GREAT AMERICAN DREAM MACHINE, THE, NO. 34 (TV)
Summary
One in this weekly series examining the gulf between American promise and reality in a magazine format of short features, sketches, and songs. This program is prefaced and concluded by a close-up of two mimes who interpret a symphony with wild facial gestures. The program includes the following segments: "Evel Knievel," a profile of the stunt motorcyclist, featuring interviews with Knievel and his doctor, and clips of his performances; "Kamp TV Kitchen," a spoof on cooking shows, in which an unpalatable "heritage casserole" is thrown together; a montage of interviews with various people who offer their versions of the American dream; "Life on the 92nd Floor," a series of interviews with residents living on the highest floors of the Hancock Building; "Opinion: Andy Rooney," in which Rooney recommends that Americans forget the myth that "bigger is better" and begin to make everything as small as possible; "I Need Advice by Jane Evans," a video advice column featuring a woman who is concerned about her small bust; "Honeymoon Hotel," a survey of a romantic getaway, including interviews with newlywed couples and hotel staff; "Computer Baby," a segment that pairs music with clips of the machines used in computerized dating services; "You Know Who and What's His Name," a subtitled spoof on a European art film, in which two depressed strangers have a dreary affair and smoke heavily while questioning their identities and the meaning of life; "The Selling of the American Flag," a commentary by Marshall Effron about the commercialism surrounding the U.S. flag and the novelty items which sport the stars-and-stripes in violation of federal law; and "Nina Simone," with clips of the singer performing and an interview in which she discusses freedom.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: February 9, 1972 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:55
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T83:0293
- GENRE: Magazine
- SUBJECT HEADING: Films - Parody; Hancock Building, Chicago, Illinois; Magazine; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Stunts
- SERIES RUN: WNET (New York, NY) - TV series, 1971-1972
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Perlmutter A. H. … Executive Producer
- Lou Solomon … Coordinating Producer
- Ofra Bikel … Producer
- Groove Tube … Producer, For "Kamp TV Kitchen"
- Ron Finley … Producer, For "Evel Knievel"
- Peter Lance … Producer, Writer, For "Evel Knievel"
- Computer Image Corp. … Producer, For "Computer Baby"
- Aram Boyajlan … Producer, For "92nd Floor"
- Sheila Nevins … Producer, For "American Dream Montage"
- Stuart Hersh … Producer, For "American Dream Montage"
- Tony Ganz … Producer, For "Honeymoon Hotel"
- Rhoden Streeter … Producer, For "Honeymoon Hotel"
- Fritz Roland … Producer, For "You Know Who and What's His Name"
- Peter Aristotle Rodis … Producer, For "Nina Simone"
- Alfa-Betty Olsen … Associate Producer, For "The Selling of the American Flag"
- Don Mischer … Director
- Ken Rockfeller … Director, For "Frontal Attack"
- Joseph Bologna … Director, For "You Know Who and What's His Name"
- Joel Gold … Director, For "Nina Simone"
- Andrew A. Rooner … Writer, Commentator, For "Opinion: Bigness"
- Ken Cavander … Adapted by, For "Frontal Attack"
- Elinor Bunin … Animation
- Martin Mull and His Midget Band … Music by, For "Evel Knievel"
- Marshall Efron … Commentator, For "The Selling of the American Flag"
- Nina Simone … Singer
- Ken Shapiro … Performer
- Chevy Chase … Performer
- Linda Lavin … Performer, "Frontal Attack"
- Bob Dishy … Performer, "You Know Who and What's His Name"
- Salome Jens … Performer, "You Know Who and What's His Name"
- Evel Knievel