Retro Photos That Bring Us Back To The Good Old Days
By | January 11, 2023
Split decision! Joan Collins doing Pilates back in the 70's.
The glorious days of the groovy era were filled with some of the most beloved icons of all time but there are two sides to every coin. It’s easy to forget there are real people under all that glitz and glamour. Some of them came from poverty and some spent their entire youth working up on the screen instead of out being young. But escapism is what entertainment is all about. Not just for the audience but for the entertainer as well. Come escape and reminisce in this little trove of Hollywood history.
Pictured here is Joan Collins maintaining her physique with Pilates back in the 1970s. It was back in the 1960s when Joan Collins’ career started to pick up; after she guest-starred in an episode of Star Trek. By the 1970s she was starring in a series of horror films and the 1980s brought her to her most memorable role, Alexis Colby in “Dynasty” for which she earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Dynasty was a soap opera that aired from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989 and revolves around the inner workings of the Carringtons, a wealthy family residing in Denver, Colorado.
The natural beauty of Ali McGraw in the early 70's.
A famous model in her own right, Ali MacGraw also made a name for herself by starring in highly successful films opposite other Hollywood heavyweights such as Kris Kristofferson and Steve McQueen.
In 1969 she gained quite a bit of attention after winning a Golden Globe for "Most Promising Newcomer" after her performance in Goodbye, Columbus. In the 1970s she achieved international fame after her role in Love Story. The role earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress win and an Academy Award nomination.
By 1972 she had only been in three films but was already the top female box office star in the world and had already been honored at Grauman's Chinese Theatre with a hands and footprints ceremony.
Total recall- a fresh-faced Sharon Stone back in 1983.
Here’s a blast from 1983 past, a stunning, fresh-faced Sharon Stone. Actress and model Sharon Yvonne Stone drew some attention in the miniseries War and Remembrance (1989) but her mainstream prominence began soon after her role in Total Recall. After starring in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct in 1992), Stone not only became an international sex symbol, she also received her first Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress. Just a few years later, in 1995 she won the Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Martin Scorsese's Casino.
The Incredible Hulk - Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as his alter ego 'Hulk'! 1977-1982
Pictured here are two sides of the same coin, Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as his alter ego 'Hulk'! Ferrigno wasn’t always an actor, he was once a fitness trainer and a bodybuilder which made him ideal for the role of the big, green, angry Hulk. The Incredible Hulk television series was based on the Marvel Comics character and aired on the CBS from 1977 to 1982. Ferrigno also reprised the role of Hulk (verbally) in the animated and computer-generated incarnations.
Marriage functions best when both partners remain somewhat unmarried. -Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, 1966
Claudia Cardinale took Europe by a storm, and soon the United States… and the rest of the world. The Italian film actress and sex symbol appeared in some of the most acclaimed European films of the 1960s and 1970s. She was blessed with more than just beauty, she had real talent as can be seen in her performances in films such as Girl with a Suitcase (1961), The Leopard (1963), and Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963).
It was her role in The Pink Panther opposite David Niven that got her noticed in the US. Then she began appearing in Hollywood films like Blindfold (1965) with Rock Hudson, The Professionals (1966), and the epic Western Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). She feared becoming a cliché and grew tired of Hollywood so she returned to Italian and French cinema.
The Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, 1978.
Here we have the Queen of Disco, LaDonna Adrian Gaines, also known as Donna Summer. The five-time Grammy Award winner came into prominence in the 1970s and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the United States Billboard 200 chart in addition to charting four number-one singles in the U.S. all within a 12-month period. She claimed a top 40 hit every year between 1975 and 1984 and has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling artists of all time
Twice is nice! Lynda Carter and Lindsay Wagner together at an event in 1977.
Now here’s something you don’t see every day, the Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman out at an event in Palm Springs California back in 1977! They were the super-powered female legends of primetime television back in the 70’s.
Lindsay Wagner was the cybernetic Jaime Sommers, while Lynda Carter played the Amazonian Diana Prince better known as Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman. Sure the shows had their similarities but each brought their own level of awesomeness to the table with content and presentation.
It’s amazing these beloved twin heroines didn’t work together back then, but recently DC/Dynamite Comics decided to team these lovely ladies up in an all-new comic series which is set in the ‘70s.
Sam Elliott's better half - the lovely Katherine Ross in The Graduate, 1967.
Pictured here is Here’s Katharine Ross in the role of Elaine, the daughter of the iconic Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate back in 1967. In it, Dustin Hoffman plays Benjamin Braddock a recent college grad without any real direction. He heads back to his parent’s house and ends up seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft. As if getting involved with a friend of your parents wasn’t complicated enough, Benjamin then falls for Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Elaine (Ross).
