Sunday 30 December 2012

1975, Television: “The Invisible Man”

"The Invisible Man" premièred on 8 September 1975 on NBC. It is the second television series with this title, the original is a British series that aired on ITV from September 1958 to July 1959.
Main stars were David McCallum as the scientist Daniel Westin and Melinda Fee as his wife, Dr. Kate Westin. The series was created by Harve Bennett and Steven Bochco. A total of one pilot and 12 episodes were produced between 8 September 1975 and 26 January 1976.

Synopsis
Dr. Daniel Westin, a scientist working with a governmental organistion known as the KLAE Corporation, was accidentally rendered invisible by one of is own formulas that was supposed to be used for matter transformation. Westin discovers the government has plans to use the formula for warlike purposes, so he destroys the only copy. With no way to become visible again, wearing a face mask and hands, he becomes an agent for KLAE...
David McCallum as Dr. Daniel Westin
David McCallum as Dr. Daniel Westin, Melinda Fee as Dr. Kate Westin and
Craig Stevens as Walter Carlson
Main Cast
  • David McCallum as Dr. Daniel Westin
  • Melinda Fee as Dr. Kate Westin
  • Craig Stevens as Walter Carlson
Opening Titles

Friday 28 December 2012

1974, News: Farewell Radio Veronica and Radio Nordsee International (RNI)

On 31 August 1974 the popular offshore radios Radio Veronica and Radio Noordzee broadcast for the last time. The Dutch government passed a new anti-pirate legislation and announced that the law was to come into effect on September 1, 1974.
Radio Veronica closed down at 6 PM on August 31. The station's final news bulletin was read live from the news studio on board the MV Norderney. A number of the station's directors were on board the ship during the final hour, as were many of the staff. Radio Atlantis and RNI closed on the evening of August 31.
Radio Veronica first ship, Borkum Riff (1963)
Radio Veronica second ship, MV Norderney, standed at Scheveningen after a storm (1973)
Radio Veronica second ship, MV Norderney (1974)
Radio Veronica second ship, MV Norderney, in Antwerp (2011)
Radio Veronica began broadcasting on 21 April 1960. It was set up by independent radio, TV and household electrical retailers in the Netherlands. The station announced itself as VRON (Vrije Radio Omroep Nederland; Free Radio Station of the Netherlands) but changed to Radio Veronica, after the poem "Het Zwarte Schaap Veronica" (“The Black Sheep Veronica”) by the children's poet Annie M. G. Schmidt.
Radio Noordzee schip, Mebo II
 

Wednesday 26 December 2012

1973, Film: “La Grande Bouffe”

The French-Italian film “La Grande Bouffe” premièred on 17 May 1973 at the Cannes Film Festival. The film directed by Marco Ferreri, stars Marcello Mastroianni, Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Piccoli and Philippe Noiret. The film was highly controversial on release, it criticised the consumer society and caused a scandal at the Cannes Film Festival.

Synopsis
Four successful middle-aged men the pilot Marcello, television executive Michel, chef Ugo, and the judge Philippe, go to Philippe's villa to eat themselves to death. After the first night, Marcello insists that women should join them. Three prostitutes make it through a day or two; Andrea, a local school teacher, stays to the end...
Michel Piccoli, Philippe Noiret, Ugo Tognazzi and Marcello Mastrioianni
Main Cast
  • Marcello Mastroianni as Marcello
  • Philippe Noiret as Philippe
  • Michel Piccoli as Michel
  • Ugo Tognazzi as Ugo
  • Andréa Ferréol as Andréa
  • Monique Chaumette as Madeleine
  • Florence Giorgetti as Anne
  • Solange Blondeau as Danielle
  • Michèle Alexandre as Nicole
  • Cordelia Piccoli as Barbara
Philippe Noiret, Ugo Tognazzi and Andréa Ferréol
Awards
  • Cannes Film Festival, FIPRESCI Prize for Marco Ferreri (1973)
Michel Piccoli
Trailer

Monday 24 December 2012

1972, Cars: Volkswagen SP1/SP2

The Volkswagen SP (Typ 149) was introduced in 1972 by VW do Brasil. Volkswagen do Brazil always had some degree of independence from Wolfsburg, so a team led by Mr. Schiemann and supported by Rudolf Leiding started work on "Project X", and presented a prototype in 1971.

