September 9, 1972 to September 1, 1973 on CBS.

The show followed neighbors Pebbles Flintstone (voiced by Sally Struthers) and Bamm-Bamm Rubble (voiced by Jay North) as teen sweethearts. The episodes were set mainly in the duo's activities at Bedrock High School in the prehistoric town of Bedrock with their friends.
From: Wikipedia.org

Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm opening

Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm bumper

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The Adventures Of Spunky And Tadpole

2012-01-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

The Adventures Of Spunky And Tadpole was an animated television series produced and syndicated beginning on September 6, 1958.

The show's characters were a boy and a bear who hunted down bad guys in a string of made for TV installments, usually running ten installments shown in two weeks or two for one week. The show remained in production until 1961.

From: Wikipedia.org

The Adventures Of Spunky And Tadpole opening

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1969 NBC Fall Preview

2012-01-05T17:15:00.000-08:00

1969 NBC Fall Lineup (New Programs)

My World...and Welcome to It
The Debbie Reynolds Show
Then Came Bronson
Bracken's World
The Andy Williams Show
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bold Ones.

1969 NBC Fall Preview (Part 1)

1969 NBC Fall Preview (Part 2)

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• FALL PREVIEWS

The People's Choice

2012-01-04T18:25:00.000-08:00

The People's Choice was an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1955 to 1958.

It stars Jackie Cooper as Socrates "Sock" Miller, an ex-Marine and New City, California politician with a basset hound named "Cleo", as she balefully observes Sock's dilemmas, are recorded on the soundtrack for the viewers' amusement. Much of Cleo's dialog is in the form of witty wisecracks.

In the first season, Sock is an ornithologist, living in a trailer with his Aunt Gus in a trailer park in New City, California. He is soon elected to the City Council and dating Mandy Peoples, the mayor's daughter. Mayor Peoples doesn't entirely approve of the relationship, but gradually warms to Sock.

Later, Sock takes courses (though not in law school) to pass the state bar exam and become an attorney, so that he can afford to marry Mandy. In the season finale, Sock suddenly proposes to Mandy and wants to elope. He is afraid the mayor will want to put on a big wedding, and they won't be able to get married for many months. He says he doesn't want to wait, but wants to marry her right away. They drive to Nevada for a quickie wedding, intending to get back in time for the bar exam. On the way back, they are arrested for a traffic violation, spend the night in jail, and Sock misses the bar exam. Sock says if they tell the mayor, he'll want to help them out with a check, and he wants to be independent. So they agree to keep their marriage a secret from the mayor.

Most episodes in the second season are about Sock and Mandy trying to be together (as much as this could be depicted in the 1950's), while keeping the mayor from finding out that they are married. At some point during the season, Aunt Gus and the mayor get married, and at some point she learns that Sock and Mandy are married and agrees to keep their secret from the mayor. By the end of the season, Sock has passed the bar, and their marriage is out in the open. Sock's scheming comedy relief Marine buddy Rollo "The Hex" Hexley moved in with Sock during the second season though he appeared in the original 1955 pilot.

In the third season, Sock is managing a residential real estate development called "Barkerville Estates." They still manage to get back to New City often enough for Mayor Peoples and Aunt Gus to appear regularly.
From: Wikipedia.org

The People's Choice opening

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An American Family

2012-01-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

An American Family was an American television documentary filmed from May 30 through December 31, 1971 and first aired in the United States on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in early 1973.

After being edited down from about 300 hours of raw footage, the series ran 12 episodes and one season Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m.

Originally intended to be a chronicle of the daily life of an American family, the groundbreaking program documented the break-up of the Loud family via the separation and subsequent divorce of parents Bill and Pat Loud.

Controversial at the time, the Louds' eldest son, Lance, came out to his family as openly gay during the course of the series.

One of the more notable moments of the series was when, after 21 years of marriage, Pat asked Bill for a divorce and to leave the house.

Pat saying to her husband "You know there's a problem", with Bill's response, "What's your problem?" was chosen as one of the Top 100 Television Moments by TV Guide.

The series drew over 10 million viewers and considerable controversy. The family was featured in Newsweek on March 12, 1973.

In 2002, An American Family was listed at #32 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time list.
From: Wikipedia.org

An American Family opening

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The Flintstones

2012-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Flintstones was an animated American television sitcom which ran from 1960 to 1966.

The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next door neighbour and best friend. The first prime time cartoon geared for adults, the show originally aired from 1960 to 1966, on the ABC network.
It was ABC's first series to be televised in color.

The famous theme song "Meet the Flintstones" was not actually introduced until the third season (1962–1963).

In the 1960's the series had strong ties to a sponsor, Winston cigarettes, with the characters shown smoking the product during commercial breaks. This approach was not unusual for television at that time, either with tobacco or any other product. In one memorable advertisement, Fred and Barney relaxed while their wives did housework, smoking Winstons and reciting Winston's jingle, "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should!" In 1963, Winston pulled their sponsorship from the show when Wilma became pregnant; after that point, the main sponsor was Welch's Grape Juice.

Welch's advertised their product with animated commercials featuring the cartoon cast and they were often pictured in print ads and on grape juice containers.

The series spawned three breakfast cereals: Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles, and the discontinued Dino Pebbles (later revived as "Marshmallow Mania Pebbles").

