One day only (that’s 11/28 until the morning of 11/29), get 30% off my just-released book, The Gantlet Brothers Greatest Hits. Normally, you’re looking at $11.95 (still a bargain in my completely biased estimation), but if you follow this link ( https://www.createspace.com/3621701 ) and use the discount code 5YRZ6A8W you get 30% off the cover price.
So what’s the book about? Here’s the back cover blurb:
“From the broken and dusty terrain of Egypt’s Qattara Depression to the grimy underbelly of New York City, erstwhile rock musicians and guns for hire, the Gantlet Brothers, use charm, blades, bullets, and fists to plow a path through amorous starlets with ill intentions, bounty hunters, a deranged serial killer and terrorists hell-bent on bringing down nuclear annihilation.
These are the Gantlet Brothers’ greatest hits collected for the first time and including two never before published stories.”
This book is just released so there are no reviews out yet. However, the inestimable Ron Fortier wrote a piece on the previous Gantlet Brother novel, The Nuclear Suitcase which you can still find at the Pulp Fiction Review Website. http://pulpfictionreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/nuclear-suitcase.html
Produced by Buzz Feitshans and Raffaella De Laurentiis
Written by John Milius and Oliver Stone
Based on the character/stories created and written by Robert E. Howard
I knew that director John Milius and his screenplay co-writer Oliver Stone got the character of Conan five minutes into the movie.During the opening credits we see Conan’s father (William Smith) forging a mighty sword. He then takes the young Conan (Jorge Sanz) to the top of a mountain.He explains how The Riddle of Steel was stolen from Crom, the god of Cimmeria and that Conan must learn The Riddle of Steel for himself because as his dad succinctly sums up: “For no one in the world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.But this-“ and he holds up the gleaming sword.“-this you can trust.”
It’s not long after this that Conan’s parents, along with all the other adults in his village are slaughtered by the servants of Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) a powerful sorcerer who is also the leader of a cult that worships the snake god Set.Conan, along with other children are taken as slaves and chained to The Wheel of Pain, a gigantic mill which they push night and day, through weather fair and foul.It’s torturous work but it has its benefits.The young Conan grows up into Arnold Schwarzenegger as pushing that damn thing has built up muscles of Herculean proportions.He’s bought by The Hyborian Age’s version of a fight promoter and wins fame as a gladiator.He’s freed by his master and after meeting up with the master thief and archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez) takes up a career as a thief himself.
It’s during their attempt to infiltrate The Tower of The Serpent and steal The Eye of The Serpent that Conan meets swordswoman and thief Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) who will become the great love of his life.It’s their successful and daring theft that brings them to the attention of King Osric (Max von Sydow) who hires the trio to rescue his daughter from The Cult of Set.While Valeria and Subotai see this as a chance for a really big payday, Conan has his sights on taking the head of Thulsa Doom.
Now, you can say whatever you want about CONAN THE BARBARIAN but it won’t faze me because if nothing else, John Milius and Oliver Stone respected Robert E. Howard’s enough that they obviously not only read his stories but incorporated elements of some of those stories into the movie including what is probably the most famous scene in any Conan story; his crucifixion and his killing of a vulture pecking at his flesh with nothing but his bare teeth.
This movie, along with “The Terminator” launched Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career and it’s easy to see why.Schwarzenegger at that time looked like he was designed by Frank Frazetta and he inhabits the role as well as Sean Connery did with James Bond or Michael Keaton did with Batman.For those who claim that Schwarzenegger can’t act, I point out a terrific scene where Conan, Valeria and Subotai plan their assault on Doom’s stronghold.While Bergman and Lopez have all the dialog, Schwarzenegger says far more than they do in the way he’s sharpening his sword.And even though Schwarzenegger gets a lot of mocking for his dialog and accent in this movie, I like it.I mean, the guy does sound like a barbarian from pre-history. In fact, I like it that 90% of the characters have accents in this movie as they do sound as if they come from another age rather than modern day Californians playing dress up.
The supporting cast is outstanding.James Earl Jones infuses Thulsa Doom with enormous presence and a true sense of not being entirely human.His henchmen, played by Sven-Ole Thorson and Ben Davison are suitably impressive. Bergman and Lopez back up Schwarzenegger well and create their own characters in some really wonderful intimate moments such as the one where Subotai tells the wizard Akiro (Mako) that since Conan, as a Cimmerian will not cry to show grief, Subotai must do it for him.Mako contributes comedy relief without being buffoonish or degrading his own character.But that’s to be expected because Mako is epic in everything he does.
And speaking of epic, the musical score by Basil Poledouris has become respected as one of the finest musical scores ever and rightly so.A large part of the enjoyment of watching CONAN THE BARBARIAN comes from the sheer power of the score.Poledouris also has done the scores for “Quigley Down Under” and “Lonesome Dove” that are easily as epic as the one for this movie.
