TVparty is Classic TV on the internet!
It is what it is!
“The
Andy Williams Christmas shows DVD Tennesee Tuxedo on DVD Car Battery Charger
TV Shows on DVD
Commercials on DVD
TV Show ReviewsTV on DVD Reviews
Christmas Specials
TV DVDs & TV Books

 

Classic TV Blog / TVparty!
* Classic TV Blog *
Your host: Billy Ingram

 

HONEY WEST
Bob Huggins tells us: Regarding Lisa's comment on the region DVDs, specifically 'Honey West'...

According to a print catalog that I received from VCI Entertainment several months ago, 'Honey West' is scheduled to be released by VCI on Region 1 discs sometime during the fourth quarter of this year. I can't provide any additional information about the release (and it doesn't appear on VCI's web site) but I can direct you to a discussion about it at the Home Theater Forum...

Bob also points out that the punk rock collection from Tom Snyder's Tomorrow Show contains entire episodes, further illuminating my ignorance on the subject.

Thursday, August 2, 2007 - 8:47am
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?


DVD STUFF
Lisa writes: 'On a somewhat related thread, can you comment why it is that certain vintage DVD boxed sets (Honey West) are available for sale in the UK, Region 2 compatible, but not available in U.S. Region 1. Since U.S. Region 1 DVD players can't play Region 2 discs, I cannot purchase. Why not just code the discs Region 0 (all Region compatible) and market to a worldwide audience? I don't get it.
It is not hard to find sites that offer 2nd and 3rd generation bootleg DVD-R boxed sets of classic TV series, but they're not the real deal.
'

That has to do with the content licensing. Sony (or whatever studio) makes deals for each show in each region separately. Some shows might command a high licensing fee overseas but be virtually worthless here or vice versa, so they can take advantage of that by making sure the hardware is region specific.

In fact, although our DVD players are compatible, Canadian and US DVD releases can be wildly varied, released by separate companies with different extras. For instance, Gimme A Break Season 2 was released by VEI in Canada last year but didn't the light of day in the US until a few months ago; included with VEI's version (but not in the US set) was a season 3 show and one episode of Kate & Allie. VEI released Riptide Season 1 with a bonus episode of Street Justice that's not found on the US version from Sony.

If I'm not mistaken, you can get an all regions DVD player - and there is a way to unlock some machines to play all regions if you just know the code to enter. When I was in living in London we bought an all regions DVD player which was just the regular model - only the salesperson provided us with the region breaking code. I suppose there are web sites that would be more specific, I'm just typing off the top of my head.

Bob Huggins reminds me that there are some excellent Tom Snyder Tomorrow Show DVD compilations. I wish there were entire programs rather than snippets - but I like these bands so I think I'll Netflix them.

punk rock on dvd Tomorrow Showon dvd

Wednesday, August 1, 2007 - 11:34am
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

DVD REVIEWS
I get quite a few DVD collections to review and I couldn't be more thrilled. Occasionally I get something I really love, a collection I would have gone out and bought or something that totally takes me by surprise. This next week will see a number of fantastic releases that are real keepers - including the long awaited release of The Muppet Show Season 2.

I honestly didn't think I'd like this one, I never really watched the show when it aired in syndication between 1976 and 1981. I guess I alway caught episodes with boring guest stars. But this second season DVD has some amazing live performances from artists like Cleo Laine, Lou Rawls, Judy Collins, Petula Clark and Teresa Brewer in addition to some hilarious comedy from Steve Martin and Edgar Bergen and others. I've posted a review here.

Dallas Season 7 was another DVD set I devoured but Dallas is my guilty pleasure, I think J.R. is hilarious.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 10:44am
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

TOM SNYDER, RIP
Jump over to Our Word and Welcome To It for an obit of broadcasting giant Tom Snyder, truly one of the great interviewers of all time. We're long overdue for a Snyder compilation on DVD don't you think?

