Baby Boomer Remembers

The Twilight Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:35:00 +0000

In the 1960s, I remember watching this spooky 30 minute black & white tv show called the Twilight Zone. Rod Sertling was the host of the show. He would always appear at the beginning of the show to give a brief introduction to the story. At the end of the show, he would return to say they entered into the twilight zone.

My favorite episode was the one with William Shatner who had a fear of flying, sitting on the plane and when looking out the window, he would see a creature ripping up the plane's wing. But did he really? The episode was titled "Nightmare at 20,000 feet".

Here is the Twilight Zone opening theme song.

Another one of my favorites was titled "Talking Tina" about a little girls talking doll who didn't like her father; played by Telly Savalas.

My other Halloween Posts:

http://babyboomer-remembers.blogspot.com/2010/10/addams-family.html
http://babyboomer-remembers.blogspot.com/2010/10/chiller-theater.html
http://babyboomer-remembers.blogspot.com/2010/10/monster-mash.html

A good site for Halloween movies the whole family will enjoy.
Family Halloween Movies

The Monkees

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:12:00 +0000

In 1966, TV introduced The Monkees; a four member rock & roll band performing their songs to silly skits, similar to the Beatles movie "Help". The show became an instant hit with teens and pre-teens. Their records sold millions with such hits as; "I'm a Believer", "Daydream Believer", " I'm not your Stepping Stone" and "Words" to name a few. I remember being a big fan of theirs in fifth grade. Davy Jones was my favorite and Mickey being my second favorite. The show was nothing but craziness, but who cared backed then; we wanted to watch them sing.

A Scene from their show singing "I'm a Believer"

Here is a clip of the Monkees Intro

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Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:34:00 +0000

The year was 1968 on a Monday Night when millions were glued to the new and original comedy hour of its time called Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. One of the writers and producer of the show was Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live. I guess you can say this was the very first SNL of its kind.

This crazy comedy consisted of witty one liners from the cast and special guests that would appear every week. Phrases like "Sock it to Me", "My Sweet Bippy", "Very Interesting" and "Here Come the Judge" became their trademark. Goldie Hawn got her start on TV with her Go Go Boots and colorful mini dresses that she and other co-star Judy Carn would do a go go dance while telling one-line jokes. Then there was Lily Tomlin doing her telephone operator skit with a nasally voice and a snort. Laugh-In introduced the freakish ukulele singer, Tiny Tim who made the song "Tip Toe thru the Tulips" a hilarious hit.

Here are some clips of the show:

Sonny and Cher

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 01:26:00 +0000

Sonny & Cher (husband and wife duo) in 1965 were labeled the first hippies for their fashion and hairstyles. Their harmonic sound was unique in their own way. Their first hit songs were "The Beat Goes On" and "I've Got You Babe". They made a movie during 1965 called "Good Times" which I remember going to see at the theater. The clothes seamed really strange to me until 1967 when I also dressed in bell bottom pants and tops.
In the early 1970s they had their own variety show, when the girls in my school couldn't wait to see what Cher was wearing every week. Soon after the show was canceled, Cher left to go on her own music career and divorced Sonny. Sometimes, I think she regrets having left Sonny.

Here is a clip of them from 1965.

The Honeymooners - Jackie Gleason

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:36:00 +0000

The great comedy of Jackie Gleason is best memorable as Ralph Kramden of the Honeymooners. It first aired on CBS in 1955 and ended in September 1956. There was a total of 39 episodes, now called the "classic episodes". Today, the Honeymooners is still popular on syndication.

The Original Opening of the Show

Jackie Gleason wrote the original score for the Honeymooners Theme.

The Classic 39 Episodes
These episodes were chosen by Jackie Gleason to air in syndication.

Here is a clip of Norton teaching Ralph the Hucklebuck dance.

The Lost Episodes

In January 1985, Gleason announced the release of an additional group of lost episodes from his private vault.
He sold the broadcast rights of the lost episodes to Viacom, and they were first aired from 1985–1986 as a series of sixty-eight 22-minute episodes on the Showtime cable network. Most of these episodes are in 3 to 5 parts and others are 10 minutes long. Here is a very early sketch from December 7, 1951 with the first actress to play Alice Kramden, called "The Ring Seller".

