Time For Another Cartoon, Boys and Girls

Here is a Columbia cartoon from 1944 entitled "The Case of the Screaming Bishop." This is a takeoff on Sherlock Holmes produced in black-and-white in 1944. This was part of Columbia's "Phantasy" series.

Personnel:

Direction: Howard Swift

Story: John McLeish

Animation: Jim Armstrong, Grant Simmons

Music: Eddie Kilfeather










Produced by the Screen Gems cartoon studio in Los Angeles and released by Columbia Pictures.

R. I. P. Karl Malden

Academy Award-winning actor Karl Malden, who was also one of the stars of the 1970s TV series, The Streets of San Francisco, as well as long-time commercial spokesman for American Express Travelers Cheques, passed away on Wednesday at age 97.

Jiminy Christmas, Still Another?!

Fred Travalena, a talented comedian and impressionist, lost his seven-year battle Sunday against cancer at age 66. He was a perennial guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and during his 40-year career, delighted audiences with his impersonations of such show biz figures as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bob Hope.

Not Another?!

Actress/Singer Gale Storm, best remembered for starring in two television sitcoms and recording a cover version of "I Hear You Knocking," passed away on Saturday at age 87.

Ken Roberts, R. I. P.

Perhaps best remembered as the long-time announcer for such television Soap Operas as Love of Life and The Secret Storm, Ken Roberts, who was the father of Broadway and motion picture actor Tony Roberts, passed away on June 19 at age 99 from pneumonia.

Mr. Roberts was also in demand for radio and TV commercials. Here is a 1955 ABC telecast of Dollar A Second, hosted by Jan Murray. On this show, Ken was not only the announcer but also on-camera commercial pitchman for Mogen David wine.









To a generation of TV viewers, he was the announcer of Love of Life and The Secret Storm.

Here is the conclusion of a 1966 CBS telecast of The Secret Storm.

Music performed by Charles Paul.

Death Of A Salesman

This was a rough week for cultural icons, with the recent passings of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson.

Now comes news of the passing of a television commercial and infomercial icon of recent years.

Here's one his commercials:




Billy Mays was 50 years old.

Not Everyone

It appears not everyone misses the recently-deceased "King of Pop."

Red Letter Day For Obits As "Jacko" and Farrah Pass On

As you may have known by now, entertainer and "King of Pop" (as well as cultural icon) Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday in Los Angeles at age 50. Family members suspect that Mr. Jackson passed away from cardiac arrest. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Actress and former Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with cancer at age 62, also on Thursday. Miss Fawcett went from emerging as somewhat of a cultural icon from the swimsuit poster she posed for and as being one of the stars of the ABC television series Charlie's Angels in its first season (1976-77) to gaining positive reviews for serious roles in movies and TV, beginning with her performance in "The Burning Bed."

Queensland Squad Wins State of Origin Series

At Sydney, Australia:

Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyear, and Cameron Smith each scored a try (four points each in Rugby League) as Queensland defeated New South Wales 24-14 in game two of the State of Origin Rugby League series. The Queenslanders win the series, but there will be a third game in this year's series, to be played on July 15 in Brisbane, Queensland.

Ed McMahon, R.I.P.

Ed McMahon, who was Johnny Carson's longtime announcer and sidekick on The Tonight Show (1962-92) and who was also the host of the original version of Star Search, passed away on Monday in Los Angeles at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center at age 86.

Now, up there, Ed will once again announce, "Heeeeeeere's Johnny!"

I also must add that Mr. McMahon's association with Mr. Carson actually dated back to 1958 when Ed became the new announcer on an ABC game show that Johnny was hosting entitled Who Do You Trust.

Johnny passed away in 2005.

Ed McMahon was also co-host with Dick Clark on a weekly primetime show TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes. He was also the announcer and sidekick to Jerry Lewis on numerous Muscular Dystrophy telethons.

Ed also did numerous commercials. He was a spokesman for the American Family Sweepstakes as well as Budweiser, brewed by Anhauser-Busch.

