Humbug Part 1

This is another version of "A Christmas Carol." It has been around since 1995 but for those of you who have not seen it before you can read it here. Just click on the photo to enlarge it enough to read. Scroll down farther for the rest of this four part posting and do the same to read the story.

Humbug Part 2

Humbug Part 3

Humbug Part 4

Christmas Music

I like alot of music but Christmas music is one of my favorites. I thought almost every musician in the world has released a Christmas CD. I knew it for certain when I saw this CD.

Christmas Comic Book Cover

Paul Henning and Green Acres

With the success of two rural comedies CBS again gave Paul Henning a half an hour on the network with no pilot that had to be submitted for review. Mr. Henning was way too busy to create the show himself so he asked his friend Jay Sommers to do the honors. To me the Beverly Hillbillies always seemed like a TV version of Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town and Green Acres seemed like a TV version of the Egg and I. I can’t say for certain that either of those movies were what they had in mind when they were thought of. However, Mr. Sommers didn’t have to look too far back in his own history for creating the show. He had worked on a CBS radio show that was called Granby’s Green Acres. It was a summer series in 1950 that Mr. Sommers had created and it starred Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet as a city couple who moved to the country. The late Parley Baer who is most famous as the Mayor on the Andy Griffith Show and the voice of Ernie the Keebler Elf on commercials was the hired handy man who they called Eb on both radio and TV.
The TV show ran from September 15, 1965 to September 7, 1971. Out of the three shows that Henning produced this one was sort of the oddball in the group. It was more of a slapstick/absurd comedy. Surreal has been one word that more accurately describes the series. A fine example of this was when it was known that Mr. and Mrs. Ziffel had adopted a pig as their son and named him Arnold. Everyone in town treated Arnold like he was a real boy except Oliver Douglas. A running gag on the show was how the Douglas family couldn’t get a phone inside the house. Their phone line only went up as far as the top of the telephone pole. Whenever they had to answer the phone or make a call they had to climb up the pole to use the phone. The writers must have gotten tired of trying to devise funny ways for them to get up the pole as eventually they got a phone in the kitchen. At times they had fun with the titles on the show. I remember seeing Mrs. Douglas hanging out the wash to dry and on the shirts and towels it would have the names of the crew and cast members. On another episode Mr. Ziffel was standing at the front door. The credits would be rolling up behind him and when he turned around they quickly hid from him.
Oliver Douglas was played by Eddie Albert. According to TV Land the part nearly went to Don Ameche. When the producers met with him over lunch to discuss the series he was so picky about his food that they feared he would be just as difficult to deal with over the scripts. So they gave the part to Eddie Albert.
As fans of the series know Oliver was a rich lawyer who moved to Hooterville with his beautiful Hungarian wife Lisa played by Eva Gabor. Lisa was not happy about the move but had grown to love the town and the people over the years. The Douglas’ young farm hand Eb was played by Tom Lester. They were always helping him and giving him parental advice. While Eb did have parents he took to calling the Douglas’ Mom and Dad. Much to the chagrin of Mr. Douglas.
Just as Petticoat Junction spun off of the Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres was a spin off of Junction. Since both shows took place in Hooterville it was a natural that they would cross over. Even the Clampetts came by to visit on both shows. Frank Caddy who played Sam Drucker on Junction was a frequent guest star on Green Acres and eventually became a cast member on both shows.
Green Acres never hurt for zany characters. There was conning door to door salesman Mr. Haney played by Pat Buttram, the absent minded county agent Hank Kimball played by Alvy Moore and the carpenters that nobody would want…the Monroe Brothers. Actually they were really brother and sister but for some reason their business was called Monroe Brothers. Sid Melton played brother Alf Monroe and Mary Grace Canfield played sister Ralph Monroe.
By 1971 all three of Paul Henning’s hit shows were canceled by CBS. They were all still popular but CBS wanted to use more urban shows that appealed to the more wealthy audience. After his shows were canceled Mr. Henning didn’t do what other producers have done. He didn’t try writing urban comedies or novels. With the exception of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels he didn’t have his name attached to any movie scripts. He pretty much left show business and retired. He passed away in March 2005.
You can click on the title above to go to TV Guide.com.

Paul Henning and Petticoat Junction

With the success of the Beverly Hillbillies Paul Henning created a spin off. On September 24, 1963 CBS aired the first episode of Petticoat Junction. The Hillbillies were so successful that CBS didn’t even require a pilot from Mr. Henning. They trusted his instincts that much.
The show starred Bea Benadaret one of the busiest actresses in radio and television. She had been on radio programs like Ozzie and Harriett, Burns and Allen and My Favorite Husband. On TV she reprised her role on the television version of Burns and Allen. She was offered the part of Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy but was not able to accept as she was under contract for another production. She was also the voice of Betty Rubble on the Flintstones cartoon series. She played Kate Bradley a widow who was raising her three daughters in the hotel she owned. Unfortunately she was not with the series for its entire run. In 1968, just after she started work on the series for that season, she passed away due to lung cancer.
Edgar Buchanan played Uncle Joe Carson on the show. He was an in demand character actor who usually played Judges, Fathers, Grandfathers and of course Uncles. Uncle Joe was lazy. He worked hard at getting out of work and always was looking on a get rich quick plan. Uncle Joe would have loved the internet. Know matter how lazy Uncle Joe was he could be counted on when the chips were down. He was always helping family and friends and when Kate Bradley had to be written out of the show in 1968 he stepped in to run the Shady Rest Hotel. Of course the fact that he now owned the hotel helped.
Frank Cady was a character actor in movies and was cast as Sam Drucker. Sam was the local grocer/post master. The part of Sam got Frank Cady to be on two hit sit-coms as he later would be a frequent guest star on the Petticoat Junction spin off Green Acres.
The rest of the cast was frequently changing. The daughters of Kate Bradley were Billie Jo she was a blonde and the oldest of the girls. She was played by Jeannine Riley from 1963-1965. Later in the 1970’s Miss. Riley would be on TV again for one more season on Dusty’s Trail. Then Gunilla Hutton was cast in the role from 1965-1966. Gunilla was originally from Sweden but her family moved to Texas when she was 7. Rumor has it that she was fired from the show because she was involved in two taboos at the time. She was rumored to be dating Nat King Cole. Back then it was the kiss of death for a white actress to be dating an African-American. While that has changed over time the other taboo thankfully has not. That is that Mr. Cole was a married man making her his mistress. Two big strikes against an up and coming actress on a hit comedy series. So Miss. Hutton was out of the show. A few years later she would be seen as on Hee Haw as Nurse Goodbody. Finally, in 1966 the part went to singer Meredith MacRae who was with the series to the end of its run.
The middle child was a brunette and named Bobbie Jo. She was played by Pat Woodell from 1963-1965. In 1965 they cast Lori Saunders in the role of Bobbie Jo. She immediately won over the hearts of the fans and became the most famous Bobbie Jo Bradley.
The youngest was the redheaded tomboy Betty Jo Bradley. She was played by Linda Kaye Henning. Her part was never recast. Perhaps that was because Paul Henning was her Father.
The Cannonball was the only method of transportation for the people of Hooterville, the town where the show was based. From 1963-1967 the train was run by Charlie and Floyd played but Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis. In 1968 Smiley left the show and Floyd (Rufe Davis) ran the train himself. A few months later he too left and Wendell Gibbs played by Byron Foulger was brought in to take over the train.
A lot of the comedy on the show came from Uncle Joe schemes, someone trying to get a date with one of the Bradley girls or trying to keep the Cannonball running.
For awhile the show took on a soap opera feel when Mike Minor joined the cast as crop duster Steve Elliott. He was attracted to each of the Bradley girls and the audience was curious who he would end up with. He chose tomboy Betty Jo. You know the one played by the boss’s daughter.
Many people say that Aaron Spelling brought sex to television. While researching this I was reminded of many double-entendres on the show. No I’m not going to point then out but just from what you have read here you can figure some of it out.
A few years after the show was canceled and was being shown on local station WXIX when it entered syndication some of the guys in my school were all caught up in the show. If you look at the picture above you can see three reasons why pre-teen boys liked the show. The thing that amazed me was when they got so caught up in the soap opera on of Betty Jo and Steve. That I couldn’t believe. Guys didn’t talk about soap operas back then and to my knowledge still don’t. I suspect those guys wanted Betty Jo to wait for them to be old enough to marry. Personally I had a crush on Lori “Bobbie Jo” Saunders.
After 7 successful years the show was canceled. The last airing of the show was on September 12, 1970.

