Currently Reading

Am currently reading, and enjoying, “The ‘Lost’ Sam Spade Scripts," edited by Martin Grams, Jr. Martin, as previously noted in this space, has written a great many books about old radio and television shows. Some of those books (and this latest one) were published by BearManor Media.

“The ‘Lost’ Sam Spade Scripts” features an introduction, and then thirteen scripts from the 1940s/1950s “Adventures of Sam Spade” radio series. The radio program (as shown in the accompanying image) starred Howard Duff.

Here’s the amazon.com link for the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Sam-Spade-Scripts/dp/159393453X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247524926&sr=1-1

Further information about Martin Grams, Jr., and his books, can be found here: http://www.martingramsjr.com/

At the end of August, I'll be part of a panel discussion, with Martin (and other authors), at the "Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention," in Aberdeen, Maryland. Martin is one of the convention's organizers.

Chico and Harpo Marx

There was a very enjoyable recent posting on Michael Coston’s nostalgia-oriented blog, “Master of My Public Domain.” (http://masterofmypublicdomain.blogspot.com/)

Michael’s 6/22/09 post concerned the music of Chico and Harpo Marx, and included several YouTube videos featuring scenes from Marx Brothers films.

He wrote, of Harpo: “Make no mistake, Harpo was a killer harpist, able to play sweet or hot, as the situation demanded. His `jazz’ renditions of classic tunes are unforgettable.”

And of Chico’s wonderful piano playing, he wrote: “His routines were choreographed comedic masterpieces…”

Here's the link to the 6/22 post:

http://masterofmypublicdomain.blogspot.com/2009/06/musical-marx-brothers.html

In November, 2008, as previously noted, the blog featured a kind review of “The Lucky Strike Papers.”

"Radiogram" magazine, June issue

I am quite delighted about an article which appears in the June issue of “Radiogram,” the magazine of the prominent OTR (Old Time Radio) organization SPERDVAC (the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy).

The article says: "Two recently published books are required reading this summer and deserve places on any OTR and early television bookshelf." One of the books referred to is “The Lucky Strike Papers.”

The book, the magazine says, is “a fascinating look at the early years of live television…” The story says: "Those truly interested in the transition, as it were, from radio to television in the late 1940s and early 1950s will find the work most interesting." The article notes (to my added delight) that a “comprehensive review of the book” will appear in a future issue of the magazine.

To learn more about the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy, which is based in California, please go to: http://www.sperdvac.org/

Wayne Magazine, May issue

A very nice piece about The Lucky Strike Papers appears in the May issue of Wayne Magazine. The piece was written by Rita Gernant.

Wayne Magazine is part of the North Jersey Media Group, which also publishes the newspaper The Record. Wayne, New Jersey is next door to Pompton Lakes, the town where I live.

Morgan White, Jr., and "Talking Trivia"

As I have previously noted, in 2008 I was interviewed twice, on Boston’s WBZ Radio, by guest talk show host Morgan White, Jr.; Morgan has for years been a regular guest host on the station.

His latest book, “Talking Trivia,” was recently published by BearManor Media.

You can read more about the book here (and purchase it here, via an amazon.com link):

http://bearmanormedia.bizland.com/id411.html

To see Morgan's web site, please click on this address: http://www.morganwhitejr.com/

"24," Part 2

An observation:

Keifer Sutherland’s character, on “24,” Jack Bauer, has a distinctive yelling style. It’s a kind of bellow--when he screams at someone, for example, to “Stand Down!” He does the same kind of yell all the time. It gets a bit tiring.

During an interrogation of one character, for example (this from a “24" trailer), Bauer asks, “What is your primary objective?” Click here.

Or here, when he asks, “What is the target?” Click here.

I enjoyed “24” for a period of time. Yet the show, for a while, has seemed to me to be rather over the top--not unlike Jack Bauer's signature yell. The yell, again.

TV 2009, cont'd:

Brief review:

An enjoyable TV show—clever, quirky, funny: ABC's “Better Off Ted.”

The program stars Jay Harrington (Ted), Portia de Rossi, Andrea Anders, Malcolm Barrett, and Jonathan Slavin.

Included on the show: fake commercials for Veridian Dynamics, the corporation which serves as the show’s setting.

The season finale airs tonight, 8:30 p.m. (EST).