Airport security checkpoints were apparently a source of consternation for passengers back in 1974 — years before my first flight as a passenger aboard an airplane — via the opening which has supposedly not been seen in years for the television show Rhoda.
A Humorous Glimpse of Airport Security in 1974 in Memory of Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper — who died on Friday, August 30, 2019 at the age of 80 after valiantly battling cancer for at least ten years — played the lead character of Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 through 1974 before being given the opportunity to play the same feisty New Yorker on Rhoda from 1974 through 1978.
This video clip shows the opening for the very first episode of Rhoda, which takes place at an airport security checkpoint as Rhoda is on her way from Minneapolis to fly aboard an airplane back home to New York and setting the stage for Rhoda — and airport security checkpoints were apparently were in some ways as ludicrous 45 years ago as they are today.
As a bonus, here is another humorous depiction of airport security from the 1970s as originally aired on The Carol Burnett Show.
Summary
Yes, the ridiculousness which was illustrated in the aforementioned video clip was long before the Transportation Security Administration existed; and long before the incidents of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 occurred.
Here is a little trivia for you: the person who played Brenda Morgenstern — who was the sister of Rhoda — was none other than Julie Kavner, who is today known as the voice of Marge Simpson on the animated television program The Simpsons. Also, James L. Brooks was the executive producer of Rhoda and one of the developers of The Simpsons. D-oh!
This one is for you, Valerie Harper. May you rest in peace, and thank you for the laughs.
Source: MTM Enterprises.