In recent years, Ed had been having all sorts of financial problems. He also had suffered from a broken neck that had left him unable to work.

Okay, Kids, Time For A Cartoon

The title of this cartoon is "Yelp Wanted" starring Scrappy in his first cartoon.

Produced by Charles Mintz

Story: Dick Huemer

Animation: Sid Marcus, Art Davis

Music: Joe De Nat

Released theatrically in 1931 by Columbia Pictures

Enjoy!

More Video

Here is another piece of video from Sunday's Southern Oregon coast trip.

Queensland Tops NSW In Series Opener

At Melbourne, Australia:

Three tries (each worth four points in Rugby League) in a six-minute span in the first half helped lift Queensland to a 28-18 win over New South Wales in the opening match of the State of Origin rugby league series on Wednesday.

Beach Video, Take One

Here is a piece of video from Sunday's trip to the Southern Oregon coast.


This was taken at Harris Beach State Park, near Brookings, Oregon.

A Day At The Beach

These photos were taken this past Sunday at Harris Beach State Park, just north of Brookings, Oregon. I hope to have some video uploaded in the near futre.

Heeeere's Tony!!!

Here's a closeup of Tony the Lhasa Apso.

Sam And The Wonderful World Of Football

Here's Sam the Chihuahua with a pair of different types of footballs: an Adidas rugby ball that I bought recently at a liquidation sale in Medford, Oregon, and a ball used for Australian Rules football purchased on eBay several years ago, from a seller in, I believe, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Sam And Tony Enjoy Each Other's Beds

A sister of mine has come up from Reno, Nevada with her two dogs, Tony the Lhasa Apso and Sam the Chihuahua. Here they are, laying in each other's beds.

Bulls Gore Chiefs To Claim Super 14 Title

At Pretoria, South Africa:

Fourie Du Preez and Brian Habana each scored two tries as the Bulls (based in Pretoria, South Africa) routed the Chiefs (Hamilton, New Zealand) 61-17 to win the Super 14 Rugby Union club championship on Saturday. It was the Pretoria-based club's second such title. They are the only South African club to win the championship of the Southern Hemisphere's most prestigious Rugby Union club tournament. Here are the happy Bulls with the championship trophy.

Hey Phil, Let's See You Wear That Suit In the Big House

Well, it looks like one record producer will get to work on FOUR walls of sound. For a long time.

Irish Club Wins First Heineken Cup Title

At Edinburgh, Scotland:

Jamie Heaslip scored a try (five points in Rugby Union), Brian O'Driscoll (who's pictured here) added a drop goal (three points) and Jonathan Sexton had three three-point goals (two penalty and one drop) as Leinster captured the Heineken Cup final 19-16 over Leicester Tigers of England on Saturday. It marked the Irish club's first championship in European Club Rugby Union's biggest tournament, sort of their equivalent of the UEFA Champions League. That's Brian holding the big prize.

Reuters Photo (of Brian O'Driscoll Holding Heineken Cup) By Russell Cheyne

Saints Use Five Penalty Goals To Capture European Challenge Cup Crown

At London:

Five penalty kicks (three points apiece) from fly-half Stephen Myler (whose pictured here) lifted Northampton of England to a 15-3 win over France's Bourgoin-Jallieu to win the European Challenge Cup title on Friday. Also pictured are happy Saints players with the prize.




Both Photos © Getty Images

Bowler Pops Sister In Match

Well, I hate to brag...........BUT,

I had one of my best bowling games ever today, beating my sister 150-86 at Lava Lanes in Medford, Oregon!

Leicester Tigers Cop Guiness Premiership Crown

At London:

Jordan Crane scored the only try of the contest as Leicester Tigers defeated London Irish 10-9 to win the Guiness Premiership title on Saturday.

What's Next: G.I. Joe TV?

What in Sam Hill is next?

Talk About Taking Their Football Seriously

If only the USFL (1983-85) had crowds like this in the spring.

Once Again, No Pro Football In The City Of Angels

Even when the Arena Football League is on hiatus, with the 2009 season having already been canceled, it can't remain intact.

