The Classic/Retro Pop Culture Thread

[The Old Mixer]

55 Years Ago This Week

December 18

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas, based on the book by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) and narrated by Boris Karloff, was shown for the first time on CBS, beginning an annual Christmas tradition in the United States. "As a result of the television version," an author would note later, "adults and children renewed their love of Seussian tales and bought his books in record-breaking numbers." Geisel initially rejected an offer by his friend, animator Chuck Jones, to adapt the book to an animated cartoon; his wife Helen Geisel persuaded him to reconsider.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

• Epimetheus, another of the moons of Saturn, was captured on photographs taken of the Mount Lemmon Observatory and reviewed by astronomer Richard L. Walker, but was initially mistaken for Janus, which had been identified three days earlier and was in the same orbit. It would not be until 1978 that Stephen Larson and John Fountain would calculate that aberrations in the orbit of Janus were "compatible with a second satellite in the same orbit". Subsequent observations by the Voyager 1 probe in 1980 would determine that Janus and Epimethus are in the same orbit around Saturn, 135 degrees apart from each other.
• Died: Tara Browne, 21, London socialite and an heir to the Guinness fortune, was killed in an auto accident in South Kensington after running a red light and crashing into a parked truck. He was a little more than three years away from receiving a bequest of one million pounds sterling. According to a later interview with John Lennon, the report of the investigation, printed in the Daily Mail of January 15, was an inspiration for the song "A Day in the Life".
• Paul McCartney and Jane Asher attend the world premiere in London of the film The Family Way, for which Paul wrote the incidental soundtrack music.

December 19

• The United Nations adopted the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, more commonly known as the Outer Space Treaty. It would be signed on January 27, 1967, by the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom, and enter into force on October 10, 1967.
• The Asian Development Bank began operations, with its headquarters at Manila in the Philippines.
• The U.S. Army deployed its new Mobile Riverine Force into combat for the first time, with the 2nd Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division arriving at Vung Tau in South Vietnam.

December 20

• Mount Vinson, 16,050 feet in altitude and the highest peak in Antarctica, was conquered for the first time as a group of ten American climbers reached the summit. In addition to the American flag, the climbers planted the flags of the other 11 nations that had signed the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.
• The Sand Pebbles debuted in theaters.
• Harold Wilson withdrew all his previous offers to the Rhodesian government, and announced that he would agree to independence only after the founding of a Black majority government.

December 21 –The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted, 4–3, to permit International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT) to purchase the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television and radio network.

December 22 – On the eve of the United Kingdom's trade ban with Rhodesia, Prime Minister Ian Smith declared that Rhodesia had become an independent republic by operation of the UN Security Council's vote for sanctions.

December 23

• The destroyer USS O'Brien became the first American ship to be struck by shells fired from North Vietnam's shore batteries. Two crewmen were killed and four wounded when the O'Brien was struck by artillery fired from coastal guns located in the Quảng Bình Province.
• Ready Steady Go!, the pioneering British pop music show on Britain's ITV network, was broadcast for the last time, after making its debut on August 9, 1963. Appearing as the last act was The Who, and the final show was subtitled "Ready Steady Gone!".
• The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, directed by Sergio Leone of Italy and the highest grossing of the "spaghetti Western" films, made its debut. Starring Clint Eastwood, and featuring other actors who had been seen in A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More (Mario Brega, Aldo Sambrell, Benito Stefanelli and Lorenzo Robledo), and filmed in Italy and Spain, the movie premiered in Italy, where it was given the title Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo, and would be released in the rest of the world in 1968.

December 24

• Starting at 7:00 in the morning in Vietnam, a 48-hour holiday truce went into effect by agreement between the United States, South Vietnam and their allies, and North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. Five hours into the ceasefire, however, Australian troops were fired upon by Viet Cong guerrillas near Saigon, and six other incidents took place, including a small arms and mortar fire attack near Phú Lộc in the Thừa Thiên Province, that killed a South Vietnamese soldier.
• Luna 13, an unmanned spacecraft launched toward the Moon by the Soviet Union from an earth-orbiting platform, made a soft landing at 1801 UTC (9:01 pm in Moscow) between craters Seleucus and Krafft in the region of Oceanus Procellarum. On its first day on the Moon, the space probe deployed two rods that could penetrate a foot deep into the lunar surface, and determined that the lunar soil was strong enough to support the weight of a large manned space ship and that men could walk on the hard soil without sinking.
• Starting at 9:30 p.m., New York City's WPIX television station began a tradition of a broadcasting a show called WPIX Yule Log Christmas Greeting. In order to allow the Channel 11 employees to spend Christmas Eve with their families, station president Fred M. Thrower canceled its regular programming (at the cost of $4,000 in advertising) in favor of three hours of a looped film of a log burning in a fireplace. The picture was accompanied by Christmas music from the WPIX-FM radio station. The annual broadcast would be halted after 1989 but revived in 2001.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for the week:

1. "Winchester Cathedral," The New Vaudeville Band
2. "Mellow Yellow," Donovan
3. "I'm a Believer," The Monkees
4. "That's Life," Frank Sinatra
5. "Devil with the Blue Dress On / Good Golly Miss Molly," Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
6. "Sugar Town," Nancy Sinatra
7. "Snoopy vs. The Red Baron," The Royal Guardsmen
8. "Good Vibrations," The Beach Boys
9. "A Place in the Sun," Stevie Wonder
10. "(I Know) I'm Losing You," The Temptations
11. "You Keep Me Hangin' On," The Supremes

13. "Whispers (Getttin' Louder)," Jackie Wilson
14. "Tell It Like It Is," Aaron Neville
15. "Lady Godiva," Peter & Gordon
16. "I Got the Feelin' (Oh No No)," Neil Diamond
17. "Single Girl," Sandy Posey

19. "Mame," Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

21. "Talk Talk," The Music Machine
22. "I Need Somebody," ? & The Mysterians
23. "Mustang Sally," Wilson Pickett
24. "Words of Love," The Mamas & The Papas
25. "I'm Ready for Love," Martha & The Vandellas
26. "Stop, Stop, Stop," The Hollies
27. "Good Thing," Paul Revere & The Raiders
28. "A Hazy Shade of Winter," Simon & Garfunkel
29. "East West," Herman's Hermits
30. "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need," The Miracles
31. "Tell It to the Rain," The Four Seasons

33. "I've Passed This Way Before," Jimmy Ruffin
34. "Knock on Wood," Eddie Floyd

36. "I'm Your Puppet," James & Bobby Purify
37. "It Tears Me Up," Percy Sledge
38. "Standing in the Shadows of Love," Four Tops
39. "Poor Side of Town," Johnny Rivers
40. "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," The Yardbirds
41. "Help Me Girl," Eric Burdon & The Animals
42. "But It's Alright," J. J. Jackson

44. "Coming on Strong," Brenda Lee
45. "Nashville Cats," The Lovin' Spoonful
46. "Try a Little Tenderness," Otis Redding

48. "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," The Monkees

50. "Georgy Girl," The Seekers

57. "98.6," Keith

60. "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet," The Blues Magoos
61. "Where Will the Words Come From?," Gary Lewis & the Playboys

68. "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)," The Electric Prunes
69. "Colour My World," Petula Clark

76. "Green, Green Grass of Home," Tom Jones

78. "How Do You Catch a Girl," Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs

