The Assignment Part 8

If you click on the above picture you can make it bigger so it is easier to read. 

The Assignment Part 9

If you click on the above picture you can make it bigger so it is easier to read. 

The Assignment Part 10

If you click on the above picture you can make it bigger so it is easier to read. 

The Conclusion of The Assignment

If you click on the above picture you can make it bigger so it is easier to read. 

God Bless Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington, and Brooks Army Medical Center
Don't know whether you heard about this but Denzel Washington and his family visited the troops at Brook Army Medical Center, in San Antonio,Texas (BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers who have been evacuated fromGermany come to be hospitalized in the UnitedStates, especially burn victims. There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a Hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the Hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost filled most of the time.While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his checkbook out and wrote a check for the full amount right thereon the spot. The soldiers overseas were amazed to hearthis story and want to get the word out to the Americanpublic, because it warmed their hearts to hear it. The question I have is why does:Alec Baldwin, Madonna, Sean Penn and other Hollywood types make front page news with their anti-everything America trash and Denzel Washington's Patriotism doesn't even make page 3 in the Metro section of any newspaper except the Local newspaper in San Antonio.
A true American and friend to all in uniform! This needs as wide a distribution as we can create. GOD BLESS YOU DENZEL FOR YOUR PATRIOTISM 

God Has Wonderful Plans For Your Life

How do I know which way to go?

Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

Psalm 25:4-5 NLT

Pay attention and grow wise, for I am giving you good guidance. Don't turn away from my teaching.

Proverbs 4:1-2 NLT

I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run.

Proverbs 4:11-12 NLT

Facing options

Sometimes we're faced with several options, and we don't know which way to go. In Psalm 25, David asked God for guidance. Perhaps he remembered when, as a shepherd boy, he had to show the right path to his sheep who were wandering away. Just as he knew which path would lead to safety for his sheep, God knew the path that would lead to everlasting life. Just as those sheep that looked to him for direction were in the least danger, so David knew he needed to look to God for direction.

Today, God still leads us by his truth—his written Word and his Spirit, which helps us to understand it. Are you not sure which path to take? Pray as David did and read what God has already said in his written Word. He will show the right road to follow.

Adapted from The One Year Book of Bible Prayers (Tyndale House) entry for September 9

The Car Buying Experience

I have recently bought a new car and found that the times are changing. Years ago if you found a car that you wanted a salesman would take you aside and you had to haggle about the price. Just I got use to this in came Saturn. I have owned 2 Saturns and found that my first was an experience I won't forget. Everytime I tried to get the price lower they would not budge. It turned out they were as low as they could go and relied on good customer service & sales skills to get your business. I grew to really like this approach. This weekend I bought a new to me (used) car. Now I did get a good deal. It is a 2005 Dodge with low miles and you would not believe how low the monthly payments are if I told you. What I didn't like was that this time and one about a year ago when my wife got a new car was I felt like a hostage negotiator. I originally only went to look but, as expected, a salesman came up to help. Now here is where it changes. I told him I heard they were having a sale but was just there to look. He practically drags me in to get information. I give it to him but when he ask me to sign I refused. I don't believe in signing unless I am buying. Next he shows us around to ones that he thinks will match what we can pay. Hey I prefer to look by myself. If I see a Rolls Royce I know I can't afford it but at least I can dream and I might even get to sit in the car if the door is unlocked. Suddenly I saw a car that I was interested in and at the time I thought I could afford. He took my wife and I in to talk terms. Now here is where I made my biggest mistake. Since my car would be used as a trade in he asked for my car key so they could look at it to see how much they would give for it as a trade in. I gave him the key. I should not have done that. I should have said I will drive the car to them and open it so they can judge it. At least then I would still have the key. Once they had the key they had me where they wanted me. They kept telling me the price and the monthly payments. I kept being polite and saying I can't afford that so please give me my car key so we can go home and not waste each others time. They refused to give me my car. They just kept lowering the price of the car. Finally it got so low that the sales person asked if I would buy the car if he could get that price? I didn't think he could get the price so I said yes. I thought I was safe and would get my Saturn back. He got the price. Not wanting to be a liar I boiught the car. Now I am sure I got a good car. However, it was rotten customer service. I felt like it was my child and a stranger were being held hostage and when I paid the ransom they freed the stranger but kept my child. I have now learned not to give my car keys to the sales person. If I don't like the way things are going I can leave if I still have the car keys. I hope the car sales business makes quick changes. The customer may not always be right anymore but the customer always appreciates manners.
Now one of the reasons I wanted to get a newer car is that my Saturn had over 50,000 miles on it. I figured that it might start spending more time in the service station then it would in my driveway. However, it was paid off. For 3 years I didn't have a car payment. During those 3 years money was and still is tight. Now I have to pay for a car. So if any of you have and books, DVD's etc. that you want to buy for yourself or as birthday or Christmas gifts you can click on the Amazon links on the left and buy them there. If you do I get a percentage of the sale price.
Thanks and happy reading. 

