Podcasts about Hal Needham

American stunt performer and film director

  • 161PODCASTS
  • 218EPISODES
  • 1h 10mAVG DURATION
  • 1EPISODE EVERY OTHER WEEK
  • Jun 17, 2025LATEST
Hal Needham

POPULARITY

20172018201920202021202220232024


Best podcasts about Hal Needham

Latest podcast episodes about Hal Needham

13 O'Clock Podcast
Movie Time: Hooper (1978)

13 O'Clock Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025


Tom and Jenny discuss the 1978 action comedy, directed by Hal Needham and starring Burt Reynolds as a stuntman gearing up for one final, dangerous stunt. Audio version: Video version: Please support us on Patreon! Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram. Also check out Jenny's horror channel, The Scare … Continue reading Movie Time: Hooper (1978)

The Important Cinema Club
#430 - Hal Needham: The Hollywood Stuntman

The Important Cinema Club

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 66:00


We discuss the directorial of Hal Needham, with a focus on SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, HOOPER, CANNOBALL RUN, and RAD. Send us stuff like zines, movie related books, physical media or memorabilia c/o Justin Decloux, Unit 1010, 3230 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4N 3P6, Canada Join the Patreon now for an exclusive episode every week, access to our entire Patreon Episode back catalogue, your name read out on the next episode, and the friendly Discord chat: patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub Subscribe, Review and Rate Us on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-…ub/id1067435576 Follow the Podcast: twitter.com/ImprtCinemaClub Follow Will: twitter.com/WillSloanESQ Follow Justin: twitter.com/DeclouxJ Check out Justin's other podcasts, THE BAY STREET VIDEO PODCAST (@thebaystreetvideopodcast), THE VERY FINE COMIC BOOK PODCAST (www.theveryfinecomicbookpodcast.com) and NO SUCH THING AS A BAD MOVIE (@nosuchthingasabadmovie), as Will's MICHAEL AND US (@michael-and-us).

The Kibbe and Friends Show
K&F Show #330: Kibbe Boys Take Charlotte; All Racing June Movie Re-Review – “Stroker Ace”

The Kibbe and Friends Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 77:10


As most of you know, our Patreon audience has the INSIDE access to the KF Show. The year 2025 will be an important one for Patreon specifically and if you'd consider jumping up to the $5 level it would sure help. The $10 level will remain and we now have a brand new $20 level as well! All members who join at that level will receive a sticker swag pack in the mail, you'll be IMMEDIATELY entered in the monthly prize grab, and you'll receive a phone call from one (or all) of us to chat up whatever you want for 30 minutes! Thank you SO MUCH to those of you who have joined in for the extra content that is only for Patreon supporters. To get in on the action and support the show with a minor financial contribution just click the link below to sign up. Join up via Patreon at patreon.com/KFSHOW ======================================== Presented with Holley - Back for 2025!  Phase 3 of Kibbe and Friends is officially here, and Holley is back for more fun, foolishness, and flying orange Chargers! Once again we're proud to be associated with the historic name that has made cars fast for years and years, and their innovations continue forward (as always)! Make sure that you visit Holley.com to place your speed parts orders - and THANK THEM for continuing on as the Title Sponsor of the KF Show!  ======================================== Movie Review: Stroker Ace In June of 2025 we are doing our Month of Racing! We originally reviewed the Burt Reynolds Classic "Stroker Ace" in Episode 178 in February of 2021. Enjoy! Movie Recap: If you loved Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run, Police Academy, WKRP, Gomer Pyle: USMC, The Hardy Boys, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Deliverance, and Days of Thunder….this is like all of them combined, minus ….basically everything from Deliverance except Ned Beaty, and all of the really good stuff from Days of Thunder like Tom Cruise and amazing cinematography with real in car race footage at speed. This movie would be culture cancelled today. Sexual harassment is considered innocent fun, women are ogled, there's (ironically) no drug use, and the confederate flags are a plenty. But when Hal Needham called, Burt Reynolds answered...and made a box office flop that has kept us all clucking and chuckling to this day. Why? Because he was driving the FASTEST CHICKEN IN THE SOUTH. Directed by: Hal Needham Starring: Burt Reynolds Ned Beatty Jim Nabors Parker Stevenson Loni Anderson Released: 7/1/1983 Produced by: Warner Bros AND Universal Pictures ======================================== Welcome from the High Performance Expo! We are pleased to announce that the all new High Performance Expo has joined us to share their inaugural event, the exclusive business and enthusiast show of the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA), will be held from June 3-5, 2025, at the Charlotte Convention Center, followed by area-wide enthusiast activities. The event will bring together all segments of the racing, aftermarket, restoration, and performance community for the first time in the heart of the auto racing industry. We'll be bringing you more details until the show starts! Visit https://thehpx.com for details.   ======================================== National Parts Depot Presents: Bernie on the News! https://www.npdlink.com. The post K&F Show #330: Kibbe Boys Take Charlotte; All Racing June Movie Re-Review – “Stroker Ace” first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

The VHS Strikes Back
RAD (1986)

The VHS Strikes Back

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 58:18


Kicking things off with a blast of ‘80s nostalgia, we're taking on the 1986 BMX cult classic RAD, chosen by our newest Patreon supporter, Nick Bray! Packed with insane bike tricks and a Daniel LaRusso from Wish! Huge thanks to Nick for picking this one, time to dust off the old bike and practice some bunny hops.RAD was born out of the mid-1980s BMX biking craze, with Hollywood eager to capture the spirit of the sport just as skateboarding was making its big cinematic breakthrough. Directed by legendary stuntman-turned-director, Hal Needham, the film was crafted with a genuine love for high-flying stunts and underdog stories. The production pulled together a mix of professional BMX riders and actors, staging elaborate, gravity-defying race sequences that became the movie's signature. Shot primarily in Alberta, Canada, RAD managed to capture that small-town Americana vibe, despite the northern filming location, giving it a timeless, every-kid's-dream feel.While RAD wasn't a box office success at the time, it found a second life almost immediately on VHS, becoming a cult classic cherished by generations of fans. Its soundtrack, filled with upbeat anthems, and its earnest tone helped cement its status as a beloved underdog movie. Over the years, RAD developed a reputation as the definitive BMX film, inspiring countless kids to get on their bikes and dream big. Despite being out of print for years, its legend only grew, leading to a long-awaited 4K restoration and re-release decades later — proving you just can't keep a good tailwhip down.If you enjoy the show we have a Patreon, so become a supporter.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thevhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trailer Guy Plot SummaryIn a world where dreams are built on two wheels and dirt tracks, one small-town kid dares to chase the impossible! RADfollows Cru Jones, a young BMX rider with big ambitions, as he faces off against corporate heavyweights and elite racers in the ultimate test of skill and heart — Helltrack! With gravity-defying stunts, ruthless rivals, and a race that could change his life forever, Cru must risk it all to prove that sometimes, the underdog really can fly!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠

Berated B-Rated Movies
Airborne vs RAD: An Extreme Sports Showdown

Berated B-Rated Movies

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 107:08


This week Brian with a B and Amferny talk about two extreme sports classic movies: Airborne (1993) and RAD (1986). Airborne is a fish out of water story about a surfer who moves to Cincinnati to finish the school year and struggles to gain acceptance at a new school. This movie is directed by Rob Bowman and stars Shane McDermott, Seth Green, Brittney Powell, Chris Conrad and Jack Black. RAD is the story of a local BMX racer who enters Helltrack (a professional BMX race) and fights the odds to compete against Bart Conner, the star racer. This movie is directed by Hal Needham and stars Bill Allen, Lori Loughlin, Talia Shire, Ray Walston and Alfie Wise. Airborne is available on Google Play and YouTube. RAD is available on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube. Instagram Links: Follow Shane McDermott @shanefmcdermott Follow Seth Green @sethgreen Follow Brittney Powell @brittneypowell9444 Follow Jack Black @jackblack Follow Bill Allen @billsmallen The podcast art is by @delasernaxtattoos on Instagram and has been revised by rodrick_booker on Fiverr. If you like what you're hearing subscribe and comment on our Instagram @berated_b_rated_movies, Facebook @Berated B RatedMovies and Tik Tok @berated_b_rated_movies. Check out our website at Beratedbratedmovies.com. If you have any comments or movie suggestions please send them to beratedbratedmovies@gmail.com RATED G®, RATED PG®, RATED PG-13®, RATED NC-17®, and RATED R® are certification marks owned by the Motion Picture Association, Inc. This podcast has not been rated or certified pursuant to the Motion Picture Association, Inc.'s film rating system nor is this podcast authorized by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Motion Picture Association, Inc.