So should you see CONAN THE BARBARIAN? No doubt you already have.It’s one of those movies that everybody and their mother has seen, it seems.Even chicks who normally shun this type of movie like it was the Ebola virus have seen CONAN THE BARBARIAN.It’s violent, it’s raw, it’s sexy, and it’s fun. There’s an excellent reason why CONAN THE BARBARIAN is rightly regarded as a classic.It truly is inspired by the spirit of Robert E. Howard in a way that the recent remake never even comes close to.If you’ve seen it, what the hell…watch it again.And if you haven’t, I envy you discovering it for the first time.Enjoy.
There has been a tremendous amount of talk in our world about reboots, successful or not, and I just got back from experiencing the year’s single best relaunch of a tired property. Deb, Kate, her guy Mike, and I saw The Muppets and pretty much smiled all the way through, guffawing with pleasantly regularity and wiping away a tear every now and then.
Ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention, because this is how it’s done.
The Treasure Chest overflows at Christmastime! It’s busting at the seams with DVDs! Radio Archives has put all of our DVDs in the chest and priced at a 50% discount! Just in time for the Holidays!
Dig deep into our Treasure Chest Today! Many of these great DVDs will sell out quickly at this tremendous discount! When they’re gone, they’re gone! Thrill to vintage movies starring classic Hollywood stars! Enjoy classic Television Programs! Give the gift of memories of yesteryear this Holiday Season!
We have two very special items in the Treasure Chest waiting for you!
‘A Classic Christmas’ with Ed Sullivan on DVD for only 99 cents and the Famous Guest Stars two hour CD set for only Ten Cents. There’s enough of these two products for everyone to enjoy them this Holiday Season.
Zither music. A gun shot. And a haunting baritone voice. “That was the shot that killed Harry Lime. He died in a sewer beneath Vienna, as those of you know who saw the movie “The Third Man”. Yes, that was the end of Harry Lime – but it was not the beginning. Harry Lime had many lives – and I can recount all of them. How do I know? Very simple: because my name is Harry Lime.” This opening, considered one of the classic introductions of old time radio, along with the exquisite talent of Orson Welles makes The Lives of Harry Lime one of the richest, most intriguing programs ever produced in Radio’s heyday.
Orson Welles played Harry Lime in the 1949 film The Third Man and in The Lives of Harry Lime. Welles had a unique and distinctive talent for radio; he had learned a great deal about dramatic production during his time as “The Shadow” in the 1930s and while creating and starring in “The Mercury Theatre on the Air” and “The Campbell Playhouse” and he brought many of radio’s production techniques to his films.
The character of Harry Lime is a somewhat difficult one to describe. Lime is a rogue, a scoundrel, and an opportunist – an amoral character whose main interest in life is making money and living well, no matter what underhanded activity is required. A criminal? Yes. A thief? Most certainly. And, of course, a man who is not to be trusted under any circumstances. But, for all of this, Harry Lime is a fascinating character that listeners have always found undeniably attractive – an anti-hero whose life, in some ways, bears a close resemblance to that of Welles himself, who was not above a bit of chicanery or performing a disappearing act to avoid responsibility. Harry is, above all, a survivor – and, to his credit, he has a habit of taking advantage of those who would readily be taking advantage of him if they had the chance.
In this final volume from Radio Archives, all of the nuances in the programs can be heard in sparkling high fidelity sound – an important consideration for a program chock full of plot details, overlapping conversations, and multi-layered sound patterns. The Lives of Harry Lime, Volume 4 is the perfect closing chapter for a classic program that deserves exactly what it gave listeners-the best of everything. The five hour collection is $14.98 for the Audio CD version and $9.98 for the Digital Download version!
Christmas is a time of many things. A time of remembering. A joyous celebration for children. And most definitely a time of tradition. Radio Archives brings you a timeless tale that is fondly remembered, speaks to children of all ages, and is a part of Christmas tradition in families all over the world. Looking for a Christmas adventure to enjoy with your family? Then look no further than Radio Archives’ The Complete Cinnamon Bear.
A 26 episode adventure that originally played six nights a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, The Cinnamon Bear relates the adventures of Judy and Jimmy, The Barton Twins, in Maybeland, a world they discover while hunting for decorations in their attic. On a hunt for the silver star to top their tree, the twins meet Paddy O’Cinnamon, the ‘Cinnamon Bear’. With shoe-button eyes and a growl that would make any bear envious, Paddy guides Judy and Jimmy through the fantastical realm of Maybeland in pursuit of their silver star. Along the way they confront the Crazy Quilt Dragon who has stolen the star as well as characters like Fe Fo The Giant, Captain Tin Top, Mr. Presto, and of course Santa Claus himself.
