Here are two versions of Nat Cole playing (not singing) ‘Tea For Two’ from his groundbreaking 1957 TV show. I have no idea if the idea of having him do ‘a Chico’ (1:24 on the first version) was his or the networks but my showbiz intuition tells me that someone
‘Skidoo’, Otto Preminger’s woeful 1968 attempt at a counter-culture comedy, is not looking any better with age. Having said that, it still possesses the most singular of all end credit sequences in which Harry Nilsson (billing himself as just ‘Nilsson’) sings the entire cast and crew list. It’s probably the
Most of us (if you’re the type to read a blog like this one anyway) know plenty of classic TV show themes. But those songs are the openers of the shows–the ones designed to grab you and keep you–and, lets face it, as far as trivia goes TV show themes
Here’s a compilation of eighteen songs performed by Diana Ross and The Supremes from five different appearances on ‘Hollywood Palace’ between 1965 and 1969. Say no more, baby…
Last night we watched the above installment of ‘Hollywood Palace‘, an hourlong variety show that broadcast Saturday nights (except September 1967 to January 1968, when it aired on Monday nights) on ABC from January 4, 1964, to February 7, 1970. This particular episode was broadcast on January 20th, 1968. The host
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75dVl_ew0ek Continuing my obsessive pursuit of an audience who appreciates the history of the home organ phenomenon of fifty years ago (see previous two posts if you dare), here is part two of the SCTV send-up featuring Tex and Edna Boil. For those who remember SCTV this will make perfect
Last week I posted about the now-vanished phenomenon of the Organ Emporium superstore–a result, apparently, of a once thriving appetite among the public for ownership of the cheesiest of instruments, the home organ. To my surprise this post received the lowest amount of clicks I’ve ever received on this blog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNmo-9hQgDUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOqc3F4Gxhg Let’s finish up this week of sifting through the technology ash heap with a look at the now forgotten instrument/home furnishing known as the Organ. We’re not talking about some kick-ass Hammond B-3. We’re in a much more genteel musical world with the home organ–a Laurence Welk-esque land of
Continuing this weeks theme of exploring old audio/video formats, here is a seven minute film (probably made for a trade show) circa 1957 introducing the first cassette tape, brought to you by RCA Victor. It’s ‘small’ size is touted as one of its finer features but honestly the tape looks
Here’s a 1977 commercial for Pioneer home stereo components that appropriates Sonny Rollins’ story of dropping out of the music business in 1959 for two years in order to take his playing to another level, which he did by practicing at night on the Williamsburg Bridge. It’s a wonderfully evocative