An enduring license has been a line of children's multivitamins called "Flintstones Complete" (more popularly known as Flintstones Vitamins); the first seasons of the series were, in part, sponsored by Miles Laboratories. Miles' corporate successor, Bayer Corporation, continues to market Flintstones vitamins.
From: Wikipedia.org

'Meet The Flintstones' opening

The Flintstones Original Opening

The Flintstones closing

The Flintstones - Winston cigarettes closing

The Great Gazoo Meets Fred & Barney

The Flintstones - Winston Cigarette Ad #1

The Flintstones - Winston Cigarette Ad #2

The Flintstones - Welch's Grape Jelly Ad

The Flintstones - Alka Seltzer Ad

The Flintstones - ABC-TV Promo

The Flintstones - ABC-TV Promo #2

The Flintstones for the American Cancer Society

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The New Adventures Of Gilligan

2011-12-31T08:45:00.000-08:00

The New Adventures Of Gilligan was an animated series produced by Filmation and was aired on ABC during the 1974-1975 season.

It was based on the 1964-1967 CBS television series Gilligan's Island and featured almost all the actors from the show, except for Tina Louise and Dawn Wells. Added to the cast was a sidekick for Gilligan, Snubby The Monkey.

The show debuted on ABC Saturday morning on September 7, 1974. After 24 episodes over two seasons, ABC relegated the show to Sunday mornings for a third and final season of repeats in 1976-77.

Another Gilligan's Island-based Filmation animated series called Gilligan's Planet was made in 1982. The premise for that series centers around the castaways creating a spaceship and winding up on a deserted planet.
From: Wikipedia.org

The New Adventures Of Gilligan opening

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The Tim Conway Comedy Hour

2011-12-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

The Tim Conway Comedy Hour was a variety and sketch comedy show broadcast by CBS as part of its 1970 fall lineup.

The Tim Conway Comedy Hour was one of several attempts to develop a starring vehicle for Tim Conway, who had been very popular as a sidekick in McHale's Navy and in several Disney films.

Despite Conway's best efforts, and those of the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and cast members such as Sally Struthers (soon to go on to fairly major stardom in the important supporting role of Gloria Bunker on the hit sitcom All in the Family), this program was cancelled after 13 weeks.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Tim Conway Comedy Hour opening

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The Long Hot Summer

2011-12-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Long Hot Summer was an American drama series that was broadcast on ABC-TV for one season from 1965-1966.

The series was set in the Deep South community of Frenchman's Bend, Mississippi.

The community was dominated by the town's powerful and deceitful bank owner "Boss" Will Varner (Edmond O'Brien).

Problem arise when Ben Quick (Roy Thinnes) returns to town to reclaim his father's farm and challenges Varner's absolute authority. Supporting characters include Clara and Jody Varner, Will's son and daughter; Minnie Littlejohn, the town's hotel owner and mistress of Will Varner; and Eula Harker, a farm girl who becomes a central point in Jody Varner's life.

In January 1966, series star Edmond O'Brien left the series after a disagreement with the producers and was replaced by Dan O'Herlihy. O'Herlihy played the role of Will Varner for the rest of the series' run.

The Long Hot Summer was scheduled on Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST opposite CBS Thursday night movie and NBC's long-running variety series The Dean Martin Show. The series was cancelled after twenty-six episodes with the last original episode airing on April 13, 1966.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Long Hot Summer opening

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The Young Lawyers

2011-12-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Young Lawyers was an American legal drama that was aired on the ABC network as part of its 1970-71 lineup.

Several young, idealistic law school students attend a prestigious Boston institution and decide to open a "Neighborhood Law Office" in a poor area to provide much-needed legal aid to the impoverished who would otherwise be deprived of access to the courts.

As these young students have not yet been admitted to the bar they require the help and supervision of an experienced, licensed attorney, which is provided by David Barrett, an established Boston lawyer.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Young Lawyers opening

The Young Lawyers ABC Promo

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Ensign O'Toole

2011-12-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

Ensign O'Toole was a military comedy that aired on NBC from September 23, 1962 to May 5, 1963.

Dean Jones, in the title role of a Navy ensign, played an officer aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Appleby. Though there was no second season, Ensign O'Toole was repeated on NBC through September 15, 1963, and was rebroadcast once more by ABC during the 1963—1964 season.

During its tour of duty, the Appleby anchored in numerous ports: Hong Kong, South Korea, the Arctic, the South Pacific, and its home port, San Diego, California.
From: Wikipedia.org

Ensign O'Toole opening

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The Mod Squad

2011-12-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Mod Squad was a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968 until August 23, 1973.

The series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III and Tige Andrews.

The executive producers of the series were Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas.

The Mod Squad was a police drama that featured three young, hip, crime fighters. One White, One Black, One Blonde, was the promotional hype-line. The casting was intended to appeal to a youthful, counterculture audience. The basic premise was that the youthful investigators were offered work fighting crime as an alternative to being incarcerated themselves. The show's primary gimmick centered on the three cops using their youthful, hippie personas as a guise to get close to the criminals they investigated.

The show was moderately popular during its initial run of five seasons and 123 episodes. Tige Andrews (Captain Adam Greer), Michael Cole (Pete Cochran), Peggy Lipton (Julie Barnes), and Clarence Williams III (Linc Hayes) starred. The show portrayed a multicultural society and dealt with issues of racial politics, drug culture, and counterculture.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Mod Squad opening

The Mod Squad - ABC-TV Promo

The Mod Squad - ABC-TV Promo #2

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Dennis The Menace

2011-12-26T10:05:00.000-08:00

Dennis The Menace was a television series based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name.

The show aired from 1959 to 1963 on CBS and stars Jay North as Dennis Mitchell; Herbert Anderson as his father, Henry; Gloria Henry as his mother, Alice; Joseph Kearns as George Wilson and Sylvia Field as Martha Wilson.

