It was 50 years ago today

 Today, Rick Monday is a radio announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 50 years ago, he was an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, who were finishing a weekend series at Dodger Stadium.

On this day in 1976, two men attempted to burn the US flag. Monday was having none of that. Vin Scully calls it.

Monday, an ex-Marine, was hailed as a hero. Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan had high praise for Monday, as did everyone else, two and a half months away from the bicentennial. Fittingly, on the 50th anniversary of this episode, the Cubs are in LA this weekend, riding a 10 game winning streak as tonight's game has gotten underway as I write.

Saturtainment: The Shari Show (1960)

 Shari Lewis followed up Hi, Mom with The Shari Show, which ran for 3 seasons on NBC (1960-3). At the time, Howdy Doody had been airing six days a week, but when the show was ending, NBC decided to replace it with Shari on Saturdays.

Ronald Radd plays Mr. Goodfellow. During the series run, Fred Gwynne, who'd move on to Car 54, Where Are You?, and, then, The Munsters, appeared as Lamb Chop's personal physician.

In this sampler, it's Charlie Horse's birthday......

I never got to see the show, and I was born during the 3rd season. 

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: We Just Disagree (1977)

 In memory of singer-songwriter Dave Mason, who passed away earlier this week, we present a performance of "We Just Disagree", from The Midnight Special:

Rest in peace, Dave.

Coming Attractions: Coyote vs. ACME finally heading to the multiplex

 That lovable loser, Wile E. Coyote, will have his day in court against ACME after all.

"Coyote vs. ACME", co-written by James Gunn, was rescued from the WB scrap heap by Ketchup Entertainment, which will release the movie on August 28. Will Forte & John Cena are among the human stars.

If this connects with enough people at the theatres, David Zaslav will look even more like a tool than before. Scope the trailer:

You'd think Gunn would've stepped to the plate to try to save this himself when Zaslav decided to junk the project several months back. Personally, I'd strap Zaslav and his idiot staff to chairs, and make them binge-watch every Road Runner cartoon ever made.

We'll see what the public thinks come the end of August.

Family Toons: The Beary Family in The Unhandy Man (1970)

 "The Unhandy Man" is Charlie Beary (Paul Frees), who thinks he can save money on a garage door opener by improvising his own, frustrating his wife, Bessie (Grace Stafford).

Frees is also our announcer at the start of the short.

Charlie sounds like Frees recycled his Boris Badenov voice, only softer.

Rating: B--.

Toons You Might've Missed: Pooch The Pup in King Klunk (1933)

 Pooch The Pup was one of Walter Lantz's first creations for Universal. Pooch appeared in 13 shorts total, the pentultimate of which was 1933's "King Klunk", a parody of "King Kong", in which Pooch and his girlfriend, Poodles, travel to Africa.....

While Lantz produced & directed the short, future icon Fred "Tex" Avery was credited by Wikipedia as one of the actors.

Rating: B.

Toon Rock: Runaway Train (1992)

 From the "Lethal Weapon 3" soundtrack:

Rock legends Eric Clapton & Elton John team up for "Runaway Train", one of two singles featuring Clapton on the soundtrack ("It's Probably Me", with Sting, is the other).