Retro Fan #31 March 2024 (magazine review).
I read Herbie J. Pilato’s book about the TV series ‘Bewitched’ years ago. Here, in the latest ‘Retro Fan’, he goes over how he first met and interviewed Elizabeth Montgomery and then her history. It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 years since ‘Bewitched’ began, let alone nearly half that time since she died. I suspect, like me, you’re going to see what films she was in before and since and then annoyed, so few are out there and sometimes expensive, but dig deep and you can probably get them cheaply. Pilato describes Montgomery as engulfing other parts she took, and I think you’ll want to check that out.
‘Howdy Doody’ (1947-1960) is an American phenomenon. In the UK, we never heard of it, but we did have our ventriloquist dolls on the radio in the shape of Archie Andrews. It was only when it was translated to TV that people realized his voice—Peter Bough—couldn’t throw his voice. Reading writer Mark Voger’s article shows Howdy Doody didn’t have that problem, despite being part of a human ensemble.
Writer Scott Shaw! goes over the history of Ross Bagdasarian (1919-1972), showing he did more before creating Alvin the Chipmunk, building up from a lyricist for comedy songs, voice speeding up, and needing a vehicle to present it with. Interestingly, ‘The Alvin Show’ only lasted 13 episodes because of bad TV placement, but the various records kept it going. Shaw! says it was shown in the UK, but I can’t recall it, although the odd novelty record did get some radio time.
Editor/writer Michael Eury has a look at hula-hoops, which gained popularity from being made of cane to plastic in America. We had them over here in the UK, but it was really a one-week wonder. We found some in the school gym storage, played with them a few times, and then put them back.
Writer Scott Saavedra looks at Kenner’s Girder and Panel Building Sets, which definitely didn’t come to the UK. We had things like Lego instead. Looking at the sets here, the orientation is purely American, with skyscrapers and buildings more familiar there.
Writer Kellie B. Gormly does an annual visit to the New Jersey woods where ‘Friday the 13th’ was filmed, which the local population of Columbia has slowly embraced.
A couple years back, UK digital Channel 82 showed the ‘Gunn’ movie, starring Craig Stevens, and my first real chance to see ‘Peter Gunn’, although I’ve been pausing getting the DVD boxset, probably too long now, but now I’m in the process of getting the first two seasons. Look, and ye might find. Everyone knows the ‘Peter Gunn’ music once you hear it, though. Composed by Henry Mancini, although Duane Eddy’s version is perhaps better known. Writer Will Murray recounts the original series (1958-1961) as created by Blake Edwards as he straddled film and TV early in his career. If it was shown in the UK, I was probably too young to see it at the time. Looking here, I think 22 minutes to show a private detective story was pushing it a little. However, having watched the TV series ‘Johnny Staccato’ (1959-1961) starring John Cassavetes from the same period a few years ago is making me rethink that. If you are looking for the original Craig Stevens-starring vehicle, it’s a mish-mash of episodes out there, so hopefully someone will consider another re-release and get it done properly sometime. Peter Gunn also has the distinction of wearing a proper suit and a host of contacts sorting out other people’s problems for a price, the odd freebie, and the template for many private detectives afterwards.
Writer Andy Mangels is still on American Saturday morning TV, this time looking at two series shown on NBC made by DBA Productions. The first, ‘Run, Joe, Run’ (1974-76) is basically a German shepherd dog doing a ‘Fugitive’ plot. The second, ‘Big John, Little John’ (1976-1977) had a science teacher who, having sampled water from the fountain of youth, unexpectedly switched from adult to child, much to the chagrin of his wife. Neither show appeared in the UK, so it was all a learning curve for me.
Finally, writer Anthony Taylor looks over the 1979 film ‘Time After Time’. Its producer, Warner Bros., didn’t want to like it, and director Nicholas Meyer expected its popularity to grow by word of mouth more than publicity. Oddly, it’s an SF film I haven’t seen, but I will keep an eye out now should it pop up on TV. I mean, actors Malcolm McDowell and David Warner played against type with their roles, so perhaps I’ve been underestimating it.
Although I’ve drawn comparisons to the UK in some of the comments above, it’s mostly about whether it reached my country and whether we have anything like it or not. As such, it gives a perspective on what I know about a subject versus learning something I’m not familiar with. That is what nostalgia is all about, after all. ‘Retro-Fan’ will feed your nostalgia need or give an education on the subject, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.
GF Willmetts
February 2024
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page magazine. Price: $10.95. (US). ISSN: 2576-7224. Direct from them, you can get it for $ (US))
check out website: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_152&products_id=1772
