Comments for http://mysteryfile.com/blog Devoted to mystery and detective fiction -- the books, the films, the authors, and those who read, watch, collect and make annotated lists of them. All uncredited posts are by me, Steve Lewis. Thu, 23 May 2013 03:27:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Book Received: JOSEF HOFFMANN – Philosophies of Crime Fiction. by Rick Libott http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21975#comment-1862305 Rick Libott Thu, 23 May 2013 03:27:48 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21975#comment-1862305 Pre-ordered it. Thanks for the heads-up. (And thanks to Professor Hoffman for writing it...) Pre-ordered it. Thanks for the heads-up.
(And thanks to Professor Hoffman for writing it…)

]]> Comment on A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: KING OF DIAMONDS (1961-62). by michael http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862260 michael Wed, 22 May 2013 15:43:59 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862260 #17. Ray, there are several ANGEL full episodes on YouTube. Here is a link to one with James Garner as guest star. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HXJPEmZUYg #17. Ray, there are several ANGEL full episodes on YouTube. Here is a link to one with James Garner as guest star.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HXJPEmZUYg

]]> Comment on A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: KING OF DIAMONDS (1961-62). by michael http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862256 michael Wed, 22 May 2013 15:29:53 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862256 #16. Thanks, Mike. Any researcher has his or her horror stories dealing with "facts," be it from an ineptly written book to internet databases. Wikipedia ability to be wrong grows with your knowledge of the subject, but when it cites its sources it is the perfect starting point. Since I take the credits from watching the episodes, I use IMdb for episodes dates and titles. I then try to confirm those dates and titles at TV Tango where I sometimes find what aired opposite of the program I am reviewing. Billboard is useful for TV during the fifties but less so in the sixties and after. Google book is a useful source for stories about the people involved and behind the scenes of the program. Broadcasting is focused on the business of television and if I am lucky gives me ratings, reviews, and news of the time. Variety is on line but I am not spending $600 a year to get it. Los Angeles "Times" has been but google newspaper search is too difficult to navigate and may disappear soon. I am not interested in non-Los Angeles newspapers such as the NY "Times" since those focuses on reviews not news. Libraries remain the best source, if you are lucky enough to live near one to specialize in your subject of interest. I need to start using the e-section of most of today's library since getting around is difficult for me (I am allergic to gravity - my blood pressure falls dangerous low the longer I stand up - this forces me to sit (aww, poor baby). When I was in Los Angeles I never had the time to play researcher, and now I have the time I am not in L.A. (but instead LA. - Louisiana). #16. Thanks, Mike. Any researcher has his or her horror stories dealing with “facts,” be it from an ineptly written book to internet databases. Wikipedia ability to be wrong grows with your knowledge of the subject, but when it cites its sources it is the perfect starting point. Since I take the credits from watching the episodes, I use IMdb for episodes dates and titles. I then try to confirm those dates and titles at TV Tango where I sometimes find what aired opposite of the program I am reviewing. Billboard is useful for TV during the fifties but less so in the sixties and after. Google book is a useful source for stories about the people involved and behind the scenes of the program. Broadcasting is focused on the business of television and if I am lucky gives me ratings, reviews, and news of the time. Variety is on line but I am not spending $600 a year to get it. Los Angeles “Times” has been but google newspaper search is too difficult to navigate and may disappear soon. I am not interested in non-Los Angeles newspapers such as the NY “Times” since those focuses on reviews not news.

Libraries remain the best source, if you are lucky enough to live near one to specialize in your subject of interest. I need to start using the e-section of most of today’s library since getting around is difficult for me (I am allergic to gravity – my blood pressure falls dangerous low the longer I stand up – this forces me to sit (aww, poor baby). When I was in Los Angeles I never had the time to play researcher, and now I have the time I am not in L.A. (but instead LA. – Louisiana).

