more retro rewinds

“The Dean Martin Show” (YouTube): Music and comedy were the orders of the evening in Martin’s 196574 variety series as he welcomed a who’s who of stars of the era, including Sinatra, Don Rickles, Tony Bennett, Sid Caesar, Bob Newhart, Orson Welles and Petula Clark, to his living room set that he usually entered via fireman’s pole. Deano’s charisma and incessant clowning really made the show go as he invited viewers to join in the fun that he was so clearly having.

“All in the Family: Sammy’s Visit” (iTunes): Probably one of the more noteworthy episodes of Norman’s Lears classic sitcom was this installment from 1972, which revolved around a briefcase Davis left in Archie’s (Carroll O’Connor) cab and the subsequent visit he made to the Bunker home to retrieve it. The kiss he planted on a shocked Archie’s cheek at episode’s end is one of the great moments in a series that had many of them.

“Beyond the Sea” (Amazon, YouTube, Google Play,

Vudu): Kevin Spacey proved himself a multiple threat talent in not only co-writing, directing and starring as Bobby Darin in this underrated 2004 biographical drama about the short life and career of the singer, but also performing a number of Darin tracks heard in the film, including such toe-tappers as “Mac the Knife,” “One of These Days,” “Artificial Flowers” and of course, “Beyond the Sea.” The talented cast also included Kate Bosworth, Bob Hoskins, Caroline Aaron, John Goodman and Brenda Blethyn.