Sheena and friends- the Queen of the Jungle (Tanya Roberts) in 1984.
Here's a still from Sheena and friends, with Tanya Roberts as the Queen of the Jungle back in 1984. Nowadays you can find Roberts on That 70s Show as Midge Pinciotti. But her career in the entertainment industry is as long as it is impressive.
She got her start as a model and seamlessly transitioned into acting and producing. She was chosen to replace Shelley Hack in the fifth season of the Charlie’s Angel’s television series in 1980. She played Kiri in the adventure film The Beastmaster back in 1982 and was then featured on the cover of Playboy to help promote the movie (the October 1982 issue). Then it was on to play Stacey Sutton in the James Bond film A View to a Kill in 1985.
Judy Carne, Goldie Hawn and Chelsea Brown having fun on Laugh In in 1968.
Comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin hosted Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (often simply referred to as Laugh-In). It was television sketch comedy at its finest and ran for a whopping 140 episodes from 1968 to 1973. The show certainly had its roots in vaudeville and burlesque, but its most direct influences were Olsen and Johnson's comedy.
It was characterized by its rapid-fire series of gags and sketches, most of which were politically charged and full of sexual innuendo. Pictured here are Judy Carne, Goldie Hawn, and Chelsea Brown having a grand time getting laughs on Laugh-In back in 1968.
Actress Pat Priest (Marilyn Munster) of TV's The Munsters with the family car, The Munster Koach.
Pictured here is Pat Priest, the second actress to play the odd Munster out, Marilyn Munster. Bright, beautiful, cheery, she just didn’t fit the gothic mold of the rest of the clan on Mockingbird Lane. The original Marilyn was played by Barbara Owens, who ended up leaving the show in the middle of the first season so Pat Priest assumed the role.
Herman Munster would often crack jokes alluding to Marilyn’s "plain" looks coming from Lily's side of the family. The recent rumors circulating about a reboot of “The Munsters” has been confirmed. While they are drawing inspiration from the 1960's classic, the new series will be embracing the modern age, with the Munsters struggling to fit in with the hipster Brooklyn scene.
Seeing double! In 1966, Yvonne Craig played Barbara Gordon and Batgirl on the classic Batman TV series.
Yvonne Craig, a pioneer of female superheroes, played the role of Barbara Gordon daughter to Commissioner Gordon, and secretly Batgirl. By day she’s a librarian at the Gotham Library, by night she fights crime with Gotham’s finest-- and in heels. She even saved Batman and Robin when Killer Moth had them cocooned. Then she rode off on her Batgirl-cycle.
Craig’s acting career was sporadic at best after Batman, she stopped entirely by 1990. She went on to pursue a career as a real estate broker. From 2009 to 2011, she was the voice of "Grandma" on the popular children's show Olivia. Then in 2000, Craig published an autobiography; From Ballet to the Batcave and Beyond. She died of metastatic breast cancer in August of 2015.
An early photo of Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson, with more clothes on than usual (80's)
Wow, check out this early photo of Pam Anderson! She was just a happy, bright-eyed, fully dressed youngin here back in the early 80’s. She looks so different, so cute! Then she had some work done and by the late 80’s she had bounced her way into sex-icon status fame with her role on the popular show Baywatch. She was also Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February of 1990 and has since appeared in it several more times throughout the 1990's and the 2000's. She also landed roles on television series like Home Improvement and V.I.P.
The Beatles go with Captain Fred in his Yellow Submarine to Pepperland, so they can free it from the music-hating Blue Meanies in 1968.
The 1968 British animated musical fantasy (and comedy) Yellow Submarine, was inspired by the music of the Beatles.The Beatles composed and performed the songs, but voice actors were brought in to bring the characters to life. In it, the Beatles go with Captain Fred in his Yellow Submarine to Pepperland, so they can free it from the music-hating Blue Meanies.
The film received widespread acclaim and has been credited with bringing more interest in animation as a serious art form. According to Time it "turned into a smash hit, delighting adolescents and aesthetes alike"
Lisa Hartman starred as Tabitha a spin-off of Bewitched that last one season back in 1976.
Pictured here is actress Lisa Hartman, who starred as Tabitha in the spin-off of Bewitched, back in 1976. In it, Tabitha Stevens, the witchy daughter of Samantha and Darrin Stephens, is portrayed as a young woman working as a television production assistant in Los Angeles.
