Sunday Showcase December 28, 1975

It's Orange Bowl time in the December 28, 1975-January 3, 1976 edition of the Tennessean Sunday Showcase. The Orange Bowl game on January 1, 1976 was the first ever matchup between the Michigan Wolverines and the Oklahoma Sooners with the Sooners victorious 14-6. It was the sixth and final Orange Bowl played on artificial turf. This win would give the Sooners a consensus National Championship with the coaches and AP polls ranking them number 1.

WNGE2 (later to be WKRN) was excited about the coming New Year as they would be broadcasting all night six nights a week. I am just old enough to remember when television stations used to sign off for the day. I am also old enough to remember when that was the Nashville skyline.

Rock and roll was being brought to Yugoslavia by one Mr. Frank Zappa. He says he's doing the same shows for them he did everywhere.

There were a couple of big January rock and roll concerts coming up in the first month of 1976. The mighty Lynyrd Skynyrd with Atlanta Rhythm Section were set to rock Municipal Auditorium on January 17th. If you happened to be there let me know in the comments.  

Glam rockers Sweet will play War Memorial Auditorium on January 22, 1976. The Sweet were touring hard as they would play Chattanooga on the 21st and Terre Haute, Indiana on the 23rd. I think they are fabulous and would have loved to have seen them live then.

If rock and roll wasn't your cup of tea the piano tinkling skills of Ferrante and Teicher would be on full display on January 14.

It's much more fun to see a show with that special someone and if you need a date why not let a computer pick it for you. 

The Top 10 Records in Nashville for this week is filled with tunes I would sing along with as a kid. "Convoy" was my favorite of the bunch, but there's lot of great options.

New Year's Eve was a few days away and there were lots of places to celebrate in Nashville on December 31, 1975. You could attend the most unusual New Year's Party at Fanny's which was having what was billed as "The Freakers Ball" with music by Silver Tongue. I wonder if Shel Silverstein would have liked it. George Jones had his own club in those days and I don't guess he would have no showed there. I don't know how all of the breakfast food listed in the ad would have gone down, but perhaps country ham would be okay at 2am to get you through that last hour. Joyce Cobb was the attraction at the Ramada Inn on Spence Lane and that would have been a dynamite night of music. She's cut some great records over the years and surely deserves more fame than she has gotten. 

If you wanted some seasonal employment and had some talent the annual Opryland auditions were coming up. I never performed at Opryland, but I did spend many days there enjoying the park. I would have loved to take my kids there, but the idiots at Gaylord decided to turn it into a mall which I have never set foot inside. 

That's it for this week. I hope all of you readers have a great year in 2020. There's plenty more of these Sunday Showcase posts on the way.

Film Flashback December 27, 1978

We've made it to the last Film Flashback of 2019, but don't worry, there's plenty more to come in 2020. We're going right back to 1978 again having visited this year just a couple of weeks ago. Every Which Way But Loose and Wilderness Family Part 2 (also known as The Further Adventures of the Wilderness Family) were playing the Martin Twin on December 27, 1978. They were in their 2nd week and I managed to catch both of them at the Martin. My mother and I went to see the Wilderness Family sequel since we'd seen and liked the first one, but this one was just too much. The scenery is still nice, but the family's travails are just over the top. Gene Siskel made this his Dog of the Week on Sneak Previews and while I think that's a bit harsh, it's a real letdown after The Adventures of the Wilderness Family released in 1975.

I wrote about Every Which Way But Loose before on this blog so here's some copy and paste for you discerning readers.  I saw this film the night it was released in 1978 at the Martin Twin in Jackson Heights Plaza. It wasn't planned which is perhaps why I remember it so well. My mother and I just happened to run into my cousin (technically 1st cousin once removed) Freddy and his parents and I talked my way into staying to see the movie. Freddy and I sat on the front row. Which was unprecedented for me. The screen was huge. And it was soon filled with beer drinking, cussing, and fighting Ruth Gordon (God bless her), and the most amazing sight: an orangutan named Clyde. He was the perfect pal. I wanted one! He was by far the star of the show. Eastwood held his own against him, especially with the fight scenes, but the show really belonged to Clyde. Trivia for you: The phrase "Right turn, Clyde" is not said in this film, but is in the sequel Any Which Way You Can. 

Cinema One was showing a film I still haven't seen; Magic. I'm a huge Ann-Margret fan, and I'm sure Anthony Hopkins is great, but the ventriloquist's dummy is just too creepy for me. This was a movie that played often on HBO in the 1979/80 time period and I would catch scenes here and there, but couldn't ever watch the whole movie. I still don't have a desire to see it. The trailer is more than enough. 

You could catch John Wayne's son Patrick in the hixploitation Texas Detour at the Marbro Drive-In. Joe Don Baker and Tyne Daly star in Speedtrap which is about an insurance man after car thieves. 

