For those of you collecting social security, and others who envy our wisdom, I give you a link to the classic show from 1969. The opening two minutes, with Bronson crossing the Bixby Creek Bridge is very cool:
As Mad Magazine said in their "Then Can Bombson" parody, they took a pretty good show about two guys traveling around in a Corvette (Route 66), cut it in half and came up with a show about half as good. Didn't Michael Parks sing a song at some point during each episode? If I was less lazy would look this up but think he had a later life boost in Tarantino movies.
As Mad Magazine said in their "Then Can Bombson" parody, they took a pretty good show about two guys traveling around in a Corvette (Route 66), cut it in half and came up with a show about half as good.
Never been a Harley owner but committed Harley people I know say AMF was worst period for Harley Davidson. And while a short Google search suggests this show led to people thinking bikes were OK, am not sure. I have a 2002 955i Daytona and more often then you would think get disparaging stares from people. Despite grey hair (when helmet is off) and generally conservative riding. Meaning am not exactly a rebel outlaw endangering 4 wheel motorists. But will also say the show was a part of my taking up motorcycles back in the day.
More than leading people to think bikes were OK Then Came Bronson did a lot to calm HD owners and the workers at he York, PA factory after the AMF takeover and did result in increased Sportster sales.
I have only seen the pilot show but I enjoyed it. No more campy than anything else from the late 60's and I enjoy a show with a motorcycle as the main character.
I was just a young kid but that was a show that has stuck in my head over all the years. I loved it and we young guys would talk about it in grade school after a showing the night before. I liked it and I think it had a lot to do with my motorcycle interest that I have had my entire life.
I remember being interested in the decal displayed on the Sportster's tank- the eye within a pyramid, and found this on the 'net:
"The Eye of Providence (or the all-seeing eye of God) is a symbol, having its origin in Christian iconography, showing an eye often surrounded by rays of light or a glory and usually enclosed by a triangle. It represents the eye of God watching over humanity (the concept of divine providence)."
The vibe Bronson seemed to put out being one of benevolence, much like David Carradine's character on "Kung Fu", and to some extent, Wyatt- "Captain America" in Easy Rider..
That show had a deep effect on my view of motorcycling. But I was always musing about how he could get that thing from one town to another on the open highway without running out of gas. I suspect my daydreaming about riding off into the sunrise is deeply linked to this show though. ...J.D.
There were several road shows back then like Bronson - Route 66, two guys in a Corvette on the road with no visible source of income, Moving On, two guys driving an 18-wheeler on the road but never seem to have any cargo and hence no visible source of income, Run For Your Life, guy with terminal cancer on the road with no visible source of income, the Fugitive, guy on the run from the law on the road with no visible source of income...
Those realities would totally ruin the escapist nature of those shows.
I was a Bronson like character in my 20's. Worked as a waiter or fisherman on Cape Cod summers, lived on leftovers out of the back of my truck in a friends driveway - and saved up enough to ride cross country for 4 months.
Wouldn't be much glamour in a show about how Bronson acquired his "visible source of income" for his adventures.
I was a Bronson like character in my 20's. Worked as a waiter or fisherman on Cape Cod summers, lived on leftovers out of the back of my truck in a friends driveway - and saved up enough to ride cross country for 4 months.
Remember this show? It was from about the same era. Both dirt bags and doctors were riding cool bikes on TV in the early 70's. These types of shows are what got a lot of us interested in riding.
I got to admit,.I have this reoccurring daydream of being single, unattached and taking my old America and hitting the road. It will never happen. I have a wife who will probably out live me by at least a decade. I have grown kids, one of which I'll call "mighty-mouse" who would send out a search party..(She is one of those first-responder people, and drives me crazy) So...I just keep my dream to myself. I watched too much Bronson back in the day. I really like the idea though. ...J.D.
I cant believe I watched the whole thing. Great line by Keenan Wynn to Bronson - "You're just like me, except you never found a reason to stop."
Thanks for that, it was fun,
I always wanted to do the Bronson thing. So, in 2000, at 52, I took 3 1/2 weeks off, hopped on my Yamaha Royal Star Tour Classic II and hit the road. Went across the country, up into Canada. Over 7000 miles. I had no plans. Just stopped where ever. Drank whatever. Met people, whatever. Saw lots of stuff. Froze and baked. Slept wherever. My now ex-wife gave me the freedom to explore. I'll always be thankful for that. I'm glad I survived it. I got back and had a triple bypass and barely avoided a fatal heart attack. Can you imagine, dropping dead on the dream trip of your life! It started with Bronson and Easy Rider. Still riding after all these years, albeit on a small sporty.
I did the "Bronson thing" in 1966 before he did on my brand new Triumph T120C... after the light kit showed up and again in 1971 on a Kawasaki H1. Oh, to be young again made of stainless steel and rubber.
I have that version on DVD. That is the pilot episode. Definitely a bonus.
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