Monday, July 30, 2007 - 12:44pm
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

SOUL ALIVE
Soul AliveFrom TVparty reader Ray Mora comes an amazing find - an ultra-rare episode of Soul Alive starring WWRL radio DJ 'Golden Voice' Gerry Bledsoe. Soul Alive aired during 1978 in New York City for an hour on WPIX channel 11 Saturday mornings at 11:00am.

A staple of TV markets around the country in the 1960s, local dance shows were rare by the late-seventies; they fell out of favor at the end of the 1960s and we aren't likely to see a revival. (Then again, you never know. Similar in nature, nationally broadcast Dance Party USA was a hit in the 1980s.)

Soul Alive in NYCWith the Disco craze in full swing and nationally syndicated Soul Train still hot on Saturdays, WPIX saw an opportunity to bring that stone cold format back to TV screens.

The main feature on Soul Alive was the heated competition between dancers representing some of the City's top discotheques or local high schools. The winning couple's names were delivered via the 'Mechanical Hand' - they could collect a bounty of prizes including a trip, new sound system or might end up with a package that included Bic disposable shavers. Well, they were new then!

Soul Alive w Cissy Houston discoBig name guest stars frequented the program, after all, this was the number one TV market in the world and a lot of record albums were sold in the city of New York. On this episode, Cissy Houston lip-synced her latest single while the Rolling Stones appeared in a video.

One regular (and unintentionally hilarious) segment of the show had dancers revealing their working life in pictures that were mixed into their solo spots. Similarly, when schools competed, a profile of the student body was aired.

Soul Alive TV in nycElliot V writes, 'I remember my school (John F. Kennedy H.S. in the Bronx) holding internal dance tryouts for our upcoming appearance.' Unfortunately, the show was cancelled before Elliot's school made it on the air.

There was no place in the world where you would find better dancers than in the Big Apple in the 1970s, hence there was no shortage of experienced hoofers with the smooth moves eager to strut their stuff for TV exposure. They even boogied down on roller skates which were also hot again in 1978. The on set DJ worked the hyperkinetic crowd by playing extended remix versions of the hits rather than the singles you'd typically hear on American Bandstand and Soul Train.

Gerry BledsoeSilver-tongued host Gerry Bledsoe was a legendary voice in New York. With a cool on-air demeanor, he was known to break out into effervescent raps about peace, love and soul between the high-energy tunes and he ended every program with, 'Keep your minds together, you're hearts full of love, and keep that thing that we call soul alive.'

Little has been written about Gerald Bledsoe but he was a big influence on a number of present day broadcasters. He died of a heart attack at age 51 on September 27, 1994.

I'll have a page dedicated to Soul Alive soon with more info, pictures and video.

VIDEOS CLIP FROM SOUL ALIVE:
The opening to the show and Cissy Houston is introduced - Quicktime

Dancers are shown on the disco floor and at their glamorous jobs - Quicktime

More examples of 'Golden Voice' Gerry Bledsoe's soulful raps and the close of the show - Quicktime

Whatever you do today - keep your soul alive!

Monday, July 30, 2007 - 8:27am
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

SUNDAY YOU TUBING
You may have noticed that TVparty was off-line for Saturday and part of Sunday, felled by a mysterious technical glitch. Was it something I said?!?

Tomorrow I'll have a really cool feature for you - clips from one of the rarest TV dance shows of all. You won't believe it, especially if you lived in New York City in the 1970s. It's one of the last local dance shows anywhere. In the meantime, here are some clips from music / dance shows from yore.

First up a bit from Hullabaloo with the Lovin Spoonful, Sonny & Cher, The Supremes and Sammy Davis, Jr. singing their chart topping hits.

One of my favorite entertainers Jerry Lee Lewis tears it up on Shindig in tandem with the immortal Jackie Wilson.

Here's the first 1/3 of an episode of Where The Action Is, a summer happening hosted by Dick Clark from the mid-sixties. It comes complete with commercials.

