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Aeolian Vocalion
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| Location: | Texas |
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| Number of Posts: | 468 |
| Registered on: | 7/24/2022 |
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re: Films Set in New Orleans (Looking for recommendations)
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/12/26 at 7:38 pm to cinemaguy23
There's a cheap independent film, "Invisible Avenger" (1958), which is commonly-found in the public domain arena, which takes place in New Orleans. It's an attempt to update the pulp-radio hero "The Shadow," but has very little to do with the original lore. The film is not particularly good, but makes for an interesting curio. It stars Richard Derr, who's most remembered as the lead in "When Worlds Collide" (1951).
The oldest film I know of which takes place (partially) in New Orleans is "The Red Kimono" (1925), a very interesting film about an innocent young gal who gets dragged into a prostitution racket, and eventually kills her pimp. Even more fascinating, plot-wise, is the way she and her plight become a celebrity cause for a vapid society matron. Virtue signaling, 1920s-style. But the large middle section of the film actually takes place in Los Angeles. A beautiful print of the film survived and was put on blu-ray as part of a 'women's filmmakers' set put out by Kino. The film stars a very lovely Priscilla Bonner, most known for her work with comedian Harry Langdon.
The oldest film I know of which takes place (partially) in New Orleans is "The Red Kimono" (1925), a very interesting film about an innocent young gal who gets dragged into a prostitution racket, and eventually kills her pimp. Even more fascinating, plot-wise, is the way she and her plight become a celebrity cause for a vapid society matron. Virtue signaling, 1920s-style. But the large middle section of the film actually takes place in Los Angeles. A beautiful print of the film survived and was put on blu-ray as part of a 'women's filmmakers' set put out by Kino. The film stars a very lovely Priscilla Bonner, most known for her work with comedian Harry Langdon.
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re: Any Route 66 fans here?
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/11/26 at 2:43 pm to TexasTiger08
I remember when the CBS evening news had a story on the highway being officially de-commissioned. Some coffee-table photo books popped up, showing a lot of dilapidated remnants. Which I found depressing. But within a few short years, by the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, interest in Route 66 seemed to suddenly boom again.
I traveled most of it back at that time, from St. Louis to California, only missing the stretch perhaps from Amarillo to Oklahoma City. Lots of foreigners on rented motorcycles would vacation, taking the highway. I'd see them at almost all the restaurants and gas stations and antique shops I'd stop at along the way.
At postcard shows, the dealers always had little sections of 'Route 66' postcards, usually at elevated prices. The larger category, encompassing all such similar visual material was dubbed 'roadside americana.' Because even though Route 66 was the most heralded, there were lots of national highways with similarly marvelous artifacts. The 1920s/1930s/1940s postcards that were most coveted were actual b&w 'photocards,' and the examples of gas-stations, cafes, neon signs, and such were particularly collectable. The concurrent color 'linen' cards were more common, but could still be collectable, if they sported nice art-deco style advertising artwork. The color 'chrome' cards of the 1950s/1960s used to be dime-a-dozen, but the 'roadside' examples eventually became pretty popular with collectors in the 1990s, if they captured some really stark mid-century architecture or signage.
I frankly thought the interest in Route 66 had been dying out these past twenty years or so. So many things on it that had been hanging on had bit the dust, like that shell motel on the south side of St. Louis which I think was torn down, or an old restaurant in Oklahoma that I recall burned down. I hope I'm all wrong and there is indeed some interest left in the old mother road.
I traveled most of it back at that time, from St. Louis to California, only missing the stretch perhaps from Amarillo to Oklahoma City. Lots of foreigners on rented motorcycles would vacation, taking the highway. I'd see them at almost all the restaurants and gas stations and antique shops I'd stop at along the way.
At postcard shows, the dealers always had little sections of 'Route 66' postcards, usually at elevated prices. The larger category, encompassing all such similar visual material was dubbed 'roadside americana.' Because even though Route 66 was the most heralded, there were lots of national highways with similarly marvelous artifacts. The 1920s/1930s/1940s postcards that were most coveted were actual b&w 'photocards,' and the examples of gas-stations, cafes, neon signs, and such were particularly collectable. The concurrent color 'linen' cards were more common, but could still be collectable, if they sported nice art-deco style advertising artwork. The color 'chrome' cards of the 1950s/1960s used to be dime-a-dozen, but the 'roadside' examples eventually became pretty popular with collectors in the 1990s, if they captured some really stark mid-century architecture or signage.
