The NBC Mystery Movie

Following the success of NBC's 90 minute wheel series "Name of the Game", they launched The NBC Mystery Movie. Henry Mancini, who was doing a lot of music for NBC at the time, penned this iconic theme. The anthology ran for 8 years. When it disappeared, so did most of the individual shows. The excepts are; "Quincy, ME" which had a very popular 8 year run on NBC, and "Columbo". Columbo went to be featured in several stand-alone movies and then eventually in The ABC Mystery Movie in the late 80's.

ABC Movie of the Week opening sequence, created in 1969

One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. It's the instrumental version of the song "Nikki" written by Burt Bacharach for his newborn daughter, Nikki, back in 1966. This version is more richly orchestrated than Bacharach's arrangement. Legendary Jazz composer Harry Betts arranged and recorded this.

By the way, for you trivia buffs, Nikki's mom is also very famous...Angie Dickinson. Sadly, Nikki passed away a few years ago.

For those of you not old enough to remember, this opening sequence was done in 1969. Before CGI. These were cutting edge graphics back then. The ABC Movie of the Week, Tuesday Movie of the Week and Wednesday Movie of the Week all used variations of this open. The series ran from 1971-1976

Danny Kaye: WONDER MAN (2)

I discovered this movie by accident in 1974. I had just seen Cathy Lee Crosby's "Wonder Woman" which had aired as an ABC Movie of the Week. Our independent station in the Twin Cities, WTCN-TV, Channel 11 (now KARE-TV) always ran old movies in the afternoon. When I saw they were running a movie called "Wonder Man", I had to watch thinking it was another superhero flick. I was not disappointed, despite the fact that it was not a superhero movie. It was, in fact, one of the funniest movies I had ever seen (not to mention the fact that I fell madly in love with Vera Ellen).

This is the main musical/dance number from that movie. An incredible performance by both Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen.

The Short Circus - "Sweet Sweet Sway"

This is actually a musical number from The Electric Company, circa 1973. Playing the emcee is none other than Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, who was with The Electric Company during its entire run. The lead singer of the all kid group is Denise Nickerson, best known for her role as the gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde in 1971's Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.

The Guiding Light 1974 Open and Closing theme

Part of my childhood was to make it clear to everyone that I wasn't a child. My father and brother were very sick and my mom had her hands full with them. So, I decided it was my job to grow up as fast as possible. With that in mind, I started watching soap operas at the tender age of 8. I couldn't always watch because that silly thing they call "school" got in the way, But, when I could, I watched The Guiding Light. Here's what the opening and closing looked like when I first started watching it in 1974.

Match Game: Cuckoo _____!

Take heart 40-somethings! The next time one the younglings laughs at you because you don't understand their latest internet meme or other defiling of the English langauge, try this one on them. Of course, this woman was 30-ish back in 1980 and she's the one who made this historic Match Game blunder.

Monkees Kelloggs Commercial 1

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