Marvel Comics Calendar 1977

What you see above is 90% of the cover of Marvel Comics 1977 calendar. This was given to me in 1976 as a Christmas gift from my cousin Steve. Normally I really don't like getting calendar's as gifts but this turned out to be a good gift for me. It has wonderful art from the cream of the crop of the comic book industry in the 70's. You see it gave you little bits of information on any comic book fans favorite hobby. Not just the birthdates of your favorite artist but also dates when certain books were published and when important storylines and characters took place. Now the dates may not always be accurate but I am sure they are close. As you can see I have kept this calendar for 30 years and except for a hole that something ate through the month of November, perhaps I ate too much at Thanksgiving, the calendar is in fine condition. I have found the trivia so interesting that I still read it to this day. When was the last time you heard someone say they had read a calendar and they weren't talking about the date? With Christmas only a few months away keep in mind your friends and relatives favorite hobbies if you decided to get them a calendar. 

Marie Osmond on Crawdaddy

After seeing this posting on BookSteve's I was reminded of the above issue of the only Crawdaddy magazine I ever bought. The above photo I had to get from this site
as I lost my copy. Of course I got it because of the crush I had on Marie Osmond. I remember that they said they tried to get Marie in a bathing suit for her cover shot but she refused. (Good for you Marie!) I also found out for the first time that she was Mormon. I was probably the last person in the country to find this out. I remember that I couldn't believe that she couldn't drink caffeine therefore she could not drink most soft drinks like Coca Cola. There aren't too many Mormons in Kentucky so I didn't know this either. A few years later I had a job as an Usher at a movie theatre. My new freind there was Matt and he was of the Mormon faith. Whe he had to close at night he would always get a courtsy cup and fill it with Coke. He would always say "Now I'll be up all night." When he left others wondered why such a small amount would keep him up and I explained it to them. My cousin Steve and others I knew at the time were shocked that I bought Crawdaddy. I don't know why as there was nothing in it that wasn't in any other magazine at that time. I had never heard of the mag before. While I did see it for sale with others on the cover none of them appealed to me at the time. I don't know what happened to the mag but I have not see it since the 70's

Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits

I write from time to time about stories that went on behind the scenes in the music industry. Some of what I write comes from having worked in the local broadcast industry on a part time basis. Others come from memory from what I have read in books or on the internet. One of those books that I have in my library is the Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson. According to the "About the Author" section of the book Fred has worked for NBC. During his 12 years there he handled publicity for Bob Hope, Tom Snyder, Bonanza, Hollywood Squares, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Bionic Woman, Man From Atlantis, etc. His writing credits include the Counter-Clock Incident from the animated Star Trek series, Dick Clark's Rock Roll and Remember, The National Music Survey and a column for the British weekly Record Mirror. I believe I have read that he is the brother of Harold Bronson who started Rhino Records and is a freind of the Monkees. I guess that makes Fred their friend too.
Anyway this is a wonderful book full of inside information. This book is old as it ends in April of 1985 with We Are The World which was #1 when this book was published. The is an updated version at Amazon and those old fashioned book stores and libraries that I still love to haunt. If you love inside stories on how your favorites of any entertainment media are created then you need to buy this book. Take it from me you will enjoy every page. 

This Day in Music History: Bill Haley and the Comets

I have decided to change the title of this part of my blog from It Was __ Years Ago Today to This Day in Music History. It just seems more fitting and you can figure out how many years ago it was when I give you the date. This day in music history actually got started several weeks ago when Bill Haley and the Comets took the song (We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock to the #1 spot on Billboards Charts on July 9, 1955. They held it for an impressive 8 weeks in a row. This was not the first rock and roll record but it was the first to be popular with a wide audience in the country and it gave Bill Haley the title that no other musician has ever held. He is considered the Father of Rock and Roll. The rock era had begun. Mr. Haley was not the one who even coined the term Rock and Roll. That honor goes to Cleveland DJ Alan Freed. Mr. Freed is the reason why Cleveland is considered the home of rock and roll and home to the rock and roll hall of fame.
In 1953 Bill Haley and the Comets were signed to Holiday Records owned by Dave Miller. At that time two songwriters, Max Freedman and Jimmy DeKnight wrote a song with Bill Haley and the Comets in mind to record it. Dave Miller however did not like Jimmy DeKnight and refused to let them record the song. Once their contract was up with Mr. Miller the group signed with Decca Records. In April of that year they went in to the studio to record two songs. One was called Thirteen Women and the other was the song that Dave Miller refused to let them record. It was Rock Around the Clock. The song was not a hit right off the bat. Mr. DeKnight decided to help it by sending copies of it to everyone he could think of in Hollywood. In 1955 the Glenn Ford film Blackboard Jungle was released and its theme song was Rock Around the Clock. Suddenly everyone wanted to buy the record. It was re-released and went to #1 on the charts.
In 1956 movie produce Sam Katzman signed Haley and his group to star in a movie called Rock Around the Clock. This was the start of bringing rock and roll to the movie and later the TV screens. So in around about way this would make Sam Katzman the father of the music video.
Bill Haley was never able to match the success of Rock Around the Clock. He was still popular enough in Europe to tour around the world. He did enjoy a brief wave of renewed popularity in the 60’s. However by the 70’s Haley fell into alcoholism. He died on February 9, 1981 at his home in Texas. Cause of death is listed as “natural causes most likely a heart attack.”

The above photo of Bill Haley and the Comets I got from this auction site.
Below you can see Bill Haley preform his biggest hit live when he was in concert in Austria in 1976. Just click on it and click on the control panel to view the preformance.