The SP (stands for Sao Paulo), built on the frame of a Brazilian Type 3, was designed by Márcio Piancastelli, José Vicente Martins Novita and George Yamashita Oba. Initially the car was available with two engines, the SP1 with an air cooled 1600 cc engine producing 48 kW, and the SP2 with a 1700 cc air cooled engine developing 56 kW. 10.193 Volkswagen SP were built between June 1972 and February 1976, only 162 of which were of the type SP1. Only 50 were imported in Europe.

TV Advert

Tuesday 11 December 2012

1971, Television: “Cade's County”

The American western/crime series “Cade's County” premièred on 19 September 19 1971 on CBS. The main role, Sam Cade, was played by Hollywood actor Glenn Ford. Sam Cade is the sheriff of the fictional Madrid County, a vast and sparsely populated desert area. The state in which it was located was never mentioned. His chief deputy was J. J. Jackson, portrayed by Edgar Buchanan. Together they maintained the law and order against violent miners, cattle thieves and other lawbreakers. The musical theme was composed by Henry Mancini. A total of 24 episodes were produced between 1970 and 1971.
Glenn Ford
Peter Ford
Main Cast
  • Glenn Ford as Sam Cade
  • Edgar Buchanan as J.J. Jackson
  • Taylor Lacher as Arlo Pritchard
  • Peter Ford as Pete

Opening Titles

Sunday 9 December 2012

1970, Science and Technology: Venera 7

The Venera 7 was the first spacecraft landing on another planet to transmit data back to Earth. The Russian spacecraft, part of the Venera series of probes to Venus, was launched on 17 August 1970 from Tyuratam, U.S.S.R, it landed on Venus on 15 December 1970. Venera 1 failed, Venera 2 flew past Venus and Venera 3 sent no data. Venera 4, 5 and 6 were crushed by the pressure of the Venus atmosphere.

The Venera 7 lander remained attached to the interplanetary bus during the initial stages of atmospheric entry to allow the bus to cool the lander to -8 °C for as long as possible. After a while the lander was ejected and the parachute opened at a height of 60 km. At this stage atmospheric testing began with results showing the atmosphere to be 97% carbon dioxide.
Venera 7 Landing Capsule
Venus surface, photo taken by Venera 13 (1982)
During the descent the parachute appeared to fail, as a result the lander impacted with the surface of Venus at about 16.5 m/s (59.4 km/h). The probe appeared to go silent on impact, however, recording tapes kept rolling. The spacecraft had landed on Venus, probably bounced onto its side on landing, and the medium gain antenna was not pointed correctly for strong signal transmission to Earth. The data returned from the surface was temperature data, which gave a reading of 475°C and the atmospheric pressure at the surface turned out to be around 93 atmospheres, comparable to an ocean depth of 800 meters on Earth.

Venera 7 Probe reaches Venus surface (BBC)

Wednesday 5 December 2012

1969, Television: "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)"

"Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" premièred on 21 September 1969 on ITV. The series produced by ITC, is a British private detective television series starring Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope as the detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk. The series was created by Dennis Spooner and produced by Monty Berman. A total of 26 episodes were produced.

Synopsis
Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk are private detectives who specialize in divorce cases. Their long-running partnership seems to come to an abrupt end when Marty is killed by a hit-and-run, but Marty returns as a ghost to help solve his own murder. Randall was the only main character able to see or hear him...
Kenneth Cope, Annette Andre and Mike Pratt
Annette Andre
Main Cast
  • Mike Pratt as Jeff Randall
  • Kenneth Cope as Marty Hopkirk
  • Annette Andre as Jeannie Hopkirk