End Of An Era

After some 30 years as an analyst for all of the big four broadcast networks, former Oakland Raiders hall of fame coach John Madden has called it a career.

Cris Collinsworth has been tapped to suceed coach Madden as Al Michaels' Sunday night broadcast partner on NBC.

Obituaries

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster and voice of NFL Films Harry Kalas passed away on Monday at age 73. He was discovered unconcious in the broadcasters' booth at Washington's Nationals Park and later pronounced dead.

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark (The Bird) Fidrych was found dead in an apparent accident on his farm in Massachusetts at age 54.

Former Utah State, California, and Arizona State head football coach Bruce Snyder lost his 10-month battle with cancer at age 69.

Dominating Heels

At Detroit:

Ty Lawson dropped in 21 points, Wayne Ellington 19, and Tyler Hansbrough 18, as North Carolina dominated Michigan State 89-72 Monday night to lay claim to their fifth NCAA men's national basketball championship.

Time For A Viennese Waltz, Boys and Girls!

From the ABC Network premiere of The Lawrence Welk Show, which aired on July 2, 1955, here is the meistro and his Champagne Music Makers performing "Tres Jolie."





Yes, that's Lawrence dancing with Champagne Lady Alice Lon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UMA!!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is the birthday of America's Sweetheart, Fox News Channel anchorwoman Uma Pemmaraju.

Happy 29th Birthday, Uma!!!

It's Rock 'N' Roll, Champagne Style!

Several weeks back, I embeded a YouTube video of a 1955 ABC telecast of the Lawrence Welk Show that originated from Chicago. Here's another clip from this episode as the Champagne Music Makers perform Chuck Berry's "Maybelline."



Key Personnel:

Buddy Merrill, electric guitar (Let's see him try Chuck's duck walk!)

Myron Floren, accordion

Johnny Klein, drums

Buddy Hayes, bass

Pete Lofthouse, trombone

Bill Page, clarinet

George Aubry, saxophone

Rocky Rockwell, trumpet

Oh Boy! Redux

Here is the only other reported surviving episode of the British TV series Oh Boy!

This is the series finale from May 30, 1959.

Segment One:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- TV Hop (Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, Bill Forbes & Dickie Pride)
Rip It Up (2 Vernons Girls)
Lonesome Traveller (4 of Lord Rockingham's XI + Cliff et al)

-- Rah Rah Rockingham (Lord Rockingham's XI)

-- Let's Rock While the Rockin's Good (Cuddly Dudley)

-- Don't Knock Upon My Door (Billy Fury)

-- Looby Doo (Cherry Wainer)

-- All American Boy (Marty Wilde)



Segment Two:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- Slippin 'n' Slidin' (Dickie Pride)

-- When I Grow Too Old To Dream (Peter Elliott)

-- When the Saints Go Marching In (Complete cast for close of first half)

-- I Had A Dream (Start of 2nd half with Vernons Girls & Dallas Boys)

-- Woman From Liberia (Bill Forbes)

-- Dirty Old Town (Mike Preston)





Segment Three:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- Turn Me Loose (Cliff Richard)

-- Good Cat (Neville Taylor & The Cutters)

-- Percy Green (Don Lang)

-- Three Cool Cats (Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Dickie Pride)

-- Early in the Morning (Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard)

Oh, Boy!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, let's go back to those thrilling days of yesteryear.  Those of you in Great Britain (or who lived there during the late 1950s)  who are old enough to remember, may remember a show entitled Oh, Boy! that aired on ITV, a commercial television network during 1958 and 1959.  Kinescopes of eight episodes aired here in the US on ABC during the summer of 1959.  Here is the episode from April 4. 1959.