86. "Knight in Rusty Armour," Peter & Gordon
87. "It's Now Winter's Day," Tommy Roe

95. "Pushin' Too Hard," The Seeds

Leaving the chart:

• "Holy Cow," Lee Dorsey (9 weeks)
• "Last Train to Clarksville," The Monkees (15 weeks)
• "Rain on the Roof," The Lovin' Spoonful (10 weeks)

New on the chart:

"Colour My World," Petula Clark

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(#16 US; #10 AC)

"Knight in Rusty Armour," Peter & Gordon

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(#15 US)

"Green, Green Grass of Home," Tom Jones

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(#11 US; #12 AC; #1 UK)


And new on the boob tube:

• The Ed Sullivan Show, Season 19, episode 15
• The Monkees, "Too Many Girls" / "Davy and Fern"
• The Rat Patrol, "The Last Harbor Raid: Part 1"
• Batman, "The Puzzles Are Coming"
• Batman, "The Duo is Slumming"
• That Girl, "Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid"
• The Green Hornet, "May the Best Man Lose"
• The Wild Wild West, "The Night of the Infernal Machine"
• Tarzan, "The Ultimate Duel"
• The Time Tunnel, "Invasion"
• Hogan's Heroes, "Information Please"
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E., "The Jingle Bells Affair"
• 12 O'Clock High, "The Duel at Mont Sainte Marie"
• Get Smart, "The Whole Tooth and..."

_______

Timeline entries are quoted from the Wiki pages for the month or year and Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles Day by Day, with minor editing as needed.

_______

That's a good idea, because it pumps up the sense of danger-- although I wonder how much the audience can see.

Maybe that's what she was going for in a stage-acting way.

I also wondered if putting the men back on the island to die would be considered a war crime.

Don't think they were being put back to die per se...the story the sub captain gave was that he couldn't afford to take care of a couple of prisoners, and it was initially played more like they were being set free to be rescued by their own side...which they were, to a point.

Geez, how could I forget Mendez? I wanted his job.

But if you were Stone, you'd get to accuse Kirk of being an evident perjurer.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Luna 13, an unmanned spacecraft launched toward the Moon by the Soviet Union from an earth-orbiting platform, made a soft landing at 1801 UTC (9:01 pm in Moscow) between craters Seleucus and Krafft

And failed to detect the presence of green cheese, despite the name.

"Colour My World," Petula Clark

Not bad. She has that infectious perkiness.

"Knight in Rusty Armour," Peter & Gordon

Well, that turned out a bit bawdy, din't it? Probably shouldn't be surprised, since it started out "In days of old when knights were bold..."

"Green, Green Grass of Home," Tom Jones

Ah, there's Tom. This is a strange, sad song, apparently about a convicted killer about to be executed. It reminds me of the Bee Gees' "Gotta Get A Message To You," although that one at least includes a confession and some signs of remorse. But the vagueness of the lyrics here could lead to one speculating about less obvious reasons for the execution, if one wanted to put that much thought into a Tom Jones song.

But if you were Stone, you'd get to accuse Kirk of being an evident perjurer.

Stone was the Hamilton Burger of Star Trek. I don't remember if he was in charge of a Starbase, though. That always struck me as the best job in the Trekverse. When I was a kid speculating on what happened to the characters after the five-year mission, I always imagined Sulu promoted to captain and assigned to a Starbase on the frontier commanded by Commodore Kirk. Later, during the Wrath of Khan era, I thought that would have been the perfect setup for a TV revival, because it would have spotlighted the secondary characters, left room for new characters, and kept Kirk (and maybe McCoy) available for special episodes. Actually, I think I may have envisioned a brand-new Starbase on the Genesis planet.

 

[The Old Mixer]

50 Years Ago This Week

December 19

• The made-for-television film The Homecoming: A Christmas Story, was broadcast as the CBS Sunday Night Movie and achieved high enough ratings to be adapted to a long-running television series, The Waltons, where Richard Thomas and Ellen Corby reprised their roles as John-Boy Walton and his grandmother. Other actors who appeared in the film but not on the series were Patricia Neal as the mother Olivia Walton, Edgar Bergen as the grandfather, and Andrew Duggan as the father, and African-American actor Cleavon Little as a stranded traveler taken in by a kind white family. The film and the series were based on the 1961 novel Spencer's Mountain, by Earl Hamner, Jr., about a similar family, the Spencers.
• Stanley Kubrick's film A Clockwork Orange, based on a 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess, set in the near future and starring Malcolm McDowell, premiered simultaneously in New York City and Toronto, before being generally released in the UK on January 13 and in the rest of the United States on February 2.
• Clube Atlético Mineiro wins the Brazil Football Championship.
• Intelsat IV (F3) is launched; it enters commercial service over the Atlantic Ocean February 18, 1972.

December 20

• Two groups of French doctors involved in humanitarian aid merge to form Médecins Sans Frontières.
• Having lost the war with India and the entire eastern part of his nation, General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan was forced to resign as President of Pakistan and, was replaced by Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, returning Pakistan to civilian rule for the first time since 1965. Bhutto was also appointed the "Chief Martial-Law Administrator", giving him powers of military and civilian rule. His first act as the Administrator was to order the retirement of General Yahya Khan and six other high ranking Pakistan Army officers whom he described as "the fat and flabby generals" who had lost the war.
• Died: Roy O. Disney, 78, American studio executive and co-founder, with his brother, of The Walt Disney Company.

December 22 – KUAC-TV in Fairbanks, Alaska went on the air, bringing public broadcasting to Alaska.

December 23 – U.S. President Nixon commuted the 13-year prison sentence of Jimmy Hoffa, the former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, limiting him to time served on condition that he not "engatge in the direct or indirect management of any labor organization" until March 6, 1980, when his sentence would have concluded. Hoffa, who would disappear in 1975, was released from the federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania after having served four years and 9½ months in jail.

December 24

• LANSA Flight 508 crashed in a thunderstorm in Peru while en route from Lima to Pucallpa, on a multistop flight to Iquitos, killing 90 of the 91 people aboard.[82] A 17-year-old girl, Juliane Koepcke, survived after falling into the Amazon rainforest while strapped to her seat, and walked through the jungle for the next 10 days until she was rescued by local lumbermen. Those killed in the crash included Juliane's mother, noted ornithologist Maria Koepcke.
• Giovanni Leone is elected President of the Italian Republic.

December 25

• In the longest American football game in National Football League history, the Miami Dolphins beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 after 82 minutes, 40 seconds of playing time. Garo Yepremian kicked the winning 37-yard field goal after 7:40 of the second overtime period.
• A fire at a 22-story hotel in Seoul, South Korea kills 158 people.

Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for the week:

1. "Brand New Key," Melanie
2. "Family Affair," Sly & The Family Stone
3. "American Pie," Don McLean
4. "An Old Fashioned Love Song," Three Dog Night
5. "Got to Be There," Michael Jackson
6. "Have You Seen Her," The Chi-Lites
7. "All I Ever Need Is You," Sonny & Cher
8. "Scorpio," Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band
9. "Cherish," David Cassidy
10. "Hey Girl" / "I Knew You When", Donny Osmond
11. "Baby I'm-a Want You," Bread
12. "Respect Yourself," The Staple Singers
13. "Sunshine," Jonathan Edwards
14. "You Are Everything," The Stylistics
15. "Where Did Our Love Go," Donnie Elbert
16. "Theme from 'Shaft'," Isaac Hayes
17. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)," The New Seekers
18. "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)," The Temptations
19. "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," Cher
20. "Let's Stay Together," Al Green
21. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony)," The Hillside Singers
22. "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Part I," Honey Cone
23. "Clean Up Woman," Betty Wright
24. "(I Know) I'm Losing You," Rod Stewart w/ Faces
25. "Stones" / "Crunchy Granola Suite", Neil Diamond
26. "Day After Day," Badfinger
27. "Rock Steady," Aretha Franklin
28. "Drowning in the Sea of Love," Joe Simon

31. "Sugar Daddy," Jackson 5
32. "Hey Big Brother," Rare Earth

34. "Behind Blue Eyes," The Who
35. "Desiderata," Les Crane
36. "A Natural Man," Lou Rawls

43. "Anticipation," Carly Simon
44. "It's One of Those Nights (Yes Love)," The Partridge Family

48. "Make Me the Woman That You Go Home To," Gladys Knight & the Pips

50. "Your Move (I've Seen All Good People)," Yes

57. "Levon," Elton John
58. "Those Were the Days," Carroll O'Connor & Jean Stapleton (as the Bunkers)

61. "Pretty as You Feel," Jefferson Airplane

64. "Truckin'," The Grateful Dead

67. "Black Dog," Led Zeppelin

71. "Tightrope Ride," The Doors

74. "Superstar" / "Bless the Beasts and Children", Carpenters

76. "Without You," Nilsson
77. "Don't Say You Don't Remember," Beverly Bremers

79. "Fire and Water," Wilson Pickett

81. "Never Been to Spain," Three Dog Night

93. "Ain't Understanding Mellow," Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager

Leaving the chart:

• "Everybody's Everything," Santana (10 weeks)
• "Imagine," John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band (9 weeks)
• "Two Divided by Love," The Grass Roots (11 weeks)
• "Wild Night," Van Morrison (11 weeks)

Recent and new on the chart:

"Tightrope Ride," The Doors

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Nov. 27; #71 US)

"Truckin'," The Grateful Dead

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Nov. 27; #64 US)

"Levon," Elton John

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Dec. 18; #24 US)

"Black Dog," Led Zeppelin

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(#15 US; #294 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time [2004])

"Never Been to Spain," Three Dog Night

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(#5 US; #18 AC)


And new on the boob tube:

• Hawaii Five-O, "Is This Any Way to Run a Paradise?"
• The Brady Bunch, "The Not-So-Rose-Colored Glasses"
• The Odd Couple, "Felix the Calypso Singer"

_______

Timeline entries are quoted from the Wiki pages for the month or year.

_______

And failed to detect the presence of green cheese, despite the name.

Huh, hadn't noticed that.

No comment on the Grinch?

Not bad. She has that infectious perkiness.

The sitar's really out and about at this point, if Petula's using it.

Well, that turned out a bit bawdy, din't it? Probably shouldn't be surprised, since it started out "In days of old when knights were bold..."

Definitely seems like they're trying to recapture "Lady Godiva" with this one.

Ah, there's Tom. This is a strange, sad song, apparently about a convicted killer about to be executed. It reminds me of the Bee Gees' "Gotta Get A Message To You," although that one at least includes a confession and some signs of remorse. But the vagueness of the lyrics here could lead to one speculating about less obvious reasons for the execution, if one wanted to put that much thought into a Tom Jones song.

Well it's not really a Tom Jones song, just his version of a country song that had been recorded by a few other artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis, before Tom got ahold of it. I was trying to remember how this had come up before in this thread, as I distinctly remember, when I'd been doing the news/music posts for 50th anniversary business in the TOS rewatch thread at this point. It was probably Johnny Cash's version on At Folsom Prison.

Stone was the Hamilton Burger of Star Trek.

Technically Areel Shaw was the Burger. Stone was on the tribunal, wasn't he? Basically the judge.

 

[The Old Mixer]

But regardless, you should definitely see the doc. It’s essential for Beatles fans.

At the ex's, and she's got Disney+, so the journey has begun with Book I: The Fellowship of the Ringo, and continued into Two of Us Towers.

Didn't catch the part where John was mocking "I Me Mine," unless you meant the waltzing with Yoko. I think the more immediate cause of George's departure was Paul's bossiness, as I've always heard. John mocking songs is pretty much a through-line in the sessions though...he's doing it left and right, including with his own. Whatever set George off, you could see it in his face when they were running through "Two of Us," just before he walked out.

The final verdict is in on Yoko's singing: the ex's pooch does not like it.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The final verdict is in on Yoko's singing: the ex's pooch does not like it.

My wife confused little Heather's singing with Yoko's.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Died: Roy O. Disney, 78, American studio executive and co-founder, with his brother, of The Walt Disney Company.

He's frozen, too.

U.S. President Nixon commuted the 13-year prison sentence of Jimmy Hoffa

Imagine, if he hadn't done that, Jimmy Hoffa would be alive today. Of course, if Jimmy Hoffa was alive today he'd be dead.

A 17-year-old girl, Juliane Koepcke, survived after falling into the Amazon rainforest while strapped to her seat, and walked through the jungle for the next 10 days until she was rescued by local lumbermen.

This is an amazing story. She grew up to be a scientist, like her parents.

"Tightrope Ride," The Doors

This is interesting. It's definitely got that Doors sound, aside from the substitute vocalist.

"Truckin'," The Grateful Dead

Here's a Grateful Dead song that I like a lot.

"Levon," Elton John

A decent Elton Oldie. The weird thing about this song is that I don't remember ever hearing it until sometime in the 80s and it became the most played Elton song on the radio (it seems to me). If an Elton song comes on the radio, chances are it's "Levon."

"Black Dog," Led Zeppelin

I think nostalgia is winning out over my general Led Zep ambivalence.

"Never Been to Spain," Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night. 'nuff said.

No comment on the Grinch?

Oh, I love the Grinch. I love Dr Seuss in general. He's one of the most original and eccentric creators of the century. The adaptation is pretty much perfection.

Well it's not really a Tom Jones song, just his version of a country song that had been recorded by a few other artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis, before Tom got ahold of it.

I guess I must have known that at one time.

Technically Areel Shaw was the Burger. Stone was on the tribunal, wasn't he? Basically the judge.

I think you're right. I remember her saying something about it being her duty to take him down in flames, or words to that effect.

 

[The Old Mixer]

55 Years Ago This Week Overflow Special

Also recent and new on the chart the week of December 24, 1966:

"East West," Herman's Hermits

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Dec. 3; #27 US; #37 UK)

"I've Passed This Way Before," Jimmy Ruffin

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Dec. 3; #17 US; #10 R&B; #29 UK)

"Where Will the Words Come From?," Gary Lewis & the Playboys

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Dec. 17; #21 US)

"How Do You Catch a Girl," Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Dec. 24; #27 US)

"It's Now Winter's Day," Tommy Roe

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

(Dec. 24; #23 US)

_______

This is interesting. It's definitely got that Doors sound, aside from the substitute vocalist.

First, I have to say that while he was never threatening to compete with Jim for rock icon status, Ray Manzarek was an extremely talented guy who was no stranger to subbing for Jim. He used to fill in on vocals at gigs when Jim was too under the influence to go on, while still doing keyboard with one hand and keyboard bass with the other. And I wanna give the band benefit of the doubt about having their own cathartic issues to work out regarding Jim...the song is all about him. But in immersive retro context...this seems a little too soon.

