Suzanne Muldowney joins the Martin Luther King Day‚ Jr. Parade

“When the Negro was completely an Underdog‚ he needed white spokesmen. Liberals played their parts in this period exceedingly well…. But now that the Negro has rejected his role as an Underdog‚ he has become more assertive in his search for identity and group solidarity; he wants to speak for himself.”
– Martin Luther King‚ Jr.‚ “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?‚” 1967

This historic event in Baltimore yore took place eight years ago. On January 20‚ 200’‚ more than six weeks after she appeared in the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade as 1960s cartoon superhero “Underdog” – Suzanne Muldowney returned to Baltimore to partake in her first and only Martin Luther King‚ Jr. Day Parade. There she was greeted by Atomic TV‘s Tom Warner and Scott Huffines‚ who recorded her historic appearance for posterity.

Muldowney had petitioned the organizers to let her March in the parade because she believes that Underdog has a strong connection to Dr. Martin Luther King‚ Jr.‚ with both folk heroes coming to national prominance in 1964. Not only was 1964 the year Underdog debuted on Saturday morning television‚ it also marked the historic passage of the Civil Rights Voting Act‚ and was the year that Dr. King marched from Selma to Montgomery‚ Alabama‚ and received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Though there were no characters of color on the ’60s TV cartoon show‚ when it came to thwarting injustice‚ Underdog was a colorblind canine superhero; he aided anyone in need – regardless of race‚ color‚ or creed.

It was a bitterly cold and windy day for a parade‚ with sub-freezing temperatures in the teens‚ but if Dr. King could make the long March from Selma to Montgomery‚ surely Muldowney’s iconic canine superhero could brave a few hours of a Charm City cold snap to March down Martin Luther King. Jr. Boulevard from Eutaw to Baltimore Street.

Adult film star Jerry Butler shares his special recipe and unique technique for stuffing a turkey. From Atomic TV’s Thanksgiving Special.

Jerry Butler’s Turkey Stuffing

Music Video by Tom Warner‚ 1999

A song that says it all. More. Or. Less.

From former hometown girl Jules Verdone‚ who found Charm City to be a metaphor her summer doldrums. Recorded live at Fletcher’s in Fells Point in 1999.

(Drop-outs courtesy of S-VHS camera glitch and the wonder of demagnetized analog tape technology – it is what it is!)

“Baltimore or Less” by Jules Verdone is available on her CD “Diary of a Liar.” Download the single or album at Itunes.

Visit Jules Verdone on Myspace.com.

Visit the new fan site for National Premium Beer and share your stories and images! They have some great old ads and history on about this “upscale” adult beverage.

Here’s some National Premium commercials from Atomic TV’s “Atomic Cocktail Hours.” Note: National Premium was always regarded as the fancy man’s beer when compared to National Bohemian..

Atomic TV visits Baltimore’s Great Blacks in Wax Museum from Atomic TV on Vimeo.

Atomic TV’s Tribute to Black History
“Once you go Black‚ you never go back! Case in point‚ Atomic TV went black on Baltimore’s public access airwaves shortly after broadcasting our legendary “Black History Month” tribute – one of our most popular episodes ever! – in February 200’. Over the course of the next 2 hours‚ you’ll see shout-outs not just to the usual legends on display at Baltimore’s Great Blacks in Wax Museum‚ but also to leaders in other less-heralded fields of Black achievement – like Black Porn Stars – Jack Napier the “The Joker with the Foot-Long Poker‚”‚ Menage-a-Trois and her foot-long tongue‚ Sierra‚ Chaos‚ Marc 9X7‚ Nikki Fairchild‚ Sean Michaels – and Rappers who Glorify Da Booty‚ plus Blaxploitation stars Rudy Ray Moore (Dolemite!)‚ Pam Grier and Isaac “Truck Turner” Hayes‚ Mr. T.‚ Blowfly‚ sideshow freak “Popeye‚” Pee-Wee Herman’s “King of Cartoons‚” William Marshall and a special shout-out to Bawlmer’s Eldorado Lounge – the place that inspired us to create Atomic TV back in 1997. So get funky with it and check it out‚ yo!”

Atomic TV’s Tribute to Black History (Full Episode) from Atomic TV on Vimeo.

Once you go Black‚ you never go back! Case in point‚ Atomic TV went black on Baltimore’s public access airwaves shortly after broadcasting our legendary “Black History Month” tribute – one of our most popular episodes ever! – in February 200’. Over the course of the next 2 hours‚ you’ll see shout-outs not just to the usual legends on display at Baltimore’s Great Blacks in Wax Museum‚ but also to leaders in other less-heralded fields of Black achievement – like Black Porn Stars – Jack Napier the “The Joker with the Foot-Long Poker‚”‚ Menage-a-Trois and her foot-long tongue‚ Sierra‚ Chaos‚ Marc 9X7‚ Nikki Fairchild‚ Sean Michaels – and Rappers who Glorify Da Booty‚ plus Blaxploitation stars Rudy Ray Moore (Dolemite!)‚ Pam Grier and Isaac “Truck Turner” Hayes‚ Mr. T.‚ Blowfly‚ sideshow freak “Popeye‚” Pee-Wee Herman’s “King of Cartoons‚” William Marshall and a special shout-out to Bawlmer’s Eldorado Lounge – the place that inspired us to create Atomic TV back in 1997. So get funky with it and check it out‚ yo!

Back to Atomic TV Episode Guide

Raucous rock caroling in the den of Literary Finds for Mutated Minds! Garage Sale performed at Atomic Books as part of Atomic TV’s 1997 Holiday Special: The “Holiday at Ground Zero” Episode. The festivities took place at Atomic Books’ old North Charles Street digs (directly across from The Belvedere Hotel)‚ the ones they shared with fetish fashion store Object (City Paper’s 1999’“Best Drive-By Erotica” award winner‚ not to mention “Best Place To Buy a Corset and Tiara”). Object owner Ron Clouse collaborated with Atomic Books and Atomic TV on a number of events‚ including the infamous “Fetish Night” at Club Orpheus.

But we digress…Below‚ watch Garage Sale deck Atomic Books’s halls with rockin’ renditions of “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night” (the secular version – not to be confused with the pious “Silent Night” version they performed with Suzanne “Underdog” Muldowney at the Mayor’s Christmas Parade in Hampden) while a festive Santa nips Winter in the Buds with the assistance of his hot little helper Alice.

As the following pix attest‚ this was Garage Sale 1.0‚ back in the days when Pat Core was strumming guitar alongside guitarist Dave McDonough‚ bassist Big Dave Cawley (King of Mensch)‚ and drummer Skizz Cyzyk. (Jennifers guitarist John Irvine replaced Pat when the blond-haired wild man traded his Santa cap for a lei and moved to Hawaii.)

It’s that time again… time for the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Hampden and once again the true reason for the holiday season is to see Suzanne Muldowney‚ the dancer/choreographer who has appeared in the parade as the cartoon character Underdog since the early 80s.

Suzanne Muldowney’s appearances as Underdog have become a parade tradition‚ no doubt boosted by her frequent appearances on Atomic TV‘s annual holiday specials‚ not to mention her numerous appearances on Howard Stern’s TV and radio show.