David Ankrum co-stars as Tabitha's brother, Adam, who was introduced in Bewitched but didn’t receive much screen time. Several Bewitched characters appeared as guests on Tabitha, including Bernard Fox who reprises his role as Dr. Bombay. George Tobias and Sandra Gould also appear as Abner and Gladys Kravitz. Unfortunately, Tabitha wasn’t able to captivate audiences like Bewitched had for eight seasons, so it was canceled after one season.
Hissing cousins...Barnabas and Quentin Collins, vampire and werewolf of the American Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows (1966-71).
Dark Shadows is a Gothic soap opera that originally aired on ABC from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. Like most soap operas, the show depicted the lives and tribulations of a wealthy family. In this particular case, it follows the Collins family of Collinsport, Maine, where supernatural occurrences take place on a regular basis.
The show featured vampires, ghosts, werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches and warlocks. It dealt with time travel, parallel universe, dark plot twists… so basically it was the coolest soap opera on television.
The original network run of the show lasted for nearly five years, that’s a total of 1,225 episodes and as many have noticed, it’s inspired a feature film. Dark Shadows continues to have an intense cult following. In 2004 and 2007, Dark Shadows was ranked #19 and #23 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.
And another Rocky, Balboa that is! John G. Avildsen, who won an Oscar for directing the original Rocky, with Sylvester Stallone (1976).
Stallone gained worldwide fame after he sat down for 20 hours straight and wrote the first Rocky movie and then went on to star in it. It was a smash hit and he went on to star and act in each subsequent Rocky films–the most recent of which was in 2006. He launched another major franchise as he starred as Vietnam vet John Rambo. The first titled First Blood came out in 1982, then he starred in sequels; Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988) and Rambo (2008).
The Benny Hill Show - Benny always had plenty of pretty women and plenty of laughs! This iconic British comedy show ran from 1955 to 1991.
The iconic British comedy, The Benny Hill Show ran from 1955 to 1991. It aired in various forms in over 140 countries. The show’s focus was on slapstick, parody, and even mime sketches and was full of double-entendre. In later years the show also included a dance troupe, the Hill’s Angels.
Aside from Benny Hill himself, the main supporting cast included Henry McGee, Jon Jon Keefe, Nicholas Parsons, Bob Todd and Jackie Wright. After a decline in ratings, Thames Television cancelled production of the show in 1989. Regular Angels were Sue Upton and Louise English, Jane Leeves also appeared as a Hill's Angel in a few episodes in the early 1980s.
Paul Le Mat, Cindy Williams and Ron Howard in a scene from George Lucas’ 1973 classic film, American Graffiti.
Grizzly Adams (Dan Haggerty) and Ben (Bozo) on The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1974).
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams is a 1974 film inspired by Charles E. Sellier Jr.’s 1972 historical fiction novella. The popularity of the film led to an NBC television series of the same name. Pictured here is Dan Haggerty, as the title character, who was loosely based on California mountain man James "Grizzly" Adams (1812-1860).
The story, in both the film and television series portrayed Grizzly Adams as a frontier woodsman who fled into the wilderness after being wrongly accused of murder. While living in the wild he saves and adopts an orphaned grizzly bear cub he names Ben. As can be seen here, Ben grows into a massive adult bear, but remains Adams' closest companion.
The Mandrell Sisters (Irlene, Louise and Barbara) with Dolly Parton on their country music-variety series in 1981.
It's Dolly and the sparkling Mandrell Sisters on their variety show! Country music superstar Barbara Mandrell hosted this country music-themed variety series with her younger sisters, Louise and Irelene. While most of the show consisted of comedy sketches but the heart of it remained firmly rooted in country music. Each week, they’d bring in a well-established country star, as can be seen here on this particular episode in 1981, it was the legendary Dolly Parton they had as a guest. They would also feature a promising new up-and-coming act of the era.
International Italian goddess of the 50's and 60's, Gina Lollobrigida! She is an actress, photojournalist and sculptor.
Pictured here is the Italian goddess of the 50’s and 60’s, Luigina "Gina" Lollobrigida. It’s easy to see why she became an international sex symbol but she was much more than just a pretty face with a perfect figure. The actress was also a talented photojournalist and sculptor, making her one of the highest profile European actresses of the era. In the 1970s, she achieved a scoop by gaining access to Fidel Castro for an exclusive interview.
She also remained an active supporter of Italian and Italian American causes, particularly the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) all of her life. In 2008, she received the NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award at the Foundation's Anniversary Gala. Then in 2013, she sold her impressive jewelry collection and donated nearly $5 million to stem cell therapy research.
Who remembers seeing these Fotomat Booths in shopping center parking lots.
