Sonny Bono Said Marijuana Was Better Than Alcohol For Teens In 1968. A Strange Film.

Hollywood celebrity Sonny (Sonny & Cher) Bono narrated this 1968 scripted & documentary (real people) film comparing marijuana with alcohol. Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) first met Salvatore Bono in a Los Angeles coffee shop in November 1962 when she was 16.  11 years her senior Bono was working for record producer. The two became best friends, eventual lovers & were supposedly married in 1964, but Bono said in his autobiography that it was not an official marriage. They were legally wed when their only child Chaz was born. With Bono writing, arranging and producing their songs, the couple released some singles in 1964, In September of that year they released “Baby Don’t Go“ under the name of Sonny & Cher, which became a regional hit. The couple appeared on many of the top TV shows of the era. They also appeared as themselves in the film Wild on the Beach. On their first album Bono also displayed his political interest long before running for Congress in the lyrics of the song, “The Revolution Kind“. During 1965, five of their songs were on US Billboard Top 20. Periodic solo releases by Cher continued during this period, including major successes with “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)“, and “Alfie.“ In an attempt to capitalize on the duo’s successes Bono arranged a film project for the duo to star in but their 1967 film Good Times, was a major bomb. After Good Times flopped, Columbia Pictures immediately sold rights to their intended follow-up film Speedway. In 1969, the film, Chastity, starring Cher, written and produced by Sonny, was also a commercial bomb. By 1968 Sonny and Cher’s career had stalled as album sales quickly dried up. Their gentle, easy-listening pop sound and drug-free life had become unpopular in an era increasingly consumed with the psychedelic rock of the evolving landscape of American pop culture. Bono decided to forge ahead, carving a new career for the duo in Las Vegas resorts where they their style was Cher as the wise-cracking, glamorous singer and Bono as the good-natured recipient of her insults. In reality, Bono controlled every aspect of their act from the musical arrangements to the joke-writing. Bono also launched his own TV show, The Sonny Comedy Revue in 1974. Cher also announced plans to star in a new variety series of her own. Critics predicted that Bono would be the big winner and held little hope for Cher’s musical showcase. After only 6 weeks Bono’s show was abruptly canceled. As a result of their divorce, Sonny and Cher went their separate ways until Cher attended the opening of one of Bono’s restaurants in something of a reconciliation. The Sonny & Cher TV Show returned in 1976, even though they were no longer married. After struggling with low ratings through 1977, Sonny and Cher finally parted ways for good. Sonny Bono went on to an acting career and later entered politics, eventually becoming a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Cher went on to become a Grammy Award-winning solo singer and an Academy Award-winning actress. On January 5, 1998, Bono died of injuries from hitting a tree while skiing at Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe. He was 62 years old. In front of millions on TV Cher tearfully praised Bono, calling him “the most unforgettable character I’ve ever met“. Regarding the comparison between alcohol & marijuana: Alcohol: Short-Term Effects: These include impaired judgment, coordination and reaction times; blackouts; hangover; & alcohol poisoning. Long-Term Effects: Chronic alcohol use can lead to addiction; liver diseases; cardiovascular diseases; neurological damage; mental health problems, including depression & anxiety & various cancers. Overdose: Alcohol poisoning can be fatal and occurs when the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream becomes too high and starts to shut down areas of the brain that control basic life-support functions. Marijuana: Short-Term Effects: Impaired short-term memory; altered judgment & coordination; anxiety & paranoia; hallucinations & psychosis (at high doses). Long-Term Effects: Regular use can result in addiction. It could impact cognitive function, especially when use starts in the teenage years. Lung Health: Smoking marijuana regularly can have similar respiratory problems as tobacco smokers like chronic bronchitis symptoms. However the link between marijuana smoking & lung cancer remains inconclusive. Comparative Points: Addiction Potential: Both substances can be addictive, but studies suggest that alcohol might have a higher addiction potential than marijuana for most users. Overdose Potential: While it’s technically possible to consume a toxic dose of THC, there are no recorded cases of fatal overdoses from marijuana alone. In contrast, alcohol poisoning is a common medical emergency that can be fatal. If you found the film or of interest please support my efforts to present more by clicking the THANKS button below the video screen. David Hoffman filmmaker