"THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL" - February 2, 1973 - May 1, 1981.
"The Midnight Special" provided taped in-concert popular music. The emphasis was on rock and roll and when the series first went on the air everyone was a guest star, followed by different guest stars hosting for most of the run. There was no regular host except for Helen Reddy who hosted the series during the years 1975-1977.
"The Midnight Special" is considered network television's first regularly scheduled late-late night programming.
The 90 minute series aired on Fridays following The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Wolfman Jack was the announcer.
Every hit performer sings a million-selling hit on this program, whjich features the Edgar Winter Group ("Frankenstein"}; the late Jim Croce ("Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"); Loggins and Messina ("Your Mama Don't Dance"); Curtis Mayfield ("Superfly"); Billy Preston ("Will It Go Round in Circles?"); Gladys Knight and the Pips ("Midnight Train to Georgia"); Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show ("The Cover of the Rolling Stone"); Al Green ("Here I Am"); The O'Jays ("Love Train"); Gilbert O'Sullivan ("Get Down"); The Spinners ("Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"); Charlie Rich ("Behind Closed Doors"); Stories ("Brother Louie").
NOTE: Jim Croce who died in a plane crash at the age of 30, September 20, 1973, appears in this re-run presentation, representing his posthumous first run appearance broadcast January 4, 1974.
Croce appeared on "The Midnight Special" two other times, June 15, 1973 and September 14, 1973. 