June 2006

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The Saturday Audio Quiz #4

Okay, a recap of what this quiz is (besides a little bonus for the diehard handful who stop by here on the weekend): occasionally I'll find an old radio show with an appearance by someone who became a much bigger star. The first two were from the mid-'60s, and last time was from the late '50s-- not exactly the golden age of radio. But this time, the clue is from a show called Curtain Time that was done in 1948. And yes, the guy is still working today!

So listen to the intro and see if you can identify him. Then, check out his intro before he launches into the smarmiest reading of a candy-bar commercial ever done. (And if you don't recognize his real first name, or if you just want to cheat, here's a pic of him looking beautiful as always.)

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 24, 2006 4:42 PM

 

The Monday Movie Quiz #110

An audio-only clue from a movie that, once seen, is never forgotten. So if you've seen it, let's see if you remember it. If you do, send me an email by late Sunday night with the title. If you're right, expect to see your name in next weak's [sic] winners circle. (That last bit is what Karl Pilkington would call "a cryptic clue.")

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 18, 2006 5:14 PM

 

The Saturday Serials

The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1922)-- note the strategic location of the croc's open jaws

The Amateur Detective (1914)

Flying Disc Man from Mars (1950)

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 16, 2006 10:56 PM

 

The Saturday Audio Quiz #3

A 1956 episode of the CBS series Suspense called "Flesh Peddler" starred a rising young actor (who'd already been around for a few years) who, ten years later, would join one of the best-known TV casts of all time. See if you can guess who he is from this 30 second monologue, then see if you're right by listening to the intro.

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 16, 2006 10:23 PM

 

Carl Wilson's "Long Promised Road"

The South Bay Window Surfers-- the remaining original Beach Boys: Brian Wilson, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, and Mike Love

There's a great new clip at YouTube for Beach Boys fans, especially their early '70s period-- an early music video for the Carl Wilson song "Long Promised Road" from the Surf's Up album.

Except for a brief appearance of the other Boys at the very end, it's all footage of a still-beardless Carl (see the Sunflower album cover) walking down a (European?) street. Carl's not exactly the movie star his brother Dennis was, and it's mostly shot after shot of him schlumping along. But it's awfully good to see him again, the Beach Boy who never really got his due.

Musically, the video is extremely interesting, in that an earlier, stripped-down mix of the song is used; free of the early synth overdubs that sounded like farting through a fuzzbox, it's actually a better track. I don't know if non-fans will care at all, but for longtime admirers of the Boys and especially the youngest Wilson brother, it's a treat. You can watch it here.

P.S. With the recent death of Billy Preston, I'm reminded of the rumor in the BB community that Dennis Wilson co-wrote "You Are So Beautiful."

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 15, 2006 2:50 PM

 

Good story, great headline

"God fails to save idiot in lion enclosure"

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 12, 2006 3:01 PM

 

The Monday Movie Quiz goes fishin'

Not literally, but I'm taking a break from the quiz this week. See you next Monday for Quiz #110.

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 12, 2006 2:37 AM

 

Last week's Movie Quiz winners

If you've never seen Stalag 17 (1953), you couldn't recognize the looped lightcord that Peter Graves the barracks spy used to communicate with Sig Ruman the Nazi. Like the tennis-themed lighter in Strangers on a Train, though, it was the kind of picture clue that seems painfully obvious if you have seen the film, because it figures so importantly in the plot.

William Holden is perfectly sour as the camp's wheeler-dealer, Sefton, a role he hated and won an Oscar for. But it's the comic hijinx that quiz winners commented on. Quiz champeen Wayne Palmer wrote:

"For me, what I found disappointing was Wilder's choice to mix bad comedy with the drama. The whole Russian women prisoner bits seemed to be inserted just to lighten up an otherwise solid drama. I realize that being made so soon after the war, Wilder probably felt that he needed to add some humor to what was still a dark and recent episode in the minds of many. But watching it 50 years on, the comedy bits don't work for me."

On the same day, a thousand miles away from Wayne (in more ways than one), regular quiz winner Hank Parmer wrote: "Good thing there's the inimitable Robert Strauss as 'Animal," with straight man Harvey Lembeck in his pre-Eric von Zipper days, to provide some comic relief to what's really a very dark story." (Hank also pointed out something I hadn't noticed about the career of James Arness's brother: "Funny how Graves seemed to alternate between major roles in some of the worst sci-fi of the time, like Killers from Space and Beginning of the End, and bit parts in great films like this one and Night of the Hunter.")

