Classic Television Blog

Diane Dixon

Having been born in 1949, I remember the fifties fondly. In fact, I became smitten for the first time in 1956 watching the Ed Sullivan show. So excited I was, that I ran into my mother’s bathroom (who was dressing to go out to dinner with my dad) and grabbed her by the hand to show her a loose-hipped, gel-haired swooner named Elvis and declared “That’s the man I’m going to marry.”

Elvis was not only a singer. He was a bona-fied sex symbol that blended black American singing and dress style and mannerisms with his own. He was so influential that young men began to wear their hair like him and began dressing like him. And who could blame them. Elvis drove girls into a wild frenzy. He made them faint. I was only 9 and I could feel it. I mean, I wanted to marry him after I took a look at those loose hips and sultry eyes. Yes, things were different back then. Mores were stricter. Families were closer. Religion was more important. You took responsibility for things you did.

Kids came home to mothers instead of sitters or an empty house. We rode bikes everywhere without fear of being abducted by strangers (not that it never happened), were polite to adults, went to church on Sunday with our families, respected the flag and loved our country. We ate home-made meals of pot roast, meat loaf, spaghetti and casseroles seated around the table together. And unlike my father’s generation where children were seen and not heard, we talked and played cards or checkers with our grandparents when we visited them, went to the movies with church groups, and if you had a mind to, even discussed current events, the latest movies and what you were doing in school at the dinner table.

My mother, along with all the other mothers, wore a dress when she went to the store…or anywhere, even at home until the late 50’s. You didn’t go out without your hair being combed, or in pajamas. Your bra straps never showed unless you were a certain kind of woman…or trailer trash.

My dad went to work in a suit along with every other man in the neighborhood, and showed us how to put in a good day’s work on Saturday as my brother and I pulled weeds and trimmed the hedges along side him. My mother taught me how to vacuum, set a table, do the dishes (it wasn’t clean if I didn’t sweep and mop the floor), iron, clean a bathroom, the door jams and windows. When I remember the 50’s, I think of how girls took “home economics” so they could learn to cook and sew. The boys took shop…auto and wood.

Children dressed in nice slacks and dresses for school, even into junior and high school until the late 50’s early sixties. If you dressed inappropriately, your parents were summoned and you had to go home and change. It was meant to be and was… humiliating. Dress code and dress standards were common. They took a lunch box to school, and when they got to Junior High they could order food in the snack bar or cafeteria. The freedom to order what you wanted from the menu felt like one step closer to independence.

Even kids in my upper-middle class neighborhood…not the slums, got jobs in the summer picking fruit or working wherever they could find summer employment put gas in a car they borrowed from mom and dad. The younger boys cut grass! Nowadays, working is beneath most teens because they don’t have to. Their parents just give them everything.

Our heroes were usually our parents, not movie stars or rock stars. And we got our self esteem from a job well done, excelling in a sport, a job, a new skill learned or school. But some time in the fifties, things began to change. Our clothing and hair styles changed along with our heroes. Angry, edgy actors like Marlon Brando, and others with identity and sexual orientation issues like bad boy James Dean took the place of our parents as heroes. Marylin Monroe with her full breasts and pouty lips drove men mad and women to the doctor for the latest sheep urine injections.

I remember the 50’s film actresses and print and cat-walk models were not at all like the hollow-eyed, gaunt women we see today with their boyish figures. Instead, they were slender but curvaceous and their clothes were designed to accentuate those attributes. Grab an old copy of a magazine and see for yourself. And the sexy sirens all had natural busts with small waists. The Rosiland Russell, Marilyn Monroe shape was definitely IT. Today, they would be considered zaftig. Women…especially stars, looked like they were supposed to…curvy…voluptuous. Hey Hollywood, haven’t you watched the Discovery Channel lately? They say science has proven that men…who like women, are attracted to curves for a reason!

Remember American Bandstand?…With Dick Clark and your favorite couples?

Poodle Skirts? The poodle emblem was the “iconic” dog added to the tightly cinched, full skirt that made it the “poodle skirt”. Moms today still dress their little girls in Poodle skirts for Halloween and little girls still love them. But, you can’t talk about that decade without remembering that fashion statement that was worn with saddle shoes a scarf sometimes worn around the neck.

