CBS Tuesday Night Movies - 'Death Car on the Freeway' - WBBM Ch. 2 (Complete Broadcast, 9/25/1979) 📺

Here's the complete broadcast of the television premiere of "Death Car on the Freeway" on the CBS Tuesday Night Movies, as aired over WBBM Channel 2.

This film about a psychotic using his van to kill unsuspecting women on the freeway, starred Shelley Hack (this, as she was about to start as Kate Jackson's replacement on Charlie's Angels) and was directed by Hal Needham in-between installments of "Smokey and the Bandit," and "The Cannonball Run".

Includes:

Station ID / "Project Learning" PSA - "It's 8:00 - have your children done their homework?" (voiceover by Ed Roberts)

Show opening titles and film preview

Commercials for:

Phillips Petroleum (with Ben Jones of Nowata, OK)

L'eggs Sheer Energy (with real estate salesperson Dolores Williamson)

Norelco Rotary Razor - "Gotcha"

Paul Masson Rhine Castle wine (with Orson Welles) - "We Will Sell No Wine, Before Its Time"

Film opening titles

Commercials for:

Theatrical trailer for "Time After Time"

Zenith - Bonus Savings days (ends October 15th)

Film resumes

Commercials for:

Calgonite - "The End of the Spotmaker"

Aqua-Fresh toothpaste - double-protection, fluoride and fresh breath

Bic Shavers - "No Difference" (barber shop quartet)

Wendy's - "Hot and Juicy" hamburgers featuring people wiping their mouths

Promos for The Last Resort and Struck By Lightning for Wednesday (voiceover by Wendell Craig)

Powder blue CBS 'Eye-D' (voiceover by Lee Jordan)

Commercials for:

Eveready Alkaline Power Cell batteries (with Robert Conrad Dramatization)

Wrigley's Doublemint Gum (various sports)

Station ID / Bill Kurtis promo about the Pope outside Vatican

Film resumes

Commercials for:

One a Day Plus Iron vitamins - "Hey number one"

Glamorene Rug Fresh (stinky rugs)

Quasar - "One Great Idea After Another"

AMC Eagle - "The Eagle Has Landed"

Promos for The Waltons and 2-hour Barnaby Jones for Thursday (voiceover by Wendell Craig)

Red CBS 'Eye-D' (voiceover by Lee Jordan)

Channel 2 Newsbreak with Harry Porterfield with preview of items for THE 10 O'Clock News:

- Gay rights debate coming to City Council prior to vote

- Rep. Abner Mikva confirmed by Senate as Federal Appeals Court Judge

- Chicago cost of living soars by over 14 percent

Commercials for:

McDonald's $1,000,000 Diamond Hunt contest

Station ID / Mike Douglas promo (voiceover by Bob Carrington)

More Film

Theatrical trailer for "National Lampoon's Animal House" re-release

Commercials for:

Excedrin P.M.

Doritos Sour Cream & Onion flavored tortilla chips (with Avery Schreiber)

More Film

Commercials for:

Pamprin - "5 Bad Days"

Palmolive (Jan Miner as Madge tends to woman taking TV to repair shop)

Playtex Deodorant Tampons - "A Definite Improvement"

Chimère (Chimere) fragrance perfume by Prince Matchabelli [had to be mostly REMOVED due to bogus Copyright claims from "Music Video Distributors" and their "Just Too Sweet 20"]

Promos for Working Stiffs, The Bad News Bears, Big Shamus, Little Shamus and Paris for Saturday (voiceover by Wendell Craig)

Gold CBS 'Eye-D' (voiceover by Lee Jordan)

Commercials for:

Stroh's beer (repeat of earlier)

Kentucky Fried Chicken (with car poolers)

Station ID / Harry Porterfield news promo

More Film

Commercials for:

Bayer Aspirin - "All You Need is Bayer"

Love My Carpet rug and room deodorizer by Lysol (animated "jungle" in your carpet)

Holiday Inn - "People Pleasing"

New Taco Pizza at Pizza Hut - "It's a pizza-looking, taco-tasting pizza!" tongue-twister (featuring P.J. Soles at the beginning and the guy from "The Great Space Coaster") [had to be mostly REMOVED due to bogus Copyright claims from "Music Video Distributors" and their "Just Too Sweet 20"]

Final film segment (recording ends before credits do)

This aired on local Chicago TV on Tuesday, September 25th 1979 during the 8:00pm to 9:58pm timeframe.