Bulletproof Podcast
Body Slam

Bulletproof Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 71:54


It's WrestleMania Week and The Bulletproof Podcast is celebrating Rock-n-Wrestling style with a discussion on 1986's Body Slam! Listen in on all the ring talk as wrestle maniacs Chris the Brain, Ryan Campbell, and the "Toyman" Chris DePetrillo discuss Body Slam... The cast that includes Dirk Benedict, Roddy Piper, Tanya Roberts, The Tonga Kid, Charles Nelson Riley, Captain Lou Albano, and Billy Barty, the cameos featuring familiar faces from inside and outside the world of professional wrestling, the director Hal Needham, the vehicular destruction, and the music from Kicks OR Kick are among the talking points! Plus, the results of our recent Richard Norton poll are revealed and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Legal Advice
Episode 373 - Radicàl: Un Kino by Hal Needham

Free Legal Advice

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 52:47


Sorry for the French (and fake French) in the title, but this week's episode is about cinema. Not just a movie, not even just a film, but cinema. The only language fancy enough to handle this is French, so you're just going to have to deal with it. The cinema we're dissecting this time is called, simply, Rad. My review: "It is."

GeoTrek
Optimizing Transportation Business for Winter Weather

GeoTrek

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 32:18


In Episode 108 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we explore how extreme winter weather impacts the transportation and logistics industry. From blizzards to icy roads, truck drivers and logistics professionals must navigate unpredictable and often dangerous conditions to keep supply chains moving.Our guest, Gary Falldin, Senior Director of Industry Solutions at Platform Science, shares expert insights into how technology and best practices help fleets operate safely and efficiently in severe weather.Join Dr. Hal Needham and Gary as they discuss:

Damn Good Movie Memories
Episode 439 - Hooper (1978)

Damn Good Movie Memories

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 66:00


An aging movie stuntman (Burt Reynolds) finds motivation from a newcomer (Jan-Michael Vincent) for one final run as the top dog.  Co-starring Sally Field, Brian Keith, Robert Klein and James Best.  Directed by Hal Needham.

GeoTrek
How Extreme Weather Impacts Professional Sports Performances

GeoTrek

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 32:22


In Episode 106 of GeoTrek, we explore the fascinating intersection of extreme weather and professional sports. Special guest Mark Paquette, an expert on how weather influences sports, gambling, and betting, joins Dr. Hal Needham to discuss the surprising ways weather conditions impact athlete performance and game outcomes.From wind and rain to heat and humidity, discover how teams and athletes adapt to the elements, and learn why weather is a critical factor for sports analysts, bettors, and fans alike. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a weather buff, or curious about the science behind athletic performance, this episode offers unique insights you won't want to miss!

GeoTrek
All About Avalanches - How do Forecasters Predict Avalanches?

GeoTrek

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 35:34


Join us for Episode 105 of the GeoTrek Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of avalanches! Simon Trautman, Director of the National Avalanche Center, breaks down the science behind how avalanches form, the tools forecasters use to predict them, and the essential steps to interpret avalanche ratings for safer mountain adventures.In this episode, Simon and Dr. Hal Needham discuss the Avalanche Danger Scale, highlight the intricacies of avalanche forecasting, and share captivating images of avalanche events. Learn how to assess and manage avalanche risks, navigate hazardous conditions safely, and discover what a real-life rescue operation involves.Whether you're a skier, mountaineer, or simply curious about the natural forces shaping our world, this episode delivers valuable insights to keep you informed and prepared.

Retro Life 4 You
"Rad (1986): The Cult BMX Movie That Stands the Test of Time"

Retro Life 4 You

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 46:59


Rad (1986): A BMX Cult ClassicRad is a high-octane, feel-good sports drama that became a cult favorite for BMX enthusiasts and '80s movie fans alike. Directed by Hal Needham, the movie follows Cru Jones (Bill Allen), a small-town teenager with big dreams of becoming a BMX champion. When the ultimate BMX race, Helltrack, comes to his hometown, Cru defies the odds, overcomes obstacles, and takes on professional riders to prove he's got what it takes.Packed with thrilling bike stunts, a killer '80s soundtrack, and a touch of romance with Christian Hollings (played by Lori Loughlin), Rad perfectly captures the youthful energy and rebellious spirit of its time. Featuring jaw-dropping BMX sequences choreographed by real-life stunt riders and themes of perseverance and following your dreams, this movie has left a lasting impression on fans.Although it flew under the radar upon release, Rad has gained a devoted following over the years, earning its place as a nostalgic gem and an iconic sports movie of the '80s. With its heart, action, and plenty of BMX flair, Rad continues to inspire new generations of riders and moviegoers.If you are new to the podcast then please consider following us on the platform that you love, we can be found most anywhere that you listen to your favorite podcasts. Please leave us a rating and review if you listen on iTunes and a 5 star rating if you listen on Spotify. If you like what you hear then please share the show with your friends and family. If you would like to help support the podcast by donating a small amount or any custom amount you choose then please visit the following link:https://retrolife4u.com/supportThis is not a membership or anything just a way for you to help support us without paying a reoccurring monthly fee when you feel like you are able to help. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions for shows or you have a question you would like us to read on air then email us at retrolife4you@gmail.com You can find us on social media at the following places:FacebookInstagramTik TokYouTubeRetro Life 4 You Website

BEHIND THE STUNTS
THE CANNONBALL RUN - 1980

BEHIND THE STUNTS

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 31:12


Burt Reynolds, Dom Delouise, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett and Jackie Chan in one of the greatest action comedies of the 20th century. Directed by Hal Needham - it's The Cannonball Run.So exciting and so complicated from an action point of view.....enjoyIf you've enjoyed this episode then why not follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the following linkhttps://linktr.ee/behindthestunts

The Gen X Files
The Gen X Files 197 - The Cannonball Run

The Gen X Files

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 115:47


We close out our epic comedies month with the most successful epic comedy (after the perfection of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, of course): The Cannonball Run. Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr, Adrienne Barbeau, Mel Tillis, Terry Bradshaw, Jack Elam, Jackie Chan, and Jamie Farr having a ton of fun on screen. Written by Brock Yates, who created the actual race the movie is based on and directed by Hal Needham, a stuntman-turned-director. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegenxfiles/support

HURRICANE CENTER
S5: Episode 19 - Hurricane Contamination and Hurricane Impacts beyond wind

HURRICANE CENTER

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 58:17


Dr. Chiu, Texas A&M talks with us about environmental contamination after hurricanes.  Dr. Hal Needham talks with us about his experiences during the 2024 Hurricane SeasonSupport the showSuggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.comVisit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.comThanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

Retro Fandango
Retro Fandango | Eps. 244 | Now Gluten Free!

Retro Fandango

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 112:58


M. Night, Rebel Ridge, Walter White retires and cheats the lottery, Burt Reynold's pal Hal Needham, and more!

Blister Cinematic
‘Rad' with Eddie Fiola, Jen Zeuner, & Simon Stewart

Blister Cinematic

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 76:48


There's no denying that the film Rad is a cult classic. Released in 1986 at the height of BMX popularity, it artfully combines BMX freestyle and BMX racing, with a classic underdog story based on the life of BMX freestyle legend, Eddie Fiola. Today, Eddie joins Simon Stewart, along with BMX Hall of Famer Jen Zeuner, in a fun conversation about this iconic bike film where we discuss how Eddie got the call to be in the movie; director Hal Needham being a badass; getting knocked out; the terrifying drop into the Helltrack; wearing Lori Loughlin's pants, plus a whole lot more. RELATED LINKS: BLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredTOPICS & TIMES:How Eddie Ended up in the Movie (2:34)Is the Movie Based on Eddie's Life? (5:51)Why Was it Filmed in Canada? (11:09)Director Hal Needham (14:02)Different BMX Disciplines (17:44)3-Story-High 72º Drop-In to Helltrack (19:13)Getting Knocked Out (29:22)Mongoose (38:22)Wearing Lori Loughlin's Pants (41:43)Eddie's Most Challenging Stunts (46:14)How Much is Eddie Riding Now and Stunt History (51:03)Breaking Warren Miller's Camera (1:03:06)Eddie's Favorite Scene (1:05:10)Memorabilia (1:09:09)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30CRAFTEDOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh Air
Film Icons: Clint Eastwood / Eli Wallach & More

Fresh Air

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 47:22


The 1964 spaghetti Western A Fistful of Dollars turned Clint Eastwood into a star. He had a famous squint in his closeups, but he told Terry Gross in 1997, it wasn't necessarily character driven. "They bombed me with a bunch a lights, and you're outside and it's 90 degrees, and it's hard not to squint." We'll also hear from Eastwood's co-star in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Eli Wallach, who went on to play a bandit in several Westerns. Cultural historian Christopher Frayling tells us how the Italian director Sergio Leone broke the conventions of the Hollywood Western, and stuntman Hal Needham describes his most daring feats.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Fresh Air
Film Icons: Clint Eastwood / Eli Wallach & More