Segment One:

Compered by Tony Hall (a Jazz critic)

1. It's Late (Dean Webb) 
He's My Own (2 Vernons Girls) 
Good Rockin' Tonight (The Cutters & Entire Cast.) 

2. Long Gone (Lord Rockingham's XI) 

3. Charlie Brown (Neville Taylor & The Cutters)

4. Oh Wait For It Baby (Cherry Wainer) 

Segment Two:

Compered by Tony Hall

1. I Like Love (Tony Sheridan and his Wreckers) 

2. Don't Look Now (The Vernons Girls) 

3. Red Planet Rock (Don Lang - with Red Price on sax solo)

4. Slippin' n' Slidin' (Dickie Pride) 

5. This is Our First Anniversary (Lorie Mann)

Segment Three:

Compered by Tony Hall

1. Move It! (Chris Andrews) 

2. Dirty Old Town (Mike Preston) 

Tony Hall introduces Brenda Lee's first UK TV appearance;

3. Humming The Blues Over You (Brenda Lee) 

4. Wont You Come Home Bill Bailey (Brenda Lee & Lord Rockingham's XI)

This series was produced by Jack Good, who formerly produced 6:5 Special for the BBC,  and who also produced Shindig! here in the States on ABC  from 1964 to 1966.  38 episodes of this show were produced, but only two of them are reported to be still in existance.

It's Music Time, Again, Boys and Girls!

Here is a 1950 recording by Mel Cox and his Flying X Ranchboys on the King Records label, which was based at the time in Cincinnati.  It's a good jumpin' instrumental titled "Guitar Jump."  

Mel and the boys were in rare top form  in this one.

Other Country and Western artists who recorded for King Records at the time included Cowboy Copas, Moon Mullican, Grandpa Jones, and the York Brothers.

Enjoy!

Time For A Tune

Here is a video I took today. This is an Imperial Records 78RPM disk of Billy Briggs singing his own composition, "Chew Tobacco Rag." The record was made around 1950. I bought it at a flea market in 1977. Enjoy.


Even though Billy's record did not make the country charts, there were cover versions recorded by artists such as Pee Wee King, Spade Cooley, and Lucky Millinder.

ALOHA!

Here are Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music Makers as seen on the October 10, 1959 telecast of The Lawrence Welk Show. This program originated from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu. The number features lead violinist Dick Kesner performing "Hawaiian Paradise" on his magic Stradivarius violin. Roughly 46 seconds into the video, while Dick performs, you would see in the background, a 1960 Dodge station wagon. Dodge was still the sponsor of the Welk show. In fact, this episode marked the world premiere showing of the 1960 Dodge and 1960 Dodge Dart.

And Now, A Word From Our Alternate Sponsor

The year is 1957, and here is a commercial for Tootsie Roll, as seen on a telecast of the Howdy Doody Show.




In June, 1956, Howdy and the gang were exiled from weekday afternoons to Saturday mornings because they were getting clobbered ratingswise at the hands of ABC's Mickey Mouse Club. At the time of this broadcast excerpt, the show was still televised live, but by late 1957 or early 1958, they began taping ten shows (in one week) per month. In case you're wondering, that's budding jazz musician Lew Anderson in the role of Clarabell.

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

The year is 1950, and here is an advertisement for 3 Musketeers as seen during a live telecast of the Howdy Doody Show.






Buffalo Bob Smith sure knew how to sell a product. And yes, that was TV's future Captain Kangaroo himself, Bobby Keeshan, as Clarabell the Clown.

FBN On Dish Network

The Fox Business Network (which went on the air on October 15, 2007) was finally added to the Dish Network lineup last Tuesday (February 3) on Channel 206. It is also available in HD.

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here is the late Jack Narz, from a 1958 telecast of the nighttime version of Dotto, extolling the vitues of Fab detergent.



The nighttime version of Dotto aired on NBC, while the far more successful daytime version aired on CBS. Colgate (which made Fab detergent) cancelled sponsorship of the show and the respective networks took Dotto off the air in the wake of allegations of the quiz show being rigged.


Jack hosted both versions

Time For Perry, Folks!

Here is a 1952 CBS telecast of the old 15-minute Perry Como Show, with Perry, along with the Fontaine Sisters, commercials for Chesterfield cigarettes, and Perry's special guest (and fellow RCA Victor recording artist), country music legend Hank Snow!