I frankly thought the interest in Route 66 had been dying out these past twenty years or so. So many things on it that had been hanging on had bit the dust, like that shell motel on the south side of St. Louis which I think was torn down, or an old restaurant in Oklahoma that I recall burned down. I hope I'm all wrong and there is indeed some interest left in the old mother road.
re: There were always signs MN was full of liberal morons
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/11/26 at 8:17 am to stout
Minnesota has been a hotbed of anti-American freaks for a long time.
Now it's a hotbed of both FREAKS and FRAUD.
Now it's a hotbed of both FREAKS and FRAUD.
re: The way to end all this, should have been done already.
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/9/26 at 6:53 pm to antibarner
Not really a bad idea.
But I like the bullet-in-their-skulls approach better.
But I like the bullet-in-their-skulls approach better.
re: Leftists feels guilty for paying respects to Renee Good because she has white privilege
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/9/26 at 8:55 am to CarolinaGamecock99
Good grief. Truly jaw-dropping. These demented 'suicidal empathy' freaks are a human pestilence. Societal termites. This footage just makes me all the more pleased that this Renee Good nutcase got dispatched from the living, and hope more of these worthless garbage-humans join her ranks.
re: They went thataway, so let's go thisaway: the TV Western thread
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/4/26 at 9:29 pm to Kafka
I'm sure there must be quite a few interviews with Jan Merlin floating around. He passed away not too terribly long ago. But the only interview I recall offhand is in David Rothel's book on Richard Boone, which also covered "Have Gun, Will Travel." Merlin and Boone were friends or at least acquaintances in the post-war 1940s, both getting started in New York stage work. Rothel wrote several westerns-themed books. As for "Have Gun, Will Travel," I did have a nice conversation with its creator/producer Sam Rolfe back in the 1980s at a hotel lobby on Sunset boulevard. I recall talking to him about some frivolous lawsuit about the series, which had actually caused it to be briefly pulled from rerun syndication. Years later, at one of the western conventions, Lisa Lu, who played 'Hey girl' guested. I adored her. With her dainty, old-world Oriental reserve, just talking with her made you feel like you'd traveled back in time to some earlier era. She talked of when she left China and came to America for college, and she was here when the commies overran China. Eventually went to San Francisco, and finally fell into acting, appearing in numerous vintage tv-westerns.
re: The entire series run of Gunsmoke is on Pluto TV. 20 seasons, 635 episodes
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/4/26 at 7:39 am to Kafka
I remember that Virginia Gregg episode quite well. Always impressed the way "Gunsmoke" gave character actors like her prominent spotlight roles where they could really strut their stuff. Where else could folks like Robert F. Simon or Anthony Caruso or Milton Selzer get such juicy roles?
But what I suppose I was trying to get at is the encroaching timidity of the later years in regards to the stricter attitude and parameters involving law and justice. For example, in one of those western silents that I cited, villain Noah Beery comes across an Indian maiden alone, washing in a creek, and he clearly has rape in mind. She fights him off, and her mother sees this and starts coming to her rescue. He shoots and kills both of them, and rides off nonchalantly. Later on, the white community, tired of this rotter's villainy, happily hands him over to the Indian tribe, to receive 'Indian justice' for his crime. Basically telling them to 'have fun!' as the terrified bounder is dragged away into a teepee full of grinning, bloodthirsty Indians brandishing knives. No hackneyed scene of white settlers trying to convince the Indians of white man's law-and-order being the proper and superior route to justice!
But what I suppose I was trying to get at is the encroaching timidity of the later years in regards to the stricter attitude and parameters involving law and justice. For example, in one of those western silents that I cited, villain Noah Beery comes across an Indian maiden alone, washing in a creek, and he clearly has rape in mind. She fights him off, and her mother sees this and starts coming to her rescue. He shoots and kills both of them, and rides off nonchalantly. Later on, the white community, tired of this rotter's villainy, happily hands him over to the Indian tribe, to receive 'Indian justice' for his crime. Basically telling them to 'have fun!' as the terrified bounder is dragged away into a teepee full of grinning, bloodthirsty Indians brandishing knives. No hackneyed scene of white settlers trying to convince the Indians of white man's law-and-order being the proper and superior route to justice!
re: The entire series run of Gunsmoke is on Pluto TV. 20 seasons, 635 episodes
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/3/26 at 11:26 pm to Kafka
What was the name of that half-hour "Gunsmoke" episode (from around 1957 or so) where a band of marauders were robbing and killing homesteader families out on the isolated prairie? Matt and Chester stake-out a place, pretending to be ranchers, and lie in wait to be targeted. The marauders' gang has an innocent-looking member come scope them out before attacking, but Matt smells a rat. When the gang arrives, Matt doesn't give any attempt at calling for their arrest or having them surrender, but starts blasting away at them before they knew what was happening. No way the network would have allowed this later on.
