tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51465918106168670722024-03-18T16:00:32.110-06:00Section 244The blog of Michael HoskinMichael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.comBlogger1754125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-14525402683111040792024-03-18T16:00:00.002-06:002024-03-18T16:00:00.135-06:00Radio Recap: Island VentureHere's an odd one.
<P><B>Island Venture</B> was a radio adventure program that aired over CBS from November 8, 1945 to June 20, 1946. It starred Jerry Walter and Hugh Rowlands as Gil Perry and Trigger Brett, two former US Navy pilots who had taken up post-war work as pilots in the South Seas ("typical of the men of the Navy who fought through victory and now are bringing their courage, their dauntless spirit and their sound Navy training with them into peacetime enterprises"). Each week would find the duo in some sort of light-hearted adventure.
<P>Although the characters of Perry and Brett were peers, Trigger was characterized as being younger and more hot-headed than the level-headed Perry. Consequently, it sounds a lot like a juvenile adventure program, yet marketed to a grown-up audience - as if the people who made <I>Jack Armstrong</i> tried to break into prime time programming. The series was classed up a bit by narrator Ken Nordine, who would describe the tropical surroundings with flowery prose. The adventures themselves were straight out of the pulps, usually featuring superstitious South Seas natives. For instance, one episode concerned a voodoo cult that tried to eliminate Perry and Brett.
<P>However, the oddest factor in <B>Island Venture</B> is the commercial sponsor. The series was sponsored by Wrigley's Spearmint Gum at a time in which Wrigley's was <I>not</I> selling chewing gum! The earliest episodes of <B>Island Venture</B> feature the commerical spokesman pitching a product that was, at that time, unavailable! In the earliest surviving episode, the pitchman starts his commercial by acknowledging that chewing gum is "probably one of the least important [things] to everyone, except the manufacturers of chewing gum." I have never heard a product pitchman talk like that in radio! He goes on to observe that although Wrigley's wasn't available at the time "there are many good chewing gums on the market" and suggests listeners try one of them until their product is back on the market! How often do salesman suggest you try the competitor's product? Unfortunately for <B>Island Venture</B>, it didn't survive long past the return of Wrigley's Spearmint. It sounds like the gum was back on the market by April, 1946 - and they were cancelled by June.
<P>You can hear the 10 surviving episodes of <B>Island Venture</B> at <A HREF="https://www.otrr.org/OTRRLibrary/">the Old Time Radio Researchers Library</a>.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-48037421384311698062024-03-17T14:30:00.002-06:002024-03-17T14:30:00.143-06:00Radio Recap: Strange<B>Strange</B> was a 15-minute radio series that was broadcast on ABC in 1955. It dramatized stories of people's encounters with something unusual - something vaguley supernatural.
<P>The series was written and hosted by pulp writer Walter B. Gibson (best-remembered as creator of <I>the Shadow</I>) and he would claim the stories dramatized on <B>Strange</b> were based on real stories. The ghostly events on <B>Strange</B> sound a lot like the type of stories one finds in those big Time-Life books on ghosts. Still, they're very restrained dramas that tried to sound a bit believeable and inexplicable.
<P>It seems only 4 episodes of this program have turned up. You can hear the 4 surviving episodes of <B>Strange</b> at <A HREF="https://www.otrr.org/OTRRLibrary/">the Old Time Radio Researchers Library</a>.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-42023569442977565412024-03-16T16:00:00.002-06:002024-03-16T16:00:00.245-06:00Radio Recap: I Deal in Crime<B>I Deal in Crime</B> was a radio mystery program that aired on ABC from January 21, 1946 to October 18, 1947. The series starred William Gargan as private detective Ross Dolan. It was brought back on Mutual as <I>Ross Dolan, Detective</I> and ran from October 25, 1947 until September 4, 1948.
<P>There are only 3 surviving episodes of <B>I Deal in Crime</b> and zero episodes of <I>Ross Dolan, Detective</I>. Based on the three episodes, I found it to be fairly typical of the genre. Dolan is a very typical tough-guy detective and he gets hit over the head about once per half hour.
<P>The program's greatest strength and failing is, I think, Gargan himself. Gargan had a good voice that was appropriate for the genre; he made much of his career playing tough guys. And yet, he wasn't leading man material. I find his radio delivery to be too sleepy, too disinterested. He sounds bored while reading his lines, somehow detached from the drama surrounding him. He followed up this series with another program, <I>Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator</i> which I find to be about the most boring private eye program in radio. If you like your radio with a tall glass of warm milk, then you probably like <I>Barrie Craig</I> and if so, <B>I Deal in Crime</B> is also fit for your consumption.
<P>You can hear the 3 surviving episodes of <B>I Deal in Crime</b> at <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/I_Deal_In_Crime">the Internet Archive</a>.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-47177360677434167572024-03-15T16:00:00.001-06:002024-03-15T16:00:00.141-06:00Radio Recap: Meet Miss Sherlock<B>Meet Miss Sherlock</B> was a CBS mystery program that aired on two occasions as a replacement series, first from July-September, 1946 and the second time from September-October, 1947. The series was written by veteran writer E. Jack Neuman.
<P>We have only 2 surviving episodes of <B>Meet Miss Sherlock</b> and they're both from the 1946 version (apparently the 1947 version had a completely different cast). The series starred Sondra Gair as the titular Jane Sherlock and Joe Petruzzi as Peter Blossom, Jane's boyfriend. William Conrad had a recurring part as the local police detective and there were supporting parts by familiar CBS voices like Paul Frees.
<P><B>Meet Miss Sherlock</b> is not in the same class as other female-led detective shows like <I>Candy Matson</I>. Jane Sherlock was simply an empty-headed blonde dumbbell in the tradition of Gracie Allen. She was an amateur sleuth who would constantly stumble into crimes that her boyfriend (an attorney) would have to solve. She frustrated Conrad's police detective mostly by always greeting with a cute nickname.
<P>It isn't a great radio comedy-detective series; it's basically the same as <I>Mr. and Mrs. North</i>. The presence of talents like Conrad and Frees elevates the material a bit, but the ditzy persona of Miss Sherlock is the most noteworthy aspect of the program.
<P>You can hear the 2 surviving episodes of <B>Meet Miss Sherlock</b> at <A HREF="https://www.otrr.org/OTRRLibrary/">the Old Time Radio Researchers Library</a>.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-81638214271830098832024-02-29T16:00:00.004-07:002024-02-29T16:00:00.244-07:00RIP: Paul NearyI've been very busy in recent weeks, but I wanted to note the passing of comic book creator Paul Neary a little more than 2 weeks ago.
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<P>Neary was best-known as an artist; he also worked as an editor and he wrote a few stories. Most of his work was published in the UK, but he made a major inroad into US comics when he became the artist of <I>Captain America</i> during writer J. M. DeMatteis' last year on the title (#291-300). In fact, the 1st issue of <I>Captain America</I> I ever owned was Neary's 2nd issue on the series, #292. He drew the series during DeMatteis' big Red Skull story that led up to #300.
<P><I>Captain America</I> editor Mark Gruenwald assumed the writing duties after DeMatteis and Neary remained on board as artist until issue #331. During that time, Neary helped Gruenwald revitalize the title as they worked especially hard to expand Cap's rogue's gallery, the most significant additions being the Serpent Society and Flag-Smasher. The issue after Neary's departure - #332 - was a major turning point for the series, starting the storyarc in which John Walker became Captain America; Neary's exit helped mark the change in direction.
<P>In time, I think Neary became better-known as an inker than he had been as a penciler. He became Alan Davis' inker for many years and helped make Davis' work on <I>Excalibur</I> so appealing. After Davis, he became Bryan Hitch's inker. I've never been too fond of Hitch's photorealistic approach to comic art, but I credit Neary for making Hitch's work more fluid and rounded (more like Alan Davis, frankly).
<P>Neary will be remembered for his decades of work; Rest in peace, Mr. Neary.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-5908996497493664902024-02-21T16:00:00.008-07:002024-02-21T16:00:00.139-07:00M3 MemoriesIt had been more than a dozen years since my last visit to the USA; I wasn't particularly eager to see the USA again. At first, when I heard my Uncle Steve was the keynote speaker at the <A HREF="https://m3missions.com/">Moblizing Medical Missions</A> (M3) conference in Houston, I thought of it only in terms of what I should share with his supporters, in case any of them wanted to connect with him during his brief visit to the USA.
<P>But when I learned M3 was being held by Lakewood Church, which my wife had attended online regularly during the pandemic, I told my uncle how enthused she was to hear of his role in the conference. He came back suggesting to his parnters at <A HREF="https://hopeforangola.org/">Hope for Angola</A> that it would be a great idea if I attended to give away copies of <I>the Benefit of Steel</I>, the biography I wrote of my uncle.
<P>It took some careful arranging, but my wife and I were able to join my uncle at M3. We took in the entire conference, gave away 160 signed copies of <I>the Benefit of Steel</i> and help connect a number of people to what my uncle is doing in Angola. Hopefully some of these people will eventually visit Angola for themselves and participate first-hand in the work we're doing there. For myself, I've agreed to work more closely with Hope for Angola in the future, in addition to the other roles I'm holding in Angolan mission work.
<P>It was a brief visit and not exactly a vacation, but my wife was thrilled to see Lakewood Church and attend their Sunday service in person. We came away impressed by the helpfulness and generosity of the many people who helped solve logistical problems for us (transportation) or paid for our meals. It was a very special visit.
<P>My Uncle Steve delivered this talk, which is available via YouTube:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DELCjlztMyY?si=iSuGhfIPdVAd4J1S" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-29207862846342411952024-02-14T16:00:00.003-07:002024-02-14T16:00:00.238-07:00Radio Recap: One Out of SevenI've been examining the early years of Jack Webb's career lately and perhaps the most arresting piece of work he delved into in his first year on the radio (and that's saying something, in a year in which he starred in <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2024/02/radio-recap-jack-webb-show.html"><I>the Jack Webb Show</I></A> and <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</i>) is <B>One Out of Seven</b>, a 15-minute program produced at ABC's San Francisco office from February 6 to March 20, 1946. Although the series' title referred to the news story "most worthy of retelling" from the previous week, appropriately <B>One Out of Seven</B> broadcast only 7 episodes total.
<P><B>One Out of Seven</B> was a news commentary/opinion program. It was directed and produced by Gil Doud, who was likewise just starting out in radio (he went on to write for <I>the Voyage of the Scarlet Queen</I>, <I>the Adventures of Sam Spade</I>, <I>Suspense</I> and <I>Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar</I>). The program was produced on a low budget, like the other San Francisco ABC programs Webb was involved in; for <B>One Out of Seven</B>, Webb was the only voice actor in every episode.
<P>But <B>One Out of Seven</B> was, as I stated, an arresting program. You're not liable to forget it once you've heard an episode. I was treated to the 1st episode (a portrait of Senator Theodore Bilbo) over 20 years ago and I've never forgotten it, particularly Webb's echoed phrase (dripping with sarcasm): "Theodore Bilbo is an honorable man, and we do not intend to prove otherwise." <B>One Out of Seven</b> is utterly unlike other radio dramas from the time that you've heard because it had opinions on social problems of the day -- and pulled no punches in sharing them. Chief among the program's focus were the racial issues in the USA, especially those of the southern states. Of the 4 surviving episodes, 3 are concerned in some way with racism. This was simply not a topic other radio programs of the time were willing/able to confront.
<P>You might feel uncomfortable listening to <B>One Out of Seven</B>; because Webb was the only performer, he had to adopt a lot of dialects, so that includes performing as black men. He also utters the n-word slur in one episode. But if you think of Webb as a stodgy old vanguard of conservatism (which his 1960s <I>Dragnet</I> TV show certainly helped promulgate) you might be surprised to find that 1946 Jack Webb was apparently a very liberal man for his time. <B>One Out of Seven</B> wasn't an angry program but it was certainly razor-sharp in its analysis of the USA's shortcomings.
<P>You can hear the 4 surviving episodes of <B>One Out of Seven</b> at <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/One_Out_Of_Seven">the Internet Archive</a> (the episode labeled "Free Men" is identical to the "Anti-Negro South" episode).Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-48167204995633083562024-02-13T16:00:00.003-07:002024-02-13T16:00:00.252-07:00Radio Recap: Stay Tuned for TerrorI keep thinking I know everything about old-time radio horror... then a new discovery puts me in my place.
<P>When I first got on the internet in 1998 there were a number of old-time radio sites that stated with an air of authority that what they recorded as still existing represented all that still existed or ever would. And time and time again, that research has been usurped.
<P><B>Stay Tuned for Terror</B> was a syndicated old-time radio horror program that was distributed in 1945. Apparently it didn't do very well or circulate very far. The entire series was written by Robert Bloch and adapted (by him) from a variety of his short stories previously published in <I>Weird Tales</I>. The existence of the program has been known of for a long time but it was thought to be gone for good.
<P>Yet a few years ago, two episodes of <B>Stay Tuned for Terror</B> popped up! The episodes are titled "The Bogey Man Will Get You" and "Lizzie Borden Took an Axe." Having listened to them, I found they held up quite well. <B>Stay Tuned for Terror</B> didn't have familiar performers but the actors in both dramas did quite well, in my opinion. It certainly helps that Bloch wrote great horror stories - although his are a bit more gruesome than even a typical <I>Inner Sanctum Mysteries</I> episode of the time (perhaps the grisly contents contributed to the short run).