Why were poodle skirts so popular back then? For one, they flew and swirled, showing petticoats and lots of leg as she spinned. It also, sometimes unknowingly and sometimes knowingly, made a statement not unlike statements young men and women make today with their attire, body piercings and tattoos. The message they were and are putting out there to the world is this…I’m free to express myself, free to explore and experience the world. And as most parents feared, that kind of freedom meant then as it still does, sexual freedom. But back then, most girls didn’t have sex in high school. At least no one I knew. And if they did, they soon got a “reputation” for being easy. Unlike to day where in some circles sexual promiscuity and even pregnancy is considered normal and in some cases a bagde…in the 50’s if they got pregnant, they’d go and live with an aunt in some other state where no one could see them and disgrace the family.

Three Date Rule – A 1950’s Teen was taught to act properly on a date. I remember my parents sending me to a trio of classes on how to sit, stand, use eating utensils properly, say good night properly at the end of a date, how to get in and out of a car etc. Noting I hadn’t learned at home….And there as an unwritten “rule” proper girls and boys followed that was called the “three date rule” which meant that you didn’t kiss until then. Before that, you would thank your date for the nice evening and give a short hug or handshake…nothing more. We also took social dancing with the boys and learned that we should always accept an offer to dance to be polite. Today, some “liberated” women don’t even allow a man to open a door for her.

What’s an R rated movie? Movies in the 50’s and 60’s didn’t hit you over the head with overt sexuality. You could bring your pre-teens to the movies and they wouldn’t get the undertones and innuendos left to the adults. A passionate kiss always broke away to something else, but you knew what happened next and you could use your imagination. Sandra Dee and Doris Day movies were very influential growing up in the fifties. “A Summer Place” starring Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue went right over my head when I was 12, but I loved it and watched it again. And when I watched it as an adult boy was I surprised. Unwed mothers, cheating spouses who wanted to drive the importance of being a good girl home to horny teens. “Pillow Talk” starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson and the other films the two actors made together were almost identical to it like “Lover Come Back” are still fun to watch. They dramatized society’s view of the dating roles of guys and girls and brought home the message that the good girl gets her guy in a hilarious hour of jibs and jabs and sexual tension when I remember the 50’s movies.

I’m a wife (second marriage) and mother. My husband and I are what people call “soulmates”. As a word of encouragement, it took a long time to find him though.

As a younger woman I built a small but successful Hollywood Talent Agency while raising my children. As an agent I discovered several recognizable names in the industry.

I’ve experienced a lot during my life and I have learned from both the good and the bad. I now have a home business that helps people Save Money while they Build a Great Income from home.

I have two websites. One is for boomers, one is for anyone needing more income. Please look at them. http://buildfastincome.org and http://retire-lifestyle.com.

Article Source: My Memories of the 50’s

Ben Anton

The 1950s were arguably the golden age of television and many people of a certain age look back fondly at some of the shows of the time – “The Lone Ranger”, “I Love Lucy” and “Gunsmoke”. These shows were in black and white and were watched on a set that got its signal from a huge antenna on the roof, but they were loved just the same.

Almost as compelling as the TV shows themselves, were some of the commercials of the time. TV was still a novelty during the 1950s and companies were anxious to cash in on the new craze. Particularly popular were commercials for cigarettes, cars and state of the art kitchen appliances. And the average length of TV advertisements was around a minute – compared to the 30 seconds or less today.

Beer was also one of the products widely advertised on TV during the 1950s. At first, it was only late at night and never on a Sunday, so as not to offend anyone. During the early part of the decade, Blatz Beer became one of the beer industry’s biggest advertisers, partly due to the company’s sponsorship of the popular “Amos ‘n’ Andy” show.

One of the most instantly recognizable characters in television advertising at the time was Mabel. Mabel was a chirpy blond waitress who appeared on screen with a tray of Carling Black Label beer. Almost every Carling commercial featured the phrase that became famous – “Hey, Mabel, Black Label!”

