From 1965: What In The Holy Hell?

I'm en route to getting ready for Date Night, but I was so appalled by this clip, I had an urge to blog about it immediately!

Karen J., you evil and tortuous soul, how can you claim to be "one of my biggest fans" and then release this piece of fresh Hades upon me, knowing full well that I would have to do a post about it here? Devil woman, you!

Words...fail me. I didn't think even The Sixties were capable of children's toys that could only be played successfully by feigning an epileptic fit. But here it is: Swing Wing.



(Thank you, Karen. XOXOXOXO)

From 1965: It's Clips Like These That Keep Me From Sticking My Head In The Gas Oven For Another Day

Oh, will you look at this GORGEOUS clip from NBC's "Hullabaloo" in 1965?

The peacock! The color peacock with the "color voiceover"! This is the most beautiful and clear copy I have ever seen.

Interesting that Jerry Lewis and his son, Gary, appeared as hosts; clearly Jerry Lewis was trying to curry favor with a younger audience that was far too hip and fresh for his asinine antics. He winds up looking like a grade-A asshole. Oh, and his teenaged son? We now know Jerry Lewis used to beat the holy hell out of him, his mother, and the rest of the family on a regular basis.

Gary Lewis fronted a group called Gary Lewis and The Playboys, who released a marvelous tune called "This Diamond Ring." They also had a modest hit in a ballad called 'Tina," written for Tina Sinatra.

Gary Lewis went on to serve in Vietnam. He returned as so many others did: a broken man, addicted to heroin.

Jerry Lewis responded to his plight by shunning him. As I said, grade-A asshole.

Enough about that.

Any time a TWA spot crosses my path, I literally squeal with joy.

The real gem in this clip, however, is the promotional bit for Gene Autry's Continental Hotel. One year after this program aired, the hotel was sold and renamed The Continental Hyatt House. That's right, ladies and germs: this hotel is the legendary Riot House.

Ken and I stayed at Riot House when we visited L.A. in summer 2000. It was really kind of a dump. A faded beauty with secrets to share. In other words, I loved every single minute I was there. It's also very handy to all of the seediness on the Sunset Strip.

Finally, there's a beautiful "snake" NBC logo with the three tones at the end.

Somebody get me a cigarette.

Massive thanks to Anonymous, who sent this to me. I can understand not wanting to be associated by name with me and the rabble who read this blog, but couldn't you have come up with a pseudonym? I want to thank you for reals!