Fresh Air

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 47:22


The 1964 spaghetti Western A Fistful of Dollars turned Clint Eastwood into a star. He had a famous squint in his closeups, but he told Terry Gross in 1997, it wasn't necessarily character driven. "They bombed me with a bunch a lights, and you're outside and it's 90 degrees, and it's hard not to squint." We'll also hear from Eastwood's co-star in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Eli Wallach, who went on to play a bandit in several Westerns. Cultural historian Christopher Frayling tells us how the Italian director Sergio Leone broke the conventions of the Hollywood Western, and stuntman Hal Needham describes his most daring feats.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Galveston Unscripted | Free Guided Tour of Historic Galveston, Texas
Hurricane History and Resilient Futures: Insights with Dr. Hal Needham

Galveston Unscripted | Free Guided Tour of Historic Galveston, Texas

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 66:24 Transcription Available


Watch with subtitles on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-NqYMZiQ2WwEver wondered how hurricanes have shaped the Texas Gulf Coast and our modern-day preparedness strategies? Join us as we sit down with the legendary Dr. Hal Needham, aka Hurricane Hal, and uncover the fierce history of storms from the catastrophic 1900 Galveston hurricane to modern-day challenges. You'll gain insights into how technological advancements, such as Dan Rather's pioneering coverage during Hurricane Carla, have revolutionized hurricane tracking and how engineering marvels like Galveston's seawall have stood the test of time.Dr. Needham takes us through a fascinating journey, highlighting how historical storms have informed present-day mitigation strategies and how climate change is altering hurricane characteristics. We delve into the complex dynamics of rapidly intensifying hurricanes and the implications for evacuation plans in vulnerable areas like the Houston-Galveston corridor. Learn about the innovative Fortified Project by Smart Home America and how resilient building practices are becoming essential in combating coastal flooding.We wrap up with inspiring stories of resilience from both local and international communities, drawing lessons from extreme weather events worldwide. Dr. Needham shares his vision for Galveston's future, emphasizing the city's potential to lead in flood resiliency and technological innovation. This episode is packed with valuable information, from historical engineering feats to modern flood data analysis, ensuring you walk away with a comprehensive understanding of hurricane impacts and the forward-thinking strategies necessary for disaster preparedness. Support the Show.Galveston Unscripted Digital Market

I Remember Liking That Movie Podcast
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) Give us a Diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it quick!

I Remember Liking That Movie Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 59:12


Send us a Text Message.Our double-feature drive-in special continues with our first feature from 1977, Smokey and the Bandit. Sure this was a little before our time but we remember loving it as kids when it was rented or appeared on TV. How can this movie go wrong? It has Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, and of course, the most quotable Sheriff to ever grace the big screen, Buford T. Justice played by the late and great Jackie Gleason. Throw in a 70s Trans-AM, car chases, and stunts and we're sold. So please join us as we go back and watch the highest-grossing comedy of the 70s, Smokey and the Bandit. Do You Remember Liking This Movie?

I Remember Liking That Movie Podcast
Bonus: Smokey and the Bandit Trivia

I Remember Liking That Movie Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 14:58


Send us a Text Message.We look at Trivia from Smokey and the Bandit which includes improv lines, actors singing, and one or two wrecked Trans Ams.Do You Remember Liking This Movie?

Unsung Horrors
Death Car on the Freeway (1979)

Unsung Horrors

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 77:59


This week we celebrate the late, great Hal Needham with the closest he ever got to making a horror movie (or a giallo, depending on how you look at it). Death Car on the Freeway combines so many of the things we love including a stuntman-turned-director, feminism, and complaining about traffic. As of this recording, the film is available to watch on YouTube.Join our discord! https://discord.gg/F8WsTzE9qtFollow this podcast on Instagram and Facebook @unsunghorrors.Follow Lance on Instagram and Letterboxd @lschibiLance's shop: https://lanceschibi.bigcartel.com/Follow Erica on Letterboxd or Instagram @hexmassacreOrder The Sweetest Taboo: https://thesweetesttaboobook.bigcartel.comLogo by Cody SchibiRun and Kill Screening in New. York:  https://www.spectacletheater.com/the-sweetest-taboo-book-party-with-a-screening-of-run-and-kill-1993/The Untold Story Screening in Philly: https://dice.fm/partner/web/event/pyo7nw-the-sweetest-taboo-book-release-untold-story-screening-24th-aug-philamoca-philadelphia-tickets?dice_id=3155024&dice_channel=web&dice_tags=organic&dice_campaign=Web&dice_feature=mio_marketing&_branch_match_id=626198917703866632&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZLyUxO1UvL1S8uT00tSS0uKUlMys8vyMjMSczNT04EAI1E89wrAAAANext episode, Shawgust begins with Bloody Parrot! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDP__OTquew

Two Thumbs Down with Mike and Ryan
DC Cab (1983) and Cannonball Run II (1984)

Two Thumbs Down with Mike and Ryan

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 75:21


Buckle up as the fellas rev their engines and talk about some car movies! They discuss Joel Schumacher's DC Cab, ranging from their least favorite cabbie to the most psychotic cabbie and how much sense this movie makes (not much). Then they're onto Cannonball Run 2 to discuss Hollywood royalty Hal Needham, Dom DeLuise, and even Bobby Bersoini's orangutan.

Multiplex Overthruster
Summer of '82: Megaforce

Multiplex Overthruster

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 96:48


Though largely, and justifiably, forgotten since its release on June 25, 1982, Hal Needham's Megaforce is a truly breathtaking experience. And we don't necessarily mean “breathtaking” in a positive way. This week, Paul, Javi and — of course — Producer Brad take one for the team and come back much changed, chafed, and itching to chat through this grand guignol of gunfire, explosions and toxic masculinity. The manly men of Megaforce may live by the slogan “Deeds not words”, but so many of those deeds are duds, and we have witty, wise words of warning! It is truly one of the most mystifying films from the summer of '82, and we watched it so you don't have to.

Video Villa Entertainment
Smokey and The Bandit (1977) Movie Review | Video Villa Entertainment Podcast

Video Villa Entertainment

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 88:18


For episode 39,  we 're going eastbound and down to talk about “Smokey and The Bandit”, directed by Hal Needham. Is this action comedy from 1977 an American Classic? Find out on today's episode.If you like our content then please like, share, subscribe and give us a review. 

The VHS Strikes Back
Stroker Ace (1983)

The VHS Strikes Back

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 56:19


Chris' love for the icon Burt Reynolds seems to know no bounds, and this week he's chosen the 1983 action comedy, Stroker Ace. But is this one going to be a car chase too far? Directed by Hal Needham, known for his work in action-comedy films, and based on a novel by William Neely, the film aimed to capture the excitement and glamour of stock car racing while infusing it with humor and entertainment. Burt Reynolds, who starred as the titular character Stroker Ace, embodied the cocky yet endearing persona of the brash race car driver. The production faced challenges typical of filming high-speed action sequences and coordinating large-scale racing scenes, but Needham's experience as a former stuntman helped to overcome these obstacles. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, "Stroker Ace" achieved moderate success at the box office and remains a cult classic among fans of racing films and Reynolds' filmography. If you enjoy the show we have a Patreon, so become a supporter. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thevhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Plot Summary: When Stroker's reckless behavior causes trouble with his sponsors, he finds himself in need of a new corporate sponsor to fund his racing career. Enter Clyde Torkle a fried chicken mogul who offers Stroker a lucrative deal in exchange for promoting his brand. However, Stroker soon discovers that the arrangement comes with unexpected challenges and humiliations, including dressing up as a chicken mascot. Along the way, Stroker navigates rivalries, romantic entanglements, and outrageous stunts in his quest to reclaim his dignity and dominance on the racing circuit. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevhsstrikesback@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thevhsstrikesback/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thevhsstrikesback/support

Galveston Unscripted | VisitGalveston.com
Dr. Hal Needham Deciphers the Colorful Coastline of Galveston Island

Galveston Unscripted | VisitGalveston.com

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 6:21 Transcription Available


Explore the dynamic hues of Galveston Island's shores with Dr. Hal Needham, a local meteorologist and climate data scientist deeply connected to the island's natural science. In our conversation, learn about the natural forces behind Galveston's colorful coastline. Learn how geology and Gulf currents combine, creating a mesmerizing display. Gain insights into the geological makeup shaped by sand and rivers.Galveston Unscripted What is Galveston Unscripted?Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