The show follows the lives of the Mitchell family – Henry, Alice, and their only child, Dennis. Dennis is an energetic, well meaning, but trouble prone boy and sometimes a mischievous child. He often tangles with peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor, George Wilson.

Toward the end of filming the third season, in 1962, Joseph Kearns died of a cerebral hemorrhage. The next couple of episodes did not have Mr. Wilson appearing. But for the last half-dozen episodes of that season, Gale Gordon joined the cast as Mr. Wilson's brother John. (Physically, John Wilson bore a closer resemblance to the comic strip's Mr. Wilson than George did). He was staying as a guest of Mrs. Wilson while Mr. Wilson was away. Sylvia Field, who played Mrs. Wilson, left the series at the end of the year. Her absence was explained by her and her husband embarking on a cruise trip, leaving their home in the care of her in-laws. The following year, John Wilson continued on, joined by his wife Eloise, played by Sara Seegar, as if he had always been the sole Mr. Wilson. Except for Dennis mentioning "the other Mr. Wilson" when he asked John Wilson if he could mow his lawn in the second episode of the fourth season, no mention was made of the original Wilsons ever again.

Jay North was getting too big and too old to continue the role of Dennis, and now at age 12, too old for the childlike antics that made his character into a household name. It was believed that the show had run its course once Joseph Kearns died, but it ran one more season. Finally, the show was cancelled in the spring of 1963.
From: Wikipedia.org

Dennis The Menace opening

Dennis the Menace Kellogg's Rice Krispies ad

Dennis The Menace Skippy Peanut Butter ad

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Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

2011-12-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer was a Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass. It first aired December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network.

It has been telecast every year since 1964, making it the longest running Christmas TV special, and one of only four 1960's Christmas specials still being telecast.

The others being A Charlie Brown Christmas, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and Frosty The Snowman.
From: Wikipedia.org

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer opening

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A Charlie Brown Christmas

2011-12-23T16:10:00.000-08:00

A Charlie Brown Christmas was the first prime-time animated TV special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was produced and directed by Bill Melendez, who also supplied the voice for the character of Snoopy.

Initially sponsored by Coca-Cola, the special debuted on CBS in 1965, and has been aired during the Christmas season every year since.

The special has been honored with both an Emmy and Peabody Award. Since it's original airdate, the special has become a classic to watch during the Christmas season.
From: Wikipedia.org

A Charlie Brown Christmas opening

A Charlie Brown Christmas CBS Promo

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How The Grinch Stole Christmas

2011-12-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

How The Grinch Stole Christmas was a 1966 American animated television special directed by Chuck Jones.

It is based on the children's book by Dr. Seuss, the story of The Grinch trying to take away Christmas from the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway.

It is one of the very few Christmas specials from the 1960's to still be shown regularly on television. The 26-minute short was originally telecast on CBS on December 18, 1966.

Boris Karloff narrates the film and also provides the speaking voice of The Grinch. (The opening credits state, "The sounds of the Grinch are by Boris Karloff...And read by Boris Karloff too!")

TV Guide ranked the special #1 on its 10 Best Family Holiday Specials list.
From: Wikipedia.org

How The Grinch Stole Christmas opening

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Christmas Seals (with Barbara Eden)

2011-12-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas Seals (with Barbara Eden)

Bartholomew Woods comment:
A Public Service Announcement by Jeannie for Christmas Seals.

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• TV ADVERTISEMENTS

La-Z-Boy Recliner Rocker

2011-12-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

La-Z-Boy Recliner Rocker

Bartholomew Woods comment:
Ho! Ho! Ho! Here's a gift that will make anybody happy!

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Dr. Kildare

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Dr. Kildare was an NBC medical drama television series which ran from September 27, 1961 until April 5, 1966, encompassing a total of 190 episodes.

The show, which premiered at the same time as an ABC medical drama, Ben Casey, quickly achieved success and helped spark a number of new shows dealing with the medical field.

Kildare told the story of a young intern, Dr. James Kildare (Richard Chamberlain), working in a fictional large metropolitan hospital (Blair General) while trying to learn his profession, dealing with the problems of the patients, and winning the respect of the senior doctor, Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey).
From: Wikipedia.org

Dr. Kildare opening

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Green Lantern

2011-12-17T01:10:00.000-08:00

Hal Jordan was the featured character in a solo series which was part of The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967) as well as part of the Justice League segments.

These would be the character's first animated appearances. In addition, Hal Jordan's Green Lantern was an occasional supporting character in the various Super Friends incarnations:

Challenge Of The SuperFriends, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.
From: Wikipedia.org

Green Lantern opening

Green Lantern - Evil Is As Evil Does (1967)

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Wojeck

2011-12-16T23:35:00.000-08:00

Wojeck was a Canadian dramatic television series, which aired on the CBC from 1966 to 1968.
It was the first successful drama series on English Canadian television.

The series starred John Vernon as Steve Wojeck, a crusading big city coroner who regularly fought moral injustices raised by the deaths he investigated.

He often tackled tough and controversial issues—the very first episode of the series examined the role of racism in the suicide of a young Ojibwe man.

The cast also included Ted Follows, Patricia Collins, and Carl Banas. Jennifer Dale played his daughter.

Although it was one of the highest-rated shows on Canadian television in its time, only 20 episodes of the series were made.
From: Wikipedia.org

Wojeck opening

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Bewitched

2011-12-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Bewitched was an American situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), Agnes Moorehead and David White.

It is about a witch who marries a mortal and tries to lead the life of a typical suburban housewife.

A young witch named Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) marries a mortal named Darrin Stephens. While Samantha pledges to foresake her powers and become a typical suburban housewife, her magical family disapproves of the mixed marriage and frequently interfere in the couple's lives.