Cigarette advertisements were commonplace during the 1950s – a big change from television today. Some of the biggest tobacco manufacturers of the time spent a lot of money trying to convince us that smoking was sophisticated and fun, including Lucky Strike, Tareyton and Winston.

One famous Lucky Strike ad featured a clever combination of cartoon and live action, featuring the singer Gisele McKenzie. Tareytown had an ad that featured what appeared to be two children dancing around a giant pack of cigarettes. And who can possibly forget the Fontane Sisters singing the praises of Chesterfield cigarettes?

Car manufacturers went to great lengths to advertise the latest models on television during the 1950s despite the loss of aesthetic effect on a black and white screen. The Ford Edsel was advertised at great length as the most beautiful convertible in the world, complete with such wonderful and innovative features as “teletouch” driving and air suspension.

It wasn’t all just cars, beer and tobacco. Some healthier products were advertised as well. One of the most well known ads of the era was for Pepsodent toothpaste. The TV ad featured a cute cartoon couple kissing after having brushed their teeth, and the catchy and unforgettable slogan – “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!”

TV advertisements for kitchen appliances pointed out features that we now take for granted. A General Electric ad from the time for a new refrigerator consisted of a proud couple explaining the features of their sleek new fridge which included shelves that slid out, storage space behind the door and a separate freezer compartment.

And some things don’t seem to have changed much over the years. Tupperware ran a series of TV ads during the 1950s which featured an exciting Tupperware evening at a typical suburban home, organized by a “hostess”. Almost as much emphasis was placed on the social aspect, as on the actual features of the product.

One of the most prolific TV advertisers during the 1950s and subsequent decades was Pepsi. Their advertisements captured the feeling of the times like few others. One of the company’s earliest featured the actress and singer Polly Bergen enjoying a barn dance and a refreshing glass of Pepsi-Cola.

Not to be outdone, Coca-Cola was just as prolific with their ads and came up with several memorable slogans, such as “There’s nothing like a Coke”. Coca-Cola also went after the young crowd, with an ad featuring people at diners and drive-in movie theaters and a jingle that claimed “Zing! What a feeling!”

Many television viewers firmly maintain that the advertisements are just as good as the actual shows themselves! It seems as though that was especially true back in the 1950s. And if you just can’t get enough of those old commercials, you can enjoy some of them on DVD or online.

Article Source: Classic TV Commercials – Diverse and Daring Advertising

Ron Coleman

I wonder how many people reading this article are old enough to remember S & H Green stamps? These trading stamps made a small fortune for Sperry & Hutchinson back in the fifties and early sixties. Consumers felt they deserved to get the stamps with everything they purchased from gasoline to groceries and merchants felt they had to offer them or lose out to competitors. Then one day, everybody woke up and realized this was a middle man raking off money on every transaction and that it was costly to both business and consumers. Thus S & H Green stamps became obsolete.

Today we have a similar situation with credit cards. I recall in the fifties when you could go into a retail store and buy a television set and the merchant himself would carry the credit, at reasonable terms. Now most retailers accept credit cards on purchases, even if you are making small purchases. Like S&H Green stamps, this is costly to consumers and businesses alike.

A merchant will typically pay from one to two percent of every transaction to the credit card companies. The credit card company gets it from both sides because they also charge the consumer interest rates of upwards of 30 percent. In addition they make excessively high fees for over the limit fees, late fees and whatever else they can add in.

Have you ever wondered why it is so easy to get a credit card? Why is it that credit card companies don’t worry about whether or not you can pay? Here’s the answer. If you default on your payment, the merchant still has to pay. The credit card companies can’t lose but the merchant can.

Credit card companies have done a real sales job on convincing consumers that they can’t live without credit cards and in convincing retailers that they must accept credit cards to remain competitive. The U.S. financial crisis, which was largely caused by credit card companies, might be just what we need to wake us up to the fallacy in these ideas.

Suppose merchants went back to the old method of granting credit themselves, and suppose more consumers went back to the old way of simply paying for merchandise with cash and only buying what they can afford to pay? It might solve a lot of problems.