<P>Since two episodes have now appeared, perhaps more will come. In researching this series, I was surprised to learn that half of an episode of the <I>Weird Tales</I>' own 1932 radio series has turned up! It's the 2nd half of an episode "The Curse of Nagana." It sounds a lot like episodes of <I>the Witch's Tale</I> from that time, consisting primarily of people yelling dialogue at each other in an attempt to fabricate tension. It's not really any good, but it is an interesting historical fragment. The research suggests there may have only been 3 episodes recorded and that the series was never actually sold or broadcat. You can hear that fragment <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/WeirdTales_OTR">on the Internet Archive</a>.
<P>You can hear <B>Stay Tuned for Terror</B> at <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/RobertBloch_StayTuned/">the Internet Archive</a>! Their page includes a lot of additional information about the series!
Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-23442755847279834792024-02-12T16:00:00.008-07:002024-02-12T16:00:00.138-07:00Creator Credits: The Marvels (2023)There's been a lot of discussions online as to why this film failed to earn a profit at the box office as it is the lowest-earning Marvel Cinematic Universe film yet. I saw many suggested it was because the film required viewers to be familiar with the Disney+ shows <I>WandaVision</I> and <I>Ms. Marvel</I> but heck, my wife hadn't seen either of those programs <U>or</U> <I>Captain Marvel</I> and she followed the plot just fine.
<P>I suppose the viewpoint I'm most convinced by is that filmgoers are less interested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe overall - that <I>Avengers: Endgame</I> has been widely viewed as a jumping-off point and now we're seeing which properties are the ones viewers are most interested in.
<P>As ever, I appreciate any corrections to this list. My full list of creators whose works have been adapted to the Marvel Cinematic Universe <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/p/mcu.html">is right here</A>.
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<P><B>Stan Lee:</B> co-creator of the Avengers, a super hero team (Avengers #1, 1963); of <U>the Skrulls</U>, an extraterrestrial race with green skin, ridged chins and the power to shapeshift (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of the <U>Kree</U>, an extraterrestrial race of conquerors widespread throughout the universe; of <U>the Supreme Intelligence</U>, the artificial intelligence which rules the Kree, manifests as a large green face (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of the Accusers, Kree officials who wield the hammer-like Universal Weapon (Fantastic Four #65, 1967); of the hero <U>Captain Marvel</U>, initially a Kree warrior; of <U>Mar-Vell</U>, a pink Kree who defected to Earth; of <U>Yon-Rogg</U>, a pink Kree officer and enemy of Earth; of Kree uniforms with white and teal colors, pointed shoulder pads, half-mask and pointed helmet (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of <U>Nick Fury</U>, a heroic soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Nick Fury wearing an eyepatch; of Nick Fury as an intelligence agent (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of <U>Hawkeye</U>, a costumed archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964); of the Cosmic Cube, a massively powerful artifact (Tales of Suspense #79, 1966); of <U>the Beast</U>, a mutant hero with ape-like agility and a large vocabulary; of <U>Charles Xavier</U>, the Beast's superior (X-Men #1, 1963); of the <U>Scarlet Witch</U>, a woman with hex powers (X-Men #4, 1964); of the Beast as a scientist (X-Men #8, 1964)
<P><B>Jack Kirby:</B> co-creator of the Avengers, a super hero team (Avengers #1, 1963); of <U>the Skrulls</U>, an extraterrestrial race with green skin, ridged chins and the power to shapeshift (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of the <U>Kree</U>, an extraterrestrial race of conquerors widespread throughout the universe; of <U>the Supreme Intelligence</U>, the artificial intelligence which rules the Kree, manifests as a large green face (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of the Accusers, Kree officials who wield the hammer-like Universal Weapon (Fantastic Four #65, 1967); of a hero named <U>the Vision</U> (Marvel Mystery Comics #13, 1940); of <U>Nick Fury</U>, a heroic soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Nick Fury wearing an eyepatch; of Nick Fury as an intelligence agent (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of the Cosmic Cube, a massively powerful artifact (Tales of Suspense #79, 1966); of <U>the Beast</U>, a mutant hero with ape-like agility and a large vocabulary; of <U>Charles Xavier</U>, the Beast's superior (X-Men #1, 1963); of the <U>Scarlet Witch</U>, a woman with hex powers (X-Men #4, 1964); of the Beast as a scientist (X-Men #8, 1964)
<P><B>G. Willow Wilson:</B> co-creator of <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, alias Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City; of Kamala wearing a costume in imitation of Carol Danvers consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle; of Kamala using her powers to create a giant hand; of <U>Yusuf and Muneeba Khan</U>, Kamala's over-protective parents (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014); of Kamala writing fan fiction about super heroes; of Kamala's adoration for the hero Captain Marvel; of <U>Aamir Khan</U>, Kamala's older brother, a devout Muslim (Ms. Marvel #1, 2014); of Kamala's bedroom decorated with posters of Captain Marvel (Ms. Marvel #2, 2014); of Kamala meeting her hero Captain Marvel (Ms. Marvel #16, 2015); of Muneeba knowing Kamala's double identity (Ms. Marvel #18, 2015); of Kamala's hero worship of Captain Marvel being tempered due to Carol's pragmatism (Ms. Marvel #11, 2016); of Kamala's powers tied to temporal energy (Ms. Marvel #34, 2018)
<P><B>Adrian Alphona:</B> co-creator of <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, alias Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City; of Kamala wearing a costume in imitation of Carol Danvers consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle; of Kamala using her powers to create a giant hand; of <U>Yusuf and Muneeba Khan</U>, Kamala's over-protective parents (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014); of Kamala writing fan fiction about super heroes; of Kamala's adoration for the hero Captain Marvel; of <U>Aamir Khan</U>, Kamala's older brother, a devout Muslim (Ms. Marvel #1, 2014); of Kamala's bedroom decorated with posters of Captain Marvel (Ms. Marvel #2, 2014); of Kamala meeting her hero Captain Marvel (Ms. Marvel #16, 2015); of Muneeba knowing Kamala's double identity (Ms. Marvel #18, 2015); of Kamala's hero worship of Captain Marvel being tempered due to Carol's pragmatism (Ms. Marvel #11, 2016)
<P><B>Roy Thomas:</B> co-creator of the Kree being depicted with blue skin (Captain Marvel #1, 1968); of the enmity between the Kree and Skrull races (Captain Marvel #2, 1968); of the Skrulls using an interrogation device to probe memories (Captain Marvel #3, 1968); of Captain Marvel's ability to generate photon blasts from the hands; of Captain Marvel switching places with another person due to extraterrestrial wristbands (Captain Marvel #17, 1969); of Carol Danvers receiving powers from the explosion of a Kree device due to Yon-Rogg (Captain Marvel #18, 1969); of <U>Valkyrie</U>, an Asgardian warrior woman (Incredible Hulk #142, 1971); of <U>Carol Danvers</U>, a blonde woman connected to Captain Marvel (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968)
<P><B>Gene Colan:</B> co-creator of the Kree being depicted with blue skin (Captain Marvel #1, 1968); of the enmity between the Kree and Skrull races (Captain Marvel #2, 1968); of the Skrulls using an interrogation device to probe memories (Captain Marvel #3, 1968); of the hero <U>Captain Marvel</U>, initially a warrior for the Kree; of <U>Mar-Vell</U>, a pink Kree who defected to Earth; of <U>Yon-Rogg</U>, a pink Kree officer and enemy of Earth; of Kree uniforms with white and teal colors, pointed shoulder pads, half-mask and pointed helmet (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of <U>Carol Danvers</u>, a blonde woman connected to Captain Marvel (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968)
<P><B>Kelly Sue DeConnick:</B> creator of Captain Marvel's motto "Higher, Further, Faster, More." (Captain Marvel #1, 2014); co-creator of Carol Danvers' red and blue costume with yellow highlights and red gloves; of Carol's helmet which shapes her hair into a mohawk; of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel #1, 2012); of Carol Danvers' cat turning out to be an extraterrestrial Flerken whose mouth opens up into a host of tentacles which can swallow up enormous amounts of matter (Captain Marvel #2, 2014); of Carol's Flerken cat laying eggs that hatch into a multitude of Flerken offspring (Captain Marvel #7, 2014)
<P><B>Chris Claremont:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers traumatized from losing her memories (Avengers Annual #10, 1981); of Carol Danvers as a US Air Force pilot (Ms. Marvel #9, 1977); of Nick Fury and Carol Danvers as allies since the early period of Fury's career (Uncanny X-Men #158, 1982); of Carol Danvers receiving massively powerful energy manipulation powers, surrounding herself with swirls of cosmic energy; of Carol Danvers having the power of a star; of the heroine <U>Binary</U> who has energy manipulation powers and wears and red and white costume (Uncanny X-Men #164, 1982)
<P><B>Roger Stern:</B> co-creator of <U>Monica Rambeau</U>, a black woman from Louisiana with the rank of captain who is exposed to energies which permit her to transform her body into any form of energy she imagines; of Monica able to fly while in her energy form; of Monica wearing a costume with black leggings and a white top with black starburst on chest and white streamers from her arms; of Monica connected to Captain Marvel (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16, 1982); of <U>Maria Rambeau</U>, Monica's mother (Avengers #246, 1984)
<P><B>Jamie McKelvie:</B> co-creator of <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, alias Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City; of Kamala wearing a costume in imitation of Carol Danvers consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014); of Carol Danvers' red and blue costume with yellow highlights and red gloves; of Carol's helmet which shapes her hair into a mohawk (Captain Marvel #1, 2012)
<P><B>John Romita Jr.:</B> co-creator of <U>Monica Rambeau</U>, a black woman from Louisiana with the rank of captain who is exposed to energies which permit her to transform her body into any form of energy she imagines; of Monica able to fly while in her energy form; of Monica wearing a costume with black leggings and a white top with black starburst on chest and white streamers from her arms; of Monica connected to Captain Marvel (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16, 1982)
<P><B>Dave Cockrum:</B> co-creator of Nick Fury and Carol Danvers as allies since the early period of Fury's career (Uncanny X-Men #158, 1982); of Carol Danvers receiving massively powerful energy manipulation powers, surrounding herself with swirls of cosmic energy; of Carol Danvers having the power of a star; of the heroine <U>Binary</U> who has energy manipulation powers and wears and red and white costume (Uncanny X-Men #164, 1982)
<P><B>Don Heck:</B> co-creator of the Kree planet Hala (Captain Marvel #8, 1968); of Hala as the Kree homeworld; of Captain Marvel's red and blue costume with starburst design on the chest; of the Supreme Intelligence manipulating Captain Marvel; of Captain Marvel wearing wrist bands (Captain Marvel #16, 1969); of <U>Hawkeye</U>, a costumed archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964)
<P><B>Jim Cheung:</B> co-creator of <U>Dro'ge</U>, a Skrull (New Avengers #40, 2008); of <U>Kate Bishop</U>, a spoiled rich girl with a love for adventure (Young Avengers #1, 2005); of Kate Bishop being an adept archer and wielding Hawkeye's bow (Young Avengers #4, 2005); of Kate Bishop adopting the moniker of 'Hawkeye' for herself to honor him (Young Avengers #12, 2006)
<P><B>Gil Kane:</B> co-creator of of Captain Marvel's ability to generate photon blasts from the hands; of Captain Marvel switching places with another person due to extraterrestrial wristbands (Captain Marvel #17, 1969); of Carol Danvers receiving powers from the explosion of a Kree device due to Yon-Rogg (Captain Marvel #18, 1969)
<P><B>Allan Heinberg:</B> co-creator of <U>Kate Bishop</U>, a spoiled rich girl with a love for adventure (Young Avengers #1, 2005); of Kate Bishop being an adept archer and wielding Hawkeye's bow (Young Avengers #4, 2005); of Kate Bishop adopting the moniker of 'Hawkeye' for herself to honor him (Young Avengers #12, 2006)
<P><B>Gerry Conway:</B> co-creator of the Beast developing a furry body (Amazing Adventures #11, 1972); of the super hero <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, connected to Carol Danvers; of red Ms. Marvel costume with mask; of Carol Danvers' power of flight, wearing a blue and red costume with a starburst on the chest (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)
<P><B>Sana Amanat:</B> co-creator of <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, alias Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City; of Kamala wearing a costume in imitation of Carol Danvers consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014)
<P><B>Stephen Wacker:</B> co-creator of <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, alias Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City; of Kamala wearing a costume in imitation of Carol Danvers consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014)
<P><B>Archie Goodwin:</B> co-creator of Hala as the Kree homeworld; of Captain Marvel's red and blue costume with starburst design on the chest; of the Supreme Intelligence manipulating Captain Marvel; of Captain Marvel wearing wrist bands (Captain Marvel #16, 1969)