This was from a tape donated to The Museum of Classic Chicago Television as part of The George Jen Collection.

About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:

[mercedeswoody]

I think I enjoy watching the original commercials bringing back memories even more than the movies.

[Denise_Suzanne]

Old TV movies were the best. Loved being a child of the 70s and a teen in the 80s. Best combo. I don't like being in my 50s in 2023, though. 😢

[chrsn]

Man, how those commercials take me back. Truly an entirely different era.

[KIM-ixok]

I'm 54yrs old and I really enjoy watching these movies 🎥
Thanks for sharing them💞

[chaelodoul]

The opening of the CBS movie. What a flood of memories that came rushing back. Sitting in the floor of our living room, with mother and dad sitting on the couch. All of us watching the tv. And I was dad’s remote control. Lol. How I miss these simpler times. Happier times.

[johnshields]

1979 I was 19, it's funny these shows give me a kind of comfort, 44 years later, surprised I'm still here.

[darringraham]

I think I'll fire up my old Chevy van up tonight, roll all the windows down, crank up some Waylon Jennings music, and cruise the highways🤣🥰

[judydavenport]

I remember all these commercials watching TV as a kid. I'll always love these old movies. Ty for posting.

[rcaive]

"It's 8:00. Have your children done their homework?" Wow, back when they used to give a shit.

[wondergirl]

The last time I heard the sounds of some of those ads was almost 45 years ago - the flashbacks gave me the chills.

[dougmaxwell]

Thank you for uploading this in the proper 1.33 aspect ratio with pillar boxes instead of stretching it or zooming and cropping.

[darrenmiller]

When you're first two victims are Morgan Britainy and Dina Shore, with Shelly Hack, George Hamilton, Barbara Rush, and Peter Graves kicking it off, you got me hooked. Truly scary, great cast.

[TheTruthResearchers]

Just hearing the Opening Theme Song, and watching the Commercials, is enough to warm our heart and soul with pure Nostalgia.
I offer my appreciation for this Channel, as Today's World is so insanely horrific In Media AND In Reality. Thank you for keeping many Good Memories Alive & Well!
Thank GOD for our Past Memories.
Thank GOD for HIS Constant Presence
And HIS Promised Future💜

[buddypearson]

This is by FAR one of the best uploads! I've watched this on and off for nearly two years.

[lincbond]

The way the van flies up in the air reminds me of the ending to the movie "The Car" which was released two years before this. Would love to see the Fiddler's Dodge Van, The Car, and the tanker truck from "Duel" all in the same movie.

[paulwalrond]

The razor commercial "GOTCHA" brought me back to 9 years old. I love YouTube you are my time traveling machine. With you I can go anywhere I want.

[andyrose]

Mark Elliott said on a podcast that his first audition to voice a CBS promo was for this movie. He thought it sounded ridiculous and did a ridiculously over-the-top read. The network said it was exactly what they wanted, and that started his long relationship with CBS.

[darylburnet]

This movie is so relevant to 2023 that my skin crawls. I had the same incident happen to me a few years back. While staying under the speed limit, I carefully overtook a driver who was driving like a snail. He turned into a monster. He chased me and got out of his car at traffic lights and tried to beat me up. He did this repeatedly. Meanwhile his very young daughter in his car was screaming in fear. I managed to lose him by driving like Evil Knievel. Now i lock all my car doors and thank God I learnt defensive driving in country Australia. .

[-Dodge-Charger]

Great Movie! God I use to love the theme song to these CBS movies. Everything from Duel 1971 to Salem's Lot 1979.

[Hnycoateddreams]

Brings back so many memories my daddy was still alive miss you daddy💔🥲