One last thing retailers should ask themselves is what do they get for the one or two percent they are charged? Security? Not likely since they still have to pay if the consumer defaults. In the old days businesses included a percentage in their pricing to account for the possibility of bad debts. You can bet the credit card companies also keep this in mind when they issue credit and they simply pass that cost on, either to the merchant, or the consumer, or both. Aside from the one or two percent the merchant loses when he allows credit card companies to handle his credit transactions, the merchant also loses the interest he could be charging the consumer directly. If, for example, a merchant were to charge simple interest of ten percent per year on a major purchase, he would receive more money than he could receive by putting that money into a certificate of deposit and the consumer would pay far less interest than he would be paying to a credit card company.

Consumers also have been led to believe they can’t do business without credit cards. In spite of what you are told, there are car rental companies that will accept a cash deposit instead of a credit card There are companies who will sell you merchandise online without a credit card One option is a debit card, although there are similar issues with debit cards as there are with credit cards. Some banks offer electronic checks and a few online merchants (too few) offer the option of billing you and allowing you to pay by check. The fact is, if enough consumers demand other answers, online merchants, car rental companies and other businesses will find other ways to allow you to pay. You don’t have to have a credit card.

If credit card companies were cut entirely out of the picture, it could be a win-win situation for merchants and consumers alike.

Ron Coleman is a cartoonist, illustrator and humorous writer. His work can be viewed on his website: http://www.colemantoons.com

Article Source: Do We Really Need Credit Cards?

A. Militant

A well connected internet to your computer has the ability to give the web user the power to watch classic television shows online. In these types of services, most of the shows publicized are from the 1950’s to the early 1990’s TV shows. It might sound like some old “thing of the past” TV contents are being shown in here, but surely they are not just called classic for nothing.

Yes, it is definitely a classic because the shows that are filed under the different categories suit all types of viewers both the young and the old. The show’s styles never fade away with time because most old shows are being revived for the new generation of viewers to see. Nevertheless, remember that old is gold and that is why we still have these classics being viewed by millions and millions of people around the world today.

The 1950’s shows include Adventure of Ozzie and Harriet, I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver and Lone Ranger. For the 1990’s shows they are Beverly Hills, Dear John, Herman’s Head, Full House, Home Improvement, Mad About You, Murphy Brown, Roseanne, Saved by the Bell, Wings and Seinfeld. But there were others shown sometime in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s and these were the Avengers, Flipper, Gunsmoke, Munsters, Twilight Zone, Happy Days, Good Times,Taxi,The Jeffersons,Odd Couples, Bosom Buddies, Cheers, Different Strokes, Growing Pains, Head of the Class, Golden Girls, Love Boat and Miami Vice. If you want to be a classic show lover like all the other classic fans out there then better trust your instincts if your instincts tell you to watch classic TV shows online.

The easiest way to Watch Classic TV Shows Online is with the TVChannels2PC Internet TV software. For a small one time investment you will have access to live sports, full episodes, movies, news, weather and much more. Why pay high monthly fees for satellite or cable?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Watch-Classic-TV-Shows-Online&id=1343184

Ben Anton

She was a little bit country. He was a little bit rock and roll. Together, they were a whole lot of ridiculous. And somehow, through the magic of over-the-top musical numbers, phenomenal guest stars, and painfully kitschy acting skills, Donny and Marie Osmond captured the attention and hearts of the entire nation. While The Donny and Marie Show of the late seventies only lasted a handful of seasons, their outrageous prime-time antics have made a lasting impression on TV viewers of any generation.

The Donny & Marie Show was created by SId and Marty Krofft, the famed creators of other such offbeat television programs as H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost. It aired from January 1976 to May 1979 as a weekly on ABC and featured such famous guest stars as Redd Fox, Lucile Ball, Betty White, Jerry Lewis, and Milton Berle. The format usually consisted of an elaborate opening act followed by a series of comedy sketches and an even more elaborate closing musical number. But for all the campy scripts and synchronized dance routines, the real stars of the Donny & Marie Show were, without a doubt, the costumes.

