Freedom Fighters in 1976 DC Calendar

Between the Freedom Fighters' debut in JLA 107-108 in August 1973 and the first issue of their own series in December 1975, the Freedom Fighters made their third published appearance: each member appeared individually in the Super DC 1976 Calendar on their own separate "birthdays." 

There are no credits on the calendar other than for the awesome art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. However, E. Nelson Bridwell was the editor of books that were on sale at about the same time, such as Superman From The 30's To The 70's, so the dates provided here may have come from him. 

1967 TV--- 50 Years Later

Was 1967 the greatest year in US television history?

Well, I guess that depends on what the criteria is for quality. There weren't a whole lot of lead women on TV yet (but it was getting better). THAT GIRL, for example, was on its second year. There weren't a whole lot of minority characters, either, but the ones that *were* there were not maids, such as Uhura on STAR TREK or Barney on MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE. So things were getting better.

I'm sure arguments could be made for more overall quality in different years, but just take a look at the shows that were on the air as of September 1967. See for yourself how many of these shows have stood the test of time and are still beloved, 50 years later!

The Supremes in 1967

1967 is colloquially known as "the summer of love," the name given to the time when thousands of young people congregated in San Francisco's Haight-Asbury neighborhood.

Musically speaking, fifty years ago the Monkees released their best album, Headquarters, and it hit number one on the album chart June 24, 1967. The week after that, the Beatles' Sgt Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band took the top spot and was there for fifteen weeks. Finally, they gave up the top the week of October 28, when the Supremes' Greatest Hits took the top spot and stayed there for 5 weeks. Ironically enough, it was replaced by another Monkees album (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd.).

If you are a fan of Motown in general or of the Supremes in particular, you know that Summer 1967 is an important time for the group, and not because of "love." Today we're going to talk about the events of that epic year.

The last show of  the Supremes with their original line-up occurred on July 1, 1967. The first show of the new line-up of the Supremes also occurred on that day.  In-between those matinee and evening shows, original member Florence Ballard left the group, and Cindy Birdsong took her place.

Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch

Today marks the anniversary of the debuts of two iconic television series: Gilligan's Island made its debut on CBS-TV on this date in 1964, and then five years later to the day, The Brady Bunch made *its* debut on ABC-TV.

Mission: Impossible at 50

Was 1966 the greatest season in TV history? It may seem that way, as we have already noted that Star Trek and The Monkees both made their debuts in September 1966. This week we look at one last classic from the Class of 1966: the iconic spy thriller, Mission: Impossible! 

The Lone Ranger's 67th Anniversary on TV

Sixty-seven years ago today, on September 15, 1949, The Lone Ranger television series premiered. Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels became huge stars, and the series was televised for the next eight years. For the third season Moore was replaced by John Hart, but the fans did not like him as much, so Moore returned for the last two seasons. The show finally went off the air in 1957, and was re-run for decades afterwards.

Hi-Yo Silver, Away! 

Star Trek Turns 50!

I have a pop-culture question for you, and I don't want the title of this post to necessarily affect your answer in any way. Go ahead and name a TV show that is at least 50 years old that you think still has some cultural resonance today. For example, "I Love Lucy" is a good example of what I mean; is there anyone over the age of 12 who doesn't recognize the four leads from that show, and who laughs whenever the show comes on?

Similarly, is there anyone in the United States who would not be able to recognize the classic Starfleet uniform, the USS Enterprise, or maybe even Mr. Spock?

I don't think so.

60 Years Ago: Elvis Crowned King of Rock & Roll

Sixty years ago this week, Elvis Presley began a historical string of 16 weeks at Number One, staying at the top of the US music charts longer than anyone ever had before. He had his third, fourth, and fifth Number One singles, all in a row.

By doing this he was unequivocally crowned The King of Rock And Roll.

TV Guide: The Avengers (May 4, 1968)

Continuing the story from the past two weeks, when I found this issue of TV Guide for sale at an antique mall I knew I would love it. It was wrapped in plastic, but I knew that at the very least the cover story would be about one of the featured Mission: Impossible stars.