Fotomat was a retail chain of drive-through kiosks for photo development founded back in the 1960s. They were located in shopping center parking lots. At its peak, there were over 4,000 Fotomats throughout the United States in the 1980s, primarily in suburban areas. You’d spot that distinctive pyramid-shaped gold roof in the middle of a parking lot at a strip mall, and just drive up to drop off your film or pick up your photos. Easy peasy. They offered one-day finishing and sold Kodak-brand film and other photography-related products.
C.C. Rider- Creedence Clearwater Revival's Hey Tonight – Have You ever Seen The Rain - LP cover. 1970
Creedence Clearwater Revival often referred to as Creedence or simply CCR, consisted of frontman John Fogerty, his brother rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty, bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford. Their style was primarily rock, their sound encompassed an interesting mix of the swamp and blues rock genres. The very peak of their success would have to be between 1969 and 1970, the band performed at 1969's famed Woodstock Festival and released numerous hit songs, and In April 1970 they embarked on their first European tour. Then, after four years of consistent chart-topping success, the group disbanded acrimoniously in late 1972.
I Think I Love You! Susan Dey had a deep, unrequited crush on David Cassidy during The Partridge Family 1970-74
Poor Susan Dey, she was just too cute for her own good. She had an intense romantic interest in her onscreen brother David Cassidy while they worked on The Partridge Family together but Cassidy had no interest in her. Apparently, Dey’s crush and Cassidy's disinterest went deep enough for him to feel the need to publicly explain why he repeatedly rejected her advances. He said it was because she “lacked the [promiscuous] aspect of a female” that he desired (which is actually more of a compliment). Even worse he described her as the “sister he never had”. Cassidy admitted (again publicly) that even though he wasn't attracted to her, he eventually "gave in" and slept with her one time and regretted it immediately. Ouch! Then he had the nerve to wonder why she stopped speaking to him...
The Southern country rock band that brought cool back to music in the early 80's, Alabama.
formed in 1969,but didn’t start playing under the name Alabama until 1977 and after two of their singles chart success of two singles, they were approached with a record deal from RCA Records. Alabama’s greatest success was in the 1980s, they had over 27 number one hits, seven multi-platinum albums and received numerous awards.
The band's popularity waned slightly in the 1990s but they were still releasing hit singles and still had multi-platinum album sales… it just seemed th e80’s was truly their time to shine.
Vernon Presley and his son, Elvis.
Pictured here is Elvis Presley with his father, Vernon, at home in Memphis on July 4, 1956.
It was around the end of June of 1934 that Gladys knew she was pregnant and by her fifth month, she knew she was having twins!
Gladys was earning $2 a day at the Tupelo Garment Company and her husband Vernon worked odd jobs. So with what money they had and a borrowed $180, Vernon constructed a family home that he and Gladys moved into that December.
Then, on January 8, 1935, Elvis Aaron Presley was born. Sadly, his identical twin named Jesse Garon was stillborn. Elvis grew up an only child in a financial turbulent home, but his family was very close-knit and large. Family members living nearby he and his parents in Tupelo included, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Behind the scenes with Tim Curry and Richard O'Brien of cult favorite The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).
Pictured here is Tim Curry as Frank N’ Furter and Richard O'Brien as Riff Raff in the iconic horror classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. What some may be surprised to learn, is that O’Brien here was the one who wrote the musical stage show and then went on to co-write the feature film adaptation released in 1975.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rocky Horror is best described as a musical horror comedy. Initially, it didn’t do so well, but as a midnight picture, it grew its own cult following and soon became a cultural phenomenon in both the U.S. and U.K.
A 22-year-old Frank Zappa plays the bicycle on Steve Allen Show, 1963.
Pictured here is a young, dapper looking avant-gardists by the name of Frank Zappa, just 22-years old and playing the bicycle on the Steve Allen Show, back in 1963. Zappa’s appearance on the Steve Allen Show was essentially the launching point for what would become a wildly successful career. During the interview the multi-instrumentalist told audiences he could guitar, vibes, bass, and drums. He did, however, choose to charm everyone by playing the bicycle of all things.
“How long have you been playing bike, Frank?” Allen asks. “About two weeks,” says Zappa, getting his first big laugh.
The Pontiac Firebird Esprit driven by James Garner in the Rockford Files from 1974-80. Jim got an upgrade to a new model each new season.
In The Rockford Files, James Garner took an ordinary The Pontiac Firebird and turned into into a piece of automotive and television infamy. Rockford’s Firebird wasn’t just a car, it was also a character in the show.