Paul Henning and the Beverly Hillbillies.

In 1962 Paul Henning created what would be his most famous TV show. It was the Beverly Hillbillies. It aired on CBS from September 26th 1962 to September 7th 1971. It is said to be the most successful sit-com of the 1960’s. It was at first to be called the Hillbillies of Beverly Hills. It was so popular even its theme song, the Ballad of Jed Clampett, was a huge hit on the country charts by Flatt and Scruggs. It starred Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett who struck oil on his property. He became an instant millionaire and he moved his family to Beverly Hills, Ca. Mr. Drysdale as played by Raymond Bailey was the banker who was always trying to make sure the Clampetts stayed in Beverly Hills and their money stayed in his bank. Mush of the humor came from misunderstandings. For example Jed would say that he was going hunting for crawdads while talking to Mr. Drysdale. Another millionaire would over hear them and think it was a special vehicle for the military that he was investing in. He would start looking into it. The military would actually have a top secret vehicle called crawldads and would send an officer to Beverly Hills to find out how Jed knew about their top secret. Many would be embarrassed when it was found out he only wanted to go hunting.
Buddy Ebsen almost passed on taking the show. He said two things changed his mind. One was that when he read the script he didn’t want to do it because Jed wasn’t funny. His agent pointed out to him that Jed was really the straight man and any good comedy needs at least one straight man. The second is that he asked a friend of his if he thought he should take the part. His friend said he shouldn’t because he thought the show would flop. He said that helped him decide to take the part. You see his friend never knew when something would be a hit. When he didn’t like something it was usually a big hit. His friend didn’t even like Barnaby Jones and told him not to take that role too.
Jed wasn’t the only straight man on the show. Nancy Kulp who played Jane Hathaway was also the straight woman in most scenes she was in. However, that was not always true if Jethro was in the scene. Jethro was played by Max Baer Jr. He was Jed’s nephew and he moved out with them to California. He was a big, strong, handsome man who all the girls wanted to be with and Miss. Hathaway was not always thinking straight when he was around. Jethro had the problem of being a child in a man’s body. He only had a six grade education. Since that was the farthest anyone in the family went in school he was considered the scholar in the family. Jethro was one of the funny ones on the show as he was always trying to be something bigger then he really was. He was usually trying to be a big time movie producer or a secret agent. Or as Jethro would say he wanted to be a “double not-not spy.” Of course this was his way of referring to the double 0 in 007. Jed and Mr. Drysdale were always humoring him by setting him up with jobs where he had the title but not the responsibility of the job. This usually backfired as somehow he would actually wind up producing a movie or taking on a job meant for a real private detective.
Jed’s daughter Ellie May was played by the beautiful Donna Douglas. Donna was previously seen in the Elvis film Frankie and Johnny. Everyone was always trying to find Ellie a husband. She was beautiful, sweet and rich so getting her married off should be easy. However, it was usually complicated because she loved wild animals and had to always have raccoons, snakes, possums etc. around. Also, she was always stronger then the men she dated.
The character who made the show was Granny as played by Irene Ryan. Granny hated moving from the hills to the city. She was always cooking and making people sick with her food. However, this was no problem to her as she was a country Dr. and used her home remedies to heal them. Most of the time the cure was even worse and usually involved her home made moonshine. Granny was the break out character. Irene was the best actor on the show and she won the Emmys to prove it. She passed away before they made the reunion movies based on the series. The first was a hit but the second didn’t come off as well. The problem was that when you see Buddy Ebsen and others as the Clampetts you expect to see Irene Ryan as Granny. When they did a big budget movie her presence was not missed as much since all the roles were recast. It didn’t hurt that they got Cloris Leachman to play Granny. She was probably the only woman in Hollywood who could have played the part at that time.
While all the actors seemed to get along not all was well. Max Baer Jr. and Paul were always at odds. Max thought that after all that time in Beverly Hills the Hillbillies should be getting more use to their surroundings. Stop calling the pool the cement pond and eating dinner on the pool table. They should start acting smarter. Paul refused because he thought the show would not be funny anymore. I know Mr. Baer became a successful movie producer in the 1970’s but Mr. Henning must have known what he was doing. The show was still popular when it was canceled in 1971. It is still popular in reruns today. This past summer my young cousin discovered it and thought Granny was so funny he watched it every day.
The above photo is from TV Guide.com. You can click on the title to go to their site.

Rest in Peace Joe Barbera

I really don't know what to say about Mr. Barbera execpt he left behind an incredible legacy. He gave me and many of us happy hours, usually on Saturday mornings, while watching FRANKENSTEIN JR., THE IMPOSSIBLES, SPACE GHOST, BIRDMAN, SHAZAN, YOGI BEAR, QUICK-DRAW McGRAW, TOP CAT, SCOOBY-DOO, WACKY RACES and others too numberous to mention.
We may never see someone like him or his partner Bill Hanna again.

Time Person of the Year

I know it is probably old news by now but I have been selected as Time Magazine person of the year. You have too if you are reading this posting. You can go here for the full story or click on the title above.

Paul Henning

Not long ago I did a series on TV moguls Aaron Spelling and Quinn Martin. Today I am starting a series on Paul Henning. Mr. Henning was from Independence, Missouri. He once met future President Harry S. Truman who advised him to become a lawyer. He did go to Law School but his real desire was to be a singer. He was a singer on some local radio programs. When one didn’t have the money to hire a writer to for fillers between songs Paul started writing for them. From there his writing career took off. He eventually got jobs writing for network radio programs for Fibber McGee and Molly and the Burns and Allen Show. Eventually he wrote for TV programs like The Real McCoys the Andy Griffith Show and also produced The Bob Cummings Show. On many of those programs he met many actors who would later be on the programs that he created. Many of those relied on his Midwestern humor that he grew up with in Missouri. He also wrote the scripts for the films Lover Come Back, Bedtime Story and co-writer on Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The TV shows he created were The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. They were some of the biggest hit comedies to come out of the 1960’s.