I've never listened to the two post-Jim albums that they made. They weren't available in the digital age until relatively recently. I do have this track from a CD box set that they put out in the '90s.

Here's a Grateful Dead song that I like a lot.

This appears to be the single version, though it's not explicitly labeled as such, which I've read has some notable differences from the album version besides being a shorter edit, though I haven't listened to them side-by-side. Even the compilation I originally bought "Truckin'" from used the album version.

A decent Elton Oldie. The weird thing about this song is that I don't remember ever hearing it until sometime in the 80s and it became the most played Elton song on the radio (it seems to me). If an Elton song comes on the radio, chances are it's "Levon."

This would be my least favorite of Elton's early singles. I'm sure that the pretentiousness is deliberate, but it still turns me off.

I think nostalgia is winning out over my general Led Zep ambivalence.

If I'd realized this was coming up so soon as a charting single, I wouldn't have gone out of my way to bring it up recently. This is the opening track of the album popularly known as Led Zeppelin IV, though officially the album was untitled. It's the album best known for giving us non-single "Stairway to Heaven".

Three Dog Night. 'nuff said.

Kinda low key and obscure as their major hits go. They get points for the Beatles reference.

Oh, I love the Grinch. I love Dr Seuss in general. He's one of the most original and eccentric creators of the century. The adaptation is pretty much perfection.

I was never that into the special, though it was still annual appointment viewing when I was a kid, and as an early reader, I devoured all the Dr. Seuss I could get my hands on.

Another note about watching Get Back...it's amazing to see the Beatles here, so close to the end of the group, with all that monumental history behind them, and realize how young they still were. In January 1969, Ringo and John were 28; Paul was 26; and George was still 25, though he was the closest to his birthday.

 

[The Old Mixer]

My wife confused little Heather's singing with Yoko's.

Got into Book III of the saga but wasn't able to finish before it was time to go; caught that part. It looked like Heather was actually imitating Yoko, who'd just been doing her thing while Heather was there.

ETA: I just now see that Decades is doing a Monkees Binge, which I'm pretty sure was not previously scheduled.

 

[gblews]

Didn't catch the part where John was mocking "I Me Mine," unless you meant the waltzing with Yoko. I think the more immediate cause of George's departure was Paul's bossiness, as I've always heard. John mocking songs is pretty much a through-line in the sessions though...he's doing it left and right, including with his own. Whatever set George off, you could see it in his face when they were running through "Two of Us," just before he walked ou

You should watch that part again. George demos I Me Mine and John immediately begins mocking the song. John ends up saying “this is a rock and roll band,” which of course means that John thought the song was not a proper Beatles song. George’s reaction is a bit of a “moan” or the start of an explanation of the song.

I don’t think I said that John’s attack on George’s song was the sole reason for him quitting, but the fact that he left shortly after that incident is pretty good indication that it was a major cause of the departure. Keep in mind, after George returns, Paul stays bossy, but John doesn’t publicly mock any more of George’s songs.

Yes, we know John didn’t like some of Paul’s songs, but as I said, John doesn’t publicly ridicule any of them in the way he did it to George. We see them all, including John, treat Maxwells like it was Eleanor Rigby.

But, no doubt both John and Paul were to blame for George leaving. I’v heard interviews where George talks about how P and J’s main interests were getting their own songs on albums. neither was ever willing to help him with any of his songs.

 

[scotpens]

. . .How the Grinch Stole Christmas, based on the book by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) and narrated by Boris Karloff, was shown for the first time on CBS, beginning an annual Christmas tradition in the United States. "As a result of the television version," an author would note later, "adults and children renewed their love of Seussian tales and bought his books in record-breaking numbers." Geisel initially rejected an offer by his friend, animator Chuck Jones, to adapt the book to an animated cartoon; his wife Helen Geisel persuaded him to reconsider.

There's a lot of similarity in the drawing styles of Dr. Seuss and Chuck Jones, especially the way they both drew characters with pear-shaped faces. I wonder who influenced whom.

 

[RJDiogenes]

"East West," Herman's Hermits

Nice little song.

"I've Passed This Way Before," Jimmy Ruffin

I haven't heard this in forever. It's a pretty good one.

"Where Will the Words Come From?," Gary Lewis & the Playboys

Minor, but decent.

"How Do You Catch a Girl," Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs

Cute.

"It's Now Winter's Day," Tommy Roe

Now here's some nice lyrics that could use a better singer.

First, I have to say that while he was never threatening to compete with Jim for rock icon status, Ray Manzarek was an extremely talented guy who was no stranger to subbing for Jim.

Oh, yeah, he was fine. I should have specified that.

And I wanna give the band benefit of the doubt about having their own cathartic issues to work out regarding Jim...the song is all about him. But in immersive retro context...this seems a little too soon.

I'm sure it messed with their heads quite a bit.

This would be my least favorite of Elton's early singles. I'm sure that the pretentiousness is deliberate, but it still turns me off.

I like it okay, but give me some "Philadelphia Freedom" or "Island Girl" once in a while.

It's the album best known for giving us non-single "Stairway to Heaven".

I've mellowed quite a bit on Led Zep, but I don't think I'll ever like "Stairway to Heaven."

Kinda low key and obscure as their major hits go. They get points for the Beatles reference.

It's funny that it's become obscure. It's one of their defining songs in my memory.

I was never that into the special, though it was still annual appointment viewing when I was a kid, and as an early reader, I devoured all the Dr. Seuss I could get my hands on.

Ditto. And I now own the hardcover collections.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

5

December 24

• LANSA Flight 508 crashed in a thunderstorm in Peru while en route from Lima to Pucallpa, on a multistop flight to Iquitos, killing 90 of the 91 people aboard.[82] A 17-year-old girl, Juliane Koepcke, survived after falling into the Amazon rainforest while strapped to her seat, and walked through the jungle for the next 10 days until she was rescued by local lumbermen. Those killed in the crash included Juliane's mother, noted ornithologist Maria Koepcke.

Koepcke's story was the subject of several documentaries (including one from Werner Herzog, who was supposed to be a passenger on Flight 508, but narrowly missed it--probably saving his life), and a 1974 film titled Miracles Still Happen, which would enjoy constant, annual airings on TV for at least a decade after its theatrical release.

 

[The Old Mixer]

_______

50th Anniversary Viewing (Part 1)

_______

Adam-12
"The Dinosaur"
Originally aired December 15, 1971

Officer Art McCall (played by Warren Stevens) returns from eight years on disability and rides with Malloy and Reed to see how much has changed in law enforcement. McCall soon learns exactly how much has changed when he tries illegal techniques to help a young woman with her ex-con husband, fails to Mirandize a boy after arresting him for robbery, and screws up an arrest of a gun-carrying man who later plants a bomb in his ex-wife's car, which requires Malloy to dress down the veteran officer on his use of antiquated (and illegal) police procedures. Heather North (the voice of Daphne in the Scooby-Doo cartoons) also guest stars.

When McCall reports for roll call, Malloy tells Reed that he was "one of the best policemen that ever walked a beat. He's a legend." He also says that McCall "died" eight years ago saving another officer's life. Malloy elaborates that after taking three bullets, McCall was clinically dead for three minutes, but was revived and ultimately recovered. At first McCall seems good-humored about having to familiarize himself with new equipment, but makes the mistake of assuming that procedures haven't changed much.