In Garner’s autobiography he stated, “Car chases and car action were a big part of the series, and I did most of the driving myself. That was my fun. I’d driven race cars a little in Grand Prix and gotten the bug. One maneuver became kind of signature of the show. People thought I invented it and began calling it a ‘Rockford,’ but it was really just a reverse 180, also know as a ‘moonshiner’s turn’ or ‘J-turn.’ When you’re going straight in reverse at about 35 miles per hour, you come off the gas pedal, go hard left, and pull the emergency brake. That locks the wheels and throws the front e
Connie Sellecca, William Katt and Robert Culp in The Greatest American Hero-this series flew into our living room from 1981 to 1983.
Pictured here are actors Connie Sellecca, William Katt, and Robert Culp in their respective roles on the series The Greatest American Hero.
The comedy-drama superhero television series aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983. It features William Katt as teacher Ralph Hinkley, Robert Culp as FBI agent Bill Maxwell, and Connie Sellecca as lawyer Pam Davidson.
The series chronicles Ralph's adventures after a group of aliens gives him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities. Of course, Ralph hates wearing the suit, he loses its instruction booklet and has to learn how to use it to thwart villains by trial and error and hilarity ensues.
Squiggy and Lenny (David Lander and Michael McKean) were on Laverne & Shirley from 1976 to 1982.
Here's a classy photo of Lenny and Squiggy, one of the best TV duos ever and they had the pleasure of playing alongside one of the other greatest duos in television history Laverne and Shirley. David Lander and Michael McKean’s characters were the obnoxious neighbors of Penny Marshall’s tough-talking Laverne and Cindy Williams’ perpetually perky Shirley.
Leonard Kosnowksi and Andrew Squiggman graced the show from 1976 to 1982. with their trademark "Hello!" entrance, standard greaser fashion sense, and who could ever forget their never-ending idiocy which often stole the show.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) and Inga (Teri Garr) in Mel Brooks hilarious Young Frankenstein 1974.
Pictured here is Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and the lovely Teri Garr as Inga in Young Frankenstein back in 1974. The American comedy horror film was meant as a parody of the classic horror film and was directed by Mel Brooks. Wilder and Brooks wrote the screenplay together. In it, Gene Wilder is a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and Peter Boyle plays the monster.
In addition to Garr, the rest of the supporting cast includes Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, Richard Haydn, and Gene Hackman. The film was a critical favorite and a huge box office smash. Young Frankenstein remains a favorite, often ranking high on various “Best Comedy” lists of all time.
Mysterious blonde (Suzanne Somers) in a T-Bird mouths I love you at a traffic light to Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) in American Graffiti '73
American Graffiti, the quintessential coming of age comedy, directed and co-written by George Lucas. In it ‘A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.’
The film stars favorites such as Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, and Wolfman Jack. Who remembers the mysterious blonde girl in the car who mouths "I love you" at a traffic stop? The one Dreyfuss' character Curt thought of as a "goddess." That was none other than Suzanne Somers!
Jane Seymour, Patrick Troughton, Taryn Power (Tyrone's daughter) and Patrick Wayne (John's son) in Sinbad And The Eye of the Tiger (1977).
The 1977 fantasy film, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger is a fantasy film starring Patrick Wayne, Taryn Power, Margaret Whiting, Jane Seymour and Patrick Troughton. It’s the third and final Sinbad film and Columbia Pictures released it the same summer as the original Star Wars film. So, needless to say, it suffered greatly in comparison to that science fiction epic. Like most fantasy films of the time, it was flawed but enjoyable.
New York Times reviewer Lawrence Van Gelder, called the acting "rudimentary", but found the movie enjoyable:...this latest Sinbad adventure maintains the innocent and atavistic juvenile charm of the others in the series.
Lloyd Haynes, Denise Nicholas, Michael Constantine and Karen Valentine in Room 222. (1969–1974)
The comedic drama series, Room 222 aired on ABC for 112 episodes from 1969 until 1974. It was mainly centered on an American history class located in Room 222 of the fictional Walt Whitman High School. The show did depict the home and social lives of students and faculty but mainly it was based at the school.
Pete Dixon (Lloyd Haynes) teaches the class, Liz McIntyre (Denise Nicholas) school's guidance counselor (and Pete’s girlfriend). Seymour Kaufman (Michael Constantine) is the principal and Alice Johnson (Karen Valentine) plays Pete’s student teacher.
While many of the show’s themes were timeless and could relate to most teenagers, many were also reflective of the contemporary political climate of the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s: Vietnam War, women's rights, race relations, and Watergate.
Supermodel from the 70's, Patti Hansen, who is now famous for being married to Rolling Stoner Keith Richards for 34 years.