]]> Comment on A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: KING OF DIAMONDS (1961-62). by Ray O'Leary http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862252 Ray O'Leary Wed, 22 May 2013 15:02:58 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862252 Michael in one of his comments mentions a tv series called ANGEL I remember that sitcom for one episode. It starred Marshall Thompson who is married to a French girl named Angel. The episode had Thompson's best friend talking him into buying 1000 shares into a company called Icobard Broadcast Mining. Total investment $100. The wives overhear them talking and look up IBM in the paper and see that it sells for $5 a share and think that they have invested $5000 apiece. Would that everyone had invested in IBM at $5 a share in the early 60's. Michael in one of his comments mentions a tv series called ANGEL I remember that sitcom for one episode. It starred Marshall Thompson who is married to a French girl named Angel. The episode had Thompson’s best friend talking him into buying 1000 shares into a company called Icobard Broadcast Mining. Total investment $100. The wives overhear them talking and look up IBM in the paper and see that it sells for $5 a share and think that they have invested $5000 apiece. Would that everyone had invested in IBM at $5 a share in the early 60′s.

]]> Comment on A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: KING OF DIAMONDS (1961-62). by Mike Doran http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862251 Mike Doran Wed, 22 May 2013 14:46:57 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862251 The facsimile signature on the KOD credits was that of "Babe" Unger, who was something of a wheel at ZIV in its later days. I don't know much about him, outside of an anecdote told by Harlan Ellison about the latter's scripting an episode of <i>Ripcord</i>. An actress in the episode had mispronounced the name of the French novelist Camus; she said "CAY-muss" instead of "kuh-MEW". Harlan hit the roof, demanding that the scene be reshot or at least dubbed into accuracy. He identified the man who shot him down in the screening room as "Babe" Unger, <i>Ripcord</i>'s executive producer. The details are in one of Harlan's <i>Glass Teat</i> collections (can't recall offhand which one). As time moves on, I've come to realize that IMDb is more useful as a jumping off point thatn as an absolutely reliable source of info. Many times, I've seen IMDb scramble credits for actors who have similar names (one example for many: Harry Dean Stanton is often mixed up with a much older actor named Harry Stanton in credits from the early '60s). They also aren't adept at tracking multiple appearances in the same show by certain people; omissions and confusions abound. Uncredited bit parts by then-unknown actors still slip in under the radar, unnoticed by IMDb. As far as its lists of episodes for series, these are hit-and-miss at best, particularly if the original shows aren't readily available for viewing. On and on, but you get the point. I'm now going to make it to myself by going there and trying to suss out info about what we're talking about here. Later ... The facsimile signature on the KOD credits was that of “Babe” Unger, who was something of a wheel at ZIV in its later days.
I don’t know much about him, outside of an anecdote told by Harlan Ellison about the latter’s scripting an episode of Ripcord.
An actress in the episode had mispronounced the name of the French novelist Camus; she said “CAY-muss” instead of “kuh-MEW”.
Harlan hit the roof, demanding that the scene be reshot or at least dubbed into accuracy.
He identified the man who shot him down in the screening room as “Babe” Unger, Ripcord‘s executive producer.
The details are in one of Harlan’s Glass Teat collections (can’t recall offhand which one).

As time moves on, I’ve come to realize that IMDb is more useful as a jumping off point thatn as an absolutely reliable source of info.
Many times, I’ve seen IMDb scramble credits for actors who have similar names (one example for many: Harry Dean Stanton is often mixed up with a much older actor named Harry Stanton in credits from the early ’60s).
They also aren’t adept at tracking multiple appearances in the same show by certain people; omissions and confusions abound.
Uncredited bit parts by then-unknown actors still slip in under the radar, unnoticed by IMDb.
As far as its lists of episodes for series, these are hit-and-miss at best, particularly if the original shows aren’t readily available for viewing.
On and on, but you get the point.
I’m now going to make it to myself by going there and trying to suss out info about what we’re talking about here.

Later …

]]> Comment on Book Received: JOSEF HOFFMANN – Philosophies of Crime Fiction. by Walker Martin http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21975#comment-1862212 Walker Martin Wed, 22 May 2013 03:20:16 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21975#comment-1862212 Amazon.com has it for only $16.00, a 30% discount if you pre-order. Publication date is October 1, 2013. Amazon.com has it for only $16.00, a 30% discount if you pre-order. Publication date is October 1, 2013.

