Truckin’ in the 70’s: on the radio, up on the big screen and beyond…
East bound and down. We gotta a long way to go and a short time to get there…sound like one of my articles ?… well truth couldn’t be farther…
In this case we are discussing the 70’s and the affection for films,TV, music and all forms of entertainment encompassing the all mighty roadways across this big country and truckin….click below for a mood setting song from Smokey and The Bandit…-spawning several sequels and a TV series.
Below-Travelin music(performed by one of my favorites Jerry Reed pickin and a grinning all the way to the hearts of all his fans)
On the big screen movies like White Line Fever starring Jan Michael Vincent(Airwolf) (Both are now available on Bluray from Mill Creek Entertainment). A recently returning Army veteran decides to become and independent trucker and basing things on his previous experience working with his dad and a past employer finds out that things have change. In fact so much that it has become common practice to haul contraband mixed in with the regular load.
When Carrol Jo Hummer(Michael Jan Vincent)refuses to deliver any loads with the illegal slot machines and such he is immediately ostracized and targeted by the concern. In fact one night he is pushed to the breaking point after his friend and partner is killed and his house raided and wife newly pregnant is beaten. They say karma is a b*&$# and now it’s payback time. Now it’s his turn, so when you see the Blue Mule heading down the highway you better step aside for man behind the wheel is on a mission and he will not stop until justice is served.
This movie is loaded with country music and some fun action pumped background score. Sprinkled with some classic character actors including Slim Pickens(Doctor Strangelove)and Dick Miller(Gremlins). It was a surprise hit and did mega box-office on the Drive -In circuit. And was a huge ratings hit on cable TV when it made it’s debut on HBO.
1975 gave us one of the most iconic films in this sub-genre and a starring role to a young up and comer-Micheal Jan Vincent. Michael originally started out in one of the supporting story lines on The Banana Splits(1968) series on Saturday Morning Television.
Danger Island-The only live action on the show except for the skit segments featuring the Splits. It was a take on action -adventure serials from the late ’30 — early ’50s. With a cliff hanger ending on each episode. In search of fabled treasure and trying to avoid modern day pirates. Uh Oh Chongo where are you ? * trivia -Design sketches by Alex Toth. Directed by Richard Donner(Superman II * The Goonies)-also starring Rockne Tarkington(Black Samson 1974)
Available on DVD as an import from Warner Bros. Never released in the US on DVD or Bluray for now.
Convoy, & High Ballin(Jerry Reed and Peter Fonda) both available (Kino Lorber), The Smokey Mountain Roadblock, Smokey and the Bandit (Jerry Reed and Burt Reynolds) and
into the 80’s gave us an Australian nail biter with Hitchcockian overtones -
Road Games(Stacey Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis) -available from Shout Factory.
Additional titles Movies-
70’s: Truck Stop Women,
And on the small screen during that same time period-
Flatbed Annie and Sweetie Pie co-starring Annie Potts(Designing Women) and (made for TV movie),
B.J. and The Bear(Greg Evigan Tek Wars), Movin On(Frank Converse and Claude Akins)…
On the radio we were listening to tunes like Convoy, Eastbound and Down, Keep On Truckin and CB Citizens.
The ’80s saw Sam Jones cast as The Highwayman, set in the near future with US Marshal’s’ trading in their trusty horse for a more modern take.
Traveling around the country serving out justice from a high tech flatbed/cab with its ensemble of weapons and gear plus a place to hang their hat at night. The idea can not help but have been influenced some what by the Mad Max films. This was a favorite of mine but alas a short lived series.
Black Dog(A 90’s take on the trucker action genre starring Patrick Swayze and Randy Travis).
A more recent venture in to the CB end of the “truckin genre” was the release of High Frequency with a cast starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel — a time travel tale with a twist. The CB radio in question acts as a bridge between the past and present. Giving a loving son the chance to prevent/solve a murder from another time, possibly to save his father’s life.
I want say one thing that has nothing to do with entertainment. My hats are off to all truckers and the trucking business. I have a great respect and admiration for these unsung heroes that at times risk their lives for making that delivery so you and I can sit down and enjoy that meal at the end of the day or throwing on the ugly Christmas sweater that someone got you last year… but it s keeping that hide of yours nice and warm. Everything that we more than likely take for granted has spent part of ti’s time on a flatbed or in the of of a trailer..being hauled up some of the most treacherous terrain at times or battling it’s way through a torrential downpour, especially if the route takes them through North and South Carolina as you come down out of the hills and mountains near Mt Airy(right near where Andy Griffith grew up). Trust me I have there late at night.. a little nerve racking at times with all the curves and blind spots. And that is when it’s not raining!!.
So the next time your on the road and encounter a truck say hi… it will put a smile on their face.. just a way of giving a little respect and love….
This Doc saying see ya down the road…
I leave you this run of trucking cinema…starring David Jansen
Additional links-