TV-westerns started getting really cold feet on that sort of thing by the time JFK's 'Camelot' era started rolling along. The series "The Dakotas" in 1963 quickly fell victim to this, stepping on toes. Of course, older westerns never batted an eye at such themes as bending rules to vanquish the villains. They could be pretty raw. You had a similarly-titled film in "Gun Smoke" in 1931, in which the hero citizen, Richard Arlen, declares 'the only way to deal with killers is to kill 'em!' He and his men proceed to ambush and slaughter the villains from high above as the latter pass through a mountain trail. The bad-guys were certainly apt to meet grisly ends, like when villainous Noah Beery gets an arrow through his neck in one silent western, and gets (implied) skinned alive in another. Some pretty stark stuff in the old-time westerns. Yet at the same time, they also had the remnants of that soft, Victorian-era romanticism. It makes for a fascinating mixture, those two contrasting elements, merged together. Westerns are such an endlessly interesting genre.
TV-westerns started getting really cold feet on that sort of thing by the time JFK's 'Camelot' era started rolling along. The series "The Dakotas" in 1963 quickly fell victim to this, stepping on toes. Of course, older westerns never batted an eye at such themes as bending rules to vanquish the villains. They could be pretty raw. You had a similarly-titled film in "Gun Smoke" in 1931, in which the hero citizen, Richard Arlen, declares 'the only way to deal with killers is to kill 'em!' He and his men proceed to ambush and slaughter the villains from high above as the latter pass through a mountain trail. The bad-guys were certainly apt to meet grisly ends, like when villainous Noah Beery gets an arrow through his neck in one silent western, and gets (implied) skinned alive in another. Some pretty stark stuff in the old-time westerns. Yet at the same time, they also had the remnants of that soft, Victorian-era romanticism. It makes for a fascinating mixture, those two contrasting elements, merged together. Westerns are such an endlessly interesting genre.
re: The entire series run of Gunsmoke is on Pluto TV. 20 seasons, 635 episodes
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/2/26 at 12:45 pm to L.A.
"Gunsmoke" is pretty darned sensational in my view. Over such a long run, it naturally had its ups and downs. I thought the very first season leaned a bit too much on reworking scripts from the radio series, and some of the episodes were a tad too static. But by third season, it was a brilliant, well-oiled machine, putting out tight, top-notch episodes. A superb run, going on for several seasons.
When it first went to an hour in 1961, it was initially a little off-balance, with stories being too dragged out. But they got things quickly together, and some of the 1962-64 episodes are just incredible... although sometimes awfully bleak, grim, and downbeat. The series started waning a little in the mid-1960s period, with its last b&w season (65-66) and first color season (66-67). But then, surprisingly, it actually picks up again with a lot of rather robust episodes around the 1967-68 period. After that, the furor over violence in television took hold, and neutered the series considerably as it continued into the 1970s. Still decent episodes here and there, especially around 1971 or so, but its glory days were clearly over.
When it first went to an hour in 1961, it was initially a little off-balance, with stories being too dragged out. But they got things quickly together, and some of the 1962-64 episodes are just incredible... although sometimes awfully bleak, grim, and downbeat. The series started waning a little in the mid-1960s period, with its last b&w season (65-66) and first color season (66-67). But then, surprisingly, it actually picks up again with a lot of rather robust episodes around the 1967-68 period. After that, the furor over violence in television took hold, and neutered the series considerably as it continued into the 1970s. Still decent episodes here and there, especially around 1971 or so, but its glory days were clearly over.
re: They went thataway, so let's go thisaway: the TV Western thread
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/2/26 at 12:33 pm to Kafka
Ben Cooper was indeed a bit on the smallish side, although not unduly so. He naturally gets dwarfed on screen, acting alongside giants like James Arness and Chuck Connors. I always liked that little b-film Cooper starred in, "A Strange Adventure" (1956), which goes way back with me. I was dumbfounded when this minor little movie was actually released on blu-ray. Jan Merlin did his usual psycho-villain duties in the film. Talked a good while with Merlin and his wife, and found him to be a super nice guy. Gregg Palmer was a really wacky character. Saw him at least three times at different shows. Very funny guy and a marvelous raconteur. Being a Universal contractee in the 1950s, he had lots of great stories. Speaking of which, everyone who knew David Janssen back in his pre-fame Universal days seemed to strongly express what a great guy he was. Very, very well-liked by virtually everyone I talked to. Unlike for example, Andy Griffith, who NOBODY has anything good to say about.
