MLJ/Archie Ad

Little did these early 1940's superheroes suspect that the red-headed kid (or blonde as seen here) and his pal, Jughead, would eventually do to them and all of their cohorts what no Nazi or mad scientist or racketeer was ever able to do. Archie had premiered in PEP COMICS but his stories were soon invading the other MLJ titles, also. This ad--featuring Mister Justice, Steel Sterling, Black Hood and the long forgotten Sgt. Boyle--is for Archie's debut in JACKPOT COMICS.

Don Rosa Finland Interview 2008

A nice, long, self deprecating interview with Don Rosa from what appears to be a Finnish morning TV show. One of my favorite fan writer/artists through the early seventies, I was thrilled when he started doing comics for Gladstone. Don told me once that I was the first person to ask him to do a signing but, as written about previously here on the blog, he politely declined. Nice to see how big he has gotten internationally but I remain perplexed as to why he never quite hit the big time he deserves here in his own country. Don deals here straightforwardly with the eyesight issues that led to his having to withdraw from comics work. I know he has read this blog from time to time and Don, if you do see this piece, I just wanted to say I continue to send good thoughts your way, sir...and thanks for everything!

Science Fiction Double Feature--Richard O'Brien

Vicki Lawrence Blooper

Vicki Lawrence has long been a favorite of mine--oddly NOT including her "Mama" character. Here, introduced by Dick Clark from one of his blooper specials and with animation from Sergio Aragones, is a succession of giggly outtakes as she tried to record a plug for her talk show.

Stefanie Powers

Another favorite from my youth is Ms. Stefanie Powers who was kind enough to answer a a letter from 13 year old me while appearing in summer stock in 1972. I first saw her in THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E. in 1966 but she had already co-starred at that point with John Wayne in 1963's McCLINTOCK and appeared in dozens of other TV series and a few films. When her role as the Modesty Blaise knock-off, April Dancer, dried up, Stefanie went on to become the queen of series guest roles and TV movies through the mid-seventies. A much publicized (and not without controversy) relationship with veteran actor William Holden led to her becoming an animal and environmental activist and a charismatic teaming with old friend Robert Wagner led to her finally becoming a major star on TV's HART TO HART in the late 1970's.

Bennett Cerf's Book of Riddles

This was the earliest book I remember actually owning. I received it as a birthday gift for my 5th birthday. I, of course, had absolutely no idea who Bennett Cerf might be but I came to associate the name with funny wordplay.

In the years that followed, I learned that Bennett Cerf had also written a newspaper column of amusing celebrity anecdotes for many years and that many of these were collected in multiple volumes of hilarious books. I found that he was a lifelong collector of all types of humor as well as a singularly important figure in the field of twentieth century publishing. As founder of Random House, he was associated with several of the major literary censorship fights as well as the man who gave Dr Seuss--already an entertaining author/artist-- his first great push toward becoming a legend!

Add to that the fact that he was one of the regular panelists on WHAT'S MY LINE?, without a doubt the classiest, most entertaining and most civilized panel show of all time--as well as a favorite of mine from its mid-sixties final years through today where I watch episodes daily on YouTube!

He even had a marvelously entertaining posthumous autobiography entitled AT RANDOM!

BENNETT CERF'S BOOK OF RIDDLES! I may not be able to recall a single riddle at this late stage but I certainly recall Bennett Cerf. Who says books don't inspire?

Not the Beatles But an Incredible Simulation

bookdave is an appropriately hangdog Ringo. He actually had a RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND T-shirt on that day. That's me as Paul looking--I'm told--like Weird Al from the 'stache up. But all that hair! Ah, nostalgia! Bottom right is the ever-delightful Brittany Rose making a cute dude! Reminds me of both HR PUFNSTUF's Jack Wild and Joanna Lumley as THE NEW AVENGERS' Purdey. John is played here by my lovely bride, Rene, who, quite frankly, has had that hairdo in the past few years and thus looks quite natural! This, by the way, was the absolute only thing I purchased at last weekend's OTR Con.