Episodes often begin with an enraged Darrin becoming the victim of a spell, the effects of which wreak havoc with mortals such as his boss, clients, parents, neighbors, etc. By the epilogue, however, Darrin and Samantha most often embrace and confound the devious elements that failed to separate them.
From: Wikipedia.org

Bewitched opening (Black & White - Dick York)

Bewitched opening (Ken-L-Ration Dog Food)

Bewitched opening (Color - Dick York)

Bewitched opening (Dick Sargent)

Bewitched - "Hippie, Hippie, Hooray"
(Original Air Date: February 1, 1968)

Bewitched - ABC-TV Promo #1

Bewitched - ABC-TV Promo #2

Bewitched - ABC-TV Promo 1964

Bewitched - Chevrolet ad

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Levi's

2011-12-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

Levi's (The Stranger)

Bartholomew Woods comment:
"I'm wearing Levi's....dull has gone out of style"

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• TV ADVERTISEMENTS

The Little Drummer Boy

2011-12-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

The Little Drummer Boy was a 1968 Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass, based on the famous Christmas song of that name.

The 1968 television special premiered on December 19, 1968 on NBC. The story, written by Romeo Muller, was based on the famous Christmas song, but expands it to include events before the birth of Jesus.

The title character Aaron, is a orphan who finds his life changed forever when he meets the Three Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Little Drummer Boy opening

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• CHILDREN'S SHOWS

Young Samson & Goliath

2011-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Samson & Goliath (also known as Young Samson & Goliath) was a 30-minute Saturday morning cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for NBC in 1967.

The show followed the adventures of a teenager named Samson and his dog, Goliath as they rode around the country on a motorbike.

Whenever trouble arose (usually in the form of a menacing super villain or evil scientist), Samson would transform himself into a superhero version of the biblical Samson by hitting his golden wristbands together. A second slam would transform Goliath into a super-powered lion. Samson had great strength, endurance, and agility, as well the ability to leap so well he appeared to be flying. He could also direct shock waves from his wristbands,and by twisting his bracelets, could increase his and Goliath's powers to far greater levels.

Goliath, in addition to having similar strength and leaping powers, had "power beam" rays that emanated from his eyes, apparently making him more powerful than Samson. The pair's reverse transformation was never depicted.
From: Wikipedia.org

Young Samson & Goliath opening

Young Samson & Goliath bumper

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• CLASSIC CARTOONS — U to Z

The Atom

2011-12-10T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Atom was a segment on the Superman-Aquaman Hour of Adventure.

Ray Parker, otherwise known as the Atom, can change his size to any height which will help him in his fight to protect the earth from evil beings.
From: toonarific.com

The Atom opening

The Atom - House of Doom (1967)

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• CLASSIC CARTOONS — A

Mr. PiBB

2011-12-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

Mr. PiBB Soft Drink

Bartholomew Woods comment:
Have a PiBB, Mister! Don't remember Mr. PiBB being sold in Vancouver?

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• TV ADVERTISEMENTS

The Bugs Bunny Show

2011-12-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

In the fall of 1960, The Bugs Bunny Show, a television program which packaged many of the post-1948 Warner Brothers shorts with newly animated wraparounds, debuted on ABC.

The show was originally aired in prime-time.

After two seasons, it was moved to reruns on Saturday mornings.

The Bugs Bunny Show changed format and exact title frequently (the packaging was completely different, with each short simply presented on its own, title and all, though some clips from the new bridging material was used as filler), but it remained on network television for 40 years.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Bugs Bunny Show opening

The Bugs Bunny Show - ABC-TV Promo

Bugs Bunny (Post Sugar Crisp Ad #1)

Bugs Bunny (Post Sugar Crisp Ad #2)

Bugs Bunny (Post Alpha-Bits Ad)

Bugs Bunny (Post Cereals Ad)

Bugs Bunny (Tang Ad)

Bugs Bunny (Kool-Aid Ad)

Bugs Bunny (Kool-Aid Ad #2)

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• CLASSIC CARTOONS — B

The Hollywood Palace

2011-12-04T11:35:00.000-08:00

The Hollywood Palace was an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly (generally on Saturday nights) on ABC from January 4, 1964 to February 7, 1970.

It began as a mid-season replacement for the short-lived Jerry Lewis Show, another variety show which had lasted only three months.

It was staged in Hollywood at the former Hollywood Playhouse (where Lewis' series had originated, temporarily renamed "The Jerry Lewis Theater" from September through December 1963) on Vine Street, which was renamed The Hollywood Palace during the show's duration and is today known as Avalon Hollywood. A little-known starlet named Raquel Welch was cast during the first season as the "Billboard Girl," who put the names of the acts on a placard (similar to that of a vaudeville house).

Unlike similar programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show, guest hosts were used instead of a permanent one. Among the performers and hosts on the show were Bing Crosby (who made the most appearances as guest host: 31 in all, including several of the annual Christmas shows), Dean Martin, Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis Jr., Sid Caesar, The Rolling Stones, Groucho Marx, Joan Crawford, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, Jimmy Durante, The Supremes, Ginger Rogers, The Temptations, Phyllis Diller, Elizabeth Montgomery, and many other famous faces. The off-screen announcer for each program was Dick Tufeld.

A number of popular music performers got their start on the show. For example, The Rolling Stones made their first U.S. television appearance June 3, 1964, and The Jackson 5 made their first national television appearance on the October 14, 1969 episode.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Hollywood Palace opening with Janet Leigh

The Hollywood Palace opening with Nat King Cole

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• VARIETY SHOWS

On Broadway Tonight

2011-12-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

On Broadway Tonight was a talent/variety show that was broadcast on CBS from July to September 1964 (Wednesdays 10:00 to 11:00 pm) and January to March 1965 (Fridays 8:30 to 9:30 pm).
Many talented young performers were given their first national television exposure on this show.
Host Rudy Vallee would interview each of the six acts that were performing on a given week's telecast and then let them do their routines.

