Stream of Thought - Civil War to The Twilight Zone

Maryland has gotten one blizzard and one reasonable snow fall, from which mounds of the white stuff can still be spied in small mounds strewn around the yard or street gutters.  Last week the local groundhogs recently forecast an early Spring.  Coming up this weekend are holiday celebrations for Presidents' Day and Saint Valentine's Day.  I'm not much for Saint Valentine's Day, perhaps due to some more then lackluster dating experiences.  President's Day is okay, and maybe I even have a little Lincoln on my mind as I've been following Mercy Street on PBS.

Mercy Street is a hospital drama during the Civil War era.  The production values seem top notch to me (although I'm far from a Civil War re-enactor, expert, or even enthusiast) while the writing deals sensitively with the human drama associated with those exposed to war and their efforts of recovery.  There are graphically real depictions of primitive surgery and shocks to the system range from the physical to the mental.  The hospital is a confiscated Virginia hotel.  A major subplot involves the hotel's Southern owner's attempt to remain loyal to the South while safe guarding his business enterprises.  Gary Cole, TV veteran of Crusade and Midnight Caller, plays the put upon Southern patriarch.  He's my favorite of the series.  Will he sign a loyalty oath?  The question is a divisive one amongst his family.  The issue of slavery is also explored in a subplot.  These types of questions are often in the center of some grandiose TV productions dealing with the Civil War.

Jonathan Frakes & I years ago at Garden State Comic Con. 

My favorite Civil War production is North and South, an 80's mini-series.  The epic uses a common Civil War motif - the central characters were two school chums who found themselves on opposite sides when the conflict broke out.  James Read and Patrick Swayze portrayed the once friendly duo, but the labyrinthine plot allowed for a mega cast.  Hollywood icons Robert Mitchum and Elizabeth Taylor were in North and South, as well as future stars like Jonathan Frakes, who would become famous as William Riker on Star Trek the Next Generation. 

While taking smaller roles in the 80's Frakes entered that decade's adaption of The Twilight Zone.  The episode Frakes appeared in concerned and unappreciated secretary who suddenly found herself in a place where secretaries were highly prized individuals.  I liked the 80's Twilight Zone TV version a lot and I actually saw it in prime time before being exposed to the classic black and white series with introductions by show creator Rod Serling.  Serling's opening narration and introduction are iconic and future versions of The Twilight Zone tipped their hat to that fact.   The 80's also produced a Twilight Zone movie.  I seem to remember The Twilight Zone returning as syndicated series in the 90's, when genre shows were the rage everywhere.  At the start of the millennium UPN reinstated The Twilight Zone briefly as a part of its lineup with Forest Whitaker as host.  Trying to chart The Twilight Zone's TV history might be as confusing as entering the Twilight Zone.

There are a lot of great supernatural anthologies out there - Dark Room, Hammer's House of Horror, Monsters, Night Gallery, The Twilight Zone, Ray Bradbury Theater, and Tales From the Crypt.  The later started life as a comic book, became a British film and then a TV show on HBO.  There are rumors that Tales From the Crypt may be returning with new macabre episodes.  Have a ghoul time!

Iconic TV Duos

As stated in my previous blog, I've been greatly enjoying the return of The X Files.  The new scripts have kept the same interesting mix of suspense, sarcasm, horror and humor.  And its leads are as charismatic together as ever.  Their banter and individual reactions to a fantastic crisis are still spot on.  Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully seeks the rational explanation that science can support while David Duchovny's Fox Mulder wants truth no matter the cost.  In honor of the return of this alluring duo, I thought I might list some of my favorite personal favorites from television's iconic duos.

John Steed & Emma Peel of THE AVENGERS - Perhaps I am out of date, but when The Avengers are mentioned, I think of elegant British secret agents instead of Marvel super heroes.  Patrick Macnee played suave super spy John Steed throughout the long run of The Avengers TV show.  Its episodes evolved from black and white to color while its tone shifted from dramatic espionage capers to more bizarre exploits required in saving the world from madmen.  While John Steed remained on duty throughout the run, his line up of partners changed, originally starting with a male doctor before adding female heroes to the mix.  Airing in the 60's, the show was groundbreaking in allowing its women to stand toe to toe with Steed in the action scenes.  Each new comrade in action brought a special vibe to the series.  The most popular pairing was John Steed with Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), talented amateur adventurer with a penchant for high kicks.  The show can easily be seen as a forerunner of The X Files with its male and female leads as well as fantastic menaces. 

U.N.C.L.E.'s  Robert Vaughn & I.

Napoleon Solo & Illya Kuryakin of THE MAN FROM U.N.CL.E. - While John Steed & Emma Peel were busy in the service of safe guarding Her Majesty's realm, a number of similarly unique spy pairs were in action in the states.  Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin worked for U.N.C.L.E. to safeguard the world from madmen of various specialties, often employed by the criminal organization called T.H.R.U.S.H..  Like The Avengers, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. began its run in black and white before switching to color.  Its adventures also grew more outlandish.  Interestingly, Robert Vaughn's confident character of Solo really wasn't into a partnership at the start of the series, but the appeal with viewers of the quiet and intense Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) meant a slight change to the format's focus.  The two agents sparkled together in scenes of action or interplay, but quite often they did find themselves functioning separately on the same case.

Batman & Robin of BATMAN - It would be impossible not to mention the 'official' dynamic duo in such a list!  Batman and Robin were conceived by Bob Kane and had a multitude of adventures for decades in the pages of comic books before taking the leap to the television screen in the 60's without leaving much of its colorful trappings behind.  The television version in fact was a lighter version of Gotham City's grim detective.  The show heartily indulged in humor as Batman and Robin donned masked costumes to fight bizarre criminals.  Not much psychology went into the relationship of a millionaire seeking vengeance for his murdered family alongside his youthful ward, but Adam West and Burt Ward brought a straight laced heroism to their characters in or out of costume.

James T. Kirk & Spock of STAR TREK - Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock of The Enterprise were efficient explorers of space, the final frontier.  Kirk (William Shatner) was human and prone to lead with instinct.  Spock (Leonard Nimoy) was a pointy eared Vulcan, an emotionless adherent to logic.  Interestingly, this mix can sort of be seen in the clash between Scully's scientific rational and Mulder's urge to uncover the unknowable.  And so we come full circle with TV's iconic duos. 

New X Files

Mulder and Scully have returned!  The iconic characters investigated unusual occurrences ranging from enigmatic alien conspiracies to mysterious creatures of mythic proportions on FOX's X Files.  The TV show started in the early 90's as a Friday night cult classic sleeper and ballooned into a genuine ratings juggernaut with a move to Sunday nights.  The X Files' popularity even transported its adventures to the silver screen. The paranoid atmosphere of the series influenced many other shows of its era and since.  Chris Carter, creator of the X Files, fashioned several other moody TV offerings himself, such as The Lone Gunman which followed some conspiracy minded techno gurus and Millennium starring Lance Henriksen as a gifted profiler named Frank Black. 


Myself and Lance Henriksen of Millennium.