The three-man patrol, with McCall in back, responds to a call about a man assaulting a woman. The caller, Shirley Young (Heather North) from Oregon, is clearly used to having to answer police questions identifying herself and her ex-husband, Frank, who spent two years in an Oregon penitentiary for trying to kill her on the road. Malloy tries to convince her to get a restraining order, which she asserts hasn't helped before, and tells her that there's not much they can do until her ex does something. In the car, Reed and McCall start to butt heads, and Malloy has to explain to Art that search and seizure procedures have changed, and they have to consider the suspect's civil rights.

Next they get a call about a 459 silent at a warehouse. Reed explains to McCall that a gang of juveniles has been at work there. McCall chases a getaway car driver outside, while Malloy and Reed search the inside, finding a couple of teenagers going through a crate. The kids try to evade capture, but are apprehended and read their rights. McCall returns with the driver, whom he identifies by name and as the planner of the jobs, and from whom he's received a confession regarding the previous nine burglaries. Then Reed and Malloy learn that the kid was never read his rights, which Malloy promptly attempts to rectify, but this "legal hogwash," as McCall dismisses is, has made the kid's testimony useless.

Back at the station, Reed confronts Malloy about needing to talk to McCall, which Malloy understands, while expressing confidence that McCall will come through and ribbing Jim about how he had to be broken in.

Back on patrol, the officers go to check out Shirley Young's house, and a car promptly pulls away from the curb in front of them. McCall is incredulous to learn that the driver will probably get a warning rather than a ticket. While Malloy and Reed handle that, McCall spots Frank Young (Del Monroe) walking by and stops and frisks him, finding a gun, which is a felony as he's an ex-con. But because McCall didn't talk to him first, Mac declares at the station that Young has to be let go.

The officers visit Shirley Young again, and McCall personally offers to do whatever he can because he loused up Frank's arrest. As Shirley starts her car, it explodes. She's taken to the hospital, still alive, and the officers and Mac surround Frank's house to arrest him. Despite Mac having to warn Art not to get personal, McCall has to be held back from assaulting Young.

Back at the station, Art blames Mac for letting Young go, and Pete has to gently advise Art that he was the one responsible for Frank Young being set free, and further says that he can't support Art staying in the force. Pete says that Art was a great cop and that's the way he'd like to remember him; and when asked if he's been happy since returning to the job, Art admits that he's never been more miserable in his life.

This episode was probably laying on the "following proper procedures schtick" a bit thick, but I found it to be a particularly timely episode with Dirty Harry's release just around the corner. I wonder if the content of the film was in the air and Webb wanted to make a counter-argument, though he wasn't the writer. (Ozzie Nelson was the director, however.)

_______

The Partridge Family
"Don't Bring Your Guns to Town, Santa"
Originally aired December 17, 1971

When their bus breaks down in a ghost town, it looks like the family will miss Christmas, so a prospector entertains them with a Christmas tale set in the Old West.

While the band is trying to get home from a Vegas gig on Christmas Eve day, the bus breaks down on the edge of a ghost town. The requisite, mule-accompanied resident prospector, Charlie (Dean Jagger), pops up. Rather than showing them the jail, he treats the rest of the family to hot chocolate while Keith and Reuben try to fix the engine. Charlie starts to tell a story about how the first settlers a century prior used a bell on Christmas Eve to guide Santa to their new settlement.

This transitions into a fantasy sequence that gives us the usual sitcom thing of the regulars playing other characters. Keith's the town sheriff and troubadour, inept in both roles; Shirley runs a kid-friendly saloon that serves milk and candy; Laurie's the school marm; Reuben's the notorious black-clad stranger who rides into town, described as the meanest man in the West, and who nabs the bell from its tower. When Sheriff Keith proves ineffective in doing his duty, the white-clad hero rides in--Danny, known as Little the Kid. Danny challenges Reuben to cards for the bell. Danny's final hand wins, but Reuben resorts to pulling his gun. Midnight strikes with Reuben still holding the bell, but the locals in the saloon hear what's identified as reindeer singing (sounds more like chipmunks), and rush outside to find a decorated tree with presents under it. Then Reuben goes into the "pity me, I never got presents" gig, and Shirley offers the bell to him as a gift...but Reuben won't accept it and gives it back to the townsfolk, and everyone goes back inside to celebrate.

Cut back to the present, with the bus having been fixed. The Partridges say their goodbyes to Charlie and he settles in for another lonely Christmas Eve. Then he hears a bell ringing and goes outside to see a new silver one in the tower in place of the aged original; and is serenaded by the Partridges singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and bearing gifts. Goshdarnit, I didn't see that coming and it really got me where it counts.

The coda has the Partridges and Reuben back at home for Chirstmas Day, and ending the episode by briefly singing a "Merry Christmas" to the audience.

_______

The Odd Couple
"Surprise, Surprise!"
Originally aired December 17, 1971

Felix's plan to hold his daughter's birthday party at the apartment clashes with Oscar's big poker game.

They're really going all-out to bring in all the family members this season, aren't they? Felix comes home prepping for his daughter Edna's 10th birthday to find out that Oscar's hosting a poker game with fellow sports writers from all over the country. Oscar is unwilling to cancel his engagement, so Felix relents on the condition that Oscar watch Edna while he gets a cake and a clown for the party, which will be relocated to the park. Edna arrives (Pamelyn Ferdin), and Felix goes to hire Sherman the Clown (Hal Smith). Edna, who takes more after Felix than the son does, doesn't get along with Oscar, and is horrified by his room. Felix returns, Oscar gets in the way of finishing the cake, and we cut to the poker game. It starts to rain outside, and Felix arrives with Edna and her guests, the cake, and the clown.

Oscar agrees to take the game into his room, which the poker guys take it in stride, and the party starts to spill into there as Sherman joins the game and Edna wanders in during Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Felix is outraged at Sherman's dereliction of duty, drags him back out, and tries to guilt him with a speech...so Sherman starts a game of Hide and Go Seek in order to sneak back to the game. Ultimately the game moves to Sherman's office, and Felix is at a loss for entertaining the girls, boring them with a story and driving Edna to tears with a singalong. Then Oscar appears in Sherman's clown outfit to save the party. The episode ends with Edna pleased with both her birthday and Uncle Oscar.

_______

Love, American Style
"Love and the Particular Girl / Love and the Fountain of Youth / Love and the House Bachelor / Love and the Waitress"
Originally aired December 17, 1971

"Love and the Particular Girl" opens with Paul (Norm Alden) bringing home dowdy Helen (Stefanie Powers in glasses with her hair up) from a blind date. When he tries to make moves on her, she gives him a judo toss. Helen lives with her mother, Mrs. Cooper (Agnes Moorehead), who nags her about finding a husband; but Helen's more invested in advancing the degree of her black belt. Helen's next date is a lawyer named Jack (Dick Van Patten), who also makes moves on her; she tries to hold herself back, but ends up defending herself against him, too. Helen's mother then introduces her to a CPA named Morton (Dennis Allen) and leaves them alone in the apartment. Helen acts very defensive from the start, perceiving bad intent in innocent behavior, which is compounded by a physical accident that has her toss him, too. But this date tosses back, and Helen's face lights up at finally having found the right guy. As they square off for more, Mrs. Cooper comes home to declare that she'll book the gym for a wedding.