The 80s Movies Podcast
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3

The 80s Movies Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 23:43


Our first episode returning from paternity leave takes us back to 1983, and one of two sequel bombs Universal made with Jackie Gleason that year, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3. ----more----   TRANSCRIPT   From Los Angeles, California, the Entertainment Capital of the World, it's The 80s Movies Podcast. I am your host, Edward Havens. Thank you for listening today.   On this episode, we'll be covering one of the oddest Part 3 movies to ever be made.   Smokey and the Bandit 3.   But before we do, I owe you, loyal listener an apology and an explanation.   Originally, this episode was supposed to be about the movies of H.B. “Toby” Halicki, who brought car chase films back to life in the mid-70s with his smash hit Gone in 60 Seconds. Part of the reason I wanted to do this episode was to highlight a filmmaker who doesn't get much love from film aficionados anymore, and part because this was the movie that literally made me the person I became. My mom was dating Toby during the making of the movie, a spent a number of days on the set as a five year old, and I even got featured in a scene. And I thought it would be fun to get my mom to open up about a part of her life after my parents' divorce that I don't remember much of.   And it turned into the discussion that made me question everything I became. Much of which I will cover when I find the courage to revisit that topic, hopefully in time for the 50th anniversary this July.   So, for now, and to kind of stick with the car theme this episode was originally going to be about, we're going to do a quick take on one of the most bizarre, and most altered, movies to ever come out of Hollywood.   As you may remember, Smokey and the Bandit was a 1977 hit film from stuntman turned director Hal Needham. Needham and Burt Reynolds has become friends in the early 1960s, and Needham would end up living in Reynolds' pool house for nearly a dozen years in the 60s and 70s. Reynolds would talk director Robert Aldrich into hiring Needham to be the 2nd unit director and stunt coordinator for the car chase scene Aldrich's 1974 classic The Longest Yard, and Reynolds would hire Needham to be his 2nd Unit Director on his own 1976 directorial debut, Gator. While on the set of Gator, the two men would talk about the movie Needham wanted to make his own directorial debut on, a low-budget B movie about a cat and mouse chase between a bootlegger and a sheriff as they tried to outwit each other across several state lines.   As a friend, Reynolds would ask Needham to read the script. The “script” was a series of hand-written notes on a legal pad. He had come up with the idea during the making of Gator, when the Teamster transportation captain brought some Coors beer to the production team. And, believe it or not, in 1975, it was illegal to sell or transport Coors beer out of states West of the Mississippi River, because the beer was not pasteurized and needed constant refrigeration.   Reynolds would read the “script,” which, according to Reynolds' 1994 autobiography My Life, was one of the worst things he had ever read. But Reynolds promised his friend that if he could get a studio involved and get a proper budget and script for the film, he would make it.   Needham would hire a series of writers to try and flesh out the notes from the legal pad into a coherent screenplay, and with a verbal commitment from Reynolds to star in it, he would soon get Universal Studios to to agree to make Smokey and the Bandit, to the tune of $5.3m. After all, Reynolds was still one of the biggest box office stars at the time, and $5.3m was small potatoes at the time, especially when Universal was spending $6.7m on the Super Bowl assassin thriller Two-Minute Warning, $9m on a bio-pic of General Douglas MacArthur, and $22m on William Friedkin's Sorcerer, an English-language version of the 1950 French novel The Wages of Fear.   Reynolds would take the lead as The Bandit, the driver of the chase car meant to distract the authorities from what the truck driver is hauling.    Jerry Reed, a country and western star, would get cast as The Snowman, the truck driver who would be hauling the Coors beer from Texarkana TX to Atlanta. Reed has only co-starred in two movies before, both starring Burt Reynolds, and even if they have almost no scenes together in the final film, their rapport on screen is obvious.   Sally Field, a television star who needed a big movie on her resume, would take the role of Carrie, the runaway bride who joins the Bandit in his chase car. Field had just completed Sybil, the dramatic television movie about a woman with multiple personality disorder, which would break Field out of the sitcom world she had been stuck in for the past decade.   Richard Boone, the star of the long-time television Western Have Gun - Will Travel, would be considered as the sheriff, Buford T. Justice, in pursuit of the Bandit throughout the movie, but Reynolds wanted some who was a bit more crazy, a bit more dangerous, and a heck of a lot funnier. And who wouldn't think of comedy legend Jackie Gleason?   Shooting on the film would begin in Georgia on August 30th, 1976, but not before some pencil pusher from Universal Studios showed up two days before the start of production to inform Needham and Reynolds that they needed to cut $1m from the budget by any means necessary. And the guys did exactly that, reducing the number of shooting locations and speaking roles.   The film would finish shooting eights weeks later, on schedule and on budget… well, on reduced budget, and when it was released in May 1977, just six days before the initial release of Star Wars, it bombed.   For some reason, Universal Studios decided the best way to open a movie about a bunch of good old boys in the South was to give it a big push at the world famous Radio City Music Hall in the heart of Manhattan, along with an hour long Rockets stage spectacular between shows.   The Radio City Music Hall could accommodate 6,000 people per show. Tickets for the whole shebang, movie and stage show, were $5, when the average ticket price in Manhattan at the time was $3.50. And in its first six days, Smokey and the Bandit grossed $125,000, which sounds amazing, until your told the cost of running Radio City Music Hall for a week, stage show and all, was $186,000. And in its second week, the gross would fall to $102,000, and to $90,000 in week three. And Universal would be locked in to Radio City for several more weeks.   But it wouldn't all bad news.   Universal quickly realized its error in opening in New York first, and rushed to book the film into 381 theatres in the South, including 70 in the Charlotte region, 78 in and around Jacksonville, 97 theatres between Oklahoma City and Dallas, another 57 between Memphis and New Orleans, and 79 in Atlanta, near many of the locations the film was shot. And in its first seven days in just those five regions, the film would gross a cool $3.8m. Along with the $102k from Radio City, the film's $3.9m gross would be the second highest in the nation, behind Star Wars. And despite bigger weekends from new openers like The Deep, The Exorcist II and A Bridge Too Far, Smokey and the Bandit would keep going and going and going, sticking around in theatres for more than two years in some areas, grossing more than $126m.   Naturally, there would be a sequel. But here's the funny part. Smokey and the Bandit II, a Universal movie, would be shot back to back with Cannonball Run, produced by the Hong Kong film company Golden Harvest as a vehicle to break their star Jackie Chan into the American market, which would also star Burt Reynolds and be directed by Hal Needham.    Filming on Smokey and the Bandit II was supposed to start in August 1979, but would be delayed until January 1980, because the film Reynolds was working on in the late summer of 1979, Rough Cut, went way over schedule.   While the budget for the sequel would be $10m, more than double the cost of the original film, the overall production was not a very pleasant experience for most involved. Needham was feeling the pressure of trying to finish the film ahead of schedule so he'd have some kind of break before starting on Cannonball Run in May 1980, because several of the other actors, including Roger Moore, were already locked into other movies after shooting completed on that film.   Burt Reynolds and Sally Field had started dating during the making of Smokey and the Bandit in 1976, and both of them signed their contracts to appear in the sequel in 1979, but by the time shooting started in 1980, the pair had broken up, and they were forced to pretend to be in love and be side by side in the Bandit's Trans Am for a couple months.   One of the few things that would go right on the film was a complex chase scene that could only be shot one time, for the end of the sequence would be the destruction of a 64 year old rollercoaster in suburban Atlanta.   They got the shot.   Needham would get a few weeks between the end of shooting Smokey and the Bandit II and the start of Cannonball Run, but the production on the latter film would be put on hold a couple times for a few days each, as Needham would have to go back to Los Angeles to supervise the editing of the former film.   Smokey and the Bandit II would make its planned August 15th, 1980 release, and would have a spectacular opening weekend, $10.8m from 1196 theatres, but would soon drop off, barely grossing half of the first film's box office take. That would still be profitable, but Needham, Reynolds and Field all nixed the idea of teaming up for a third film. Reynolds had been wanting to distance himself from his good old boy 1970s persona, Field was now an Oscar winning dramatic actress, and Needham wanted to try something different. We'll talk about that movie, Megaforce, another time.   But despite losing the interest of the main principles of the first two movies, Universal was still keen on making a third film. The first mention would be a line item in the Los Angeles Times' Calendar section on August 28th, 1981, when, within an article about the number of sequels that were about to gear up, including Grease 2 and Star Wars 3, aka Return of the Jedi, that Universal was considering a third Smokey movie as a cable television movie. In May 1982, Variety noted that the reduced budget of the film, estimated at under $5m, would not accommodate Reynolds' asking price at that time, let alone the cost of the entire production, and that the studio was looking at Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider as a possible replacement as The Bandit. In the end, it was decided that Jackie Gleason would return not only as Sheriff Buford T. Justice, but that he would also be, in several scenes, playing The Bandit as well.   