Give your worries to God, for He cares for you

Why worry?
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1 NLT"
The unforgettable responsive reading "It was midnight on Thursday, February 8, A.D. 356, and Athanasius, a leader in the early Christian church and passionate defender of the deity of Jesus Christ, was leading a worship service. Suddenly loud shouts and clashing armor could be heard outside the church. Soldiers had come to arrest him.But Athanasius said, "I didn't think it right, at such a time, to leave my people," so he continued the service. He asked a deacon to read Psalm 136 and then requested the congregation to respond with the refrain, "His faithful love endures forever," which they did twenty-six times over the din of the soldiers outside.Just as the final verse was completed, the soldiers rushed into the church, brandishing their swords and spears and crowding forward up the nave toward Anthanasius. The people yelled for Athanasius to run, but he refused to go until he had given a benediction. Then some of his assistants gathered tightly around him, and, as he recounts it, "I passed through the crowd of people unseen and escaped, giving thanks to God that I had not betrayed my people, but had seen to their safety before I thought of my own."Athanasius was portraying to his people God's love, which endures forever. He was willing to lay down his life for his flock—just as Jesus had laid down his life for his flock a few centuries earlier.Since God's "faithful love endures forever," why is they ever any need to worry?

Another Funny Christmas Picture

A Funny Christmas Picture

A friend e-mailed me this funny photo. I thought I would share it with you here.

This Day In Music History: Marvin Gaye and I Heard It Through the Grapevine

I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye was the #1 song on the Billboard charts on this day in 1968. It is one of the longest runs at #1 that a Motown Record has had. It held down the top spot for 7 weeks. When it reached #1 Motown captured the top 3 spots on the chart. Diana Ross and the Supremes were at #2 with Love Child and Stevie Wonder was at #3 with For Once in My Life.
It was surprising at the time that Motown would release Marvin’s when they did as Gladys Knight and the Pips had a hit with it the year before. However, Marvin recorded his before they did and the arrangement was completely different then the one the Pips used. Other performers recorded the song before Marvin did. Performers like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles who released it on their Special Occasion album and the Isley Brothers whose version has not yet been released.
The song has been recorded by so many artist that the song has made the hit charts at least 5 times. However, it is Marvin Gaye’s that the others are measured against. It was the 18th single of Marvin’s to make the charts and his first #1 hit.

A Nice Santa Story

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike one day to hear my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?"
She snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.
"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car. "Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's second grade class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.
"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it(a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible). Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.
May you always have LOVE to share. And may you always believe in the magic of the spirit of Santa Claus.

The Three Stooges Christmas Record

For me it isn't Christmas if I don't hear the Three Stooges Wreck the Halls and their version of Jingle Bells. This record is from the 1960's version of the comedy team. Thought you might like to see it.

That Girl On TV Land

Well TV Land has just finished airing 48 hours of That Girl to celebrate that series joining their network lineup. First off from what I saw the series really holds up. Of course the fashions are a bit dated but that is to be expected. It is a sweet romantic comedy about a young woman named Ann Marie trying to make it as an actress in New York while dating her reporter boyfriend Donald Hollinger. The chemistry between Marlo Thomas as Ann and Ted Bessell as Donald was just the right mix. Add in Lew Parker as Ann’s Father Lou Marie who was always being protective of his daughter and this comedy had all it needed to be a hit. The love and respect the characters had for each other came through every week. The casting director must have been the best in the business as many other up and coming actors made appearances during its run. Future and current comedy greats like George Carlin, Dabney Coleman, Bernie Kopell, Ronnie Schell, and Ruth Buzzi were all cast members at one time or another. There were even guest appearances by actors like Bill Bixby, Carroll O’Conner, etc. Maybe they were joining the show to get approval from Marlo’s Daddy. Danny Thomas was a big star and powerful TV producer himself with hits like Make Room for Daddy, The Dick Van Dyke Show and the Andy Griffith Show, just to name a few, behind him. The show was very well produced. I always love the beginning. I couldn’t wait to see how they would work in the title of the show on each episode. For those of you who have not seen That Girl it went something like this.
A TV producer is walking down the street with a director.
TV Producer: We need a new face for the show. A young woman who is pretty and bright with sex appeal.
Director: Don’t forget she has to have that girl next door quality. Where are we going to find someone like that?
Suddenly they see Ann Marie coming down the street.
TV Producer: We need someone like (he points to Ann)…That Girl!
Cue the theme song.
I always loved that. The setting might be different but you always knew they would point to Ann and call her That Girl.
Seasons one and two are now both out on DVD but I don’t plan to rush out and buy either one right now. I love TV and I love that I can now have my favorites on DVD. Perhaps one day people like me can have their own internet TV station. However, some shows are best seen on TV. To know that if you don’t watch it now then it may be months or years before you see it again has something of a thrill about it. I have no doubt I will one day buy That Girl on DVD but for now I will wait.
This marathon showing brought back some happy memories. I did see most of the shows on its first run but one memory of the show is from when it was rerun in my area. Every once in a while my Mom and my Aunt would take me and my cousin Rachel and go visit my twentysomething cousin Toni. She was a young wife and mother. The three of them would usually talk in the other room. Rachel and I would be in the living room. We both liked music but for some reason Toni would not let us play her stereo. She would let us watch TV. Usually it had on Captain Kangaroo or the local children’s show Uncle Al. There were times they were showing reruns of Here’s Lucy and That Girl. Some of my memories of the show come from watching it on Toni’s TV.
You can go here to a posting about the shows 40th anniversary. or click on the title above.

Remembering John Buscema

On December 11, 1927 John Buscema was born. He spent most of his comic book career at Marvel. He was mostly known for his wonderful art on Conan. Mr. Buscema gave a lot back to the art community when he opened his own art school in the 1970’s and later when he wrote with Stan Lee the best selling book How to Draw Comic’s the Marvel Way. In September of 2001 he produced his last comic book. It was for DC comics and called Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Buscema creating Superman. He was staring work on a five issue mini series with Roy Thomas when he passed away from cancer in January of 2002. He may be gone but he will never be forgotten.
You can click here
or on the title above to go to his site that is dedicated to his work and memory.