The Como show aired on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:45 PM Eastern Time on CBS until 1955, when the network eliminated the news-and-music half hour slot (7:30-8:00 PM), this in the wake of ABC's huge success with Disneyland. NBC did not eliminate their 15-minute musical-variety early evening shows until 1957. As for Perry, following the elimination of his early-evening CBS telecasts, he moved over to NBC to star in what would be a hugely successful hour-long Saturday night show, before moving to Wednesday nights (in 1959) to take over the Kraft Music Hall.

Here's That Wild And Crazy Concertmaster

Here, on this 1956 telecast of the Lawrence Welk Show, is lead violinist Dick Kesner performing "Indian Love Call" on his Stradivarius violin. But not before trying to become the Sid Caesar of the ABC Network.




I wonder if Steve Martin saw this.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

From all of us at Bob's House!

Still More Christmas Cheer

Here's a 1949 recording of "I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas" by Yogi Yorgesson, which was a nom de plume of the song's composer, dialect comedian Harry Stewart (who also recorded as Harry Kari).





Here's the flip side, "Yingle Bells" another Yogi Yorgesson opus (with lyrics adapted by Mr. Stewart)

Yogi was accompanied on both recordings by the Johnny Duffy Trio.



Merry Christmas, by Jiminy!

More Christmas Cheer?!

What could be more in tune with the spirit of the season









than an old commercial with Dale Robertson hawking Pall Mall Cigarettes?

Hey, you can even light up from EITHER end!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From Bob's House!

Time For A Visit From Suzy!

Suzy Snowflake, that is. This 1951 made-for-TV short, "Suzy Snowflake," was produced by Centaur Productions (for Alamo Music) using stop-motion animation.







The Norman Luboff Choir provided the vocal, with Suzy's voice provided by future Lawrence Welk Champagne Lady Norma Zimmer.

Here Are Three Friends You Might Run Across Tomorrow Night (Beside Santa)

Here is a 1951 presentation of "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe," based upon the song "The Three Little Dwarfs" by Stuart Hamblen.





This made-for-television stop-motion animated short was produced for Hill and Range Songs by Centaur Productions

Time For Frosty

Here's a made-for-TV cartoon of "Frosty The Snowman," produced around 1950 for Hill & Range Songs in Hollywood by United Productions of America (UPA) and directed by Robert (Bobe) Cannon, who directed the 1950 Oscar-winning cartoon "Gerald McBoing Boing.)









This short used to be shown on television stations all over the country.

Time To Spread Some Christmas Cheer

Here's "The Christmas Song" as performed by David Seville and those Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore on a 1961 episode of The Alvin Show.







Dave and the boys were the creation of songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, who did all the voices. The Alvin Show aired on CBS in prime time in the 1961-62 season, before reruns of these episodes moved to that network's Saturday morning lineup, where they would remain until 1965.

I WANT MY MAYPO!

Now for something somewhat different:



This was the first commercial for Maypo cereal featuring Marky Maypo. This commercial, produced in 1956, was the work of the late former UPA producer/director John Hubley.

Another Confronatation With The Bullies

Here's another early commercial for Kellogg's Apple Jacks.







I wonder how many gullible and/or impressionable kids got their clocks cleaned after eating a bowl of this cereal before confronting the local bully or bullies.

Those Were The Good Old Days

Here, from probably the mid-1960s, was the first commercial for Kellogg's Apple Jacks.



The late Paul Frees did the voice of Mr. Apple Jack.

From The WTF Department: Two Favorites Let Go

With the current round of big budget cuts at The Weather Channel, anywhere from three to four on-air meteorologists, including 22-year TWC veteran Cheryl Lemke, were let go. NBC Universal headed the consortium that completed the purchase of the Atlanta-based network back in September.

Cheryl's departure marks the end of an era. I used to enjoy watching her in action.

On the Fox News Channel front, in a story broken on the TVNewser website, longtime anchorwoman E.D. Hill, who from 1998 until 2006 was one of the hosts of Fox & Friends, is leaving that network, with her contract not being renewed.

