David Soul died on the 4th January. I was really really sad. I loved David Soul back in the day as I'm sure a few of you did as well.
My childhood divides neatly into the 1960's and the 70's. In the latter half of the 70's a few TV shows defined the decade and Starsky and Hutch was one of them. The two handsome and super-cool Californian detectives burst onto our screens in the UK on Saturday April 23rd, 1976 [Kojak aired in the UK two years earlier in 1974].
Yep, what a year! first Starsky and Hutch and then that long hot Indian summer. For a while it seemed like Califiornia itself here in drab old Britain!
David Soul became an overnight star in 1976. In the same year he had a number 1 single too, Don't Give Up On Us. This guy could sing as well as jump across cars! I remember mates and me singing Don't Put Your Foot on the Baby for some daft reason at the time. Soul was a talent and with his buddy Mike Glazer they were suddenly pinned up high on bedroom walls allover the country, if not the world!
I think I was too old for pop star posters in '76, turning 17 that Christmas [I had a huge black and white poster of Karloff's Frankenstein over my bed!] but I really appreciated the pazzaz and sunshine of Starsky and Hutch: the street talk, Huggy Bear, the loud action, the cool homes, the rough precincts and above all the leather jacket, cardigan coat and the polo necks and yes, those massive cars [remember the die-casts!] constantly turning on a sixpence and screeching after bad guys. Like Kojak before it, Starsky and Hutch was pure seductive Stateside fun and a real bright moment in our swirling and sometimes drab Seventies adolescence.
In 1979 David Soul starred in what is for me his best work, Salem's Lot. A two-part TV mini-series, often shown as a single movie, it was a milestone in vampire telly.
Tobe Hooper, who directed the seminal Texas Chainsaw Massacre, made Salem's Lot and did something special. Its still incredibly popular today. Soul plays Ben Mears, a successful author, who comes home to Salem's Lot, where fell deeds are taking place in this small American town. Yep, its a Stephen King story.
Who can forget the many great moments in the series! When Soul aka Ben first sees the creepy looming Marsten House again, the Glick Brothers rapping on a bedroom window, the Petrie boy's Dad cross and confused about his son's love of Aurora monsters [that rang a bell!], Straker - the loathsome familiar played so well by James Mason and finally, the hideous Mr. Barlow himself, the hissing Nosferatuesque vampire at the bloody heart of Salem's Lot's malaise.
It was and is a triumph of TV horror and along with Starsky and Hutch before it, a true jewel in David's long and illustrious career.
He shall be sadly missed.
What are your memories of David readers?
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David Soul, 1943-2024. Rest in Peace.
I too remember David Soul. I can first remember him in the series Here Come the Brides (1968-70). Set in the tall timber country of Washington state. The town was all men, and hardly any women - so the three Bolt Brothers decided to bring in a contingent of young ladies as possible brides from the East. David Soul played the middle brother, Joshua. It was based on the film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954).
ReplyDeleteHe also played a villain in one of the Dirty Harry movies, with Clint Eastwood - Magnum Force (1973).
Starsky and Hutch was a fun series, but I never had any toys from it. Only years later did I get a modern Corgi die-cast. That car was perfect for undercover Police work.
Great memories Paul and some shows I've never seen, apart from Magnum Force. Do you still have your Starsky and Hutch die-cast?
DeleteVery sad about this. As you say, part of the fabric of our lives in the 70's. I saw him live, in concert in New Brighton once. I liked his stuff.
ReplyDeleteWow! What was the gig like Kev?
DeleteI liked it. I also liked the fact that I seemed to be lowering the average age of the audience at the Floral Pavilion!
Deleteha ha! Was he a hit with Mums?
DeleteWith THEIR mothers, I think!
DeleteThis past year has been rough for losing beloved actors. "Starsky and Hutch" was among my favorites during a time when I was growing increasingly bored with mainstream television and looking more and more towards PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) for more esoteric programming.
ReplyDeleteIt has Ed. Our icons are leaving us slowly but they live on in our memories.
DeleteLovely tribute, Woodsy! David Soul, Paul Michael Glaser and a memorable cast of regular characters made Starsky and Hutch a significant piece of 70s TV viewing. Like many of my generation, I loved it as a kid. Around Halloween last year, I caught an old episode on youtube, called 'The Vampire', featuring actor John Saxon. I thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia of seeing my favorite 70s cops investigating this case. RIP David.
ReplyDeleteTa Tony. That episode sounds great and I will give it a whirl. John Saxon is a favourite too, starring in two of my fave films: Enter the Dragon and Black Christmas. Thanks for the tip!
DeleteI think that particular Starsky and Hutch episode was directed by Dan Curtis of Dark Shadows fame. I also remember seeing Soul in a TV film called World War Three alongside Rock Hudson as the POTUS.
DeleteThe Starsky and Hutch model I have is the 1990s re-issue of the Corgi model, not the original. I still have it somewhere. There was also a smaller Corgi Juniors version.
ReplyDeleteYes, I see the Juniors version at Car Boots Paul but hardly ever the big Corgi Starsky and Hutch car. Did Kojak have the same one, just in brown?
DeleteI did an indepth look at Kojak's Buick not long ago, which included the original large Corgi and the reissues plus the Corgi Junior version. I guess things get forgotten fairly quickly on here!
DeleteAlas, I'm forgetful these days Scoop but many readers won't be as your Kojak posts, nearly three years ago, were very well received. In case readers are as forgetful as me though here's the link to Scoop's main Kojak Buick post from March 2021 https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-corgi-kojak-buick-baby.html
DeleteThe 70s-80s had a different feel to each year it seemed.
ReplyDeleteRIP
They were great years in the Seventies. I was still growing up so everything was new yes anonymous. The 80's got a lot more serious for me and had a totally didfferent feel like you say.
DeleteThe '70s were any BUT drab Woodsy! Bowie, glam rock (The Sweet, Marc Bolan) not to mention Lindisfarne, The Strawbs, Rod Stewart et al and better TV than today. What wasn't to like?
ReplyDeleteThe music was great yes Khus! The best! The drabness came with the grey urban architecture, the long winters, the stiff adults and above all boring boring school!
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