The Cinnamon Bear appeals to listeners of all ages. For some it will spark nostalgia of a simpler time, for others it carries hints of tales and stories they read as children, and for all, The Cinnamon Bear is an excellent example of what can be done with a good story in an audio format. Some of the best voices of the period participated in this program and that, combined with the wonderful musical score and the sparkling audio quality to which its been restored makes The Cinnamon Bear a must have. It’s available now for $20.98 on Audio CDs and $13.98 as a digital download.
And if you’re already a Cinnamon Bear fan and looking for great serials to add to your Christmastime collection, then Radio Archives has two other fantastic shows to offer! Jump Jump and the Ice Queen follows the adventures of an orphan named Tim determined to find Santa and make sure that he visits the orphanage. Lost in the woods, Tim encounters a three inch tall elf named Jump Jump, very appropriate indeed. The two set out on a quest to find Santa and save Christmas! Also available is Jonathan Thomas and His Christmas on the Moon. Elves on a moonbeam enter six year old Jonathan’s room, causing his teddy bear Guz to give chase. Jonathan follows right up the moonbeam after them and straight into a mission to save Santa Claus, held captive in the land of Squeebobble. Teaming up with the Man in the Moon and others, Jonathan races through one wild land after another trying to rescue Santa and save Christmas! Each collection is $17.98 on Audio CDs and $11.98 as a digital download.
Christmas is also of course a time of giving! Here’s a handful of Audio gems that would make great presents for your favorite audio fan!
Thrill to ten fantastic hours of the hard boiled adventures of ‘America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator,” in Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Volume 1 for $29.98 on Audio CDs and $19.98 for digital download!
Enjoy quality family entertainment and a slice of small town life with Dr. Christian only $17.98 on Audio CDs and $11.98 for digital download!
Cheer for a classic Comic strip character as he fights his way to success in and out of the boxing ring! Pick up Joe Palooka on CD for $14.98 or as a digital download for $9.98!
Ride into Yesteryear with one of the West’s best known heroes-It’s O’Henry’s frontier Robin Hood in The Cisco Kid, Volume 1! On CD for $29.98 and Digital download for $19.98!
Blast off this Holiday Season with classic Sci Fi Camp! Listen to great galactic adventures on The Planet Man, Volume 1, on CD for $29.98 and Digital download for $19.98!
Pack all these great Audio classics and more onto your sleigh this Christmas from Radio Archives!
Will Murray’s monumental Doc Savage adventure The Jade Ogre is now available in a 12-hour audiobook from RadioArchives.com.
Based on an outline by Lester Dent, The Jade Ogre tells the story of one of Doc Savage’s most exciting and exotic adventures. Accompanied by his five aides, his cousin Pat Savage, and a cast of unique characters, Doc races to unlock the secret of the Jade Ogre, a fantastic Oriental villain who unleashes death in the form of disembodied flying arms, capable of disintegrating its victims in a flash of fire. But the lethal flying arms are merely the cover for a more deadly menace – the mysterious Jade Fever, which strikes down its victims with a deadly virus that turns its victims green as jade.
“In this tale of mistaken identity, Oriental mysticism, and high adventure, Doc faces one of his most formidable and mysterious foes,” says Producer/Director Roger Rittner. “More than 11 hours in length, this tale never flags in excitement, mystery, and thrills.”
As Will Murray says in his liner notes, “The Jade Ogre is my greatest pulp epic – a wild quest into the darkest heart of Asia to track a malevolent monster.”
Narrated by Michael McConnohie – whose previous Doc Savage audiobook, Python Isle, was an instant hit with listeners – Michael essays every role in the story with unerring vocal impressions that give life to Murray’s distinctive characters.
In addition to the 36-chapter story, the 12-CD set includes two bonus audio features: a continuation of Will Murray’s discussion of the creation of Doc Savage, and his memory of creating The Jade Ogre from Lester Dent’s notes, plus how Pat Savage has contributed to the Doc Savage canon.
Listeners are enthusiastic about Prince of the Red Looters, the first audiobook from RadioArchives.com featuring the pulp hero, The Spider.
Bobb Lynes writes:
“Listening to The Spider on audio is as close as you can get to the movie serial version … and you don’t have to use your eyes! Your production is as good as the serials, but with pulp ‘blood n’ guts’ thrown in.”
Eric Troup writes:
“The narration is perfect for the over-the-top style of The Spider. Nick Santa Maria sweeps you along in an adrenaline-filled, nonstop wave of action and suspense that simply does not let up until the end of the book. Robin Riker’s performance complements the narrative well.
“The sound effects made the production even more immersive, making me feel like I was watching a narrated movie. And the music! It put the final touch on my ‘movie-going’ experience. It sounded for all the world as if the sound were bouncing off the back wall of a theater. By the third chapter, I was popping popcorn and grabbing myself a soda, with my earbuds jammed into my ears all the while.