The beautiful Patti Hansen glided into Keith Richards’ life and hasn’t left. The model and actress married Richards on his fortieth birthday and gave him two daughters and a lifetime of inspiration. Richards has been crazy about her since the first met in Studio 54, filling his notebook with lines like, “she is the most beautiful specimen in the world. But that ain’t it! …It’s her mind, her joy of life and she thinks this battered junkie is the guy she loves”.
Elizabeth Montgomery as the lead character in The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975).
Pictured here is an intense version of the chipper Elizabeth Montgomery audiences became accustomed to on Bewitched. Here she is, starring in The Legend of Lizzie Borden, as the axe murdering heiress herself. The historical mystery movie was made for television and depicts the story. The woman who was accused of murdering her parents in Fall River Massachusetts back in 1892. The stylized retelling of these brutal unsolved murders premiered on ABC on February 10, 1975 and was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture Made for Television in 1976.
Who remembers the lovely Lynn Anderson singing about a Rose Garden in 1970?
Country music legend Lynn Rene Anderson had a string of major hits throughout the late 1960s and into the 1970s and 1980s. Most notably was her 1970 worldwide megahit "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden."
Anderson charted 12 No. 1, 18 Top 10, and more than 50 Top 40 hit singles. In addition to being (twice) named "Top Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Country Music and "Female Vocalist of the Year" by the Country Music Association, Anderson won a Grammy Award and earned seven Grammy nominations. She won a People's Choice Award and was the first female country artist to win the American Music Award (1974).
Tumultuous pair, Cher and Gregg Allman in 1977.
These two were all drama from the start. When pop diva Cher and rocker Gregg Allman first met in January 1975, Cher was in the midst of a divorce and custody battle with Sonny Bono, and Allman was battling addiction. Not a great recipe for stable relationship, but hey, they were smitten with each other and gave it a shot.
According to Allman’s memoir, their first date was the worst… it ended with him shooting up and passing out.But their second date was a bit better, according to Allman they drank and danced the night away at a disco club and "When we got back to her place, she took me out to her rose garden, and all the roses were just starting to bloom…We made some serious love!" As soon as her divorce from Bono was final, she jumped right into a marriage with Allman. Of course, his addiction led to constant fighting and eventual divorce.
The Odd Couple - Divorced pals, slob Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman) & neat-freak Felix Unger (Tony Randall) have to share an apartment. 1970-75
It’s after neurotic neat-freak Felix Unger and sloppy, cigar-chomping, sportswriter Oscar Madison have both been given the boot by their wives that the two share a Park Avenue bachelor pad. Obviously two grown men used to having spouses are going to have quite a few adjustments to make when moving in with each other–that’s where the hilarity ensues.
Jamie Lee Curtis starring in Halloween directed by John Carpenter, 1978.
Pictured here is a young Jamie Lee Curtis starring as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter’s Halloween back in 1978. This was Curtis’ debut film, the first installment in the Halloween franchise, and a landmark film in the horror genre.
Halloween was produced on a budget of $300,000 and it turned around and grossed an astounding $47 million at the box office in the United States and $23 million internationally. That’s a total of $70 million worldwide for an independent horror movie!
It was also praised for its innovative camera movements, direction, and its original musical score. In 2006, Halloween was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Who remembers Gull Cottage, the charming house from the series The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1968-70) starring Hope Lange and Edward Mulhare.
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir was both a television series and a film, the film came first and was based on the 1945 novel. The show premiered in September of 1968 and ran until 1970. The series stars Hope Lange as Carolyn Muir, a young widowed writer who rents the charming house, Gull Cottage along with her two children. Of course, the cottage is haunted, the ghost is the former owner Daniel Gregg, a 19th-century sea captain, played by Edward Mulhare. Charles Nelson Reilly plays Claymore Gregg, he knows the cottage is haunted by his ancestor and rents it to Mrs. Muir without telling.
Wilma meeting her new neighbors, Weirdly and Creepella Gruesome, who have moved into Tombstone Manor next to the Flintstones.
Remember The Gruesomes from the Flintstones? It was like the Addams Family moved t Bedrock. They creepy family consisted of married couple Weirdly and Creepella, and their son Goblin (Gobby for short). Also living with them was Uncle Ghastly. They debuted in back in 1964, which was during the show's fifth season in an episode titled "The Gruesomes".
The gothic family reappears in an episode called "The Hatrocks and the Gruesomes". The Hatrocks, are hillbillies and old friends of Fred who come to visit but quickly get on everyone’s nerves. So, Fred enlists the help of the Gruesomes to scare the Hatrocks away but the plan fails because the hillbilly Hatrocks are immune to horror.