But now the X Files are back!  Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are reunited once more to explore new weird crimes.  The two are perfectly matched.  Both are physically able to handle themselves in a tussle and each has a brilliant mind.  Where those brilliant minds lead on a case can be dramatically different.  Scully is a medical doctor with a very healthy skepticism of the supernatural who was originally assigned to the FBI's X Files to debunk it.  Mulder is seasoned FBI agent with a drive to understand the inexplicable.  Over the course of the original series trust was earned between the two and each came to appreciate the other's point of view. 

And now The X Files are back on Mondays at 8pm on FOX.

The X Files was great at generating occasional humor alongside bizarre ideas.  The February 1st 2016 episode certainly succeeded, ranking at the top of my X Files favorites' list.  The agents were in pursuit of a were-lizard and ain't that strange enough to illicit a guffaw or a gasp?  It was a lot of fun watching as Mulder pondered how unfortunate it is that with today's proliferation of cameras on phones and such, no one ever seems able to get a good shot of a monster when it appears!  Alas, his attempt to master a phone's new app fails to land any proof.  What it does produce is a rapid series  of photoflashes.  It actually reminded me of the rapid photography of an earlier investigator of the unexplained, Carl Kolchak of the TV show The Night Stalker.  Darren McGavin played Kolchak, a reporter whose taste for lurid monster stories landed him working at a low rent news service.  Although following the good investigator's guideline of taking plenty of pics with his '70's era camera, Kolchak was never able to substantiate his wild claims with proof.  In fact police often exposed his film!  Kolchak always wore a straw hat, black tie and rumpled suit.  How interesting it was to see Mulder's principal suspect dressed in the exact same clothing!  The Night Stalker was a fun show that never took itself too seriously - how nice to see it smiled at in such a fun episode.  It was a fantastic way for Chris Carter to pay tribute to a show that he cited as an influence upon the creation of The X Files.

The Night Stalker did return to prime time TV years ago with a new cast and a tone much more in keeping with the serious tone of The X Files.  It was too much removed from the original series to be enjoyed on the same level and new fans didn't flock to it.  It disappeared after a handful of  airings.

The X Files seem to be getting good ratings for FOX - so will it return past its current limited run?
And its success may mean a return of other classic 90's shows, like Millennium.  In fact there is to be a Millennium twitter campaign Saturday February 6th  3pm to 5pm EST via the BacktoFrankBlack.com requesting fans to tweet for FOX to BRING BACK #MilleniuM20th. I'd love to see more Millennium and X Files - guess the answer is at FOX or 'out there'.

Changes

I have never been much for change.  I feel comfortable adhering to set patterns.

Ah, the change that can come from a minute or a mile!

Last week my blogging was cheerfully concerned with David Bowie, who was in the news for the release of his latest album Blackstar to coincide with his birthday last Friday.  The two new videos from Blackstar were mesmerizingly cryptic.  The visuals were lavishly stunning and the words were enigmatically endearing.   These elements were found in all of Bowie’s output and is a great part of my attraction to his work.  His imagination was drawn to the otherworldly outcast.  He was creating what fueled my dreams.

Before the excitement of Blackstar’s release had time to fade, a fresh wave of Bowie emotion surged to the forefront of the news.  Bowie had died before weekend’s wane.

Apparently the musical genius had been suffering from cancer.  He shared so many roles with the world via his music – Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, etc. – but his role as cancer fighter he played out privately.

Released videos from Blackstar have been scrutinized for farewell clues.  With an artist as intellectual and vibrant as Bowie, a multitude of clues can be found or imagined.

I’ve read a lot about Bowie and watched/listened eagerly to everything of his I could.  Articles and more about him have stoked the media over the last few days.  I have no greater knowledge about him to share, other then to express my personal adoration of his work.  I thought he was wonderfully bizarre as the title character in The Man Who Fell to Earth.  I loved the futuristic noir styling Bowie incorporated into his 90’s album Outside.  Outside and Diamond Dogs (which began life as a musical version of George Orwell’s 1984) played with paranoia and dark visions of a futuristic society.  This and other elements of Bowie’s charisma remind me of another of the icons I adore – Patrick McGoohan.

Patrick McGoohan’s probably most famous for his work as star of The Prisoner, a 60’s series he also worked behind the scenes to bring to life.  The program revolved around a secret agent who found himself mysteriously transported to an enigmatic village at an unknown locale.  The Prisoner has the edge of Kafka as it dealt with the manifestations of government, education and more upon the life of citizens.

There are some cool connections I can stretch between McGoohan and Bowie.  Patrick McGoohan played a spy using the name David Jones in the film Ice Station Zebra and David Bowie was born with the name David Jones.  Both Bowie and McGoohan died in the month of January.  Both Patrick McGoohan and David Bowie are at the top of my list of favorite artists.

Artists have always been my heroes.  How appropriate that one of Bowie’s songs is called Heroes.  And then there’s also that early hit of Bowie’s called changes that is always due a new listening.

Laugh

Those of you who have read past blogs of mine are aware I'm quite the fan of things sci-fi and spooky.  But sometimes we all need a laugh - as they say laughter is the best medicine.  So as a devoted tv viewer and coach potato, here are my favorite funny bone ticklers.

Vicious - The only new program to truly tickle my funny bone.  Sir Ian McKellan and Sir Derek Jacobi are fabulous as a long time couple who trade barbs with abandon.  Everyone in their circle of friends are splendid eccentrics, such as their young friend Ash whose family seems to have an extraordinarily high conviction rate.  I find the episodes a marvelous mix of sharp writing and fun physical comedy.  A wonderful Britcom airing new episodes in the states via PBS.


Myself & William Sanderson

Newhart - Much like the legendary Jack Benny, Bob Newhart is a master of reacting to comedic situations.  Therefore his sitcoms generally placed his sane central character amid a cornucopia of zany misfits.  The setting of Newhart was a historic inn located amongst the beautifully tranquil countryside of New England.  But things were never very peaceful for innkeeper Dick Loudon (Newhart) who dealt throughout the long running CBS series with a millionaire heiress as maid (Julia Duffy) as well as three bizarre backwoodsmen brothers.  Of the brothers two were named Daryl and the only one of them who ever spoke was Larry (William Sanderson).

 

The Honeymooners - Jackie Gleason portrayed Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden.  His next door neighbor was sewer 'technician' Ed Norton (Art Carney) who often aided in Kramden's numerous mad money making schemes.  Comical highlights included Ralph and Ed appearing on TV to promote the kitchen tool of the future and leaving the set in ruins after Ralph botched his lines.  The action of The Honeymooners generally transpired in the modest lodgings of Ralph and his wife Alice.  Alice Kramden and Trixie Norton rounded out the show's regulars and were played by various actresses throughout the evolution of The Honeymooners from a series of sketches on Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars variety show to 39 classic self-titled sitcom episodes to Jackie Gleason's Variety Show on CBS.

 

Car 54 Where Are You?  The officers of police car 54 in the Bronx kept citizens safe and in good humor.  Misunderstanding was a mainstay at the 53rd precinct, such as the time a rumor took root that a temporary captain had previously served as a Nazi general.  The series boasts clever writing.