I first learned of the various western conventions and old-time film festivals around 1980, through advertisements in "The Big Reel" and "Movie Collectors World," which I subscribed to. Wasn't until a few years later that I started going to some of them, alongside other various antique shows and comic conventions. Hugely regret that I missed out on the earlier western shows. Good grief, they had guests like Yakima Canutt, George O'Brien, and such. I even spoke with an old gent who told me of attending a show in which Al Hoxie guested! Pretty mind-blowing. Even Dave Sharpe, the famed stuntman who'd earlier starred in Hal Roach's "Boy Friends" comedies in the early-1930s was at an early convention. Also, Victor Jory attended a show or two. I remember the advertisement when it was touting his upcoming appearance. Would have loved to have seen him. I did get to meet a fair number of the b-western actresses who worked back in the 1930s and 1940s, and they were almost always the most fun (and unassuming) to talk with.
I first learned of the various western conventions and old-time film festivals around 1980, through advertisements in "The Big Reel" and "Movie Collectors World," which I subscribed to. Wasn't until a few years later that I started going to some of them, alongside other various antique shows and comic conventions. Hugely regret that I missed out on the earlier western shows. Good grief, they had guests like Yakima Canutt, George O'Brien, and such. I even spoke with an old gent who told me of attending a show in which Al Hoxie guested! Pretty mind-blowing. Even Dave Sharpe, the famed stuntman who'd earlier starred in Hal Roach's "Boy Friends" comedies in the early-1930s was at an early convention. Also, Victor Jory attended a show or two. I remember the advertisement when it was touting his upcoming appearance. Would have loved to have seen him. I did get to meet a fair number of the b-western actresses who worked back in the 1930s and 1940s, and they were almost always the most fun (and unassuming) to talk with.
re: They went thataway, so let's go thisaway: the TV Western thread
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 1/1/26 at 1:38 pm to Kafka
Yes, there used to be a lot of shows, festivals, and conventions to go to. Charlotte, Memphis, Knoxville, and Williamsburg had long-running western themed shows. Very homey, laid-back affairs. Ray Courts had a convention for many years in North Hollywood, which started out as a memorabilia show and gradually veered more towards celeb (tv) guests. Dallas had its own modest "Big D Collectors Show" in the 1990s, which was mostly dealers and memorabilia, but also served up some guests. Of more recent vintage has been a 'nostalgia' show in Baltimore, which I attended a couple of times. I think it's still ongoing, last I heard. I was mostly a collector of pulp mags, comics, movie stills and such, and that's what initially drew me to such shows. Along with bootleg VHS tapes of rare films and tv-series, before the advent of DVD.
In regards to those western shows, yeah, I did get to see and meet a whole lot of the old western tv-stars... Dale Robertson, George Montgomery, Clint Walker, James Drury, Ty Hardin, Peter Brown, John Hart, Gail Davis, Will Hutchins, Johnny Crawford, Robert Fuller, Denny Miller, Hugh O'Brian, Clu Gulager. Plus, lots of others who worked regularly in tv-westerns, like Ben Cooper, L.Q. Jones, Andrew Prine, Ruta Lee, Gregg Palmer, Jacqueline Scott, James Best, Jan Merlin, Lisa Montell, Kasey Rogers, Don Collier, Angie Dickenson, Anne Helm, Donald May. And stuntmen, like Whitey Hughes, Robert Hoy, etc. So many more. Always fun hearing from such folks, talking about their experiences in the industry and whatnot. It saddens me that they're all pretty much gone at this point. Even most of the generational fanbase who used to go to these shows are, by and large, gone now. I was a relative youngster when I used to go to them.