Thus would begin the wild ride of the third film in the Smokey and the Bandit Cinematic Universe, Smokey IS the Bandit: Part 3.   It would take 11 different versions of the script written over the course of six months to get Gleason to sign off, because, somehow, he was given script approval before filming would begin.   Paul Williams and Pat McCormick would return for a third time as Little Enos and Big Enos, and the storyline would find the Burdette father and son making a bet with Sheriff Justice. Justice and his son Junior must deliver a big stuffed swordfish from Florida to a new seafood restaurant they are opening in Texas. If Justice can get the big stuffed swordfish from Point A to Point B in the time allotted, the Burdettes will give him $250,000, which Justice could use towards his impending retirement. If he doesn't, however, Justice will have to surrender his badge to the Burdettes, and he'd retire in disgrace.   Dick Lowry, who had been directed episodic television and TV movies for several years, including three episodes of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and the TV movie adaptation of Kenny Rogers' hit song The Gambler, would make his feature directing debut on Smokey Is the Bandit Part 3.   Production on the film would begin in Florida on October 25, 1982, and lasted two months, ending two days after Christmas, mostly in Florida.   Lowry and his team would assemble the film over the course of the next three months, before Universal held its first test screening on the studio lot in March 1983.   To say the screening was a disaster would be an understatement.   The audience didn't understand what the hell was going on here. They wondered how Justice, as The Bandit, could bed a character credited only as Blonde Bombshell, who looks at him the way women in 1982 would have looked at Burt Reynolds. They wondered why a plot twist in the very last scene was presented, that Dusty was really Big Enos's daughter, when it affected nothing in the story before or after its reveal. But, mostly, they were confused as to how one actor could play both title characters at the same time. Like, is Justice seeing himself as The Bandit, seeing himself behind the wheel of the Bandit's signature black and gold Pontiac Trans Am, and a beautiful country music DJ played by Colleen Camp as his companion, all while actually driving his signature sheriff's car with his son Junior as his constant companion?   The studio had two choices…   One, pony up a few extra million dollars to rewrite the script, and try to lure Reynolds back to play The Bandit…   Or, two, bury the movie and take the tax write off.   The second choice was quickly ruled out, as a teaser trailer for the film had already been released to theatres several weeks earlier, and there seemed to be some interest in another Smokey and the Bandit movie, even though the trailer was just Gleason, as Justice, standing in a military-style uniform, standing in front of a large America flag, and giving a speech to the camera not unlike the one George C. Scott gave at the start of the 1970 Best Picture winner, Patton. You can find a link to the teaser trailer for Smokey is the Bandit Part 3 on our website, at The80sMoviePodcast.com.   So the studio goes down to Jupiter, FL, where Reynolds had been living for years, and made him a sizable offer to play The Bandit for literally a couple of scenes. Since Gleason as Bandit only had one line in the film, and since most of the shots of Gleason as Bandit were done with wide lenses to hide that it wasn't Gleason doing any of the driving during the number of scenes involving the Trans Am and stunts, they could probably get everything they needed with Reynolds in just a day or two.   Reynolds would say “no” to that offer, but, strangely, he would agree to come back to the film, as The Bandit, for an extended sequence towards the end of the film. We'll get to that in a moment.   So with Reynolds coming back, but not in the capacity they wanted him in, the next thought was to go to Jerry Reed, the country singer and actor who had played Bandit's partner, The Snowman, in the first two films. Reed was amiable to coming aboard, but he wanted to play The Bandit. Or, more specifically, Cledus pretending to be The Bandit.   The film's screenwriters, Stuart Birnbaum and David Dashev, were called back in to do yet another rewrite. They would have only three weeks, as there was only a short window in April for the production team to get back together to do the new scenes with Reed and Colleen Camp. Dusty would go from being a country radio station DJ to a car dealership employee who literally walks off the job and into Cledus as Bandit's Trans Am. Reed's role as Cledus as Bandit was greatly expanded, and Dusty's dialogue would be altered to reflect both her new career and her time in the car with Cledus.   The reshoots would only last a few weeks, and Lowry would have a final cut ready for the film's planned August 12th theatrical release.   It is often stated, on this podcast and other sources, that in the 1980s, August was mostly the dumping ground of the studio's dogs, hoping to get a little bit of ticket sales before Labor Day, when families look at going on a vacation before the kids go back to school.   And the weekend of August 12th through 14th in 1983 was certainly one way to prove this argument.   Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 would be the second highest grossing new release that weekend, which is surprising in part because it would have a smaller percentage of prints out in the market compared to its competition, 498 prints, almost exclusively in the southern US. The bad news is that the film would barely make it into the Top Ten that weekend. Cujo, the adaptation of the 1981 Stephen King novel, would be the highest grossing new opener that weekend, grossing $6.11m, barely missing the top spot, which was held for a third week by the Chevy Chase film Vacation, which had earned $6.16m. Risky Business, which was making its young lead actor Tom Cruise a movie star, would take third place, with $4.58m. Then there was Return of the Jedi, which had been out three months by this point, the Sylvester Stallone-directed Saturday Night Fever sequel Staying Alive, the Eddie Murphy/Dan Aykroyd comedy Trading Places, the god-awful Jaws 3-D, WarGames and Krull, which all had been out for three to eleven weeks by now, all grossing more than Smokey and the Bandit 3, with $1.73m in ticket sales.   Having it much worse was The Curse of the Pink Panther, Blake Edwards' attempt to reboot the Inspector Clouseau series with a new American character who may or may not have been the illegitimate son of Clouseau, which grossed an anemic $1.64m from 812 theatres. And then there was The Man Who Wasn't There, the 3-D comedy featuring Steve Guttenberg that was little more than a jumbled copy of Foul Play and North by Northwest that arrived too late in theatres to ride the now-dead stereoptic movie craze, which took in $1.38m from 980 theatres.   In its second week, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 would only lose five screens, but lose 52% of its opening weekend audience, bringing in just $830k that weekend.   Week three would see the film lose nearly 300 screens, bringing in just $218k.   Week four was Labor Day weekend itself, with its extra day of ticket sales, and you'd think Universal would just cut and run since the film was not doing great with audiences or critics. Yet, they would expand the film back to 460 theatres, including 47 theatres in the greater Los Angeles metro area. The gambit worked a little bit, with the film bringing in $1.3m during the extended holiday weekend, bringing the film's four week total gross to $5.02m.   And it would slowly limp along for a few more weeks, mostly in dollar houses, but Universal would stop tracking it after its fifth weekend in theatres, giving the film a final box office total of $5,678,950.   Oh, I almost forgot about Burt Reynolds. Burt did film his scene, a four minute or so cameo towards the end of the film, where Justice finally catches up to Cledus as The Bandit, but in Justice's mind's eye, he sees Cledus as Burt as The Bandit, where Burt as The Bandit does nothing more than half-ass read off his lines while sitting behind the wheel of the Trans Am.   I watched the movie on Paramount Plus back in January, when I originally planned on recording this episode. But it's no longer available on Paramount Plus. Nor is it available on Peacock, which is owned and operated by Universal, and where the film was once available. In May 2024, the only way to see Smokey and the Bandit is on long out-of-print low quality DVDs and Blu-Rays. JustWatch.com says the film is available on Apple TVs Showtime channel, but I can't find any Showtime channel on Apple TV, nor can I find the movie doing a simple search on Apple TV. The first two are on Apple TV, as part of the AMC+ channel. It's all so darn complicated.   But like I said, I watched it for the first and probably last time earlier this year. And, truth be told, it's not a totally painful film. It's not a good film in any way, shape or form, but what little good there is in it, it's thanks to Colleen Camp, who was not only gorgeous but had an amazing sense of comic timing. Anyway who saw her as Yvette the Maid in the 1985 comedy Clue already knows that.    Like a handful of film buffs and historians, I am still wildly interested in seeing the original cut of the film after more than forty years. If Universal can put out three different versions of Orson Welles' Touch of Evil, including a preview cut that was taken away from Welles and re-edited without his consent, in the same set, certainly they can release both versions of Smokey and the Bandit Part 3. But let's face facts. Dick Lowry is no Orson Welles, and there is practically zero calls for this kind of special treatment for the film.   I just find it odd that in this day and age, the only thing that's escaped from the original version of the film after all this time is a single image of Gleason as The Bandit, which you can find on this episode's page at our website.   Thank you for joining us. We'll talk again soon.   Remember to visit this episode's page on our website, The80sMoviePodcast.com, for extra materials about Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, including links to Smokey and the Bandit fan sites that have their own wealth of materials relating to the movie, and a video on YouTube that shows about 20mins of deleted and alternate scenes used in the television version of the movie, which may include an additional shot from the original movie that shows Dusty riding in the back of Big Enos's red Cadillac convertible.   The 80s Movies Podcast has been researched, written, narrated and edited by Edward Havens for Idiosyncratic Entertainment.   Thank you again.   Good night.

