THE JACKSONS TV SHOW - "Episode 01" (1976)

"The Jacksons" was a TV show that was on for two seasons or twelve episodes from 1976 to 1977, and makes for a perfect Weird Wednesday presentation for many reasons!

 

The Jackson 5 had recently parted ways with Motown Records, and their career was a bit on a wane, and I think this was Poppa Joe's way of trying to get them back into the mainstream, but they kind of missed the boat!

As for the family, the lineup was kind of quirky! Randy Jackson was the youngest brother in the family, and while he played congas in the band, he wasn't a real member until brother Jermaine dropped out in 1976, and stayed with Motown while the rest of the gang moved to Epic Records

After changing record labels, the group also changed their name to "The Jacksons" instead of "The Jackson 5" because as ridiculous as it might sound, Motown still owned that name.

Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson is the oldest of the brothers.

Toriano Adaryll Jackson aka Tito Jackson, was the second oldest son, and was one of the founding member of the band. Tito performs these days as a damn fine blues musician, and you can check out his style right  HERE!!

 

Marlon Jackson was the fourth born son in the Jackson Family. He was born after La Toya. Besides being an original member, he has also been an actor and a Producer.

Michael Joseph Jackson was the fifth of the sons born, and is undoubtedly the most famous of the group!

This show follows the same tired format of variety shows of the era, and except for The Jacksons performing, could just as easily been hosted by Carol Burnett or Donny and Marie. Out of twelve episodes, only one featured another black performer, and that was Redd Foxx. Although there were a ton of awesome black performers during this period, many of them were on Motown Records, and that just wasn't gonna happen. In fact, that's why the last brother Jermaine never appeared on this show, because he was still with Motown.

This is Maureen Reillette Jackson, also known as Rebbie Jackson, the oldest of the Jackson Siblings, and maybe the least known of all the kids. Despite her Father's objections, Rebbie chose to have a family of her own, instead of being part of the Jackson ensemble, but she did appear on this show. After her kids got older, Rebbie did have moderate success as a recording artist is the 80's.

Here's La Toya Jackson,  the second oldest daughter! This variety show pretty much introduced La Toya to the world, and the rest is history.

Last but not least, here's little Janet Damita Jo Jackson, who was only ten years old at the time, and I don't think Janet needs any further introduction.

The guest star on this first episode of the show was Sonny Bono who looks like a guy right here that you wouldn't want to take any candy from.

One of the sketches included a version of Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."

This way of leaving your lover was to "Buy her a plant, Grant," a woman eating plant!

The highlight or low point of this show, however you want to look at it, is a version of "Love Can Keep Us Together" by Captain and Tennille with Janet Jackson doing her impersonation of Tennille.

Sonny Bono performs, and the Jacksons are relegated to a second role as background singers.

Other less than soulful performers who appear on other episodes are the likes of Carroll O'Connor and Dom DeLuise etc.

The Jacksons keep it lively with lots of song and dance numbers, but they sure did manage to miss the mark with their musical guests. Can you imagine how cool this show would have been if Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Al Green, Parliament, Earth, Wind & Fire, or any other number of fantastic musicians who were around at the time would have appeared? This is a nice piece of television and music history, but unfortunately, that's about it !

ASSIGNMENT: OUTER SPACE - 1960

Here's one that we never did a complete post on, it's basically a soap opera in space that has little action and lots of talking, with minimal special effects. The story goes something like this... In the 22nd century (ha ha) a reporter for the Interplanetary News is assigned to write a story while aboard a space station, but he's not well received by the commander there. An errant spaceship has entered the solar system with the power to destroy Earth, can the day be saved?

Here are Ray Peterson, the reporter, and Al - X-15 in there hibernation chambers on their way to the space station. Al, the pilot, gets up first, then brings Ray out of his slumber.

Outside the space station while refueling the rocket ship, Ray has to save another crew member from some flying debris but causes the refueling tube to come loose, losing 500 gallons of fuel.

Ray speaks to the commander about what happened, he saved the man's life, but the commander says, well, you know, we lost 500 gallons of fuel because of you! Then the commander calls him a leech! Harsh!

Here are two space dudes out cruising around in their little spacemobile having to dodge a bunch of meteors that are zooming by around them.

They head back to the space station, hey, that's Al - X-15 there on the right.

Okay, a ship orbiting Mars has an emergency and calls in to the space station for help. Their ship is losing its orbit and is descending towards the planet.

One of their crew members freaks out and jumps out of the ship, you can barely see the poor guy on the center right in the photo before he hits the surface.

He's rescued but is all messed up! You think?!

Here's a nice shot of the rocket model, which just so happens to be a Lindberg model kit I had back in the day!

That deadly space ship mentioned earlier is now in our solar system and coming our way. They shoot a missile with a warhead at the rocket but it has no effect on it. Now, that's an interesting design for the missile, rocket powered no less.

Here's a nice shot of Al - X-15, played by Archie Savage, just before...

He tries to destroy the ship by running his spacemobile (with a bomb inside) into it, it fails and Al - X - 15 is gone for good.

You can see it's a grim moment for everyone. Hey, the commander looks like my dad!

It's a race against time to stop the errant space ship, they have one chance left to stop the damn thing. Believe it or not, Ray volunteers to board the ship and try to stop it from within.

He gets aboard the ship and talks to the commander on how best to deal with getting it stopped before it can approach Earth...

Pretty easy, destroy the wiring! But now Ray is trapped inside and the escape door doesn't operate now, and he's running out of air!

The commander goes over and cuts a hole in the door, and is barely able to save Ray. Which makes for a good ending. Still, a very boring movie.

DES TODESRACHER VON SOHO - "The Corpse Packs His Bags" (1972)

 

I've got a great Saturday Night Special for you this week, a German/Spanish/British film from 1972 called "Der Todesracher Von Soho," that was released worldwide as "The Avenger." 

I love this Spanish poster, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the movie!

"Der Todesracher Von Soho" is actually a remake of the 1962 film "Das Geheimnis Der Schwarzen Koffer," or "The Secret Of The Black Trunk" that was featured in these pages back in 2015.

Both versions are killer!!

 

It was also released as "The Corpse Packs His Bags," and I am eternally grateful to the person who created sub-titles for this film, I'm just not sure if they really know how to speak English or not, because a good majority of the sub-titles are gibberish, and make no sense at all, but since this film was directed by Jesús Franco, working this time out as Jess Frank, it really doesn't matter, at least not to me!

Fred (She Killed In Ecstasy) Williams is Police Inspector Ruppert Redford, and he's got his hands full with this case. 

Fred was born in Munich, Germany as Friedrich Wilhelm Löcherer,

 

There's a killer on the loose, and he leaves a black suitcase at the scene before the crime is actually committed! The cab driver is not the killer!

"Der Todesracher Von Soho" has a pretty cool cast that includes Siegfried Schürenberg as a Dr. Bladmore. Siefried has been in almost every Edgar Wallace movie. By his side is one of my favorite actresses, Elisa (The Seven Secrets of Sumuru) Montés as Helen Bennett.

There's the black bag I was telling you about. Seeing it is not good news for the guy opening the door.

Fish, meat or what, deodorant?

Elisa looks just as confused as me!

Then she remembered it was a Jess Franco film, and that it didn't really matter!

Now this is what I call class 'A' entertainment!!

The crowd must agree, they give her a standing ovation!!

Another star of the show is Horst (Snow White and the Seven Jugglers) Tappert as author Charles Barton!

The gentleman inspecting the knives is the Director of the film, Mr. Jess Frank himself.

A lot of these sub-titles appear as what it would look like if you accepted the spell check changes in your texts that you didn't mean! 

I can't even figure this one out!

A Lab full of angles and bi-angles.

Uh, Oh, another bag!! Somebody's in trouble!

And another throwing knife caught the wrong way!

Combining the talents of Bryan Edgar Wallace and Jesús Franco, there's no telling what to expect, and with "Der Todesracher Von Soho," that's exactly what you're going to get!!

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF EXPLOITATION MOVIE POSTERS

 It's Friday, and time for some posters from the lighter side of exploitation films, because we aim to please, here at The Dungeon!

This title is a little confusing, where's she go? I thought 'in bed' was where the action was, but I guess not in this one.

Here's one about the Prostitute Protective Society, which looks like they got a comic artist to do the poster. It looks like the girls are rubbed out when they don't pay the boss!

What a deal, you buy the drinks and they do the rest. Just my luck, I don't drink!

You can tell from the poster that there's some wacky shit going on here. What a great mix, sex and comedy!

This poster seems to be directed toward the theater owners. Just plain weird!

I have to admit that this poster grabs your attention! Hoodlums on the loose, wanted posters, and they're ready to grab!

Hot thrills and warm chills is the phrase of the day around here, and I do believe these ladies can deliver the goods in that department!

Nothing tastier than a smorgasbroad of beautiful babes. I wonder if they deliver.

Hey, photographed in Sexycolor. Probably the best way to get into a nudist camp is to just parachute yer ass in!.. Right?

Wow, 2 years in production, so, you know it's going to be a train wreck! But remember why you're watching it in the first place!

Here's one from the thirties, apparently, she didn't know there were two kinds of love, til it was too late! You'll have to watch this one to know what the Hell they're talking about.

An intimately shocking fun fest, translation, a sex comedy. I mean, look at the cartoon guy, he'd be referred to as a 'kookie' character back in the day.

Lastly we have THE ACID EATERS, time for a ride on the wild side, women and drugs... Tune in tomorrow when Eegah!! will fill this spot.