Atlanta Reporter Miriam Longino Remembers The Now Explosion

How the Atlanta Journal-Constitution came to write a feature story about The Now Explosion, Music Video 10 years before MTV. Ms. Longino talks about the 1970 program and what happened when they ran the story.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• AJC
• Atlanta
• TV
• Music
• Rock
• Top40

[pdx120001]

i can not help but respond...back in 1997 or 1998 i sent a question to this lady in her "ask miriam" feature in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

My question asked if she remembered the now explosion.

Thats what "jogged her memory".

she published the question in the journal-constitution with her reply "omigawd, i have not met ANYONE that remembers now explosion"

i take a bit of exception for a journalist to embellish the facts for self-elevation

[TheToocold]

i was 19 when it debuted. no videos but go-go -hippy girls dancing and lipsyncing pop stars.  sexy and fun.

[hibiscusfreak]

The Now Explosion was on Saturday mornings in the summer (I think) when I was around 8. It always began with the song "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry and showed a pair of feet on a beach keeping the beat to the music. Anyone remember that detail?

[BoBeena]

@NyNightingale I was watching it faithfully in Cali. Ha!

[Clematisian]

……. It was, indeed, as innovative as they come. I was 12 in the 7th grade when it 1st debuted. They ought to re-issue it all as a DVD collection … Go to The Now Explosion (dot) net to learn more ~ (•8-D

[fairnorth]

Dear jowie82, even today everytime I hear "The Horse" I think of "The Now Explosion" ! Although it was very short lived here in New York City in 1970 I still remember alot of the videos ! This show was way ahead of it's time, and should be put in the video section in every library in America. I remember on December 31, 1970 channel 11-wpix showed a music video program just like it called "The Music Connection". But that only aired here that one night. I loved "The Now Explosion" !

[MidlifeMom55]

I watched this as a teen in New York. I remember the song "Hitching a Ride."

[ssm3141]

You're kidding! Who knew I could type in NOW EXPLOSION, a show I used to watch and dance to in my aunt's paneled-off basement when I was in ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! 1970-71...Lorrr......God bless ya'll....

[futuristfood]

video concert hall too...

[rdangelo]

Interesting. At Penn in '84 I hung out with another student down the hall named Cliff Longino. From Atlanta, no less. He was REALLY into music. Turned us on to REM before they were famous, I think. Related?

[d4seasons]

@jowie82 i was 13. i remembered it was on saturdays on channel 11. i believe it was on about from 4ppm to 7pm, then from 11pm to 2am.  i stayed up late too. just loved it. the 1970's. i wish i can see them again. the 1970's had just started. my favorite era.

[jowie82]

I was 10 when i used to watch this show in the afternoon in New York City with my 7 year sister.We used to dance like crazy with the opening theme song which was The Horse by Cliff Noble

[NyNightingale]

Yes! I remember very well. I'm from NYC, born in 1961. Watched this every weekend i beleive on Sat, loved those psychedelic videos w/ the Jackson 5 and anyone who was hot at the time.

everytime I asked my friends if they remember this show The Now Explosion, they rarely remember. But I would love to see some of those old videos, wow!

[ZIPPTPH77]

Lol  Clam...

[clamdraggin]

wow....we in Atlanta had "officer Don" Kennedy and "the popeye club"

[yiddishboy1]

As a 20 year old college student in Miami Florida I was home for the summer of 1970 in NYC. Now Explosion aired on channel 11 WPIX. How exciting that my beautiful girlfriend at the time Deborah Lee Rosen, was a dancer on the show. The 'pain' of our seperation for the summer was lessened by the fact that I was able to see her 'live' on tv during that summer! That and dozens of phones calls to her got me through that long hot summer! :-) Lets get dvds of that show NOW!

[HighwaySong06]

I remember this also - channel 11 (WPIX) in New York City at 11 in the evening. I was 11 yrs old in the summer of 1970 when it was on. I loved the dynamic opening of the show! My 2 favorite videos that they showed were "Westbound Number Nine" and "House of the Rising Sun."

[LastTree]

I loved this show. Not many remembered it.

[fairnorth]

I would love to see a DVD collection of THE NOW EXPLOSION! It was one of my favorite TV shows of all time. It aired on Saturday afternoons on WPIX-TV here in New York City, usually after the Yankees games. It also ran late on Saturday nights, 1970.

[ZIPPTPH77]

I remember Officer Joe Bolton in New York, with the Popeye cartoons.

[rbraxley]

Miriam makes a point that a lot of kids today won't realize, that you didn't see visuals w/ hits that often, especially not in a radio-like format. Every afternoon my older brother (10+yrs older) and I would have a fight. He wanted "Where the Action Is" and I wanted "Officer Don's Popeye Club," which aired at the same time. He usually won. Thanks to that, I think I have great taste in music.

Now Explosion was groovy, man.

[cindercat59]

I thought I was the only one who remembered The Now Explosion! I was really young but I remember it well. Let's see some videos!

[kwr0558]

THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES. That was a big part of my teen years. I appreciate you posting this and if the "videos" are available, please let us know. I would buy in a heartbeart!

Thanks again,

KWR

Cass High Graduate

Class of 1976

[VoteKucinich]

I was a youngster then and loved it, watched it all I could

[pookerville]

The Now Explosion was ahead of its time! MTV can't claim to be the first music video channel anymore, since Now Explosion really hit the airwaves! What a great show it was!