The Monkees - In the 60's, a group of charmingly zany young musician/actors were assembled in aspirations of bringing a type of Hard Day's Night allure to the small screen.  The Monkees were Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Davy Jones.  In an era when many musicians were protesting political decisions the network mandated that the show remain largely family friendly as the adventures of The Monkess spoofed almost every genre or thing you could think of - from spies to fairy tales.  The enthusiasm and fun of the production still remains in each episode as well as great tunes from such prestigious pens as Neil Diamond and Carol King.  One of The Monkees songs was called Laugh.  How appropriate, and just the note to end on.

Peter Tork of The Monkees and I - October 2015.

 

A Year of Conventions

I vividly recall Star Trek conventions from my youth.  What fans started as an effort to restore a classic science fiction series to the screen and learn the show's secrets from its production crew blossomed wildly.  The current convention phenomena embraces numerous TV shows as well as comics and other pop culture trends like steampunk.  Fans get to connect and share their special tastes in activities ranging from costume contests to panels. For fans of TV and films the midatlantic U. S. is a great spot for conventions that fit every enthusiast's taste.  I've found 2015 to be a fun year of conventions and thought I'd share some memories of the ones I was fortunate enough to attend.

March has several sensational area cons.  In Virginia, The Williamsburg Film Festival is dedicated to celebrating classic cowboy/western media with celebrity guests, movie screenings and a large, collectible filled vendor's room.  I attended the convention last year where I got to meet guests like Alex Cord and Robert Fuller.  Alas, attending this year was not in the cards.  However I did go to Cherry Hill New Jersey for Monstermania which commenced on March 13th and appropriately enough spotlighted the popular Friday the 13th film franchise over the weekend.  Although I only attended Saturday, that day did feel a bit like a Friday the 13th with overcast skies and cool drizzle as I made my way through the labyrinth like parking lot surrounding the hotel.  Monstermania's main focus is horror films. For me, the best part was chatting with the always amicable William Sanderson.  He's probably best known as Larry, the good hearted backwoodsman, from the series Newhart but has numerous sci-fi/horror credits including Blade Runner, Nightmares and True Blood.

Spring officially arrived by the last weekend of March, but Maryland was in for a dusting of snow.  I travelled through the white stuff without the aid of a TARDIS for the Baltimore based Regeneration Con.  If you're a proponent of TARDIS travel, then you're probably a fan of Dr. Who.  Regeneration Con is a Whovian delight featuring actors and writers who worked on the long running British Sci-Fi series that still makes its presence known Saturday nights via BBCAmerica, currently with Peter Capaldi as the title character.  Doctor Who - an alien Time Lord - has been portrayed by 13 different actors on television and one exclusively for two cinematic offerings.  Two of the actors who had played Doctor Who were present to sign autographs and reminisce about their memories on the show during Q&As.  In addition to the interview sessions with actors and writers, the event boasted numerous panels of interest to fans of the time travelling doctor.  There promises to be more time travelling fun at Regeneration Con 2016.


 

The first con of April transported the focus from all things Whovian to Trek.  The Great Philadelphia

Clive Revill and I at The Great Philadelphia Comic Con.

Comic Con assembled three actors (Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and George Takei) from the original Star Trek series to greet fans, do photo ops and sign autographs.  Other TV shows represented by guests included The Power Rangers and Buffy.  The Star Wars legacy was represented by several guests, including Clive Revill who voiced the Emporer in the original saga.  It was delightful hearing him discuss his career.  I eagerly talked to him about his work on stage in The Marat/Sade, on the silver screen in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes and in TV shows such as Remington Steele.

  

Gates McFadden speaks at Steel City Con.

Pittsburgh's Steel City Comic Con is a cornucopia of vendors and celebrities.  April's edition featured guests Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) and Gates McFadden (Star Trek: The Next Generation).  The event had numerous panels and boasted a few classic TV  reunions.  Tom Wopat and John Schneider of The Dukes of Hazzard obviously maintained their chemistry from the series as they joked together about their time on the show and shared touching memories of cast mates.  Three's Company stars Richard Kline, Joyce DeWitt and Priscilla Barnes shared the stage to comment on favorite episodes like the one where confusion reigned when both Jack and Terri's date thought the other was a mental patient.


Amazing Con took place outside of Philadelphia and celebrated an eclectic mix of interests.  Guests  included artists and cosplayers as well as celebrities such as Bond girl Lana Wood and Parker Stevenson.  I couldn't help chatting with Stevenson about 80's TV miniseries as he appeared in the epic production of Civil War intrigue North and South.  It seems we are both fans of Masada. 

April ended with Chiller in New Jersey - certainly one of the area's largest assembly of celebrities.  I got to meet a Monkee (Michael Nesmith) and several film favorites including veteran actor Rip Torn.

My final Spring con was Awesome Con in Washington DC.  I got to hear a fascinating Q&A from both William Shatner and stars of The Lord of the Rings films - John Rhys Davies and Sean Astin.

Summer certainly had some hot fun!  The August offering of Monstermania in Cherry Hill had a great mix of guests including one of my favorite actors - Malcolm McDowell whose Q&A kept the packed audience amused and fascinated with anecdotes of his long career.  It seems McDowell met with disdain at his costar Roy Scheider's idea that the two claim they did their own flying in the film Blue Thunder.  Apparently McDowell loathes flying.  Sid Haig was extremely friendly to his long line of fans eager to get an autograph or picture taken with him.  Haig has an extensive career ranging from TV (the original Star Trek & Buck Rodgers) to films (Diamonds Are Forever).  As Haig signed a pic of him with 007 Sean Connery from Diamonds Are Forever for me, I couldn't help mentioning that I'd met Bond girl Lana Wood at a con earlier in the year.  His one line reply was great - "I threw her out a window once!"

Myself & Michael McConnohie at Retro Con.

September's two cons tugged at the heart strings of my youthful memories.  Near Philadelphia, Retro Con is a great event mostly celebrating 80's animated shows and pop culture.   There you'll likely walk past your favorite comic or Star Wars character.  In fact I especially felt nostalgic when I saw a group clad in the red costumes of the aliens from the original version of V.  V aired when I went to my first cons and those uniforms were awfully popular attire!  Retro Con's guest list included various voice actors of cartoons that I fondly discovered on TV in the afternoons or mornings of my youth, such as G.I. Joe, Mask and Robotech.  It was interesting to see the animation's real life counterparts.  Michael McConnohie was a voice for Robotech and has recently put his talent to use in reading audio adaptions of the adventures of Doc Savage.  I told him I was a fan of the character and it turns out we are both fans of the little known George Pal produced film - Doc Savage: Man of Bronze.  I've never tired since childhood of watching that film!

The Visitors surround C3PO & R2D2 at Retro Con.

Baltimore Maryland's Midatlantic Nostalgia Convention (known as MANC) is a treat for fans of early films and television shows.  This year's edition featured a trio of lethal lovelies from Hammer's horror films and a Bionic reunion with cast members from both The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman.  The vendor's room with classic toys, books, movies and other historic mementos can easily transport one to an earlier era.