"Love and the Fountain of Youth" has Joe (Billy Sands) trying to talk some sense into his roommate, Charlie (Richard Deacon), about seeing a younger woman, but Charlie just decides that he has to dress and act younger, which includes acquiring not just a gaudily hip outfit, but a wig. Charlie has a date, Louise (Anne Archer), and a young couple, Fred (Rick Gates) and Mary (Patti Chandler), over, but starts to feel out of his element and ends up throwing his back out while trying to dance. Fred leaves with Mary after calling Charlie "Pop". When Charlie tries to get serious with Louise, she says that she wants him to meet her mother, and only after she leaves does he realize what she meant. Louis brings Harriett (Peg Shirley) over, and she and Charlie start to hit it off right away, sharing an interest in Tommy Dorsey and reminiscing about old times. Charlie removes his wig and decides to start enjoying his age.

In "Love and the House Bachelor," Stanley (Paul Lynde) has been the nightly guest of his friend Don Prescott (Van Johnson) and Don's wife, Joyce (Sue Ane Langdon), for the year since Don and Joyce got married. They try to keep him away for their anniversary, but he assumes that he's going to be part of the celebration; and when they drop the hint that they want to be alone, to Stanley that means eating in the living room and watching TV. After Stanley ends up staying the night, the couple agree that Don has to have a talk with Stanley, but Don doesn't have the heart when Stan gets into how they've known each other since they were kids on the playground. Instead, Don hatches a plan to drive Stanley away by pretending that he and Joyce have adapted a new astronaut diet of concentrated meals in the form of pills; and by asking him not to turn on the TV or make any other noise after dinner while he and Joyce play chess. Stan finally slips out and the couple look forward to enjoying some alone time...but Stan just returns with a pizza for himself. Then the Prescotts' attractive young next-door neighbor, Tina (Kathy Kersh), comes to the door because she's blown a fuse; the Prescotts can see that Stan's interested in her, and send him to help Tina. Just when Don and Joyce think they'll finally have an evening to themselves, Stan drops in with Tina, declaring how it'll now be dinner for four every night!

In "Love and the Waitress," Paul (Bob Crane) brings Blanche (Sherry Jackson) to a restaurant and is surprised to find his ex-wife, Ethel (Abby Dalton), waiting their table. Ethel tramples all over Paul's attempt to propose to Blanche, and while Blanche accepts, Paul's put off when the aspiring actress, who's more interested in meeting the right producer or casting director, wants to wear the ring on a chain around her neck because she doesn't want to put up a "keep off the grass" sign. After a little more Ethel-enabled friction, Blanche calls off the engagement by calling another guy (presumably in the business) to pick her up. After she leaves, Paul and Ethel start to reconnect, and we learn that she paid the maître d' (Lewis Charles) to let her act like she was working there as a ruse to lure Paul back in.

_______

You should watch that part again. George demos I Me Mine and John immediately begins mocking the song. John ends up saying “this is a rock and roll band,” which of course means that John thought the song was not a proper Beatles song. George’s reaction is a bit of a “moan” or the start of an explanation of the song.

I will. A timestamp would be helpful, if you could.

Yes, we know John didn’t like some of Paul’s songs, but as I said, John doesn’t publicly ridicule any of them in the way he did it to George. We see them all, including John, treat Maxwells like it was Eleanor Rigby.

John's mocking songs during rehearsals left and right, including that take of Paul's "Teddy Boy," which is here, in which he breaks into square dance instructions.

Nice little song.

Hasn't made much of an impression. Looking it up, it was written by Graham Gouldman, who wrote a lot of hits for the Yardbirds, the Hollies, and the Hermits in this era, and would later be in 10cc.

I haven't heard this in forever. It's a pretty good one.

Definitely the strongest and most memorable of this odd bunch.

Minor, but decent.

This one sounds like they're going for a Beach Boys vibe.

Cute.

Enjoy, it's this oddball act's last Top 40 hit.

Now here's some nice lyrics that could use a better singer.

Yeah, probably. But look, he managed to slip a holiday-themed song onto the main chart!

Oh, yeah, he was fine. I should have specified that.

I was saying that more for myself than in response to what you said; as in, that was already going to be my lead-in.

I've mellowed quite a bit on Led Zep, but I don't think I'll ever like "Stairway to Heaven."

Is it overexposure, or did you always dislike it?

 

[DarrenTR1970]

What I find interesting about the John/George dynamic is that while John mocked and from the 'White Album' onwards, didn't participate in any of George's recordings, after the break-up George was more than happy to help and appear on John's album 'Imagine'.
The two times that George asked for help from John post break-up, the Concert for Bangla-Desh and the final night of the 'Dark Horse' tour; in the case of the Concert for Bangla-Desh, John responded by fleeing the country, and, the final night of the Dark Horse tour, by simply refusing to answer the phone in his apartment.
It was Paul, of all people, who brokered a peace between the two; and the three met up the following night for dinner and made up.
But the damge had been done and John and George would never see or speak to each other again; except for the odd postcard/letter.

Hasn't made much of an impression. Looking it up, it was written by Graham Gouldman, who wrote a lot of hits for the Yardbirds, the Hollies, and the Hermits in this era, and would later be in 10cc.

Looking through my 10CC biography 'The Worst Band In The World', Graham wrote that song while still living with his parents and working at his father's clothing store. The song was produced by John Paul Jones (of 'Led Zeppelin'), who also played bass on the recording.

 

[RJDiogenes]

"The Dinosaur"

I resemble that remark.

When McCall reports for roll call, Malloy tells Reed that he was "one of the best policemen that ever walked a beat. He's a legend."

But now there are cars.

Malloy tries to convince her to get a restraining order, which she asserts hasn't helped before

Tough to argue with that, but it should always be done.

McCall returns with the driver, whom he identifies by name and as the planner of the jobs, and from whom he's received a confession regarding the previous nine burglaries.

"He also promised to get a haircut."

this "legal hogwash,"

I admit to liking the word "hogwash."

But because McCall didn't talk to him first, Mac declares at the station that Young has to be let go.

I'm kind of with McCall on this one.

The officers visit Shirley Young again, and McCall personally offers to do whatever he can because he loused up Frank's arrest. As Shirley starts her car, it explodes. She's taken to the hospital, still alive, and the officers and Mac surround Frank's house to arrest him. Despite Mac having to warn Art not to get personal, McCall has to be held back from assaulting Young.

He's the Malloy of the previous generation-- the same dedication, but without the discipline.

This episode was probably laying on the "following proper procedures schtick" a bit thick, but I found it to be a particularly timely episode with Dirty Harry's release just around the corner.

Maybe it was a backdoor pilot for Dirty Art. Well, maybe with a different title.

I wonder if the content of the film was in the air and Webb wanted to make a counter-argument, though he wasn't the writer.

I wouldn't be surprised. I wonder if Webb and Eastwood knew each other.

The requisite, mule-accompanied resident prospector, Charlie (Dean Jagger)

Too bad it wasn't Jim Backus.

This transitions into a fantasy sequence that gives us the usual sitcom thing of the regulars playing other characters.

Interesting. Seems like a weird gimmick for Partridge Family to use.

the locals in the saloon hear what's identified as reindeer singing (sounds more like chipmunks)

It's the Doppler Effect. Those suckers are fast.

