Category Archives: Television 1970s

Nixon vs. Dan Rather: ‘Are you running for something?’ 40 years ago tonight (Mar 19 1974)

1970s, Television 1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'Dan Rather vs. Richard Nixon, 1974'

(Tuesday, March 19, 1974, evening; during the Watergate scandal) — At a news conference at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Houston this evening, U.S. President Richard Nixon fielded a question from CBS White House correspondent Dan Rather, who said, “Thank you, Mr. President. Dan Rather, of CBS News.”

The room filled with jeers and applause, prompting Nixon to joke, “Are you running for something?” Rather replied, “No, sir, Mr. President. Are you?”

Flack, Wonder are Grammy stars 40 years ago this hour (Mar 2 1974)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: '16th Grammy Awards 1973' (7 videos)

(Saturday, March 2, 1974, 10:00 p.m. EST) — Stevie Wonder, the blind young singer-songwriter who survived a near-fatal auto accident in the summer of 1973, capped his recording career tonight winning four times at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Innervision.

Singer Roberta Flack shared with Wonder the top honors, winning the Song of the Year category with her popular “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”

Annual American Music Awards debuts 40 years ago this hour (Feb 19 1974)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'AMAs 1974' (17-video playlist; second and third videos are from 1976)

(Tuesday, February 19, 1974, 8:30 p.m. EST) — Dick Clark staged the first American Music Awards tonight as an alternative to the industry-dominated Grammy Awards. The winners of the American Music Awards are determined by the votes of music fans. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” by Tony Orlando and Dawn won for favorite pop single that year.

‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ debuts as regular series 40 years ago this hour (Jan 18 1974)

1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'The Six Million Dollar Man--Population Zero [Jan. 18, 1974]'

(Friday, January 18, 1974, 8:30 p.m. EST) — The Six Million Dollar Man, a television show about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for a fictional government office known as OSI, debuted tonight as a regular series on ABC-TV following three television movies that aired in 1973. It starred Lee Majors, Richard Anderson and Martin E. Brooks.

David Bowie’s first TV special ‘The 1980 Floor Show’ airs on NBC 40 years ago this hour (1973)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: '1980 Floor Show'

(Saturday, November 17, 1973, 1:00 a.m. EDT) — David Bowie’s first TV special The 1980 Floor Show, the first appearance of Bowie since his much publicized retirement on July 3, 1973, at the Hammersmith Odeon and his last appearance as “Ziggy Stardust,” aired tonight on NBC.

Skylab 4 crew blasts off on ‘holiday cruise’ to space station 40 years ago this hour (1973)

1970s, space exploration, Television 1970s


Video: 'Skylab 4 Part 2 CBS News Coverage of Launch' (launch at 10:19)

(Friday, November 16, 1973, 9:01:23 EST; part of NASA’s Skylab program) — Three rookie American astronauts rocketed safely into orbit this morning to start man’s longest space voyage, an 84-day “holiday cruise” aboard the Skylab space station. It was the third and final manned mission to the station.

John Lennon interviewed on Malibu Beach, California 40 years ago today (1973)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'Imagine John Lennon Documentation HD part 6' (Nov. 1, 1973, at :49-1:40)

(Thursday, November 1, 1973) — Ex-Beatle John Lennon was interviewed today by Elliott Mintz of Channel 7’s ABC Eyewitness News on Malibu Beach, California, to promote his new album Mind Games (click here to watch more of the interview). Continue reading John Lennon interviewed on Malibu Beach, California 40 years ago today (1973) →

‘Kojak’ debuts as a regular series on CBS 40 years ago this hour (1973)

1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'Kojak: Siege of Terror'

(Wednesday, October 24, 1973, 10:00 p.m. EDT) — Kojak, a crime drama TV series about New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak, debuted tonight as a regular series on CBS following a 90-minute pilot that aired on Mar. 8, 1973. The program starred Telly Savalas, Dan Frazer and Kevin Dobson.

Curtis Mayfield, Jim Croce, Helen Reddy, Sly & the Family Stone perform on ‘Midnight Special’ 40 years ago this hour (1973)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'Curtis Mayfield Future Shock'

(Saturday, September 15, 1973, 1:00 a.m. EDT) — Curtis Mayfield, Jim Croce, Helen Reddy and Sly & the Family Stone were among the performers on tonight’s episode of the late-night musical variety NBC-TV series The Midnight Special as hosted tonight by Mayfield. Continue reading Curtis Mayfield, Jim Croce, Helen Reddy, Sly & the Family Stone perform on ‘Midnight Special’ 40 years ago this hour (1973) →