<P><B>Carla Conway:</B> co-creator of the super hero <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, connected to Carol Danvers; of red Ms. Marvel costume with mask; of Carol Danvers' power of flight, wearing a blue and red costume with a starburst on the chest (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)
<P><B>John Romita:</B> co-creator of the super hero <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, connected to Carol Danvers; of red Ms. Marvel costume with mask; of Carol Danvers' power of flight, wearing a blue and red costume with a starburst on the chest (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)
<P><B>John Buscema:</B> co-creator of the super hero <U>Ms. Marvel</U>, connected to Carol Danvers; of red Ms. Marvel costume with mask; of Carol Danvers' power of flight, wearing a blue and red costume with a starburst on the chest (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)
<P><B>Brian Michael Bendis:</B> co-creator of <U>Dro'ge</U>, a Skrull (New Avengers #40, 2008); of the Skrulls becoming refugees (Secret Invasion #1, 2008); of Nick Fury as an African-American man (Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #5, 2001)
<P><B>David Lopez:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers' cat turning out to be an extraterrestrial Flerken whose mouth opens up into a host of tentacles which can swallow up enormous amounts of matter (Captain Marvel #2, 2014)
<P><B>Ron Lim:</b> co-creator of the eliminated people returning (Infinity Gauntlet #6, 1991); of <B>Dar-Benn</b>, a Kree leader who rose to power after the Supreme Intelligence's removal (Silver Surfer #53, 1991)
<P><B>Mark Gruenwald:</B> creator of Tarnax, a Skrull planet (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #10, 1983); co-creator of the Quantum Bands, extremely powerful energy bracelets that can open portals (Quasar #2, 1989)
<P><B>Matt Fraction:</b> co-creator of <U>Lucky</U>, a stray dog adopted by Hawkeye who loves pizza (Hawkeye #1, 2012); of Kate Bishop wearing a light purple bodysuit as Hawkeye (Hawkeye #3, 2012)
<P><B>David Aja:</b> co-creator of <U>Lucky</U>, a stray dog adopted by Hawkeye who loves pizza (Hawkeye #1, 2012); of Kate Bishop wearing a light purple bodysuit as Hawkeye (Hawkeye #3, 2012)
<P><B>Nico Leon:</B> co-creator of Kamala's powers tied to temporal energy (Ms. Marvel #34, 2018)
<P><B>Takeshi Miyazawa:</B> of Kamala's hero worship of Captain Marvel being tempered due to Carol's pragmatism (Ms. Marvel #11, 2016)
<P><B>Joe Simon:</B> co-creator of a hero named <U>the Vision</U> (Marvel Mystery Comics #13, 1940)
<P><B>Arnold Drake:</B> co-creator of the Kree planet Hala (Captain Marvel #8, 1968)
<P><B>Marcio Takara:</B> co-creator of Carol's Flerken cat laying eggs that hatch into a multitude of Flerken offspring (Captain Marvel #7, 2014)
<P><B>Michael Golden:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers traumatized from losing her memories (Avengers Annual #10, 1981)
<P><B>Tom Sutton:</B> co-creator of the Beast developing a furry body (Amazing Adventures #11, 1972); of the Beast' fur being blue (Amazing Adventures #15, 1972)
<P><B>Herb Trimpe:</B> co-creator of <U>Valkyrie</U>, an Asgardian warrior woman (Incredible Hulk #142, 1971)
<P><B>Al Milgrom:</B> co-creator of <U>Maria Rambeau</U>, Monica's mother (Avengers #246, 1984)
<P><B>Jim Starlin:</B> co-creator of 50% of all life in the universe ceasing to exist (Infinity Gauntlet #1, 1991); of the eliminated people returning (Infinity Gauntlet #6, 1991)
<P><B>George Perez:</B> co-creator of 50% of all life in the universe ceasing to exist (Infinity Gauntlet #1, 1991)
<P><B>Glenn Herdling:</B> co-creator of <U>Photon</U>, an alias used by Monica Rambeau (Avengers Unplugged #5, 1996)
<P><B>M. C. Wyman:</B> co-creator of <U>Photon</U>, an alias connected to Monica Rambeau (Avengers Unplugged #5, 1996)
<P><B>Dexter Soy:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers serving as Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel #1, 2012)
<P><B>John Byrne:</B> creator of the Skrulls as a band of refugees with no homeworld (Fantastic Four #262, 1984); co-creator of Carol Danvers as an Avenger (Avengers #181, 1979)
<P><B>Keith Pollard:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers as a US Air Force pilot (Ms. Marvel #9, 1977)
<P><B>Mark Millar:</B> co-creator of Nick Fury depicted as Samuel L. Jackson (Ultimates #2, 2002)
<P><B>Bryan Hitch:</B> co-creator of Nick Fury depicted as Samuel L. Jackson (Ultimates #2, 2002)
<P><B>Roberto de la Torre:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers' mysterious ginger cat (Ms. Marvel #4, 2006)
<P><B>Brian Reed:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers' mysterious ginger cat (Ms. Marvel #4, 2006)
<P><B>Leinil Francis Yu:</B> co-creator of the Skrulls becoming refugees (Secret Invasion #1, 2008)
<P><B>Mike Allred:</B> co-creator of Nick Fury as an African-American man (Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #5, 2001)
<P><B>David Michelinie:</B> co-creator of Carol Danvers as an Avenger (Avengers #181, 1979)
<P><B>Russ Heath:</B> co-creator of extraterrestrial wrist weapons that generate energy (Marvel Boy #1, 1950)
<P><B>Paul Ryan:</B> co-creator of the Quantum Bands, extremely powerful energy bracelets that can open portals (Quasar #2, 1989)
<P><B>Ron Marz:</B> co-creator of <B>Dar-Benn</b>, a Kree leader who rose to power after the Supreme Intelligence's removal (Silver Surfer #53, 1991)
<P><B>Steve Englehart:</B> co-creator of the Beast' fur being blue (Amazing Adventures #15, 1972)
<P><B>Tara Butters:</b> co-creator of Captain Marvel assisting a space station above Earth (Captain Marvel #1, 2016)
<P><B>Michele Fazekas:</b> co-creator of Captain Marvel assisting a space station above Earth (Captain Marvel #1, 2016)
<P><B>Kris Anka:</b> co-creator of Captain Marvel assisting a space station above Earth (Captain Marvel #1, 2016)
<P><B>Fabian Niceiza:</B> co-creator of <U>Pulsar</U>, codename used by Monica Rambeau (New Thunderbolts #9, 2005)
<P><B>Cliff Richards:</B> co-creator of <U>Pulsar</U>, codename used by Monica Rambeau (New Thunderbolts #9, 2005)
<P><B>Al Ewing:</B> co-creator of <U>Spectrum</U>, codename used by Monica Rambeau (Mighty Avengers #1, 2013)
<P><B>Greg Land:</B> co-creator of <U>Spectrum</U>, codename used by Monica Rambeau (Mighty Avengers #1, 2013)
<P><B>Joss Whedon:</B> co-creator of Earth space station connected to Nick Fury (Astonishing X-Men #10, 2005)
<P><B>John Cassaday:</B> co-creator of Earth space station connected to Nick Fury (Astonishing X-Men #10, 2005)
<P><B>Donny Cates:</B> co-creator of the Kree succumbing to civil war (Death of the Inhumans #1, 2018)
<P><B>Ariel Olivetti:</B> co-creator of the Kree succumbing to civil war (Death of the Inhumans #1, 2018)
<P><B>Bob Harras:</b> co-creator of Hala suffering a cataclysmic event (Avengers #347, 1992)
<P><B>Steve Epting:</b> co-creator of Hala suffering a cataclysmic event (Avengers #347, 1992)Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-82917074930599157402024-02-09T16:00:00.004-07:002024-02-09T16:00:00.262-07:00Radio Recap: Johnny Madero, Pier 23<P>Up 'til now I've written a couple of blog posts about Jack Webb's early radio career at ABC while he lived in San Francisco. His biggest hit from that tenure was <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</i>, part of Webb's long partnership with his writer friend (and former roommate) Richard L. Breen. Breen wrote comedy scripts for <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2024/02/radio-recap-jack-webb-show.html">the Jack Webb Show</A>, much of the quippy dialogue heard on <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</i> and later on he wrote for Webb on <I>Dragnet</i> and <I>Pete Kelly's Blues</I>.
<P>But when Webb left San Francisco for Los Angeles, ABC kept producing <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</I> without he or Breen. So it was that Webb and Breen signed on with Mutual to produce a new show that was basically identical to <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</I>; that show was <B>Johnny Madero, Pier 23</B>. The two shows were set in San Francisco, featured Webb as a odd job guy who kept being involved in murders, sought council from a somewhat laconic ally, menaced by the local police inspector, and contained a terrific amount of quippy dialogue.
<P>Apparently they were so much alike that after the 1st episode, ABC sued Mutual! It seems in the debut week, Johnny's ally was a drunk almost identical to Jocko Madigan from <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</I>. To placate ABC, the drunk was dropped and replaced with Father Leahy, portrayed by Gale Gordon. Despite being a man of the cloth, Father Leahy seemed to be basically identical to Jocko Madigan - prone to lengthy philosophical thoughts that would carry on, ignoring Johnny's protestations. But he didn't seem to be a drunk (although he did mention how much he enjoyed wine) so I suppose ABC were placated.
<P>The hard-nosed police inspector of <B>Johnny Madero</b> was called Inspector Warchek and portrayed by William Conrad, who was definitely well-cast in that part. Webb and Conrad's angry wisecracks at each other form probably the best parts of the series.
<P><B>Johnny Madero, Pier 23</B> only lasted 5 months, from April-September, 1947. Sadly, we only have 2 episodes currently known to exist. Happily, when the show ended, Webb and Breen patched things up with ABC and both returned to <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</I>. In fact, most of what we have now from that series is from Webb's 2nd tenure on the series.
<P>You can hear the two surviving episodes of <B>Johnny Madero, Pier 23</B> at <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/JohnnyMaderoPier23">the Internet Archive</A>. It's a pity we have so little remaining; Mutual made a lot of detective programs but the writing and performances on this series were well above their average.
<P>I'll probably write some more about Jack Webb's early career next week!Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-58510752907429061002024-02-08T04:00:00.001-07:002024-02-08T14:25:20.115-07:00Radio Recap: Spotlight PlayhouseSince yesterday I wrote a little about Jack Webb's early radio career via his comedy program <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2024/02/radio-recap-jack-webb-show.html">the Jack Webb Show</A>, I'm going to examine a few more of his early shows.
<P>Another program Jack Webb appeared in while in San Francisco is the ABC series <B>Spotlight Playhouse</B>. Unfortunately, despite its presence in Webb's history, radio historians don't seem to have paid much attention to this series yet. There are no radio logs for the program, so I know very little outside of what's present in the 2 surviving episodes.
<P><B>Spotlight Playhouse</b> was written and produced by Monte Masters. The two surviving episodes were written by him, so possibly the entire series was a showcase for his efforts. The casts were very small in this series, so like other early ABC programs it appears to have been cooked up on a shoestring budget. The opening rambles on and repeats itself somewhat:
<BLOCKQUOTE>The spotlight of life swings in all directions and no one knows upon whom it will settle. It may be you, or it may be <I>you</I>. All of us at one time or another have had something in our lives that would make drama and so you in our audience are the stars tonight in our Spotlight Playhouse, for these are stories presented each week at this hour which may concern any of you. Now: Spotlight Playhouse.</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>"From This Window" (March 14, 1946) concerned a young couple whose relationship is viewed from a window by a woman who narrates the events of their lives. Webb appears as the male lead of the couple.
<P>"Genius from Hoboken" (March 21, 1946) concerned a New Jersey barber whose greatest desire is to build violins and how he struggles to achieve his dream. Webb appears in a couple of small parts, using a dialect in one of them.
<P>You can find the surviving episodes at the <A HREF="https://www.otrr.org/OTRRLibrary/">Old Time Radio Researchers Library</A>.
<P>More on Jack Webb's early career tomorrow...Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-37798454606839058962024-02-07T16:00:00.003-07:002024-02-07T16:00:00.135-07:00Radio Recap: The Jack Webb ShowIn 1946, Jack Webb was just starting out in radio but very quickly his voice was all over ABC. ABC was a new network then and were probably desperate for some original programming. Webb appeared in a number of shows that followed each other in quick succession, all produced in San Francisco. His first big series, <I>One Out of Seven</I>, I'll have to address in a future blog post. Today I'm going to talk about Jack Webb's comedy-music program, <B>the Jack Webb Show</B>.
<P><B>The Jack Webb Show</B> aired March-August, 1946 on ABC. We have only two episodes that are still known to exist. Webb started his private eye series <I>Pat Novak, for Hire</I> in 1946 but wouldn't reach the role he'd be best-known for - Joe Friday of <I>Dragnet</I> - until 1949. The Jack Webb of 1946 was young, hungry and... yes, funny!
<P>To the baby boomer generation, Webb's stoic performance as Joe Friday became iconic. Even though he remained busy in other works outside of <I>Dragnet</I> (such as <I>Pete Kelly's Blues</I>), nothing he touched reached as far or lasted as long as <I>Dragnet</I>. Webb's stoic, deadpan delivery was so famous that, to cite one example from late in his career, when he appeared on the 1974 <I>Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special</I> in a comedy sketch alongside his <I>Dragnet</I> co-star Harry Morgan and Jack Benny, Webb remained entirely in-character as Joe Friday - whereas Harry Morgan was permitted to break character for the sake of a few laughs. In the sketch, Friday's seeming inability to possess a sense of humour was in itself a kind of joke.
<P>But that was Webb in the last decade of his life. He hadn't built a reputation as a straight man in 1946. He hadn't built <I>any</I> reputation. Thus, like yesterday's post on <I>the Orson Welles Radio Almanac</I> we have a radio series whose star is not best-known as a comedic performer. The difference is that Welles had built his reputation in dramatic radio for 6-7 years prior to that program, while Webb was just starting out.
