Thanks to their amazing basketball pyrotechnics, the Harlem Globetrotters, conceived in 1927, were internationally popular by the time the 70s rolled around. They had already achieved success in the animated world with their first cartoon, The Harlem Globetrotters, and when that show ended, a decision was made to give them their own primetime variety show. Shortly after airing the pilot, however, it was determined that the concept might be better suited for the familiar territory of Saturday morning programming. The show was re-titled and, in 1974, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine made its debut.

The show shared pretty much all of the elements that one would expect from a 70s variety show (of which everyone and their mother seemingly had.) There were plenty of songs and jokes and skits and revues and even a social awareness message or two. Of course, this was the only the show that had a popcorn machine – a series of graphics that depicted a bunch of basketballs popping inside a machine like popcorn might. It was usually seen before and after commercial breaks.

Meadowlark Lemon and “Curly” took on the roles of host and comic sidekick, respectively, offering lighthearted banter and plenty of corny jokes. Other regulars included the kid from the popular Jack in the Box commercials of the era, Rodney Allen Rippy, and funnyman Avery Shreiber, who played the role of Mr. Evil, a nemesis who was really just more of a nuisance to the Globetrotters.

Perhaps the zany factor was cranked just a little too high; perhaps there are other endeavors that better suit a group of fun-loving basketball players – but whatever the reason, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine would live for only two seasons, and the second one was comprised entirely of reruns. The trotters fell back on their strengths – playing basketball and appearing in cartoons. They would return to the Saturday morning lineup in Go Go Globetrotters and later on The Super Globetrotters which eventually morphed into The Godzilla/ Globetrotter Adventure hour.

And today, with nary a DVD release in sight, the only sounds of basketball kernels popping reside in the collective memories of the show’s loyal fans.