An Unlikely Group

I mentioned before how Tony Orlando and Dawn were an unlikely musical group. Well here is the reason why. You see Mr. Orlando started out to be a teen idol in the early 60’s. He had two hits on his own that made the top 40. However, by the 70’s he was just working as a studio singer. Producers from Bell records came to him one day to ask if he would sing on one of their records. The song they had was recorded by a group called Dawn but the record company didn’t like the lead vocals. Mr. Orlando agreed and recorded the song Candida. He thought that would be the last he would hear of the song. Radio stations loved it and gave it heavy rotation. It wasn’t long before it was a hit and reached #3 on the Billboard charts. Bell asked Tony Orlando and Dawn to record another song. The song the recorded was Knock Three Times. It went to #1 for 3 weeks on the charts. Bell Records wanted a group to tour but they were only studio singers and fake groups calling themselves Dawn were touring the USA and England. Dawn had two hits on the charts and the group members had not even met yet. Mr. Orlando lived in New York and Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson lived in California. Mr. Orlando kept calling Miss. Hopkins to find out what he could do to get the two girls to tour with him. Neither one of them wanted to tour and Miss Wilson was about to get married. Finally to just to get rid of Mr. Orlando she told him that she and Miss Wilson had always dreamed of a first class trip to Europe. She said they would do it if they could get that. She thought that was the last time she would hear from him. He called her bluff. The next time he called it was to tell her that he had booked a tour of Europe and it was first class all the way. Telma had to call Joyce and tell her she had to postpone the wedding because they were going to tour Europe. Before the 70’s were over the group had 2 more #1 singles with Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree and He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) and their own television series. To me this is one of the most unlikely success stories I have heard. Now if someone would read something I put on this blog and produce or publish it that would be a wonderful success story too.

P.S. I just found this out before this article went to post. This is how Tony Orlando and Dawn got their own TV show. After Knock Three Times was a hit in 1971 they had a hard time getting another one. Then in 1973, just as they were thinking of breaking up, their producers asked them to record a song that everyone thought would be a hit. Everyone but Tony that is. However, it was a song he just could not get out of his head. He said he found himself singing it around the house. So he gave in and Dawn recorded Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree. Tony was wrong the song was a smash hit and went to #1 on the charts for 4 weeks. The song was nominated for a Grammy and Dawn preformed it live. Watching the show was Fred Silverman of ABC. They were only on for about 3 minutes but he liked what he saw. He got some tapes from their manager of TV shows they were on in England and then went to see them in concert. After that he signed them up for a 4 week summer series. The rest is broadcasting history. The song itself has never died. It is the second most covered song of the rock and roll era. Yesterday by Paul McCartney is the most covered song of that era. Every time someone comes home from prison, war, etc. You know that song is playing somewhere.

Dick Tracy Tv Show Intro

Here is the introduction to the TV pilot for the TV series Dick Tracy. It never made it to series. It was produced by William Dozier who produced Batman and Green Hornet. If you regonize the star it may be because he was on a soap opera for many years. I believe it was All My Children. Also you can see that Eve Plumb was to be on this show before she was cast in the Brady Bunch.

Bat Clips

As my wife and I were returning home from our niece’s birthday party we made a stop at Walgreens. Here I saw something that I normally would have passed up but took a chance and found something I really liked. Now the outside of this DVD says that Bat Clips is an inside look at a Superhero phenomenon. They should say it is a glimpse. The back says that Batman has been at the top of movies, TV shows, comic books and fan conventions for 50 years and they have rare footage. Yes they do have rare footage but it is all about the 60’s Batman series. If I had seen it all before I would have been disappointed but there are some things that I had not seen. For instance you get to see the promo film that was only seen by network executives that sold them the idea to use Batgirl. She helps Batman and Robin defeat Killer Moth just as she did in the comic book. This is the only time Killer Moth fought the TV Batman. Killer Moth stuck mostly to fighting Batman in the comic books. It has a Batman and Batgirl promo for the ERA and for the Batman movie as well as the TV series. In the 80’s Fox TV aired a late show that for awhile reunited the cast of old shows from the 60’s. The highlight of this was reuniting the cast of Batman and Gilligan’s Island. On this DVD someone had a camcorder and you get to see backstage footage on what happened after the show ended. It was nice to see Alan Napier again as I believe this was his last time with the cast. You can tell he is not in good health. You get to see Adam West, Burt Ward, Yvonne Craig, Julie Newmar and Frank Gorshin again. There is a fan convention with Adam West dressed as Batman. The convention must have been from the 80’s as he says he has been dressing as Batman for over 20 years. Also, the song Got My Mind Set On You by George Harrison can be heard playing in the background. Some of his comments were fairly suggestive but they say that he was always trying to slip those into the show too. So most of this was from the 60’s and 80’s and there is no mention of his early days in comic books or any of the animated cartoons or the movies about him in the last 20 to 25 years. Still while some of this has turned up on bootleg material at conventions, so some of you may have seen it, they are now available for over the counter purchase. If this had cost me $9.95 or even $4.95 I would have been disappointed. However, at Walgreens it was a steal for just $1.00. That is right only a dollar. So keep your eyes open at any Walgreens or any store that might carry Bat Clips. 

