The memories you forgot you had ...
In 1976 I knew little about the glam-rock movement that took place a couple of years earlier. That stuff happened in New York City and other cosmopolitan places, not up the holler.
But, I sure knew about Kaptain Kool and the Kongs.
Fronted by Michael Lembeck (Kaptain Kool), Kongs Superchick (Debra Clinger), Turkey (Mickey McMeel), Nashville (Louise Durat) and Flatbush (Bert Sommer, who left after the first season) put on glitter and belted out tunes in between their main duties, introducing Saturday morning cartoon shows.
And the shows they introduced! We're talking Wonderbug. Those groovy superchicks, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. And Bigfoot and Wildboy, my all-time favorite!
Brilliant shows, when you are eleven.
Lembeck had the most career success, I suppose. He co-starred later in One Day At A Time, and directed lots of sitcoms for TV. Superchick's career in show biz seems to have fizzled out around the Hart To Hart years. Turkey hasn't been heard from since 1980, and Nashville continues to work doing voice-overs. Flatbush, who may have been the smartest Kong (in that he bolted after the first season), apparently went into some other line of work besides acting. He has no other credits listed on his bio.
Where did 30 years go?
6 comments:
I remember Kaptain Kool and the Kongs. I was about 6 years old and living in Atlanta in 1976 when the World of Sid and Marty Krofft theme park was open.
Bert Sommer, who played "Flatbush" passed away in 1990.
Hiya Michi-chan. Thanks for coming by, and for the info. Too bad to hear about Sommer.
Thank God someone else remembers this show besides me and my sister. I had an extremely hard time searching this one out. Thank you Film Geek for satisfying my curiousity! Does anyone remember Magic Mambo (I think he pulled on his ears, stuck his tongue out and made weird sounds in order to work his spell)? It must have been on tv right after this Kaptain Kool and the Kongs.
Hi Anonymous, and thanks for stopping by. I do remember Magic Mambo. Lenny Weinrib played him. Here's a link:
http://www.70slivekidvid.com/magic.htm
Bert Sommer (Flatbush) is dead.
He performed at the first Woodstock in 1969.
He performed in Hair on Broadway.
See more here:
http://www.bertsommer.com/
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
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