Bob Denver

Lately what I have had on my mind is Bob Denver and Dusty’s Trail. For those of you who have never seen this TV show it was really a western version of Gilligan’s Island. In his autobiography “Gilligan, Maynard & Me”, Mr. Denver admits that it was Gilligan goes west. Mr. Denver played Dusty the guide of a wagon train headed to California. Of course it turned out Dusty was a rotten guide and they were just going around in circles. Forrest Tucker was the Wagon Master. He was like the Skipper on a horse. Ivor Francis and Lynn Wood played Mr. & Mrs. Brookhaven the wealthy Howell types. Jeannine Riley played Lulu the saloon girl. She was something of a less glamorous Ginger. Lori Saunders was the Mary Ann of the show as the school teacher named Betsy and Bill Cort the Professor as the engineer named Andy. Ironically both Jeannine Riley and Lori Saunders had starred in Petticoat Junction in the 1960's. Miss. Riley was on it from 1963-1965 and Miss Saunders was from 1966 till the end of the series run. Dusty's Trail was shot on a syndicated budget since it was not on the network schedule. The humor was the same but the quality, and yes for the 60’s Gilligan’s Island was a very good quality show, was not. The chemistry between the actors is good but at times it seemed forced when compared to GI. Rumor has it that Forrest Tucker was half drunk when they shot the episodes. Only 26 of them aired in 1973 and then the show was seemingly forgotten.
One of Mr. Denver’s best memories from the show was the run bys. It meant that all of them had to run by the cameras in one shot. It was so huge they had to stop traffic on the lot and people came from all over to watch. Forrest Tucker rode out first then Bob. The stagecoach was next and finally the covered wagon. As the wagon came out one side Forrest Tucker has circled around and was re-entering on the other side. When the covered wagon was coming back in Mr. Tucker and Bob were coming out on the other side again.
Bob said the show was canceled as it was seen by few and disappeared. He said he hoped that it would be resurrected one day as some of the episodes were pretty funny. He is right. While it pale when compared to GI there were some funny moments. Unfortunately Mr. Denver is dead but I did find some of the episodes on DVD. You can get them if you click here. Also you can get some of the episodes edited together as a movie called the Wackiest Wagon Train in the West.
Bob Denver’s career in TV started out on a high note when he played Maynard in the Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. He was the break out character as he played Jughead to Dwayne Hickman’s Archie like character of Dobie. His next show was Gilligan’s Island when he was cast after Jerry Van Dyke turned down the part to star in My Mother the Car. GI was a big hit with kids and stayed on for three years but runs forever in syndication. Since then Mr. Denver had a hard time getting cast in anything that didn’t resemble Gilligan’s Island. Even as Maynard he was a little bit like a teenage Gilligan and Dobie like the Skipper. Except Gilligan didn’t mind working but Maynard worked hard to avoid working. Other people who stood next to him in the Skipper type of role were Herb Edelman on the Good Guys, the above mentioned Forrest Tucker, Chuck McCann on the live Saturday Morning show Far Out Space Nuts. That was sort of like Gilligan and the Skipper in space. Alan Hale Jr. played Skipper once more in the TV movies as well as on the two cartoon versions. One was the New Adventures of Gilligan which was a faithful transition of the show for Saturday morning audiences. Later they took them on another cartoon adventure to Gilligan’s Planet.
Mr. Denver was a good actor but never got to do any drama. The closest that he got was when he played himself on the comedy Evening Shade and gave a speech to the high school graduation class. He did make people laugh and was closely associated with two successful characters. That is pretty good for any actor.

Remembering Lennon

On December 8th 1980 John Lennon was leaving that morning to work in the studio. Just outside his front door he met a man who asked Lennon for an autograph. As always Lennon signed the album that he had. He asked the gentleman if that was all. The man said yes and John got in his limo and drove away. The autograph seeker was Mark Chapman and John narrowly escaped death. As we all know Chapman was there to kill John Lennon. That morning he had the gun with him but was having second thoughts. Later that day when Lennon came home Chapman changed his mind again and shot Mr. Lennon to death. A tragic ending to a musical life.
In the sixties Lennon and Paul McCartney were the songwriting talents behind the Beatles. Paul was the pop music showman with business sense. Lennon was the personality with the wit and some would say a brilliant madman. With McCartney’s business sense, Lennon headline grabbing antics on social issues and both of their talents in music the Beatles reigned over the music world for 10 years. They continued that reign as four individuals after the band broke up. While McCartney, Harrison and Starr all seemed to become just three more pop musicians, Lennon continued as the voice of his generation. He was always challenging the government. He did it so well that they tried to kick him out of the country.
Paul McCartney is my favorite of the Beatles. However, John was their leader who brought them all together and spearheaded the changes that came about in the 1960’s. Without realizing it John Lennon became a world leader and found out the hard way that he should weigh his words carefully and that actions really spoke louder then words. While most of the world may not agree with how John did things he did bring to light things that the public would not know about otherwise.
John died while coming out of five years of retirement from the music business. He said he heard some of the music that was being made back then and didn’t like the path pop music was taking. In true Lennon style he took an active part to show the younger generation the path they should be taking. Turn on top 40 radio today and you may think we still need someone like Mr. Lennon to lead us down the correct musical path.

The Pledge of Allegiance.

In honor of our troops over seas and in memory of those who were at Pearl Harbor and the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 I am directing you to this site. It is where Red Skelton tells about the pledge of allegiance.

Justice League Spin Off From Smallville?

According to Comics Continuum there may be a Justice League spin-off from the hit show Smallville. My bet is that there will be a Green Arrow series but perhaps it will be the JLA. Click on the name or the title above to read the article.

Happy Anniversary to The Defenders

This month is the 35th anniversary of Marvel Comics super team The Defenders. They were first published in Marvel Feature #1 in December of 1971. They were billed as a non-group. The super team book for people who hate super team books. That last statement never made much sense to me but that is one way they were billed. While my heart for super teams belongs to the JLA and the Avengers I have a feeling if I were a superhero I would be more at home in the Defenders. When I was in high school I never fit in with jocks as I never cared much for sports. I tried out for football and basketball teams only because my friends did and it was something to do. I didn’t have the heart for sports and it showed so I never made the teams. I was asked to be the manager of our freshman basketball team. I guess Coach Davis figured since I was tall I would get better and make the team next year. However, I didn't even try out for the team after my Freshman year. Now in my school the more popular kids were the smart kids. While I was never dumb, it would have been a closer fit to be in this clique. But they were also more into partying then I was and therefore I really didn't fit into that group either. The group I wound up fitting into more was sort of a non-group like the Defenders. The guys and girls I ate lunch with and hung out with after school for a year or two were the ones who didn’t fit into the above mentioned cliques. As a result most of their personalities were close matches to mine at that time in my life. That is why I think I would have fit better into the Defenders. Namor and Hulk proved they would never fit into Fantastic Four or the Avengers. With Dr. Strange and company they were considered welcome additions. Like my group in school they welcomed any new members. Membership was very fluid in the Defenders.
It started with Dr. Strange, Namor and Hulk joining to fight a common evil. They agreed to a loose knit friendship and to join each other when ever called to fight evil. As time went on it seemed like almost every character in the Marvel universe had been a Defender at some point in their careers. When you ask two fans who the line up of the Defenders were you won’t get the same answer between them. They almost will certainly say Dr. Strange, Hulk and Sub-Mariner but the rest of the group is up for grabs. For me the others are Nighthawk and Valkyrie. The rest of the line up over the years was Silver Surfer, Hellcat, Luke Cage, Cela, Moondragon and others. By the time issue 152 came around the ride was over and the book was canceled. When the series ended even the three mainstays were gone. It’s members at the end were Valkyrie, Angel, Beast, Iceman and Gargoyle. The membership now made the book look like it was a spin off of the X-Men.
There seems to be renewed interest in The Defenders. In the past few years there have been new mini-series based on the group. I tried them but the fun was no longer there for me. It is nice to know they are fondly remember by others and I hope for new comic book fans they will be back on a regular basis. Till then you can buy the Essential Defenders and go to this Defenders message board.

Self-portraits

Hey remember seeing these advertised in Marvel Comics. They were self portraits of the artist who worked on the comic books that we all loved so much. I remember seeing this one of John Romita Sr. and couldn’t help but notice he drew himself to look like Peter Parker. Years later I saw a photo of John Romita Jr. and he must look like his Father because he looked like a real life Peter Parker. The first time I remember seeing this one and other of Kirby and Trimpe was when I was part of the Merry Marvel Marching Society. It was in catalogue that they mailed out to the members. I was about 6 or 7 at the time and couldn’t afford to buy anything from the book but I loved getting it. It felt like I was seeing something before the rest of the world got a look at it. To see the creators surrounded by all of the characters they created each month was fascinating. I imagined that was the way it really felt when they were working with well defined characters. This drawing brings fond memories to me and I hope it does to you too.