Variety Shows: Shields and Yarnell

After spending the first half of a decade getting pop artist to host variety shows where else could the TV networks go to get someone to host a show? Why street mimes of course. Robert Shields was a street mime in San Francisco who took a lot of abuse but his unyielding spirit helped him to rise up and become one of the city’s top tourist attractions. Dancer/ actress Lorene Yarnell saw him and joined his act. Later the two got married. On June 13, 1977 CBS aired the first episode of their variety series Shields and Yarnell. Joanna Cassidy and Ted Zeigler were regulars on the series with music provided by the Norman Maney Orchestra. The mixture of comedy, mime and dancing made the show an instant hit as nothing like this had been seen on television for quite sometime. One of their more popular sketches was called Clinkers. It was about two robots adjusting to their new life in the suburbs.
The show got picked up as a mid season replacement after its summer run was over. In January of 1978 the new series began. The regulars on the show had changed and were now played by Gailard Sartain and Flip Reade. The future seemed bright for this new variety series. However, there was one thing these mimes had not counted on. Laverne and Shirley was their time slot competition. The 1950’s based sit-com was one of the top rated shows that year and in two months they caused the end of Shields and Yarnell’s television career. The last episode aired on March 28, 1978. I may be wrong but I believe this was the last variety series produced in prime time. The two eventually divorced. They do get back together professionally from time to time to do a tour.
I had fun doing this series on variety shows. I had planned to end it with Donny and Marie but suddenly remembered this series and just had to say something about it.

Rest In Peace Mike Douglas

I just found out that longtime talk show host Mike Douglas just passed away. This show was always on in my house. It was one of the few talk shows that I liked to watch. Yes, there was Dinah Shore, Merv Griffin. They were ok and who knew what crazy guest Phil Donahue was going to have on next. Who knew most of the industry would follow Phil's lead? Then there was Mike Douglas. He did the kind of talk show I liked. He kept it fun. I wish I could remember more about the show. He had alot of musical and comedic guest. One tried to tell him how some people naturally say some words funny and get a laugh with them. After saying a series of words Mr. Douglas showed he said the word purple in a funny way. Not the best memory but means something to me. Roger Miller was also on the show and bragged about how he can rhyme anything. Mike put him to the test and he didn't rhyme very much. Having had a few hit songs with big bands he sang with Glenn Campbell, Rita Coolridge and John Lennon. Mr. Lennon and his wife Yoko hosted the show for an entire week. It was an event that is still talked about to this day. In the 70's there was a song to promote his show. It was "Mike makes your day! Happy and goofy and you'll like him that way!" My Mom was a fan of the show and she mentioned how the song was true and she felt better after watching his show. As the article in the issue of TV Guide above says he was the Dean of the school for housewives. Most talk shows today try to educate you or pander to the lowest common denominator in the human condition. Mike Douglas's show made everyone who watched his show feel happy. Not a bad legecy to leave behind.
The above cover is from TV Guide.com.

What Should Be Our Attitude In Prayer?

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, 'Yes, Lord, your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went back to bed. And the Lord came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Yes, your servant is listening."
1 Samuel 3:8-10 NLTSpeak, Lord, in the stillness, while I wait on Thee; hushed my heart to listen in expectancy. Speak, O blessed Master, in this quiet hour, let me see Thy face, Lord, feel Thy touch of power.
Emily May Grimes
God revealedGod revealed himself mightily to the prophet Elijah, sending fire to burn the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. But later, as Elijah moped on the mountain, the Lord taught him an important lesson. There was a wind, an earthquake, and a fire—but the Lord was not in any of these. Then came a still, small voice. That was how God chose to speak to His prophet. The same is true today. We long for fire from heaven to silence the skeptics once and for all, but God doesn't usually work that way. Long ago He revealed Himself as a helpless baby sleeping in a dirty feed trough, and today He speaks quietly to ordinary people like you and me—if only we are still enough to listen. That is the sentiment expressed by Emily May Grimes in the words of the hymn, "Speak, Lord, in the Stillness."
From The One Year Book of Hymns (Tyndale House) 

Variety Shows: Donny and Marie

ABC’s search for a hit variety series came to an end in 1976 with the Donny and Marie Show. Like some of the other shows we have discussed the host were related to each other. However, this time they were brother and sister not husband and wife. This way the network didn’t have to worry if they would get divorced and the show would be canceled as a result of marital problems. Rumor has it that Fred Silverman saw Donny and Marie Osmond co-host the Mike Douglas show and thought they could host their own show. He was right and signed them up. Sid and Marty Krofft were asked to produce the show. The first episode aired January 16, 1976. Donny was 18 and Marie was 16 when the series started but both were show biz veterans. Donny was four when he and his brothers were regulars on the Andy Williams show. Marie was also introduced to audiences on Andy Williams show and a few years later started a solo country singing career. Her big hit was Paper Roses. So as you can see these were not two rookies who were going to be taken advantage of. Paul Lynde, Johnny Dark and almost every member of the Osmond family were frequent guest on the series.
The show was designed to appeal to all family members. However, with the two stars being teenagers they became instant teen idols. My cousins and our friends in my area jokingly referred to the show as the Who? And Marie show. With a girl as pretty as Marie Osmond there were a lot of red blooded American boys that tuned in but might not have admitted it to their friends. Most girls I knew had no problem admitting they watched it because of Donny Osmond.
The music was pretty good. No matter what your taste is in music you have to admit they can sing. The comedy, while it was funny it was usually pretty corny. But that is what you usually can expect from most family comedies. The kids laugh at the old jokes since it is the first time they have heard it. The adults laugh because the delivery was very funny even though they already knew the punchline. As an example one time Donny’s brothers ganged up on him and dumped him into a giant whipped cream pie. Donny just looked up and said “I think I finally made a big splash on television.”
By 1977 the Osmond family decided they wanted to go home to Utah. They had a studio built in which to produce the show. The first episode they produced was the 1977 Christmas episode. The shows guests were the entire Osmond family, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Paul Lynde.
By this time Donny and Marie wanted to appeal more to adults. Marie hired Bob Mackie to design her gowns and had her 18th birthday on the show. In the final season Donny turned 21 and had his wife on the show. In the last few months the name changed to the Osmond Family Show. It ended its run on May 6, 1979.
Marie resumed her country singing career and sells dolls that she made on the QVC cable network. Donny has appeared on Broadway and was the host of the game show $20,000 Pyramid. Later Donny and Marie hosted a talk show together called…the Donny and Marie Show. It lasted one season.
The above cover is from TV Guide.com 