BEHIND THE STUNTS
ROUGH CUT & STICK

BEHIND THE STUNTS

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 9:08


Back in the world of Burt Reynolds for two very different outings. One where he plays the suave millionaire playboy and the other where he plays a father trying to make many bad decisions go his way.Action provided by VIC ARMSTRONG and HAL NEEDHAM in Rough Cut and by GLENN WILDER and DAR ROBINSON in Stick.EnjoyIf you've enjoyed this episode then why not follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the following linkhttps://linktr.ee/behindthestunts

The Schlock and Awe Podcast
S&A 164 Burting on Burt: Smokey and the Bandit & The Train W/ Andy and Preston

The Schlock and Awe Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024 193:22


This week on S&A Lindsay is joined by Preston Mitchell and Andy Gorham. As they hitch a ride and try to be Burt. Burt Reynolds & Burt Lancaster. This is an all Burt Double with Hal Needham's Smokey & the Bandit (1977) & John Frankenheimer's The Train (1964) This is Burt as Action and Movie Star, and how both wield their cultural identities. Listen to Schlock & Awe on your favourite Podcast App

Ol' Dirty Basement
V.C.R. Presents: Rad (1986)

Ol' Dirty Basement

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 71:55 Transcription Available


Strap in for a nostalgia-fueled adventure as Hock, Matt, Zap, and I spin the cranks of memory lane to revisit an '80s BMX marvel, "Rad." It's more than a movie review—it's a rad reunion as we recall the thrills of Rad Day, chuckle over the film's box office faceplant, and honor the fearless direction of Hal Needham. From the peculiar leaf-painting antics in Canada to the star-studded cast, this episode promises to deliver a whirlwind tour through the quirks and charms that cement this flick in cult classic territory.Remember the rush of executing your first BMX trick? We do! Join us as we dissect the very fibers of '80s BMX and skateboarding films, complete with high-flying stunts and those unmistakable fashion faux pas. We peel back the layers of "Rad," discussing the characters and the storyline that left us rooting for the underdog. Throughout our jaunt, we sprinkle in personal bike tales and throw some shade at the hilarious stunt double snafus that were all too common in the films of the day.To cap it off, we wax poetic about the vintage bikes that once ruled our world, from the legendary GT Mach One to the elusive Hutch Trickstar. Our trip down this retro road is littered with reflections on the fading sight of kids shredding on BMX bikes and ramps, and we muse over the collector's gold mine these bikes have become. So, grab your Ol' Dirty Basement pad, and let's share in these two-wheeled memories together. And hey, don't forget to ride this wave of nostalgia over to our social channels – we're always down to hear your tales from the BMX tracks and skate parks of yesteryear.Support the showSounds:https://freesound.org/people/frodeims/sounds/666222/ Door openinghttps://freesound.org/people/Sami_Hiltunen/sounds/527187/ Eerie intro music https://freesound.org/people/jack126guy/sounds/361346/ Slot machinehttps://freesound.org/people/Zott820/sounds/209578/ Cash registerhttps://freesound.org/people/Exchanger/sounds/415504/ Fun Facts Jingle Thanks to The Tsunami Experiment for the theme music!!Check them out hereSUPPORT US AT https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984311/supporters/newMERCH STORE https://ol-dirty-basement.creator-spring.comFind us at the following https://oldirtybasement.buzzsprout.com WEBSITE ...

The Ry Cooder Story
19 Streets of Fire (1984)

The Ry Cooder Story

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 47:27


There were a lot of what-ifs when it came to the score for 1984's Streets of Fire. After rejecting James Horner's compositions, director Walter Hill had a movie that had no music. Cooder, on the other hand, had music that had no movie! His score for Stroker Ace had been rejected by director Hal Needham. So it was a stroke of luck for both of them. Hill's ultra-artificial "rock & roll fable" may have bombed at the box office at the time, but four decades later the movie has long since received the recognition it deserves. It's a masterful cult classic with a fantastic Cooder score.This podcast frequently uses small snippets of musical recordings in podcast episodes for educational, review, and commentary purposes. In all cases, without exception, we believe this is protected by fair use in the U.S., fair dealing in the U.K. and EEA, and similar exceptions in the copyright laws of other nations. No more of the original than necessary is used, and excerpts are edited into long-form narratives, making the use transformative in nature.Written, produced and edited by Frank SchnelleTheme and background music by Chris HaugenFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTubeThe Ry Cooder Story WebsiteSupport us on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BEHIND THE STUNTS
WHITE LIGHTNING & GATOR

BEHIND THE STUNTS

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 12:11


A Burt Reynolds double bill is always an essential. Here we see him playing Gator McClusky in White Lightning in 1973 and again in Gator in 1976. Its another fine example of Burt working with long term friend and stuntman HAL NEEDHAM.Hal always wanted to push the boundaries and occasionally it didn't always go according to plan....as you'll find out here.If you've enjoyed this episode then why not follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the following linkhttps://linktr.ee/behindthestunts

I Know Movies and You Don't w/ Kyle Bruehl
Season 10: Dealer's Choice - Rad (Episode 20)

I Know Movies and You Don't w/ Kyle Bruehl

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 105:47


In the twentieth episode of Season 10: Dealer's Choice, Kyle is joined for a one-on-one conversation with fellow podcaster Zax Protzmann to discuss the wondrous 80s nostalgia and inadvertently hilarious underdog sports movie that makes up the earnest fabric of character, community, and competition in Hal Needham's Rad (1986).

The Film That Blew My Mind
Jared Hess on Rad

The Film That Blew My Mind

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 42:49


Twenty years ago, one of the most indelible movie characters of recent decades was born when Napoleon Dynamite premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. From Vote for Pedro T-shirts to the pet llama Tina (aka: “Fat Lard”) and a seriously iconic dance number, Napoleon Dynamite has earned a top slot in the pop culture canon of the 21st century. This week, Cooper and Tabitha speak with Jared Hess who, together with his co-writer and wife Jerusha Hess, is the force behind Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre (co-written with Mike White), Masterminds, and more. Jared shares his deep love for Hal Needham's Rad (1988), a classic ‘80's teen flick about competitive BMX racing and a bike battle between local kids and the professional riders who come to town. We learn a bit about director Hal Needham, the highest paid stunt double of his time who directed action-packed classics like Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and The Cannonball Run (1981). Plus, how Rad's soundtrack featuring The Sparks, opening sequence cinematography by Robert Schwartzman, and a curious activity dubbed “ass-sliding” make this a feel-good sports movie for kids of any generation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Classic American Movies
Ep. 46 - Hooper

Classic American Movies

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 71:42


We're kicking the new year off with the movie that has explosions, stunts on stunts and as much fun as you would expect from Hall Needham and Burt Reynolds in the late 70's!Friend of mine and fan of the pod, Cole was talking to me one day and was looking for a film recommendation. I asked what kinds of movies he liked. Action comedies with killer stunts ( I mean who doesn't love that?) came up. You can't go much further then the classic “Hooper” with a wonderful love letter to the stunt and film world from the legend himself, Hal Needham, when he and Burt Reynolds were at the height of their powers. So I brought Cole on the show to talk about it. Turns out he's a huge Jan Micheal Vincent fan, so not only was this such a treat to watch, but a blast to research. If you're not doing so already, check out Classic American Movies on Facebook and Instagram. I do appreciation posts, free movie giveaways and more!

Cinema Smorgasbord
Episode 198 – We Do Our Own Stunts – The Cannonball Run (1981)

Cinema Smorgasbord

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 63:35


Jackie Chan ends his first American excursion on this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS with Hal Needham's star-studded 1981 cross country race movie THE CANNONBALL RUN, where he plays a Japanese (?) race car driver who watches porn in his futuristic vehicle and also kicks the hell out of Peter Fonda for some reason. He's racing against a who's who of early 80s celebs, including - of course - Burt Reynolds and (Liam O'Donnell favorite) Dom DeLuise, as well as Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Jamie Farr, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Adrienne Barbeau and SO MANY MORE. It's wild! We also chat about the latest Jackie Chan news and discuss Jackie's experience making the film (spoiler: it wasn't great) so CHECK US OUT!  The post Episode 198 – We Do Our Own Stunts – The Cannonball Run (1981) first appeared on Cinema Smorgasbord.