E.D. WAS Fox & Friends and will sorely be missed by many a viewer.

Hey, Kids...

Would ya like to have your own machine gun?







Here is a 1959 commercial for the Tommy Burst Detective Set by Mattel.

Jack Narz, R.I.P.

Former game show host Jack Narz, who hosted numerous game and quiz shows in the 1950s and 1960s, including Dotto, the show which touched off the Quiz Show Scandal, passed away on Wednesday morning at Cedars-Sinai Hospital at Beverly Hills, California at age 85.

I have a sister (who has a couple of web blogs) who remembers watching Dotto when she was three years old.

Mr. Narz was the brother of fellow former game show host Tom Kennedy (You Don't Say, the original version of Split Second, one of the various revivals of Name That Tune, amongst others).

Before he became a game show host, Jack was a regular on the old Space Patrol show, in which he hawked the sponsor's products, Ralston cereals such as Wheat Chex and Rice Chex, as well as special offers associated with the products, as seen here in this clip from 1953.




The daytime Dotto episode which touched off the quiz show firestorm was the episode in which one of the contestants (Marie Winn, who later became an author) had been given the answers in advance. A standby contestant spotted an open notebook in the contestants' dressing room, found the answers, ripped out that page from the notebook, and showed the page to the contestant's opponent. After receiving $1,500, this standby contestant was ready to forget the whole thing until the losing contestant received $4,000, the same amount as the winning contestant. Having felt double-crossed, the backup contestant, a part-time actor and butler by the name of Edward Hilgemeier, lodged a complaint with the Colgate-Parmolive Company, the show's sponsor. Shortly afterward, both the daytime (CBS) and nighttime (NBC) versions were cancelled by the respective networks.

Jack Narz did not know of the nafarious practice used on that show.

Nice Going, Pacman

The National Football League on Tuesday suspended indefinitely without pay (at least four games) Dallas Cowboys defensive back Adam Jones because of an alcohol-related fight with his team-appointed bodyguard last week.

It appears that NFL commissioner Roger Godell was not going to screw around with the man who dropped his nickname "Pacman."

Yep, it looks like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took a roll of the dice and crapped out. Another defensive back, Terrance Newman, is out with an injury, quarterback Tony Romo is expected to be out four weeks because of a broken pinky suffered in the Sunday loss at Arizona, their punter, Mat McBriar, is lost for the season after suffering a broken foot while getting a punt blocked that was returned for the Cardinals' game winning touchdown in overtime, and running back Felix Jones (no relation) is also injured.

UPDATE: The Dallas Cowboys, at the trade deadline, picked up wide receiver Roy Williams (and a 2009 7th round draft pick) from the Detroit Lions in exchange for three draft picks for 2009: A first, third, and sixth rounder.

VooDoo To Call It Quits

It was announced on Monday that the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League will cease operations.

It's TV Promo Time, Boys and Girls

Here is a collection of promos for ABC Television Network programs that aired during the 1960-61 season.


For some of you, these might bring back some memories.

Let's Meet The Champagne Music Makers

Here's a clip from a 1955 telecast of The Lawrence Welk Show, with this particular broadcast originating live from Chicago.







No, this is NOT an early version of rap "music."

Filthy, Disgusting

Here is a 1959 cartoon from Paramount Cartoon Studios in New York City entitled "La Petite Parade" produced and directed by Seymour Kneitel (Max Fleischer's son-in-law).







The cartoon, originally released theatrically by Paramount Pictures, was subsequently released to television by the Harvey Company, which refilmed the titles, replacing the Paramount eblem with the Harveytoons logo, this being the case of the 1950-62 Famous-Paramount product, save for Popeye, which was sold separately to television in 1957.

As for Seymour Kneitel, he was a longtime animator with his father-in-law's studio and also worked on stories. Paramount, which beginning in 1927, started distributing the Fleischer brothers' cartoons, took over the studio in 1942. Seymour Kneitel became a director at the studio at that time, remaining with the outfit until his death in 1964.