In regards to those western shows, yeah, I did get to see and meet a whole lot of the old western tv-stars... Dale Robertson, George Montgomery, Clint Walker, James Drury, Ty Hardin, Peter Brown, John Hart, Gail Davis, Will Hutchins, Johnny Crawford, Robert Fuller, Denny Miller, Hugh O'Brian, Clu Gulager. Plus, lots of others who worked regularly in tv-westerns, like Ben Cooper, L.Q. Jones, Andrew Prine, Ruta Lee, Gregg Palmer, Jacqueline Scott, James Best, Jan Merlin, Lisa Montell, Kasey Rogers, Don Collier, Angie Dickenson, Anne Helm, Donald May. And stuntmen, like Whitey Hughes, Robert Hoy, etc. So many more. Always fun hearing from such folks, talking about their experiences in the industry and whatnot. It saddens me that they're all pretty much gone at this point. Even most of the generational fanbase who used to go to these shows are, by and large, gone now. I was a relative youngster when I used to go to them.
re: They went thataway, so let's go thisaway: the TV Western thread
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/28/25 at 10:03 am to Kafka
I used to purchase a lot of bootleg VHS tapes of western series back in the 1980s and 1990s, before the tv-dvd craze hit and the floodgates opened. Some series were really rare back then. I recall that "Whispering Smith" with Audie Murphy only had one or two episodes in the collecting realm, and the series was reportedly 'lost,' with rumors of the original elements completely junked and no longer in existence. Turned out to be false, as a batch of 16mm prints were extant, and the series was officially released on dvd.
Haven't followed all the rare oddities that might have resurfaced in recent years. Glad to know that at least 'part' of a "Frontier" episode is around. Never knew about a "Union Pacific' pilot with Richard Anderson. I talked to Anderson once at a show, but I think he was already starting to come down with Alzheimer's, so I didn't get too much info from him. Similar thing with Robert Loggia one time. But I always enjoyed chatting about old westerns with such folk and hearing of their experiences making them.
Haven't followed all the rare oddities that might have resurfaced in recent years. Glad to know that at least 'part' of a "Frontier" episode is around. Never knew about a "Union Pacific' pilot with Richard Anderson. I talked to Anderson once at a show, but I think he was already starting to come down with Alzheimer's, so I didn't get too much info from him. Similar thing with Robert Loggia one time. But I always enjoyed chatting about old westerns with such folk and hearing of their experiences making them.
re: White Men & Television Shows + What Happened?
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/28/25 at 9:46 am to Kafka
I find it an interesting sidenote that when the movie industry really began, in the 1910s, it was quite female-centric. The majority of 'stars' were women, as were the audiences. Few women directors, but lots of women scenarists. Some of the first actual 'action' stars, via the serials, were gals like Pearl White, Ruth Roland and Helen Holmes (always liked the latter's "Hazard of Helen" railroad-themed two-reelers, as well as her 1920s features). If one omits western stars and slapstick comedians, female protagonists, as a percentage, dominated movies throughout the 1920s and even into the 1930s talkie period, to a fair degree. Ruth Chatterton, Kay Francis, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, etc. Strong characters who were in control of the narrative, but used decidedly feminine traits of charm and wiles to obtain their goals of home-and-hearth. Civilizational glue, and not a bad thing in my book.
But here we now have in this postmodern feminist era of the past few decades the insufferable re-definition of female strength and character through co-opting male traits and male goals. A side effect being the crack-up of heroic male archetypes and comportment. Which has been replaced by the weird split of either cartoonishly freaky uber-masculine action heroes or the doughy white male schlub who constantly retreats to sarcasm to mask his lack of manhood. Both in their own peculiar ways tend to have unwelcome homo undertones. It's no wonder so many guys don't really find much in modern tv/movies that genuinely speaks to them these days.
The postwar years and those first decades of television had some pretty ideal displays of male protagonists. At least until the soppy method-actors arrived, always beset by psychological demons and on the verge of tears. The gals admittedly didn't fare so well, with roles devolving into more one-dimensional territory in the 1950s/60s. Either submissive June Allyson wifely types, or crass Marilyn Monroe sexpot types. A few of the old guard dames like Davis, Crawford, and Stanwyck still starred in occasional vehicles, but it was a pretty bland landscape for female protagonists. Between the ossification of the dying studio-system which had degraded to an old dude's club, and the influx of the jerky, entitled New York theater crowd, the die was cast it seems. Even worse, the 'New Hollywood' era that followed had a kind of creepy misogynistic tint. Probably laid the reactionary groundwork for the current cultural hellscape, where women all act like dudes, and men all act like homos.
But here we now have in this postmodern feminist era of the past few decades the insufferable re-definition of female strength and character through co-opting male traits and male goals. A side effect being the crack-up of heroic male archetypes and comportment. Which has been replaced by the weird split of either cartoonishly freaky uber-masculine action heroes or the doughy white male schlub who constantly retreats to sarcasm to mask his lack of manhood. Both in their own peculiar ways tend to have unwelcome homo undertones. It's no wonder so many guys don't really find much in modern tv/movies that genuinely speaks to them these days.
