"I'm a little bit country.
And I'm a little bit rock 'n roll.
I'm a little bit of Memphis and Nashville
With a little bit of Motown in my soul.
I don't know if it's good or bad
But I know I love it so.
I'm a little bit country
And I'm a little bit rock 'n roll."

 

 

The Donny and Marie Show is an amazing, mind-bending trip down memory lane for all young kids of the '70s who grew up secretly liking it. I say secretly because about three weeks after it premiered no self-respecting kid admitted to watching it even though we still did -- religiously. There was something about Donny and Marie, something so wholesome (can you imagine that word being seriously used about any young star today?) about these Utah-born show business pros that it instantly earned them the good-natured (and envious) scorn of others in the business and the unilateral hatred of the jaded critics.

Imagine, Donny was only 18 years old and Marie was only 16 when their weekly variety show first went on the air in 1976. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being among the youngest prime time television hosts ever this brother and sister team were an undeniably genuine phenomenon of the '70s.

Recently Bookmans Mesa had the most grooooviest deal come over the counter. It was so nostalgic, so full of fun that it took me back to the days of my youth. The era of disco balls, bell bottoms and singers who could perform without voice synthesizers came alive in front of me. It seemed like only yesterday I was wearing my purple socks and rushing to get comfy in front of the television on Sunday Night. Can you dig it?

First off The Donny and Marie Show, Volume One is a hard to come by DVD set. The cover states:

The jokes may be corny and the content squeaky clean, but it's hard to resist the toothy charms of Donnie and Marie. (When Donnie gets a call on his loafer phone, Marie quips, 'That's shoe business!') No matter how crazy the characters (Captain Purple and Wonderful Woman), tacky the outfits (heavy on the rhinestones, feathers, and gold lamé), or incredible the situations (Donnie on stilts), the brother-sister duo always look like they wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Though this collection focuses on only four episodes, it does cover every year of the popular Sid and Marty Krofft-produced variety series (1976-1979). Since Marie was 'a little bit country' and Donnie 'a little bit rock and roll,' each installment features selections from both genres -- although 'rock and roll' usually means R&B and disco -- along with giggly sketches and skating from the Vegas-style Ice Vanities. Musical selections include 'Jive Talkin',' 'Yakety Yak,' 'I'm Your Puppet,' 'Dance to the Music,' and 'Good Day Sunshine.' Guests include Charo, Paul Lynde, Ruth Buzzi, Bob Hope, Cheryl Ladd, Carl Reiner (as Carmen Miranda), and Minnie Pearl (as Shirley Temple). While the cavity-prone should steer clear of this sugary flashback, for the rest of the viewing audience, Donnie and Marie offers boundless enthusiasm, supreme silliness, and the widest smiles of the 1970s (next to Jimmy Carter).

How can that possibly get any better? This deal was loaded with not only Donny and Marie dolls,

 

 

whose boxes included a poster of the real Donny and Marie holding their fashion doll versions,

 

 

but Tiger Beat magazines,

 

 

and their television show playset.

 

 

Television show playset?

 

 

Lights! Camera! Action! The television show playset is a complete reproduction of their studio where budding producers could create their own shows using the dolls. Complete with movable backdrops, cameras, stage lights and dressing rooms in back. It was pure heaven for the future thespians and performers alike. This playset folds to become a carrying case for the dolls to go on location. This gem even includes a floppy record.

 

 

Donny and Marie had special guests and so did this deal. Lindsay Wagner as The Bionic Woman,

 

 

Brooke Shields as the world’s most famous teenager,

 

 

and '70s icon CHER!

 

 

Upon seeing this treasure trove of '70s fabulousness I couldn’t resist tossing my hair back and exclaiming "Whoaaaaa!" Now I could truly recreate some of Donny and Marie’s finest moments and sing all of those silly love songs.

 

 

I give this deal a 120 percent thumbs up. Thank you to the individual who brought all of this and returned me to the days of my youth. These have to be the best thing I've seen all month, possibly all year.

If by chance anyone reading this has the 30 inch Modeling Marie Osmond out there, please bring it in. We’d love to complete our Osmond collection!

Until then…

 

 

“May tomorrow be a perfect day.
May you find love and laughter along the way.
Good night everybody!”

Disclaimer: Bookmans does not guarantee stock. Be sure to call to make sure these items are still available before you visit Bookmans Mesa. Give yourself time to browse as the shelves are always filling with something new.