Personnel:

Direction: Seymour Kneitel

Story: Irv Spector

Animation: Tom Johnson
Nick Tafuri

Scenics: Robert Gentle

Music: Winston Sharples

Voice Characterizations (uncredited):
Alan Swift

Cinematography (uncredited):
Leonard McCormick

Production Manager (uncredited):
Abe Goodman

Technicolor

RCA Sound System

6 Minutes

Released on March 6, 1959 by Paramount Pictures Corporation and produced by Paramount Cartoon Studios

It's About Time

Here is something that may make you want to smoke three packs of Chesterfields a day......



We have for you the opening and closing from an episode of It's About Time, which flopped as a prime time sitcom on CBS (1966-67). The series was created by Sherwood Schwartz, who created Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch.

Here Comes The Duke

Here is a 1942 Soundie with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra playing "Flamingo," featuring Herb Jeffries on the vocal, with dancing by Janet Collins (who looked smokin' hot) and Talley Beatty.






Mr. Jeffries, who is still with us today, will be 97 years old next Wednesday. He was also a singing cowboy, having sang and starred in a number of grade-B Westerns. He may well be the last of that breed, having outlasted the Gene Autrys, Roy Rogerses, Rex Allens, and Tex Ritters. In this short, he does a great job singing.

Well, Here Is Proof....

That cigarettes----well, Chesterfields, anyway---ARE good for you. That's George Fenneman, best remembered as Groucho Marx's sidekick on both the radio and television versions of You Bet Your Life. This commercial aired during an episode of the original version of Dragnet.



Also included, a commercial for a Remco drive-in movie theater for kids. How 'cum they didn't include Gunsmoke plus Kiko the Kangaroo, or Perry Mason plus Gandy Goose?

Okay, Kids, Time For An Educational Film

It's quite conceivable that you may have seen this film when you were in high school. Here is a 1950 film from Coronet Instructional Films how how to have a party, entitled What Makes A Good Party?


You'll get a bang out of this one.

Now, Who In Sam Hill

Would want to grab THAT kind of flavor?







Looks like this commercial aired back in the 1960s.

CSTV Promo

Here's an old promo for College Sports Television.




CSTV, which was purchased by CBS in early 2006, was further integrated into CBS Sports right after the start of this year and was renamed CBS College Sports Network this March.

And Now, Boys And Girls.....

Let's go back to 1955 for the original opening of an episode of Make Room For Daddy as was sponsored by the American Tobacco Company and televised on ABC. This clip includes a commercial for Pall Mall cigarettes. The series was also sponsored (on an alternating basis) by the Dodge division of Chrysler.




Danny Thomas' sitcom moved to CBS in 1957 and I think it wound up being sponsored by General Foods.

Here's One For The Kid In Us

I think this Kent Cigarette commercial, in color, was from the mid-1960s.







Sounds like the goddamned Ray Conniff Singers in this one.

Hey! Your Food Tastes Better!

When you change to OUR brand!

WATCH!



They sure come handy when one gets that "smoked-out" feeling.

And Now, For Something Completely Different..

Three cultural icons from early television:



Nothing like Dennis James hawking Old Gold cigarettes along with the dancing Old Gold cigarette pack and dancing matchbox.

Nope, It Ain't "Song Of The South"

But here, we viewers witness Brer Rabbit, once again outsmarting Brer Fox and Brer Bear in this commerical for the 1955 Rambler. This ad aired on the old ABC Disneyland show.



These cars were sold not only at Nash dealerships, as the off-screen narrator intones, but Hudson dealerships as well. Depending on what dealership the particular car was sold, it carried either a Nash or Hudson badge at the front grill of the car.

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here, we see Mickey Mouse and Pluto in a commercial for the 1955 Nash Ambassador and Statesman.



American Motors Corporation, created in 1954 from the consolidation of Nash-Kelvinator and the Hudson Motor Car Company, was a key sponsor of the old Disneyland show that aired on ABC. The animation was, or course, produced by Walt Disney Productions.