The postwar years and those first decades of television had some pretty ideal displays of male protagonists. At least until the soppy method-actors arrived, always beset by psychological demons and on the verge of tears. The gals admittedly didn't fare so well, with roles devolving into more one-dimensional territory in the 1950s/60s. Either submissive June Allyson wifely types, or crass Marilyn Monroe sexpot types. A few of the old guard dames like Davis, Crawford, and Stanwyck still starred in occasional vehicles, but it was a pretty bland landscape for female protagonists. Between the ossification of the dying studio-system which had degraded to an old dude's club, and the influx of the jerky, entitled New York theater crowd, the die was cast it seems. Even worse, the 'New Hollywood' era that followed had a kind of creepy misogynistic tint. Probably laid the reactionary groundwork for the current cultural hellscape, where women all act like dudes, and men all act like homos.
re: They went thataway, so let's go thisaway: the TV Western thread
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/27/25 at 10:03 pm to Kafka
I remember "Law of the Plainsman" episodes being a part of that bigger syndicated rerun package entitled "The Westerners." They got several short-lived series from Four-Star Productions, such as "Plainsman," "Black Saddle," "Johnny Ringo," and "The Westerner," and put them all together under that umbrella title, "The Westerners," and added Keenan Wynn as a host at the beginning. The bad thing was that by adding the bits with Wynn, they snipped out a few minutes of every episode, so one couldn't see them in complete form. I think "The Westerners" might have also included a few episodes of "Zane Grey Theater" into the mix, but I don't why, because that series was already in syndication by itself.
One western series that I've never seen is the anthology series "Frontier," from around 1956. Never ran across any episodes on the collecting circuit, years ago. I've also never managed to see "Buckskin," which featured youngster Tommy Nolan as its main character. There were also a few non-network series that were peddled across the country as syndicated fare which still seem pretty rare. Those single-season series like "Man Without a Gun" or "Union Pacific." Another is "Two Faces West," but that might have had a network run. Can't remember. Probably pretty minor stuff, but I always wished they could be re-mastered and turn up somewhere, just to offer a look-see.
One western series that I've never seen is the anthology series "Frontier," from around 1956. Never ran across any episodes on the collecting circuit, years ago. I've also never managed to see "Buckskin," which featured youngster Tommy Nolan as its main character. There were also a few non-network series that were peddled across the country as syndicated fare which still seem pretty rare. Those single-season series like "Man Without a Gun" or "Union Pacific." Another is "Two Faces West," but that might have had a network run. Can't remember. Probably pretty minor stuff, but I always wished they could be re-mastered and turn up somewhere, just to offer a look-see.
re: White Men & Television Shows + What Happened?
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/27/25 at 9:48 pm to ShotGunGordan
I remember reading a scholarly piece about 40 years ago, which detailed how women look and reflect back upon life as more of a long, intertwining thread. But men look back on life and discern it as individual incidents. Hence, females innately preferred serialized, unending storylines, whereas men preferred stories that were self-contained with distinct beginnings and endings. Don't recall if this was due to differing brain patterns or cultural imprinting, or if that aspect was even addressed. But it did seem to make sense, and ever since, I always interpreted the explosion of serialization in television the past two to three decades as a reflection of its feminization.
Personally, I have no interest in a tv-series that is long and drawn-out, concentrating on soapy arcs. The idea of getting mired in these types of modern shows that drag on and on like that has absolutely zero appeal to me. From what I've observed from them, narratives are stretched to ludicrous degrees, while emotionalism is ramped up to operatic levels. People have accepted this as the normal form these days, and part of a progression/evolution, but I still find it pretty off-kilter. I do wonder where trends will go from here in the future, in terms of narrative structure.
I find appeal in older shows and movies not because of some perceived 'whiteness,' but because I tend to actually 'like' the characters they serve up. An identification perhaps due in part to their greater sense of moral certitude. I enjoy such characters, and (as with the old westerns) I like to travel their trail and vicariously share in their approaches to conflict. It's solid. It's aspirational. It's a tonic for the soul. I just don't get that quality with modern shows and modern characters. They nag. They harangue. They exude detached irony. They're eaten up with angst and emotion. And frankly, they just ultimately annoy me. Is it correct to just chalk these things up to feminization? Probably not. It's something bigger than that, which has oozed up from modern culture and its endless grievances.