Wednesday 28 November 2012

1968, Music: Eurovision Song Contest

The 13th Eurovision Song Contest was held on 6 April 1968 at the "Royal Albert Hall”, London, UK. Katie Boyle presented the festival and of the 17 participants Massiel won for Spain with "La La La".
Originally Spain entered Joan Manuel Serrat to sing "La La La", but after his demand to sing in Catalan Serrat was withdrawn and replaced by Massiel, who sang the same song in Spanish. It was the first time that the Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast in colour. Katie Boyle hosted the contest for a third time.
First Place, Massiel with "La La La"
Second Place, Cliff richard with "Congratulations"
Draw
Country
Artist
Song
Place
Points
01
Portugal
Carlos Mendes
"Verão"
11
5
02
Netherlands
Ronnie Tober
"Morgen"
16
1
03
Belgium
Claude Lombard
"Quand tu reviendras"
7
8
04
Austria
Karel Gott
"Tausend Fenster"
13
2
05
Luxembourg
Chris Baldo & Sophie Garel
"Nous vivrons d'amour"
11
5
06
Switzerland
Gianni Mascolo
"Guardando il sole"
13
2
07
Monaco
Line & Willy
"À chacun sa chanson"
7
8
08
Sweden
Claes-Göran Hederström
"Det börjar verka kärlek, banne mej"
5
15
09
Finland
Kristina Hautala
"Kun kello käy"
16
1
10
France
Isabelle Aubret
"La source"
3
20
11
Italy
Sergio Endrigo
"Marianne"
10
7
12
United Kingdom
Cliff Richard
"Congratulations"
2
28
13
Norway
Odd Børre
"Stress"
13
2
14
Ireland
Pat McGeegan
"Chance of a Lifetime"
4
18
15
Spain
Massiel
"La, la, la"
1
29
16
Germany
Wencke Myhre
"Ein Hoch der Liebe"
6
11
17
Yugoslavia
Dubrovački trubaduri
"Jedan dan"
7
8



Sunday 25 November 2012

1967, Film: "Two for the Road"

The British comedy drama "Two for the Road" premièred on September 20, 1967. The film was directed by Stanley Donen and the main stars are Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn. It was written by Frederic Raphael and tells the story of an architect and his wife on a road trip to Southern France. At the time the film was considered experimental because the story is told in a non-linear way, with scenes from the present combined with those an earlier time. Audrey Hepburn was nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress and Henry Mancini was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.

Synopsis
The successful and wealthy architect Mark Wallace (Albert Finney) and his wife Joanna (Jo) Wallace (Audrey Hepburn) are on their way to Saint-Tropez in their white roadster. The tension between the two is evident, and on their journey they both remember and discuss several past journeys along the same road...
Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn
Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn
Main Cast
  • Audrey Hepburn as Joanna 'Jo' Wallace
  • Albert Finney as Mark Wallace
  • Eleanor Bron as Cathy Maxwell-Manchester
  • William Daniels as Howard 'Howie' Maxwell-Manchester
  • Gabrielle Middleton as Ruth 'Ruthie' Maxwell-Manchester
  • Claude Dauphin as Maurice Dalbret
  • Nadia Gray as Françoise Dalbret
  • Georges Descrières as David
  • Jacqueline Bisset as Jackie
  • Judy Cornwell as Pat
Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn
Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn

Trailer

Wednesday 21 November 2012

1966, Cars: Ford Cortina Mk II

The second generation of the Cortina was launched on 18 October 1966. The new car was designed by Roy Haynes. It was shorter than the first generation but the extra width and curved side panels provided more interior space. Other improvements included a smaller turning circle, softer suspension and self-adjusting brakes. Engine-wise customers could choose between a new 1300 cc engine, a 1500 engine from the Cortina Mk I and a stripped-out 1200 cc version from the Ford Anglia Super. A Lotus version was produced but the most admired was the 1600E. The Cortina 1600E was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1967. It combined the lowered Lotus Cortina's suspension with the high-tuned GT 1600 Kent engine and luxury trim featuring a walnut dashboard and door cappings, bucket seating, sports steering wheel, and full instrumentation inside, while a black grille, tail panel, front fog lights and plated Rostyle wheels featured outside.
Ford Cortina 1300
Ford Cortina Estate
Two-door and four-door saloons were offered with base, Deluxe, Super, GT and, later, 1600E trims. A few months after the introduction of the saloon versions, a four-door estate was launched, released on the UK market on 15 February 1967.
Ford Lotus Cortina
From 1966 to 1970 a total of 1,159,389 units were produced, the Mk II was succeeded by the Mk III Cortina in 1970 (Mk III Cortina = TC1 = Taunus Cortina 1).
Ford Cortina 1600E
Ford Cortina 1600E
 Brochure 1967 (Belgium)

Friday 16 November 2012

1965, Television: “I Spy”