Time For A Visit With Yogi

Here is a Yogi Bear cartoon, from Hanna-Barbera Productions, entitled "Papa Yogi." This first aired in 1959 as a segment on the syndicated Huckleberry Hound Show. Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera produced and directed this cartoon









Yogi did not get his own show until 1961.

Rats!

Longtime animation veteran Bill Melendez, best remembered for his work directing and animating numerous television specials with Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters (A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, et al), as well as a number of theatrical animated feature films with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and company, passed away on Tuesday at Santa Monica, California at age 91. Mr. Melendez, who in earliers times worked for Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, and UPA, also did the voices of Snoopy and Woodstock in the Peanuts specials.



Bill earned eight Emmy Awards and 17 Emmy nominations. For many years, he sported a handlebar mustache.

Goodbye, Kids!

Here are excerpts from the final episode of the old Howdy Doody show, episode #2343, which aired on September 24, 1960, including the show intro (including the original NBC Peacock), the mid-show network ID, the final segment which included Clarabell's first word, the final credits, and even a promo for the program that replaced Buffalo Bob, Howdy, and the gang from Doodyville, the Shari Lewis Show.

Say, Kids, What Time Is It?

Time for fun and bloopers on the old Howdy Doody Show with Buffalo Bob Smith.

Another One From The Ole Television File

Here is the intro to a cartoon series entitled The Super 6, produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises in 1966.





The series aired on NBC on Saturday mornings from 1966-69. The last two seasons saw only reruns. This was during the era of animated superheroes on network television. We've even got the old NBC Peacock to open things up. Enjoy.

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

This is a commercial for Blatz Beer , a Milwaukee brewery that sponsored televised Roller Derby contests in the early years of television.




The company also was a sponsor of the TV version of Amos 'n Andy.

Aussie Rules Explained

Here is a brief, but thurough explaination of the rules of Australian Rules Football.






I decided to add something educational for all the little kids who may be watching.

Rock 'N Roll, The Lawrence Welk Way....

As practiced by Buddy Merrill on this clip from a 1956 telecast of the Lawrence Welk Show. On this clip, Buddy sings and plays "Rock 'N Roll Ruby," a song written by Johnny Cash.




The song, I think, was originally recorded in Memphis by one of Johnny's Sun Records colleagues, Warren Smith.

How 'Bout A Local Commercial?

Here are some commercials for the 1950 Studebaker from the Studebaker dealers of Los Angeles County.



This aired on the locally-telecast Buster Keaton Show. 320,884 of these cars were built for the 1950 model year, and I'll tell you, that is one certainly unique body style.

For 1951, Studebaker somewhat toned down the bullet nose and added chrome to the front of the car (they also added an overhead valve V-8 engine to their Commanders and Land Cruisers as well).

They planned to keep the bullet nose for 1952, but wartime restrictions (this was during the Korea War) put the kibosh on that.

Here's Something You Don't See On TV Anymore

Here's another Pabst Blue Ribbon commercial, aired between rounds 3 and 4 of a 1950 CBS Wednesday night boxing telecast.



Pabst sponsored the Wednesday night fights when they aired on CBS from 1950 until 1955.

And Now, Here's A Word From Folks In Milwaukee Who Brewed Adult Beverages For A Living

Here's a commercial for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer from circa 1958:

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here's a 1950s commercial for BeechNut Gum. It probably aired on ABC.

Can You Say "Broadway Brett" Boys and Girls?

In case you must know, the Green Bay Packers, in a midnight deal Wednesday night, traded retired-turned-unretired quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets.

Now Here's Something Different

Here is the opening title for a Saturday morning cartoon show that aired on NBC from 1969 to 1971. DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (which produced the Pink Panther cartoons) produced this show. I have some vague memories of this series.

Time For Harry The Hipster

Here is Harry Gibson performing "4-F Ferdinand" in a 1944 Soundie.

From The "People Are No Damned Good Department....

Would you accept serivce from salesmen like this?