Batman was a new show coming to ABC, note the cool exaggerated Batman costume worn by Dick of Dick & Dee Dee as they perform 'Lightning Strikes' from Shindig, January 8, 1966. Actually, Batman replaced Shindig the very next week. Holy cancellation! This one won't embed but it's worth watching.

Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 3:39pm
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

 

Read more Blog entries here!

Your Classic TV Blog!

TELEVISION BLOG!
Classic TV Blog
Your host Billy Ingram is one of the
nation's top Pop Culture Gurus!
Seen on VH1, Trio & Bravo.

Lancelot Link Secret Chimp on DVDClassic Commercials on DVD

PR4 & PR5 Pages for ads - CHEAP!

Punk Book!

Punk


 

Book About Greensboro

 

Classic Commercials on DVDMary Tyler Moore Show on DVD

Route 66 season 1 on DVD Bing Crosby Christmas Specials

TV on DVD
Holiday Specials on DVD
TV Commercials on DVD

Peabody & Sherman cartoons on DVD

New TV

1950's Saturday Morning Shows Fractured Fairy Tales on DVD

 

 

 

Latest TVparty
Classic TV Blog Entries

TV BLOG - 107
TV BLOG - 106
TV BLOG - 105

TV BLOG - 104
TV BLOG - 103
TV BLOG - 102
TV BLOG - 101
TV BLOG - 100

TV BLOG - 99
TV BLOG - 98
TV BLOG - 97
TV BLOG - 96
TV BLOG - 95

TV BLOG - 94
TV BLOG - 93
TV BLOG - 92
TV BLOG - 92
TV BLOG - 91
TV BLOG - 90
TV BLOG - 89

TV BLOG - 88
TV BLOG - 87
TV BLOG - 86
TV BLOG - 85
TV BLOG - 84
TV BLOG - 83

TV BLOG - 82
TV BLOG - 81
TV BLOG - 80
TV BLOG - 79
TV BLOG - 78

TV BLOG - 77
TV BLOG - 76
TV BLOG - 75
TV BLOG - 74
TV BLOG - 73

TV BLOG - 72
TV BLOG - 71
TV BLOG - 70
TV BLOG - 69
TV BLOG - 68

TV BLOG - 67
TV BLOG - 66
TV BLOG - 65
TV BLOG - 64
TV BLOG - 63

TV BLOG - 62
TV BLOG - 61
TV BLOG - 60
TV BLOG - 59
TV BLOG - 58

TV BLOG - 57
TV BLOG - 56
TV BLOG - 55
TV BLOG - 54
TV BLOG - 53
TV BLOG - 52
TV BLOG - 51

TV BLOG - 50
TV BLOG - 49
TV BLOG - 48
TV BLOG - 47
TV BLOG - 46
TV BLOG - 45
TV BLOG - 44
TV BLOG - 43

TV BLOG - 42
TV BLOG - 41
TV BLOG - 40
TV BLOG - 39
TV BLOG - 38
TV BLOG - 37
TV BLOG - 36
TV BLOG - 35

TV BLOG - 34
TV BLOG - 33
TV BLOG - 32
TV BLOG - 31
TV BLOG - 30
TV BLOG - 29
TV BLOG - 28
TV BLOG - 27
TV BLOG - 30

TV BLOG - 29
TV BLOG - 28
TV BLOG - 27
TV BLOG - 26
TV BLOG - 25

TV BLOG - 24
TV BLOG - 23
TV BLOG - 22
TV BLOG - 21
TV BLOG - 20

TV BLOG - 19
TV BLOG - 18
TV BLOG - 17
TV BLOG - 16
TV BLOG - 15

TV BLOG - 14
TV BLOG - 13
TV BLOG - 12
TV BLOG - 11
TV BLOG - 10

TV BLOG - 9
TV BLOG - 8
TV BLOG - 7
TV BLOG - 6
TV BLOG - 5

TV BLOG - 4
TV BLOG - 3
TV BLOG - 2
TV BLOG - 1

 


'TVParty.com, a TV history website... its links to Amazon.com help sell TV DVDs.'
- Boston Globe,
1 / 07