Variety Shows: The Captain and Tennille

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery according to an old saying. If that is true then CBS was about to be flattered by ABC. CBS had success with Sonny and Cher and they were still having some success with Tony Orlando and Dawn. So ABC signed The Captain and Tennille to star in their own variety show. The Captain was the stage name of Daryl Dragon. He played keyboards while Toni Tennille, his wife, sang. Mr. Dragon was either a former Beach Boy or was a former member of their back up band. It depends on how you look at it and who is telling the story. I remember a punch line to a joke on the show had him dump sand from his shoe showing he had worked with the Beach Boys. The duo had their biggest hit at that time in 1975 with Love Will Keep Us Together. That was the song they used as their theme. The show started on September 20, 1976.
Tennille was a white bread version of Cher and the Captain was a very quiet version of Sonny. I think you can count the number of words he said on the show on your fingers. For awhile it became a running gag on the show as to how quiet he was. An example of how this ran was when Dick Clark was on the show. Mr. Clark was depressed with the quality of music on the pop charts. They started talking about the good songs on the charts that year and Dick Clark’s mood started to improve. Then the Captain mentioned the song Disco Duck. Mr. Clark became depressed again and then we understood why the Captain should keep quiet. It was better to let him show off how well he could play the piano.
The show was not the answer to Sonny and Cher like ABC had hoped. It was cancelled in March of 1977. The duo kept the hits coming on the record charts for a few more years. In the 80’s Tennille tried her hand at a daytime talk show but it didn’t last very long.

Variety Shows: Tony Orlando and Dawn

In order to fill the hole in the schedule that Sonny and Cher were leaving in the prime time line up CBS enlisted the help of another singing group. They got Tony Orlando and Dawn. They were given a summer series on July 3, 1974. This unlikely pop group, we’ll get into why they are unlikely some other day, had a string of hits in the early 70’s. With the emphasis mostly on music the summer series was a hit. It was brought back in December of 1974 as a midseason replacement. The success continued and the show was renewed for the fall.
In the fall changes were made. The title changed from Tony Orlando and Dawn to The Tony Orlando and Dawn Rainbow Hour. Why Rainbow hour? There were cast changes as well with the addition of name comedians like George Carlin and Edie McClurg. The emphasis changed from music to comedy.
For some reason the ratings started to slip. The show may have been funny but I guess that the show’s audience was in the mood for music. By December 28, 1976 the show was given its notice and aired its last episode.
The group Dawn only consisted of two women Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson. Almost all the speaking parts were given to Mr. Orlando and Miss. Hopkins. For some reason Miss Wilson didn’t say much. Mostly she sang and that was it. After the show ended Mr. Orlando did try to continue a singing career and showed up from time to time on other shows usually playing himself. On one episode of Chico and the Man he played a former boyfriend of the woman that Freddie Prinze Sr. (Chico) was dating. Miss. Hopkins however got a wonderful acting career out of the variety series. She has been on Bosom Buddies, Family Matters and Gimme A Break! I have also heard that she is the woman on the Shaft theme who says “Shut Your Mouth!” In the 70’s and 80’s this woman was all over pop culture. 