Then he hears a bell ringing and goes outside to see a new silver one in the tower in place of the aged original; and is serenaded by the Partridges singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and bearing gifts. Goshdarnit, I didn't see that coming and it really got me where it counts.

Where would the Partridges get a silver bell and gifts for an old prospector that they never met before? I think Santa's elves are shapeshifters.

They're really going all-out to bring in all the family members this season, aren't they?

I was about to say.

Felix goes to hire Sherman the Clown

Probably would have gotten a higher class of clown if he had done this in advance of party day.

Then Oscar appears in Sherman's clown outfit to save the party. The episode ends with Edna pleased with both her birthday and Uncle Oscar.

Oscar always saves the day, after ruining it.

dowdy Helen (Stefanie Powers in glasses with her hair up)

I'm having a hard time imagining Stefanie Powers as dowdy.

Mrs. Cooper (Agnes Moorehead)

Endora! That guy doesn't know how lucky he is.

Jack (Dick Van Patten)

Friar Tuck. Also that guy on Eight is Enough.

But this date tosses back, and Helen's face lights up at finally having found the right guy. As they square off for more, Mrs. Cooper comes home to declare that she'll book the gym for a wedding.

The right people always find each other in the Love, American Style-verse.

Charlie removes his wig and decides to start enjoying his age.

Love, American Style even loves those over 30.

Stanley (Paul Lynde)

Paul Lynde.

Just when Don and Joyce think they'll finally have an evening to themselves, Stan drops in with Tina, declaring how it'll now be dinner for four every night!

Love, American Style is not above messing with people once in a while.

Blanche (Sherry Jackson)

Wow, Stefanie Powers, Sue Anne Langdon, and Sherry Jackson all in one episode.

After she leaves, Paul and Ethel start to reconnect, and we learn that she paid the maître d' (Lewis Charles) to let her act like she was working there as a ruse to lure Paul back in.

Love, American Style believes that all's fair.

Enjoy, it's this oddball act's last Top 40 hit.

Aw, they're a fun bunch.

Is it overexposure, or did you always dislike it?

"Stairway" is one of two songs (along with "Freebird") that always reminds me of the worst elements of junior high and high school.

What I find interesting about the John/George dynamic is that while John mocked and from the 'White Album' onwards, didn't participate in any of George's recordings, after the break-up George was more than happy to help and appear on John's album 'Imagine'.

George was a really nice guy.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

I forgot to mention this in last night's post and I didn't want to edit so here it goes -
10CC is one of the few bands to have three number one singles with three different lead singers - Rubber Bullets (Lol Creme), I'm Not In Love (Eric Stewart), and Dreadlock Holiday (Graham Gouldman).

 

[The Old Mixer]

_______

50th Anniversary Viewing (Part 2)

_______

All in the Family
"Christmas Day at the Bunkers'"
Originally aired December 18, 1971

Archie is not feeling happy at Christmas due to a mistake at work that cost him his bonus.

The episode opens with the family enjoying a turkey Christmas dinner. Archie gets defensive when Mike and Gloria have a smooching moment and Edith sighs in his direction.

Edith: I'm sorry, I musta done it unconscious.
Archie: That's the way you go through life, Edith.​

When Edith says that it doesn't feel like Christmas, Mike takes the opportunity to jump on his soapbox about big business and Madison Avenue. It shows that Archie's in a bad mood, and Mike points to the scrawny little Charlie Brown-style tree that he brought home as evidence, at which point Archie mentions that his company didn't give bonuses this year. The others try to get him in the spirit with a family singalong tradition, but he's obviously not into it. Carolers come to the door and Edith gives them something. Mike incidentally mentions how his family used to get a big tree from Ontario, and Archie goes off about what Mike meant by that and starts talking about having mixed up London, Ontario, for the better-known London. Then he complains about what Mike and Gloria got him, but drifts into how he used his first Christmas bonus to get Gloria a beautiful China doll that she wanted...but Gloria doesn't remember it and it turns out that Archie drunkenly broke it while bringing it home. The milkman, Wilbur (Noam Pitlik), comes by fishing for a Christmas tip, and mentions how Archie's firm gave out generous bonuses this year (based on his other tips). The others want an explanation, but Archie denies it.

Archie hears carolers again and opens the door yelling at them, only to find a nun there. Afterward the subject changes to religion, and Mike gets into how Jesus being the son of God was a fairy tale. Archie displays some theological ignorance before the bell rings and he finds Henry Jefferson in a Santa suit, accompanied by Louise and Lionel bearing a fruitcake. The Bunkers serve egg nog and Henry helps himself to Archie's chair. Archie gets defensive when the ladies start talking about the gifts that they got, and Archie and Henry get into a brief argument about what color Santa Claus is supposed to be before Mike and Gloria accompany the Jeffersons to the youth center where Henry's playing Santa for the kids. Once she's alone with Archie, Edith expresses her understanding that he didn't get his bonus because of the London shipment mistake he made at the plant, having put together what happened.

In the coda Archie's acting more in the spirit...but not enough to let Mike sit in his chair.

_______

The Mary Tyler Moore Show
"Ted Over Heels"
Originally aired December 18, 1971

Ted falls in love with the daughter of Chuckles the Clown.

Betty Bowerchuck (Arlene Golonka) comes into the newsroom to gather information for a morning show that Ted's supposed to be appearing on the next day, and it comes out that he's appearing on Chuckles's show...as well as that Betty is the clown's daughter. Betty acts starstruck at the sight of Ted, which he quickly takes an interest in. Following his appearance on the show, Ted comes in wearing a false mustache and asks Mary if he can borrow a rose on her desk. Over dinner, Rhoda speculates that Ted's in love. Ted takes another rose from Mary's desk when she's not around. Lou's put out that the higher-ups are asking him about Ted's mustache, which accidentally slipped partway off during a broadcast, and Betty pops into the newsroom to thank Ted for Mary's rose.

Sometime later Betty confides in Mary (and Rhoda, who's in the newsroom following lunch) that she's been seeing Ted for two weeks--secretly, because of a company policy Ted told her about that Mary isn't aware of. Mary invites the two of them over for dinner and Ted--by now sporting a naturally grown mustache--arrives ahead of Betty. Mary questions Ted about lying to Betty regarding the rule, and it turns out that he's insecure about potentially being dumped. He resolves to tell Betty how he feels...which he does when she arrives, after stumbling over doing so and kissing her.

In the coda, Lou shares the results of viewer tests regarding Ted's mustache, and it turns out that nobody likes it, including Betty...whom we'll apparently never see again.

_______

Mission: Impossible
"The Connection"
Originally aired December 18, 1971

In order to take down the largest supplier of uncut heroin on the eastern seaboard (Anthony Zerbe) and uncover his opium source, the IMF makes him believe an island off the coast of Georgia is really off the coast of Africa.

A man named Dolan (Anthony Zerbe) shows up for a meeting with a drug lord named Clegg (Joe Maross) in place of a man whom Dolan implies he disposed of, offering to fill a heroin order in the other man's place.