Ralph and Alice Sing

Rare Duet of Ralph and Alice from one of Jackie Gleason's recordings for the Honeymooners.

TVs Valentines Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:59:00 +0000

Looking back to the 1970s I remember two TV shows that was about love and relationships in a humorous fashion. The two are "Love American Style" and "The Love Boat" Every week they >would change the storyline with different guest stars.

Here is the Opening Theme Song from Season 1. The Theme Song was sung by the Cowcills, who had the hit song "Hair" 1969.

The Love Boat was about love and romance aboard a Cruise Ship. Here is the opening of the Show.

Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:11:00 +0000

Dean Martin used to have his own variety show back in the 1960s and early 1970s. During one of his Christmas shows, Dean and Frank sing Dean's classic Christmas Hit, "The Marshmallow World Song" It has a catchy tune to it. Here is the video I found.

Christmas with Dean & Frank

The Turkey Song By Adam Sandler

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:53:00 +0000

Since Thanksgiving is approaching, I wanted to add a little cheer for you. As a long-time fan of SNL through the decades, I remember a song that Adam Sandler did in the 1990's to commence the holiday. Take a listen.

It's presented in a slide show

NBC Peacock

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:07:00 +0000

When the first color TV sets were invented for consumers in 1957, NBC created the colorful peacock to air before a program was featured in living color. It was great to see all the pretty colors on the peacock.

This video shows the original 1957 NBC Peacock.

This is what I remember in 1966, when we bought our first color TV.

Chiller Theater

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 03:24:00 +0000

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Remember when we were kids, we used to watch Chiller Theater on weekend afternoons?
They would show a classic monster movies like Tarantula, The Crawling Eye, The Manster, The Cyclops and the like. John ZACHERLEY, the cool ghoul used to host the show.

Here is a clip of the opening of Chiller Theater of the 1960s.

Here is a clip of the opening of Chiller Theater in color from the 1970s.

This is a real treat to watch.

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The Monster Mash

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:38:00 +0000

Today's topic is the legendary Boris Karloff who was famous for his Frankentein roll in the 1930s. Here is Boris singing the Monster Mash song on a program called Shindig in 1965. The song was originally sung by Bobby (Boris) Picked in the early 1960s and is still popular today at Halloween.

Interview with Boris Karloff's daughter, Sara at Monsterpaluzza in 2009.

Frankenstein

Art Print

Buy at AllPosters.com

The Addams Family

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:35:00 +0000

Since it is Halloween month, I will be posting some eerie, spooky, funny stuff.

Today, I'm remembering the Addams Family TV show from the 1960s. This was always a favorite of mine back then. The characters were; Gomez the cigar smoking father, Morticia the mom in an octopus type dress, Uncle Fester and his light bulb, son Pugsle and daughter Wednesday with her voodoo doll, Grand mama and her wild hair, cousin It who was covered in hair from head to foot wearing only sunglasses, Thing the hand who lived in a box would hand over the mail or the phone, and lastly, Lurch, the zombie like butler who would welcome guests.

Here is the original opening of the show 1964.

Here is in interview with John Aston and other living cast members.

Here is a oldie but goodie; Ted Cassidy (Lurch) singing and dancing to his hit record "The Lurch" on Shivaree TV show. I don't remember this song playing on the radio though.

Cigarette Commercials

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:17:00 +0000

Before cigarettes were found to be linked to cancer, cigarette commercials were very common in the 1940s thru 1970s. Even children were allowed to see these commercials. I remember buying cartons of cigarettes as gifts for relatives, thinking I wasn't doing them harm. Even I smoked for a short time. You could easily buy them in the cigarette machines they had by the gumball machines. The networks would even use cartoons and celebrities to promote their brand of cigarettes. There were even a few ones advertising doctors smoking their favorite brand, Camel. I had to laugh at that one.