<P>Comparing the two shows, Webb comes off extremely well. Believe it or not, <B>the Jack Webb Show</b> was a zany comedy program, similar to another show that followed it on ABC - <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2022/02/radio-recap-henry-morgan-show.html">the Henry Morgan Show</A>. Webb had to disappear into a number of different parts for the comedy sketches and he was extremely capable at it. It's a fast-paced show and Webb's patter is so good, I guarantee you'll forget he's best-rembered as a dramatic peformer.
<P>The two shows each have one lengthy comedy sketch; in the first, it's "The Razor in the Case of the Confused Keyhole" in which Webb satirizes radio private detective programs (he even calls out Dick Powell by name!). In the second, it's "Slim Slade, Western Bandleader" in which he plays a band leader whose band seems to play the exact same song every time they perform, despite the leader's insistence that he's crafted a variety of different tunes.
<P>You can hear the 2 surviving episodes of <B>the Jack Webb Show</B> on <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/The_Jack_Webb_Show">the Internet Archive</a>.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-63029997640518651442024-02-06T16:00:00.005-07:002024-02-06T16:00:00.137-07:00Radio Recap: The Orson Welles Radio AlmanacIf you're a fan of old-time radio, then you have an opinion about Orson Welles. To some he's very well-regarded, to others he's considered over-rated. But because the single most repeated program in old-time radio history is Welles' <I>Mercury Theater on the Air</I> production of "The War of the Worlds," we are all inevitably exposed to his work.
<P>I rather like Orson Welles. Some years ago you may recall I wrote a series of blog posts I titled "Jack Benny Without Jack Benny" in which I looked the episodes of <I>Jack Benny Program</I> in which Orson Welles filled in for a sick Jack Benny in the spring of 1943. Those programs worked out marvelously well, as Welles fitted into Jack's role very smoothly. Of course, as I reflected then, it helped that the <I>Jack Benny Program</I> was a well-honed machine and Welles was being supported by Benny's usual supporting players and by Benny's writers (Ed Beloin and Bill Morrow), in fact by the writing team I consider Benny's finest. These caveats aside, there was no guarantee that Welles could substitute for a seasoned comedian like Jack Benny, but he did and did it quite well (You can revisit my <I>Jack Benny Without Jack Benny</i> blogging series here: <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2014/03/jack-benny-without-jack-benny-part-1-of.html">Part 1</A>, <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2014/03/jack-benny-without-jack-benny-part-2-of.html">Part 2</A>, <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2014/03/jack-benny-without-jack-benny-part-3-of.html">Part 3</A>, <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2014/03/jack-benny-without-jack-benny-part-4-of.html">Part 4</A>, <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2014/03/jack-benny-without-jack-benny-part-5-of.html">Part 5</A>, <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2014/03/jack-benny-without-jack-benny-part-6-of.html">Part 6</A>).
<P>In the fall of 1943, Welles didn't have a regular radio program; he was the star of <I>Suspense</I> for a solid month of great performances, but mostly his radio appearances were confined to guest performances. Most of his time in the fall seems to have been spent touring his Mercury Wonder Show, a traveling magic show he performed for servicemen. He also took the romantic lead in the movie <I>Jane Eyre</I>; for a man whose early career had been one controversy after another (many of them intentionally courting controversy), the Orson Welles of late 1943 seemed like a pretty conventional Hollywood movie star - saluting servicemen, cracking jokes with Bing Crosby and appearing on screen in a popular melodrama. But in January, 1944, Welles had a brand-new radio series with many of his Mercury Theater regulars. It was called <B>the Orson Welles Radio Almanac</B> - and it was a comedy-variety program.
<P><B>The Orson Welles Radio Almanac</B> aired for 7 months over CBS from January-July, 1944. The series was sponsored by Mobilgas, who had previously sponsored <I>Information, Please</I>, suggesting someone at that company wanted to promote highbrow programming on the radio. And the series was a bit highbrow as in-between the comedy sketches and musical numbers (most of the series music was directed by Lud Gluskin of <I>Suspense</I>; it also benefited from appearances by the All-Star Jazz Group) Welles would close many episodes by reading a soliloquy from Shakespeare.
<P>Apparently Orson had been building toward the <B>Orson Welles Radio Almanac</b> ever since his guest host duties on <I>the Jack Benny Program</I>. He had indeed gone over very well as a comedian and he'd done well for CBS over the years. He worked some of his performances on the Mercury Wonder program into his new series. You might think a dramatic performer such as Orson Welles would be an odd fit for a comedy-variety program. You'd be correct.
<P>If you are well-versed in Orson Welles' performances then you know that Orson the guest performer and Orson the lead performer are two very different animals. When Orson made guest appearances on Jack Benny or Bing Crosby, he was reading off scripts built by those programs' tested and true methods. Even if he flubbed a few lines (and Orson being averse to rehearsals, he inevitably flubbed lines) the lead performers would keep the show on track. Even when he subbed for Jack Benny, he was still being guided by personalities like Phil Harris, Dennis Day, Don Wilson and Mary Livingstone, who all knew how to keep the comedic energy going.
<P>By contrast, you can sample any of the comedic performances Orson directed on <I>the Mercury Theater on the Air</I>, <I>the Campbell Playhouse</I> or any of his other Mercury programs. At best, they're patchy. I think Orson had pretty chops as a comedy performer but not as a comedy producer.
<P>Throughout, <B>the Orson Welles Radio Almanac</b> demonstrated Orson was not quite right as a comedic lead. There are a lot of flubs in the programs, mostly caused by Orson. You'll never wonder whether a line was flubbed or not as Orson tended to draw attention to them, whether he or a co-star were responsible. Orson was always a bit crabby and perfectionist and it really comes out in the sheer number of times he botched a joke in his delivery, bemoaned a co-star for flubbing their line or fired a few shots at his writers for giving him inferior material to read.
<P>Easily the oddest part for me listening to <B>the Orson Welles Radio Almanac</b> was the commercial spot in the first broadcast, which was read by Ray Collins of the Mercury Theater. In an attempt to contrast other radio comedies who had commercial pitchmen that were ridiculously enthusiastic about the sponsor's product (Don Wilson, Bill Goodwin, Harlow Wilcox), Collins' pitchman character is extremely reluctant to talk about the sponsor's product and keeps missing Orson's hints that he should start pitching the product. It's different, and it doesn't work; it's so off-kilter, it actually sounds like Collins was trying to sabotage the sponsor. Perhaps Mobilgas thought so too, because Collins was kicked off the show by the following week and replaced by Jack Mather.
<P>For the first month there were many gags about Orson being edited by the network censor. There were joks about Orson's fan club who swooned over him as though he were Frank Sinatra. Agnes Moorehead appeared for the first few months as Orson's secretary. Many of the gags could have been told on any other comedy show; the frequent jokes about how thin Frank Sinatra was certainly sound just like every other 1944 comedy show, but that same joke would appear every week.
<P>Is the series a trainwreck? No. The frequent flubs and poor production decisions bring it down, but Orson was aided by relying heavily on guest stars. The likes of Groucho Marx, Dennis Day, Lucille Ball, Ann Southern and Robert Benchley all knew how to handle themselves on a radio comedy show and they did their best to keep the laughs coming. A few seasoned radio voices turned up to support Orson like John Brown, Walter Tetley and Hans Conreid.
<P>There's also one episode that I think is a pretty great radio comedy. The June 14, 1944 episode is an episode-long sketch that satirizes Hitler through a fake war between Texas and Arkansas. Barton Yarborough turns up in his best southern drawl and the Hitler figure is performed by Cliff Nazarro, a frequent voice heard on <I>the Jack Benny Program</I>. And if you're a <I>Suspense</I> fan, you'll really enjoy Orson performing in a satire of his role in the two-part "Donovan's Brain" which appeared in the May 31, 1944 episode (just after the two-parter aired).
<P>Most of <B>the Orson Welles Radio Almanaac</B> has survived. It's not great comedy-variety programming, but if you don't mind a little bit of cringe, you might enjoy it. You can hear the surviving episodes of <B>the Orson Welles Radio Almanac</B> on the Internet Archive split over two pages, <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/1944OrsonWellesRadioAlmanacpart1">the first part here</A>, <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/1944OrsonWellesRadioAlmanacpart2">the remainder here</a>.
<P>Another post about an unlikely radio comedian follows tomorrow...
Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-21857920071480327892024-02-05T16:00:00.002-07:002024-02-05T16:00:00.132-07:00RIP: Carl WeathersCarl Weathers passed away last week at age 76. Most of the reporting online talks him up as a performer in the <I>Rocky</I> franchise and for his role in the original <I>Predator</I>. I like those movies quite a bit; <I>Predator</I> is one of the most ridiculously macho movies ever made, and kind of funny because of how over-the-top macho it is. <I>Rocky</I>, despite its reputation, was a heartfelt story that connects to me on an entirely different level.
<P>Having that background with Weathers, I was very pleased when he turned up in the television series <I>the Mandalorian</I>; his appearance in the first episode surprised me and was the first signal I received that the casting work on that series was top-notch. I enjoyed seeing reappear on that series (even direct an episode) even though the series itself just kept running in circles.
<P>But if I'm honest, my favourite role Carl Weathers ever played in was when he portrayed... Carl Weathers on television's <I>Arrested Development</I>.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/29Y333JkwXQ?si=Wp7_CWgYytAltd74" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<P>I laughed a lot at him satirizing himself. Based on his willingness to make fun of himself, he must have been a pretty great guy. Rest in peace, Mr. Weathers.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-72818921923229923302024-01-29T16:00:00.007-07:002024-01-29T16:00:00.136-07:00Upcoming Book EventMy wife and I have decided to attend the Mobilizing Medical Missions conference (M3) in Houston, Texas, happening February 16-17. My Uncle Steve is this year's keynote speaker and we'll be giving away copies of my book <B>the Benefit of Steel</B> to conference attendees. This will be the first time he and I will be signing the English-version together - previously our only joint signing was for the Portuguese edition!
<P>More about M3 <A HREF="https://m3missions.com/">on their website</A>.Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-21971907221642194822024-01-28T13:50:00.016-07:002024-01-29T08:03:50.557-07:00Radio Recap: Words at War<B>Words at War</B> was an NBC dramatic program that aired from June 1943 to June of 1945. There are plenty of dramatic programs that adapted popular movies, famous plays, well-known short stories and works in the public domain. <B>Words at War</B> is unique in that it was concerned with recently-published works - the majority of them non-fiction! All that a work needed to appear on <B>Words at War</B> was that it in some way concern itself with the war itself. The series only occasionally adapted a work of fiction.
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<P><B>Words at War</B> was produced by the Council on Books in Wartime and sponsored by Johnson Wax, serving for a time as a replacement series for <I>Fibber McGee and Molly</I>. When I first heard the Council's name mentioned on the series, I assumed they were some sort of government body; actually, they were a non-profit comprised mainly of book publishers. Among other things, they produced the "armed service editions" of books distributed to servicemen, which remain very collectable to this day.
<P>The popularity of <B>Words at War</B> apparently caught NBC by surprise - it was originally supposed to run for 13 episodes, yet managed two full years in the end! A number of the authors of works heard on <B>Words at War</b> appeared in-person to help support the adaptations. There was also a span of about 2 months where the program was hosted and narrated by Clifton Fadiman (<I>New Yorker</I>, <I>Information Please</I>). Otherwise, the series primarily drew from the usual voices heard on NBC programming and they did a fine job. The authors may not be well-remembered today; probably most of the works are forgotten except by scholars of World War II. The best-remembered author represented on the show is almost certainly Ernie Pyle, whose books <I>Here Is Your War</I> and <I>Brave Men</I> were both adapted (the latter a few days after Pyle's tragic death).
<P>I only discovered <B>Words at War</B> late in 2022. When I listened through the entire series I found that at times it could feel a little repetitive. Many of the episodes are drawn from accounts written by journalists and tend to feel a bit familiar. Early in the series there are many dramas concerned with the events that caused the war and criticized the USA's late-entry to the conflict - that gets tiresome fast. Late in the run, as it became clear that the Allies were soon going to win, there are multiple episodes anticipating post-war issues, several insisting on strong measures against Germany, others about economic issues. They have a very polemic streak to them that might have been fine for audiences at the time but I don't find they resonate today.
<P>So how does this series resonate? Well, it helps that there are outliers, entirely unlike their fellows. "Love at First Flight" (August 14, 1943) is a funny account of a man joining the Air Force. There's a biography of George Washington Carver (February 8, 1944) that has nothing to do with the war other than to present a positive portrayal of a black man. <B>Words at War</B> was frequently concerned with social matters, especially anti-bigotry programs, one of the best being their December 26, 1944 series that examined historical bigotry against Jews and Catholics.
<P>What else is good? I enjoyed "The Last Days of Sevastopol" (July 17, 1943); "One Damn Thing After Another" (November 17, 1944); "The Guys on the Ground" (December 6, 1944) and "The Bid Was Four Hearts" (February 27, 1945).
<P>Although <B>Words at War</B> was a popular program it seems as though NBC was less inclined to its provocative, intellectual nature as the end of the war loomed - which is probably why the series ended before the war did. The April 17, 1945 program opened with a disclaimer from NBC:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Many of the books dramatized on this program deal with issues which have stimulated considerable controversy. It is not the purpose of <B>Words at War</B> or the National Broadcasting Company to take sides on these issues but merely to bring you the most representative books to come out of this great world conflict.</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>My guess is that the network got a lot of hate mail from the April 3rd adaptation of "Full Employment in a Free Society," which advocated strongly for a government-planned economy. A few weeks after the disclaimer they adapted "The Road to Serfdom" on May 15th which argued against a government-planned economy, probably an attempt at mollifying their critics - but since they were cancelled just a few weeks later it must not have worked.