And a regular quiz winner who shall go nameless wrote: "Last time I watched the film I recall that an actor named Michael Moore is halfway down the final list of opening acting credits. There's probably a joke in there somewhere about the other prisoners griping about having to make the escape tunnels twice as wide, but I haven't the time or patience to indulge such a feeble wheeze."

So thanks for writing my blog for me this time, guys!

And congratulations to the handful of winners who came through on an admittedly tough quiz: Wayne Palmer, Mike Larson, E. Yarber, Bill Hearne, and Hank Parmer. And biggest congrats to Gus Mastrapa, who wins the grand prize this week: The Underachiever's Manifesto: The Guide to Accomplishing Little and Feeling Great by Ray Bennett, M.D. (Sorry, Gus, at this blog all prizes are final-- no returns accepted.)

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 12, 2006 12:50 AM

 

Backward Into the Future with Bela Lugosi

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 9, 2006 1:42 AM

 

The Monday Movie Quiz #109

A single picture should easily I.D. this week's movie-- if you've seen it. Otherwise, you haven't a chance.

Know the movie? Then send me an email by late Sunday night with the name of the film. If you're right, expect to see your name in next week's captive winner's circle.

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 4, 2006 11:42 PM

 

Last week's Movie Quiz winners

Last week's movie in question was The Lineup (1958), directed by Don Siegel and starring a young Eli Wallach (and an even younger Richard Jaeckel). Quiz winner Marty McKee sums it up best: "This is a terrific film."

It is, indeed, and as fast-paced and violent as any movie ten years its junior. Based on a TV series that was based on a radio show that was based on Dragnet, the movie downplays the tiresome format of the shows (and the boring, white-haired cops) and instead focuses on Eli and his heist.

It's a good, clever heroin-smuggling story by Sterling "Naked City" Silliphant, and it features a toupee-free Raymond Bailey, aka Mr. Drysdale from The Beverly Hillbillies. Jaeckel plays Eli's alcoholic driver and his mentor is played by character actor extraordinaire Robert Keith (click for pic), in as good a role as he ever had. (He was also the father of Brian Keith, but don't hold Family Affair against him.)

But Eli and Siegel's direction are the stars. Wallach's pork-pie-sporting killer named Dancer is a tough guy before his time, roughing up kids and snuffing cripples with wild abandon. As for Siegel, he even manages to make the cop scenes watchable, and there's a car chase on an unfinished freeway that puts most new movies' chases to shame, and it's only a minute or two long.

Last word on The Lineup: Where in the name of Jack Webb is the DVD??

So congratulations and a Chinese figurine full of smack to the following quiz winners: Wayne Palmer, Marty McKee, Kevin Musolino, Corey Anderson, Dewey Webb, and Hank Parmer. And special congratulations to longtime quiz winner E. Yarber for finally getting the grand prize-- this week it's the new CD Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of The Replacements. Lucky U, E.!

P.S. James Wolcott writing about Don Siegel and The Lineup.

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 4, 2006 1:22 AM

 

The Beach Boys Unsurpassed Masters

I couldn't wait to get to the really great stuff from the mid-sixties, so I'm no longer listening to this amazing bootleg series chronologically. Right now I'm loving the Summer Days (and Summer Nights) sessions, with take after take of "Let Him Run Wild," "Help Me, Rhonda," and all the others. (And this particular volume is 4 CDs, with over 4 hours of music!)

An unexpected bonus are sessions from what was later to be called "Sherry, She Needs Me," a sister composition to "Let Him . . . " that was never finished. Here's the best part of all, where the unfinished rhythm track gives way to the only finished vocals that were ever added. Give it a listen, and then we'll have world peace.

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 3, 2006 4:44 PM

 

The Saturday Audio Quiz #2

It's another clip from the mid-'60s ABC radio drama series Theater Five, with an unknown (at the time) actor in the lead. (He's the deep-voiced one doing the fine reading-- the old geezer is played by veteran radio actor Robert Dryden.) You'll hear the short scene and then the show's introduction, with the star's name given. See if you can figure out who he is before the 40 second mark. (Note: the sound is pretty hissy and distorted-- use your EQ to brighten it up, if it helps.)

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 3, 2006 4:39 PM

 

If only the books were as good as the covers

Cover art from Tales of Science and Sorcery by Clark Ashton Smith, from a 1976 British paperback published by Granada Publishing Limited-- artist unknown, at least to me.

Posted by Steve Monaco at June 1, 2006 10:28 PM

 

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