Betty's Attic
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Friday, October 30, 2015
Prime time TV sure has changed a lot. Today it's mostly detective and reality shows, but there was a time when the sitcom was the undisputed king of the airwaves. I remember watching back-to-back episodes of side-splitting comedy until the news came on, which wasn't nearly so entertaining. But by then, it was time for bed anyway.

"The Partridge Family" was one of the highest rated sitcoms on television in the '70s and it was one of my hands-down favorites. The show had tons of music, lots of laughs, that great big, brightly painted tour bus...and dreamy David Cassidy. This year the show celebrated its 45th anniversary. As popular as it was, there are some things you might not know about the classic sitcom:
  • Shirley Jones could have played Carol Brady on "The Brady Bunch", but she turned down the role, saying she didn't want to do all of her scenes "in the kitchen making sandwiches".
  • The show had some very famous guest stars including Mark Hamill (pre-Luke Skywalker), Meredith Baxter (pre-"Family Ties"), Richard Pryor, Dick Clark, Farrah Fawcett and Jodie Foster (pre-Taxi Driver).
  • If the Partridge Family house looks familiar, it should. The whole block was used in filming back then. "I Dream of Jeannie", "Dennis the Menace" and "The Donna Reed Show" were among the sitcoms filmed there, so the house was frequently seen on television. But most notably, it was also the Kravitzes house on "Bewitched" and you could often see the Stevens' house in the background as the Partridge family bus drove by.
Thanks newly-released full series DVDs, you can still capture the glory days of television sitcoms. While you're at it, don't forget to look for your favorite TV houses on the iconic block that played home to so many great laughs.

Partridge Family Complete Series DVD setBewitched Complete Series DVD Set
I Dream of Jeannie Complete Series DVD SetFamily Affair DVD Set
Posted by: Betty | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, October 23, 2015
Who doesn't remember watching the old "Batman" series on television? I never missed an episode! It didn't matter that every story line followed the exact same formula: The evil villain would commit a crime, Commissioner Gordon would use the Batphone to summon Batman and Robin.

Then it was "To the Batpoles!" and down to the Batcave, where they would jump into the Batmobile and race off to save Gotham from one of their arch enemies. There was always a confrontation with the villain and sometimes one of them would get captured and put in some kind of a contraption designed to--eventually--kill them. Those cliffhanger episodes were my favorites!

Batman has changed over the years, from his costumes to his history, but the story premise remains the same. And while I love the new movies (and I can't wait for Batman vs Superman) it's still tons of suspenseful, campy fun to watch those old episodes on television — at the same Bat Time on the same Bat Channel!
Batman BankBatman Tee
Batman Tee SublimatedBatmobile
Posted by: Betty | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, October 16, 2015
We have more high-tech, space age gadgets in our pockets and purses than the creators of the Sci-Fi classic "Star Trek" ever imagined. The franchise turns 50 next year, and yes, the parties, conventions, and out-of-this-world celebrations are already in the works.

So as we prepare for "Star Trek's" Big 5-0, let's remember some of the things we loved about rushing home after school to park ourselves in front of the TV for the latest episode in the original series:
  • Tribbles. And more tribbles.
  • Spock’s brain.
  • God-like non-corporeal aliens passing judgment on humanity.
  • KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
  • Transporters. (Did you know "Beam me up, Scotty" was never actually said onscreen?)
  • All of Dr. McCoy's painless and non-invasive medical treatments. 
  • The first interracial kiss ever shown on television - and how it became a part of television and American history. 
Yes, we remember the cheesy special effects, the wobbly sets, the over-the-top over-overacting. But remember, the producers were struggling with a very low budget. Yet they still managed to create a science fiction experience that lives on today.

And even though we don't have molecular transport or interstellar travel mastered yet, we have to give the show some credit for inspiring some of the technology we take for granted in every day life. Like cell phones (communicator) and MRIs (tricorder).

If the last half a century is any indication, the next fifty years of "Star Trek" will continue to entertain, inspire and give birth to new technology.  I can't wait to see what they will come up with and what will mean to the "real" world.

Posted by: Betty | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, October 9, 2015
In a happy coincidence, The Sound of Music and Julie Andrews both have something to celebrate this year: the film’s 50th anniversary and Ms. Andrews’ 80th birthday (October 1).

I remember watching the movie and jealously begging Mom and Dad to hire a lively singing and dancing governess to take care of us after school. Of course, we didn’t need a babysitter, but that was hardly the point. I guess I just wanted a way to bring the music and the magic home with me.

The film won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director and 2 Golden Globes, including a win for Best Actress. But did you know Julie Andrews almost missed out on the role? Walt Disney helped her land the part by sending a clip from the yet-to-be-released Mary Poppins to the director, who promptly cast her in the iconic role of Maria — and created a timeless classic.

Posted by: Betty | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, October 2, 2015
65 years ago today, Charles Schultz's first PEANUTS comic debuted in the daily newspaper. Now widely known as "the longest story ever told by one human being", the lovable strip has fans all over the world, has been translated into 21 languages and still appears in newspapers today.

To celebrate the day here are some fun facts you might not have known about the gang:
  • Charlie Brown's signature shirt didn't appear until 3 months after the first strip was published. After that, he never took it off. (Except to wash it - we hope!)
  • Snoopy had only one pet peeve: just like a real dog, he hated being patted on the head! (Dogs really don't like that - not one little bit!)
  • The cast of characters started small with only Charlie Brown, Patty, Shermy and Snoopy in the early strips. The others came along later, relegating poor Shermy and Patty to bit players in the strip.
  • Pig-pen's real name has never been divulged. Not once.
  • The Apollo 10 command module was nicknamed "Charlie Brown" and the lunar module was nicknamed "Snoopy". Though they weren't included in the official mission logo, they were the unofficial mascots of Apollo 10.
I remember reading and clipping the Sunday strips more than the dailies. They were in color, a bit longer and because the funnies were the only part of the Sunday paper that sort of "belonged" to me. I still have a lot of those old clippings. Though they're faded now and hard to read, digging them out of the attic seems like the perfect way to celebrate this milestone day.

Posted by: Betty | 8:00 AM | permalink
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