The scenery of scarlet and golden trees on the drive to Chiller's October edition really put me in the mood for Fall.  Police officers were on duty as usual guiding vehicles into the spacious parking lots across the street from the huge hotel that housed the convention.  Perhaps due to my selection of Sunday to attend, I was able to park closer then usual for my arrival in conjunction with the opening of the event and enjoyed a brisk walk in the autumn air.  The registration area was thankfully efficiently manned this year.  Once inside there was a large crowd milling through the vendors' rooms and the various celebrity signing areas.  Some of my favorite stars were signing at this con - like genre actress extraordinaire Sybil Danning whose credits include the original V TV series, Roger Corman's Battle Beyond the Stars, Rob Zombie's version of Halloween and The Howling 2 - Your Sister Is A Werewolf.  It was a pic from that film that I got her to autograph and she sweetly asked my preference for signature color!  Other celebrities included her Battle Beyond the Stars leading man, Richard Thomas AKA John boy of The Waltons and Chyna, the wrestler.
I really enjoyed chatting with a couple cult favorite actresses.  Brenda Strong said she and British actor David Warner had such chemistry as their characters in Twin Peaks that their time in the bizarre TV town was extended for additional episodes.  Being a season two player, she never got to work with its co-creator David Lynch but was directed by the show's other regular directors.  Misty Rowe played Maid Marion in the 70's Robin Hood TV spoof from Mel Brooks called When Things Were Rotten.  I remember the series as being hilarious - far funnier then Brooks film attempt at infusing the Robin Hood legend with comedy called Men in Tights.  "The show was ahead of its time," Rowe mused.  "It was cancelled because with so many sets it was too expensive."

Leroy and Star Trek's Walter Koenig.

I got to celebrate my birthday in Pittsburgh at Steel City Con's December edition.  I went with my friend Marie and her service dog, Leroy - who was a real star of the show!  Children were eager to pet him and he certainly charmed the celebrities so much so that he was called over by Star Trek's Walter Koenig and Paul Sorvino.  Leroy was happy to grant free photo ops! Leroy really liked William Katt, who he favored with some licks.  I've met Katt at several cons and he's always very friendly.  Katt starred in the '80's classic fantasy TV series The Greatest American Hero as well as numerous films.  Katt autographed for me a dvd cover of the movie Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend which he starred in opposite one of my favorite actors - Patrick McGoohan.  When I asked him about working with McGoohan he spoke of the actor with respect in his voice - especially at the way McGoohan departed the set regularly when free to return to be with his ailing wife.  All in all 'twas an excellent time and great end to the con year.

Believe it or not - the two Williams.  Myself and Katt at Steel City Con.

Many of these cons have more offerings then what I managed to briefly detail, such as musical offerings and costume contests.  There are themes for every taste in cons, ranging from faerie festivals to comic cons.  The common denominator is the fun. 

Open Channel D - And Happy Birthday

     Today is the 83rd birthday of Robert Vaughn. 
     Vaughn is a legendary actor of diverse talents who has brought charisma and a sense of gravity to every role.  His resume includes cult films such as Roger Corman's Teenage Caveman (in which Vaughn was the title character in a jungle that appeared rather flimsy) and Hollywood prestige pictures like The Young Philadelphians for which the acclaim the actor achieved resulted in an Oscar nomination.  Vaughn often found himself working alongside tinsel town's top talent and never failed to hold his own or outshine them.  Along with Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson, he was part of the line up of current or impending mega stars that reinterpreted Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai for American audiences in the form of The Magnificent Seven. Vaughn portrayed a cold hearted gunslinger who carried out his work without a twinge of feeling - although such actions would seem to haunt him. 
     Humble in stardom, Vaughn seemed happy to give audiences what they wanted and returned to this famous character type to play an interstellar mercenary in Roger Corman's low budget outer space adventure Battle Beyond The Stars which I recently viewed and found just as exciting as when I was a kid. Robert Vaughn also directly revisited The Magnificent Seven's recent TV version as a judge.  I met one of that show's stars, Dale Midkiff who spoke of Vaughn's appearance with respect.
     Robert Vaughn occasionally appears at conventions.  I've been lucky enough to see him twice.  Both time I've been impressed by his intelligent demeanor.  At The Dean Martin Expo in New York City he gave an intriguing Q&A in which along with tales from his career he discussed differences between British and American TV.  Vaughn could certainly be an expert on the subject. 
     Thanks to the success of James Bond in the movies, 60's television was dominated by spies.  Other British spies included Patrick McGoohan's John Drake who was a no nonsense agent, uninterested in frivolous activities or guns as he tried to keep the world safe and Patrick Macnee's John Steed who sported a bowler and was armed with an umbrella as he teamed with a series of lethal lovelies to fend off enemy agents.    
     Robert Vaughn and David MCallum shot to international stardom in the TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E..  The show offered the weekly international adventures of U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo (Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (McCallum) as they fended off evil  madmen, usually in service to the sinister organization called T.H.R.U.S.H..  The series started in black and white with rather conventional tales of espionage and daring do.  In the second season the series shifted to color - and much more colorful adventures.  Solo and Kuryakin generally approached their problem separately (but not always) and generally found a civilian embroiled in the case either to be used or rescued.
     Many other TV shows such as Murder She Wrote have been favorably graced by Robert Vaughn's appearance. 
     Recently Robert Vaughn starred as Albert on the British TV series Hustle, which followed the complex plans of a group of relatively kind hearted con men.  I couldn't help but smile as I weekly watched Vaughn star in Hustle and David McCallum star in NCIS.  I guess you can't keep a good spy down!  

Robert Vaughn & I at the Dean Martin Expo - June 2014. 

More Fun Than A Barrel Of...

Peter Tork & I at the Shoe Suede Blues birthday bash/fan party.

Thankfully the looming threat of an approaching hurricane veered away from Maryland last weekend, leaving only an overcast sky on Sunday - which did nothing to dampen the lively spirits of those within Edgewood's Club 66 enjoying the music of Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues.

Peter Tork is undoubtedly best known for playing Peter Tork in the TV series The Monkees which gave birth to an actual band also known as The Monkees.  The Monkees (both TV show and band) have weathered highs and lows since their 60's inceptions.  Everything was sort of originally modeled from A Hard Day's Night - the black and white classic movie from The Beatles with cutting edge editing by director Richard Lester.  The Monkees TV series featured the band in zany antics, often accompanied by their music.  And what music it is, featuring tunes penned by Neil Diamond and Carol King, as well as memorably awesome contributions from The Monkees themselves.  The Monkees are Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, and the late Davy Jones.

When I was in high school, long ago in ye far away 80's, I became a huge Monkees fan.  Repeats of The Monkees were regularly airing and one of the group's reunion tours was a hot ticket - which, alas, I didn't get.  But my time would come.


Peter Tork  

New albums have been released over the decades as various groupings of the Monkees have taken the stage on tour.  The individual Monkees actively appear on stage and at conventions.  I've been very lucky in that I've got to see (individually) all four Monkees at cons and three of them perform in small, approachable venues.  I must say that each of them have been quite charming in person and nice to their fans.

