Thursday 31 May 2012

1962, Television: The Lucy Show

The Lucy Show, an American situation comedy, aired for the first time on CBS in 1962. The show was Lucille Ball's follow-up to the immensely popular "I Love Lucy" (1951-1957).

In 1962, two years after Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz divorced and their final show aired (using the "I Love Lucy" format), Desilu Studios was struggling. Desilu Productions, co-owned by husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, was best known for its hit productions such as "I Love Lucy", "Star Trek" and, "The Untouchables". Arnaz, president of Desilu Studios, offered Ball an opportunity to return to television in a weekly sitcom. At that time, CBS executives were somewhat dubious as to whether Ball could not only carry a show without Arnaz, but also follow such a landmark series as I Love Lucy. CBS agreed to a full season of episodes and The Lucy Show premièred on Monday night, October 1, 1962.

Lucille Ball as Lucille Carmichael
Lucille Ball as Lucille Carmichael and Vivian Vance as Vivian Bagley

Synopsis
After the death of her husband, Lucy Carmichael and her friend, the recently divorced Vivian Bagley, move into a house together with their children. The series follows the adventures of the widow Lucy and with her job working as the personal secretary to the impatient and grumpy banker Mr. Mooney...

A total of 156 episodes were produced over a span of 6 seasons (1962-1968).

Candy Moore as Chris Carmichael, Lucille Ball as Lucille Carmichael and Jimmy Garrett as Jerry Carmichael

Main Cast
  • Lucille Ball as Lucille Carmichael
  • Gale Gordon as Theodore J. Mooney
  • Vivian Vance as Vivian Bagley
  • Mary Jane Croft as Mary Jane Lewis
  • Candy Moore as Chris Carmichael
  • Jimmy Garrett as Jerry Carmichael
  • Ralph Hart as Sherman Bagley
  • Dick Martin as Harry Connors
Lucille Carmichael (Lucille Ball) as Cleopatra in season 2 (1963)
Awards
  • Emmy award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball (1968)
  • Emmy award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball (1967)

Season 1 Intro


Season 2 Intro


Season 3 Intro


Season 4 Intro

Wednesday 30 May 2012

1961, Cars: Jaguar E-Type

The Jaguar E-Type was introduced, initially for export only, in March 1961. The domestic market (UK) launch came four months later in July 1961. The E-Type was designed as a rear-wheel drive grand tourer in two-seater coupé form (FHC or Fixed Head Coupé) and as convertible (OTS or Open Two Seater). The 2+2 version with a lengthened wheelbase was released several years later.

The E-type was manufactured between 1961 and 1974 in three series: Series 1 (1961-1968), Series II (1969-1971) and Series 3 (1971-1974). In total 72515 E-Type's were made. (FHC: 20297; OTS: 33996; 2+2: 18222)

Jaguar E-Type Series I FHC
Jaguar E-Type Series I OTS

Jaguar E-Type Series I 2+2
Jaguar E-Type Series II OTS
Jaguar E-Type Series III 2+2

Documentary

Monday 28 May 2012

1960, Film: Flaming Star

Elvis Presley stars in the 1960 western film “Flaming Star”. The film was directed by Don Siegel and the story was based on the book “Flaming Lance” (1958) by Clair Huffaker. Critics agreed that Presley gave one of his best acting performances as the mixed-blood "Pacer Burton".

Synopsis
Sam Burton's (John McIntire) second wife Neddy (Dolores del Rio) is Indian, their son Pacer (Elvis Presley) a half-breed. As struggle starts between the whites and the Kiowas, the Burton family is split between loyalties. Neddy and Sam are killed; Pacer sides with the Indians, his half-brother Clint (Steve Forrest) with the whites.

Elvis Presley & Barbara Eden

Main cast
  • Elvis Presley as Pacer Burton
  • Barbara Eden as Roslyn Pierce
  • Steve Forrest as Clint Burton
  • Dolores del Río as Neddy Burton
  • John McIntire as Sam Burton
Dolores del Río

Trailer

Saturday 26 May 2012

1977, News: Tenerife airport disaster

On March 27, 1977, two Boeing 747 passenger aircraft collided on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport (now Tenerife North Airport) on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife. With a total of 583 fatalities, the crash is the deadliest accident in aviation history.

The aircraft involved - KLM Flight 4805 (Type: Boeing 747-206B, Registration: PH-BUF, Name: Rijn (The Rhine)) and Pan Am Flight 1736 (Type: Boeing 747–121, Registration: N736PA, Name: Clipper Victor) - had been, along with many other aircraft, diverted to Tenerife from Gran Canaria Airport after a bomb exploded there. Many aircraft were diverted to the smaller Tenerife airport where air traffic controllers were forced to park many of the planes on the taxiway, thereby blocking it. Further complicating the situation, a dense fog developed at Tenerife reducing the visibility.

