Billie Rae Bates's Blog, page 42
November 2, 2018
New on the Six Feet Under blog: Frank Gorshin
We previously pointed you to the Six Feet Under post highlighting the final resting place of "Batman" star Cesar Romero. Now Brian Lombard shows you Romero's riddling counterpart in green, Frank Gorshin, whose grave marker is certainly a testimony to his celebrity impact ...
Six Feet Under: Frank Gorshin: Six Feet Under: Frank John Gorshin, Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 5, 1933. He was the son of Slovenian immigrants to the United States,...
Six Feet Under: Frank Gorshin: Six Feet Under: Frank John Gorshin, Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 5, 1933. He was the son of Slovenian immigrants to the United States,...
October 30, 2018
"Shazam!" star Jackson Bostwick talks about those sweet moral segments
Friend and fellow author Brian Lombard (of the Six Feet Under blog) dropped in on Jackson Bostwick of TV's classic "Shazam!" at an East Coast appearance this past weekend. Brian had a particular question to ask the star of the '70s Saturday-morning live-action show. This fan had always suspected that the moral segments shown at the end of the episodes (don't talk to strangers, do your homework, ya know ...) were all shot in one day. Bostwick confirmed that they were, and at Franklin Canyon Park, a site used for the original "Star Trek" series, as well as "The Brady Bunch." (Read more about it in this January 2017 post by Brian.) Bostwick also said the moral segments were his idea. So fun!
Photo courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.
"Shazam!" star Bostwick talks about those sweet moral segments
Friend and fellow author Brian Lombard (of the Six Feet Under blog) dropped in on Jackson Bostwick of TV's classic "Shazam!" at an East Coast appearance this past weekend. Brian had a particular question to ask the star of the '70s Saturday-morning live-action show. This fan had always suspected that the moral segments shown at the end of the episodes (don't talk to strangers, do your homework, ya know ...) were all shot in one day. Bostwick confirmed that they were, and at a lot used for the original "Star Trek" series. Bostwick also said the moral segments were his idea. So fun!
Photo courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.
October 26, 2018
From the Six Feet Under blog: Cesar Romero
Just have a gander at this unique grave for the "Latin from Manhattan" and that arch nemesis of Batman on the 1960s TV series ...
Six Feet Under: Cesar Romero: Six Feet Under: Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. was born on February 15, 1907. Born in New York City, he'd later earn the nickname "The Latin from Manhatt...
Six Feet Under: Cesar Romero: Six Feet Under: Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. was born on February 15, 1907. Born in New York City, he'd later earn the nickname "The Latin from Manhatt...
October 24, 2018
What's this? Another great vintage "Dallas" game????
Spotted at a comic shop in metro Detroit over the weekend ... this yummy classic game celebrating the beloved primetime soap "Dallas." It opens up like a record album to reveal a "board" of sorts ...
Above is the back cover. "The track is fast and the stakes are high." Yup, that sounds like J.R. Ewing's wheelin' and dealin' antics on "Dallas." The manufacturer of this one is Yaquinto Publications. The playing pieces are diecut, and it also comes with play money, playing cards and stock certificates. Fun!!!
Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTVCopying with credit is OK; a link would be grand
Above is the back cover. "The track is fast and the stakes are high." Yup, that sounds like J.R. Ewing's wheelin' and dealin' antics on "Dallas." The manufacturer of this one is Yaquinto Publications. The playing pieces are diecut, and it also comes with play money, playing cards and stock certificates. Fun!!!
Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTVCopying with credit is OK; a link would be grand
October 22, 2018
Terrific non-TV Toys: "Wizard of Oz" Megos Part 3, The Boys!
Follow the yellow brick road ... Follow the yellow brick road ... And indeed they did! Together with Dorothy and Toto these three fine gentlemen (!?) traversed that narrow way to get to the Emerald City of Oz and the great and fearsome Wizard of Oz, who was rumored to be able to grant any wish! They wanted brains, a heart, and courage, and they ended up getting it all, one way or another.
Part 3 of our four-part series on Terrific non-TV Toys shows you the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and Cowardly Lion figures from Mego's 1970s "Wizard of Oz" collection. Last time, we saw the two witches, and before that it was Dorothy and Toto, so it's only fitting that this time we focus on the three boys who accompanied Dorothy on that journey.
For our final part, you'll of course see the Wizard himself, along with the Emerald City playset!
Part 3 of our four-part series on Terrific non-TV Toys shows you the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and Cowardly Lion figures from Mego's 1970s "Wizard of Oz" collection. Last time, we saw the two witches, and before that it was Dorothy and Toto, so it's only fitting that this time we focus on the three boys who accompanied Dorothy on that journey.
For our final part, you'll of course see the Wizard himself, along with the Emerald City playset!
October 9, 2018
Terrific TV Toys: Harley Quinn figure by Hasbro, 1998
Harley Quinn has been a force to be reckoned with in the geek world. Since her very first appearance in "Batman: The Animated Series" in 1992, like the very character herself she has nagged at us and poked and prodded and hit us over the head with her hammer until we paid attention to her, and now, boooyyyy do we pay attention. This author has said it before -- she's the most cosplayed female character I see at comic cons, right up there with Slave Leia (that's not a joke), and often surpassing her in popularity. There are a zillion costume variations for Harley, anyway, so it's lots more fun for a female cosplayer to experiment with.