Rhino Reissues the Monkees

Thanks to my cousin Steve for pointing this out to me.
Rhino Records continues its long association with the Monkees, and reissues the bands yet again in new packages, this summer with expanded remasterings of the group's first two records.Out Aug. 15, The Monkees and More of the Monkees are two-disk collections featuring the original albums in both mono and stero, plus loads of outtakes and assorted bonus tracks. You can click the links to pre-order the albums from Amazon.
The MonkeesOriginally released in 1966, THE MONKEES scored an amazing 78-week run on the Billboard album chart, with 13 weeks at #1. Includes the #1 smash "Last Train To Clarksville" and the infectious "(Theme From) The Monkees," both written for the band by hit songwriting team Boyce & Hart. Also features Goffin & King’s "Take A Giant Step" and David Gates’ "Saturday’s Child. "
Disc 1’s nine bonus tracks include previously unreleased alternate mixes of "The Kind Of Girl I Could Love" and "Papa Gene’s Blues" plus a take of "I Don’t Think You Know Me" featuring Micky Dolenz on vocals.
Disc 2’s eight bonus cuts include a previously unreleased demo version of "Propinquity (I’ve Just Begun To Care)" and a rare Kellogg’s jingle. Each 2-CD Deluxe Limited EDITION features the original stereo album with bonus rarities on Disc 1, and the original mono album with even more rare treasures on Disc 2.
Disc: 1
1. (Theme From) The Monkees
2. Saturday’s Child
3. I Wanna Be Free
4. Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day
5. Papa Gene’s Blues
6. Take A Giant Step
7. Last Train To Clarksville
8. This Just Doesn’t Seem To Be My Day
9. Let’s Dance On
10. I’ll Be True To You
11. Sweet Young Thing
12. Gonna Buy Me A Dog
13. The Kind Of Girl I Could Love (Alternate Mix)†
14. I Don’t Think You Know Me (Micky’s Vocal)
15. (Theme From) The Monkees(Second Recorded Version)
16. So Goes Love
17. Papa Gene’s Blues (Alternate Mix)†
18. I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind
19. Of You
20. (I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love (Alternate Mix)†
21. Gonna Buy Me A Dog (Backing Track)†
Disc: 2 1. (Theme From) The Monkees 2. Saturday’s Child 3. I Wanna Be Free 4. Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day 5. Papa Gene’s Blues 6. Take A Giant Step 7. Last Train To Clarksville 8. This Just Doesn’t Seem To Be My Day 9. Let’s Dance On 10. I’ll Be True To You 11. Sweet Young Thing 12. Gonna Buy Me A Dog 13. (Theme From) The Monkees(Third Recorded Version) 14. Kellogg’s Jingle 15. All The King’s Horses 16. You Just May Be The One (TV Version) 17. I Wanna Be Free (Fast Version) 18. I Don’t Think You Know Me (Mike’s Vocal) 19. Propinquity (I’ve Just Begun To Care)(Demo Version)† 20. Jokes (Backing Track)† More of the Monkees 1967’s MORE OF THE MONKEES was the band’s top seller, racking up 70 weeks on Billboard®’s album chart, including 18 weeks at #1, becoming the 3rd best-selling LP of the ’60s (ranking higher than any Beatles album). The Monkees topped the pop singles charts again with the Neil Diamond-penned "I’m A Believer." Album also features the Top 20 hit "(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone" and the classic cut "She," both composed by Boyce & Hart. Twelve bonus tracks on Disc 1 include "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" with Peter’s narration, an alternate mix of "I’m A Believer" and the previously unissued "Whatever’s Right." Disc 2’s six bonus cuts include the first recorded version of Valleri" and a previously unreleased alternate version of "Tear Drop City." Each 2-CD Deluxe Limited EDITION features the original stereo album with bonus rarities on Disc 1, and the original mono album with even more rare treasures on Disc 2. Disc: 1 1. When Love Comes Knockin’ (At Your Door) 2. Mary, Mary 3. Hold On Girl 4. Your Auntie Grizelda 5. (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone 6. Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) 7. The Kind Of Girl I Could Love 8. The Day We Fall In Love 9. Sometime In The Morning 10. Laugh 11. I’m A Believer 12. (I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love 13. Kicking Stones 14. Mr. Webster (First Recorded Version) 15. Hold On Girl (First Recorded Version) 16. 17. Through The Looking Glass(First Recorded Version) 17. I’ll Spend My Life With You(First Recorded Version) 18. Apples, Peaches, Bananas And Pears 19. Don’t Listen To Linda (First Recorded Version) 20. Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)(with Peter’s Narration) 21. I’m A Believer (Alternate Mix) 22. Ladies Aid Society (Original Mono Mix)† Disc: 2 1. She 2. When Love Comes Knockin’ (At Your Door) 3. Mary, Mary 4. Hold On Girl 5. Your Auntie Grizelda 6. (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone 7. Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) 8. The Kind Of Girl I Could Love 9. The Day We Fall In Love 10. Sometime In The Morning 11. Laugh 12. I’m A Believer 13. Valleri (First Recorded Version) 14. Words (First Recorded Version) 15. Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) (TV Version) 16. I’ll Be Back Up On My Feet (First Recorded Version) 17. Tear Drop City (Alternate Mix)† 18. Of You (Mono Mix) 

Our Prayers Bring Us Into God's Presence

How can I make my prayers effective?
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT
Praying effectivelyPaul urges Timothy to lift up requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving. A request is a need, a deep desire for something we don't have—something only God can supply. A prayer is a word of praise and adoration. A more accurate translation of this word from the original Greek might be to "worship in earnest."
Intercession is praying on behalf of others. Our prayers should regularly reflect this kind of selfless lifestyle.
Thanksgiving involved remembering those past prayers that have already been answered, acknowledging that we not only trust God's supremacy and involvement in our life but also how his hand has moved and guided us in the past. When we pray effectively, we do more than communicate with God—we commune with him. We become one in mind and spirit and purpose. Today, let the focus of your prayer time be to connect with God in a very real and personal way, not as a slave would petition his master, but as a son would enjoy the company of a loving and gracious father.
Adapted from a devotional by Frank M. Martin in Embracing Eternity (Tyndale House) p 36