The 1977 Christmas special episode is a great example of Donny and Marie’s ability to balance cutesy-poo costumes on that thin line between adorable and nauseating. Donny kept it simple; dressing in a matching white knit sweater and slacks combo with a red, white and green striped scarf, he wasn’t afraid to say to the world, “Hi! I’m Donny Osmond! I taste like spearmint!” Marie made bolder choices in her winter finest with what looks to be a one-piece body suit but, upon closer inspection, turns out to be a sweater and stretch pants that are just slightly different shades of green. What makes this episode so memorable costume-wise is the fact that the entire Osmond family was featured –Mother, Father, the small army of twenty-eight that is the rest of their immediate family– and they all match. I’m not sure who was in charge of coordinating outfits for that episode, but my hat certainly is off.

Another interesting costume extravaganza was the episode in which Marie celebrated her 18th birthday. In this episode, Marie and Donny sing their familiar weekly number, “I’m A Little BIt Country, I’m A Little Bit Rock-and-Roll”, but this time — gasp! — they switch lyrics! That’s right! And what kind of dramatic turn events would it be without ridiculous costumes. Both Donny and Marie sport matching silver outfits. Donny has a faux-western theme going on, while Marie looks like she just got back from touring with David Bowie. Marie also has an enormous new hairdo or, as Donny refers to it, a “hair don’t.”

Donny and Marie didn’t stop at matching scarves and silver jumpsuits, though. In one episode, Donny portrays a superhero character known as Captain Purple, wearing an oversized purple muscle suit and wig and, as his mild-mannered alter-ego, a flannel suit. Not to be outdone, Marie suits up herself as Gnidder Neleh (Helen Redding spelled backward) in an equally campy red-orange mini-skirt and wig.

Star Wars being the cultural phenomenon that it was, it only made sense that Donny and Marie would have to do a parody of it. Donny plays Luke and Marie plays Leia with such guest stars as Redd Fox, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Lynde, and a few of the Osmond brothers. The costumes were polished, Osmond-style variations of the originals; unfortunately, C-3PO ends up stealing the show.

The best costumes of the entire series, however, belong to the famous Wizard of Oz episode. Marie plays Dorothy in a red checkered dress and pigtails, Donny is a Willy Wonka-esque Wizard in a yellow-green, curly wig and sparkling fez hat, and Paul Lynde is a downright terrifying Wicked Witch of the West in full green face paint, black gown and gruesome fingernails. Additional victims…err, guests…of this episode include Lucille Ball as the Tin Man, Paul Williams as the Cowardly Lion and Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow. The entire production is technicolor bizarre; the epitome of classic Donny and Marie.

While the show did indeed host a laundry list of Hollywood greats, the real stars weren’t the people on the stage but the clothes on the people. From platform shoes and bellbottoms to capes and ice skates, Donny and Marie weren’t afraid to let their clothes pick up where their own talent left off. And while some may find The Donny & Marie Show silly and outdated, one thing is for sure; there hasn’t been anything like it on television since. Wardrobe-wise, that is.

Article Source: Donny And Marie Show – The Greatest Costume Moments

Ben Anton

Bob Hope is hands-down the most acclaimed, honored and versatile entertainer in show business history. During his seventy-plus years in the entertainment industry, Hope earned more than two thousand awards and recognitions for his various professional and humanitarian work, including an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, a Congressional Gold Medal from President Kennedy, the Medal of Freedom from President Johnson, and fifty-four honorary doctorates. Hope’s Christmas specials, USO shows, radio and television programs, and regular appearances on numerous sitcoms and variety shows have some of the highest ratings of any primetime telecasts. Because of this well-deserved praise, it is difficult to choose only a few television appearances as the “Best Of” Hope’s career. Instead, it is better to look at the huge variety of shows Hope appeared on and why this versatile performer became America’s most beloved entertainer.

Born in England May 29, 1903, Hope and his family traveled to America in 1908 aboard the SS Philadelphia. Ironically, Hope was a relative latecomer to television; he dabbled in experimental broadcasts with NBC in the 1930s but held off almost twenty years before starting his illustrious career. He began his official television career on Easter Sunday, 1950, on NBC. His specials, most of which were sponsored by the Chrysler corporation, were often hysterically unscripted variety programs that featured such guest stars as Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Marilyn Monroe and Dina Shore.