Batman/Spirit

This book brings the Spirit into modern times as he and Batman meet for the first time. They team up to get their friends Commissioner Gordon and Commissioner Dolan out of trouble. In order to properly view this book I had to try and ignore my memories of the Will Eisner stories. Those stories may have taken place in the 1940’s but they were so well done that they still stand up in todays market. The real star of the book was The Spirit not Batman. You could have teamed him up with Hourman and gotten the same reaction.
With the updating nothing had to change. Ellen still pines away for The Spirit. The Spirit still live underground in the graveyard and Dolan still keeps The Spirit’s secret. I’ve always wondered how much of a secret it could be when he goes out in the daytime. The idea to update The Spirit was given the thumbs up sign by Mr. Eisner before he passed away. So I am sure that he would be happy with the way the art turned out. It is almost as good as Eisner’s but not nearly as close as when Kitchen Sink produced new stories based on The Spirit. One aspect that I am glad to see the artist kept in was the inventive way he used the Spirit’s name on one of the splash pages. That was one of Eisner’s signatures on the series. In this one the Spirit falls from the top of a building and the letter from the sign that fall with him spell out Spirit as they fall to the ground.
As you can see it was impossible for me to ignore memories of Eisner’s version. However, I did enjoy reading this book. It was well written and drawn and I can’t wait for the new series to come out later this month. I just hope they don’t turn Ebony into a computer whiz.

If you want to buy it you can go to it's auction site by clicking on the title above.

My Two Cents: Deck the Halls

Well Christmas is almost here and Hollywood is giving us as many Christmas movies as we can handle. To the best of my memory I only recall one Christmas movie per year in the past. So for this year there seems to be four. This seems to me like a major break through. Those movies are the Santa Clause 3, Deck the Halls, Unaccompanied Minors and The Nativity. Today I am giving my two cents on Deck the Halls. I really liked this film. Now the plot was predictable but its heart was in the right place and it had one of my favorite types of comedy. Slapstick! I may be a bit over protective when it comes to what kids see on the screen but a couple parts of it I would have rated PG-18. For most the PG rating is appropriate. Matthew Broderick is Steve Finch and is the local eye doctor in town. He is so organized about Christmas and is love for the holiday is well known in town. So he is the citizen who always puts together the towns Christmas activities. Buddy Hall is played by Danny DeVito. The Hall family moves to town when they lease the house across the street from the Finch family. While both men share the star roles, it is Mr. DeVito who is the star in the old Hollywood style. That style is if an actor’s character is mentioned in the title then that actor is the star of the film. So Mr. DeVito is the star as Mr. Broderick’s character gets angry at them and wants to Deck the Halls.
Buddy Hall moves to town to take a new job as a car salesman. He is a great salesman but can’t keep a job as he is still searching for something to fulfill his life. He wants recognition that he doesn’t feel he is getting at his job or at home. When his two daughters find a site that shows what everybody’s home looks like from space but they can’t find their own home it adds to his feeling of being invisible. He decides to do something about it. He wants to light his home so it can be seen from space. He does it so well that it makes the news and the town starts thinking of him as Mr. Christmas instead of Steve Finch. Steve Finch’s reaction to this is beautiful and very funny. Buddy gets back at him by having the lights and loud music stay on till 4am. Now Steve can’t get any sleep. He strikes back by buying fireworks and shoots them at Buddy’s home. However, one gets away from Finch and goes down his chimney. He does more damage to his home then to Buddy’s. In the end both men see that their fighting is hurting both families and they try to be friends.
Does Buddy ever get his house seen from space? Buy a ticket and see the movie to find out. You won’t be disappointed. This is one movie that is worth the price of the ticket. You can’t say that about most movies these days.

This Day In Music History:The Beatles and Come Together/Something

On November 29th 1969 this day in music history the Beatles had their first two-sided number one single on the Billboard charts. Recently I found out that this had something to do with a policy change at Billboard. Previously I stated in an earlier posting that stations put a b side on the charts due to having a lot of request for that song. I now believe that was only for the local station charts. It seems that Billboard back when it started had standard operating procedure to list both sides on the charts in separate positions. It is that procedure Billboard was using when the Beatles single Come Together with Something as the flip side came out.
Both songs competed on the charts and seemed stalled the week of November 15th with Come Together at number two and Something at number 3. If this procedure continued neither one may have made it to the top of the charts. Then Billboard changed its method on how they put together their chart rankings and listed all two-sided hits in the same position. Under this method the Beatles had both songs were listed as number one the week of November 29th of 1969. This was only the second time both songs of a two-sided hit reached the top spot since Elvis did it in 1958 with Don’t and I Beg of You.
In England Come Together/Something only reached number 4. It was the Beatles lowest ranking in their home country since Love Me Do only went to number 17. Come Together/Something was the Beatles 18th number one record. It broke the record that Elvis set when he reached his 17th number one record earlier that month with Suspicious Minds.

Catching up with Jack

Well last spring I finally got hooked on 24. So much so that I had to find out what happened the previous 4 years. Thanks to a friend at work and to the public library I have been able to catch up on them with DVD's and video tapes. Who knew Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer was North Americas answer to James Bond? The only probelm I have with the show is that ion the last episodes of each season it ends in cliff hangers that get resolved off screen. For example season two had the terror threat resolved but a new one came up when the President shook hands with a terriost who infected him with a deadly virus. At the beginning of season 3 that has already been taken care of and the President is running for re-election when a drug lord threatens to release a virus in L.A. unless his brother is released from prison. How did they take care of the terriost who infected the President? Why start a new story when you really had not finished the first one? Other then that the series is very well done. I can't wait till season 6.

This Day In Music History: Tennessee Ernie Ford and Sixteen Tons

Ok this should have been put up earlier. I got my dates mixed up and thought that this song was #1 starting on November 29th of 1955. However, it started its run on November 26th of 1955. It was still the #1 song on this date and stayed there for an incredible 7 weeks. It is of course Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Mr. Ford had a popular television show in the 50’s and I am sure that helped sales. The previous sales record was held by Mitch Miller and the Yellow Rose of Texas. Sixteen Tons beat that record when it sold more then a million copies in 3 weeks and reached the top of the Billboard charts.
Mr. Ford was a country singer with a booming baritone voice. However, when he was acting on shows like I Love Lucy or any other shows of the day he would talk in a high pitched voice with a southern twang and called everybody cousin. This must have endeared him to his audience but there was a startling change when he started to sing. Out came this deep and powerful voice that could give Bing Crosby, Dean Martin other male singers of the 50’s a run for their money. You would see the same thing happen in the 1960’s with Jim Nabors.
Sixteen Tons was written by Merle Travis in 1947. He was recording his album Folk Songs of the Hills when his label asked him to include some songs about miners. When he could not find any he wrote some of his own. Sixteen Tons was one of those songs. Mr. Travis’ Dad worked as a coal miner in Kentucky. Everyday he would come home and say “another day older and deeper in debt.” He included that phrase in the chorus of the song.
Mr. Ford was so busy with his new TV show that he didn’t record new material for his record label. When they told him he had to record something for them to release he picked two songs that he sang on his show and went into the studio to record them. The songs he picked were “You Don’t Have To Be a Baby to Cry” and of course “Sixteen Tons.”
Ford got his start in show business as a country music DJ. He worked at KXLA in Pasadena and just for fun, when Ford had the time, he would rush over to his friend Cliffie Stone’s show. They would tell jokes and Ford would sing a hymn and then leave. He said “It was all for fun and didn’t pay a thing.” At least it didn’t when he started doing it. He became so popular on the show that they asked him to become a regular on their Saturday night show.
One morning while driving to work the A&R man for Capitol Records heard Ford singing along with a record on the air. Once he got to his office at Capitol he called up the station and asked to see Ernie right away. Later Tennessee Ernie Ford was signed to Capitol Records and began recording a string of hits for the label.
His biggest success in music was Sixteen Tons. He had continued success in television well into the 1960’s. Most of it in the 60’s was as a guest star on other peoples programs. He was the star of his own program in prime time for NBC from 1956 to 1961. In a strange twist of irony the program was called The Ford Show but it was not named for Tennessee Ernie Ford. It was named after the programs sponsor, Ford automobiles.