Variety Shows: The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour

On August 1, 1971 CBS aired the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Glenn Campbell and Johnny Cash were on their way out but this pop music duo were about to have one of the biggest hits of the early 70’s. Now I had never heard of them till they got this show. They did have a couple of hits with the songs The Beat Goes On and I’ve Got You Babe. Of course those were the opening and closing theme songs to the show. Apparently in the 1970’s all you needed to get your own show was a hit song. The two were married to each other and were pretty good actors in the comedy sketches. Cher of course proved to be very good as she won an Oscar years later for her acting in the movie Moonstruck. Before he was on the Smothers Brothers and Johnny Cash Steve Martin was a regular on Sonny and Cher from 1972 to 1973. Terri Garr was also a regular cast member from 1973 to 1974. Cher showed off her excellent vocals and Sonny, well at least he was funny and a good songwriter. One of their most popular segments was called Vamp. Sonny played a piano player and Cher the singer. She sang a song that bridged the comedy segments that she starred in as famous women in history. Another favorite part was the opening with Cher making fun of Sonny. It didn’t matter really because we knew underneath it all that they loved each other. (At least we thought so.) I also remember a segment when a couple of the guest that week did a take on Batman and Robin. Bruce and Dick change clothes to fight crime when they see the Bat signal. Robin jumped out the window. Batman yelled to him “Robin! Superman flies! We use ropes!” It was funny at the time. I guess you had to see it. The closing had them with their daughter Chastity in their arms as they sang the closing theme I’ve Got You Babe. Sometimes they had her in the opening. One that they used her on was a Halloween episode. Instead of coming out to talk to the audience it opened with them taking their daughter trick or treating. The house they went to was scary looking and who answered the door? It was that week’s guest Jerry Lewis dressed as an odd looking butler. I don’t remember much after that but the feeling I remember is that it was one of their best episodes.
In the last year their marital problems made the papers and it was announced that they were not going to stay with the show. Sonny tried with his own show on ABC and Cher with her own solo show on CBS. While Cher’s lasted longer neither one got the ratings that their networks wanted and both were not renewed for a second season.
In 1976 they reconciled professionally on CBS with the Sonny and Cher Show. However, the show failed as the happily married couple element was missing. The whole world knew they were divorced and Cher was married to Greg Allman and just gave birth to Greg’s son. When ever Cher put Sonny down it was not funny anymore as you thought that she just might mean it.
The first series ran from August 1, 1971 to May of 1974. The second series ran from February 1976 to August 29, 1977. As we all know Sonny did remarry and after trying for an acting career he entered politics. He was a successful politician and died tragically in a skiing accident.
The above TV Guide I remember from my "career" with TV Guide. It was for the date of March 18, 1972. I also rememer them making the cover of TV Guide less then a month after the series was canceled in 1974 and the last episode aired. What show can say they made the Cover of TV guide and they weren't even on the air at that time? Very few.

Variety Shows: The Johnny Cash Show

A few months after Glenn Campbell got his own show his fellow country musician Johnny Cash got his own show also. The first episode aired on June 7, 1969. He had more hits at this time then Glenn did. He had Folsom Prison Blues as his opening theme and I Walk The Line as his closing theme. Carl Perkins, The Carter Family (easy to get since this legendary family were his in-laws) and the Statler Brothers were among the shows regulars. Johnny bridged many musical gaps and was able to get guest ranging from Louis Armstrong to Minnie Pearl to the Monkees on his show.
One of the highlights of the series was when for two episodes it became a documentary. It did a two part series on the history of country music and included everyone from Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams Sr., Jim Reeves and live performances from many others including Roy Acuff and Tammy Wynette.
At this time the Monkees were guest on both Cash and Campbell’s shows. I think they were hoping to get their own variety show. For those who aren’t aware the Monkees sit-com was renewed for a third season. The Monkees told the network that they didn’t want a new sit-com season they wanted to do a variety series. Perhaps fearing a take over like they did with Don Kirshner the network said it was a sit-com or no show. You know the results. I think it would have been pretty good. They could have gotten guest from all their various backgrounds from country to folk to rock and soul to Broadway. We already know they could do comedy. With NBC saying no they guest stared on shows on the other networks probably hoping ABC or CBS would make an offer. Neither one did.
Johnny’s first series was canceled in May of 1971 by ABC. However, he was back in the summer of 1976 on CBS with a similar type of series for 5 weeks. The regular comedic actors on the show were Steve Martin and the late Jim Varney. Musical guest were more country then pop rock. Unlike the previous series that included all forms of music of the day.

Variety Shows: The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

A format that has not been seen on prime-time television since the 1970’s is the variety show. Again I think that economics plays a big part. The cost to produce a show is so huge now with just one star that to pay big name acts to appear on the show every week could bankrupt any production. Still there was a time when the variety show was king.
Now I can understand why an actor or a comedian would be asked to host a show. It has often puzzled me why get a singer to host. While Perry Como and Nat King Cole hosted shows in the 50’s the singer as host really boomed in the late 60’s and early 70’s. On January 29, 1969 CBS aired the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Glen Campbell had a string of hits on the pop and country charts. His two biggest at that time were Gentle On My Mind and Wichita Lineman. He was a frequent guest on the Smothers Brothers Show. He is a first rate guitarist and made a living as a studio musician. He has played on many other artist hit songs. Like the Beach Boys and the Monkees. He also had filled in for Brian Wilson when Brian didn’t want to tour with the Beach Boys anymore. I believe I even remember them introducing the first episode of the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. The show became an instant hit. It was due to Mr. Campbell’s laid back southern charm. He set the tone of the show. The music was very good as you would expect. Having been taken under the wings of the Smothers Brothers he learned how to deliver a joke very well. I am too young to have seen the Perry Como show but I have heard that the show was a lot like an updated country version of Mr. Como’s show. What I have seen of Mr. Como is that he must have been the most laidback entertainer ever and still remain entertaining.
The theme song of the show was his hit Gentle On My Mind. Many of the guests were first rate country musicians and comedians. Many of his friends were like John Hartford, who wrote Gentle On My Mind, Jerry Reed and Dom DeLuise was on the show so often that even though they were not regular cast members they might as well have been.
In 1970 the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was canceled from CBS. Their show was always testing the networks patience with comedy monologues, songs and sketches based around religion and politics. Usually an on air apology smoothed everything out. This time the network had enough and cancelled the show.
Now what did this have to do with the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour? Well it is a bit ironic. You see the reason Glen Campbell was on the Smothers Brothers Show was because he was under contract to them. CBS may have canceled the Smothers Brothers in 1970 but until Glen Campbell’s show left the air with it’s last broadcast on June 13, 1972 CBS still had to pay the Smothers Brothers to air Glen’s family friendly show. Meanwhile CBS replaced the Smothers Brothers Show with Hee Haw. CBS at that time was starting to look like it stood for the Country Broadcasting System.
Glen Campbell still continued as a musical force with #1 hits Rhinestone Cowboy and Southern Nights a few years later. In 1982 he tried a half hour syndicated music show with guest ranging from Willie Nelson to Chuck Mangione. It only lasted 24 episodes.