The band Peter Tork is currently making the rounds with is called Shoe Suede Blues and upon October 4th 2015 the band had a special fan party/birthday bash at Club 66 in Edgewood Maryland.  I take the following facts from facebook - "Shoe Suede Blues was formed in 1994 when Peter Tork and friends, Tadg Galleran and Michael Sunday, were asked to put together a band for a benefit dance at the Beyond Baroque Foundation in Venice Beach for Felicity House, a women's recovery home and child care program. This year we happily celebrate the 21st anniversary of what was supposed to have only been a one-time event."



The Tork dummy at the selfie station.

The special event was memorable fun.  Shoe Suede Blues performed a set of songs ranging from blues to rock, with some solo classical keyboard numbers from Tork thrown in for good measure.  Of the actors/musicians recruited to be The Monkees, Peter Tork was squarely in the musician's camp and his abilities were certainly in top notch at the birthday bash.  The room vibrated with emotion as he sang.  His humor shown from the stage as he interacted with the audience and fellow band mates.

Tork was certainly in good humor signing albums and photos.  I have to say that I inadvertently made him laugh.  There was a slight lag in the line behind me and I figured I might as well mention that my family got a kick out of his appearance on The King of Queens.  In the heat of the moment I said "My family enjoyed your work on The King of Brooklyn."  Whoops!  Still, it was nice to get a laugh out of he who played the fun, quirky, innocent Monkee. 

Fun is the perfect description for the event.  Fans were dancing, posing with Peter Tork as well as his dummy version at a selfie station and submitting jokes for Sunday Sillies found at The Real Peter Tork facebook page.  All in all I'd describe the day as more fun than a barrel of Monkees. 

Bang! Zoom! To the Moon...or Mars!

Myself at Chiller with Joyce Randolph who played Trixie Norton on The Honeymooners.

TV fans have never ended their love affair with The Honeymooners and today marks the 60th anniversary of that classic B&W show's debut.  Kind of.

In The Honeymooners, Jackie Gleason portrayed Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden.  His next door neighbor was sewer 'technician' Ed Norton (Art Carney) who often aided in Kramden's numerous mad money making schemes.  Comical highlights included Ralph and Ed appearing on TV to promote the kitchen tool of the future and leaving the set in ruins after Ralph botched his lines. 

The characters of Kramden and Norton actually originated as a series of sketches on Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars variety show for the Dumont network.  Kramden's wife Alice and Ed's wife Trixie were also featured on The Honeymooners, albeit it in the guise of various actresses through the saga of The Honeymooners.  The official Honeymooners' show commenced on October 1, 1955 for 39 episodes of classic comedy.  Once The Honeymooners ended its run as a series, it returned as sketches to Jackie Gleason's Variety Show on CBS.

The action of The Honeymooners generally transpired in the modest lodgings of Ralph and Alice Kramden.  Life could be gloomy for the couple but they persisted to make the best of things.  The two had titanic battles due in part to Ralph's big dreams and Alice's common sense.  The duo's bouts often included Ralph's threat to belt Alice with the promise of "Bang, Zoom, to the moon Alice!" but the big mouthed bus driver always saw his wife's reasoning and apologized with, "Baby, you're the greatest!"

Of course currently Mars seems much more popular then the moon.

I believe scientists have recently declared that there was once water on Mars.  I can't help but think of the romantic work of Ray Bradbury concerning the red planet.  I remember reading Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles one autumn in middle school, and somehow the book especially calls to me at this time of year.  While in middle school the book did not exactly entrance me, but I did return to The Martian Chronicles years later and was totally transfixed by its yarn of Mars' colonization by Earth men.  The individual stories that made up the tapestry of The Martian Chronicles are high points of literature to me.  And I am equally in awe of Bradbury's other works - especially those dealing with October and Halloween.  How appropriate for this time of year!

The Prisoner Anniversary

The Prisoner turns 48 today.

The cult classic series had its British television premiere on September 29, 1967 and was unlike anything else contained on the small screen.  Dynamic and enigmatic, episodes revolved around such controversial themes as the manipulations of society, drug use and the rights of the individual.

The Village was the show's mysterious setting - a picturesque place where those with important information deemed too sensitive to be widely known were kept.  Who ran the Village was a secret, especially to The Prisoner's protagonist played by Patrick McGoohan.  McGoohan's work on the series stretched beyond that of actor to occasional writer and director, as well as shaping the series as a whole.  Patrick McGoohan had previously found fame on TV in the show Danger Man which imported to the United States in an incarnation known as Secret Agent.  The Prisoner had its roots in the spy craze of the 60's but was altogether a different kettle of fish.

I entered The Prisoner's fandom as a teen when that and other classic British series occupied the 11pm time slot on Maryland Public TV.  I found the adventures of The Avengers and Dr. Who quite stylish and engaging.  These British classics became my TV favorites - and The Prisoner was at the top of the list. 

Everything about The Prisoner is top notch, from the writing to the direction.   The exciting opening title music by Ron Grainer (also responsible for Dr. Who's original theme) began royally with rumbling thunder.  There was something just so magnetic about McGoohan - especially as he drove his car and strode the corridors to offer his resignation during the show's opening credits.  Patrick McGoohan's character of Number Six seemed a champion of independence and intelligence - something very appealing to me.  The Prisoner rebelled against a succession of village bureaucrats, all referred to as Number Two played weekly by (mostly) different actors.  The series introduced me to numerous great British actors like Leo McKern who menaced The Beatles in Help!. 

The Prisoner doesn't look its age - probably because the colorful fashions were evoking a style instead of an era and the setting was deliberately obscure.  The Village could have been everywhere, but its meaning and entrapments were uniquely surreal.  A large weather balloon type object called rover was the security system of the village.  When an attempt at escape was initiated the rover bounded into action, impressing itself onto its victim.  The science of the village was beyond technology.     

The Prisoner can easily be considered an ancestor of enigmatic and challenging programs such as David Lynch's Twin Peaks and J. J. Abrams' Lost. There was even a 'reboot' Prisoner mini-series from AMC with Ian McKellan as Number Two.  But for fans of the original iconic series there can be no replacing the image of Patrick McGoohan grimly guiding his car or shouting out his declaration of independence on the village's beach at the beginning of each episode.

Patrick McGoohan as Number 6 often undergoes 'treatment' in the village.

90's TV Classics

TV's about to look like the 90's all over again, due to the proposed return of two cult classics - The X Files (returning to its former home on Fox for a limited run) and Twin Peaks.

Paranoia seemed highly popular in the 90’s, especially if one judges by the coolest programs on the air waves. Twin Peaks seemed to usher in the decade’s dark obsessions with its odd characters and unsettling visions occurring in small town USA, but it was The X-Files (whose mottos include ‘The Truth Is Out There’ and ‘Trust No One’) that seemed to make paranoia a TV fashion. The investigators of The X-Files routinely encountered aliens and ancient monsters while never quite managing to prove their existence. The show’s creator, Chris Carter, launched two other series of X-Files stylistic sensibilities – The Lone Gunmen, and Millennium. The first series continued the outrageous adventures of conspiracy crazed computer masterminds who had regularly appeared on The X-Files. Millennium was something a bit different, with complex storylines dealing the darkest motivations of human nature as well as destructive Biblical prophecies. After all a new millennium was looming with the dreaded Y2K bug approaching.