I think I can now add photos

See that smile on my face. Well it is on my face in that photo because I was graduating from high school. If you could see me now I would have a smile bigger then that because I think I have figured out how to add photos to my postings. I have already added two new photos to previous post and will try to do that for others. So look to other postings you have read before to see the pretty pictures. You may even find something that you missed the first time.

Rest in Peace Dave Cockrum

I just heard the sad news of the passing of artist Dave Cockrum. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Cockrum at my local comic book shop. I believe it was in the mid to late 90's. I had a plesant conversation with him as did many people who were there at the time. I forget what we talked about but I was left with a good feeling and hoped to see him at the store again someday. That was the only time he would be there and only time I would ever see him. It was the first time I bought original art. He sold me and signed a page of art that he did for a promo for the X-Men series on the Fox Network. Unfortunately I don't have the art anymore. Last I heard is that it was hanging in a comic book shop in Lexington, Kentucky. It was a thrill to meet such a famous and well respected artist like Mr. Cockrum. It was a great feeling to meet one of the creators of the New X-Men as well as the artist for the Legion of Super-Heroes. I was never a big fan of either but I loved seeing his art on them. From time to time I would buy the X-Men and I would sometimes read Legion when I would be at my cousin Randy's house. They were one of his favorites so they would always be around somewhere. Dave Cockrum you will be missed.

Would you believe Get Smart on DVD?

It's the old releasing the entire box set first trick. Most of the time they release the DVD's of tv shows season by season and then give you the entire series run in a boxed set. However, is releasing the boxed set first and then releasing the seperate seasons. The box set is coming out on November 15, 2006 for $199.96. The seperate seasons are being released next year at $40 each. Just an FYI for Get Smart fans.

This Day In Music History: Ringo Starr and Photograph

On November 24, 1973 Ringo Starr topped the Billboard charts for 1 week with his song Photograph. When the Beatles broke up Ringo was the one that many thought would not have a successful solo career. In an interview John Lennon said “I’m most happy, I guess we all are, for Ringo’s success. It always went ‘round that Ringo was dumb, but he ain’t dumb. But he didn’t have that much of a writing ability and he wasn’t known for writing his own material. And there was a bit of a worry that although he can make movies…how was his recording career gonna be? And in general, it’s probably better than mine.”

It’s not surprising that they would be worried about Ringo’s recording career. He was always overshadowed by the writing efforts of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison. He had the fewest lead vocals. When he did sing lead on songs like Act Naturally, Yellow Submarine and With A Little Help From My Friends they were well received by the fans. Ringo had a better recording career then the others in the early 1970’s. Of his first 8 singles to make the charts 7 of them made the top 10.

Ringo’s first album was an album of standards called Sentimental Journey produced by George Martin. The arrangers were considered a group of all stars that included Paul McCartney, Maurice Gibb and Richard Perry. His second album was a country album called Beaucoups of Blues. The title track was his first single. It made the Billboard top 100 but only got to #87. His second single turned things around when he had a hit with It Don’t Come Easy. It was produced by George Harrison and peaked at #4. Ringo’s solo recording career was now off and running.

In 1973 Richard Perry asked Ringo if he would be a presenter in Nashville at the Grammy Awards. When Ringo accepted the invitation Mr. Perry said he wasn’t calling just to invite him to Nashville for the Grammies. He also reminded Ringo that they always talked about going into the studio together to record. So without out telling their lawyers they went into an L.A. studio and recorded 5 songs for his next album. One of those was Photograph which Ringo wrote with his occasional writing partner and occasional producer from the Beatles George Harrison. George as well as John Lennon were both in Los Angles at the time. When they heard about the project they offered to play on the tracks. The title of the album was RINGO. When Paul McCartney contributed his help on other songs it was something of an unofficial Beatles reunion. The only thing that made sure it was not a reunion was that all four were never on the same song.

Photograph was the first single from the album. It is such a strong song that it was released 6 weeks before the album. Seven weeks later it was the #1 song in the country.

When you think of great Beatle ballads many songs come to mind. Yesterday would represent Paul. In My Life represents John. George is represented by the song Something. Ringo would have to be represented by Photograph. It may have come after the break up but it represents Ringo well. It is just as big a standard as the songs written by John, Paul and George have become.

This Day In Music History: Billy Swan and I Can Help

On November 23, 1974 Billy Swan had the #1 song on the Billboard Charts with I Can Help. Mr. Swan started his musical career at 16. He wrote a poem in school and a couple of years later it was recorded when it was set to music. The song that it became was Lover Please and it was a big hit. Billy said that spoiled him and he thought show business was the easiest business in the world. Billy moved from Cape Giradeau, Missouri to Memphis, Tenn. to continue his songwriting career. When he got to town the first thing he did was drive past Elvis home. After he had been in Memphis for awhile he went back to Graceland and got to know Elvis’ Uncle Travis Smith. Travis watched the gate for Elvis. Billy told him he was a songwriter and looking for a place to stay. Billy said “There was an empty room at his place so I ended up living there…I even ended up watching the gate sometimes late at night so Travis could go home for a bit.”

Later Billy moved to Nashville and got a job as a recording assistant. He quit during the recording of Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album. He gave his job to Kris Kristofferson. Billy and Kris became good friends and he wrote I Can Help on a little RMI organ that Kris and Rita Coolidge gave him and his wife as a wedding gift. Billy said “So I was just sitting at the organ and started playin’ chords and pretty soon the words came out…I did it in two takes and didn’t even overdub the vocals-just stood up and played the organ and sang.”

When I was a kid the only place I heard the song was at the skating rink. When I do hear it on the radio now I can’t help but feel someone should be saying “All skate please! All skate!” over a loudspeaker. In my mind that is part of the beginning of the song.

After his song was a hit Billy was a guest on many shows. It was when he hosted the Midnight Special that his name was in lights behind him. He said “It’s sort of like a dream come true, like the little boy in Johnny B. Goode, whose Mother says, ‘Maybe someday your name will be in lights saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.”

This Day In Music History: KC and the Sunshine Band and That's the Way (I Like It)

On November 22, 1975 the song that topped the Billboard charts was That’s the Way (I Like It) by KC and the Sunshine Band. KC, whose real name is Harry Wayne Casey, said that the version that was released to the public was much tamer then the original version. KC said that the song was a little too risqué for 1975. He said “…And I thought boy wait till my Mother hears this one!” He had to clean it up considerably. Still KC’s Mom may not have been as shocked as he thought. She was a long time music fan. She was into rhythm and blues and loved Jerry Butler, Nat ‘King’ Cole and the Flamingos. KC grew up listening to them and later fell in love with the Motown sound of Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, James Brown etc.

