75 Years of Sitcoms-- Part 2: The Beaver, Andy and Mary

**  LEAVE IT TO BEAVER  

(1957-1963)   CBS

The quintessential wholesome family comedy.  Jerry Mathers the "Beaver" charmed producers when he wore his Cub Scout uniform to his audition.

**   THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW

(1960-1968)  CBS

Among the guest stars on it were Jack Nicholson (twice) and Barbara Eden.

**  THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW

(1970-1977)   CBS

A single woman enjoying her independence and a job.  I still like that scene where Lou Grant says to her on her interview for the job, "You know what?  You've got spunk."  Then Mary smiled and thought she'd scored points when Lou continues, "I HATE spunk."  Talk about a crestfallen Mary.

--CootSpunk

Obituary of Lisa Grimm Oda: A True Child of the 60s

From the September 17, 2017, Chicago Tribune Death Notices.

Born August 4, 1949  Died September 11, 2017.

After reading her obituary, I'd have to say she really lived and fulfilled the life of what we might call a Hippy.

"Always the explorer and adventurer, during the turbulent 60's, Lisa spent time in a commune in Berkeley, CA..  This foretold a lifelong quest to seek truth and wisdom and question the status quo.

"After a few years working for Price Waterhouse in Chicago, she left to embark on her quest to enrich others with her compassion, creativity, ethics, selflessness, thoughtfulness, spirituality, and nurturing spirit and being.

"A very spiritual person, Lisa studied many religions and philosophies, endeavoring to live life in as good a way as possible.  She found aspects of Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism and Native American Spirituality that gave her clarity and truth."

She Must have been Quite An Interesting Person.  A Real Flower Child.

50th Anniversary of "The Summer of Love"-- Part 2: I Was There For About An Hour

San Francisco is hoping to capitalize on its connection to that summer and get a new influx of tourism, both from those originals, those of us who might have wanted to be there as well as those too young or not born yet.

My parents took the family on a trip out to California that year and we drove through the Haight-Asbury area and it sure was all flower power.  But, since I was with my parents and only 16, there obviously wasn't much I did other than to observe.

The city is celebrating with museum exhibits, music and film festivals, Summer of Love-inspired dance parties and lecture panels.  Hotels are offering discount packages that include "psychedelic cocktails," "Love Bus" tours, tie-dyed tote bags and bubble wands.

Getting Psychedelicized.  --Tie-DyeCoot

Let's Dance-- Part 4: Decades of Dance 1960s-1970s

These are some popular dances from past decades:

1960s

The Mashed Potato

The Twist

The Monkey

The Watusi

The Jerk

1970s

The Bump

Salsa

The YMCA

Le Freak

The Hustle

The Two Left Feet.  --DaCootFlop

Surviving "Mad Men" Withdrawal-- Part 2

Continued from May 21st entry.

IT'S PSYCHEDELIC TIME

"In season seven, everything about Megan Draper's California home epitomizes what the end of the '60s is about--graphic artwork and bright colors and prints," says Claudette Didul  You can get a Salvador Dali Melting Wall Clock for $17 at wayfair.com. and a Rya rug for $769 at secondshoutout.com.

TYPE ON, BROTHER

"It's a huge compliment to say 'Mas Men' has sparked a trend in vintage office furniture."  The Olivetti typewriters was often used in the 1960s.  And, you can get your own for $495 at mytypewriter.com.

I just watched the final episode again.  I'm Going to Miss It.  --DaCoot

Deaths: Partridge Family, Gilligan's Island

I was really sorry to hear this morning that two of the actors from two of my favorite sitcoms back in the 60s and 70s died yesterday. RUSSELL JOHNSON, 89, "GILLIGAN'S ISLAND"-- Played Professor Roy Hinkley on "Gilligan's Island" which ran 1964-1967, who was "always one coconut away finding a way off of Gilligan's Island. He was a distinguished World War II veteran so I will be writing more about him in my Tattooed On Your Soul blog. //// DAVE MADDEN, 82 "THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY" Born 1931, died January 16, 2014. Played manager Reuben Kincaid to the group on "The Partridge Family" TV Sitcom which ran from 1970-1974. H ewas also on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" and played Earl Hicks on the sitcom "Alice." I always loved him against Danny. //// Finish This "The Professor and ____ ___."

Top O' The Strip Observation Tower in Panama City Beach

From Lost Parks.com and other sources.

This 200-foot observation tower opened in 1966 and offered a panoramic view of the beach before closing in 1995.  It stood directly on the sugar white sands of Panama City Beach and right across the road from the Miracle Strip Amusement Park.

Opened in April 1966 and was demolished December 8, 1995.  Deterioration from the years of salt spray and Hurricane Opal proved its undoing.

The Beach Tower Motel was later built on its site (and still stands today, we went looking for it).

In the 1980s, radio station WPFM (The Great 108) had studios at the top.

The Miracle Strip Amusement Park opened in March 1963 and ran for 40 years.

Too Bad They Didn't Leave It, Although Today It Would Be Dwarfed By the Huge Towers Hotels and Resorts.  --Cooter

What They Said About Old-Time Panama City Beach

From the January 11, 2013, Panama City.com

People writing in with their memories:

**  This was back when you could ride down the "strip" aka Front Beach Road, and actually see the beach as opposed to now when all you see is the front of all the condos blocking the view.

