Back before the internet and on-demand video, back before cable brought us CNN and MTV, we watched television over the air. As I was working on today’s digital visit with you all, I brought up Detroit Free Press columnist,  BetteLou Peterson’s TV article from today in 1970. Here’s a real trip back in time. What were Detroiters watching?

On Monday night, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In was at the height of its popularity, the most popular program in town. Mod Squad owned Tuesday nights. On Wednesday the competition between The Virginian, Glen Campbell, and the Sally Field’s Flying Nun was fierce. Family Affair and Daniel Boone were the winners on Thursday night. Ranch opera programming was also popular on Friday night, with High Chaparral beating the Brady Bunch. Jackie Gleason was still on the air in 1970 and in the front spot on Saturday nights with My Three Sons, and Lawrence Welk trailing. The Wonderful World of Disney was still in the lead on Sunday night with The FBI close behind.

With three networks still dominating our viewing, Fred Silverman’s concept of the “least objectionable alternative” was in full bloom. It’s still a valid concept today. Think about how you manage your Netflix queue. But those of us who were growing up back then still, occasionally, look back wistfully on the days when huge audiences turned to our TV sets to be entertained, en mas.

Quick Takes:

From the archives: For all you who live in northern climes. Does 10 minutes of exposure to shivering cold equals an hour of exercise? One study thinks “maybe”.

Today in History: 

1922, The first Reader’s Digest magazine is published.

1924, The Royal Greenwich Observatory begin broadcasting the hourly time signals known as the Greenwich Time Signal or the “BBC pips”.

1942, “Woman of the Year” film directed by George Stevens, starring Katherine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy opens at Radio City.

1953, Walt Disney’s “Peter Pan” opens at Roxy Theater, in New York.

1967 “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” premieres on CBS (later ABC, NBC)

1974 Randolph Hearst’s 19-year-old daughter, Patty Hearst, is kidnapped from their home in California.

Happy Birthday to: Hal Blaine, 1929; Barrett Strong, 1941; Corey Wells (3 Dog Night), 1942; Chuck Winfield (BS&T), 1943; Al Kooper, 1944; Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), 1968

Much More Music:

In 1966, Petula Clark scores her second No.1 in the US singles chart with ‘My Love’, making her the first British female to have two US No.1 hits. But she initially didn’t like the song and tried to discourage Warner Bros A&R man Joe Smith from issuing it as a single: “He’s a very small man physically…about the right height for me. I was able to get hold of his lapels, and I said to him, ‘Joe, I don’t care which [of the three songs] you put out, but just don’t put out “My Love”. And he said: ‘Trust me, baby.'” (Video)

Today in 1972, Paul Simon releases his first new song without Art Garfunkel, ‘Mother and Child Reunion’. It will peak at No.4. Simon got the idea for the song’s title from a chicken-and-egg dish called Mother and Child Reunion that he saw on a Chinese restaurant’s menu. While the self titled album was Paul’s first release as a solo artist, it was actually his second. His first solo album was recorded in England in 1965 but remained unreleased in the U.S. (except for a brief period in 1969) until 1981 (Video)

This Juice Newton tune came up in the Keener rotation this morning. Sometimes, when you hear a really great song, you just have to share it. The first pressings of the album featured a different arrangement of the song, with a more prominent steel guitar part and no oboe. After the unexpected crossover success of “Angel of the Morning” and “Queen of Hearts”, a pop version was mixed and replaced the country version on all future pressings. (Video)

Today’s Quote Worth Re-Quoting: “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.” ~ Henry J. Kaiser

We leave you with the first hit for the 5th Dimension. The Jimmy Webb song cleaned up at the 10th Annual Grammy Awards in 1968, winning for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Best Performance by a Vocal Group, Best Performance by a Chorus and Best Contemporary Song. The the Wrecking Crew, provided the backing tracks, including guitarist Al Casey and drummer (and birthday boy) Hal Blaine.