James Garner was charming gambler Bret Maverick in the TV series Maverick from 1957-1962.
Here we have a dashing, young James Garner as the charming gambler Bret Maverick of the Western television series Maverick (1957 to 1962). The Mavericks were Texans and poker players who traveled the American Old West, constantly getting into life-threatening situations (usually involving money, women, or both).
Maverick was a branch of the Warner Bros.tree of Westerns, which included Cheyenne, Colt .45, Lawman, Bronco, The Alaskans, and Sugarfoot. The show launched spinoffs, comic books and even a film, which was released in 1994 and starred Mel Gibson as Bret Maverick.
Davy's gig on The Brady Bunch in 1971 was the most famous thing he did outside of The Monkees, thanks to Marcia, her fan club and the reruns.
David Thomas Jones was a musician, actor, and businessman best known as a member of the band the Monkees and for starring in the TV series of the same name.
It was in 1971 when Marcia Brady decides she can get Davy Jones to sing at her school's junior prom because she’s Marcia Brady and it’s all about Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. That and because of a letter Jones sent her as president of the local fan club. Problems ensue when she has trouble getting to him to ask and the school has already made the announcement.
The official state song of Colorado is..Rocky Mountain High of course! John Denver in 1975.
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. or as he’s known professionally John Denver, was a musician, record producer, actor, and activist whose greatest success was as a solo singer. Denver began his music career in the 1960’s with folk music groups and by the 1970’s he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. Over the course of his career, he recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed himself, at a total of over 33 million record sales worldwide
In addition to appearing on a variety of music charts, he earned twelve gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders". Rocky Mountain High also went on to become the official state song of Colorado.
Mongo (Alex Karras) rides into town on an ox in Mel Brooks zany Wild West comedy Blazing Saddles in 1974.
Pictured here is Mongo (Alex Karras) riding into town on an ox in Blazing Saddles back in 1974. Mel Brooks zany, satirical Western comedy starred Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder.
“In order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.”
The storyline satirizes the racism obscured by myth-making Hollywood accounts of the American West, with the hero being a black sheriff in an all-white town. The film was greatly received by critics and audiences, was nominated for three Academy Awards, and is ranked No. 6 on the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Laughs list.
Chico & the Man with Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson was on TV in 1974-78. Freddie was 22 yrs. old when he committed suicide in 1977.
Pictured here is Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson of the sitcom Chico and the Man. The show ran for four seasons from 1974 to 1978 and starred Albertson as Ed Brown (the Man), who is best described as a cantankerous owner of a run-down garage in East Los Angeles. And Freddie Prinze as Chico Rodriguez, an upbeat Chicano who comes in looking for a job. Chico and the Man was the first U.S. television series set in a Mexican-American neighborhood
Sadly, Prinze suffered from major depression, which only worsened in the weeks following the end of his marriage. On the night of January 28, 1977, Prinze shot himself in the head in front of his business manager, Marvin "Dusty" Snyder. His son, the now famous actor Freddie Prinze Jr. was only one year old at the time.
Those were the days...The cast of All In The Family, this cutting-edge series ran from 1971 to 1979.
One of the most famous sitcom families in television history are the Bunkers. All in the family was a groundbreaking show, depicting highly controversial topics of the time like, racism, abortion, women’s liberation, homosexuality, religion, and even impotence. All topics previously considered inappropriate to air on network television.
You Win Again- The Gibb brothers playing badminton in the late 70's.
Pictured here are the Gibb brothers of The Bee Gees, playing a game of badminton in the late 70's. The Bee Gees were basically the original version of “The Hansons”. The pop music group formed in 1958 and consisted of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.
The Bee Gees were consistent with their success, but two distinct periods during the decades they recorded were exceptional. First, they were incredibly popular as a music act in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Then they became prominent disco music era performers in the mid-to-late 1970s. The Bee Gees wrote all of their own hits, and they even went on to write and produce hits for other major artists.
Do you remember this popular cartoon back in 1975 - The Great Grape Ape Show!
The Great Grape Ape Show graced the Saturday morning cartoon lineup on ABC from September 6, 1975 to September 3, 1978. In it, the title character is a purple gorilla standing 40-feet tall (voiced by Bob Holt). He may look intimidating but he has the mind of a child. Those unfamiliar with him often run off terrified screaming "YEOW! A gorill-ill-ill-ill-la!".
Grape Ape has his own catchphrase, (his name) which he usually recites as a form of agreement "Grape Ape, Grape Ape". He also has a buddy he travels with, a dog Beegle Beagle (voiced by Marty Ingels), whom he calls "Beegly Beagly".