<P>Almost all of <B>Words at War</B> still exists and you can listen to the Old Time Radio Researchers Group's collection <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Words_At_War_Singles/">on the Internet Archive</A>.
<P>Below you'll find a list of all the books featured on <B>Words at War</B> with links to booksellers at AbeBooks who have copies for sale - just in case any of the episodes of this series should make you want to seek out the original material!
<UL><LI>June 24, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/official-story-commandos/author/combined-operations-command/used/">Combined Operations: The Official Story of the Commandos</A>
<LI>July 1, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/world/author/wendell-wilkie/used/">One World</A> by Wendell Wilkie.
<LI>July 10, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/call-pacific/author/clark-lee/">They Call It Pacific</A> by Clark Lee.
<LI>July 17, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/last-days-sevastopol/author/boris-voitekhov/">The Last Days of Sevastopol</A> by Boris Voitekhov (repeated August 19, 1943).
<LI>July 24, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/ship/author/forester/">The Ship</A> by C. S. Forester.
<LI>July 31, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/land-silent-people/author/robert-john/">From the Land of the Silent People</A> by Robert St. John.
<LI>August 7, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/prisoner-japs/author/dew-gwen/">Prisoner of the Japs</A> by Gwen Dew.
<LI>August 14, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/love-first-flight/author/charles-spalding/">Love at First Flight</A> by Charles Spalding.
<LI>August 21, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/malta-spitfire/author/george-beurling-leslie-roberts/">Malta Spitfire</A> by George Beurling and Leslie Roberts.
<LI>August 26, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/burma-surgeon/author/seagrave-gordon/">Burma Surgeon</A> by Gordon S. Seagrave.
<LI>September 2, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/dynamite-cargo-convoy-russia/author/fred-herman/">Dynamite Cargo</A> by Fred Herman.
<LI>September 9, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/falange-axis-secret-army-americas/author/chase-allan/">Falange</A> by Allan Chase.
<LI>September 16, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/away-letters-soldier-wife/author/wilder-margaret-buell/">Since You Went Away</A> by Margaret Buell Wilder.
<LI>September 23, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/they-shall-not-have-me/author/helion-jean/>They Shall Not Have Me</A> by Jean Helion.
<LI>September 30, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/battle-hymn-china/author/agnes-smedley/">The Battle Hymn of China</A> by Agnes Smedley.
<LI>October 5, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/days-survival-seaman-izzi-mark/">Eighty-Three Days: The Survival of Seaman Izzi</A> by Mark Murphy (repeated January 11, 1944).
<LI>October 12, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/paris-underground/author/etta-shiber/">Paris Underground</A> by Etta Shiber.
<LI>October 19, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/short-cut-tokyo-battle-aleutians/author/ford-corey/">Short Cut to Tokyo</A> by Corey Ford.
<LI>October 26, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/who-dare-live/author/frederick-watt/">Who Dare to Live</A> by Frederick B. Watt.
<LI>November 2, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/here-is-your-war/author/pyle-ernie/">Here Is Your War</A> by Ernie Pyle.
<LI>November 9, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/hands-amphibious-adventure/author/brown-john-mason/">To All Hands</A> by John Mason Brown.
<LI>November 16, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/skyways-berlin-american-flyers-england/author/redding-john-leyshon-harold/">Skyways to Berlin</A> by John M. Redding and Harold L. Leyshon.
<LI>November 23, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/escape-balkans/author/padev-michael/">Escape from the Balkans</A> by Michael Padev.
<LI>November 30, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/fruits-fascism/author/matthews-herbert/">The Fruits of Fascism</A> by Herbert L. Matthews, <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/sawdust-caesar-untold-history-mussolini/author/seldes/">Sawdust Caesar</A> by George Seldes and <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/balcony-empire/author/reynolds-eleanor-packard/">Balcony Empire</A> by Reynolds and Eleanor Packard.
<LI>December 7, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/book-letters/author/maule-harry-editor/">A Book of War Letters</A>.
<LI>December 14, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/mother-america-living-story-democracy/author/romulo-col-carlos/">Mother America</A> by Carlos P. Romulo.
<LI>December 21, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/log-book/author/frank-laskier/">Log Book</A> by Frank Laskier.
<LI>December 28, 1943: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/ten-commandments-short-novels-hitlers/author/mann-thomas-rebecca-west-aqnd/">The Ten Commandments</A>.
<LI>January 4, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/inherit-earth/author/zoff-otto/">They Shall Inherit the Earth</A> by Otto Zoff.
<LI>January 21, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/tide/author/lin-taiyi/">War Tide</A> by Lin Taiyi.
<LI>January 28, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/condition-red-destroyer-action-south/author/bell-frederick/">Condition: Red</A> by Frederick J. Bell.
<LI>February 4, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/white-brigade/author/robert-goffin/">The White Brigade</A> by Robert Goffin.
<LI>February 11, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/george-washington-carver/author/rackham-holt/">George Washington Carver</A> by Rackham Holt.
<LI>February 18, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/new-sun/author/yashima-taro/">The New Sun</A> by Taro Yashima.
<LI>February 22, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/assignment-u-s-a/author/menefee-selden/">Assignment: U.S.A.</A> by Selden Menefee (repeated April 4, 1944).
<LI>March 3, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/served-bataan/author/redmond-juanita/">I Served on Bataan</A> by Juanita Redmond.
<LI>March 10, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/weeping-wood/author/baum/">The Weeping Wood</A> by Vicki Baum.
<LI>March 17, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/science-war/author/gray-george/used/">Science at War</A> by George W. Gray.
<LI>March 21, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/fuehrer-hitlers-rise-power/author/konrad-heiden/">Der Fuehrer</A> by Konrad Heiden.
<LI>March 28, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/bell-adano/author/hersey-john/">A Bell for Adano</A> by John Hersey.
<LI>April 11, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/wild-river/author/strong/">Wild River</A> by Anna Louise Strong.
<LI>April 18, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/silence-sea/author/vercors-connolly-cyril/">The Silence of the Sea</A> by Vercors.
<LI>April 25, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/tarawa/author/sherrod-robert/">Tarawa</A> by Robert Sherrod.
<LI>May 3, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/curtain-rises/author/quentin-reynolds/">The Curtain Rises</A> by Quentin Reynolds.
<LI>May 10, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/gunners-get-glory-bob-berrys/author/berry-robert/">Gunners Get Glory</A> by Robert B. Berry.
<LI>May 17, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/lifeline/author/robert-carse/">Lifeline</a> by Robert Carse.
<LI>May 24, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/lend-lease-weapon-victory/author/stettinius/">Lend Lease: Weapon for Victory</a> by Edward R. Stettinius.
<LI>May 31, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/navy-hunts-cgr-3070/author/lawrence-thompson/">The Navy Hunts CGR-3070</A> by Lawrence Thompson.
<LI>June 7, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/pacific-partner/author/johnston-george/">Pacific Partner</A> by George H. Johnston.
<LI>June 27, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/fair-stood-wind-france/author/h-e-bates/">Fair Stood the Wind for France</A> by H. E. Bates.
<LI>July 4, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/criminals-punishment/author/george-creel/">War Criminals and Punishment</A> by George Creel (repeated October 17, 1944).
<LI>July 11, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/captain-retread/author/donald-hough/">Captain Retread</A> by Donald Hough.
<LI>July 18, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/below-zero-battle-greenland/author/oliver-lafarge/">War Below Zero</A> by Bernt Balchen, Corey Ford and Oliver La Farge.
<LI>July 25, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/lost-island/author/hall-james-norman/">Lost Island</A> by James Norman Hall.
<LI>August 1, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/headquarters-budapest/author/robert-parker/">Headquarters Budapest</A> by Robert Parker.
<LI>August 8, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/nazis-underground/author/curt-riess/">The Nazis Go Underground</A> by Curt Riess.
<LI>August 15, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/pastoral/author/shute-nevil/">Pastoral</A> by Nevil Shute.
<LI>August 22, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/argentine-diary-story-coming-fascism/author/josephs-ray/">Argentine Diary</A> by Ray Josephs.
<LI>August 29, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/simone-roman/author/feuchtwanger-lion/">Simone</A> by Lion Feuchtwanger.
<LI>September 5, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/veteran-comes-back/author/waller-willard-walter/">The Veteran Comes Back</A> by Willard Waller (repeated October 10, 1944).
<LI>September 12, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/one-man-air-force/author/gentile-don/">One Man Air Force</A> by Don S. Gentile.
<LI>September 19, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/time-decision/author/sumner-welles/">The Time for Decision</A> by Sumner Welles and <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/u-s-aims/author/lippmann-walter/">U.S. War Aims</A> by Walter Lippmann.
<LI>September 26, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/journey-chaos-americas-home-front/author/agnes-elizabeth-ernst-meyer/">Journey Through Chaos</A> by Agnes E. Meyer.
<LI>October 3, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/sea-gull-cry/author/nathan-robert/">The Sea-Gull Cry</A> by Robert Nathan.
<LI>October 24, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/time/author/belden-jack/">Still Time to Die</A> by Jack Belden.
<LI>October 31, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/why-killed/author/rex-warner/">Why Was I Killed?</A> by Rex Warner.
<LI>November 17, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/damn-thing-after-another/author/tom-treanor/">One Damn Thing After Another</A> by Tom Treanor.
<LI>November 24, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/barriers-down-story-news-agency/author/kent-cooper/">Barriers Down</A> by Kent Cooper.
<LI>November 29, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/camp-follower/author/klaw-barbara/">Camp Follower</A> by Barbara Klaw.
<LI>December 6, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/guys-ground/author/friendly-alfred/">The Guys on the Ground</A> by Alfred Friendly.
<LI>December 13, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/school-children-teacher-looks-wrong/author/syrkin-marie/">Your School, Your Children</A> by Marie Syrkin.
<LI>December 20, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/cross-arrow/author/albert-maltz/">The Cross and the Arrow</A> by Albert Maltz.
<LI>December 27, 1944: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/got-blame-story-scapegoats-history/author/gould-kenneth-miller/">Scapegoats in History</A> by Kenneth Miller Gould and <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/history-bigotry-united-states/author/myers-gustavus/">History of Bigotry in the United States</A> by Gustavus Myers.
<LI>January 3, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/always-tomorrow/author/john-robert/">It's Always Tomorrow</A> by Robert St. John.
<LI>January 9, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/borrowed-night/author/ray-oscar/">Borrowed Night</A> by Oscar Ray.
<LI>January 16, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/verdict-india/author/beverley-nichols/">Verdict on India</A> by Beverley Nichols.
<LI>January 23, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/story-secret-state/author/jan-karski/">Story of a Secret State</A> by Jan Karski.
<LI>February 6, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/ten-escape-tojo/author/mccoy-commander-melvyn-mellnik-lieutenant/">Ten Escape from Tojo</a> by Melvyn H. McCoy and S. M. Mellnik.
<LI>February 13, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/what-germany/author/nizer-louis/">What to Do with Germany</A> by Louis Nizer.
<LI>February 20, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/battle-report-pearl-harbor-coral/author/commander-walter-karig-lieutenant-welbourn/">Battle Report</A> by Walter Karig and Wellbourn Kelley.
<LI>February 27, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/faith-fighters/author/nance-ellwood/">Faith of Our Fighters</A> by Ellwood C. Nance.
<LI>March 6, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/rainbow/author/wanda-wassilewska/">The Rainbow</A> by Wanda Wassilewska.
<LI>March 13, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/story-seabees/author/huie-william-bradford/">Can Do!</A> by William Bradford Huie.
<LI>March 20, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/tomorrow-will-sing/author/elliott-arnold/">Tomorrow Will Sing</A> by Elliott Arnold.
<LI>March 27, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/banshee-harvest/author/phelan-jim/">Banshee Harvest</A> by Jim Phelan.
<LI>April 3, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/full-employment-free-society-summary/author/beveridge-sir-william/">Full Employment in a Free Society</A> by William Beveridge.
<LI>April 10, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/apartment-athens/author/glenway-wescott/">Apartment in Athens</A> by Glenway Wescott.
<LI>April 17, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/left-back-door-open-chronicle/author/shapiro-lionel-s-b/">They Left the Back Door Open</A> by Lionel S. B. Shapiro.
<LI>April 24, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/brave-men/author/ernie-pyle/">Brave Men</A> by Ernie Pyle.
<LI>May 1, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/hideout/author/egon-hostovsky/">The Hideout</A> by Egon Hostovsky.
<LI>May 15, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/road-serfdom/author/f-a-hayek/">The Road to Serfdom</A> by F. A. Hayek.
<LI>May 22, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/wartime-racketeers/author/lever-harry/">Wartime Racketeers</A> by Harry Lever and Joseph Young.
<LI>May 29, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/soldier-civilian-problems-readjustment/author/pratt/">Soldier to Civilian</A> by George K. Pratt.