The Kibbe and Friends Show
K&F Show #275: Post Race Season Blues and SEMA 2023 Preview; Movie Review “Cannonball Run”

The Kibbe and Friends Show

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 81:11


Presented with Holley!  Christmas is just around the corner.....and Santa is making his list and checking it twice. But lets be honest; do you really want to leave this one up to St. Nick? He's a nice enough guy of course, but at this point he's trying to help every kid on the planet while simultaneously not having to pay gift tax to the Feds on all of it. The IRS will get everyone, brother! Do yourself and SC a favor, just visit www.holley.com and signup for a chance to win what you really want; a Sniper 2 EFI Master Kit!! Here's the link you need, and be sure to tell them that we sent you! https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/fuel_injection/sniper_efi/sniper_4-barrel_systems/sniper_2/ K&F Show Summary:  K&F Show Summary: This mid-month episode features a "re-run" of our movie review of Cannonball Run from Episode 85 of the Kibbe and Finnegan Show. Call us lazy, but it's comedy gold. It also kept us from working too hard this week. Or at all. Enjoy.  This show features our review of the movie Cannonball Run, but it's really more of a tribute to the late great Burt Reynolds who passed away a few years ago. We loved Burt's crazy car movies and Cannonball Run was as zany as it ever got. The premise and screen play were a credit to automotive journalist Brock Yates (who makes a cameo in this movie), and then Burt, Dom DeLuise, and Hal Needham took of from there. Alter ego superheroes, cross-eyed proctologists, inappropriate humor (by today's standards) and ambulances with straight headers are all you need to know. Thanks for the fun, Burt! K& Rating: 9.5 CornDogs. National Parts Depot Presents: Bernie on the News! https://www.npdlink.com. Patreon Peeps, the year 2023 will be an important one for Patreon specifically, and if you'd consider jumping up to the $5 level it would sure help. The $10 level will remain and we now have a brand new $20 level as well! All members who join at that level will receive a sticker swag pack in the mail, you'll be IMMEDIATELY entered in the monthly prize grab, and you'll receive a phone call from one (or all) of us to chat up whatever you want for 30 minutes!  Thank you SO MUCH to those of you who have joined in for the extra content that is only for Patreon supporters. To get in on the action and support the show with a minor financial contribution just click the link below to sign up. http://www.patreon.com/kfshow.  Check out the brand new KF Show Shirt! It's the CNH 320 Edition: https://teechip.com/themusclecarplace. The post K&F Show #275: Post Race Season Blues and SEMA 2023 Preview; Movie Review “Cannonball Run” first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

HURRICANE CENTER
S4: Episode 15 - 1900 Galveston Storm: New Perspectives

HURRICANE CENTER

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 53:16


Dr. Laura Myers, Dr. Hal Needham and Bill Read discuss this historic storm in terms of today.Support the showSuggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.comVisit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.comThanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

Living for the Cinema
HOOPER (1978)

Living for the Cinema

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 15:52 Transcription Available


Once Upon a Time back in the 1970's, there was NO bigger star in the world than Burton Leon Reynolds from Lansing, MI.....known to most as Burt Reynolds.  The late great Burt stars as the eponymous Hooper who is considered by many to be "The Greatest Stuntman Alive!"  Hooper LOVES his job and is loving the work on his latest picture - only years of punishment on his body is starting to take its toll so Hooper is starting to wonder how many years he has left in this trade which his girlfriend (Sally Field) is also starting to worry about.  That and a hot new stuntman (Jan Michael Vincent) has emerged  providing some competition.  And what results is a rip-roaring action comedy/drama filled loads of impressive stunts which was directed by stuntman extraordinaire Hal Needham who had also directed Reynolds the year before in the smash hit Smokey & the Bandit.   Host: Geoff Gershon Editors: Geoff and Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershonhttps://livingforthecinema.com/ https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

VIA VHS Podcast
Stroker Ace - Rewind Review

VIA VHS Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 52:29


In this episode of VIA VHS Rewind Review, we look back at the 1983 Burt Reynolds Comedy/Nascar film, Stroker Ace. It's the later years of the Burt Reynolds era and his star power is starting to wane. Instead of taking the role of Garrett Breedlove in Terms of Endearment (a role that won Jack Nicholson an Academy Award) Burt decided to opt against evolving his career and instead agreed to another formulaic Hal Needham car movie. This was not a smart idea as Stroker Ace was poorly received by critics and by the box office, opening at 8th place against the likes of films like WarGames, Trading Places and Return of the Jedi. A far cry from Smokey and the Bandit who was only out grossed in 1977 by the original Star Wars. But is Stroker Ace a film that was just outdated and not fairly viewed by fans and critics. Would it have been a bigger hit if released at the height of Burt Reynolds fame? Wes and Spencer give their thoughts on a film that's so American that Burt Reynolds and Dale Earnhardt share the screen. Find more VIA VHS content here: https://linktr.ee/viavhs Also, find Spencer's Old Man Orange podcast as well as his comic Pizza Boyz here: https://linktr.ee/oldmanorange

A decade under the influence
Movie Review #36 - The Anderson Tapes - Glass House - Oh Lucky Man - Scott Joplin - Coma - Hooper

A decade under the influence

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 106:41


Film reviews, shmilm reviews! I've gotta catch up on these film reviews. Hi friends today we have a podcast available for you to listen to and perhaps even enjoy where we review 6 movies from the 70's. If yer curious about them we will give you some insights and maybe spoil a lil bit of a 40 to 50 year old plus film. I don't think we will do any real enjoyment damage though, I dunno, tell me different. Also if you like any of these films, you get some nice new content about it, thus strengthening our great shared experience of life. Ok, we begin today with Sidney Lumet's (The Anderson Tapes 1971) I can tell you that at the very least it represents trippy early 70's filming very well. Next we review (Glass House 1972) where Captain Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye' Pierce, finds himself in a very serious 70's prison movie. Onward cinephiles to (Oh Lucky Man 73) which according to Henry Rollins in his fun book, Get in the van is one of Sham 69 vocalists Jimmy Pursey's favorite films. We split a lil on this one, oh what fun. When researching wiki for the spelling of Jimmy's last name I noticed they once had a drummer called Danny fury that is NOT the same drummer as the Avengers Danny Furious, wow. Back to review list info with (Scott Joplin 1977) Here we have usually non period piece director Jeremy Kagan giving us a period piece about the greatest ragtime performer of all time. Sounded way worse than it was, though V said it didn't capture his life well enough. Would you like to know more? Second to last we have (Coma 1978) O.G. Janeway and the alligator boots guy from romancing the stone star in this good but barely sci fi thriller that we figure out is perhaps not as cool as just looking at the poster makes you think it is. It does of course make it one of the greatest movie posters of all time. Finally today yer decade under the influence crew will review (Hooper 1978). This one was fun to research, I had no idea how perfect it was for (RAD 1986) movie director Hal Needham to direct this film about stunt peeps. Jan Michael Vincent, the guy from boogie nights, and sybil drink and f shit up magically in this, enjoy. Thanks for listening.

ReconCinemation
Megaforce

ReconCinemation

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 90:59


It's the SEASON 6 PREMIERE and the ReconCinemation team is kicking it off with a doozy! Joined by new special guest co-host writer/director Michael Lander, the team unites to look back at the epic that was Hal Needham's MEGAFORCE! The gang discuss how this unique film came to be, Golden Harvest's financial investment, the Hal Needham run from the late 70s through the early 80s, the casting of Barry Bostwick, and many, many points about the "plot." Plus, early memories of the film, the marketing tie-ins, what could have been, Henry Silva, flying motorcycles, thumb kisses, tight lycra suits & so much more!   Deeds not words... it's MEGAFORCE!   Twitter/IG: @reconcinemation facebook.com/reconcinemation Cover and Episode Art by Curtis Moore (IG: curt986) Theme by E.K. Wimmer (ekwimmer.com)

The Movie Loft Podcast

Let's do some sweet ass sliding through this BMX classic called RAD. A 1986 right of passage for those who had the passion for all things wheels. Once you retired those primitive four-wheeled strap-ons, it was time to go wheels up on a skateboard or BMX bike. In the off chance that you still had all your own teeth, you were probably allowed to experience all 3 of these cultural phenomenons at close range. If not, stand back and pump up the riders cru-ising by. We have a young Lori Laughlin improbably paired with the least capable looking BMX rider I've ever laid eyes on, Bill Allen. As well as an obligatory 1980s gymnast (unusually cast as an antagonist) as actor, Bart Connor. And last but not least, Bart's lackeys, a set or complete weirdo twins, Rex and Rod. I don't know why I'm writing a summary that may make you avoid this classic. I myself can't stop watching it. 