Good morning, Mister Phelps. This is a photograph of Reece Dolan, who recently became the prime supplier of uncut heroin on the eastern seaboard. With an island base off the coast of Northwest Africa, Dolan plans to set up a unique and efficient new channel of manufacturing and distribution, which will be virtually impossible to detect or prosecute through conventional enforcement means. Your mission, Jim, if you decide to accept it, is to identify Dolan's overseas raw opium source and his U.S. buyer, nullify Dolan's operation, and provide authorities with enough hard evidence to convict them all. This record will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim!

Clegg assigns a man named Finch (Bruce Watson) to secretly keep an eye on Dolan because of the monetary investment involved. Jim and Barney meet Dolan at an airport to take him and his flunkies, Bates and Page (Michael Lane and Jeff Morris), in a private plane (which Finch stows aboard) to the chateau on the island of Malot that Dolan's arranged to stay at. Jim and Barney fill the plane with gas, which puts out Finch as well. Jim changes the known-of passengers' watches to account for the time zone difference. The passengers awake in time for landing, where Casey, posing as the owner of the chateau, meets them. (IMFers doing bad accents again in this one, including Outrageously French Jim.) Finch also sneaks off, watches Barney take off, and checks his watch, which hasn't been altered.

An doctored car and road sign take the party to Madame Casey's chateau. (For an island, this place has a pretty big mountainside in the background.) Dolan & co. inspect the drug-manufacturing equipment in the cellar and Casey discusses the payment. Dolan makes a call to Istanbul via an IMF switchboard operator named Simone (Françoise Ruggieri), who's operating from a secret room adjacent to the drug lab. Bates and Page get bored and want to go into the village at night, so they try to strongarm Monsieur Jim for his keys, but he knocks them both down a peg with fisticuffs. Page takes a stroll outside, is questioned by Finch via a knife to his throat about their supposed whereabouts, and is ultimately fatally stabbed while attempting to fight back. When his body is found, it tips the IMF off that they have an unexpected guest on the island.

Finch gets into the chateau and goes after Casey, but Jim hears the struggle and drives him away. Barney makes the delivery flight to the island and the manufacturing commences. Dolan next calls Clegg (the distributor) in New York, while Finch watches from concealment. Willy drives Bates and the goods to the plane, but they're stopped by fake French police along the way and Willy delivers the shipment to Clegg in Bates's place. Dolan gets a call from his supplier in Istanbul wanting to know where his plane and money are. Istanbul then calls Clegg directly, suspecting a double-cross on Dolan's part, and Willy is roughed up and questioned. He maintains his cover and feeds them planned information.

Willy takes Clegg and his hoods to Barney's plane, which they commandeer at gunpoint. While Barney uses the gas to subdue them, Finch wanders around the island and finds evidence that he's in Georgia. He finds a phone booth and tries to call Clegg, to learn that he's supposedly on the way to Malot. Barney takes the plane to Fake Malot, Casey meets the now-awake visitors and Clegg is taken to Dolan. Casey makes like Willy was a rogue element in her and Dolan's scheme to double-cross Clegg. Meanwhile, Finch has made his way back into the chateau and confronts Jim at gunpoint in the drug lab. Simone rings a bell to distract Finch, a struggle with Jim ensues, and Finch is killed by his own gun going off. Clegg and Dolan rush down to the cellar to find Finch's body, then hear approaching sirens. The baddies are hauled away by Georgia troopers while the IMFers reunite at the airfield and take off in their plane.

In case it shows, this was one in which I had trouble following the nooks and crannies of the scheme.

_______

in the case of the Concert for Bangla-Desh, John responded by fleeing the country

Would you care to elaborate on this? Doing a quick look-up in The Beatles Day by Day turns up UK activities by the Ono Lennons on surrounding dates. They still lived in the UK at the time and hadn't moved to New York yet. The Concert for Bangladesh was in New York.

The song was produced by John Paul Jones (of 'Led Zeppelin'), who also played bass on the recording.

There's something to rub in to the headbangers.

I'm kind of with McCall on this one.

Me too, as they didn't adequately explain what he should have done.

Where would the Partridges get a silver bell and gifts for an old prospector that they never met before? I think Santa's elves are shapeshifters.

Now what I was expecting when he heard the bell was just for the appearance of a new bell to be an unexplained Christmas miracle...that the Partridges were responsible and had returned to share a proper Christmas Eve with him was the heart-tugging surprise. I'm willing to give the show some Christmas miracle license on how the Partridges accomplished it. Maybe Jim Phelps owed them a favor.

I'm having a hard time imagining Stefanie Powers as dowdy.

A quick image search turned up this screencap.

"Stairway" is one of two songs (along with "Freebird") that always reminds me of the worst elements of junior high and high school.

I can see that. It's a pity, because taken separately from its fans and its overexposure, it's a fine piece of music.

 

[Nerys Myk]

A quick image search turned up this screencap.

The old glasses routine.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

Would you care to elaborate on this? Doing a quick look-up in The Beatles Day by Day turns up UK activities by the Ono Lennons on surrounding dates. They still lived in the UK at the time and hadn't moved to New York yet. The Concert for Bangladesh was in New York.

Okay, this is pieced together from three different sources - 'Fab Four FAQ2', 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Songs of George Harrison)', and 'The Beatles on Apple Records'.

It's late-May/early June 1971 and George is beginning work producing Badfinger's 'Straight Up' album at Apple Studio as well as taking the time to lend a hand with John's 'Imagine' album at John's home in Tittenhurst.

After completing four songs, Ravi Shankar approached George about the situation in Bangla-Desh, and asked George with help in producing a single and helping stage a benefit concert showcasing Ravi's Indian music as well as the plight in
Bangla-Desh.

Realizing that a single and concert featuring Indian music might not go over well with the general public, George agreed to write and produce his own single as well as stage a benefit concert with some of his fellow musicians.

The first order of business is to secure a venue for the concert. Madison Square Garden is contacted and the owners agree to put on the concert. The problem is that the only available dates for the concert are July 31 and August 1; six weeks away.

The second order of business is to write and release the song 'Bangla-Desh'; with the proceeds from the sale of the single going to charity. Enlisting the help of Leon Russell, Klaus Voormann, Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Billy Preston, Jim Horn and produced by Phil Spector; the single is recorded July 4-5 and out to the stores July 28.

George's initial idea is to reunite with his ex-Beatles onstage for the concert; either as a group, or solo spots.

Paul, although sympathetic to the plight, says 'No', because of the ongoing legal wrangling and because he is rehearsing and recording with his new band 'Wings' and getting ready to take them out on the road.

Ringo is slow to accept the invitation as he is busy filming the spaghetti western 'Blindman', in which he plays a major role; only flying out to New York a day or so before the concert after shooting wrapped on the movie.

Blindman - YouTube

John eagerly accepted George's invitation, as a way of saying 'Thank You' for helping on his 'Imagine' album.

It was only after George said that it was to be John only and no Yoko onstage screaming and caterwauling and that he would gladly provide her front row seats to the concert that an argument ensued between John and Yoko. Caught between Yoko and George, John opted out and flew to Europe.

 

[The Old Mixer]

TBDBD has John and Yoko participating in public events in London on July 19 and August 11. It tends to cover international trips, and there's no indication that they were ever in New York or on the continent between those dates. However, the Beatles Bible entry for the concert says that John had been in New York a couple days before the concert and quotes John saying that he and Yoko were staying in the Virgin Islands at the time of the concert.

ETA: Beatlesdaily.com indicates that John and Yoko were in the Virgin Islands on July 24 attempting to gain custody of Kyoko.