Christmas Specials

Hope got significant recognition for his gut-busting Christmas specials. These specials ran for years and featured duet performances of “Silver Bells” by Hope and adorable young guest stars, such as Olivia Newton-John and Brooke Shields. The most memorable Bob Hope Christmas specials were, without a doubt, his 1970 and 1971 episodes. Filmed in front of military audiences at the height of the Vietnam War, these specials actually aired in January -after Hope was back in the United States- and were seen by more than sixty percent of television-viewing households in America. Like his other Christmas specials, the Vietnam shows were all about celebrating the traditional joy, peace and good cheer of the season. His use of humor, beautiful women and talented performers were a welcome respite from the horrors of the war itself.

USO Performances

Hope is probably best known for his performances for the United Service Organization (USO), beginning with his USO debut at March Field, California, on May 6, 1941. Hope performed USO shows throughout World War II, prompting acclaim from such contemporaries as John Steinbeck. “It is impossible to see how he can do so much,” Steinbeck wrote in 1943, “can cover so much ground, can work so hard, and can be so effective.” Hope continued his USO shows during the Korean War, Vietnam War and Persian Gulf War, heading roughly sixty tours in total. Because of his tireless dedication to the overseas troops, Hope was awarded the impressive Sylvanus Thayer Award by the U.S. Military Academy in 1968. He was named an Honorary Veteran by a 1997 act of Congress, signed by President Clinton, a recognition Hope referred to as “the greatest honor I have ever received.”

Sitcom Appearances

Hope also appeared on a number of popular television programs during his career. Hope did a guest spot on America’s favorite TV show of the 1950s, “I Love Lucy”. Supposedly, Hope balked at the idea of using a script. He ad-libbed the entire episode, legend goes, giving one of his best performances in the process. He also appeared on the Danny Thomas Show, the Jack Benny Show, the Ed Sullivan Show, the Donny & Marie Show, and others.

Saying Good Bye

Hope bid a nostalgic farewell to his television audiences in 1996 with “Laughing with the Presidents,” a special he co-hosted with Tony Danza. In this special, Hope gave a very personal tribute to the U.S. presidents he had known and worked with during his career; Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and others. The show was a fitting and entertaining good-bye to the hardest working entertainer in American history.

It’s not surprising that Bob Hope was so heavily recognized for his work. Radio and television programs, USO shows, Christmas specials, books, movies; the man did it all. He helped the world smile during troubling times. He lent his celebrity status to good causes. He championed humor and fun as the best tool in achieving peace at home and abroad. Hope wasn’t only a great entertainer; he was an amazing humanitarian.

Article Source: Bob Hope – Bob Hope Memorable Performances

Jake Emen

Great news for TV fans, the list of classic TV series DVDs is growing by the minute. Some of the biggest and best shows in television history are now available as television DVDs. This means you can own the entire series or a particular season of your choosing, and you will be able to watch all of your favorite episodes whenever you want.

One of the exciting new television DVDs that has hit the shelves is the Sopranos complete series DVD collection. This is a massive collection spanning over 30 discs, and featuring every moment from all seven seasons of the groundbreaking show.

Another one of the classic boxed sets of TV show DVDs that is now available is the entire Seinfeld series. Seinfeld was one of the most hilarious and long running sitcoms of all-time, and you can also bring home every single episode of this classic for a great low price.

For a slightly more current classic, Lost is now available in TV series DVDs as well. You can buy a boxed set of the first five seasons in preparation for the final season which is ready to get started shortly.

Many other new popular shows are also available as television DVDs. For example, True Blood, Dexter, Glee, Chuck and Weeds are all very popular and all of their seasons can be purchased. This covers a diverse range from comedy to science fiction, action and much more.

As mentioned, TV show DVDs make for a fantastic purchase because they allow you to bring home your favorite characters and stories, and to watch them all whenever you want. Forget about commercials and forget about waiting a week for a new show, and then months for a new season. Television DVDs provide hours and hours of entertainment, completely hassle free and for a lower cost than movies.