Mazan Movie Club
"Smokey and the Bandit" MMC

Mazan Movie Club

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2023 70:34


We go eastbound and down to get Hal Needham's 70's romp "SMokey and the Bandit' on the podcast. Comic Richard Stein jons host and Comedian Steve Mazan to discuss all the frogs, fun, and fuzz.  Is this a good movie? Was Needham ever able to replicate it? Was Jerry Reed a better singer or actor? Did Fred steal the show? How great is the music? Did you own a CB? All these questiosn and more get answered on thsi week's Mazan Movie Club Podcast.  "Smokey" on IMDb  Home of the Mazan Movie Club Steve Mazan on Instagram Home of Corporate Comedian Steve Mazan

Not a Bomb
Episode 144 - Megaforce

Not a Bomb

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023


Welcome back to another exciting episode of Not A Bomb. This is the podcast where we go back and reexamine some of the biggest bombs in cinematic history and see if they deserve a second chance. On this week's episode, the guys are joined by Sammy from the GGTMC and Jose from Watch/Skip+ to discuss a big box office bomb from 1982, Megaforce. Directed by stuntman legend Hal Needham, Megaforce is best known for explosions, Barry Bostwick's hair, liberal use of ascots, and cringeworthy representation of women in the workplace. Released in a crowded market, Megaforce was quickly dropped from theaters but has since earned a cult following. Oh yeah, and Henry Silva is in this film doing what he does best…being Henry Silva!Timestamps: Intro - (0:40), Box Office Results and Critical Response - (4:24), Behind the Camera - (8:20), In Front of the Camera - (29:15), Production and Development - (42:49), Commerical Break - (52:11), Megaforce Discussion - (53:59), Is it a Bomb? - (100:37), and Outro - (120:39)Megaforce is directed by Hal Needham and stars Barry Bostwick, Michael Beck, Persis Khambatta, Edward Mulhare, George Furth, and Henry Silva. Be sure to subscribe to the Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema to hear more of Sammy. Also, check out Jose's podcast - Watch/Skip+ • A podcast on Anchor. Both are highly recommended.If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.Cast: Brad, Troy, Jose, Sammy

The Dale Jr. Download - Dirty Mo Media
387 - Phil Parsons: A Family Tradition

The Dale Jr. Download - Dirty Mo Media

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 188:21 Very Popular


Phil Parsons has done it all. From being the little brother of a NASCAR Legend, a racer, a team owner and a broadcaster, the only thing he hadn't done was come to the Bojangles Studio to sit down with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Until now. On his 65th birthday, Parsons sits down with Dale Jr. and Mike Davis about his fascinating life. All he wanted to do is race. Plain and simple. From the age of five, watching his brother Benny in daring Figure-8 races through his older brother's monumental ascension through the sport, little brother just wanted to drive. When he got his shot, it didn't come easy. He took a Vega and some infrequent opportunities and made the most of them by winning races in NASCAR's Baby Grand Series, which was to become the Dash Series. He won at places like Hickory Motor Speedway, Caraway Speedway, North Wilkesboro and Nashville. It's a period of Parsons' story not often talked about and a time that Dale Jr. came to the table with curiosity about. Parsons' racing career hit rock bottom, when family money and opportunity ran dry. So, he humbly went to Humpy Wheeler for help. The advice led him to a "real job" working with Travis Carter on Hal Needham and Burt Reynold's Skoal Bandit team. The team's drivers were stuntman Stan Barrett and the legendary Harry Gant. The job created a relationship with U.S. Tobacco which blossomed into funding for his own chances back behind the wheel. The sponsorship sent Parsons on a course for Cup. At first, he was just trying to stick in NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman ranks (now known as the Xfinity Series). His rookie season produced success and an opportunity the next year with the Skoal Bandit team in NASCAR's Cup Series. Parsons is well known for a massive crash he experienced at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama which sent his racecar tumbling violently on the high-banks. He details the wreck from his vantage point and the pain it produced. Phil also experienced the jubilation of winning in NASCAR's elite series, when he captured a win, five years after his flip, at Talladega. He explains the Zen of having the perfect car that day and matching it with perfect strategy and drive. At the end of the 1989 season Phil elected to have cataract surgery. After the successful procedure, Parsons started in his next big opportunity, for the powerful Morgan McClure Racing team. But, only three races into his tenure with the team, he got a call saying that the team was going in a different direction. Phil opens up about taking that phone call and the decision that ultimately cut the growth of his Cup career. Parson's also reveals how false rumors about his eyesight then hindered potential chances in Cup. His decision to return the Xfinity Series was a family matter. He details the choice and how he built part-two of his racing career. Parsons goes into detail about his brother Benny and the wild repair job that netted him the 1973 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. He also talks about Benny's role as a television broadcaster and how his legacy lives on. Phil too followed in Benny's footsteps with a successful television career of his own, to which he still enjoys to this day. DIRTY AIR Before Parsons joins the show, Dale, Mike, Hannah and Matthew talk about: Dale and Amy's wild commercial travel adventures and their trip to France. The upcoming live DJD show at Nashville's Ole Red. Jeremy Mayfield and others winning after being on the show. The sport needing more short-track style road courses.   ASKJR presented by Xfinity The fan questions came rolling in about: What songs pump up Dale Jr. Road Course suggestions like running a green Sonoma or The Boot at the Glen! Dale Jr driving a V8 Supercar. Dale Jr. asked to Le Mans for Garage 56? and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dale Jr. Download - Dirty Mo Media
387 - Phil Parsons: A Family Tradition

The Dale Jr. Download - Dirty Mo Media

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 182:21


Phil Parsons has done it all. From being the little brother of a NASCAR Legend, a racer, a team owner and a broadcaster, the only thing he hadn't done was come to the Bojangles Studio to sit down with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Until now. On his 65th birthday, Parsons sits down with Dale Jr. and Mike Davis about his fascinating life.All he wanted to do is race. Plain and simple. From the age of five, watching his brother Benny in daring Figure-8 races through his older brother's monumental ascension through the sport, little brother just wanted to drive. When he got his shot, it didn't come easy. He took a Vega and some infrequent opportunities and made the most of them by winning races in NASCAR's Baby Grand Series, which was to become the Dash Series. He won at places like Hickory Motor Speedway, Caraway Speedway, North Wilkesboro and Nashville. It's a period of Parsons' story not often talked about and a time that Dale Jr. came to the table with curiosity about.Parsons' racing career hit rock bottom, when family money and opportunity ran dry. So, he humbly went to Humpy Wheeler for help. The advice led him to a "real job" working with Travis Carter on Hal Needham and Burt Reynold's Skoal Bandit team. The team's drivers were stuntman Stan Barrett and the legendary Harry Gant. The job created a relationship with U.S. Tobacco which blossomed into funding for his own chances back behind the wheel. The sponsorship sent Parsons on a course for Cup. At first, he was just trying to stick in NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman ranks (now known as the Xfinity Series). His rookie season produced success and an opportunity the next year with the Skoal Bandit team in NASCAR's Cup Series.Parsons is well known for a massive crash he experienced at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama which sent his racecar tumbling violently on the high-banks. He details the wreck from his vantage point and the pain it produced. Phil also experienced the jubilation of winning in NASCAR's elite series, when he captured a win, five years after his flip, at Talladega. He explains the Zen of having the perfect car that day and matching it with perfect strategy and drive.At the end of the 1989 season Phil elected to have cataract surgery. After the successful procedure, Parsons started in his next big opportunity, for the powerful Morgan McClure Racing team. But, only three races into his tenure with the team, he got a call saying that the team was going in a different direction. Phil opens up about taking that phone call and the decision that ultimately cut the growth of his Cup career. Parson's also reveals how false rumors about his eyesight then hindered potential chances in Cup.His decision to return the Xfinity Series was a family matter. He details the choice and how he built part-two of his racing career.Parsons goes into detail about his brother Benny and the wild repair job that netted him the 1973 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. He also talks about Benny's role as a television broadcaster and how his legacy lives on. Phil too followed in Benny's footsteps with a successful television career of his own, to which he still enjoys to this day.DIRTY AIR Before Parsons joins the show, Dale, Mike, Hannah and Matthew talk about: Dale and Amy's wild commercial travel adventures and their trip to France. The upcoming live DJD show at Nashville's Ole Red. Jeremy Mayfield and others winning after being on the show. The sport needing more short-track style road courses.  ASKJR presented by XfinityThe fan questions came rolling in about: What songs pump up Dale Jr. Road Course suggestions like running a green Sonoma or The Boot at the Glen! Dale Jr driving a V8 Supercar. Dale Jr. asked to Le Mans for Garage 56? and more To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices