Cheech & Chong - wikipedia Cheech & Chong Cheech & Chong Tommy Chong and Richard `` Cheech '' Marin in 2009 Medium Stand - up, television, film, books, radio Nationality American, Canadian Years active 1971 -- 1985 ; 2002 -- present Genres Latino comedy, stoner comedy Subject ( s ) Recreational drug use, drug culture Notable works and roles Up in Smoke ( 1978 ) That ' 70s Show Nash Bridges Cheech & Chong are a Grammy Award -- winning comedy duo consisting of Richard `` Cheech '' Marin and Tommy Chong who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their films and stand - up routines, which were based on the hippie and free love era, and especially drug and counterculture movements, most notably their love for cannabis. Contents 1 Career 1.1 Reunion 2 Additional notable media appearances 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles 4 Filmography 4.1 Primary films 4.2 Secondary films 4.3 Notable side projects 5 Mobile applications 6 References 7 External links Career Richard `` Cheech '' Marin and Tommy Chong in 1972. The duo met in Vancouver, British Columbia in the late 1960s. Chong was a Canadian citizen, and Cheech had moved there from Southern California to avoid the draft at the height of the Vietnam War. The pair performed stand - up shows, released many successful comedy record albums, and starred in a series of low - budget films. Some of their best - known comedy routines and songs include `` Earache My Eye '', `` Basketball Jones '', `` Santa Claus and His Old Lady '', and `` Sister Mary Elephant ''. Perhaps their most famous line is `` Dave 's not here '', from their self - titled debut album. Their early success culminated with the release of their first feature - length movie, Up in Smoke, in 1978. It became something of a cult classic, and was also successful enough at the box office ( grossing over $44 million despite a low budget ) to warrant two sequels : Cheech and Chong 's Next Movie in 1980, and Nice Dreams in 1981. These were followed by the less successful Things Are Tough All Over ( 1982 ) and Still Smokin ( 1983 ). The pair attempted a departure from their stoner comedy with 1984 's Cheech & Chong 's The Corsican Brothers. Tommy Chong directed four of their films while co-writing and starring in all seven with Cheech Marin. They also appeared in smaller supporting roles in Graham Chapman 's Yellowbeard and Martin Scorsese 's After Hours. In 1985 the duo released their album Get Out of My Room, which included the novelty hit song, `` Born in East L.A. '' ( based on Bruce Springsteen 's `` Born in the U.S.A. '' ). This song would later serve as the basis for 1987 film of the same name, in which Cheech Marin played the starring role. Immediately following the release of the album, Cheech Marin separated himself from the pair 's drug - inspired act by working on a solo career. Reunion After their contentious parting in the 1980s, the duo spent years without working together. In 1992 the two worked together for the first time in several years, voicing characters in the animated film FernGully : The Last Rainforest. In 1997, Chong made an appearance on Marin 's TV series Nash Bridges, in an episode titled `` Wild Card '', which contained a reference to their iconic `` Dave '' skit from their 1972 debut album. In 2000 both performers voiced characters in the animated television series South Park for the episode `` Cherokee Hair Tampons '', but their voices were recorded separately. Both Marin and Chong indicated in a 2003 episode of Biography that they were willing to reunite. The duo had plans to reunite for another film when Chong 's California - based company, Chong 's Glass, was raided by federal officials in February 2003, as part of a federal crackdown on `` drug - related paraphernalia ''. In a plea bargain which allowed his son and wife to remain out of jail, Chong pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to distribute drug paraphernalia in May, and in September 2003 was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, fined $20,000, and forced to forfeit $120,000 in assets. He was released in July 2004. His cellmate was Jordan Belfort. With Chong released, the duo planned to resume production on a reunion film. A variety of titles were rumored, including Grumpy Old Stoners. But they announced in September 2005 that the reunion film had been canceled. Beginning in September 2008, Cheech and Chong reunited for the Light Up America comedy tour which opened in Ottawa, making a radio appearance on The Bob & Tom Show. In March 2009, they recorded two shows at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio for a DVD release of the reunion tour. In 2011, both performers were guests stars on the animated sitcom The Simpsons, on the episode `` A Midsummer 's Nice Dream ''. The episode focuses on a ficticious separation of the duo, with Homer taking Chong 's place. In August 2012, Cheech & Chong appeared at the 13th annual Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave - in - Rock, IL. In February 2014, Cheech and Chong appeared on an episode of Tom Green Live. In March 2014, they announced they were working on a new movie, with writer / director Jay Chandrasekhar. Additional notable Media appearances In 2007, Adam Scorgie 's marijuana advocacy documentary The Union : The Business Behind Getting High starred Tommy Chong as a commentator about marijuana related issues and for his drug paraphernalia charge in 2003. The film had many other notable names such as former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, Canadian marijuana seed retailer Marc Emery, Canadian baking marijuana icon `` Watermelon Girl '', and other marijuana advocates like Author & Former ' Pot TV ' Manager Chris Bennett and former High Times editor Steve Bloom. On November 5, 2008, Cheech and Chong reunited for a timely message in a video on Funny or Die to encourage people to get out and vote on Wednesday, November 5, the day after the election. The video was titled `` Cheech and Chong Get Out the Vote ! ''. On November 30, 2008, Cheech & Chong were honored during the roast special Cheech & Chong : Roasted on TBS hosted by Brad Garrett which included other guests, among them Chong 's wife. The event was filmed at Caesar 's Palace in Las Vegas during The Comedy Festival. On April 17, 2009, while on the Sydney leg of their `` Cheech and Chong Light Up Australia '' Tour, they had to delay the start of their show as it became the target of a drug operation by the New South Wales Police. About 25 police and four drug dogs were involved, searching around 50 people, with six people caught in possession of small amounts of cannabis. On January 25, 2010, Cheech & Chong appeared on Lopez Tonight. During a singing segment they started to perform their song `` Mexican Americans '', but it turned into `` Get It Legal '', in reference to their current U.S. tour. On March 1, 2010, Cheech & Chong were the guest hosts of WWE Raw in Oklahoma City. On April 20, 2010 ( 4 / 20 ) Cheech and Chong 's Hey, Watch This, the DVD filmed in San Antonio on March 14, 2009 was released. In September 2011, Cheech & Chong appeared in a viral video posted on YouTube which at first appeared to be a trailer for a ( non-existent ) upcoming movie titled Cheech & Chong 's Magic Brownie Adventure, but which at the end revealed itself to be a commercial for Fiber One 100 - calorie snack brownies. In 2012, actor Tommy Chong revealed to CNN 's Don Lemon that he is battling prostate cancer. It is unknown how this will affect any future projects. On September 28, 2014 they were guests of Doug Benson on his podcast Getting Doug with High. Discography Albums Cheech and Chong ( 1971 ) US # 28 Big Bambu ( 1972 ) US # 2 Los Cochinos ( 1973 ) US # 2 Cheech & Chong 's Wedding Album ( 1974 ) US # 5 Sleeping Beauty ( 1976 ) US # 25 Up in Smoke ( soundtrack ) ( 1979 ) US # 162 Let 's Make a New Dope Deal ( 1980 ) US # 173 Get Out of My Room ( 1985 ) US # 111 Cheech & Chong 's Greatest Hit ( compilation, 1981 ) Where There 's Smoke There 's Cheech & Chong ( compilation, 2002 ) Cheech & Chong 's Animated Movie ! Musical Soundtrack ( soundtrack, 2013 ) Singles Released Titles ( A-side, B - side ) Both sides from same album except where indicated Peak chart position Album December 1971 `` Santa Claus and