Bonus: The Daily News Journal would feature a family every year going out and shopping for Christmas. It was obvious that the places they visited had paid for these entries and the Martin Theatre made sure they were a part of these pieces that ran in November and December for years. I've been sharing them the last few weeks. Here's the one from 1976 that ran in the November 21st paper. The Reed family are going to see Super Bug Super Agent. I suspect the version the Martin Twin showed was dubbed into English. That's all for this year. The next Film Flashback will post at 6AM Central time on January 3, 2020. If there's a particular year you really want to see feel free to leave a comment and I can see what I can do. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to one and all. Let the bells ring out. Enjoy time with the ones you love. A new Film Flashback is coming on Friday with Clint Eastwood the featured star.

Christmas Eve Newspaper Advertisements 1970-1979

Here's an assortment of old newspaper advertisements from Murfreesboro's Daily News Journals from 1970-1979. All are taken from the Christmas Eve editions or if the paper didn't come out on Christmas Eve the ads were from the day before. When I started looking through the papers I got excited about a pattern I saw developing: Santa Claus and grocery shopping carts. But this trend stopped only a few years into the decade until there's a new version where Santa is buying something you couldn't get from a grocery store. Advertisements from Frank's IGA Foodliner 1970, Cooper and Martin 1972, Fuller Foods 1972, and House of Paneling 1979. Consider these bonus goodies.

Now that Santa Clause has plenty of grub and some paneling let's begin looking at an ad per year. Our 1970 advertisement is John's Gas & Oil which was located on Bridge Avenue. I believe the Sunshine Square now takes up the lot where this gas station was located. It's a really nice ad with the tree atop the station.

Our 1971 advertisement is for the Holiday Inn Restaurant where you can have Christmas Dinner in their restaurant. Interstate 24 had not been open long and it was probably quite the treat to eat dinner there. The very first Holiday Inn was opened in Memphis in 1952. The "Great Sign" seen in the ad became iconic. I wish they still used those signs. 

Our 1972 advert is from the now defunct burger chain Burger Chef. I don't know the exact date the Burger Chef in Murfreesboro closed, but it was still open in 1977. Happy Burger and Hardees were my burger choices back in the early 70's so I don't have any real memories of Burger Chef, but some of my friends do and they lament the chain is no longer around. 

The Hub Store on the Square gives us a warm and fuzzy message in 1973. It surprises me that boots are not mentioned. Their ads on local radio station WGNS 1450 AM always touted their sale of "boots, boots, boots..." and anyone who grew up in Murfreesboro remember those ads narrated by Jerry "Pee Wee" Brown. I think an opportunity was perhaps missed with Santa Claus getting his boots from The Hub. The Hub always creeped me out as a kid since they had wolf headed mannequins. 

I believe the Town and Country Market in this 1974 ad was located at 1629 Bradyville Pike where the ATM USA Mart is at today. I remember buying pro wrestling magazines there in the early 80's. 

This 1975 advertisement is for Counts Gulf service station and tire store. I believe a Wilson Bank & Trust is on the property now. It would perhaps become better known as Larry Counts Tire Store. 

Here's a bonus ad from 1975 for Mercury Plaza. It turns the plaza into a Christmas village. 

I'm sure it's my imagination, but it seems like businesses in the past seemed more appreciative of their patrons as this ad for Big K in 1976 emphasizes. Big K was one of the two department stores my parents shopped the most since we lived on that side of Murfreesboro. The other store was Clarks. 

It's 1977 and Skynet approaches with automated tellers springing up everywhere since the late Sixties. Murfreesboro Bank And Trust (later Mid-South and then later Sun Trust) has this alcohol drink name inspired Harvey WallBanker. Get it? Just like Harvey WallBanger except perhaps without the vodka. Harvey wouldn't close for Christmas. He was ready 24 hours a day. I believe he ran off with Tammy The Timeless Teller from Third National Bank.

Our 1978 advertisement is a simple one from Don's Kitchen Korner. 

We'll end this Christmas Eve post with this delightful 1979 ad for Hot Wheels Arena skating rink. I've written about roller skating many times at this blog and while Hot Wheels closed long ago I'm sure you can find a local place to skate even now. It would be a good thing to do over the holidays if you have the time. Since it's Christmas Eve I'll be hanging out at home waiting on the roast beast to be done, then my children will open their Christmas pajamas, make hot cocoa, and watch The Charlie Brown Christmas Special on DVD. Merry Christmas to you. 