Myself & Lance Henriksen (Frank Black on Millenium) at Monstermania.

Millennium gets my vote as the best series of the 90’s due in large part to an excellent turn by Lance Henriksen as Frank Black, a tortured former FBI profiler in league with the mysterious Millennium group. The group is comprised of talented investigators whose interest in violent crimes often goes beyond the mundane goal of simply catching a killer.

Other favorite series of mine from that era includes…

Twin Peaks – “Who killed Laura Palmer?” was the catch phrase of the early 90’s.

Babylon 5 – A complex sci-fi narrative charting treachery and intrigue on a space staion playing host to alien ambassadors.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Even the normally optimistic Star Trek franchise painted a bleak picture in this entry focused on the aftermath of war and corruption on another planet.

Forever Knight – Before TV’s Buffy took a swing at a vampire, this series delved into the remorse felt by its title character after ages of evil acts as he continued his interaction with fellow vampires.

   

Film & TV Challenge

Myself & Malcolm McDowell.  Can you name the three films he played Mick Travis in?

I've always been a big film & TV fan, with eccentric tastes.  My favorites tend to be British and often in the genres of sci-fi or fantasy.  Have I seen such main stream faire as E.T. or Downtown Abbey?  Nope, and I don't plan to soon.  But if you're up for a discussion of German silent films or TV super hero adaptions, I'm there. 
Here's a few question off the top of my head (or the depths of my mind) to test your film/TV knowledge. There's no award for high scores, other then the knowledge that you've seen some pretty cool shows/films and have a good memory! 

1. Which actor has not played Dracula?
A. Bela Lugosi     B. Boris Karloff     C. Christopher Lee    

2. The only Hammer film featuring a wolfman starred which actor?
A. Christopher Lee     B. Peter Cushing     C. Oliver Reed    

3. Which historical figure has David Bowie not portrayed in film?
A. Andy Warhol     B. Pontious Pilate     C. Jack the Ripper     D. Tesla

4.Which film did David Bowie not contribute music to?
A. Cat People     B. A Clockwork Orange     C. Cool World     D. Lost Highway

5. Which Superman actor has not portrayed the man of steel on the silver screen?
A. Kirk Alyn     B. George Reeves     C. Christopher Reeve     D. Dean Cain

6. Malcolm McDowell portrayed Mick Travis is all the following films except...
A. if....     B. O Lucky Man!     C. A Clockwork Orange     D. Brittannia Hospital

7. Which sci-fi film did not inspire a short lived TV series?
A. Alien     B. Logan's Run     C. Planet of the Apes     D. Westworld

8. Which Marvel character appeared in films without first appearing on TV?
A. Iron Man     B. Captain America     C. Thor     D. Spiderman

9. Which film was based on a story by Philip K. Dick?
A. The Lawnmower Man     B. Total Recall     C. A Clockwork Orange

10.  What actor has portrayed both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Who on the silver screen?
A. Christopher Lee     B. Peter Cushing     C. Oliver Reed     D. Malcolm McDowell

11.  Patrick McGoohan's character in The Prisoner is trapped in what's called...
A. The Village     B. The Prison     C. The Dark House     D. The White House



Answers: 1. B 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. C 7. A 8. A 9. B 10. B 11. A

A Dickens of a Carol!

My friend Deborah Tipton, Henry Winkler & I at Steel City Comic Con.

 

     Christmas has inspired numerous writers and artists.  One literary work which has had a profound influence on our traditional celebrations for the holiday is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.  Released in 1843, the novella conjures up Christmas in the image of a cold, snowy Victorian landscape with lighted evergreen trees and seasonal carols sung to imbue humanity's sense of generosity.  It seems almost unnecessary to describe the plot detailing Ebenezer Scrooge's conversion from miser to eager philanthropist, as the tale has been adapted for radio, film, tv, sitcoms and cartoons. Surely everyone has seen some version, somewhere.
     There are several silent short versions of A Christmas Carol, but perhaps the most praised film production is the 1951 version simply called Scrooge with Alastair Simm in the title role.  His performance as the skinflint with a change of heart is greatly admired.  In 1970, following the success of the Ocsar winning movie Oliver, A Christmas Carol was transformed into a musical called Scrooge starring a delightful Albert Finney as the title character.  He changes heart and sings as he does so!
    TV has brought forth it own renditions of the classic holiday book.  One of the best is a 1984 TV film called A Christmas Carol which remains very faithful to the tale, delivering both holiday cheer and the chills of the story's darker side.  George C. Scott played Scrooge and David Warner was his clerk, Bob Cratchit.  Another later TV version retaining the novella's name and sticking close to both setting and plot starred Patrick Stewart as Scrooge and Richard E.Grant as Cratchit .
     A Christmas Carol has always been my favorite holiday tale.  As a youth I remember regularly watching and being enthralled by An American Christmas Carol from 1979 starring Henry Winkler.  The story was transferred from Victorian London to small town America during the depression with Winkler mesmerizing in a Scrooge like character a far cry from his popular Happy Days role of Fonzie.  Apparently regard for Winkler was present on set as I learned when I recently got to discuss An American Christmas Carol with Robert Sax, who was an assistant to the producer.

Sax said, "I love Henry’s performance and think it was one of his best. It showed how good he could be in a dramatic role. He was mostly known for his comedy roles at the time. Henry was a consummate professional on and off the set, even when shooting in cold outdoor locations. Most of all, he had to endure several hours of special effects makeup application on the days when he played the old Slade. All this happened before the set call, so he had to get up extra early. He accepted this demand of the role with grace and aplomb, although the makeup would become rather uncomfortable by the end of the day.

     At the start of December I got to see Henry Winkler at Steel City Comic Con, where it was obvious that his appeal has not waned as he spoke dynamically at a Q&A and met fans.

     An American Christmas Carol is a real gem, worth seeking out.  Almost all versions of Dickens classic holiday novella have special treats.  I find it fun reading a classic work like this (or Dracula) and observing what filmmakers select to use, cut out, or adapt.  It tells a lot about the film makers and the taste of the audience it is aimed for.

Autumn Activities

Myself & Scott Wilson of AMC's Walking Dead series.

Havre de Grace has become quite the picture of Autumn with fallen leaves gracing its quaint streets and fading green grass.  The leaves often find themselves being whisked up and about by cool winds.  All in all it was a nice effect for the towns recent haunted history tours. 

I was honored to lead tours for Havre de Haunts Tours & Paranormal Research Group - www.havredehaunts.com .  The Halloween tour was a particularly fun way to celebrate the spookiest of holidays.  It was a fun experience - interacting with those fascinated by the supernatural and history as we took in the view of some of Havre de Grace's older residences and buildings, like the Senecca House and Rodger's Tavern, some of which barely managed to survive the burning of the city by British forces during the War of 1812.   Some of the town's residents may linger on, reluctant to depart their homes despite their deaths.

There are places of purely scenic beauty as well in Havre de Grace, which becomes a marvel of colors this time of year.  Located at the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River, Havre de Grace was a place of vital importance for colonial travel and trade.  Today its waterfront areas are still honored.  The town's promenade is a popular spot for exercise or photography.  In fact it was the backdrop for pics taken by Linnea Tober for the first edition of my book, Summoned Secrets from lulu.com - www.lulu.com/spotlight/wrigler .

