Love that KFC! I remember they used to also offer an Orange & Onion salad. Sounds gross, but it was pretty good. Also, in my area at least, they've quit offering extra crispy chicken--and I'm grateful because there is no way I'd be able to eat that in moderation.

In the 70's, some KFC's made different gravies and my favorite was a yummy onion flavored brown gravy....so good. And those little dessert parfaits were good.

I miss the simplier times....when you could just order a barrel, bucket or thrift box of KFC and be on your way (no need to choose a side, biscuits, etc). The only choice you had to make was "original or crispy." You don't want many choices when you're drunk.

Oddly enough, the first KFC restaurant opened in Utah (1952), far from Kentucky. Harland Sanders was dubbed an honorary "colonel" by the state of Kentucky, and he adopted the title henceforth. After 1964, Sanders had almost nothing to do with the corporation (being over 70 years young then), but appeared in numerous TV commercials nearly until his death in 1980. In my home town, Racine, Wis., KF chicken started selling within the local Big Boy restaurant in 1965. The first two free-standing KFCs opened in 1969, less than two miles from each other. Today, we still have two KFCs, though about five miles from each other. The north side store has a 1989 sign on one side, and a 2004 sign on the other. Frugal franchisees.

From the prime time TV vault, a KFC commercial showing several people painting a house. One guy walks around with a bucket passing out chicken to the workers. One guy nearly dips a chicken leg into a paint bucket. Ending shows Col. Sanders. Slogan: Have a barrel of fun. This aired on "That's My Mama" over ABC (10/2/74). Early episode with Lynne Moody as Cliff's (Davis) sister. Moody's early work included a minor part in a 1967 "Batman" episode, where she was a theater ticket seller who gets a dose of sleeping gas from The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) as he robs the cash box. Moody also played an attorney in "Young Lawyers" (1970), girlfriend of Lamont on "Sanford & Son" (1973). Also, a nurse in the "E/R" sitcom, and as a housekeeper in Agatha Christie's "Carribean Mystery" TV movie.

From the prime time TV vault, one in a series of Sunday Dinner KFC commercials. A table loaded with chicken, potatoes, cole slaw and the works sits atop a VW Beetle. Col. Sanders then takes a chicken bucket, places wheels underneath, and pushes it away. This aired on "Laugh-In" over NBC (4/1/68). From the first season, when Dan Rowan had no mustache, Roddy Maud-Roxby played the first Judge (before Sammy Davis or Pigmeat Markham). Among the early regulars, Eileen Brennan, whose movie roles included "The Sting," also "FM" and "Private Benjamin," and continued as the army captain in the TV adaptation (1982-85). Ford Motor Co., Kent and Kool cigarettes among other sponsors on "Laugh-In." Col. Sanders did a "Laugh-In" cameo in season two.

From the prime time TV vault, a fast-paced commercial showing a family packing the dog into station wagon and going to KFC (the old stand). Slogan: "Why Cook? Visit the Colonel!" Sanders appears briefly, waving a chicken leg. This aired during "Where's Huddles?" on CBS (7/1/70). The Hanna-Barbera cartoon, molded like the "Flintstones," featured two semi-pro football players who were neighbors and buddies as well as teammates. Both were married. Ed Huddles (Cliff Norton) and wife, Marge (Jean Vanderpyl) had a toddler daughter, Pom Pom and Fumbles, a dog. Bubba (Mel Blanc) and wife Penny were childless. Their cranky neighbor, Pertwee (Paul Lynde) was a lawyer who threatened to sue his neighbors over any petty breach of his peace. Alan Reed voiced the Football coach, Mad Dog. Herb Jeffries voiced Freight Train, another football player. Series was a summer replacement, only ten episodes produced. Amazingly, this short series was adapted into comic books (3), and is occasionally shown on Boomerang these days.

From the prime time TV vault, a husband/dad averts chaos at home: stressed out wife overcooks and burns their chicken dinner. Dad says: "Let's visit the colonel!" When family arrives at KFC, Col. Sanders greets them from behind counter. This aired during "Matt Lincoln" on ABC (10/1/70). After five years as the callous physician "Ben Casey," Vince Edwards is gentler as a psychiatrist in East Los Angeles. Former Mod, Mod World dancer on "Laugh-In," Chelsea Brown, played Tag, who worked at a telephone crisis hot line under Dr. Lincoln. Aired on Thursday nights, "Matt Lincoln" had substandard ratings, cancelled after 16 episodes.

From 1983 on "Let's Make a Deal, a contestant couple trades a $1000 bill for a "zonk," behind $50 worth of KFC, a pen of live chickens. "LMAD" was produced in Canada then, avoiding having to pay union studio technicians. Announcer Jay Stewart and model Carol Merrill did not accompany Monty Hall for the Canadian run, which shifted production between Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. $1000 and $500 bills have been out of p print since 1945, but Hall seemed provided an endless supply. KFC's slogan was, "We Do Chicken Right."

It's official! For the time being, KFC is no longer finger lickin' good, thanks to Corona Virus. Corporate now discourages licking of the fingers.

While doing some Googling, came across the interesting story of when Col. Sanders and Minnie Pearl, longtime Grand Old Opry star and "Hee Haw" regular, sort of locked horns. Wanting to compete with KFC, an investment group bought rights to use Minnie Pearl's name and likeness in establishing a chicken restaurant chain, mainly in Tennessee. Pearl had nothing to do with it, other than collect a fat fee. In 1968, the franchise-based chain grew and shares of stock were sold. The federal government stuck its nose in when stock value soared despite only a handful of stores in operation. The situation later turned political, as many blamed the Nixon Administration for the Minnie Pearl downfall toward 1972. Franchisees were literally screwed by the corporation. A lot of that still goes on today, but in a more convoluted way.

This KFC story goes back to 1979. The updated version of "Beat the Clock" returned with some major changes. Show production moved from Canada to Los Angeles. The new host was Monty Hall ("Let's Make a Deal" on hiatus). Former host Jack Narz served as off-camera announcer. No celebrity guest in this version. Two couples performed stunts against the clock, earning money for each successful stunt. The couple with the most cash returned the following week. The losing couple took its cash and consolation prizes. These included $100 worth of KFC, plus an insulated Col. Sanders bag to store beverages.

From the prime time TV vault, a commercial for Big Boy restaurants that sell KFC, in towns not having an independent KFC store. Col. Sanders and a costumed Big Boy appear together in cooperative form. This aired during "Laugh-In" on NBC (10/6/69). Among other ads on the show, 1970 Ford Maverick with Arte Johnson as the wayward-in-time Nazi. The previous year, Johnson appeared in another Ford ad featuring a joke wall. The young singers that appeared traded car-related barbs. Ford Gives you better ideas.

From the prime time TV vault, this KFC commercial set in an office. When the chicken's delivered, all 16 workers leave their desks and break into song-and-dance. Their boss is seated at a bigger desk. Col. Sanders was absent from this. It aired during "Switch" on CBS (10/28/75). For three seasons, "Switch" paired up Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner as ex-cop and ex-con who share a detective agency. In many episodes, they used psychological trickery as non-violent means of solving cases. Sharon Gless co-starred as their office manager. This series is widely ignored today (no solid minority characters). Among network promos was for the TV movie about Orson Wells' "War of the Worlds" broadcast titled, "The Night America Panicked" with Vic Morrow.