Personally, I have no interest in a tv-series that is long and drawn-out, concentrating on soapy arcs. The idea of getting mired in these types of modern shows that drag on and on like that has absolutely zero appeal to me. From what I've observed from them, narratives are stretched to ludicrous degrees, while emotionalism is ramped up to operatic levels. People have accepted this as the normal form these days, and part of a progression/evolution, but I still find it pretty off-kilter. I do wonder where trends will go from here in the future, in terms of narrative structure.
I find appeal in older shows and movies not because of some perceived 'whiteness,' but because I tend to actually 'like' the characters they serve up. An identification perhaps due in part to their greater sense of moral certitude. I enjoy such characters, and (as with the old westerns) I like to travel their trail and vicariously share in their approaches to conflict. It's solid. It's aspirational. It's a tonic for the soul. I just don't get that quality with modern shows and modern characters. They nag. They harangue. They exude detached irony. They're eaten up with angst and emotion. And frankly, they just ultimately annoy me. Is it correct to just chalk these things up to feminization? Probably not. It's something bigger than that, which has oozed up from modern culture and its endless grievances.
re: Twilight Zone Marathon today
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/26/25 at 12:35 pm to dblwall
All the old anthology tv-series had episodes that were hits-or-misses, but when weak episodes of "Twilight Zone" get pointed out, it always ruffles feathers. The series is such a sacred cow. Personally, I gravitate more towards episodes that exude atmosphere as opposed to just hinging on twist endings. Although it's particularly nice when the two can merge together, in an organic and seamless way.
The series "Thriller" (1960-62), hosted by Boris Karloff, had a lot of mundane clunkers, but there are a handful of episodes that are real knockouts, like the infamous "Pigeons from Hell," alongside "The Hollow Watcher," "Parasite Mansion," "The Weird Tailor," and several others. I don't know how some of those made it to television back in that day. Too potent, in terms of all-out horror.
"The Outer Limits" had a mix of good and bad episodes. There were a few episodes of "One Step Beyond" that were really, really eerie. Especially the episode with the clown. Don't recall the title, offhand. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" had some good episodes, and some weak ones, although I sometimes tire of its rather cutesy, self-conscious approach to tales of murder and crime. I'm generally not too keen on "Night Gallery," although I remember several episodes scaring me as a kid. The British-filmed "Journey to the Unknown" was on American network-tv in 1968-69, and I've seen all the episodes, but didn't really care much for the series.
There were certainly some other (less fantasy-oriented) anthology series in the 1960s, like the color "Suspense Theater," which used to run a bit in syndication, and had some occasionally good episodes. I saw and taped most of those when the Sci-Fi Channel aired them in the 1990s. Also used to see "The Dick Powell Show," which was a mixed bag. "Chrysler Theater" was in color, and ran for four years in the mid-1960s, and used to be rerun under various titles like "Star Time" and whatnot. Don't recall any episodes really standing out for me, though. More rare was "Alcoa Premiere," hosted by Fred Astaire. Only seen one or two of those. After "Have Gun, Will Travel" ended, its star headlined "The Richard Boone Show," which had some solid, hard-edged episodes, but was dogged by a whiff of pretentiousness.
Okay, who's going to start a thread on favorite episodes of "The Loretta Young Show?"
The series "Thriller" (1960-62), hosted by Boris Karloff, had a lot of mundane clunkers, but there are a handful of episodes that are real knockouts, like the infamous "Pigeons from Hell," alongside "The Hollow Watcher," "Parasite Mansion," "The Weird Tailor," and several others. I don't know how some of those made it to television back in that day. Too potent, in terms of all-out horror.
"The Outer Limits" had a mix of good and bad episodes. There were a few episodes of "One Step Beyond" that were really, really eerie. Especially the episode with the clown. Don't recall the title, offhand. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" had some good episodes, and some weak ones, although I sometimes tire of its rather cutesy, self-conscious approach to tales of murder and crime. I'm generally not too keen on "Night Gallery," although I remember several episodes scaring me as a kid. The British-filmed "Journey to the Unknown" was on American network-tv in 1968-69, and I've seen all the episodes, but didn't really care much for the series.
