The mid-70s brought some documentary series devoted to disasters of various kinds and degrees.
Mobil Oil had mounted a series of shows under the Mobil Showcase umbrella, and among these shows was When Havoc Struck. I cannot recall the frequency of these programs, as there isn't an entry to be found on Wikipedia, for example.
What we do know is that actor Glenn Ford, whose two previous series, Cade's County (1971) and The Family Holvak (1973-4), each were cancelled after 1 season, served as host and narrator. Right now, let's go back to 1978 as Ford tells the story of Hurricane Camille.
Rating: B.
I actually remember this show! I especially remember the lady telling her family via TV that she was fine after Camille struck.
ReplyDeleteThis show also ran famous hi-rise fires and other disasters up to that point. For a while I was addicted to it - it was fascinating but scary to my young eyes. Of course today, "Mega Disasters" shows a CGI version of the worst of the worst that MIGHT happen (volcanic eruptions the size of Krakatoa, meteors crashing into Earth, etc.).
My folks would watch this when it first came out. Same with another Mobil show, Ten Who Dared. Too bad it ain't out on DVD.
ReplyDeleteA contemporary ad in an issue of the trade publication Broadcasting describes the show as a "12-week TV series", starting on January 11, 1978.
ReplyDeleteThanks. So it was a short-term series, same as Ten Who Dared. No surprise.
ReplyDeleteScariest incidental music sting in all 70s television! Freaked the bejaysus out of me as a kid...not anymore of course, ahem...
ReplyDeleteReally glad that this has started turning up online at last after so many years of looking, but I wish someone had seen the point of a DVD release.
I feel the same way. It could still be a good teaching tool in schools.
ReplyDeleteI would get home from school at15 years old and couldn't wait to watch this show.my favorite of all time.
ReplyDeleteI turned 15 shortly after the series began, so I get you.
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