From 1979: The Golden Girl

An absolute gem of a find, Jessica Savitch in her very earliest days at NBC, before she was murdered by The Peacock and Fred Silverman and everything that is false, indecent, untrue and insipid about network television news.

Through The Magic Of YouTube, Our Tribute To Makin' It Continues!

Christmas came extra early this year, you guys. As in, an entire episode...found!

This is called "Something For Ma." And I want a satiny jacket just like David's.

This episode originally aired on 2 March, 1979. Pop some popcorn, pour yourself a Dr. Pepper, and enjoy!

From 1979: There's Only One Way To Deal With This Monday...

Through the magic of YouTube, nostalgia, disco, crappy sitcoms, and my continuing crush on David Naughton, I bring you the theme to the short-lived show Makin' It.

Makin' It was an ABC show, with production values very similar to hits of that era like Angie, Happy Days, Mork and Mindy, and Laverne and Shirley. All of the shows had the same "look" to them. Its timeslot was on Friday nights, at 8:00pm. An obvious attempt to bring the magic of Saturday Night Fever to the small screen, the cast even included a Travolta...Ellen, that is...to play the mother of disco-lovin' Billy, played by David Naughton.

The theme song was a huge hit, climbing to #5 on the Billboard charts in the summer of 1979. The show, however, was canceled after only eight episodes. Interestingly, the song became a hit after the show's cancellation.

Here's an interesting bit of trivia for you: the show Makin' It introduced "awesome" as an adjective to the American vernacular. So, even though the show may have only flickered briefly on television screens, there were aspects of it that endure (like the yumminess of "the Dr. Pepper guy," who is said to be one of the nicest people in show business).

Here's another little bit of trivia for you: a young Laura Beth Weiss, only eight years old at the time, LOVED this show and never missed it.

This show just missed the disco craze. Sure, disco was still around in 1979, even popular, but the hysteria surrounding Saturday Night Fever had been replaced by the hysteria surrounding Grease. Later, ABC executives acknowledged that, had the show premiered even a scant six months earlier than it had, it would have been a hit the likes of which ABC hadn't seen since Happy Days. It was simply a case of bad timing. It certainly wouldn't have mattered if the scripts for Makin' It weren't exactly Chaucer, Baudelaire, or at the very least, Herskovitz and Zwick. (Have you ever tried to actually sit through a 1979-era episode of Happy Days without the benefit of some substance, either alcoholic or illegal? It's impossible to do.) It's not like the ABC shows (or any other network shows, for that matter) of that era were High Art. It was timing that killed Makin' It, plain and simple.

Also, sorry the the end of the clip cuts out. There's a totally awesome "clap clap" that ends the tune.

From 1967: Stunning Ad For A Fragrance Icon

A wonderful article about Arpege

Famous women who wore Arpege include Jayne Mansfield, Rita Hayworth, Jacqueline Bisset, Sandra Dee, and Sharon Tate.

Why Sons Of The Soil Should Never Be Encouraged To Go To Discos

From 1970: Leave My Kitten Alone

WOW! For Fantastic Vintage Ad Browsing!

Check this site out: Vintage Ad Browser

From 1936: So You've Banged Someone Unclean

1936

From 1946: A Variation On The Old Adage About Cooks, Kitchens, Ladies, Parlors, Whores, And Bedrooms

I just noticed that this is one LOUSY double-clicker. Sorry about that...you know I tend to only favor ads where you can double-click them to see them in all of their glory. I'll let this one stay, but I will be more vigilant in the future.

I Dream (HA!) Of Having Been An Insomniac Back In The Olden Days

A terrific double clicker.

Yes, my old nemesis Insomnia is paying me a visit again. I went to Walgreens and asked the pharmacist for some Dr. Miles Nervine effervescent tablets. He looked at me funny (a common occurrence pour moi) and directed me to the parking lot, where Al, Our Friendly Neighborhood Dope Pusher, was dealing out of his 1993 Ford Aerostar. I'm not sure what Al gave me, but they didn't help me sleep. However, I am peeing purple.

Angel Face

Did you know that Jean Simmons was director William Wyler's first choice for the part of Princess Anne in Roman Holiday? Audrey Hepburn was given the role because Howard Hughes, who owned Jean's contract, would not release her to do the picture.

Seventies Kids Knew How Kellogg's Put MORE In Your Morning: Through The Magic Of Sugar!

After all, you couldn't be expected to get through six hours' straight of violent cartoons without a little buzz...

Special thanks to my darling friend Amy for this clip.

Of Course, The Question That Begs To Be Answered Is: Which One Is Al Davis?

My Continuing Battle With Bronchitis: A Touching Vintage Tribute To Cold Medicine Throughout The Years

I haven't enjoyed a YouTube video this much since
The SlapChop Remix.

I used to work at Osco back in my college days. One of the best parts of working at Store #880 was raiding the pharmacy shelves for the various pain relievers and cold medicines...for some reason, we were always permitted to take what we liked from the shelves, as long as what we took stayed in the store. No problem. It was much easier to work the dreaded and dreadful Sunday 9:00am to 7:30pm shift while floating on the cloud that Allerest provided, anyway.

From 1966: Jennifer Juniper, Just Because

Jenny Boyd in "Double D" Foale and Tuffin minidress
1966

Fashion designers Foale and Tuffin, famous for churning out minidresses and other mod delights for the dolly rockers of the day, loved having Jenny Boyd model their creations. They worked with her more than any other model, and Jenny was unofficially "the face" of Foale and Tuffin clothing.

The Foale and Tuffin boutique, Marlborough Court, London
1966

From 1958: Behold, The Creamery Grainy Splendour Of Minute Rice And Cheese Sauce

FANTASTIC double-clicker!

Two bonus vintage recipes for those of you who like that sort of thing (like me!).

Screw Chanel

THIS is the most elegant handbag I can think of. And it comes with a thermos, so I could tote along a cold drink or a hot soup...like magic!

Truth is, I really dig vintage metal lunchboxes. It is one thing that I could easily see myself collecting. The trouble would be keeping them pristine. I would want to use them for everything. "Oh, you want a Ritz cracker? Here, let me get you one from my Laugh-In lunchbox. Of course, that's where we store our Ritz crackers. They deserve the utmost in elegance, don'tcha think?"

From 1967: Quicksilver Messenger Service At Monterey Pop

I am avoiding calling my doctor out of fear that she will make good on her promise (threat?) to put me in the hospital if my lung infection didn't clear up with the first round of antibiotics and week of bedrest (it hasn't; if anything, my cough is worse and I am running a fever again while shivering so hard I could easily be mistaken for a junkie in need of a fix).

And I really don't want that to happen, you know. The equation goes a little something like this:

Laura Beth + Hospital = Bad.

To take my mind off being sick, I am perusing the wonderful and surprisingly bountiful collection of Monterey Pop clips on YouTube. Holy Christ, that is the definition of Laura Linger Heaven: wall to wall hippies just tokin' the sweet leaf, listenin' to the tunes, and lovin' one another. The song said it best: all those who come to San Francisco, summertime will be a love-in there. Beautiful.

Here is one of my favorites, from Quicksilver Messenger Service.

From April 1990: Christy Turlington In Ungaro

Vogue

For a couple of years after this first appeared in the magazine, I had this page tacked up on my wall. I was, and continue to be, struck by how beautiful this image is. Christy Turlington has taken a lifetime of iconic, stunning photographs. For me, this is one of the most memorable.

From 1965: The In Crowd Is Outta Sight

Just because this is one of my favorite songs. From 1965.

Boy, Dobie was a handsome sumbitch. LOVE his suit.

From 1932: Chubby Chicks Advised To Quite Literally Pound Salt

Probably one of the best double-clickers I've ever had here.

From 1976: When A Cherished Catchphrase Just So Happens To Also Be The Name Of A Beloved Kids' Magazine, Hilarity Ensues