ABC's Silver Anniversary Celebration originally aired on Sunday, February 5th 1978.

In this 4-hour all-star spectacular, televised from the American Broadcasting Company's studios in Hollywood California, many of their stars from their first 25 years came out to celebrate the young network's founding and subsequent success. An untold number of ABC's biggest personalities from the past and present would appear that night, either on the stage or as audience members, to congratulate them for their previous achievements and to wish them many, many more!

Taking part in that night's celebration were featured guests: Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, Jodie Foster, Alan King, Julie Andrews, Jim McKay, Robert Young, Vince Edwards, Dick Clark, Ed McMahon, Hal Holbrook, Brenda Vaccaro, Gabe Kaplan, Kate Jackson, John Forsythe, Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Billy Dee Williams, John Travolta, Frank Gifford, Robert Blake, The Lennon Sisters, Marlo Thomas, Henry Winkler, Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, Dotty Mack, Cliff Robertson, Hal Linden, Steve Forrest, Abe Vigoda, Paul Burke, Dennis Cole, Howard Duff, Georg Stanford Brown, Clarence Williams III, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Annette Funicello, Burt Ward, Adam West, John Wayne, Michael Ansara, Hugh O'Brian, Clint Walker, David Carradine, Jack Kelly, Chuck Connors, Clayton Moore, Edward Asner, Nick Nolte, Peter Strauss and David Hartman. ***Featuring musical performances by: Barry Manilow, Kaptain Kool & The Kongs, Billie Hayes (Witchiepoo with characters from Hanna-Barbera & Sid and Marty Krofft), The Lennon Sisters, Lawrence Welk, Captain & Tennille, Richard and Karen Carpenter, Ben Vereen, John Denver, and ABC's "Super Singers" - Toni Tennille, Patti Page, Lola Falana, Charo, The King Cousins, Leslie Uggams, Annette Funicello, Cissy King, Barbara Eden, Louise DuArt and Debra Clinger.

Among the more memorable highlights of this program would be a very funny skit where comedian Alan King would explain why success had eluded ABC TV for so long, a melody of hit theme songs performed by favorites The Lennon Sisters (with Lawrence Welk and Orchestra) and at the end of the program an all-star sing along, lead by Toni Tennille and the "ABC Super Singers". During this show stopping final many stars from the past and present (including John Wayne!) would come up on stage and sing their own version of Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) with new ABC inspired lyrics! Yes, this was without doubt a night that many would remember!

Kristy McNichol appears on stage with veteran movie and television star Fred MacMurray in a segment that salutes the family shows that had appeared on the ABC Network in its first 25 years. Kristy can be seen briefly in the audience at times and also comes up on stage at the end of the show during the final all-star sing along.

Buying note: This show has never been available on commercial home video. But there are other sources for this as well as other Kristy McNichol appearances that you might be looking for.

9-11-2008