Muhammad Ali in the ring with Sammy Davis Jr., who lasted 12 rounds back in 1978.
Pictured here is actor, singer, dancer, and member of the famed “Rat Pack” of Hollywood, Sammy Davis Jr. in the ring with Boxing legend Muhammad Ali. This photo was taken on May 8, 1978, during a benefit fight and show that was held at the Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles. The popular entertainer lasted 12 rounds in the ring with Ali who began training at just 12-years old and is one of the most iconic and decorated athletes of our time.
He's got all the time in the world. Rod Taylor starred in the 1960 sci-fi film, The Time Machine.
It’s Rod Taylor starring in the 1960 sci-fi film, The Time Machine! Not only did the 1895 novella by H. G. Wells' The Time Machine inspire this Science Fiction film, but at the time of its release, it was largely influential on the development of the science fiction genre as a whole.
It’s set in Victorian England and in it, an inventor pulls off the impossible–he constructs a time machine. Once in the distant future, he discovers that “mankind's descendants have divided into two species, the passive, childlike, and vegetarian Eloi and the underground-dwelling Morlocks, who feed on the Eloi.”
The Time Machine received an Oscar for its impressive use of time-lapse photographic effects, which they used to show the world changing during the time traveling process.
McMillan & Wife starring Rock Hudson & Susan St. James aired on TV from 1971 to 1977.
McMillan & Wife was a lighthearted police procedural series that aired from 1971 to 1977. The show starred Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in the title roles. The series followed San Francisco police commissioner Stuart McMillan and his amateur detective wife Sally. Often the couple would go to charity events and fashionable parties before solving baffling robberies and murders. Comic relief was provided by John Schuck as Sgt. Charles Enright and Nancy Walker who played Mildred, the couple's sarcastic, heavy-drinking maid.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Leatherface and his cannibalistic, inbred family! (1974)
Ah yes, Gunnar Hansen’s most famous role, Leatherface in Tobe Hooper’s horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1974. Here he is in his Leatherface getup with his inbred clan. In it, a group of friends fall victim to a family of cannibals while on a road trip.
Now, despite what the marketing tactics implied, the script itself was complete fiction. However, it was inspired by real events. More specifically, the character of Leatherface was inspired by the real-life murder Ed Gein.
Blonde and gorgeous 80's celebs Lydia Cornell and John Schneider; she was a guest star on The Dukes of Hazzard in 1984.
Movin’ On starred Frank Converse and Claude Akins as truck drivers in 1974. Merle Haggard wrote and recorded the hit theme song.
Movin' On ran for two seasons (and a total of forty-four episodes), between 1974 and 1976. It starred Frank Converse and Claude Akins as "big-rig" truck drivers. The storylines of each episode usually centered on the travels of Sonny and Will, and their involvement in the lives of people they met.
The theme song, "Movin' On", was written and performed by Merle Haggard. It was a huge hit and made No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart back in July 1975. Akins later went on to appear in another (more comedy-oriented) trucking-related TV series, B.J. and the Bear.
Remember when Samantha was on The Flintstones, Darrin goes boating so she joins neighbors Flintstones and Rubbles on a camping trip. 1965
Hey, remember that time when an animated Samantha Stevens was on The Flintstones? Samantha and Darrin Stephens both guest star on the popular cartoon, Elizabeth Montgomery, and Dick York both came in to voice their characters.
In the episode “Samantha” Darrin goes on a little boating trip, so Samantha decides to join the Flintstones and the Rubbles for a camping trip. All this outdoorsy quality time ends up stirring up everyone’s competitive natures and the men and women end up pitted against each other.
Of course, the women have Samantha's witchcraft on their side so they end up besting the men at every turn.
Jaqueline Bisset and Michael Sarrazin, who met making The Sweet Ride in 1968 and had an off-screen romance as well.
The American counter-culture drama The Sweet Ride (1968) stars Tony Franciosa, Michael Sarrazin and Jacqueline Bisset in an early starring role. Sarrazin and Bisset were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer, Male and Female respectively. And the two also embarked on an off-screen romance after spending so much time together onscreen.
While Bisset has had lengthy romances, not only with Sarrazin, but also with dancer/actor Alexander Godunov, Swiss actor Vincent Pérez and Turkish martial arts instructor Emin Boztepe, she’s never married. She’s often made claims of feeling as though she couldn’t commit to a man’s bad habits and she "used to feel claustrophobic. Like many people who don't easily commit, I think I had a fear of being known; I was not sure there was anybody inside there."
