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. 

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.

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!