Each Fall I also enjoy embarking on treks to local horror cons.  Monstermania in Baltimore, Maryland and Chiller in Parsippany, New Jersey were quite fun - interacting with celebrity guests from various mediums and decades of work.  I got to meet and interact with some of my favorite stars, like Joyce Randolph of the classic TV show The Honeymooners and Scott Wilson who starred in a more recent TV hit, The Walking Dead.

                                          
Autumn seems under way in full force, with one big holiday down and another looming at November's end.  Of course Christmas is closing in, with decorations and such already encroaching in stores!


The State Theatre in downtown Havre de Grace has been without audiences, but possibly not ghosts, for years.

Comic Book Characters Soar

     A few years ago I got to meet Lou Ferrigno at a Philadelphia comic con.  That's where the above picture is from and it's the perfect place for an actor that used to play a green skinned comic character called the Hulk.  He was engaging to chat with and cool to fans.  The guy has a great story - an American dream type - of going from picked on teen to successful body builder to TV star.
     Lou Ferrigno's birthday was a few days ago - November 9th to be exact.  It seems he's 63 and still looks great.  He's left behind his days of hulking out and being green, but the Hulk's still out there in comic books and films.  People age, comic characters get rebooted. 
     Marvel Comics - the company that contains the Hulk - is more active then ever at bringing their colorful creations to the screen.  The Hulk has had his own movies and appeared within the highly profitable Avengers franchise.  In fact recently there has been news regarding a slew of new Marvel characters slated for the silver screen - including such established characters as Black Panther and Dr. Strange.  Of course recent favorites must return like Thor and Captain America.  Marvel apparently plans to have its characters cross over in films and there is apparently a release schedule set for as yet unmade films over the next five years.
     I suppose all this is splendid news for fans, but I wonder if the folks at Marvel productions aren't pushing things a bit - overloading its cash cow to the extreme.  It's happened before.  My prime interest in comic characters was my teenage years, namely the late 80's to the start of the 90's.  It was quite an invigorating time for comics.  Chris Clarmont's X-Men were the rage at Marvel while DC was launching artistic triumphants like Frank Miller's Dark Knight and Watchmen. Yes, as I grew up I watched comics mature in content from recounting the adventures of super heroes to exploring the dark psychology of masked crusaders.  Alas, as the comic book grew as an art form, so did the financial greed of its publishers.  Of course comic's success meant that each company adopted an attitude of multiple covers and crossover storylines to get readers to buy as many comic books as possible.  Eventually I experienced a burn out on trying to keep up with all that.  Apparently a lot of readers and collectors did as well and the lucrative comics industry sort of collapsed.
     Before 1990, comic book film adaptions were a rarity.  There had been black and white serials, but the only big budget color productions were the Christopher Reeve Superman films - in which there was plenty to savor there.
     Comic book characters had experienced more success and longevity on the TV screen before 1990.  DC adaptions include such fondly remembered shows as Adventures of Superman from the 1950's with George Reeves as the ultimate straight laced super hero, the 1960's camp classic Batman starring Adam West and Wonder Woman with Lynda Carter from the 1970's.  The later era also saw a number of Marvel TV adaptions - the most successful being The Incredible Hulk with Lou Ferrigno.  While these series lacked the CGI marvels of today's Marvel film adaptions, I liked the earnestness and creativity associated with them  I guess it just ages me, but I prefer these old adaptions to today's, which seem everywhere.  But then so did Marvel comic books in the 80's.  We shall see how long the film franchise thrives.   


   

MANC Approaches

     Once more Maryland's Hunt Valley Wyndham is about to play host to three days of film and entertainment inspired fun! September 18 to 20th are the dates of the 9th annual Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention.  I've been happily attending since it first started in Aberdeen, Maryland.  The con has definately grown over the years and played host to a multitude of guests, from cinematic classics to sitcom favorites!  The list of past celebrity guests includes - but is not limited to - Larry Storch, Ron Ely, Davy Jones, James Best, Ed Asner, Julie Newmar, and Lana Wood.  In fact Wood was at the first con and must have had a good time as she is returning.  And the former Bond girl will fit right in as a Bond himself, George Lazenby, is amongst this year's guest list which also includes Veronica Cartwright, Piper Laurie, Josip Elic and William Sanderson (another returning guest)!  The con is a great chance to collect autographs and have pics taken with the guests.  There's a movie room plus seminars and slide shows address a wide variety of topics from entertainment's history.  See you there!

For more info go to www.MidAtlanticNostalgiaConvention.com     

Top pic -myself and Ed Asner at 2013 MANC. 
Bottom pic - Larry Storch, myself and Josip Elic at Storch's stand up event in NYC.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wild West Wonderings

     A couple weeks ago I took a trip to the wild west.  Well, I actually didn't travel that far west, I really went north - to Stanhope New Jersey.  That's where Wild West City is.  It's an amusement park that was established in the 50's when such places were all the rage, and the place has weathered changing tastes to remain in operation.  Wild West City offers a replica of an old west town complete with saloon and shows/re-enactments which feature can can girls as well as shoot outs.  Other points of interest include a stagecoach ride, a train ride, a station for the panning of gold and a petting zoo.

     The day I went to Wild West City, the place had a huge bonus attraction.  Larry Storch was there, meeting fans and signing autographs.  Storch seemed quite at home - not surprising since Storch's association with the wild west can be traced to his film appearence in The Great Race (alongside Tony Curtis) and his TV role as Corporal Agarn on the 60's comedy classic F Troop.  While only lasting two seasons, F Troop managed to fashion a ton of laughs as Corporal Agarn assisted the whiley Seargeant O'Rourke in numerous money making ideas under the nose of their commanding officer and often with the aid of the local indians who were more interested in profit then war paint.

     F Troop mixed modern sensibilities with western motiffs for hilarious results detailing life at Fort Courage.  Storch and co-star Forrest Tucker worked wonderfully well together.  F Troop remains a treasured series and is often repeated - currently it airs Thurs at 10pm on METV.  The west was a backdrop for a ton of series.  Some reinforced the traditional 'old west values' while others turned the genre inside out.  I thought I might mention a few favorites...

The Lone Rager - The classic western series.  Clayton Moore most famously portrayed the masked lawman, a Texas ranger who was the lone survivor of an ambush by outlaws.  Found and nursed back to health by Tonto, the two teamed to rid the west of the wicked.  The Lone Ranger wore a mask to hide his identity and became fond of using silver bullets as a trademark.  Tonto was portrayed by Jay Silverheels in a rare example for the era of  a native American portraying a native American.

Wild Wild West - Often honored as steampunk's TV intoduction, the series followed the adventures of secret service agents Jim West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) as they derailed the most bizarre plots of sinister geniuses bent on world domination.  This series aired in the 60's, when all the media was obsessed and fascinated by secret agents, so it was no surprise the wild west got their own operatives.  The two heroes were a nice combination, West was a master at hand to hand combat while Gordon had a knack for using gimmicky devices and donning disguises. 

