Knight at HOME at the Movies
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Back to the 1960s
The 1960s is hands down my favorite decade. Okay, not hands down but close (the 80s are running neck and neck). I love the
chorus of praise that's greeted AMC's 1960s set hit show Mad Men and I love these other genuine 60s TV classics. You will too!
The 1960s is hands down my favorite decade. Okay, not hands down but close (the 80s are running neck and neck). I love the
chorus of praise that's greeted AMC's 1960s set hit show Mad Men and I love these other genuine 60s TV classics. You will too!
Mad Men Season One – From Lionsgate. The debut season of this new series from cable network AMC has been a sensation and
it's not hard to see why. The series focuses on the world of advertising during its "golden age" - the early 60s - when working in
advertising on Madison Avenue in New York City must have seemed like the most glamorous, exciting job in the world. The series,
which has made a star overnight of its uber sexy leading man Jon Hamm, gives us a warts-and-all look at this horribly misogynistic
world, a holdover from the repressive 1950s in which the women are discounted and viewed through a madonna/whore prism. The
plight of gays are represented by storyline involving a closeted ad exec (played by Bryan Batt). Tremendously written, acted and
designed (the fashions and sets look like a Douglas Sirk movie). The four disc set includes all the hour long episodes and a
number of behind the scenes extras and commentaries and comes in this year's most creative package - a silver cigarette lighter.
Completely appropriate as every scene of every episode is packed with characters chain smoking (those were the days, eh former
smokers?).
Bewitched Season Six – From Sony. By 1969 Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha the witch living in suburbia had been on since
1964 and it was risky for the producers to replace Dick York as advertising husband Darrin with Dick Sergeant (who came out years
after the show went off the air). It was a risk that paid off as Sergeant brought his own brand of exasperation to this now iconic 60s
sitcom. This is the year that Montgomery also playing cousin Serena performs the Boyce-Hart pop rock goodie "I'll Blow You A Kiss
in the Wind." There's more of Paul Lynde as gay uncle Arthur (in all but name) and the introduction of shy, disappearing babysitter
Esmerelda (played by Alice Ghostley). Season Six also gave us new baby Adam, more of Agnes Moorehead as acidic mother Endora
and Mabel Albertson as Darrin's equally blistering mom. 30 episodes in all spread over four discs and all in bewitching color.
The Color Honeymooners - Collection Three – From MPI Home Video. It's going to sound like heresy to true fans of the
iconic Jackie Gleason-Art Carney series, but I actually PREFER these color episodes, culled from The Jackie Gleason Show which ran on
CBS from 1966-1970. These episodes extend to a full hour and incorporate songs and chorus numbers interspersed with the typical
Ralph Kramden storylines (the wives in these versions have been replaced as well). Shot in Miami and in blazing color as noted,
these are further evidence of the comedic genius of Gleason and Carney and hold up very well.
Dark Shadows: The Beginning Vol. 5 – From MPI Home Video. The pre-Barnabas Collins the vampire episodes continue in
the world's first and greatest gothic soap opera. By this point, January of 1967, the series was decidedly moving from its gothic base
into the world of the supernatural and this set (there are 35 episodes spread out over four discs) features the first of many, many
seances that would be held at Collinwood, the great mansion perched high above the little Maine fishing village of Collinsport. Joan
Bennett, who came out of semi-retirement to star in the series as the matriarch of the Collins family, continues to shore up the
storylines as do Diana Milay as the mysterious Laura Collins, the woman who sets the strange "Phoenix" storyline in place. Much
more dark, delicious ghostly hokum, all set to Robert Cobert's gorgeous, scary music, is in store for DS fans in this set. There are
several new interview featuettes with surviving cast members and technicians as well. Kudos to MPI for releasing these little known
pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD!
it's not hard to see why. The series focuses on the world of advertising during its "golden age" - the early 60s - when working in
advertising on Madison Avenue in New York City must have seemed like the most glamorous, exciting job in the world. The series,
which has made a star overnight of its uber sexy leading man Jon Hamm, gives us a warts-and-all look at this horribly misogynistic
world, a holdover from the repressive 1950s in which the women are discounted and viewed through a madonna/whore prism. The
plight of gays are represented by storyline involving a closeted ad exec (played by Bryan Batt). Tremendously written, acted and
designed (the fashions and sets look like a Douglas Sirk movie). The four disc set includes all the hour long episodes and a
number of behind the scenes extras and commentaries and comes in this year's most creative package - a silver cigarette lighter.
Completely appropriate as every scene of every episode is packed with characters chain smoking (those were the days, eh former
smokers?).
Bewitched Season Six – From Sony. By 1969 Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha the witch living in suburbia had been on since
1964 and it was risky for the producers to replace Dick York as advertising husband Darrin with Dick Sergeant (who came out years
after the show went off the air). It was a risk that paid off as Sergeant brought his own brand of exasperation to this now iconic 60s
sitcom. This is the year that Montgomery also playing cousin Serena performs the Boyce-Hart pop rock goodie "I'll Blow You A Kiss
in the Wind." There's more of Paul Lynde as gay uncle Arthur (in all but name) and the introduction of shy, disappearing babysitter
Esmerelda (played by Alice Ghostley). Season Six also gave us new baby Adam, more of Agnes Moorehead as acidic mother Endora
and Mabel Albertson as Darrin's equally blistering mom. 30 episodes in all spread over four discs and all in bewitching color.
The Color Honeymooners - Collection Three – From MPI Home Video. It's going to sound like heresy to true fans of the
iconic Jackie Gleason-Art Carney series, but I actually PREFER these color episodes, culled from The Jackie Gleason Show which ran on
CBS from 1966-1970. These episodes extend to a full hour and incorporate songs and chorus numbers interspersed with the typical
Ralph Kramden storylines (the wives in these versions have been replaced as well). Shot in Miami and in blazing color as noted,
these are further evidence of the comedic genius of Gleason and Carney and hold up very well.
Dark Shadows: The Beginning Vol. 5 – From MPI Home Video. The pre-Barnabas Collins the vampire episodes continue in
the world's first and greatest gothic soap opera. By this point, January of 1967, the series was decidedly moving from its gothic base
into the world of the supernatural and this set (there are 35 episodes spread out over four discs) features the first of many, many
seances that would be held at Collinwood, the great mansion perched high above the little Maine fishing village of Collinsport. Joan
Bennett, who came out of semi-retirement to star in the series as the matriarch of the Collins family, continues to shore up the
storylines as do Diana Milay as the mysterious Laura Collins, the woman who sets the strange "Phoenix" storyline in place. Much
more dark, delicious ghostly hokum, all set to Robert Cobert's gorgeous, scary music, is in store for DS fans in this set. There are
several new interview featuettes with surviving cast members and technicians as well. Kudos to MPI for releasing these little known
pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD!