]]> Comment on A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: KING OF DIAMONDS (1961-62). by michael http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862196 michael Tue, 21 May 2013 23:04:34 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862196 Can anyone read the name of the executive producer in the embedded clip? #14. IMdb, among others sites, credit Frankie Ortega with writing the theme music. I wonder which theme music. It also claims Jon Epstein was executive producer. Credit readers will recognize the name from many series in the 60s and 70s from RAT PATROLand FLYING NUN to COLUMBO and MCMILLAN AND WIFE. Apparently he did work for Ziv at one point. But I saw only Babe Whoever credit. Can anyone read the name of the executive producer in the embedded clip?

#14. IMdb, among others sites, credit Frankie Ortega with writing the theme music. I wonder which theme music.

It also claims Jon Epstein was executive producer. Credit readers will recognize the name from many series in the 60s and 70s from RAT PATROLand FLYING NUN to COLUMBO and MCMILLAN AND WIFE. Apparently he did work for Ziv at one point. But I saw only Babe Whoever credit.

]]> Comment on A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: KING OF DIAMONDS (1961-62). by Mike Doran http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862195 Mike Doran Tue, 21 May 2013 21:59:27 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862195 13: You should also trust your embedded video, on which "The Johnny King Theme", credited to William Donati, plays out in all its lyrical glory over the Ziv credit crawl. That's what I heard on ch9 at about 9:58, just before the news on - I still can't remember which night *darndarndarndarndarn*. Why it doesn't appear that way on the shows you've seen - - who can know? We're talking about the truly "lost generation" of filmed TV; the only people who cared about these shows were the ones who actually watched them. The ones who <i>made</i> them didn't believe that they would have much, if any, future. Were they ever wrong. 13:
You should also trust your embedded video, on which “The Johnny King Theme”, credited to William Donati, plays out in all its lyrical glory over the Ziv credit crawl.
That’s what I heard on ch9 at about 9:58, just before the news on – I still can’t remember which night *darndarndarndarndarn*.

Why it doesn’t appear that way on the shows you’ve seen -

– who can know?
We’re talking about the truly “lost generation” of filmed TV; the only people who cared about these shows were the ones who actually watched them.
The ones who made them didn’t believe that they would have much, if any, future.
Were they ever wrong.

]]> Comment on A TV and Movie Review by David L. Vineyard: PETER GUNN. by michael http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=5382#comment-1862183 michael Tue, 21 May 2013 18:45:15 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=5382#comment-1862183 And it may get some as TNT announced a possible series pilot of PETER GUNN is in development. Hope its better than the 1989 remake TV movie pilot. And it may get some as TNT announced a possible series pilot of PETER GUNN is in development. Hope its better than the 1989 remake TV movie pilot.

]]> Comment on A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: KING OF DIAMONDS (1961-62). by michael http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862179 michael Tue, 21 May 2013 17:26:04 +0000 http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=21943#comment-1862179 #12. Mike, the three episodes I saw according to IMdb were episode 1, 2, and 22. In my copy there was no use of the music with lyrics, however, one had a title card for "trailer to be added." The end credits had been edited and only one had a next episode preview (#1 for #2). While the end credits I saw were minus the lyrics and used the opening credits music, it is quite possible the song was added to very end if the show was short or commercial spots unsold or the song was just cut out of my copies. I trust your memories and ears more than this incomplete copy. #12. Mike, the three episodes I saw according to IMdb were episode 1, 2, and 22. In my copy there was no use of the music with lyrics, however, one had a title card for “trailer to be added.” The end credits had been edited and only one had a next episode preview (#1 for #2). While the end credits I saw were minus the lyrics and used the opening credits music, it is quite possible the song was added to very end if the show was short or commercial spots unsold or the song was just cut out of my copies.

I trust your memories and ears more than this incomplete copy.

]]>