A complete episode of The Midnight Special (1973)

 This edition of The Midnight Special has a little bit of everything. Well, not quite.

Musical performances by the Spinners, Steely Dan, Merilee Rush, Paul Williams, and host Johnny Rivers. Williams sings two of his compositions that became hits for other artists, namely, "I Won't Last a Day Without You" (The Carpenters) and "Out in The Country" (Three Dog Night). Also, Wolfman Jack sings, and the Ace Trucking Company does a series of short skits, featuring Fred Willard, Patti Deutsch, and Bill Saluga.

I think executive producer Burt Sugarman thought the ol' Wolfman might be able to give Barry White a run for his money. Not too shabby, and Jack would get to do a few more numbers during the course of the series' run. 

Posted in memory of Bill Saluga, who'd later be better known as Raymond Jay Johnson, Jr. in commercials and a recurring gig on Redd Foxx's variety show. Bill passed away over the weekend.

You Know The Voice: Paul Frees sings! (1966)

 Paul Frees, the most in demand voice actor not named Mel Blanc, has one other thing in common with Blanc.

They have both recorded records.

While Blanc did novelty records, usually in character, Frees wrote and recorded "Portrait of a Fool", released on Hanna-Barbera's record label in 1966. Backed by the legendary studio musician collective, the Wrecking Crew, Frees' modest effort had slipped under the radar until it was uncovered by a fellow on YouTube.

We really do have to do a feature on Hanna-Barbera Records, as Frees was part of a short talent roster that also included Danny Hutton (later of Three Dog Night) and Laurie Johnson, who composed the theme to The Avengers.

Cinco de Mayo: Tijuana Toads (1969)

 It's been a while since we actually did anything to mark Cinco de Mayo, so it's time to change that.

The Tijuana Toads debuted with a self-titled short, alternately known as "Tall in The Grass", when the characters were repackaged as the Texas Toads for television seven years later.

The plot: Toro (Don Diamond, ex-F-Troop, Zorro) and Pancho (Tom Holland, not to be confused with the current Spider-Man actor) run afoul of a visiting Texas grasshopper (John Byner impersonating John Wayne). The grasshopper, for whatever reason, was colored red instead of a traditional green or brown.

Don Diamond played a different El Toro, as the sidekick to the title hero of The Adventures of Kit Carson in the 50's.

Rating: B.

You Know The Voice: Mel Blanc (1965)

 Yeah, I know. Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow, but let's start the party early, with help from the Kingston Trio and The Jack Benny Program.

The Trio's performance of "Tijuana Jail" segues into a sketch in which they, along with Benny, Sy (Mel Blanc), and seemingly as many people as they can find, are squeezed into a jail. Don Wilson, Benny Rubin, and Vito Scotti play Mexicans.

Oddly, Blanc is credited as "himself". Scotti (ex-Andy's Gang), I believe, was starting to recur on Gilligan's Island around this time.

Benny had switched studios during the series run, from Desilu to Revue/Universal. The Universal globe was edited off this print.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Turbo Teen in The Sinister Souped Up Seven (1984)

 Turbo Teen (Michael Mish) gets amnesia, and is befriended by a pair of local kids until his companions, Pattie (Pamela Hayden) and Alex (T. K. Carter) can reach him. Meanwhile, there's the small matter of some treasure looters in "The Sinister Souped Up Seven":

Like Simpsons castmate Nancy Cartwright, Pamela Hayden apprenticed, if you will, on Saturday mornings in the 80's. T. K. Carter is better known as a "face actor" (Punky Brewster, Good Morning, Miss Bliss). Michael Mish was never heard from again.

If you pay attention to the closing credits, you'll find a familiar name in the character design department---Doug Wildey, creator of Jonny Quest and Jana of The Jungle, who was making a comeback in comics at the time (RIO).

No rating. Just a public service.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: If You Could Read My MInd (1974)

The 70's were a great time for AM radio, with artists like John Denver, James Taylor, Billy Joel, and Gordon Lightfoot.

Lightfoot, from Orillia, Ontario, Canada, had a string of hits during the 70's that most fans know by name. "Sundown". "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald".  "Early Morning Rain". "Rainy Day People". And this nugget, "If You Could Read My Mind", which Gordon played on The Midnight Special.

In memory of Lightfoot, 84, who has passed away from natural causes. Rest in peace.

Toonfomercial: The origin of Nabisco's corner triangle (1966)

 Nabisco was a sponsor of CBS' initial airing of How The Grinch Stole Christmas in 1966, and came up with this doozy of a commercial to promote various products. 

Crispin Broadhurst, whose father was an animator who worked on the ad, has this on his YouTube channel.