'A twisted walk
down memory lane!'
- Sharon Edry, TV Guide

'Top Five Sites - Interviews and articles... are must reads.'
- London Sunday Times

'It's too good to be true. Put together by Billy Ingram, TVparty.com has gossip, scandal, sex, singing, dancing, action, drama and celebrities with their 'original parts''
- LA Times

'An ingenious tribute that elevates the TV past to artlike proportions. Site guru Billy Ingram has compiled features both over-the-top and museum worthy, blissful nostalgia for those born in the '40s or the '80s. A+
- Entertainment Weekly

'Every decade expresses its kooky collective unconscious on the tube, celebrated affectionately at Billy Ingram's TVparty. Ingram provides a hilarious glimpse into the American pop psyche.'
- Yahoo

'TVparty is hands down the best site on the Web for classic TV.'
- Discovery Channel

'Get the inside scoop on all your favorite classic TV shows at TVParty.'
- USA Today


Video Vault / Holiday Specials / Fabulous Fifties / Unseen Scenes / Game Shows / Lost Kid Shows / Movie Stars on TV / Saturday Morning Shows / Requested Forgotten TV Shows / The Super Sixties / The New * * Shows / 1980's Wrestling

TVparty is Classic TV on the internet!

Television's Embarrassing Moments / Action Shows of the Sixties / TVparty Mysteries and Scandals / Variety Shows of the Seventies / The Eighties / TVafterparty / The Laugh Track / 1970's Hit Shows / Response to TVparty / Search the Site / Add Your Comments
Classic TV Commercials / 1950's TV / 1960's TV / 1970's TV / Lucy Shows / North Carolina Actors / John Wayne / Gene Roddenberry / Star Wars / KISS / Lancelot Link / Saturday Morning Cartoons / Wonder Woman / Classic Comic Books / Andy Griffith / Cher / TV Shows on DVD / Outtakes & Bloopers / 1967 TV Shows / Romper Room / Captain Kangaroo / Chicago Local Kiddie Shows / Boston Local TV / Philly Local TV / NYC Local Kid Shows / Electric Company / Bette Davis / Judy Garland / Christmas Specials / Redd Foxx / Good Times / Sitcom Houses / The Oldest Italianate Architecture in the United States / What's Happening! / Winky Dink & You / Sonny & Cher / Smothers Brothers / Soupy Sales / The Carpenters / Route 66 / Bozo / The Carpenters Christmas Specials / Local Kid Shows / Death of TV's Superman / Wonderama / Sesame Street / Bob Hope Specials / Little Rascals / 1980's Retro Gay T-Shirts / 1980's TV Wrestling / Fess Parker / Howdy Doody / TV Blog / Lost In Space / Pinky Lee / 1980's LA Punk Rock / Alex Toth Book / TV Terrorists / Irwin Allen / The Untouchables / Carol Burnett Show / Batman TV Show / Green Hornet / Today Show History / Our Gang / Doris Day Show / 1970's Commercials For Women / Bill Cosby in the 1970s / The Golddiggers / Lola Falana / 1970s TV Shows / David Bowie on TV / Hudson Brothers / Jackie Gleason / Hollywood Squares / Match Game / Bob Keeshan / Gumby / The Flip Wilson Show / Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour / The Bobby Darin Show / The Richard Pryor Show / George Burns / Lucy's Lost Christmas Special / Classic Christmas Toy Commercials / Cricket On The Hearth / 1950's Holiday Shows / Amahl and the Night Visitors / A Christmas Carol on TV / The Yule Log / Celebrity Commercials / Rudolph / Movie Posters & More!

“The “Carol Soupy Sales Show on DVD Mary Tyler Moore Show on DVD

Book About Greensboro

Tennessee Tuxedo on DVD
Looking for classic TV on DVD? See below:

Bionic Woman on DVD

TVparty is Classic TV on the internet!
Contact Us / Survey

TVparty! Television Blog

Bionic Woman on DVD