his Old Lady '' Reached # 4 on 1971 Christmas chart and # 3 on 1972 and 1973 Christmas charts b / w `` Dave '' ( from Cheech and Chong ) - Non-album track August 1973 `` Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces '' b / w `` Do n't Bug Me '' 15 Los Cochinos November 1973 `` Sister Mary Elephant ( SHUDD - UP ! ) '' b / w `` Wink Dinkerson '' ( from Cheech and Chong ) 24 Big Bambu July 1974 `` Earache My Eye '' b / w `` Turn That Thing Down '' ( Non-album track ) 9 Cheech & Chong 's Wedding Album October 1974 `` Black Lassie '' b / w `` Coming Attractions '' 55 September 1975 `` ( How I Spent My Summer Vacation ) Or A Day At The Beach With Pedro & Man '' ( Parts I and II ) 54 Non-album tracks May 1976 `` Framed '' b / w `` Pedro 's Request '' 41 Sleeping Beauty October 1977 `` Bloat On '' b / w `` Just Say `` Right On '' ( The Bloaters ' Creed ) '' ( Non-album track ) 41 Let 's Make A New Dope Deal December 1977 `` Rudolph The Red - Nosed Reindeer '' b / w `` Santa Claus and His Old Lady '' ( Non-album track ) - August 1978 `` Up In Smoke '' b / w `` Rock Fight '' - `` Up In Smoke '' soundtrack September 1985 `` Born In East L.A. '' b / w `` I 'm A ( Modern ) Man '' 48 Get Out Of My Room November 1985 `` I 'm Not Home Right Now '' b / w `` Hot Saki '' ( Non-album track ) - Filmography Primary films Up in Smoke ( 1978 ) Cheech and Chong 's Next Movie ( 1980 ) Nice Dreams ( 1981 ) Things Are Tough All Over ( 1982 ) Still Smokin ( 1983 ) Cheech & Chong 's The Corsican Brothers ( 1984 ) Get Out of My Room ( 1985 ) Cheech & Chong 's Animated Movie ! ( 2013 ) Cheech & Chong 's Up in Smoke 2 ( TBA ) Secondary films Cheech & Chong Perform / Cheech & Chong Perform Again ? ! ( concert films, 1978 ) A pre-Up in Smoke live performance, split over two separate VHS releases. It Came from Hollywood ( compilation, 1982 ) Yellowbeard ( 1983 ) Born in East LA ( 1987 ) A spin - off from Get Out of My Room. Often considered a Cheech & Chong film ( and has been packaged on DVD as part of the series both in America and overseas ), though Tommy Chong does not appear in the film ( other than as a depiction of Jesus ). Far Out Man ( 1990 ) a / k / a Tommy Chong ( documentary, 2006 ) Cheech & Chong 's Hey, Watch This ! ( concert film, 2010 ) Notable side projects After Hours ( 1985 ) Both Cheech and Chong appear. `` Rude Awakening '' ( 1989 ) Cheech only The Shrimp on the Barbie ( 1990 ) Cheech only, though marketed in Germany as a Cheech & Chong - related film under the title Cheech ohne Chong - Jetzt rauchts in Neuseeland ( loosely translated as ' Cheech without Chong - Smoking in New Zealand ' ). FernGully : The Last Rainforest ( 1992 ) Both Cheech and Chong provide character voices. The Cisco Kid ( 1994 ) Cheech only, though marketed in Germany as a Cheech & Chong - related film under the title Cheech ohne Chong - Jetzt rauchts in Wilden Westen ( loosely translated as ' Cheech without Chong - Smoking in The Wild West ' ). A Million to Juan ( 1994 ) Only a small role by Cheech, though still included in the `` Cheech & Chong 's Smoke Box '' DVD set. McHale 's Navy ( 1997 ) Two small roles by Tommy Chong, though still included in the `` Cheech & Chong 's Smoke Box '' DVD set. Evil Bong ( 2006 ) Tommy Chong only, though still included in the `` Cheech & Chong 's Smoke Box '' DVD set, among others. Hoodwinked Too ! Hood vs. Evil ( 2011 ) Both Cheech and Chong provide character voices. Mobile applications Cheech and Chong 's The Fatty ( 2011 ) References Book : Cheech & Chong ^ Jump up to : `` Up In Smoke ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ Marin, Cheech ( 2009 ). Greasy Love Songs ( Media notes ). Frank Zappa. Zappa Records. Jump up ^ `` Up in Smoke, Box Office Information ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 25, 2012. Jump up ^ Marin, Cheech ( 2017 ). Cheech is not my real name -- but do n't call me Chong !. New York : Grand Central Publishing. pp. 175 -- 178. ISBN 9781455592340. Jump up ^ Wollman, Jane ( 8 May 1992 ). `` Speaking Up Stars lend their voices to animated characters ''. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1G. Jump up ^ `` 116 - breayle : April 23, 2001 - News - South Park Studios ''. South Park Studios. April 22, 2001. Retrieved December 27, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Jordan Belfort Cringeworthy Talk At LA Convention Center ''. Business Insider. 2014 - 11 - 03. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Cheech And Chong Light Up America On Reunion Tour ''. Cinemablend.com. 2008 - 07 - 31. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ `` New Cheech & Chong Movie in the Works ''. March 24, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Cheech and Chong Get Out the Vote ! ''. Funnyordie.com. March 22, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011. Jump up ^ Gallagher, Brian ( November 18, 2008 ). `` Cheech and Chong Set to Be Roasted ''. Movie Web. Retrieved November 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Cheech & Chong : Roasted ''. The Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Cheech and Chong fans busted for marijuana possession ''. Herald Sun. April 17, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` www.wwe.com ''. www.wwe.com. 2010 - 11 - 29. Retrieved November 7, 2011. Jump up ^ McNichol, Rob ( 2010 - 03 - 02 ). `` Raw, what is it good for ? ''. The Sun. London. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 03. Jump up ^ Adkins, Greg ( 2009 - 03 - 01 ). `` A long, strange trip to WrestleMania ''. World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Magic Brownie Adventure Movie ''. YouTube. September 12, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Tommy Chong Cancer : ' Cheech And Chong ' Star Battling Prostate Cancer ''. Huffingtonpost.com. June 10, 2012. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ Benson, Doug ( 2014 - 09 - 29 ). `` Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong Getting Doug with High ''. YouTube. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Cheech and Chong 's The Fatty App ''. MEDL Mobile. Archived from the original on 2012 - 11 - 28. External links Official website Official Live Nation Tour website HoboTrashcan 's One on One with Tommy Chong An in - depth interview about politics, Cheech and Chong and Tommy 's wife and kids L.A. Weekly photographs of Cheech and Chong 's `` Light Up America '' reunion show at the Roxy Theater, September 18, 2008 Cheech and Chong interview over reunion, `` Light Up America '' tour. December 10, 2008 The Riverfront Times Submerge magazine interview with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Jan. 2009 First to confirm `` Up in Smoke 2 '' Chronicles of The Nerds Interview with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Feb. 2010 review, Cheech & Chong 's Hey Watch This by UnRated magazine Cannabis portal 1970s portal 1980s portal Cheech & Chong Richard `` Cheech '' Marin Tommy Chong Albums Cheech and Chong Big Bambu Los Cochinos Wedding Album Sleeping Beauty Up in Smoke Let 's Make a New Dope Deal Get Out of My Room Compilations Greatest Hit Where There 's Smoke There 's Cheech & Chong Singles `` Santa Claus and His Old Lady '' `` Sister Mary Elephant '' `` Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces '' `` Earache My Eye '' `` Born in East L.A. '' Film series Up in Smoke Next Movie Nice Dreams Things Are Tough All Over Still Smokin The Corsican Brothers Animated Movie Related articles Cheech & Chong : Roasted VIAF : 138300360 GND : 10279136 - 3 MusicBrainz : ca90c456 - 3e32 - 40a2 - b0d6 - 84442fb359e7 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cheech_%26_Chong&oldid=804227628 '' Categories : American cannabis activists American comedy duos American novelty song performers American satirists Cannabis culture Counterculture of the 1960s Epic Records artists Grammy Award winners Hidden categories : Pages using Infobox comedian with unknown parameters Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Asturianu Dansk Deutsch Español 한국어 Íslenska Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Português Română Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 7 October 2017, at 16 : 12. 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Question: when did the first cheech and chong movie come out
Answer: 1978