Of course, TV series DVDs are also great for fans who missed a season in the beginning of the show, or who never got started to begin with but know they would have enjoyed it at all. Now you can finally catch up on what you missed and get in on the conversation with your friends and family.

So if you’re looking for a gift for somebody else, or just want to add to your own collection, there’s never been a better time to buy television DVDs. Some of the real classics like the Sopranos and Seinfeld are available in entirety as TV series DVDs, and new classics and popular shows are of course available as well.

At DVDsonSale.net you can find a huge selection of all of the television DVDs that you could ever want. Whether you are looking for a classic or something a bit newer, we carry all of the popular TV show DVDs and we have them available at great, bargain prices.

Article Source: Television Classics Now Available As TV Show DVDs

Am Caro

When it comes to werewolves and the media, most people automatically assume that the creatures derive from the realm or books, comics and, of course, motion pictures. Some of the more erudite followers of popular culture will even point out that werewolves feature prominently in role playing and video games. Now, this is all true, but there have been way more werewolves on television that you would initially think.

Back in 1981, a very creepy episode of the old (short lived) anthology series THE DARKROOM featured a creepy episode about a werewolf that is still frightening to this very day. That was probably the first “werewolf on the tube” sighting I had as a kid unless you count the hilarious episode of BARNEY MILLER where some joker thought he was a werewolf. Eddie Munster vaguely counts as he was initially conceived as a werewolf, but the idea was dropped.

In terms of TV Movies of the Week, MOON OF THE WOLF (1972) was an excellent horror film. WEREWOLF OF WOODSTOCK (1970) was as bad as it sounds, but at least it was funny. The TV movie DEATH MOON (1979) saw a werewolf loose on a Hawaiian Island (!) and it was a lame-o movie. Equally awful was the film THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (1985) which saw a werewolf appear in a cameo

Weekly episodic TV had their werewolves as well. Programs that featured werewolf guest appearances include THE NIGHT STALKER, FANTASY ISLAND and VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA featured a werewolf TWICE! Programs that featured werewolves as regular characters included the 1976 TV series THE MONSTER SQUAD and, of course, the tremendous Fox TV series WEREWOLF.

Yes, folks, there have been lots and lots of werewolves on television over the years and if you want to read more about werewolves and wacky television, check out these great blogs: Classic Television Blog and Horror Movie Blog.

Article Source: Werewolves On Television

Steve Valentino

The advent of television and the place it has acquired in the lives of people is indicative of not only technological but also social revolution. Its impact can be seen in each and every domain of life including music. One of the popular ways in which music has become an integral part of our life is through TV theme songs.

TV theme songs are the deciding factor in the popularity of a TV show. There are many classic TV theme songs that remain fresh in the memories of the people and are hummable. Theme songs from show such as “All in the Family,” “Benny Hill,” “Mr. Ed” and “The Beverly Hillbillies” are quite popular. The popularity of TV theme songs is proved by the presence of a number of websites that have classic TV theme songs listed. People can download them and go back to memory lane to enjoy them in their original form.

TV theme songs have virtually assumed the form of a music genre on account of the effect it has on the people. The popularity of TV theme songs proves conducive in attracting the attention of an audience — retaining their interest in the show. On many occasions, the audiences wait for the show only because they love its theme song. On the other hand, high-pitched TV theme songs, when repeated and heard on regular basis, become jarring and audiences do not consider watching such TV shows.

TV theme songs need to express the theme of the show, and compliment the theme and presentation of a show. If a show revolves around a comic theme, then the song needs to have a comical tone. Similarly, a horror show may have some eerie music. Theme songs should not be mundane, or else they lose their repeat value and make the whole show dull and staid.

TV theme songs are important in the sense that they give an insight to the audience about the theme and the standard of a show and need to be catchy and appropriate. Songs provides detailed information on Songs, Song Lyrics, Song Titles, Free Songs and more. Songs is affiliated with Soundtrack Lyrics.

Article Source: TV Theme Songs