<LI>June 5, 1945: <A HREF="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/9781125160312/">My Country</A> by Russell W. Davenport.</UL>
Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-16284647363325816972024-01-27T11:53:00.002-07:002024-01-27T11:53:00.135-07:00RIP: Norman JewisonCanadian film director Norman Jewison died earlier this week. He had a lengthy career in film going back to the 1960s. Most of his eulogies rightly talk about his film <I>In the Heat of the Night</I>. I know that there are many who loved his movie <I>Jesus Christ Superstar</I>. In my family, we grew up watching his <I>Fiddler on the Roof</I>. I'm also personally fond of his movies <I>the Cincinnati Kid</I> and <I>...And Justice for All</i>.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9dFDOboc1UidYVO_HcH0H2voTuvbRjhk-K7LshcxBwhx-TsWHI62aj-2zC83_VUCEm20mXI4G5RhzCpRNhhP-oKqgCLshBjzemNuAMLSWgg2e_98n1kOkuwFESNp3nchOcxR-GnG3sOINxJqRU2yOzLa9azkJK_61RUVVv3aKX1qKcxwU69gh2Q4Gko/s392/Soldiers_story_poster.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9dFDOboc1UidYVO_HcH0H2voTuvbRjhk-K7LshcxBwhx-TsWHI62aj-2zC83_VUCEm20mXI4G5RhzCpRNhhP-oKqgCLshBjzemNuAMLSWgg2e_98n1kOkuwFESNp3nchOcxR-GnG3sOINxJqRU2yOzLa9azkJK_61RUVVv3aKX1qKcxwU69gh2Q4Gko/s320/Soldiers_story_poster.jpg"/></a></div>
<P>But if I can be permitted to indulge in recommending only one film from his library, then it has to be <B>A Soldier's Story</B>, which he filmed in 1984. It was an adaptation of Charles Fuller's 1981 play <I>A Soldier's Play</I> and featured three key performers from the original cast - Adolph Caesar as a sergeant who is murdered near his camp during World War II, prompting an investigation; Larry Riley as a soldier whom the sergeant especially disliked; and a young Denzel Washington as one of the soldiers who stood up to the sergeant.
<P>I've never seen a performance of the play so I can't say how well <B>A Soldier's Story</B> functions as an adaptation, but it made a strong impression on me when I first saw it. It was around 2002 that I saw the movie broadcast on History Television. It was introduced by host Ann Medina, who singled it out as one of Jewison's finest films. Although a historical drama, it wasn't based on a true story - but it sure didn't hurt History Television to be able to put on a Jewison film and claim credit for Canadian content.
<P>The film is a bit of a murder mystery, as the killer of the sergeant is found through a lengthy series of scenes in which a black officer interviews the men who served under the deceased sergeant. A series of flashbacks reveal how intensely the sergeant despised his own men and the reciprocal hatred it inspired in them. Throughout, Adolph Caesar's performance is mesmerizing; there's a particular flashback in which his character engages in a lengthy monologue about an incident from World War I. The calm, matter-of-fact way the sergeant admits to lynching a fellow soldier for embarrassing him. The scene conjured up is so stark, it's horrifying - and it's all through Caesar's delivery.
<P><B>A Soldier's Story</B> is not (you will have guessed) a very happy movie... but also not a very angry movie. It's a very sad film, a tragedy. It will leave you feeling a little bit haunted by what you've scene - and for that reason, it's my pick as Jewison's best movie.
<P>So, check out <B>A Soldier's Story</B> when you're able - and rest in peace, Mr. Jewison.
Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-43975830986963396752024-01-26T16:00:00.003-07:002024-01-26T16:00:00.134-07:00Echo (2024) Creator Credits<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpjeB-VAHupRvQG7a_HP99A6jnvbe4XMiJ-9rSh7G5BkJYvrHftlk1AE26AUrVsvdUFqgefb73MbZgF0Ao9X2xLihxTViR2Hj8xNtsWVKYT0O1_i8cfMhP-ssj-dJeqBAw4xM9DoRBmTgyYRyNT3SfMklLF95iP-zT0sGaQZVIyEpPkKRT6rVffr0uY4/s619/84598.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpjeB-VAHupRvQG7a_HP99A6jnvbe4XMiJ-9rSh7G5BkJYvrHftlk1AE26AUrVsvdUFqgefb73MbZgF0Ao9X2xLihxTViR2Hj8xNtsWVKYT0O1_i8cfMhP-ssj-dJeqBAw4xM9DoRBmTgyYRyNT3SfMklLF95iP-zT0sGaQZVIyEpPkKRT6rVffr0uY4/s320/84598.jpg"/></a></div>Because... no one demanded it.
<P>The Marvel Cinematic Universe version of <B>Echo</B> is a bit confounding. The creators of this TV mini-series openly disparaged the comic book version, who is already not a particularly well-known character. The comics version was already a bi-racial (First Nations/Hispanic) deaf woman, yet they chose to cast a performer with a prosthetic leg too, which seems like cluttering her up with attributes instead of honing her character. But Vincent D'Onofrio reprised his performance as the Kingpin and for some reason Graham Greene is present to supply comic relief so the series itself wasn't a total waste of time.
<P>Below are the comics creators whose work I noticed being represented on the Disney+ series <B>Echo</b>. If you saw something I missed, please let me know! My full list of Marvel Cinematic Universe creators is <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/p/mcu.html">found here</A>!
<P><B>David Mack</B>: creator of William the name of Maya's father (Daredevil #52, 2003); of Wilson Fisk attempting to reconcile with Maya after becoming her enemy; of Maya returning to her family's reservation and going on a vision quest (Daredevil #53, 2003); co-creator of <U>Maya Lopez</U>, a deaf First Nations/Hispanic woman who is an expert martial artist; of Maya as a protege to Wilson Fisk, raised by him after her father's death (Daredevil #9, 1999); of Echo, Maya Lopez's codename; of Maya's father leaving a bloody handprint on her face as he died; Maya's father as a lieutenant of the Kingpin; the Kingpin arranging the death of Maya's father but making Maya think a super-hero was responsible so she would eliminate the hero for him; Maya battling Daredevil (Daredevil #10, 2000); of Maya learning the Kingpin had killed her father and turning against him, shooting and blinding him (Daredevil #14, 2001)
<P><B>Joe Quesada</B>: co-creator of <U>Maya Lopez</U>, a deaf First Nations/Hispanic woman who is an expert martial artist; of Maya as a protege to Wilson Fisk, raised by him after her father's death (Daredevil #9, 1999); of Echo, Maya Lopez's codename; of Maya's father leaving a bloody handprint on her face as he died; Maya's father as a lieutenant of the Kingpin; the Kingpin arranging the death of Maya's father but making Maya think a super-hero was responsible so she would eliminate the hero for him; Maya battling Daredevil (Daredevil #10, 2000); of Maya learning the Kingpin had killed her father and turning against him, shooting and blinding him (Daredevil #14, 2001); of <U>Ronin</U>, a costumed identity used by a crimefighter who uses martial arts and swords in combat (New Avengers #1, 2005)
<P><B>Jimmy Palmiotti</B>: co-creator of <U>Maya Lopez</U>, a deaf First Nations/Hispanic woman who is an expert martial artist; of Maya as a protege to Wilson Fisk, raised by him after her father's death (Daredevil #9, 1999); of Echo, Maya Lopez's codename; of Maya's father leaving a bloody handprint on her face as he died; Maya's father as a lieutenant of the Kingpin; the Kingpin arranging the death of Maya's father but making Maya think a super-hero was responsible so she would eliminate the hero for him; Maya battling Daredevil (Daredevil #10, 2000); of Maya learning the Kingpin had killed her father and turning against him, shooting and blinding him (Daredevil #14, 2001)
<P><B>Rebecca Roanhorse</B>: co-creator of Maya's family reservation located in Oklahoma (Phoenix Song: Echo #1, 2021); of Maya communicating with the spirits of her ancestors, including the Lighthorsemen (Phoenix Song: Echo #2, 2022); of Maya being part-Choctaw nation (Phoenix Song: Echo #3, 2022); of Maya being able to conjure up power from her connection to her ancestors (Phoenix Song: Echo #5, 2022)
<P><B>Luca Maresca</B>: co-creator of Maya's family reservation located in Oklahoma (Phoenix Song: Echo #1, 2021); of Maya communicating with the spirits of her ancestors, including the Lighthorsemen (Phoenix Song: Echo #2, 2022); of Maya being part-Choctaw nation (Phoenix Song: Echo #3, 2022); of Maya being able to conjure up power from her connection to her ancestors (Phoenix Song: Echo #5, 2022)
<P><B>Stan Lee</B>: co-creator of <U>the Kingpin</U>, a bald, heavset crimelord who wears a white suit, poses as a legitimate businessman (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of <U>Daredevil</U>, a costumed crimefighter in red who wields a billy club as a weapon (Daredevil #1, 1964); of <U>Hawkeye</U>, a heroic champion archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964)
<P><B>Brian Michael Bendis</B>: co-creator of <U>Ronin</U>, a costumed identity used by a crimefighter who uses martial arts and swords in combat (New Avengers #1, 2005); of Maya Lopez connected to the Ronin identity (New Avengers #13, 2005); of Hawkeye as Ronin (New Avengers #27, 2007)
<P><B>Kyle Charles</B>: co-creator of Maya Lopez communicating with the spirits of her ancestors, including the Lighthorsemen (Phoenix Song: Echo #2, 2022); of Maya being part-Choctaw nation (Phoenix Song: Echo #3, 2022)
<P><B>John Romita</B>: co-creator of <U>the Kingpin</U>, a bald, heavset crimelord who wears a white suit, poses as a legitimate businessman (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967)
<P><B>Dave Ross</B>: co-creator of Maya Lopez learning the Kingpin had killed her father and turning against him, shooting and blinding him (Daredevil #14, 2001)
<P><B>Bill Everett</B>: co-creator of <U>Daredevil</U>, a costumed crimefighter in red who wields a billy club as a weapon (Daredevil #1, 1964)
<P><B>Mark Gruenwald</B>: creator of Hawkeye suffering hearing loss, requiring him to obtain a hearing aid (Hawkeye #4, 1983)
<P><B>Frank Miller</B>: creator of Wilson Fisk's name; of Fisk as an enemy of Daredevil (Daredevil #170, 1981)
<P><B>Don Heck</B>: co-creator of <U>Hawkeye</U>, a heroic champion archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964)
<P><B>Matt Fraction</B>: co-creator of the Tracksuit Mafia, a Russian crime cartel (Hawkeye #1, 2012)
<P><B>David Aja</B>: co-creator of the Tracksuit Mafia, a Russian crime cartel (Hawkeye #1, 2012)
<P><B>David Finch</B>: of Maya Lopez connected to the Ronin identity (New Avengers #13, 2005)
<P><B>Ed Brisson</B>: co-creator of the Black Knife Cartel, a criminal organization (Bullseye #2, 2017)
<P><B>Guillermo Sanna</B>: co-creator of the Black Knife Cartel, a criminal organization (Bullseye #2, 2017)
<P><B>Charles Soule</B>: co-creator of Wilson Fisk running for mayor of New York City (Daredevil #28, 2017)
<P><B>Ron Garney</B>: co-creator of Wilson Fisk running for mayor of New York City (Daredevil #28, 2017)
<P><B>Leinil Francis Yu</b>: of Hawkeye as Ronin (New Avengers #27, 2007)Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-15108086113539756032024-01-11T16:00:00.011-07:002024-01-11T16:00:00.129-07:002023: Media Retrospective<I>A brief look back at what media I most enjoyed in 2023</I>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk5RhOKecHGta1P0IffL9-ImKY0lZrPFt-RSZNffHGBQRkkqc7lnDDTYsNl_Q5L5IBm7_cL86UjSw2rtkyyTV6sVdF5Muc5BQ5nvzAav23KWjNcQ2ldtsNRcEe51xIVP49FRd6OksaJWiVYS4GodXSR87TukuS_Jwxbyow_gHHPDgx7hGUfA2N7oD7is/s948/usagi.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk5RhOKecHGta1P0IffL9-ImKY0lZrPFt-RSZNffHGBQRkkqc7lnDDTYsNl_Q5L5IBm7_cL86UjSw2rtkyyTV6sVdF5Muc5BQ5nvzAav23KWjNcQ2ldtsNRcEe51xIVP49FRd6OksaJWiVYS4GodXSR87TukuS_Jwxbyow_gHHPDgx7hGUfA2N7oD7is/s320/usagi.png"/></a></div><P><U>Comics</U>
<P>For the most part, I turned to familiar titles in 2023. Stan Sakai's <B>Usagi Yojimbo</B> has made a most welcome return to regular publishing and 2023 saw a mini-series team-up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a <I>Space Usagi</I> one-shot and new ongoing stories. Larry Hama unexpectedly returned to his <B>G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero</B> following its cliffhanger ending at IDW; now at Image, he's picking up right where he left off. The best super hero book I read in 2023 was Al Ewing and Kasia Nie's <B>Wasp</B> mini-series, which had an interesting retake on the Wasp's original antagonist.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9atnTY2sZIq0D5uD2RI4AJrcx-VhE091iMR_Qq74UlSuUE1R_Eu6o1YuL47OH1-EjMEmREE3c1XxVOd8aE6XX9KMpqtu89rUTTVphzEX9UBhQAvr2gJ2EyPJyCyJZcmlJL1UIDCzqA5wVKwQdh1llKtm4-T1tgakFklxRo5SQYtzxPjGSeQ01sLl5yQ/s257/WhatMakesSammyRun1941.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9atnTY2sZIq0D5uD2RI4AJrcx-VhE091iMR_Qq74UlSuUE1R_Eu6o1YuL47OH1-EjMEmREE3c1XxVOd8aE6XX9KMpqtu89rUTTVphzEX9UBhQAvr2gJ2EyPJyCyJZcmlJL1UIDCzqA5wVKwQdh1llKtm4-T1tgakFklxRo5SQYtzxPjGSeQ01sLl5yQ/s320/WhatMakesSammyRun1941.jpg"/></a></div><P><U>Books</U>
<P>There were only a few examples of fiction that really engaged with me in 2023. I finally read T. S. Stribling's short story collection <B>Dr. Poggioli, Criminologist</B>, a great continuation of his unusual psychologist/crime solver. I also found some enjoyment in Jo Eisinger's mystery novel <B>The Walls Came Tumbling Down</B>, even though it's a bit too much like Hammett's <I>Maltese Falcon</i> (more about Eisinger's book <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-walls-came-tumbling-down-mostly.html">in this blog post</A>). I read a bit of Oscar Wilde's fairy tale collections and particularly enjoyed <B>the Happy Prince and Other Stories</B>, they somehow manage to be very satirical yet sentimental. I read Nicholas Blake's <B>the Smiler with the Knife</B> because I was curious as to why Orson Welles had wanted to make a film of it; it's a lot like one of John Buchan's spy novels such as <I>the Power-House</i>, a good read. I read Algernon Blackwood's short story collection <B>Shocks</B>, which might be the last of his anthologies I hadn't read; most of the stories were in some manner a ghost story and began to feel a little familiar but other tales had strong twists on the format. And I read Endo Shusaku's historical novel <B>the Samurai</b>, largely because it had been recommended in Philip Yancey's <I>Sole Survivor</i>.