A special feature of each show was the appearance of a well-known celebrity who would chat with Mr. Vallee about his or her big break into show business.

Interestingly, most of the young performers on this series who later became successful were comedians. Among them were Rich Little, Richard Pryor, Marilyn Michaels, Rodney Dangerfield, George Carli, Jo Anne Worley, and Renee Taylor. Singer Adam Wade, however, made more appearances on the show than anyone else.
From: The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows

On Broadway Tonight opening

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• VARIETY SHOWS

The Price Is Right

2011-12-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

The Price Is Right was an American game show hosted by Bill Cullen which aired on NBC from 1956–1963 and on ABC from 1963-1965 in both daytime and prime time.

On the show, contestants made successive bids on merchandise with the goal to be the player who bid closest to the actual retail price of the item without going over.

Bill Cullen hosted both the daytime and nighttime versions of the show. For two seasons (1959–1961), the nighttime version was eighth in the prime-time Nielsen ratings, making it the most watched game show on television at the time.

The game centered around contestants making bids on the price of a prize, rewarding the contestant with the closest bid without going over with the prize itself and sometimes a chance at other prizes. Critics cited Cullen's easygoing personality as a key part of the show's success, and the show also gained reputation during the years following the Quiz show scandals, becoming the most watched game show in prime-time from 1959 to 1961.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Price Is Right opening

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• GAME SHOWS

The Flash

2011-12-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

In 1967, The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure was produced by Filmation and featured eighteen seven-minute shorts which starred various DC Universe heroes, including three solo adventures of The Flash (Barry Allen).

Barry was also seen as a member of the Justice League of America, which also included Superman, Atom, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and Aquaman.

Wally West (Kid Flash) appears in a segment starring the Flash (Barry Allen) titled "To Catch A Blue Bolt", which shows Barry and Wally changing into their Flash and Kid Flash uniforms using their rings. It should be noted that Wally's appearance differs from his comic book counterpart. He has black hair and the red and yellow color scheme of his second costume is reversed, as well as simplified to put him in trunks.

Wally additionally appeared as Kid Flash on the Teen Titans segment, which also featured Aqualad, Wonder Girl and Speedy.

Flash appeared off and on in the Super Friends series throughout its run from 1973 to 1985. Flash appeared in Challenge of the Super Friends, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Flash opening

The Flash - The Chemo-Creature (1967)

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• CLASSIC CARTOONS — F to G

Hinterland Who's Who

2011-11-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hinterland Who's Who - The Loon

Hinterland Who's Who - The Chipmunk

Hinterland Who's Who - The Beaver

Bartholomew Woods comment:
Not a commercial, but a Public Service Announcement from the 1960's.
Vintage Hinterland Who's Who

What Canadian kid can forget the haunting melody of these famous vignettes? It was a lifetime ago.

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• TV ADVERTISEMENTS

The Archie Comedy Hour

2011-11-27T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Archie Comedy Hour, with all new material, now in an hour-long format, contains two Sabrina segments, one at the start of the show, and one at the end, with a new "The Funhouse" joke segment in the middle that is loosely based on Laugh-In, and contains such things as Sabrina's Magic Trick and Dilton Doily's Inventions; and contains a "Side Show" segment of one-liner jokes; followed by an Archies music segment.

From: Wikipedia.org

The Archie Comedy Hour CBS-TV Promo

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• CLASSIC CARTOONS — A

Make A Wish

2011-11-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

Make A Wish was an American television series which ran on ABC from 1971 to 1976. Produced by ABC News, it was hosted by musician Tom Chapin.

The series, originally broadcast on Saturday mornings but later moved to Sunday mornings, focused on a particular theme. There would be a sort of free association presentation on a theme featuring stock footage, animation, and Chapin's music and voiceover commentary.

The series won a Peabody Award for Best Children's Series in 1971.

The music performed on the show was written by Tom's brother, Harry Chapin.
From: Wikipedia.org

Make A Wish opening

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• CHILDREN'S SHOWS

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

2011-11-25T18:50:00.000-08:00

Alfred Hitchcock Presents was an American TV anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock.

The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades. Time magazine named Alfred Hitchcock Presents one of "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME".

Alfred Hitchcock Presents was well known for its title sequence. The camera fades in on a simple line-drawing caricature of Hitchcock's rotund profile. As the program's theme music, Charles Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette", plays, Hitchcock appears in silhouette from the right edge of the screen, and then walks to center screen to eclipse the caricature. He then almost always says "Good evening."

Originally 25 minutes per episode, the series was expanded to 50 minutes in 1962 and retitled The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Hitchcock only directed 17 of the 270 filmed episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and only one of the 50 minutes episodes.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour opening

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• CLASSIC TV — A

FTD Florist with Louis Jourdan

2011-11-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

FTD Florist with Louis Jourdan

Bartholomew Woods comment:
Gentlemen, you don't fully understand the magic. Nevermind....she does.

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• TV ADVERTISEMENTS

That Girl

2011-11-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

That Girl was an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971.

It starred Marlo Thomas as the title character, Ann Marie, an aspiring (but only sporadically employed) actress, who had moved from her hometown of Brewster, New York to make it big in New York City.

