The Incredible Mr. Limpet: Man Turned Animated, Talking Fish, 1964
Featured in the below photo is a shot from the American live-action/animated adventure movie, “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” (1964). Based on the 1942 novel, “Mr. Limpet, this Warner Bros. film follows the story of a man by the name of Henry Limpet (played by leading actor Don Knotts), a “mild-mannered man” turned animated talking fish. Taking place in World War II, Limpet, who takes on the appearance of a tilefish, ultimately aids the U.S. Navy in locating and destroying Nazi submarines.
Best known for his five-time Emmy-winning role as the “over-anxious” Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on the 1960s sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show—a show which earned him five Emmys—Knotts also acted as the leading man in a number of other comedic films. In 1979, TV Guide even ranked Knotts #27 on its “50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time” list! The onscreen dynamic between Andy Griffith and Knotts propelled the two actors to the very top of the list of the best comedy duos in the entire history of television. In 2006, Knotts died from lung cancer complications at the age of 82.
Tommy Chong: Comedian, Actor and Father of Six
Pictured below is the widely known comedian, actor, writer, and musician Thomas B. Kin Chong, most known as Tommy Chong to both fans and critics alike. Notoriously known for his efforts as an activist in the fight for cannabis rights, Chong’s success is due largely in part to his marijuana-centered comedy series of which Chong is most known for, “Cheech & Chong.”
Aside from the series Chong starred in alongside his fellow comedic partner in crime, Cheech Marin, Cheech and Chong are also known for their numerous musical albums. And while the idea of Chong as a father would most likely be viewed as another one of the infamous comedian’s jokes, in reality, Tommy Chong is actually considered “quite the family man.” In total, throughout his marriages, notorious stoner-turned-family-man would go on to raise a whopping six children.
Host Allen Funt Smiling for the Camera on ’Smile, You’re on Candid Camera!’ (1948-1990)
Smile, you’re on ‘Candid Camera’! Here, Allen Funt, host of the hit, 1940s American reality series, “Candid Camera”, flashes a grin alongside a woman holding a sign with the show’s title. Considered America’s favorite hidden camera and practical joke reality TV series, Candid Camera was created and produced by Funt. While the show was initially broadcast on the radio as “The Candid Microphone,” its first broadcast being released on June 28th, 1947.
Funt’s reality show soon transitioned over to television, and on August 10th, 1948, the series’ first episode was aired across TVs across the U.S. and would stay on air well into the 1970s. Throughout this show, those being pranked were faced with unusually silly situations and objects, such as talking mailboxes, and throwing a bowling ball, only to have the ball returned to them without any finger wholes on it. For the most part, people on the show were in complete bewilderment, up until they heard the show’s familiar tagline, “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera.”
Veronica Hamel: Supporting Actress in the 1979 Film, “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure”
The below photo is of actress and fashion model, Veronica Hamel. First discovered by Eileen Ford, Hamel first entered the limelight through a career as a fashion model. Interestingly enough, in her first film role in the 1971 film, “Klute”, Hamel actually played the role of a model! Following this breakout role into the film industry, this model-turned-actress later landed a supporting role in the disaster movie sequel, “Beyond The Poseidon Adventure” (1979), and again in “When Time Ran Out” (1980).
Of Hamel’s many acting performances over the years, she is most remembered for the recurring role of Choice Davenport on the long-running television series, “Hill Street Blues”, for which she received five Emmy nominations. Hamel was actually considered for the role of Kelly Garrett on the hit show “Charlie’s Angels,” but ultimately turned down the role. Hamel went on to act in a number of TV movies and series, appearing in recurring roles on shows like “Philly”, and “Lost", in which she played Margo Shepherd, the mother of the show’s main character, Jack Shephard.
Moviegoers Wait in Line to Watch “The Exorcist” in Theaters, 1973
The below photo depicts the overwhelmingly large amount of people that anxiously waited in long lines out-the-door and around-the-corner, just to buy a ticket to see the 1973 horror film, “The Exorcist.” Released in cinemas on December 26th, 1973, this image illustrates the astonishing popularity of the film labeled as “one of the greatest horror films of all time”, both at the time of its release and up until today. The movie proved itself a “major commercial success”, bringing in a whopping $441 million worldwide!
Believe it or not, this terrifying horror classic is actually based on a true story. Indeed, the novel that inspired the movie, written by author William Peter Blatty, is actually based on the real-life exorcism of a young boy, known by the pseudonym Roland Doe, in 1949. After hearing about the exorcism on national news, Blatty, a student at Georgetown University at the time, soon became intrigued with the story, and ended up writing a novel based upon these terrifying real-life events.