KC’s musical roots served him well when he had to play in concert. He was not use to playing keyboards while singing at the same time. However, he learned quickly and was praised by the New York Times. “In person they are one of the most exciting groups performing today. On stage KC becomes truly possessed by his rhythms…This is no insecure Caucasian kid mimicking black inflections, exhorting a crowd to put your hands together.” Like Elvis before him KC has the presence and musical ability to bridge cultural gaps with his audience.

Star Trek: The Animated Series

In this 40th anniversary of Star Trek we almost forget the indivual anniversaries. I am speaking mostly about Star Trek: The Animated Series. This is the 33rd anniversary of the Animated Series. It premired in the Fall of 1973. Since then it has been a point of contention with Star Trek fans. Of those on film the regular shows and the movies are considered part of the Star Trek legacy but many fans don't consider the animated series part of it. I however do. I mean why not? I also consider the novels and the comic books part of it. My those Enterprise crew members were a busy group. The cartoon series was aired from 1973 to 1974. I could be wrong but I remember seeing it in 1975. Perhaps they reran it for a year after it won an Emmy. Yes it won the coveted award that even the original series didn't win. Most of the cast came back as voice actors for the series. Some of them could not been in the studio when it was recorded. Most cartoon series gather the whole cast together for recording sessions but in this case they recorded seperately. DeForest Kelley said that he recoded his in the car on a cassette recorder when he was in traffic. If you want to enjoy some Star Trek stories that you probably haven't seen before then you can buy it now. The Animated Series is released on DVD in the stores tomorrow. You can get it at Amazon.com. Just click on one of the links on the right to take you there.

Goober as Spock?

I noticed that a few people are coming to this site recently when searching for something about George Lindsey as Spock. For those of you who are I feel I should tell you that it is a joke. Remember they also ask William Shatner what his favorite episode was and he responded with his favorite from the Brady Bunch not Star Trek. The whole behind the scenes of Star Trek on TV Land is a joke. Disappointing for serious Trek fans like myself. I thought I was going to hear something I hadn't heard before. For the record I have read that the first choice for Mr. Spock was Martin Landau. He turned it down and Mr. Nimoy got the part. Ironically, when Mr. Landau quit his role on Mission: Impossible, he played Rollin Hand on the show from 1966-1969, he was replaced by a character named Paris. Paris was played by Leonard Nimoy who was with the show from 1969-1971. Also on Mission:Impossible his best friend on the show was Jim Phelps. On Star Trek Mr. Nimoy's best friend was named Captain Jim Kirk. They both had the same first name of Jim. It almost seems like the part Mr. Nimoy was destined to play was Paris as well as Spock.

Mid-Ohio Con

Just like booksteve I will not be able to attend the Mid-Ohio Con this year. I wanted to attend to see the stars of Three's Company as well as Herb Trimpe. I was having a hard time finding a travel companion, at the time Steve was not sure that he could get time off work. Suddenly Mr. Trimpe, the main reason for me to go, canceled. With that in mind I didn't set aside any money to go. Suddenly, Mr. Trimpe cleared his schedule. Now he is attending. I still can't. A last minute trip is out of the question as I now have to attend a family meeting on Saturday. Perhaps on Sunday afternoon. In case you don't see me and you get to meet Herb Trimpe please tell him Rick Phillips of On My Mind says hi!

My Two Cents: Casino Royale

Well it's that season again. No I'm not reffering to Thanksgiving or Christmas. I'm referring to time for movie audiences to get a new James Bond. Unlike other Bonds, I have never seen British actor Daniel Craig in any movies so I am not sure what he has done before. I have heard that he was in Road to Perdition. Mr. Craig does well in the role and hopefully this will not be the last time we see him as James Bond. With this movie all Ian Fleming's books have been made into films. Now they may get movies made from the books that other writers did on Bond or perhaps they will write new movies on their own for the studio.
The movie Casino Royale had been made before for another studio but as a comedy with David Niven, Peter Sellers and Woody Allen. So in a way this might be considered a remake but the plot is completely different. In the David Niven film Mr. Niven is James Bond retired. Peter Sellers is an agent given the new name of James Bond but he is not able to live up to the legend. He is even accidentally killing the women he is trying to suduce. They team up to battle the evil genius trying to take over the world. It turns out it is James nephew Jimmy Bond played by Woody Allen. He is sriking back at the world because like Sellers character he was not able to live up to the legend of being named James Bond. It is a funny movie but also a very 60's movie with the dance scenes and very psychedelic.
This movie has Bond facing a professional investor and gambler who uses his profits and winnings to finance terriorist groups. The movie is really about the orgins of James Bond. When we meet Mr. Bond he is already a agent but does not have double 0 status. In order to get there you have to kill at least 2 enemies and we see the first 2 kills. We see how he develops his taste for his favorite drink. His first Astin Martin and his first tux. He also gets his first introduction to his future friend Felix Lighter. Over the years Felix has changed race. Usually he is white but twice he is African American. I don't want to say much more as I don't want to give away any surprises. If you want to see this film then you won't be dissappointed. It has it all action, romance, danger, intrigue and humor. It also has a leading man who was up to the challange. The only thing that was missing was John Cleese. I kept waiting for him to show up but he never did. Maybe next time.

Star Trek Marathon on TV Land

Starting tonight TV Land officially airs Star Trek the original series. I came in abit late tonight as at least one episode had already aired. With the episode I started with tonight it is more like the beginning of a Ricardo Montalban double feature. The episode was titled Space Seed that introduced the character of Kahn. Airing right after it is Star TrekII: The Wrath of Kahn. Mr. Montalban's preformance is the standout in both showings. First as the young idealist and a gentic bred superman from the late 20th century. He and his band of men had been exiled into space for trying to take over the world. Once the crew of the Enterprise found them they were kind to Kahn but he still tried to take over the ship and even kill Captain Kirk in the process. Once again Kirk had to banish them to a planet and to live in a place called city Alpha 5. While this episode of the series is about 15 to 20 years apart from Star Trek II, it is ironic that Spock ends the episode saying it would be interesting to come back to see what happens on city Alpha 5.
Star Trek I was a dissappointment storywise. It did give you a feel of how huge the Enterprise was and not just that small dot that flew by on the TV screen. We are reminded again of how huge it is when we see the individual lights come on to prepare the ship for flight. With the back to back airings of the Space Seed and Wrath of Kahn there is one blooper that sticks out like a sore thumb when we are reintroduced to Kahn in the movie. Chekov is the first from the cast to meet Kahn and they both remember meeting before. However, Chekov was not in the Space Seed episode. You could say they met off screen but since we are only dealing with on screen meetings it is safe to say that Chekov and Kahn never met. Perhaps they should have had Sulu be the first to meet Kahn. Star Trek II is without a doubt the best of all the Star Trek films. While Mr. Montalban's preformance is a stand out each main character gets a chance to show their acting chops. They even work in Deforest Kelly's background of him being a preacher's kid when he warns how mankind is playing God with project Genesis. The Bible says the world was created in 6 days but look out here comes Genesis, we'll do it in 6 mintues. Montalban's preformance can't help but be the standout as his character has the best lines. When his son ask if they should answer the Enterprise he says. "Let them eat static." When he is about to strike he says "Revenge is a dish best served cold. It is very cold in space."
This movie is best known for the death of Mr. Spock. The scene where Kirk says goodbye to his good friend who sacrificed himself for the ship is touching. It is the seeming end of a lifelong friendship. However a minute earlier Spock and McCoy had a scene that set up the sequal but it was not evident at that moment.
TV Land had also promised they would have behind the scenes info from the early days. So far they have just been jokes. Examples; Nimoy was the 2nd choice to play Spock. First choice was for Geroge "Goober" Lindsey from the Andy Griffith Show. Yeah Right!
One intersting bit of real trivia that I remember reading about is that the character of the Engineer Trainee who dies is not just another trainee. The reason Mr. Scott takes it so hard is that it is a relative of his. It was either his son or grandson I forget which right now.
Anyway it is fun and interesting watching this Ricardo Montalban double feature.