When I took it out of its plastic wrap, I was pleasantly surprised to find an article about rising star Vicki Lawrence, from The Carol Burnett Show. Then after I had read *that* article, I stumbled upon THIS headline:

Wait, what? The Avengers, too!?! Well...sort of.

TV Guide: Carol Burnett Show (May 4,1968)

Continuing the story from last week, when I found this issue of TV Guide for sale at an antique mall, even though it was wrapped in plastic I just knew that I would love it for the promised Mission: Impossible article inside.

What I did not know was that besides the other three "featured" articles as listed on the cover, this issue also featured an un-heralded interview slash profile of rising new star Vicki Lawrence, from The Carol Burnett Show!

Major bonus points!!

TV Guide: Mission Impossible (May 4, 1968)

My wife loves to go antique shopping. I usually go with her, only because while she is looking for Fire King kitchenware, I am looking for forgotten (or heretofore unknown) popular culture treasures.

One of the great things I have happened upon are old issues of TV Guide. Besides the weekly TV show listings (which are a fun time-capsule in and of themselves), every issue features profiles or interviews with television celebrities.

My heart jumped into my throat when I saw the above issue. I think I bought it for three or four bucks? I don't remember, but it was certainly worth every penny!

Jupiter 2 Launch Anniversary

Today is a red-letter day in the history of the classic TV series Lost in Space.

According to the first episode of the series, the ill-fated Jupiter 2 launched on its mission to Alpha Centauri on this date, October 16, 1997.

So 18 years ago, the Space Family Robinson went missing in this tragic Alpha Control accident. Also lost, believed liquidated in the lift-off exhaust, was Doctor of Space Psychology Zachary Smith.

Official Alpha Control portrait of the doomed Robinson family
(l-4) John, Maureen, Judy, Major Don West;
Penny, Will

Banned Books Week 2015

The last week of September is celebrated as Banned Books Week across these United States. The American Library Association and the Office of Intellectual Freedom report on those books in the past year that have been challenged most often in public libraries or public schools. "Challenges" include everything from a parent calling or writing that they find a book objectionable to full-blown movements to get something pulled from the shelves. (The specific terms the ALA uses is requests for books to be "restricted" or "removed.") So it's kind of a cheat to say that these are "banned books," as nothing has actually ever successfully been banned in this country on more than a superficial (i.e. local) level.

The Debut of WKRP!

On September 18, 1978 the situation comedy WKRP in Cincinnati made its debut on CBS-TV. The show was centered around the least-listened to AM radio station in Southern Ohio. It featured Gary Sandy and Gordon Jump, two non "leading men" type character actors, as Andy Travis, the new program director, and Arthur Carlson, the owner and general manager of the station.

Lost in Space at 50

Fifty years ago today, on September 15, 1965, the TV series Lost in Space made its debut with their first episode, "The Reluctant Stowaway." Although as a series it was never as good as Star Trek, the first five episodes of this series taken together ranks as one of the greatest science-fiction dramas in TV history.

The Beatles' HELP! at 50

 

Fifty years ago this month one of the all-time classic Beatles' songs, "Help!" hit Number One on the US Billboard chart. The song was from the movie of the same name, directed by Richard Lester, who has also directed the Beatles' first film, A Hard Days' Night  (1964).

Read Comics in Public Day 8-28-2016

Tomorrow August 28 is Jack "The King" Kirby's birthday. It is therefore celebrated internationally as Read Comics In Public Day. 

"I Got You Babe" at 50

Fifty years ago this month the classic love-song and karaoke standard "I Got You Babe" by Sonny& Cher hit Number One on the Billboard chart. It stayed there for three weeks in August 1965.

Happy Birthday, Missouri!

Today marks the anniversary of the day the great state of Missouri joined these United States of America. Missouri was officially admitted as the 24th state on August 10, 1821. That means that The Show Me State is 194 years old today. (Funny, she doesn't look a day over 176). I wonder if there will be a huge party in 2021 to celebrate the bicentennial?

Hiroshima 70 Years Later

The world entered the Atomic Age seventy years ago today, when the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese port city of Hiroshima.