I love the theme song from WWofS. I remember this from the early 70's and always hoped there was gymnastics on the show. Even when there was not, I still loved to listen to this song. Always got my bllod pumping and my heart racing.
Like others here, I loved hearing this music and seeing this commercial when I was a kid. What a great rush to see and hear this again tonight, 37 years later. Thank you for that great memory, and for posting it here, so I could dislodge it! Those images and notes have been forever burned in my mind. NOT a bad thing, either!
As idahovandal already pointed out, there's some footage culled from the men's 1968 U.S.T&F Olympic Trials so it likely came out before the '70s came out of the blocks. Speaking of NowhereMan1966's aforementioned lumberjacks and the clips of Jim Hines winning the 100 trials here, check out the video I made for this last Halloween.
Thank you for posting this! I see that many who have commented on this had the "Saturday Afternoon Experience" that I grew up with in the late 60's/early to mid 70's...American Bandstand, Soul Train, Wide World of Sports (which I didn't watch too often, but loved the theme when I heard it on TV, when my dad or grandfather watched it) I miss those days. I love the background music too in all these old sports shows...baseball and football highlights too.I have the box set of Sam Spence's music.
I always thought the Wide World of Sports was cool, you saw many different types of sport, I even saw a race between two lumberjacks on how fast they can cut through a tree after climbing in. I also dig those old NASCAR autos too.
RIP, Jim McCay, you'll be missed, you covered the Olympics the best. I think overall ABC had the best Olympic coverage, NBC kind of sucks, they hop too quick from event to event.
Jim McKay died today so I wanted to look at the memories of this great show. Even if you were not a sports fan, this show was still very cool and fun to watch.
This was a very hip and soulful theme commissioned to replace the 60's "Agony of Defeat" march for a slicker `70s campaign. I LOVE this brief burst of music. It brings back fond memories of Saturdays spent watching everything from "Multiplication Rock" to "Soul Train" before heading out into the afternoon sun on my banana seat bike (w/ handlebar radio) for adventures unknown. The music has a Burt Bacharach/Herb Alpert feel as memorable as Burt's "ABC Movie of the Week" theme (a.k.a. "Nikki").
This was a very hip and soulful theme that was commissioned to update the ol' "Agony of Defeat" track as the 60s segued to the 70s. I always loved this piece of music and the memories it conjures - right up there with other Saturday morning into afternoon rituals like Multilication Rock, The Black Experience, Scooby Doo, the Jackson 5ive cartoon, Lance Link, American Bandstand and Soul Train. It has a Burt Bacharach/Herb Alpert feel similar to Burt's ABC Movie of the Week theme (a.k.a. "Nikki").
It's true what everyone is says about that great "Saturday afternoon experience" with fewer selection of channels yet the better quality of the programs.
What is that "Saturday afternoon experience" today? Reality shows and infommercials.
wow. that commerical brings back a lot of memeries. my dad and i would always whatch wwos every sat. after i watched sat morning cartoons. wow talk about a walk down memery lane. thanks for posting this. loved the sone.
This promo also ran during Good Morning America on Fridays in 1976 and 1977 along with promos for the Pro Bowlers Tour and NCAA College Football during the season.
Yeah, those were the lazy Saturdays. Tuned in to American Bandstand at 12:30pm, watched Wide World of Sports later that afternoon and then, another exciting episode of The American Sportsman. Simpler and very enjoyable days for sure. Why is it that with over 100 channels of satellite TV do I miss those days? Because most of it's crap! LOL I doubt that people thirty years from now will look back with as much fondness. I may be wrong...
"lazy saturdays" - good call! That's exactly the feeling I associate with wwof sports, as it came on around noon after I'd worked my way through all the Krofft and Filmation offerings.
The music is reminds me of the soul and funk bands of 70's. Examples Ohio players(Ohio), Brass Construction (Movin On. The trumpets,pianos, guitars,bongo drums etc.
As a 70's kid i really loved this promo as well. I think it's memorable because horns, pianos and bass guitars were part of the soul and funk era of the time. Examples: Ohio Players, Bootsy Collins, and Brass Construction used these instruments in much of their music. Would love to hear the 60sec. promo again as well.