Ann had to take a number of offbeat "temp" jobs to

support herself in between her various auditions and bit parts, though she nonetheless was able to afford a spacious Manhattan apartment as well as an extensive wardrobe of mod fashions.

Ted Bessell played her boyfriend Donald Hollinger, a writer for Newsview Magazine; Lew Parker and Rosemary DeCamp played Lou Marie and Helen Marie, her concerned parents. Bernie Kopell and Ruth Buzzi played Ann & Donald's friends.

That Girl was developed by writers Bill Persky and Sam Denoff, who served as head writers on The Dick Van Dyke Show (which Thomas' father Danny Thomas was closely associated with) earlier in the 1960's.

Each episode began with a pre-credits teaser in which an odd incident would occur or a discussion would foreshadow the episode's story. The scene would almost always end with someone exclaiming "...that girl!". (This in imitation of The Saint TV show in which a halo appears over Roger Moore's head when his character's name Simon Templar is mentioned). Just as Ann wanders into the shot or the character notices her. The words "That Girl" would appear over the freeze-frame shot of Ann. The opening credits featured Thomas, in character, ambitiously strolling the streets of New York and flying a kite. In the last season, lyrics were added to the theme song.

In the beginning of the fifth season, Don and Ann became engaged, although they never actually married. The decision to leave the couple engaged at the end of the run of the series was largely the idea of Thomas herself. She didn't want to send a message to young women that marriage was the ultimate goal for them.
From: Wikipedia.org

That Girl opening

That Girl ABC-TV Promo

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The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show

2011-11-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show was a colorful and fast-paced Saturday morning comedy variety series aimed at children.

Hosted by The Hudson Brothers (Bill, Mark & Brett), the show featured plenty of music, sketches, blackouts and one crazed emu puppet that attacked almost everyone in the cast.

One of the best known characters was Chucky Margolis who always had a different slant on life and was always in his downstairs apartment by the storm sewer vent.
From: Retrojunk.com

The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show opening

Partridge Family 2200 A.D.

2011-11-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

Partridge Family 2200 A.D. was an animated television series based on The Partridge Family created by Hanna-Barbera.

Sixteen half-hour episodes were produced, which lasted half a season on CBS Saturday morning (September 7, 1974 - March 8, 1975).

The animated edition of The Partridge Family saw the family propelled into the future.

The series featured new characters Veenie (Keith's Venusian friend) and Marion (Laurie's Martian friend). Danny had a pet robot dog named Orbit.

Original episodes were broadcast from September 7, 1974 to December 21, 1974.
From: Wikipedia.org

Partridge Family 2200 A.D. opening

Partridge Family 2200 A.D. end credits

1972 PBS Fall Preview

2011-11-19T15:30:00.000-08:00

1972 PBS Fall Preview

Playhouse New York (Antigone)

Masterpiece Theatre (Vanity Fair).

1972 PBS Fall Preview

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• FALL PREVIEWS

Harlem Globetrotters

2011-11-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

Harlem Globetrotters was a Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera and CBS Productions, featuring animated versions of players from the basketball team, Harlem Globetrotters.

Broadcast from September 12, 1970 to September 2, 1972 on CBS, and later re-run on NBC as The Go-Go Globetrotters.

The show featured cartoon versions of George "Meadowlark" Lemon, Freddie "Curly" Neal, Hubert "Geese" Ausbie, J.C. "Gip" Gipson, Bobby Joe Mason, and Pablo Robertson, alongside their fictional bus driver and manager Granny, and Dribbles, their dog mascot.

Twenty-two episodes of Harlem Globetrotters were eventually produced: sixteen for the 1970-71 season, and six more for the 1971-72 season. (Original episodes - September 12, 1970 – October 16, 1971)
From: Wikipedia.org

Harlem Globetrotters opening

Hawkman

2011-11-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

Hawkman's first animated appearance was in the 1967 Filmation series The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, in which Hawkman appeared in several shorts, either in solo adventures or as part of the Justice League.

Hawkman has appeared as a Super Friend in The All-New Super Friends Hour, Challenge Of The Super Friends, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.

From: Wikipedia.org

Hawkman opening

Hawkman - The Twenty Third Dimension (1967)

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

2011-11-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

Agents Napoleon Solo (American) and Illya Kuryakin (Russian) work for U.N.C.L.E., a secret intelligence service working under the auspices of the U.N.
Their immediate superior is Mr. Waverly (British), and they operate out of a secret base beneath the streets of New York City, and accesses through several cover business such as Del Floria's Tailor Shop and the Masque Club.

The UNITED NETWORK COMMAND for LAW ENFORCEMENT

U.N.C.L.E.'s primary nemesis was THRUSH, an organization dedicated to taking over the world. Like U.N.C.L.E., THRUSH used up-to-date spy equipment and advanced technology to complete its conquest.

The show lasted four seasons, with the third season going a less serious route. After a drastic drop in ratings, the producers went back to a more serious tone but the show didn't last much longer after that. It did inspire one spinoff, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., and inspired a successful series of novels, comic books, and a reunion movie.
From: TVRage.com

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - Black & White Intro

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - Color Intro

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - Black & White (long) Intro

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - The Vulcan Affair intro

The Five Daughters Affair

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - NBC-TV Promo #1

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - NBC-TV Promo #2

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Kodak

2011-11-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

Kodak Instamatic Movie Camera

Bartholomew Woods comment:
Another great holiday gift idea and it costs less than $40.00.
So easy to load...so easy to use, even a busy mother can do it. Huh?

Kodak Instamatic Camera

Bartholomew Woods comment:
A memorable Kodak Camera ad from the Sixties.

Kodak Brownie Movie Camera with Ed Sullivan

Bartholomew Woods comment:
Wherever you are and whatever you do...Fun's more fun when you save it in movies.