<P>But the best fiction I read in 2023 was by Budd Schulberg. Reading about Jack Kirby had revealed to me that Kirby was a big fan of Schulberg's novel <B>What Makes Sammy Run?</b> so I sought it out to learn why; it's a compelling book, not only an examination of the dark side of Hollywood but of American values as well. I also read Schulberg's short story anthology, <B>Some Faces in the Crowd</B>; more about that when I write about films.
<P>One of the best non-fiction works I read was <B>American Midnight</B>, the latest bit of journalism by Adam Hochschild, this time focusing on how World War I undid many of the socialist politicians of the time. And my wife led me to two great works about how to express belief through one's art - <B>Walking on Water</b> by Madeleine L'Engle and <B>Art + Faith</B> by Makoto Fujimura.
<P>The rest of the significant books I read in 2023 were Christian books, including <B>the Return of the Prodigal Son</B> by Henri Nouwen, <B>Where Is God When It Hurts?</b> by Philip Yancey and N. T. Wright's books <B>Simply Jesus</b>, <B>Reflecting the Glory</B> and <B>Following Jesus</b>.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWDOjzNCYJH6ohyClSoeznQ5jNud74H90XzyErPEPO-sizgDqa6MUN88sZnraYGPM35lnZtB92fAEfMCz-Q9EFZ0MBamPVyFmn4VDDJLPSc0mHSfvpVZPMCxC1X1T53hIDx06J1ueBREQHM_J7H2tYebnV4Wo3FMjHqGgWqPqNSaTK_QOhrwGo-nhbuk/s384/Oppenheimer_%28film%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWDOjzNCYJH6ohyClSoeznQ5jNud74H90XzyErPEPO-sizgDqa6MUN88sZnraYGPM35lnZtB92fAEfMCz-Q9EFZ0MBamPVyFmn4VDDJLPSc0mHSfvpVZPMCxC1X1T53hIDx06J1ueBREQHM_J7H2tYebnV4Wo3FMjHqGgWqPqNSaTK_QOhrwGo-nhbuk/s320/Oppenheimer_%28film%29.jpg"/></a></div><P><U>Cinema</U>
<P>I went to the cinema more frequently in 2023 than most years, due almost entirely to my wife (of the 7 films I saw in cinemas, the only one I didn't see with her is the one I saw before we started dating). I was pleased to find that <B>Avatar: The Way of Water</B> was a pretty good film (and I blogged about it <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2023/01/outstanding-avatar-way-of-water-review.html">in this post</A>). <B>Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</B> was okay, though the Wasp didn't do much to earn her byline (it was really more about Ant-Man and his daughter). <B>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</B> was an excellent send-off to that film series. I found <B>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</B> wasn't up to the standards of the earlier films but was all right (I shared more thoughts <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2023/07/youre-german-dont-try-to-be-funny.html">in this post</A>). <B>Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One</b> was easily the best action movie I saw in 2023, particularly with a very fun car chase and a great set piece aboard a falling train. Christopher Nolan's <B>Oppenheimer</b> was an excellent biographical film, the sort of story Ridley Scott's <B>Napoleon</b> aspired to be; I don't hesitate to call Nolan's film a triumph but Scott's film had some moments too, mostly due to oddly-chosen dialogue.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVjMUfR4r_6S0WvyAHRx_zYhGYcRlZkvGG_Wq0qHEio2Th9SJQ-v8H4974Gzl8PWc9Y3fWzYveLlH53p2dDG1F61HpsNpZqo43LzXtdb7aKevLugRBbXt6PMHONAB4HLzT5hv4qR-HOQ2yUCnsG2PArPpdBCOEU4HqdDAtDHao0pxtQVwiKXGJi29QWA/s1221/A_Face_in_the_Crowd_%281957_poster%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVjMUfR4r_6S0WvyAHRx_zYhGYcRlZkvGG_Wq0qHEio2Th9SJQ-v8H4974Gzl8PWc9Y3fWzYveLlH53p2dDG1F61HpsNpZqo43LzXtdb7aKevLugRBbXt6PMHONAB4HLzT5hv4qR-HOQ2yUCnsG2PArPpdBCOEU4HqdDAtDHao0pxtQVwiKXGJi29QWA/s320/A_Face_in_the_Crowd_%281957_poster%29.jpg"/></a></div><P><U>Other Films</U>
<P>At this point I'm so well-versed in old films that I seldom discover anything from the '30s-50s that really stands out, yet <B>A Face in the Crowd</B> (based on one of Schulberg's stories from <I>Some Faces in the Crowd</I>) was a very strong work and surprisingly relevant to today's USA (also very much like Schulberg's <I>What Makes Sammy Run?</i>). I enjoyed the documentary films <B>Louis Armstrong's Black and Blues</B> and <B>Sidney</B>. I was surprised to find I enjoyed the 1960s musical <B>How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</b> and very pleasantly surprised to discover the satirical film <B>Johnny Dangerously</B>, which fit precisely into my sense of humour. The Disney film <B>Elemental</b> was a fun one to watch with my wife and she, in turn, got me to watch <B>Blast from the Past</b>, which I had known for decades was supposed to be very funny - it was!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUZP0b1mGhOg5zyDe7wa2KyZbxIvJnddrcBvJ2hZEe1Zy30XITJFqVVUE2qfuVamMhb7C7QUzSM_uoV4mKhPzUvOhBv0LSzY7Y1mCXvEqrUjxJZVM5kcwIlvwELK6sEcQRRz0cGtWbHLFQCS6eaYi2VhpFXOsWKEh0jiAq7PEPeOtoP3rp8AvfIvXlfY/s334/Arrested_Development_S1_DVD.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUZP0b1mGhOg5zyDe7wa2KyZbxIvJnddrcBvJ2hZEe1Zy30XITJFqVVUE2qfuVamMhb7C7QUzSM_uoV4mKhPzUvOhBv0LSzY7Y1mCXvEqrUjxJZVM5kcwIlvwELK6sEcQRRz0cGtWbHLFQCS6eaYi2VhpFXOsWKEh0jiAq7PEPeOtoP3rp8AvfIvXlfY/s320/Arrested_Development_S1_DVD.jpg"/></a></div><P><U>Television</U>
<P>I might have watched more television programming in 2023 than any other year in the last decade. Not all of the programs were memorable, but my wife got me watching the comedy series <B>Arrested Development</b> (which I like a lot) and the action program <B>Alias</b> (which I'll post about when I finish the series). 2023 was the year <B>Ted Lasso</B> ended, not entirely on its best footing but definitely as a strong program (I shared my closing thoughts on the series <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-work-in-prog-mess-or-goodbye-ted.html">in this post</A>). That also led me to the documentary series <B>Welcome to Wrexham</b> which has been pretty enjoyable. I also enjoyed the mini-series <B>the 1619 Project</b>, based on the book, but the series seems to have attracted a lot of online hate (just as the book did). Beyond that, I've been slowly revisiting <B>the Dick Van Dyke Show</B>, which I hadn't seen since my early teenage years and I appreciate being in a place now where I understand all of the jokes.
<P>And that was my 2023. How was yours?Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-10046002819557063112023-12-12T12:13:00.003-07:002023-12-12T12:13:51.929-07:00Benefit of Steel review at the Saskatchewan Anglican!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqjvKNg5AL8HCm5GpbRm5GFbGUbYw7VrPuaKtFtCugzQTodz86mxD9QqYlM-63AjOhCkSvQmZa-nRzdrdo0WlrzC5PSoNmZJODN7s_hXnnIXIug7AZmwuve_6UPtcoxtbEFyWtPIvWk889UbzxaNWB4HgzO_kn6tBID7Bil3u1JIe8IDAkQDWipGHS2U/s1340/2023-12-12%2012_07_19-Window.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqjvKNg5AL8HCm5GpbRm5GFbGUbYw7VrPuaKtFtCugzQTodz86mxD9QqYlM-63AjOhCkSvQmZa-nRzdrdo0WlrzC5PSoNmZJODN7s_hXnnIXIug7AZmwuve_6UPtcoxtbEFyWtPIvWk889UbzxaNWB4HgzO_kn6tBID7Bil3u1JIe8IDAkQDWipGHS2U/s320/2023-12-12%2012_07_19-Window.png"/></a></div>
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<P>My book the <B>Benefit of Steel</B> is reviewed in this month's issue of the <I>Saskatchewan Anglican</i>, on the occasion of my Aunt Peg and Uncle Steve's recent visit to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. It's good to see more promotion for the book, it continues to be bought and read by new people every month!Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-54742845808134803902023-12-11T09:23:00.002-07:002023-12-11T09:23:44.081-07:00New Essay at Sequart: "Panther Beat"At last, my new essay on Christopher Priest's <B>Black Panther</B> has been made available at Sequart! It's titled "<A HREF="http://sequart.org/magazine/70866/use-of-beat-panels-in-priest-black-panther/">Panther Beat: The Use of Beat Panels in Christopher Priest's Black Panther</A>." Comedy was a major part of what made Priest's <B>Black Panther</B> memorable so it's about time to discuss one of the tools Priest used to put it together! I hope you enjoy the essay!Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-28351503312935355032023-11-10T11:16:00.007-07:002023-12-12T13:48:38.412-07:00Creator Credits for Loki (season 2) 2023Another season of Marvel Cinematic Universe television has come and gone - this time it was the 2nd season of <B>Loki</B>. My list of creator credits is featured below; as always, I'm not infallible and I welcome any corrections. You can view my full list of MCU creator credits <A HREF="http://section244.blogspot.com/p/mcu.html">on this page</A>!