ITA with what you say in your description. Being a child of the 70s, there's just something about television from that decade that always makes me smile.
Not bad. I can still hum the whole long version.
Niko2100 1 year ago
can this be found on any cd???// loving it.Thanks
fivethensail 2 years ago 2
I posted the 60 second version online.
VIDEOTIMEMACHINE 2 years ago
You did a hell of a job. Thanks for the memories.
hsmarlon 2 years ago
Have you found the 1 min version? Good stuff.
bufford4 3 years ago
I love the theme song from WWofS. I remember this from the early 70's and always hoped there was gymnastics on the show. Even when there was not, I still loved to listen to this song. Always got my bllod pumping and my heart racing.
BrandonBoston2 3 years ago
I've always liked the promo better than the intro. Sundays at our house always included the WW of Sports. Thanks for posting.
HardyGirl66 3 years ago 2
Ah, the glamor sports of yesteryear: bronco busting! demolition derby! barrel jumping! log rolling!
perkiomenville 3 years ago
Like others here, I loved hearing this music and seeing this commercial when I was a kid. What a great rush to see and hear this again tonight, 37 years later. Thank you for that great memory, and for posting it here, so I could dislodge it! Those images and notes have been forever burned in my mind. NOT a bad thing, either!
~B
(production house music?)
billdapony 3 years ago
It was on YouTube about a year ago, but then was yanked. If you find it please post it!
swami1 3 years ago 2
The footage of Bob Seagren at Echo Summit is
interesting as the pole vaulter would later win ABC's first "Superstars"!
DiverDanielBautista 3 years ago
Does anyone know what year this promo came out? 1970,71,72?
sticksrossi 3 years ago
As idahovandal already pointed out, there's some footage culled from the men's 1968 U.S.T&F Olympic Trials so it likely came out before the '70s came out of the blocks. Speaking of NowhereMan1966's aforementioned lumberjacks and the clips of Jim Hines winning the 100 trials here, check out the video I made for this last Halloween.
DiverDanielBautista 3 years ago
My God, I've been wanting to hear this music for YEARS!!! Do you, by chance have the FULL promo?
Thank you so much for filling another part of my memories!!
TigrisKhan 3 years ago 3
you're welcome! Sorry, I don't have a longer version.
love2register2 3 years ago
Thank you for posting this! I see that many who have commented on this had the "Saturday Afternoon Experience" that I grew up with in the late 60's/early to mid 70's...American Bandstand, Soul Train, Wide World of Sports (which I didn't watch too often, but loved the theme when I heard it on TV, when my dad or grandfather watched it) I miss those days. I love the background music too in all these old sports shows...baseball and football highlights too.I have the box set of Sam Spence's music.
macarthurp 3 years ago 4
I always thought the Wide World of Sports was cool, you saw many different types of sport, I even saw a race between two lumberjacks on how fast they can cut through a tree after climbing in. I also dig those old NASCAR autos too.
RIP, Jim McCay, you'll be missed, you covered the Olympics the best. I think overall ABC had the best Olympic coverage, NBC kind of sucks, they hop too quick from event to event.
NowhereMan1966 3 years ago 2
Longtime Wide World of Sports commentator Jim McKay died today at 86. RIP
mpontheair2 3 years ago 2
WOW! Forgot about that intro,thanks a ton for posting it,GREAT STuff RIP Jim McKay!
harporocks 3 years ago
Jim McKay died today so I wanted to look at the memories of this great show. Even if you were not a sports fan, this show was still very cool and fun to watch.
zillabob 3 years ago
hey!!!! i was about 3 or 4 when this was out ! cool shit dude!!! yea loves theme at golf tourney's!lol!!!
Metaldog67 3 years ago
There was actually a longer version of this promo, as well. Both are very well done!
798389 3 years ago 2
This was a very hip and soulful theme commissioned to replace the 60's "Agony of Defeat" march for a slicker `70s campaign. I LOVE this brief burst of music. It brings back fond memories of Saturdays spent watching everything from "Multiplication Rock" to "Soul Train" before heading out into the afternoon sun on my banana seat bike (w/ handlebar radio) for adventures unknown. The music has a Burt Bacharach/Herb Alpert feel as memorable as Burt's "ABC Movie of the Week" theme (a.k.a. "Nikki").