Sunday Showcase December 24, 1978

Tis the season to be jolly and look through another past edition of The Tennessean Sunday Showcase. We didn't always buy a Tennessean, but when we did it was on Sunday since my father loved the comics section. I loved the comics too, but my favorite part was the Sunday Showcase hence these weekly posts. We're going to put on our polyester suit and dancing shoes as we hustle on to the Top 10 Records of the week. It is peak disco time y'all! The American music charts were dominated by disco in 1978 and this would continue well into 1979. Looking at the Billboard Top 100 charts there were 14 disco songs in 1976 and 1977 only 8 as judged by me. 1978 would see 21 and 1979 would have 30 disco hits most of them released late in '78 or the first half of '79. 1980 we're back down to 8 disco songs in the Top 100 and by 1985 there would be zero disco tunes in the Top 100. That's my opinion from looking at the charts. Your take may vary. but I'm sure it would be similar. I count at least 4 disco tunes in this chart with Hot Chocolate's "Every 1's A Winner" being a strong dance floor contender for a 5th disco tune. 

Indeed, people were freaking as disco was peaking. Clubs and lounges were touting their disco nights. Arthur Murray could teach you how to do the hustle. Disco technicians could bring the party right to you. 

If you needed some disco records there were several ads in this week's Showcase for record stores you might want to visit. I was in 6th grade and while music was definitely a passion (this was the time when I created a fake radio station in my room and in between spinning records I would do my deejay act), but comic books were something I loved more. A couple of my 6th grade friends and I created our own comics, but they are lost in the void of growing up now. The reason I bring this up is that 6th grade was when I was first made aware of The Great Escape which had opened the previous year. One of the friends I made comics with started going there to buy comic book back issues. By the time I finally managed to visit the store all I would care about was the records. Port 'O' Call Records are long gone. New Life Record Shop just closed down for good a few months ago. Just dig their crazy ad! Woolco could also hook you up with some good records, but oddly almost no disco.

Some of the funkiest ads and probably funkiest times would have been at the hotel lounges. All of the foxy ladies were welcome on Tuesday at the Ramada at I-24 and Harding and I suppose the Kixx band would rock you all night at the Rodeway Inn.

                   

If you want to rush out and get a last minute Christmas gift just remember that audio equipment is always welcome. 

Or even better, why not get me a computer at Doc's Computer Shop on Nolensville Rd. 

The Top Ten Songs in Nashville was always a big highlight of the Sunday Showcase, but another one was the TV Starscreen crossword puzzle. The one included this week has a nice cartoon of Andy Kaufman. Test your crossword skills.

That's it for this Sunday Showcase review. If you like what you see, subscribe to my blog, leave a comment, or just smile contentedly.

Film Flashback December 20, 1968

We're going way back this week to 1968. Swinging London was the place to be, but if you were stuck in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on this date don't worry as the Martin Theatre was bringing Swinging London to you. Rat Pack buddies Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr. star in Salt and Pepper. They are owners of a SoHo nightclub where a murdered lady secret agent is found and it's up to them to solve the case which involves an evil plot to overthrow the government. Of course, Sammy is salt and Peter is Pepper. The movie is directed by Richard Donner who also directed Superman (1978) and even better directed 3 episodes of Gilligan's Island. This movie is lots of fun, especially if you are a huge fan of Sammy like me, you shouldn't miss it.

The Princess Theatre has Killers Three from American International. The tagline on the poster is brilliant. It is produced by the Dick Clark who also is one of the stars. It features a Merle Haggard soundtrack and he plays one of the sheriffs in the film. Backwoods and moonshine was a popular topic back then. I would guess it was made in the wake of the huge success of Bonnie and Clyde. I may have seen it on television during the 70's, but I don't recall it if I did. The trailer makes it seem like a fun b-movie.

If the popcorn and candy at the movies weren't enough for you, then how about heading over to Shoney's where you could enjoy a fried oyster dinner and the "sock it to me" psychedelic ice cream goodie. Hmmm, I think I will pass. 

The Marbro Drive-In has a couple of films on the big screen tonight. Better bring a blanket. There's the always irascible Lee Marvin as Sergeant Ryker...is he a Commie spy....or is he not? It's funny that Alison Sie also describes Lee as irascible in the YouTube clip I found. The other feature is the western comedy Texas Across The River starring Dean Martin. It also stars Joey Bishop as Kronk which is probably considered offensive today. It's pretty cheesy and funny to me. 

Bonus: The Daily News Journal would feature a family every year going out and shopping for Christmas. It was obvious that the places they visited had paid for these entries and the Martin Theatre made sure they were a part of these pieces that ran in November and December for years. I've been sharing them the last few weeks. Here's the one from 1979 that ran in the November 18th paper. 

It looks like the Harris family is going to the Martin where they can either see National Lampoon's Animal House or Bo Derek in 10. Children under 17 were allowed into rated R films with an accompanying parent or guardian so who are we to judge, plus it is just a thinly disguised ad. I doubt the Martin family actually took their small children to see either movie. That's it for this film flashback. There's one more this month so make sure you reserve your spot here next week via Fandango.