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• TV ADVERTISEMENTS

Many Happy Returns

2011-11-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

Many Happy Returns was a situation comedy television series that ran on CBS for twenty-six episodes, from September 21, 1964 to April 12, 1965.

The show starred character actor John McGiver. He played the part of a widower, Walter Burnley, the manager of the complaints department at the fictitious Krockmeyer's Department Store in L.A.

Elinor Donahue (Father Knows Best, The Andy Griffith Show) played McGiver's daughter, Joan Randall. Mark Goddard (Lost in Space, Johnny Ringo) played Joan's husband, Bob Randall. The Randalls' daughter, Laurie, was played by Andrea Sacino. Elena Verdugo (Marcus Welby, M.D.) played complaint department employee Lynn Hall.

Others on the series were Richard Collier as Harry Price, Jesslyn Fax as Wilma Fritter, and Mickey Manners as Joe Foley, all cast as store employees. Character actress Doris Packer (Leave It to Beaver, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) played the role of Cornelia. Russell Collins was cast as Burnley's demanding, often unreasonable boss, Owen Sharp.
From: Wikipedia.org

Many Happy Returns opening

The Bing Crosby Show

2011-11-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Bing Crosby Show was a 28-episode situation comedy television program starring Bing Crosby and actress Beverly Garland as a middle-aged couple, Bing and Ellie Collins, rearing two teenaged daughters during the early 1960's.

Crosby portrayed a former entertainer turned architectural designer with a penchant for singing, and each episode usually contained at least one song.

The series aired on ABC from September 14, 1964, to April 19, 1965. Rebroadcasts continued until June 14.

The roles of the daughters Janice and Joyce Collins were played by Carol Faylen and Diane Sherry, respectively. Top Warner Bros. character actor Frank McHugh appeared as Willie Walters, the Collins's live-in handyman.

The Bing Crosby Show, alternately sponsored by Ford Motor Company's Lincoln-Mercury division and Lever Brothers, aired at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on Mondays.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Bing Crosby Show opening

The Barkleys

2011-11-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

The Barkleys was an animated television series that ran from 1972 to 1973 on NBC and was produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.

The series featured a dog family consisting of Arnie, a bus driver and his wife Agnes.

They had two teenagers, Terry and Roger and one younger child, Chester.

The series was broadcasted by NBC from September 9 to December 2, 1972. NBC continued to air reruns until September 1, 1973. Only 13 installments were ever produced.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Barkleys opening

1964 ABC Fall Preview

2011-11-11T15:30:00.000-08:00

1964 ABC Fall Lineup

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, No Time for Sergeants, Wendy and Me, The Bing Crosby Show, Ben Casey, Combat!, McHale's Navy, The Tycoon, Peyton Place, The Fugitive, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Patty Duke Show, Shindig!, Mickey, Burke's Law, ABC Close Up, The Flintstones, The Donna Reed Show, My Three Sons, Bewitched, The Jimmy Dean Show, Jonny Quest, The Farmer's Daughter, The Addams Family, Valentine's Day, Twelve O'Clock High, The Outer Limits, The Lawrence Welk Show, The Hollywood Palace, Wagon Train, Broadside, ABC Sunday Night Movie.

1964 ABC Fall Preview (Part 1)

1964 ABC Fall Preview (Part 2)

1964 ABC Fall Preview (Part 3)

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• FALL PREVIEWS

Nanny And The Professor

2011-11-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

Nanny And The Professor was a 1970's U.S. fantasy situation comedy created by AJ Carothers and produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

The series first aired on January 21, 1970, and was last telecast on December 27, 1971 on ABC.

It was aired at 8 p.m. Fridays opposite NBC's Western, The High Chaparral.

The series starred Juliet Mills as Nanny Phoebe Figalilly, Richard Long as Professor Harold Everett, and veteran character actress Elsa Lanchester as Aunt Henrietta. Figalilly was apparently psychic, and had regular flashes of what was often more than intuition (she frequently knew who was ringing the doorbell before the bell even rang). There was the vague suggestion that she may have been at least several hundred years old and more than human, which the children thought they discovered in an episode after they saw a photo of Phoebe that looked like it was taken a century earlier.

Figalilly watched over Professor Everett and his three children: Hal, the intellectual tinkerer, played by David Doremus, Butch, the middle child, played by the late Trent Lehman, and Prudence, the youngest, played by Kim Richards. Room 222 semi-regular and future Purina Cat Chow commercial star Patsy Garrett had the recurring role of nosey neighbor Mrs. Fowler.
From: Wikipedia.org

Nanny And The Professor opening

Nanny And The Professor ABC Promo

The Beverly Hillbillies

2011-11-10T21:25:00.000-08:00

The Beverly Hillbillies was an American sitcom about a hillbilly family transplanted to Beverly Hills after finding oil on their land.

It ranked among the top 12 most watched series on television for seven of its nine seasons, twice ranking as the #1 series of the year with a number of episodes that remain among the most-watched television episodes of all time.

A Filmways production, the series aired on CBS from September 26, 1962 – September 7, 1971 and comprises 274 episodes — 106 in black-and-white (1962–1965) and 168 in color (1965–1971). The show starred Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, Irene Ryan as Daisy May "Granny" Moses, Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett and Max Baer, Jr. as Jethro Bodine.