**  I miss seeing the tower, hated it when it had to be taken down.

**  One cent all you can eat breakfast at the bottom of the tower!

**  Remember a picture of me and my dad on top of the space needle.  I was about five years old.  Miss those days!

**  I was thinking the exact same thing as the first person when I saw this picture.  I Miss the old PCB.... PROGRESS, PFFT!!!!!!!!

**   My first helicopter ride was at a landing pad right beside the tower in the early seventies!

That's What They Said.  --DaCoot

The Old-Time Panama City Beach, Florida-- Part 2

Continued from January 15, 2013.

Dozens of potential models were photographed  and Melody may was told she had been chosen to be the one.  That surprised her as she thought that many of the others were prettier than she was.  They told she got it for "two reasons, your smile and your legs."

During the next few years she was photographed in many PCB spots like Jungle  Land (which is the volcano portion of  Alvin's Island Magic Mountain store), on top of the Miracle Strip Observation Tower (which once stood  near the intersection of Front Beach Road and Alf Coleman Drive) and at various other Miracle Strip Amusement Park  attractions.

A great shot of her was from behind as she peered at the Observation Tower.

Her mother was an expert seamstress and made all her costumes.

She liked animals which was fortunate as she posed with  a bunny, an ocelot, a baby billy goat and even a 14-foot alligator named Coochie.

She was never paid much for the photos.

It Was Another PCB Era.  --Cooter

Fifty Years of Holiday Memories-- Part 1: The Sixties

From the December 2012 AARP Bulletin by Betsy Towner.

Yep, that AARP.

"No doubt about it, December always brings a blizzard of activity.  But out holiday crazes change from year to year, decade to decade.  Let's take a minute before Holiday Rush 2012 to remember our loves of yuletides past."

SIXTIES

REMEMBER?  Bob Hope performing for the troops.

KITCHEN SMELLED LIKE THIS:  Julia Child's beef bourguignon (What?)

ON THE HI-FI:  Nat King Cole, "The Christmas Song"  And, Even Better, "The Beach Boys Christmas Album.

ON THE TUBE:  Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch specials.

IN THEATERS:  Babes in Toyland, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

UNDER THE (FLOCKED) TREE:  Hot Wheels, Easy-Bake Oven, Etch A Sketch (Hey, I still have one and play with it)

FOR ME:  First Christmases with Liz.  We started going steady in 1967.

Ahh! The Teen Years.  --Cooter

Dead Page: The Grass Roots

ROB GRILL, 67

Lead singer of the Grass Roots died Monday, July 11th at a hospice in Florida where he had been since a recent head injury from a fall. His good looks and voice helped the group achieve many hits in the 1960s and 1970s.

Starting in 1967, the group had hits with:

Let's Live for Today #8
Things I Should Have Said #23
Sooner or Later #9
Midnight Confessions #5
Temptation Eyes #15
Bella Linda #28
The River is Wide #13
I'd Wait a Million years #15
Heaven Knows #24
Two Divided By Love #16 Glory Bound #34

I liked them all and remember buying their greatest hits album. A few years ago, we saw him at the Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Illinois. The music was good, but he had lost a lot of his vocal abilities.

I plan on digging out that greatest hits album and playing it this week.

Loved Those Grass Roots. --Cooter

Dead Page: The Box of the Tops

ALEX CHILTON, 59

Leader of the Box Tops

Alex Chilton died March 17th and was the lead singer of the great old 60s group, the Box Tops out of Memphis, Tennessee. Who says white boys can't sing soul?

He took over the lead vocals of the Devilles and at age 16 had the number one song in the country with "The Letter." i always thought a much older person sand it. How could a person so young have a voice like that?

The Box Tops had a string of hits in the late 60s to early 70s, most of which are favorites of mine: Cry Like a Baby, Soul Deep, Neon Rainbow, Choo Choo Train, I Met Her in Church and Sweet Cream Ladies (Forward Marchdied March.

Thanks For All the Songs.

Happenings Five Decades Ago

Jan. 1, 2010 Chicago Tribune


A few Chicagoland happenings from 1960.

FEBRUARY 29th-- On Leap Day, the first Playboy Club opens at 116 E. walnut St.

MAY 1st-- The "exploding scoreboard" debuts at Comiskey Park, setting off a tradition of fireworks for Sox home runs that continues to this day. By the way, the Sox still play in Comiskey as far as I'm concerned.

MAY 2nd-- After 36 years of farm news, country music and "The National Barn Dance," WLS-AM 890 changes format to rock and roll. First song was the Hollywood Argyles' "Alley Oop." My favorite of the Big Two stations I grew up with. The other was WCFL.

JULY 25-28-- The Republican national Convention in Chicago nominate Richard Nixon for president and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., for vp.

NOVEMBER 5th-- The Northwest Expressway opens, three days before the election. Three years later, its name would be changed to the John F. Kennedy Expressway, or JFK.

NOVEMBER 8th-- Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy elected president over Nixon. Many consider this victory due to vote fraud engineered by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and his Democratic Machine. No word, however on red-light detectors, parking meters or senatorships for sale.

WLS News On the Hour. Switch to WCFL for Five Minutes (they had theirs 5 Minutes to the Hour). --Cooter