Spoons Coffee Shop, which usually has impeccable taste in music, this morning was playing the tune whose refrain ends “And a Panama hat with a purple hatband!” I first heard this song on an old local talent show in which lip-synching was considered a talent, an idea that seems more and more appealing as “American Idol” progresses. And this led to an attempt to remember the truly awful Saturday-morning and weekday afternoon television shows broadcast in Baltimore during my youth, such as:
The Jackson Five cartoon (Michael the scamp, Jermaine the heart-throb. If the other three had niche roles, I can’t remember what they were, but one wore a hat.)
The Jerry Lewis cartoon
“The Doubledeckers,” an utterly bizarre British import, notable only for featuring a young Peter Firth, notable only for being the older brother of Colin Firth. Okay, that and Equus, and maybe Roman Polanski’s Tess.
Mighty Mouse
Underdog (Yeah, I’ve been told I bear a strong resemblance to Sweet Polly Purebred.)
Hercules, which screwed up the classical training of an entire generation by making Daedalus the villain.
Then there were the endless reruns of The Big Valley, broadcast every afternoon in Baltimore, Monday through Friday. I think I saw every episode two or three times, but the only one I remember is Barbara Stanwyck being locked up in a neighbor’s basement and threatened with a chicken. Wait — her sons threatened the Chinese houseman with a chicken after he offered to swear on a Bible that he didn’t know where the family matriarch was.
Clearly, I’m in no position to look down on the Rugrats.
The song you heard at Spoons is “Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces,” and now it’s pierced my skull like a spear. I expect it will be there for a few days. Thanks. Oh, and my favorite “Big Valley” was the one where Audra has a fever, and her copious perspiration does nothing to smear her elaborate eye makeup.
I seem to recall the Jackson 5 cartoon also featured their pink pet snake, Rosie. I ain’t going there.
Fond memories of Underdog and Bullwinkle, although I don’t think I got half the humor at my tender age.
I also remember two cartoons no one else seems to recall: Sealab 2020 and Rocket Robin Hood.
“Big Valley” ran in reruns in Austin every afternoon. I could never quite figure out if Lee Majors and Linda Evans were related or not or what was keeping them from getting together. . .and I had no idea until later that Spandex was not part of the original Wild West.
<<The Big Valley, broadcast every afternoon in Baltimore, Monday through Friday. I think I saw every episode two or three times, but the only one I remember is Barbara Stanwyck being locked up in a neighbor’s basement and threatened with a chicken. Wait — her sons threatened the Chinese houseman with a chicken after he offered to swear on a Bible that he didn’t know where the family matriarch was.>>>
BS was/is a trip. I saw some late night b&w surprise wherein she danced like I never danced before, and I actually used to dance(like, really dance)….
abt and asfor <<Fond memories of Underdog and Bullwinkle, although I don’t think I got half the humor at my tender age.>>>…I first noticed these two clearly when I heard my second son laughing so delightedly while waiting for breakfast and getting ready to go to school in the morning (need I say he hated school? ..but that’s a long and interrupted story.) It may have been the one bond of sanity between us that helped us to stay strong through the last war or a couple of em ago…You know which one I mean, the one mentioned between .. actually outside and to the right of the oak leaf clusters on the dime now.
b.
Guess we grew up with the same Saturday morning cartoons and other shows. You should give the Rugrats a chance. I checked them out when my friends kids started adding Burger King Rugrats toys to my collection. Its not bad considering.
I had never realized that Peter Firth was the older brother of Colin. The things you learn on blogs.
Thanks to Keith for pointing out your blog.
Mary
Maybe I’m somewhat of a traditionalist, but I always enjoyed Bugs Bunny and his gang, especially Foghorn Leghorn (“Luckily I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency.”). The pieces that had Bugs playing characters in old gangster movies were hilarious.
Scooby Doo was also a favorite. Having worn classes since I was 7, I always found Velma much more interesting than Daphne.
Sometime around age 12 I discovered pro-wrestling on TV. Saturday mornings at 10:30 on channel 20, and 4:00 p.m. on channel 45. Chief Jay Strongbow, Bruno Samartino, S.D. Jones, Gorilla Monsoon, George “The Animal” Steele eating the turnbuckle (does anyone know if he really has a Ph.D?), the Grand Wizard of Wrestling. Some of those guys raised sneering to an art form. And it was all real then too, not fake like it is today. I know it was real because the Sun was still reporting the outcome of the matches in the Sports section.
Channels 20 and 45? Are you a Baltimore boy, Sean?
Sure am Hon. Grew up two blocks from beautiful downtown Dundalk.
And Dundalk is, in fact, quite beautiful. I’ve always liked it.
On behalf of the community, thank you for your compliment Laura. Let me know if you would ever like an “insider’s” tour. And I also want to tell you how much I enjoy both of your websites.