Boeing 747–121, Registration: N736PA, Name: Clipper Victor
Boeing 747-206B, Registration: PH-BUF, Name: Rijn

When Gran Canaria reopened, the parked aircraft blocking the taxiway at Tenerife required both of the subject 747s to taxi on the only runway in order to get in position for take-off. Due to the fog, neither aircraft could see the other, nor could the controller in the tower see the runway or the two 747s on it. As the airport did not have ground radar, the only means for the controller to identify the location of each plane was via voice reports over the radio. As a result of several misunderstandings in the ensuing communication, the KLM flight attempted to take off while the Pan Am flight was still on the runway. The resulting collision destroyed both aircraft, killing all 248 aboard the KLM flight and 335 of 396 aboard the Pan Am flight. Sixty-one people aboard the Pan Am flight, including the pilots and flight engineer, survived the disaster.


Documentary (reconstruction)

Wednesday 23 May 2012

1976, Music: Eurovision Song Contest

The 21th Eurovision Song Contest was held on 3 April 1976 at the “Congresgebouw” in The Hague, Netherlands. Corry Brokken presented the festival and of the 18 participants Brotherhood of Man won for the United Kingdom with "Save Your Kisses for Me".

It was the first time that a previous winner hosted the contest. Corry Brokken won the festival in 1957 with the song "Net als toen" ("Like it used to be"). Liechtenstein submitted a song but as they had no broadcasting service of their own they were not allowed to participate. Greece's entry aroused some controversy because the song was about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus therefore Turkey withdrew from the contest. Sweden withdrew from the contest, as the broadcaster Sveriges Radio (SR) did not have enough money to host another contest if Sweden won again.

Brotherhood of Man, left to right: Lee Sheriden, Nicky Stevens, Sandra Stevens and Martin Lee

Draw
Country
Artist
Song
Place
Points
01
United Kingdom
Brotherhood of Man
"Save Your Kisses for Me"
1
164
02
Switzerland
Peter, Sue and Marc
"Djambo, Djambo"
4
91
03
Germany
Les Humphries Singers
"Sing Sang Song"
15
12
04
Israel
Chocolat, Menta, Mastik
"Emor Shalom"
6
77
05
Luxembourg
Jürgen Marcus
"Chansons pour ceux qui s'aiment"
14
17
06
Belgium
Pierre Rapsat
"Judy et Cie"
8
68
07
Ireland
Red Hurley
"When"
10
54
08
Netherlands
Sandra Reemer
"The Party's Over"
9
56
09
Norway
Anne-Karine Strøm
"Mata Hari"
18
7
10
Greece
Mariza Koch
"Panagia Mou, Panagia Mou"
13
20
11
Finland
Fredi & Ystävät
"Pump-Pump"
11
44
12
Spain
Braulio
"Sobran las palabras"
16
11
13
Italy
Al Bano & Romina Power
"We'll Live It All Again"
7
69
14
Austria
Waterloo & Robinson
"My Little World"
5
80
15
Portugal
Carlos do Carmo
"Uma flor de verde pinho"
12
24
16
Monaco
Mary Christy
"Toi, la musique et moi"
3
93
17
France
Catherine Ferry
"Un, deux, trois"
2
147
18
Yugoslavia
Ambasadori
"Ne mogu skriti svoju bol"
17
10


Monday 21 May 2012

1975, Cars: Car of the Year, Citroën CX

The Citroën CX won the Car of the year award in 1975 with 229 points. Twenty years after the legendary ID/DS, Citroën introduced another design surprise. Great looks were again combined with aerodynamics, as was suggested by a name meaning in French penetration coefficient. The improved hydro-pneumatic suspension gave the car superb comfort and body control. Second was the Volkswagen Golf with 164 points and third the Audi 50 with 136 points.

Citroën CX Super (Series I)
Citroën CX Prestige (Series I)
Citroën CX GTI (Series I)
Citroën CX Familiale (Series I)
The CX's flowing lines were designed by auto stylist Robert Opron, based upon its precursor the ID/DS, the sporty SM and the smaller GS. Mechanically, the car was one of the most modern of its time, combining Citroën's unique hydro-pneumatic integral self-levelling suspension, speed-adjustable power steering (first introduced on the Citroën SM), and a unique interior design that did away with steering column stalks, allowing the driver to reach all controls with his or her hands on the steering wheel. The CX suspension was later used under license by Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz.

Citroën CX TRS (Series II)
Available models were a four-door saloon, a break (Familiale), and a long-wheelbase model built on the break chassis (Prestige et Limousine).

Second Place: Volkswagen Golf Mk I
Third Place: Audi 50
Citroën sold nearly 1.2 million CX's during its 15 years of production (1974-1989). There were two generations: Series I (1974-1985) and Series II (1985-1989).

Citroën CX Series I advert
Citroën CX Series I advert

Citroën CX Series II advert

Brochure 1974 (Dutch)
Brochure 1979 (English)
Brochure 1987 (Dutch)


Saturday 19 May 2012

1974, News: The Carnation Revolution

On April 25 1974 army rebels took control in Portugal after an almost bloodless dawn coup ending nearly 50 years of dictatorship.