QuickStix 3 years ago
This was a very hip and soulful theme that was commissioned to update the ol' "Agony of Defeat" track as the 60s segued to the 70s. I always loved this piece of music and the memories it conjures - right up there with other Saturday morning into afternoon rituals like Multilication Rock, The Black Experience, Scooby Doo, the Jackson 5ive cartoon, Lance Link, American Bandstand and Soul Train. It has a Burt Bacharach/Herb Alpert feel similar to Burt's ABC Movie of the Week theme (a.k.a. "Nikki").
QuickStix 3 years ago
It's true what everyone is says about that great "Saturday afternoon experience" with fewer selection of channels yet the better quality of the programs.
What is that "Saturday afternoon experience" today? Reality shows and infommercials.
60sThru80s 3 years ago
Wow!
sticksrossi 3 years ago
Did Bacharack compose this theme?
sticksrossi 3 years ago
Brought me back!
sticksrossi 3 years ago
Watched this spot when I was about 7 or 8 back in 72' 73'.
sticksrossi 3 years ago
Was this before or after "Agony of Defeat"? I don't remmeber this opener at all.
Zickcermacity 4 years ago
no...it was a totally seperate commercial....
dpkvwells 3 years ago
wow. that commerical brings back a lot of memeries. my dad and i would always whatch wwos every sat. after i watched sat morning cartoons. wow talk about a walk down memery lane. thanks for posting this. loved the sone.
mrmike1884 4 years ago 2
This promo also ran during Good Morning America on Fridays in 1976 and 1977 along with promos for the Pro Bowlers Tour and NCAA College Football during the season.
potter660 4 years ago
Yeah, those were the lazy Saturdays. Tuned in to American Bandstand at 12:30pm, watched Wide World of Sports later that afternoon and then, another exciting episode of The American Sportsman. Simpler and very enjoyable days for sure. Why is it that with over 100 channels of satellite TV do I miss those days? Because most of it's crap! LOL I doubt that people thirty years from now will look back with as much fondness. I may be wrong...
jupitr2 4 years ago 2
"lazy saturdays" - good call! That's exactly the feeling I associate with wwof sports, as it came on around noon after I'd worked my way through all the Krofft and Filmation offerings.
love2register2 4 years ago
Yes, I have similar memories. It seems like back then there was a different sense to TV that has left lasting impressions on us.
texashoncho 4 years ago
I remember this wide world of sports opening.
There was a longer version too.
Thanks for posting this video.
williewill037 4 years ago
Love this music! Wow.. takes me way back..
crystalmoon45 4 years ago 2
Man I totally remember this as a kid !!! Cliff diving needs to make a comback. NOW !!
Mojomatrix 4 years ago
The music is reminds me of the soul and funk bands of 70's. Examples Ohio players(Ohio), Brass Construction (Movin On. The trumpets,pianos, guitars,bongo drums etc.
lazyel 4 years ago
Also include Average White Band,Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra (played 'Love's Theme' when a golf tounament was on)!!!OMG!!!
sticksrossi 3 years ago
As a 70's kid i really loved this promo as well. I think it's memorable because horns, pianos and bass guitars were part of the soul and funk era of the time. Examples: Ohio Players, Bootsy Collins, and Brass Construction used these instruments in much of their music. Would love to hear the 60sec. promo again as well.
lazyel 4 years ago
what is the name of this song?
Famous1972 4 years ago
Oh the 70's....kids today don't know what they missed!
Famous1972 4 years ago
There's a longer(:60) version of this promo. Anyone got it?
swami1 4 years ago
Excellent..had forgotten all about this tune. Brings back great memories!!
thebigbadwolf87 4 years ago
Total saturday afternoon flashback! Unbelievably cool promo!
VerySneaky 4 years ago
ITA with what you say in your description. Being a child of the 70s, there's just something about television from that decade that always makes me smile.
ihavethat45 4 years ago
I completely agree!!!
macarthurp 3 years ago