This time on Terrific TV Toys, we look at a Harley Quinn doll / action figure by Hasbro from 1998, part of a larger set commemorating "B:TAS" and the show it evolved into, "The New Batman Adventures." There were also figures for Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Joker, along with Supergirl from "Superman: The Animated Series" (and probably a Superman, too, though we didn't research that too much). You'll probably see the Batgirl, Nightwing and Supergirl figures of the set on future episodes of T3, but for now, let's go to crazyland with the former Dr. Harleen Quinnzel ...
This time on Terrific TV Toys, we look at a Harley Quinn doll / action figure by Hasbro from 1998, part of a larger set commemorating "B:TAS" and the show it evolved into, "The New Batman Adventures." There were also figures for Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Joker, along with Supergirl from "Superman: The Animated Series" (and probably a Superman, too, though we didn't research that too much). You'll probably see the Batgirl, Nightwing and Supergirl figures of the set on future episodes of T3, but for now, let's go to crazyland with the former Dr. Harleen Quinnzel ...
September 21, 2018
Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con '18: Ricou Browning
As a follow-up to our weekend post from another wonderful Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con in Hunt Valley, Maryland, we present this chat with actor / writer / producer Ricou Browning. Mr. Browning is known as the "Creature from the Black Lagoon" in the famed movie series, and as such is actually the only surviving Universal movie monster. He was kind enough to take the time to tell us how the "Black Lagoon" gig came about for him all those years ago, as well as how he became involved in the "Flipper" movies / TV series.
Also included in this video is a quick glimpse of some great stars of '80s TV appearing at the show: Diahann Carroll of "Dynasty," Morgan Fairchild of "Dallas" and so much more, Robert Wagner of "Hart to Hart," whom we totally didn't realize has a modern gig on "NCIS" ...
Also included in this video is a quick glimpse of some great stars of '80s TV appearing at the show: Diahann Carroll of "Dynasty," Morgan Fairchild of "Dallas" and so much more, Robert Wagner of "Hart to Hart," whom we totally didn't realize has a modern gig on "NCIS" ...
September 18, 2018
Terrific non-TV Toys: Darci doll by Kenner
Whether is was the ‘90s print ad of Jenny McCarthy on the toilet or Deborah Harry on the ‘70s Blondie “Parallel Lines” album cover, you cannot argue the popularity of Candie’s shoes in modern fashion culture. This author would assert that the doll featured in the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys is wearing those iconic Candie’s slides. Essentially.
You can judge for yourself as we examine Darci, Kenner’s 1979 answer to the Barbie doll. Just a smidgen bigger and oh-so stylish, Darci attempted to give the Mattel bombshell a run for her money, but alas and alack did not last long on store shelves. She lives on in our hearts, however. And in our storage bins ...
Special shout-out to YouTuber BlytheWorld1972, who has a video of this blond Darci in the box, front and back:
And for good measure, here's an old TV commercial for Darci:
You can judge for yourself as we examine Darci, Kenner’s 1979 answer to the Barbie doll. Just a smidgen bigger and oh-so stylish, Darci attempted to give the Mattel bombshell a run for her money, but alas and alack did not last long on store shelves. She lives on in our hearts, however. And in our storage bins ...
Special shout-out to YouTuber BlytheWorld1972, who has a video of this blond Darci in the box, front and back:
And for good measure, here's an old TV commercial for Darci:
September 15, 2018
Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con delivers up another great time
Robert Wagner, Diahann Carroll, Morgan Fairchild, Ed Begley Jr. ... lots of stars of great classic TV — and fantastic shopping, too! This author is on the bus leaving out of Hunt Valley, Maryland, and the latest installment of the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con. Again this year, the show did not disappoint. Take this fun moment getting a signed shot with Robert Wagner for buddy Brian …
The event hosted a reunion of “WKRP in Cincinnati” stars, and here's a money shot with Tim Reid, Jan Smithers and Howard Hesseman.
We dropped in on Jan Smithers and Kristy McNichols to get some photos signed, too.
Lots of other folks were there greeting fans, as well. Look for our interview with Ricou Browning, the "Creature of the Black Lagoon," this week on the BRBTV YouTube channel.
Love the TV-related goodies at the vendor booths. From "I Dream of Jeannie" to "Happy Days" to "Scooby-Doo" and more, there were just all kinds of yummy items …
Wagner photos by Brian LombardOther photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTVCopying with credit is ok; a link would be grand
The event hosted a reunion of “WKRP in Cincinnati” stars, and here's a money shot with Tim Reid, Jan Smithers and Howard Hesseman.
We dropped in on Jan Smithers and Kristy McNichols to get some photos signed, too.
Lots of other folks were there greeting fans, as well. Look for our interview with Ricou Browning, the "Creature of the Black Lagoon," this week on the BRBTV YouTube channel.
Love the TV-related goodies at the vendor booths. From "I Dream of Jeannie" to "Happy Days" to "Scooby-Doo" and more, there were just all kinds of yummy items …
Wagner photos by Brian LombardOther photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTVCopying with credit is ok; a link would be grand