The 25 April coup became known as “The Carnation Revolution” (“Revolução dos Cravos”). It ended the longest dictatorship in Europe, the “Estado Novo”. In the early hours of 25 April 1974, “The Carnation Revolution” began in the Portuguese city of Lisbon. There were two secret signals in the military coup: first the airing (at 10:55 pm) by “Emissores Associados de Lisboa” of the song “E Depois do Adeus” ("And After Goodbye”) by Paulo de Carvalho, Portugal's entry in the 6 April 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, which alerted the rebel captains and soldiers to begin the coup. Next at 12:20 am, “Radio Renascença” broadcast “Grândola, Vila Morena” (“Grândola, swarthy town”), a song by Zeca Afonso, a influential folk and political musician-singer forbidden on Portuguese radio at the time. This was the signal that "announced" that the revolution had started and nothing would stop it except "the possibility of a regime's repression".


The military forces quickly overwhelmed the government, sparking spontaneous demonstrations in the street, in which civilians ran out to mingle with the soldiers, despite orders to stay inside. At the time, carnations were flooding the famous central flower market of Lisbon, and many citizens put them into the gun barrels of the soldiers, inspiring the name “Carnation Revolution” to describe this event in Portuguese history.


Documentary

E Depois do Adeus

Thursday 17 May 2012

1973, Television: The Magician

From 1973 to 1974 B 'n' B Pictures Corp. and Paramount Television produced "The Magician". It starred Bill Bixby as stage illusionist Anthony "Tony" Blake. A total of 22 episodes and one pilot were produced.

Blake was a professional stage magician who used his skills to solve crimes. Some years ago, Blake had been wrongly convicted of a crime, and unjustly confined in a prison in South America. He discovered a way to escape with his cell mate, which began his interest in escapology. The cell mate died and left him a fortune...


Main cast:
  • Bill Bixby (January 22 1934 - November 21 1993) as Anthony Blake
  • James Watkins (November 7 1944) as Jerry Anderson
  • Keene Curtis (February 15 1923 - October 13 2002) as Max Pomeroy
  • Joseph Sirola (October 7 1929) as Dominick
Bill Bixby as Anthony Blake

Opening Credits

Sunday 13 May 2012

1972, Film: Butterflies Are Free

Based on a play by Leonard Gershe, “Butterflies Are Free” was produced by M.J. Frankovich and directed by Milton Katselas. It was released on 6 July, 1972 in the USA. While the original play was set in New York, the film was set in San Francisco.

Synopsis:
All Don Baker (Edward Albert) wants is a place of his own away from his over-protective mother (Eileen Heckart). Don's been blind since birth, but that doesn't stop him from setting up in a San Francisco apartment and making the acquaintance of his off-the-wall, liberated, actress neighbour Jill Tanner (Goldie Hawn). Don learns the kind of things from Jill that his mother would never have taught him! And Jill learns from Don what growing up and being free is really all about...

Goldie Hawn and Edward Albert
Main cast:
  • Goldie Hawn as Jill Tanner
  • Edward Albert as Don Baker
  • Eileen Heckart as Mrs. Baker
  • Paul Michael Glaser as Ralph Austin
  • Michael Warren as Roy
Eileen Heckart and Edward Albert
Awards:
  • Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Eileen Heckart (1973)
  • Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Male: Edward Albert (1973)
Edward Albert and Goldie Hawn

Trailer

Thursday 10 May 2012

1971, Science & Technology: Intel 4004 CPU

In 1971 Intel Corporation released the Intel 4004 central processing unit. It was a 4-bit CPU and the first complete CPU on one chip. The integration was made possible by the use of then-new silicon gate technology allowing a higher number of transistors and a faster speed than was possible before.

The 4004 was the first commercially available computer processor designed and manufactured by chip maker Intel, which had previously made semiconductor memory chips. The chief designers of the chip were Federico Faggin and Ted Hoff of Intel, and Masatoshi Shima of Busicom.

Busicom calculator 141-PF
The 4004 had a maximum clock speed of 740 kHz. The first commercial product to use a 4004 microprocessor was the Busicom calculator 141-PF.

Intel 1971 ad

Documentary

Monday 7 May 2012

1970, Music: The Beatles Officially Break Up

On 10 April 1970, Paul McCartney announced the end of The Beatles. The band officially split on 31 December 1970. Although tensions within the band had been going on for more than a year nothing of an official break up had been announced. Ringo and George had both left the group for a few days as far back as 1968. John was already doing a lot of solo work. In Johns opinion he felt they could have solo projects and come back every couple of years to record an album as the Beatles.

There was a lot of drama leading up to that fateful day. Without a manger, and their own Apple Corps. in shambles they needed some one to manage all their money. Paul wanted his father in law laws firm, The Eastman's and the other three Beatles were set on Allen Klein.
"Let it Be", last album by The Beatles
"McCartney" first solo album by Paul McCartney
Ironically the man who seemed to most want to keep the Beatles together back in 1969 was the one who officially quit the band. On April 10th 1970, Paul McCartney released an official statement in advance copies of his 1st solo album "McCartney", and to various news outlets and media. The statement came in the form of a self interview claiming "a break with the Beatles due to personal, musical and business differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family".
 

Documentary