Hiya Kiddies! Sorry for the paucity of posts lately, but yer ol' professor has been more than a bit under the weather recently. Still, I'm back today and ready to make up for it with a whole batch of posts. First we'll start with a TV double feature, then the next installment of our Sunday serial, then with a little luck a double posting of new movie features this afternoon. So just kick back and enjoy some vintage programming.
First up today, as I mentioned, is a double feature from the TV archives, and today we're looking at game shows. There was a time when game shows were as ubiquitous and important a part of television programming as "reality" shows are today. Generally quick and cheap to produce compared to scripted programming, they were an easy way for a TV station or network to fill a time slot. They were also, in a time before every second-rate comedian had a late-night talk show a great promotional tool for other shows or for movies, as a star could make a quick appearance as a panelist or contestant on one of these shows and in return they would get a plug for whatever their latest project was. Of course, that also meant that a lot of ideas were tried as programmers often grasped at straws trying to come up with new and varied ideas that would catch on with the audience at home. sometimes these ideas were good, sometimes, well...
With the BP oil spill and GM in the news so much recently, I thought it might be fun to take a look back at some of these old gas and engine additive commercials. Some of them are really quite amusing and they provide kind of an interesting look back to a time when a service station was more than just a gas pump outside a market.
Something special for ya today, Kiddies - in 1954, the producers of the Adventures of Superman television show created this special short for the US Treasury Department to promote the sales of US Savings Bonds and Stamps. The short features the regular cast of the television show including George Reeves as Superman, Noel Neill as Lois Lane, and Jack Larson and John Hamilton as Jimmy Olson and Perry White respectively, and does a good job of showcasing the charm, personality, and chemistry of these actors.
The short was never shown in theaters or on television, but was instead designed to be shown in classrooms to educate children about the Treasury Stamp program. Since it was created for and donated to the government, it has become the only "episode" of the show to fall into the public domain.
I've embedded the entire 18 minute short below. Enjoy!
Until next time, Happy Treasure Hunting,
-Professor Damian
Just a short clip today, and it's pretty well self explanatory. This was a routine Skelton recorded many times in his career. This particular version appears to be from the 1969 season of his TV show. Enjoy, and, for my American readers, Happy 4th! I'll be back on Monday with the poll and contest results.
This one is for all those who, like me, simply were not interested in the grubby-looking "prequel" Robin Hood movie that was recently in theaters. Personally, Kiddies, yer old Professor is kind of tired of "heroes" who really aren't that heroic and films that are more about spectacle than telling a story or engaging us with characters. Is there any reason that a Robin Hood film made today seemingly has to be a mud-covered slog? In my opinion that's one reason why that particular film fell so flat whereas something like the first Iron Man movie was surprisingly well received. Not only was it well acted, but it's hero was someone who, though initially flawed, was, in the end, actually trying to be a hero. And yes, you had all the technological gee-gaws that draw the kids in, but at the same time, the producers weren't afraid to put that big shiny metal suit up there on the screen and let it shine instead of making the hero look like he constantly needed a bath (or, in Iron Man's case, perhaps a run through the car wash).
"I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache - the Boston Blackie kind."
If you've ever wondered just what or who Jimmy Buffett was talking about, then today's show is for you.
Boston Blackie began life as a safecracker and jewel thief in a series of novels by Jack Boyle. A character created in the "lovable rogue" mode, he was quickly transitioned to film where he became a private detective, then to radio and eventually television. His tagline, as you will hear, declared him to be "an enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend."
And now, a word from our sponsors, courtesy of collector Jon Behrens:
("Batteries Not Included" was compiled by Jon Behrens, and is posted under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States Creative Commons License as an example of what can be done with Public Domain material.)
Y'know, Kiddies, I suspect that with all the papparazzi and stalkers and such, a show such as This Is Your Life, at least as originally conceived, just wouldn't work today. Of course, considering Punked and other surprise shows, maybe all they'd need to do is get Ashton Kutcher to host it.
The concept was simple, really. Each week, host Ralph Edwards would surprise someone, usually, though not always, a clebrity, and take them to the studio where, in front of a live audience he would begin to reount the details of their biography. Where the true fun (and sometimes pathos) came in, though, was that along with the retelling, the network would bring in various people from throughout the guests life, often people they had not seen in years, and the show would turn into a mini reuinion as these people would share stories about the guest of honor. Quite often, it was these stories, rather than the actual biographical information imparted, that were the heart of the show.
In the episode posted below, for instance, the surprise guest is Lou Costello, half of the famous comedy team of Abbott and Costello. However, as host Edwards says at the start, if all you know about Lou is his onscreen antics, then you really don't know the reall Lou Costello. Let's take a look, shall we?
Ok, so yeah, I could have waited until tomorrow and posted this one under TV shows, but since it is feature length and with the recent announcement of an impending big-screen remake (starring Michael Cera, which pleases me, though considering Hollywood's track record at adapting classic shows to the silver screen I am very trepidatious.) i figured it could fit in just as well here.
Well, fifteen years have passed for our favorite castaways, but really nothing much has changed. They're still up to the usual shenanigans, but somehow have managed to not devolve into the callous, back-biting, ravenous excuses for humanity that can be seen on any given episode of Survivor. However, when a Soviet spy satellite goes out of control and has to be exploded rather than letting the Americans find out about it, a metal data disk from it falls to earth and lands in the island's lagoon practically at Gilligan's feet. Taking his discovery to the Professor, the master of ingenuity is soon able to fashion a new, astoundingly accurate barometer with which he predicts a huge tsunami is about to hit the island, and if the castaways are to have any chance of surviving it, they are going to have to lash their huts together so that hopefully they will not only survive, but might actually get far enough out to sea to get caught up in the shipping lanes and be rescued. Amazingly, the plan actually works, and our heroes are soon picked up by a US Coast Guard ship. Soon the group is back on land and trying to adjust to life in a world with which they have had no contact for years.
Pretty much all of the original cast is back for this adventure, except for Tina Louise who apparently waffled about returning to the role that she blamed for the downturn of her "serious" acting career and then demanded too much money for the comeback. Instead she was replaced as Ginger by Judith Baldwin, who was close enough in looks for the replacement not to be too jarring. The rest of the cast, though obviously older - which is acknowledged and actually made a central part of the script - are in fine form and seem to easily slip right back into their roles. Actually, watching this again for the first time since it was originally broadcast, I was surprised at how much like catching up with old friends this installment was. After all, as a child I spent far too many afternoons watching the Skipper bap Gilligan over his silly head with that damned captain's hat.
Instead of a preview today (after all, let's face it, if you don't know what you're getting with this one, a preview isn't really going to help), I'm going to give you the original theme song for the TV series. Yes, as aired, it became one of the most iconic tunes of the TV age, but this version... well, let's just say the producers made the right choice. It does, however give an interesting look at how the conceptions of some of the characters changed.
Ok, here's the Skinny:
Title: Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Release Date: 1978
Running Time: 95 min
Color
Starring: Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jr.
Directed by: Leslie H. Martinson
Production Company: Redwood Productions
Welcome to Professor Damian's Public Domain Treasure Chest. Each day I, your humble host, will post information on a movie or T.V. show in the public domain along with links to where you can watch them online (for free) or purchase them on DVD. For more information on the public domain check out my public domain primer (to be posted soon, keep watching this spot for a link) or the public domain entry at wikipedia. Also be sure to check out the great resources available at The Internet Archive. Also each week I'll update The Master List of Public Domain movies and shows I've discussed so you can easily find them. Also, you can contact me with comments, suggestion, complaints or praise by clicking here.
.
