July 2022 - Retro Reminiscing Video and Pictures

Max Headroom To Return

The co-creater of Halt and Catch Fire (great series!) Christopher Cantwell recently tweeted “I’m writing a new Max Headroom series for @AMC_TV” . Originally introduced in 1985 as the British TV movie Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future. In short, Max was a fictional reporter fleeing enemies in a parking garage on a motorcycle that crashed through the structure’s warning sign that reads “Max. Headroom 2.3 meters. For an interesting, detailed report on Max Headroom’s history see this Youtube video.G

Max Headroom was an artificially intelligent character created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton for Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Advertised as computer-generated, Max Headroom was played by actor Matt Frewer while wearing prosthetic make-up and wearing a plastic molded suit. Harsh lighting while sitting in front of a blue screen, gave viewers the illusion of artificial intelligence that was not possible at the time.

Max Headroom was featured by HBO and Cinemax and also replaced Bill Cosby as the spokesman for New Coke. Ironically when Marty McFly went to the 80’s Cafe in Back To The Future II it featured an artificial intelligent portrayal of Michael Jackson and President Ronald Reagan here in this YouTube clip. But Back To The Future II sponsor this time was Pepsi!

I’m certain technology has caught up with the idea and can replace the actor but AMC said Matt Frewer will return as the host.

Here is a clip from Youtube from the 1986 Mox Headroom show featuring an interview with Howie Mandel (while he still had hair!) >

Remember Morris The Cat?

Before there was Grumpy Cat or cat memes we only had Nine Live Morris The Cat commercials to look forward to. Morris the Cat was the mascot for Nine Lives from the ’70s through the ’80s. Known to be the “world’s most finicky cat” with snarky voice-over comments.

The first Morris The Cat was discovered by Bob Martwick in 1968 at the Hindsale Humane Society in the Chicago area. Martwick worked at the Leo Burnett advertising company where Morris was featured in 58 television commercials from 1968 to 1978. Morris was Martwick’s family pet.

John Erin was the voice for Morris and also He-Man in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

The original Morris died in 1978. Since then there have been 2 other Morris cats, all were rescue cats.

Actor Paul Sorvino Passes At 83

Actor Paul Sorvino, known for his roles in Goodfellas and Law and Order passed at the age of 83. His wife Dee Dee Sorvino said in a statement “Our hearts are broken, there will never be another Paul Sorvino, he was the love of my life, and one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen and stage.”

Another star from Good Fellas, Ray Liotta passed away two months ago at the age of 67.

Ever Eat A Pine Tree? Euell Gibbons Remembered

If you grew up in the 70’s you have to remember ole Euell Gibbons on the Grape Nuts cereal commercials for General Foods. Although you can’t locate the pine tree commercial on the internet the “ever eat a cattail” commercial is a close example of the ad. Euell wrote the book Stalking The Good Life and became known as a naturalist and cited as leading the way for eating healthy with natural foods. He was known for saying”Its naturally sweet taste reminds me of wild hickory nuts,” he often said of the Grape Nuts.

I remember Johnny Carson and other shows making fun of him and the commercials but the spoofs on Carol Burnett Show in 1973 were the most memorable. Even the children’s TV show The Electric Company got into the act with this spoof.

General Foods voluntarily withdrew the ad campaign and its advertising agency Benton & Bowles faced action from the Federal Trade Commission in 1976.

Monkee Pox

Now, this is funny!

McAshtrays

Not all memories are happy ones. I remember as a kid thinking to myself that if McDonald’s was mostly for kids, why did they have smoking in the restaurants? I hated when they were at a table we were at or near! The glass ones were really old school with the tin ones taking over in the 80’s. Smoking was banned in 1994.

Will Hart of the Delfonics Passes at 77

According to TMZ, the Grammy Award-winning lead singer of The Delfonics Will Heart passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2002 after complications of surgery. He was 77. The former barber from Philadelphia formed the Delfonics with his brother Wilbert. In 1975 after a number of hits the brothers split into two Delfonics groups. A judge ruled both brothers could use the name Delfonics if they properly informed the audience of the distinction between the two groups, so Will became Will Heart and the Delfonics.

Hart’s lead vocal led to hits like “La – La – Means I Love You,” “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” and “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love).”

Midnight At The Oasis by Maria Muldar

I remember when the song came out in 1973, the lyrics were quite controversial. I was fifteen at the time and the soft porn lyrics coming from the radio was of course enjoyed by any teenage boy. It raised an eyebrow in my home, but it was quickly shrugged off. But the song just had a nice flow to it and brings me back to those times.

At age 30, Maria’s marriage to her musician partner and husband Geoff Muldar was coming to an end. She played with a couple of bands in the 1960’s. Now, she was expecting to be waitressing to support her and her seven year old daughter their hometown of Woodstock, New York.

In 1973 Maria Muldar was looking for one more song to complete her newest album. In a Something Else interview Maria was quoted as saying “While recording the album, Muldaur had no desire for pop stardom or a Rolling Stone cover “but it just happened to me,” she tells us. “I just collected a bunch of songs that I knew and liked. I was just following my bliss. Pop stardom and fame never really interested me, but this success was a blessing. It has allowed me to support myself and continue my 50-year-plus odyssey through various parts of American roots music.”

Asked if she still enjoys playing the same song for almost fifty years she said she does. She really enjoys seeing the audience faces light up as the song begins. In an article on Songfacts she said “Reason number two is I love the look of the faces of the audience when the band strikes that number up, when the band goes into the intro of that number. Because apparently, from all the stories that have been told to me when I meet my fans after the show to sign my CD, that song was the soundtrack to many a love-and-lust affair, and if I had been writing down all the stories of what people tell me they were doing or were inspired to do because of that song, or as that song was playing, I could have written quite the little x-rated book. So when I start that song, people’s faces light up and I see very happy, maybe slightly x-rated memories flitting across their faces.”

Although it was a one hit song for her, the song tends to evoke some strong memories. I told you my memories from the song. What are your yours?

Here is an early live performance. I like how she improvises from the studio release:

Here is a later version uploaded to Youtube in 2011. A little more jazzy!