It was 45 Years Ago Today...

It was 45 years ago this week, actually it started back on July 10, that Bobby Lewis had the #1 hit with Tossin’ and Turnin’. It is one of the most successful hits ever on the Billboard charts. It was #1 for 7 weeks in a row. Mr. Lewis was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He moved to Detroit when he was adopted by a family there. As he got older he got into the music business by singing in local nightclubs. He became friends with Jackie Wilson and Mr. Wilson’s manager got him in touch with a record label in Chicago called Parrott Records. They signed him and he recorded some songs for them. Later back in Detroit he appeared on Soupy Sales local variety show. HE became a regular guest on the show. His friend Jackie Wilson was having great success in New York. Mr. Wilson and Bobby’s wife both urged him to go to New York. He did.
In New York many record companies turned him down. He met a group of white singers at the Apollo called the Fireflies. He gave them some encouragement to help calm their nerves. Three weeks later he went to Beltone Records. He liked the name because he once sang in a Gospel group called the Belltones. He asked for an audition and got one. When he sat down to play the piano he recognized one of the people there. Ritchie Adams the lead singer of the Fireflies. He found out that Ritchie had just been signed to the label. He sang some songs for Ritchie and Joe Rene the labels owner. Then Ritchie took out a song that he and Joe Rene had written. The song was Tossin’ and Turnin’. When he sang they knew that they found the right singer for the song. He was signed to the label and had a huge hit. He had two more hits with One Track Mind and I’m Tossin’ and Turnin’ Again when they made the lower part of the Hot 100 charts. After that Bobby disappeared from the charts forever. 

Aquaman #49 1970

Today I am talking about Aquaman #49 dated February 1970. It is titled “As The Seas Die” It is written by Steve Skeates and edited by Dick Giordano and it is a mystery so while it is easy to figure out I will not reveal the identity of the saboteur in case you want to get it from your local comic book store. What caught my attention is the wonderful artwork on the cover. At first I thought it was by Neal Adams but after I bought it I saw that it was signed by Nick Cardy. The art on the inside by Jim Apro is just as beautiful. I have never quite understood why if you have a great artist like Mr. Apro then why not have him do the cover also. Or have the cover artist like Mr. Cardy do the story inside the book. It seems like false advertising when I buy a book based on the cover art and the art inside is not the same or if the cover has nothing to do with the storyline. Anyway, back to Aquaman.
Someone is blowing up factories that are dumping chemicals into the ocean. The chemicals are causing the local fish to go insane and become aggressive. Luckily it is also making them weaker. Aquaman’s friend Professor Davidson has been looking into the problem and has asked that Aquaman and Aqualad look into the problem.
While Aquaman is away from Atlantis his enemy Ocean Master comes to Atlantis under a white flag. Mera goes out to see what he wants but he will only talk to Aquaman. Mera tries to stall him as she doesn’t want to tell him that Aquaman is away from his kingdom.
During his investigation Aquaman finds that the owner of the last factory destroyed is saying that it was an accident even though Aquaman was there and saw the saboteur escape. Like the other owners he was illegally dumping chemicals and is afraid that the police would find out and arrest him instead. Aquaman later sees the saboteur and follows him to where he returns to the scene of the last crime. The owner is waiting for him. The saboteur gains the upperhand in the battle and looks like he is about to kill him when Aquaman intervenes. Even though Aquaman saved his life the owner knocks him out and leaves him to die because he doesn’t want a witness to him killing the saboteur. The factory owner and the saboteur both die when they fall off a cliff during their fight.
Aquaman meets up with Aqualad who had been working on another part of the investigation. Now that it is all over they decide to go home to get some rest. That of course won’t happen when they meet Ocean Master next issue.
I really enjoyed this story and recommend that you rush to your local comic book shop to buy this book. 

Aquaman trailer

This is trailer for the proposed Aquaman series that would be a spin off from Smallville. CW decided not to do it but I hope they change their mind. Also, I hope they don't use it to replace Smallville or 7th Heaven. With them having Green Arrow on Smallville this season maybe they will spin him off too.

Kudzu and For Heaven Sakes