"I Spy", an American television series, premièred on September 15, 1965. It ran for three seasons from 1965 to 1968 with a total of 82 episodes. The show was written by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. Together with cinematographer Fouad Said they formed "Three F Productions". The main characters were played by Robert Culp as international tennis player Kelly Robinson and Bill Cosby as his trainer, Alexander Scott. In reality they are top agents for the Pentagon.
"I Spy" was the first American television series to feature an African-American actor (Bill Cosby) in a lead role. The success of the show is attributed to the chemistry between Culp and Cosby. The two actors quickly developed a close friendship that mirrored their on-screen characters, a friendship that would last until Culp's death in 2010.
Robert Culp and Bill Cosby
Synopsis
Kelly Robinson (Robert Culp) and Alexander Scott (Bill Cosby) travel around the world in their profession as agents for the United States government. As their cover, Robinson travels the professional tennis circuit with Scott as his trainer...
Robert Culp and Bill Cosby

Opening Titles

Wednesday 14 November 2012

1964, News: Martin Luther King Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

The 1964 Nobel Peace prize was given to Martin Luther King, Jr., who was, after Ralph Bunche, the second black American to win the award. Chairman Jahn of the Nobel committee said, “the first person in the Western world to have shown us that a struggle can be waged without violence. He is the first to make the message of brotherly love a reality in the course of his struggle, and he has brought this message to all men, to all nations and races”.
In an interview King said: “I do not consider this merely an honour to me personally, but a tribute to the disciplined, wise restraint and majestic courage of gallant Negro and white persons of goodwill who have followed a non-violent course in seeking to establish a reign of justice and a rule of love across this nation of ours”.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta meet Ralph Bunche
at the United Nations in New York City, December 4, 1964
King was a Baptist minister who rose to prominence as a civil rights leader in 1955, when he was chosen to lead the a boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system in support of Rosa Parks. He was a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which led non-violent protests in support of desegregation and black voting rights. In 1963 he gave his most famous speech at Washington’s National Mall, declaring, “I have a dream, that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident — that all men are created equal.’”
Martin Luther King, Jr.with his wife Coretta

Video

Monday 12 November 2012

1963, Film: “Hud”

"Hud", an American western film, premiered on May 28, 1963. The title refers to an embittered and selfish modern-day cowboy Hud Bannon. The screenplay was written by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank, Jr., based on Larry McMurtry's 1961 novel "Horseman, Pass By", it was directed by Martin Ritt. The main stars are Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal and Brandon deWilde.
 
Synopsis
Hud Bannon (Paul Newman), a ruthless young man who tarnishes everything and everyone he touches, represents the perfect embodiment of alienated youth, out for kicks with no regard for the consequences. There's a bitter conflict between the callous Hud and his stern and highly principled father, Homer (Melvyn Douglas)...
Melvyn Douglas and Paul Newman
Melvyn Douglas, Brandon deWilde and Patricia Neal
Main Cast
  • Paul Newman as Hud Bannon
  • Melvyn Douglas as Homer Bannon
  • Patricia Neal as Alma Brown
  • Brandon deWilde as Lon "Lonnie" Bannon
  • John Ashley as Hermy
  • Whit Bissell as Burris
Brandon deWilde, Melvyn Douglas and Paul Newman
Brandon deWilde and Paul Newman
Awards
  • National Board of Review award for best actress: Patricia Neal (1963)
  • National Board of Review award for best supporting actor: Melvyn Douglas (1963)
  • New York Film Critics Circle Award for best actress: Patricia Neal (1963)
  • New York Film Critics Circle Award for best screenplay: Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr. (1963)
  • Venice Film Festival, OCIC award for Martin Ritt (1963)
  • Writers Guild of America Award for best written American drama: Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch (1964)
  • Academy Awards, Oscar for best actor in a supporting role: Melvyn Douglas (1964)
  • Academy Awards, Oscar for best actress in a leading role: Patricia Neal (1964)
  • Academy Awards, Oscar for best cinematography, black-and-white: James Wong Howe (1964)
  • BAFTA Film Award for best foreign actress: Patricia Neal (1964)
  • Laurel Awards, Golden Laurel for top female dramatic performance: Patricia Neal (1964)
  • Laurel Awards, Golden Laurel for top male dramatic performance: Paul Newman (1964)
  • Laurel Awards, Golden Laurel for top male supporting performance: Melvyn Douglas (1964)
Patricia Neal

Trailer