The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. - Starring cult icon Bruce Campbell (of the gruesomely fun Evil Dead films) this series managed to establish a cult following of its own by offering adventures in the old west with a modern spin for its single season.  Not only did Brisco and his comrades envision futuristic ideas while defeating madmen as evil as those West and Gordon opposed, Brisco also had to deal with an alien orb endowed with mysterious powers! 

Dusty's Trails - Here's one few have heard of.  Lasting a single season, this series detailed the misadventures of a wagon lost in the west with a passenger list that included a wealthy couple, a glamorous saloon hall gal, and the rest.  Sound familiar?  It should, as its star was Bob Denver and it was delivered by those who gave us Gilligan's Island.  Denver played the wagon master's side kick.  The wagonmaster was portrayed by Forrest Tucker.  Hmmm, shouldn't he have been able to find the way to Fort Courage?     


     If you feel like a fun trip back to ye olde west, check out these series or take a trip to Wild West City.

     And LarryStorch of F Troop is still making a lot of appearences.  In fact he has just been accepted to receive a star plaque on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.  To aid efforts to see that the comedy/acting legend gets his star you can go to www.gofundme.com/9ft6ag

Above photo - Larry Storch, W. P. Rigler, Cordelia (keeper of the Wild West City petting zoo) and one of the tough stunt hombres.  May 18, 2014

Remembering Patrick McGoohan

 

   March 19th is the anniversary of the birth of the compelling and charismatic actor, director and writer Patrick McGoohan.  Interesting he gave probably his most famous role, Number Six of The Prisoner, the same birthday.
     The Prisoner was a TV show Patrick McGoohan at least co-conceived, starred in, and wrote as well as directed various episodes of, both under his own name and pen names.  The series debuted in the 60's when the spy genre was all the rage, from Bond on the big screen to TV undertakings like The Man From U.N.C.L.E. or The Avengers.  McGoohan himself had starred as super-spy John Drake in two series, Danger Man and Secret Agent.  Allegedly, McGoohan had grown bored of the genre and wanted to do a series more cerebral and thought provoking.  The Prisoner certainly deserved the label thought provoking as well as enigmatic and bizarre, especially by standards set by 60's TV.
     The Prisoner revolved around the resignation of a spy played by McGoohan, which resulted in the character's transportation to an eigmatic village.  The village had a serene and tranquil visage, but was impossible to escape.  Populated by a sinister administration with an ever changing face of authority, McGoohan's character was always referred to as Number Six and he could never be sure who was running the village.  The show had surreal and sci-fi aspects including a balloon referred to as Rover which fetched back with uncanny ease those who attempted escape.  Issues explored in the show remain relevant today - including drug use, government influence and education vs mind control.  These themes were not so easily or ever undertaken by your average spy show, but their exploration appealed to Patrick McGoohan.  Perhaps that's why McGoohan felt such a close bond with the series that he merged himself with the role, even giving Number Six his March 19 birthday.
     Viewers could always expect the unexpected from the series.  It never settled for the simple hero-villain dynamic and many viewers were confused or disappointed by the show's 17th episode finale which failed to offer a tidy conclusion.  Yet the show was hailed by critics - one going so far as to call the series "an oasis in the vast wasteland of television."
     Patrick McGoohan will probably always best be remembered with fans as Number 6, but he had numerous roles of interest.  He played both heroes and villains.  He was memorable as both leading man and character actor.  Some other noteworthy roles include...

     Patrick McGoohan may well have first been noticed by American audiences for the lead role in Disney's 1963 version of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh.  He portrayed Dr. Syn, a vicar by day and the masked leader of a gang of smugglers by night, who thwarted the wicked efforts of the local British officials.  The series consisted of three one hour episodes.  It was set in the British countryside and featured abundant swashbucking on McGoohan's part amid lavish sets.  And it had one catchy theme song that ended with a chilling laugh!

     Two Emmies were awarded Patrick McGoohan for his work on Columbo.  He played four different murderers, none of whom could best the determined detective in the crumpled overcoat.  McGoohan directed two of the episodes he appeared in, as well as episodes which featured Robert Vaughn and Billy Connelly.  Peter Falk (Coumbo) and McGoohan apparently had a good friendship, as McGoohan's work on the series ranged from the 70's to the dawn of the new millenium.  Falk even authored the forward for a biography about Patrick McGoohan.

     In Ice Station Zebra, Patrick McGoohan played a spy on the big screen.  At the height of the could war, McGoohan's David Jones was in a rush to ice station zebra to retreive a downed satellite with vital secret footage before the Russians could retreive it.  This film was Howard Hughes' favorite and he reportedly viewed it hundreds of times.  I had the chance to chat with actor Ron Masak, who appeared in the movie, and he confirmed the sub used to film on was authentic.   

     Perhaps McGoohan's best known recent role was in Mel Gibson's 1995 Academy Award winning Bravheart.  McGoohan played King Edward Longshanks, the nemesis of Gibson's heroic freedom fighter, Willliam Wallace.

     Patrick McGoohan died on January 13, 2009, leaving behind a plethora of great TV and film roles.


Below top -Patrick McGoohan receives treatment in The Prisoner.
Below bottom - Patrick McGoohan plays a secret agent in Ice Station Zebra with Rock Hudson.
        

September Conventions - Baltimore

Summer is winding to an end, and for fans of classic tv/films, Baltimore is the place to be!

September 19-21 is the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in Hunt Valley Maryland. I’ve attended this con annually since it started in Aberdeen, MD. Now it has grown wonderfully to fit its current locale in Maryland at the Hunt Valley Wyndham. The convention’s relaxed atmosphere allows for fun panels ranging from classic characters to radio programs and chats with the celebrities. I remember talking with William Sanderson (Larry on Newhart) about our mutual affection for Jackie Gleason in The Honeymooners. It’s been cool seeing in person these iconic faces usually viewed on the TV or silver screen – Larry Storch (Agarn on F Troop), David Hedison (Capt. Crane on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), Roy Thinnes (David Vincent on The Invaders), Ron Ely (Tv’s Tarzan), Davy Jones of The Monkees, legendary actress Celeste Holm. This year’s batch of celebrities prove to be equally entertaining – Ed Asner, Robert Loggia, Johnny Crawford, Elizabeth Shepherd, Margaret O’Brien and the return of one of my favorite stars – Larry Storch. A certain three stooges have even been known to show up. I love the cross section of genres and mediums. If there were one show whose cast I’d like to see finally represented at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention it would be a guest from the original Star Trek series. After all, that show did sort of create the con!
For more info – http://www.MidAtlanticNostalgiaConvention.com

September 27-29 is Monstermania. Monstermania has been going on in Cherry Hill New Jersey for some time, but the Baltimore incarnation (again at the Hunt Valley Wyndham) has only been running for a few years. This event will be celebrating a reunion of television’s Batman series, as well as other celebrity guests. I’m especially excited that it appears my publisher DonnaInk Publications, will have a table where you can get a copy of my vampire tale, Terror’s Taste. Of course you can always find the book at DonnaInk.org and for more info about Monstermania go to Monstermania.net.

Happy Memories!