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<P><B>Walter Simonson:</B> creator of <U>Mr. Mobius</U>, a senior executive in the Time Variance Authority; the Time Variance Authority depicted as an immense bureaucracy (Fantastic Four #346, 1990); of <U>the Minutemen</U>, the foot soldiers of the Time Variance Authority (Fantastic Four #352, 1991); of the Time Variance Authority based in null time, outside time itself (Fantastic Four #353, 1991); of <U>Casey</U>, a Time Variance Authority employee (Fantastic Four #354, 1991); co-creator of <U>the Time Variance Authority</U>, (TVA) an organization taxed with policing the timeline and undoing damage caused by alternate timelines; of the Time Variance Authority served by Justices, armed agents sent to correct timeline disruptions; of the Time Variance Authority pursuing Zaniac through time (Thor #372, 1986)
<P><B>Stan Lee:</B> co-creator of <U>Kang</U>, a time traveler and conqueror garbed in a battlesuit, clad in purple (Avengers #8, 1964); of <U>Ravonna</U>, a time traveler affiliated with Kang who falls in love with him (Avengers #23, 1965); of <U>Thor</U>, Asgardian god of thunder (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of <U>Loki</U>, Asgardian trickster god with magical powers, including the ability to cast illusions; Loki as Thor's brother; Loki's helmet with horns and green costume with golden accessories; of <U>Odin</U>, ruler of Asgard; of Asgard, legendary home of the gods; of <U>Balder the Brave</U>, legendary Asgardian warrior (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Thor learning a lesson in humility from time spent on Earth (Thor #159, 1968)
<P><B>Jack Kirby:</B> co-creator of <U>Kang</U>, a time traveler and conqueror garbed in a battlesuit, clad in purple (Avengers #8, 1964); of <U>Thor</U>, Asgardian god of thunder (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of <U>Loki</U>, Asgardian trickster god with magical powers, including the ability to cast illusions; Loki as Thor's brother; Loki's helmet with horns and green costume with golden accessories; of <U>Odin</U>, ruler of Asgard; of Asgard, legendary home of the gods; of <U>Balder the Brave</U>, legendary Asgardian warrior (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Thor learning a lesson in humility from time spent on Earth (Thor #159, 1968)
<P><B>Mark Gruenwald:</B> co-creator of Renslayer, Ravonna's surname (Avengers Annual #21, 1992); of <U>Alioth</U>, a cloud-like temporal entity who is a foe of the Time Variance Authority, Kang and Ravonna (Avengers: The Terminatrix Objective #1, 1993); of Ravonna assisting Kang in his "Victor Timely" identity (Avengers: The Terminatrix Objective #4, 1993); of Kang having a makeshift alliance with the Time Variance Authority (Fantastic Four Annual #27, 1994); of <U>the Time Keepers</U>, three extraterrestrials who have assumed mastery of time (Thor #282, 1979)
<P><B>Larry Lieber:</B> co-creator of <U>Thor</U>, Asgardian god of thunder (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of <U>Loki</U>, Asgardian trickster god with magical powers, including the ability to cast illusions; Loki as Thor's brother; Loki's helmet with horns and green costume with golden accessories; of <U>Odin</U>, ruler of Asgard; of Asgard, legendary home of the gods; of <U>Balder the Brave</U>, legendary Asgardian warrior (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962)
<P><B>Mike Gustovich:</B> co-creator of <U>Alioth</U>, a cloud-like temporal entity who is a foe of the Time Variance Authority, Kang and Ravonna (Avengers: The Terminatrix Objective #1, 1993); of Ravonna assisting Kang in his "Victor Timely" identity (Avengers: The Terminatrix Objective #4, 1993); of Kang having a makeshift alliance with the Time Variance Authority (Fantastic Four Annual #27, 1994)
<P><B>Sal Buscema:</B> co-creator of <U>the Time Variance Authority</U>, (TVA) an organization taxed with policing the timeline and undoing damage caused by alternate timelines; of the Time Variance Authority served by Justices, armed agents sent to correct timeline disruptions; of the Time Variance Authority pursuing Zaniac through time (Thor #372, 1986)
<P><B>Keith Pollard:</B> co-creator of <U>the Time Keepers</U>, three extraterrestrials who have assumed mastery of time (Thor #282, 1979); of <U>Zaniac</U>, a movie monster with yellow skin and green hair portrayed by actor Brad Wolfe (Thor #319, 1982)
<P><B>John Buscema:</B> co-creator of the existence of divergent timelines which are accessible by others (Fantastic Four #118, 1972); of <U>He Who Remains</U>, the entity behind the Time Keepers who exists at the end of time itself (Thor #245, 1976)
<P><B>Peter Sanderson:</B> co-creator of "Victor Timely," an alias adopted by Kang while on Earth in the early 20th century, used to introduce advanced technology at earlier points in the timestream, based out of Wisconsin (Avengers Annual #21, 1992)
<P><B>Rich Yanizeski:</B> co-creator of "Victor Timely," an alias adopted by Kang while on Earth in the early 20th century, used to introduce advanced technology at earlier points in the timestream, based out of Wisconsin (Avengers Annual #21, 1992)
<P><B>Roy Thomas:</B> co-creator of the Time Keepers depicted as working with the Time Variance Authority (What If #37, 1992); of He Who Remains connected to the Time Variance Authority (What If #39, 1992)
<P><B>Jean-Marc Lofficier:</B> co-creator of the Time Keepers depicted as working with the Time Variance Authority (What If #37, 1992); of He Who Remains connected to the Time Variance Authority (What If #39, 1992)
<P><B>Randy Lofficier:</B> co-creator of the Time Keepers depicted as working with the Time Variance Authority (What If #37, 1992); of He Who Remains connected to the Time Variance Authority (What If #39, 1992)
<P><B>Len Wein:</B> co-creator of <U>He Who Remains</U>, the entity behind the Time Keepers who exists at the end of time itself (Thor #245, 1976)
<P><B>Doug Moench:</B> co-creator of <U>Zaniac</U>, a movie monster with yellow skin and green hair portrayed by actor Brad Wolfe (Thor #319, 1982)
<P><B>Don Heck:</B> co-creator of <U>Ravonna</U>, a time traveler affiliated with Kang who falls in love with him (Avengers #23, 1965)
<P><B>Archie Goodwin:</B> co-creator of the existence of divergent timelines which are accessible by others (Fantastic Four #118, 1972)
<P><B>Ralph Macchio:</B> co-creator of <U>the Time Keepers</U>, three extraterrestrials who have assumed mastery of time (Thor #282, 1979)
<P><B>Mark Pacella:</B> co-creator of the Time Keepers depicted as working with the Time Variance Authority (What If #37, 1992)
<P><B>Gavin Curtis:</B> co-creator of He Who Remains connected to the Time Variance Authority (What If #39, 1992)
<P><B>Dan Slott:</B> co-creator of <U>Orobourous</U>, a member of the Time Variance Authority (She-Hulk #3, 2006)
<P><B>Scott Kolins:</B> co-creator of <U>Orobourous</U>, a member of the Time Variance Authority (She-Hulk #3, 2006)
<P><B>J. Michael Straczynski:</B> co-creator of Asgardians connected to Broxton, Oklahoma (Fantastic Four #536, 2006)
<P><B>Mike McKone:</B> co-creator of Asgardians connected to Broxton, Oklahoma (Fantastic Four #536, 2006)
<P><B>Herb Trimpe:</B> co-creator of Renslayer, Ravonna's surname (Avengers Annual #21, 1992)
Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-22190271129788597812023-11-04T08:00:00.019-06:002023-11-04T08:00:00.142-06:00Back in Action: Flash Gordon!Comics blogger Mike Sterling <A HREF="https://www.progressiveruin.com/2023/11/01/you-dont-need-to-reference/">recently noted</A> that the comic strip <B>Flash Gordon</B> has recently and unexpectedly become interesting! Creator Dan Schkade took over the strip a few weeks ago and he's certainly emphasizing familiar faces, lots of action and an energetic art style. <A HREF="https://comicskingdom.com/flash-gordon">Here's the homepage</A>.
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<P>I didn't grow up with the <B>Flash Gordon</b> strip - I've never seen a local newspaper who carried it. In fact, the local newspapers seemed to have little interest in the non-humourous comic strips (<I>Rex Morgan M.D.</I> is the only comic strip drama I recall from my youth). Consequently, I think I'm in the majority who know of <B>Flash Gordon</b> as a museum piece, a relic, a forgotten property; indeed, the comic strip went on hiatus in 2003 and spent the last 20 years replaying old strips. Not every property gets a second chance, but the weight of <B>Flash Gordon</b>'s influence on science fiction and adventure must surely have helped it.
<P>I'm pleased with what I've read so far - if these strips had been in the newspaper when I was a kid, I would have been a huge fan. Kudos to Mr. Schkade!Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-77910476367777241492023-11-03T08:00:00.005-06:002023-11-03T08:00:00.137-06:0011 Thoughts about Ahsoka (2023)<OL><LI>I knew nothing about Ahsoka prior to seeing her on <I>the Mandalorian</I>. I found her pretty underwhelming in that program but I understood she was some kind of popular character in the expanded <I>Star Wars</I> universe. I didn't plan to watch her program but my wife and I needed a distraction and it was good enough. Certainly it wasn't as bad as <I>the Book of Boba Fett</I>.
<LI>But <B>Ahsoka</B> has a lot of other characters who are only barely introduced - they're all treated as though their adventures have been going on for some time. So they might also be from the expanded universe? Or maybe the series was going for an <I>in media res</i> style comparable to the original trilogy?
<LI>Sabine might possibly be the worst sidekick I've ever seen in fiction. Her arc is that she keeps failing at everything she attempts until the final episode. There is a good case to be made that Ahsoka would have had an easier time if she had simply lost Sabine's phone number, since Sabine gives up the advantage to the bad guys every time she interacts with them.
<LI>The Sith in this series were at least something different. The Inquisitors from <I>Obi-Wan Kenobi</I> were perhaps the most tiresome Sith I'd yet seen, but Ray Stevenson's character on <B>Ahsoka</B> demonstrated that it's possible to do something different; instead of the typical petty Sith in-fighting and self-destructive nihilism, Stevenson's repressed performance and quiet weariness were at least a change from the usual.
<LI>Hayden Christensen is allowed to act now.
<LI>At one point a useless senator character scoffs at the account of what Ahsoka's been up to as thinking it sounds like a fairy tale. My dude, are you paying attention to the universe you live in? Fantastic fairy tale stuff happens every day!
<LI>Which brings to mind the space whales. My immediate reaction to my wife when they appeared was: "If you lived in the <I>Star Wars</I> universe and you were high on drugs, how would you ever know? 'Whoa, I think I see space whales. But I guess those things just exist in this universe.'"
<LI>The way in which Thrawn is treated as a mythical evil seemed off to me. Yes, Thrawn is a legendary Imperial leader. But he's not Sith - he's only powerful because of what he's to command into battle. Hearing characters talk about him like some figure of destiny seemed off, given that actual Sith were standing in the room at the time.
<LI>Then we finally meet Thrawn and he pretty much proved my point. He spends all his time delegating orders to others because he has no real power, just a lot of subordinates. His catchphrase, heard about every 15 minutes is: "Great Mothers; I have need again of your assistance."
<LI>The Stormtrooper with the golden face is the dorkiest Stormtrooper I've ever seen, and that's a feat.
<LI>Zombie Stormtroopers are not the wildest thing about <B>Ahsoka</b>; for me, it was hearing notes from <I>Danse Macabre</I> play as the zombies rose up. I was not expecting to hear an actual music sample in <I>Star Wars</I>.</OL>
Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146591810616867072.post-15642210280520712472023-11-02T13:32:00.002-06:002023-11-06T09:03:22.666-07:00Radio Recap: The Clock<B>The Clock</B> was an old-time radio mystery anthology series that ran over ABC from November 3, 1946 until May 23, 1948. Although it's estimated that the series broadcast 78 episodes, we have a mere half-dozen circulating today. However, in 1955 the program was revived in Australia by Grace Gibson, who evidently used some (or all?) of the scripts in their version.
<P><B>The Clock</B> is a bit of a frustrating series to pin down. Even though the mystery anthology program is one of the most popular types of programs among old-time radio collectors, collectors and researchers don't appear to have unearthed very much information about the program. It's also surprising because the series had some major talent behind it - notable performers as well as the peerless craft of producer William Spier. You'd think there would have been numerous articles written about the series while it was being produced but... evidently not.
<P><B>The Clock</B> used noises such as the ticking of a clock and the chimes of bells to lend colour to their narratives. Each episode was hosted by Father Time himself (portrayed by William Conrad during the William Spier era). But beyond these trappings, the title "<B>the Clock</B>" doesn't tell you much about the show, not in the way a title such as <I>Suspense</I>, <I>Escape</I>, <I>Romance</I> or <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2023/07/radio-recap-intrigue.html">Intrigue</A> efficiently tell you what to expect.
<P>Most of what we have from the US version dates from William Spier's involvement. Many of the episodes preceding his were apparently written by Lawrence Klee, who would later write for <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2021/11/radio-recap-chase.html">the Chase</A>. Spier was joined by many familiar voices from his work on <I>Suspense</I>, notably the team of Elliott and Cathy Lewis and even writer Lucille Fletcher! At the time, Spier had quit <I>Suspense</I> and I'm sure it was a coup for ABC to bring him aboard <B>the Clock</B>. Yet Spier's time on <B>the Clock</B> (no pun intended) was very short-lived; he definitely produced the final 6 episodes but we don't even know when his tenure as producer began. After <B>the Clock</B> ran down (pun intended) he moved on to <A HREF="https://section244.blogspot.com/2022/06/radio-recap-philip-morris-playhouse.html">the Philip Morris Playhouse</A> before finally returning to <I>Suspense</I> one last time; some of the programs Spier produced for <B>the Clock</B> had been produced on <I>Suspense</I>, including "The Right Man" (heard on <I>Suspense</I> as "Bank Holiday" on July 19, 1945); others would be reprised on <I>Suspense</I>, including "The Search for Isobel" (November 3, 1949).
<P>What we have of the US version is a bit mixed. "Bela Boczniak's Bad Dreams" (also referred to as simply "Bad Dreams") is Lucille Fletcher's contribution as writer but it's not up to quality of <I>Suspense</I> plays such as "The Diary of Sophronia Winters" of "the Thing in the Window." And one of the earliest surviving episodes - "Nicky Kane Lives" - is an odd duck, a quasi-supernatural tale of a gangster seeming to come back from the dead.
<P>Based on what little we have of the US version, it would be hard to say whether we've been deprived of something great by not possessing all of them, but I'm sure simply because of the talent involved it would be nice to have all of Spier's episodes of <B>the Clock</B>.
<P>If it's true that the Australian version was indeed adapted from the US scripts - and episodes do indeed sound like US dramas - then the surviving 50 or so Australian episodes at least gives us some concept of the show's usual plots. The first episodes of <B>the Clock</B> I ever heard were both Australian episodes: "All the Money in the World" (about a young man who receives unlimited money from an eccentric millionaire - it's the same premise that Jack Benny used as satire in his "I Stand Condemned" radio skits) and "The Man with the Strange Trunk" (concerning a woman who is very curious about a hotel guest's large trunk).
<P>The Internet Archive has a collection of <B>the Clock</B> episodes that you can find <A HREF="https://archive.org/details/TheClock">over here</A> - but be warned that like most attempts to impose order on <B>the Clock</B> it intermixes the US version with the later Australian episodes. Perhaps future researchers will be able to better determine the complete broadcast history of <B>the Clock</B> - we may yet be treated to some rediscovered missing episodes as well!Michael Hoskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302540308587868138noreply@blogger.com0