Here is one of the Flinstones advertising Winston Cigarettes.

Here is a rare commercial of The Beatles in a cigarette ad

This one is a riot. Imagine Doctors endorsing cigarettes. This was true.

Vintage Toys - 1960s

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:07:00 +0000

Remember when Mr. Potato Head came with a real potato in the box? When slinky was made of metal and not plastic?

We had metal roller skates that stretched long or short to fit any shoe size and needed a key to tighten the size. Peddle firetrucks and cars that you sat in and peddled to make them move. Good workout for us kids. We had toy guns that were made to look real on purpose. Hardly any toy needed batteries. Chatty Cathy was the first talking doll in 1961. Thumbalina was the first baby doll that actually moved while you held her. Tinker Toys and Erector sets were popular. So were Tiddly Winks, Jacks and Pick-up Sticks that would pass the time.

Here is a look at some of the toys from the 1960s

This video is of the first Slinky commercial.

Take a look at the Mr. Potato Head commercial.

Here is the first Ken Doll commercial.

Dean Martin's Celebrity Roast TV Show

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:24:00 +0000

The funniest Celebrity Roast of the 1970s was the Dean Martin Roast. Every week Dean Martin would choose a celebrity or politician to be the center of the roast. Invited guests of famous people who were friends or familiar with the person being roasted, would make fun of the person being roasted and when they all had a turn the Roastee would give a speech and would get even with some of them. It was all in fun!

Here is a brief video of comedian Red Buttons and actor Orsen Wells roasting crooner Frank Sinatra.

My Recommendations:

Greg Garrison Presents The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts:Man of the Hour: Frank Sinatra

The Best Of The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

The Shindig TV Show in the 1960s

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:15:00 +0000

A show called Shindig rocked the world in the 1960s featuring the greatest rock bands, soul singers, female singers and celebrities of that decade.Most have become legends; Including such groups as The Rolling Stones,The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Who, etc. The list goes on and on. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neil and included Go Go dancers and a young Bobby Sherman before he became a teen idol in 1970.

Here is a video of the promotion for Shindig on American Television in 1964.

The Beatles on Shindig

This is a rare footage of the Beatles singing "Kansas City", "I'm a Loser" and "Boys" on Shindig which aired on October 7, 1964. The picture is a little grainy but the sound is good. Enjoy the video!

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Drive-In Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:29:00 +0000

Remembering the good old days of Drive-In movies as a child and teenager. I had a Drive-In Theater a few blocks from my house. . I liked the thrill of watching the movie from inside of your car with the windows open and smelling the night air. The only drawback were those speakers that you had to attach to your driver-side window. They weren't very clear and you hoped that you didn't pull up to a parking spot with a speaker that didn't work. Trying to find a parking spot was like finding one at a shopping center. The closer the better. Here is a little film of what it was like from most of us boomers.

The Drive-In Movie Theater Yesterday and Today.

Here is clip of the Snack Bar Ads before the movie and at intermission.

Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you enjoyed these videos.

Nancy Sinatra

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:50:00 +0000

Nancy Sinatra was always a favorite of mine. I liked her effortless singing voice.. I remember liking the hit song "These Boots Are Made For Walking" in 1966. I still like the song 'til this day. Well here is a video of one of her performances on TV.

Go Go Boots

A little trivia: Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 hit song, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin,’” helped further popularize go-go boots, and by the end of the 1960s, they were a commonplace wardrobe staple, worn day or night. Their popularity continued into the 1970s.

I remember when I was in 6th grade having a pair of white GoGo boots, which was the fad in the mid-60s. Most of the girls in my class wore them with the fishnet stockings.

Here's Nancy Sinatra singing "boots" on her tour in 2005.

Welcome to my Baby Boomer Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Retro Chic) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:54:00 +0000

This is my first post. I will be posting videos, photos and snippets of classic tv shows, movies, music, fashion and some history from 1946 to 1964 on a weekly basis. So I hope you enjoy and visit often. For starters, here is a montage of tv shows of the 1960s.