There were certainly some other (less fantasy-oriented) anthology series in the 1960s, like the color "Suspense Theater," which used to run a bit in syndication, and had some occasionally good episodes. I saw and taped most of those when the Sci-Fi Channel aired them in the 1990s. Also used to see "The Dick Powell Show," which was a mixed bag. "Chrysler Theater" was in color, and ran for four years in the mid-1960s, and used to be rerun under various titles like "Star Time" and whatnot. Don't recall any episodes really standing out for me, though. More rare was "Alcoa Premiere," hosted by Fred Astaire. Only seen one or two of those. After "Have Gun, Will Travel" ended, its star headlined "The Richard Boone Show," which had some solid, hard-edged episodes, but was dogged by a whiff of pretentiousness.
Okay, who's going to start a thread on favorite episodes of "The Loretta Young Show?"
re: Twilight Zone Marathon today
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/25/25 at 11:45 am to dblwall
There are some fan favorites that I never really cared for, like "To Serve Man," which I found cartoonish (including its ridiculously predictable 'twist' ending right out of a Fifties comic book), and "It's a Good Life" with Billy Mumy and his cornfield. Just never liked those two episodes. And some of the scripts are just too unsubtle and heavy-handed for my tastes, as with "The Monster are Due on Maple Street" or "The Obsolete Man" or "The Shelter." What's the all-time worst episode? Maybe that one with William Demarest watching himself murder his wife on his television? Man, that one was abysmal.
But luckily, there are also a lot of really terrific episodes. I absolutely love the one with Anne Francis and the mannequins. I think it's called "The After Hours." Sheer perfection. I also think the one with William Shatner on the airplane with the gremlin is pretty darned nifty. The most effectively spooky episode might be "Night Call," where old lady Gladys Cooper is getting strange phone calls. Really well done. Quite a number of really solid, memorable episodes. I also like the hour-long sci-fi episode "Death Ship," with Jack Klugman.
But luckily, there are also a lot of really terrific episodes. I absolutely love the one with Anne Francis and the mannequins. I think it's called "The After Hours." Sheer perfection. I also think the one with William Shatner on the airplane with the gremlin is pretty darned nifty. The most effectively spooky episode might be "Night Call," where old lady Gladys Cooper is getting strange phone calls. Really well done. Quite a number of really solid, memorable episodes. I also like the hour-long sci-fi episode "Death Ship," with Jack Klugman.
re: Old Hollywood Christmas movies
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/23/25 at 10:28 pm to S
"Remember the Night" (1940) Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray.
re: 100 Years since Col. Billy Mitchell found guilty for telling truth
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/21/25 at 12:54 pm to prplhze2000
I remember watching "The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell" (1955) with Gary Cooper on the late-show back around 1978. Everybody I spoke with back then knew who he was and what had happened.
re: Wasn’t the ‘Greatest Generation’ running the country in the 1960’s?
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/21/25 at 12:49 pm to weagle1999
The Greatest Generation deserves all the kudos it gets for their sacrifices and contributions to the country. The generations that have followed in their wake have all been pale shadows.
But there is a negative footnote. After living through and enduring very hard times in the Depression, and then the human loss and chaos of a world war, which ate up the majority of their youthful lives, they (quite naturally) wanted some peace and quiet. So they settled in the consumerist comfort of the Fifties and vegetated a bit, putting everything on auto-pilot and handing the reins over to the elites, the experts, the academics. The Dr. Spocks, the Walter Cronkites, the 'Camelot' boys. Bad, bad move. I can't really blame them under the circumstances, and after all they had gone through. But it really derailed the nation, culturally and politically. Been on a bad, downward path ever since.
But there is a negative footnote. After living through and enduring very hard times in the Depression, and then the human loss and chaos of a world war, which ate up the majority of their youthful lives, they (quite naturally) wanted some peace and quiet. So they settled in the consumerist comfort of the Fifties and vegetated a bit, putting everything on auto-pilot and handing the reins over to the elites, the experts, the academics. The Dr. Spocks, the Walter Cronkites, the 'Camelot' boys. Bad, bad move. I can't really blame them under the circumstances, and after all they had gone through. But it really derailed the nation, culturally and politically. Been on a bad, downward path ever since.
re: Anyone else shocked Sam Elliot is a Democrat?
Posted by Aeolian Vocalion on 12/15/25 at 8:16 am to KiwiHead
A fair number of old-time cowboy stars weren't exactly of western heritage. The very first cowboy star, Broncho Billy Anderson was the son of a Jewish New York couple. Charles Starrett, who became the "Durango Kid" in endless b-westerns for Columbia, was a northeastern prep-schooler. Lots of midwestern farmboys, too. But they took to the western milieu and the genre's iconography well and did it justice. Chuck Connors fit that bill.
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