This Day In Music History: John Lennon and Whatever Gets You Thru the Night

Today is the 32nd anniversary of John Lennon’s first #1 hit in America. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night by Mr. Lennon was #1 for one week starting on November 16, 1974. John Lennon was the first of the Beatles to release a single when he released Give Peace a Chance in 1969 while he was still a member of the group. That is the same year the Beatles released The Ballad of John and Yoko. A few months later John released his next solo effort with Cold Turkey. The Beatles, mostly Paul, refused to do Cold Turkey so Lennon did it alone. Both songs where hits on the Billboard charts and entered the top 40 but neither were #1. Later he released his more commercial sounding single Instant Karma (We All Shine On) but it peaked at #3. His next single, Imagine, had more impact but it too peaked at #3.
When I researched this I was surprised to see Imagine only peaked at #3. It is probably John Lennon’s most popular song after he left the Beatles. I always thought it was #1.
While John had many previous attempts to top the charts and was the first Beatle to go out on his own, he was the last Beatle to top the Billboard charts with a solo effort. Yes, even Ringo beat John to the top. George Harrison was the first Beatle to reach #1 with My Sweet Lord/Isn’t It a Pity. Considering the legal battle over the song George may have wished it wasn’t a hit at all. The second Beatle to reach #1 was Paul McCartney with Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. Some people might say that Paul was the last Beatle to have a #1 hit on the Billboard charts as he was usually billed with either his wife Linda or with his group Wings. If that is the case then Paul would be the last Beatle with a solo effort with the song Coming Up (Live at Glasgow). Perhaps we should say Mr. Lennon was the last to get a post-Beatles #1 hit. Ringo beat John to the #1 spot with Photograph in 1973.
Whatever Gets You Thru the Night was recorded for the Walls and Bridges album. At that time he was going through emotional stress from his separation from Yoko and battling the United States Immigration Service who was trying to have him deported. On the song he was joined by his friend Elton John. Elton was to play the piano, the organ and sing background. Elton’s voice comes through loud and strong, nearly over powering John on his own song. You could really call this a duet instead of a solo effort. Lennon said when they were done Elton was convinced it was a #1 hit record. John is quoted in the biography titled Lennon as saying “It would be nice but it’s not a number one.” Elton made a bet with John that if the song went to the top that Lennon would have to appear at Elton’s next concert to perform the song. John was so convinced that the song would not be that he agreed. The song entered the charts the last week of September of 1974. Seven weeks later it was #1.
John made good on his promise and appeared in concert with Elton on Thanksgiving night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Elton also asked John to perform Imagine but he turned him down. He said “I don’t want to come on like Dean Martin, doing my classic hits.” John was quoted as saying “I wanted to have some fun and play some rock ‘n’ roll. And I didn’t want to do more then three because it was Elton’s show.” The other two songs they did together were Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds and I Saw Her Standing There.
All of those songs with Elton were eventually released on record. They had taken on a historical significance. It was the last time John Lennon appeared to preform on stage.

God Will Never Stop Working In Our Lives

God's Guidance
"I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me, I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:7-8 NLT
The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24"

Giving thanks that God is near

"Sometimes we try to "ride out the storms" in our lives—doing this the best we can. We think, If I can just hang on and be strong, I can get through this. David knew he couldn't make it on his own. In the past, he had found help in the Lord God. And in this prayer, David again sought the Lord's protection: "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge" (v. 1). He rejoiced in the guidance and assistance the Lord had given him. Though his enemies were trying to shake and topple him, David stood firm because God was "right beside" him.

In prayer today, acknowledge that God is right beside you—upholding and guiding you. Thank him that he helps you and does not leave you to struggle on your own.

A prayer for today…

Dear Lord, I will not be shaken, for you are right beside me…

Rest In Peace Jack Palance

Today I have heard about the passing of an actor whose work I have always admired…Jack Palance. Mr. Palance had a long career in film from detective dramas to war movies to westerns. He always played the heavy. He tried his hand at horror when he played Dracula and in my opinion he played the part as well as Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi did. Like most actors his popularity dipped for a time but he recharged his film career when he co-starred with Billy Crystal in the City Slickers film series. He finally won an Oscar in the process as well as made the Oscar telecast memorable with his one handed push ups. It gave his friend/co-star Billy Crystal, who hosted the Oscar telecast, a chance to adlib a lot of jokes for the rest of the telecast at Mr. Palance’s expense. With his Oscar he got offered more roles in major films and he could add comedic actor to his resume. He had a small but important role in the Tim Burton directed film of Batman. He was also in the comedy Cops and Robbersons with Chevy Chase. While that movie will never be considered cinematic genius, the chemistry between him and Chase makes it worth watching. It is almost as good as his chemistry with Mr. Crystal.

When his film career dipped he tried his hand at television. His best attempt to me came when he was the star of the detective drama Bronk. It aired from September 21, 1975 to July 19, 1976 on CBS on Sunday nights. He played Lt. Alex Bronkov He worked on special assignments from the Mayor. The two of them were working on ridding the city of corruption. He would get help from his retired police friends like Harry Mark who now owned an auto junkyard and also got help from his daughter Ellen who was crippled in an accident that killed Bronk’s wife. The show was made during a time when detective dramas like Cannon, Barnaby Jones and Streets of San Francisco were hot. For some reason Bronk didn’t catch on in the ratings. It had a great and compatible lead in with Kojak but what may have lead to its early demise was that it was up against the last half of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie and the ABC Sunday Night Movie. Until Trapper John M.D. came along CBS always had a little trouble with Sunday at 10pm.

Perhaps the best success that Mr. Palance had on television was when he hosted the ABC show Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. It aired from September of 1982 to September 4, 1986. He was the main host for those years. He co-hosted with Catherine Shirriff from 1982-1983. His own daughter Holly Palance joined him from 1983-1985. During its last year the show was hosted by the odd paring of Mr. Palance and Marie Osmond. The show had the full cooperation of the Robert Ripley estate. Mr. Ripley made his name by writing a newspaper column about the oddities of the world and later opened a museum that was dedicated to them. Now film crews spanned the globe to bring the museum into your home in video form. The show continues today in syndication with Dean Cain as the host.

Out of all the years and forms of entertainment that Jack Palance brought to his fans the one I will remember fondly is Bronk. I don’t really know why. Perhaps it is because I have a fondness for television back then. Maybe it is because I remember my Dad watched the show a few times or maybe it is both. Anyway Jack Palance brought a sense of fun and happiness to see him at work. Isn’t that something that every actor would like an audience to feel when they think about them? Rest In Peace Jack Palance.