At the beginning of The Beverly Hillbillies series, the OK Oil Company discovers oil in a swamp owned by family patriarch Jed Clampett. Jed moves with his family to the wealthy Los Angeles County city of Beverly Hills, California, where he attempts to live a rural lifestyle despite his wealth. This sequence of events was recapitulated in the title credits for each show and was described in the lyrics of the theme song, so that new viewers would easily understand who the Hillbillies were and why they were in Beverly Hills (although the credits and song portray Jed finding the oil while hunting as opposed to knowing the oil was there but being unaware of the value).

Despite being panned by some critics, the show shot to the top of the Nielsen Ratings shortly after its premiere and stayed there for several seasons. During its first two seasons, it was the number one program in the U.S. During its second season, it earned some of the highest ratings ever recorded for a half-hour sitcom. The season two episode "The Giant Jackrabbit" also became the most watched telecast up to the time of its airing, and remains the most watched half-hour episode of a sitcom as well. The series enjoyed excellent ratings throughout its run, although it had fallen out of the top 20 most-watched shows during its final season.
From: Wikipedia.org

The Beverly Hillbillies opening

The Beverly Hillbillies closing (Winston cigarettes)

The Beverly Hillbillies closing (Kellogg's cereals)

The Beverly Hillbillies - Kellogg's Corn Flakes Ad #1

The Beverly Hillbillies - Kellogg's Corn Flakes Ad #2

The Beverly Hillbillies - Kellogg's Corn Flakes Ad #3

The Beverly Hillbillies - Kellogg's Corn Flakes Ad #4

The Beverly Hillbillies - Kellogg's Corn Flakes Ad #5

The Beverly Hillbillies - Winston Cigarettes Ad #1

The Beverly Hillbillies - Winston Cigarettes Ad #2

The Beverly Hillbillies - Winston Cigarettes Ad #3

The Beverly Hillbillies - Winston Cigarettes Ad #4

The Beverly Hillbillies - Winston Cigarettes Ad #5

The Beverly Hillbillies - Winston Cigarettes Ad #6

The Beverly Hillbillies - Winston Cigarettes Ad #7

The Beverly Hillbillies CBS Promo

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My Three Sons

2011-11-10T20:55:00.000-08:00

My Three Sons was a situation comedy about an American family, that ran from September 29, 1960 to August 24, 1972.

My Three Sons chronicles the life of an aeronautical engineer and widower Steve Douglas, played by Fred MacMurray, and his three sons.
The series was a cornerstone of the CBS lineup in the 1960's.

With 380 episodes produced, it is second only to The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as television's longest running (live-action) family sitcom.

The show began on ABC in black-and-white. My Three Sons moved to the CBS television network for the 1965–66 season after ABC would not commit to the expense of producing the program in color.
From: Wikipedia.org

My Three Sons opening

My Three Sons CBS Promo

My Three Sons CBS Promo #2

My Three Sons Hunt's Catsup ad

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Petticoat Junction

2011-11-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

Petticoat Junction was an American situation comedy produced by Filmways which originally aired on the CBS network from 1963 to 1970.

The series was part of a triad of interrelated shows about rural characters created by Paul Henning, the other two being The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.

The setting for the series was the Shady Rest Hotel

just outside of the farming town of Hooterville (later the location of Green Acres). The Shady Rest Hotel is situated on the train line of the C. & F.W. Railroad. The show repeatedly mentions the Shady Rest Hotel as being 25 miles from Pixley and 25 miles from Hooterville, dead in the center. The characters seem to go to Hooterville for some things and services, like Hooterville Hospital and Hooterville High, and Pixley for others, notably supermarket shopping, beauty parlors, and movies.

Set in the rural town of Hooterville, the show followed the goings-on at the Shady Rest Hotel, of which Kate Bradley (Bea Benaderet) was the proprietor. Her lazy Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) helped her in the day-to-day running of the business, while she served as a mediator in the various minor crises that befell her three daughters: Betty Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Billie Jo. The actresses portraying Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo changed over the years. Billie Jo was played by Jeannine Riley the first two seasons, and then by Gunilla Hutton for one year before Meredith MacRae assumed the role for the show's remaining seasons. Pat Woodell was the original Bobbie Jo for two years, with Lori Saunders playing the part subsequently.

Betty Jo was portrayed by Linda Kaye (Henning), daughter of series creator Paul Henning, for the entire run. The character of handsome crop duster Steve Elliott (Mike Minor) was added to the show at the start of its fourth season as a love interest for eldest daughter Billie Jo. A season later, however, Steve suddenly married Betty Jo; this was a result of the real-life relationship that had developed between Kaye and Minor. After Steve and Betty Jo married, they set up housekeeping in a cottage near the tracks between Hooterville and Pixley. A baby was added the following season. They moved back to the Shady Rest Hotel in the final year of production.

Much of the original focus of the show was on the Hooterville Cannonball, a steam-driven train (serviced by the above-mentioned water tower) run more like a taxi service by its engineer, Charley Pratt (Smiley Burnette), and its conductor, Floyd Smoot (Rufe Davis). It was not uncommon for the Cannonball to make an unscheduled stop in order to go fishing or pick fruit for Kate Bradley's menu at the Shady Rest Hotel. Occasionally, Betty Jo Bradley could be found with her hand on the Cannonball's throttle, as running the train home from trips into town was one of her favorite pastimes. Those trips usually consisted of a stop at "Drucker's Store," run by Sam Drucker (Frank Cady). Drucker's Store is mentioned as a favorite of Hooterville farmers because he would give credit, while the Pixley stores wanted cash.
From: Wikipedia.org

Petticoat Junction Black & White opening

Petticoat Junction Color opening

Petticoat Junction closing (Tide Laundry Detergent)

Petticoat Junction CBS Promo

Linked from nostalgia and retrospection posts:

• CLASSIC TV — P
• 1966 TV Guide Covers