“This story has it all – sword fights, escapes, insurmountable odds, nail-biting suspense, unexpected twists, a superb villain, and so much more. This is an audiobook – as well as a great Spider story – that you simply can’t afford to miss!”
Prince of the Red Looters is available in an 6-CD deluxe set at just $19.98, or as a digital download at just $14.98.
Fans are flocking to RadioArchives.com to tune into to the audio tales of Doc Savage!
The full-cast NPR series The Adventures of Doc Savage continues to garner accolades from Doc fans as well as those just discovering the greatest adventure hero of the 1930s. With a full cast of voice actors, and special scripting by Roger Rittner and Will Murray, The Adventures of Doc Savage is non-stop action in 13 exciting installments.
In Python Isle, Doc Savage and his iron comrades race to untangle a weird puzzle so deep that the only clues can be found in the Bible! Written by Will Murray and produced and directed by Roger Rittner, Python Isle features dramatic narration by Michael McConnohie, cover art by Joe DeVito, and more!
A super-criminal emerges in White Eyes, the second Doc Savage audiobook from RadioArchives.com! From his skyscraper headquarters high above the streets of New York City to the sugarcane fields of Cuba, Doc Savage races to crush gangland’s latest uncrowned king! White Eyes features dramatic narration by Richard Epcar, cover art by Joe DeVito, plus fantastic extras!
Need a unique gift for the Adventure fan in your life? Looking for that surprise for that special someone who loves tales of Heroes and Villains? Want to put a bow on the best Mystery, Horror, Sci Fi Pulp available? Then you’re in the right place. The Pulp Book Store is your Christmas Connection for fantastic Classic and New Pulp books and other products!
Girasol Collectables Inc. is one of the world’s largest reprinters of classic 1920s through 1940s pulp fiction. There are more than 300 different issues available in their Pulp Replica line, plus their quarterly Spider Pulp Doubles trade paperbacks, in addition to several thousand pages of classic material in various hardcover collections available under their imprint. The primary goal is to produce high quality facsimile page reproductions, scanned directly from the original pages, with no editing or reset text. The Pulp Replica series is assembled pulp-style, on off-white paper, offering not only a complete reprint of the full magazine, but a sense of the original format as well. While other reprints often call themselves replicas, the Girasol line is the only one assembled pulp-style, the others are trade paperback format. The wraparound covers and spine are carefully retouched to be as close to ‘new’ as possible. The only thing missing is the flaking paper and the smell! They are also one of the few pulp reprint publishers who adhere rigidly to their self-imposed schedules, providing regular output consistently.
Girasol began as an offshoot of the pulp collection of brothers Leigh and Neil Mechem. Pulp collectors since the late 1970s, the Mechems decided to expand into buying and selling original pulps on a wider basis in the late 1990s, incorporating the company in 2003. The name is taken from one of their favorite characters, the Shadow, who wears a ring with a Girasol gem; the stone is a type of fire-opal, which changes hue in different lights, and is an identifying feature of the character. The Replica line began in the late 1990s with occasional offerings, which soon went to a twice-a-month schedule, then to three-a-month, which it continues today. Leigh and Neil are involved in all aspects of producing the Replicas, which involve considerable digital work, as well as hand-assembly of the final product. The original concept, which is still their mandate, is to offer high quality facsimile versions of classic issues that are otherwise unaffordable or unobtainable to many collectors, and to continue the spirit of the classic magazines into current times.
One of the great things about the vintage material is the understanding writers and artists had of the nature of the heroic; while there are certainly followers of flawed and anti- heroes, the pulps offer excitement and adventure with inspiring, clear-cut characters who follow their chosen path admirably. Pulp cover art also continues to be impactful and dynamic, in spite of the changes in styles and mediums over the years. Current pop culture devotees are appreciating not only the place the original magazines hold historically, but also their influence on comic books and movies. With their emphasis on short format, fast-paced, exciting reading, the pulps are ideal for readers looking for immediate thrills.
Among the Mechem brothers’ personal favorites is the Spider, and they have been particularly excited to tackle bringing this great hero to new audiences through the Pulp Replica line, as well as the Spider Doubles trade paperbacks series. The Replicas offer the originals in chronological order, from #1 on up, with 12 new issues each year. January 2012 will see the start of 1940, with issue #76. The Mechems are looking forward to having the complete run of 118 original issues available in Replica form in a few short years’ time. No other major pulp character has ever been completely reprinted in a facsimile edition. The brothers are also especially pleased to have made available the early years of Weird Tales magazine, which was a major influence on horror and weird fantasy as it is today; the 1923, 1924 and 1925 issues are all but impossible to obtain in original form.
Girasol Collectables has been concentrating in recent years mostly on maintaining top quality reprints for fans of not only the original pulp material, but the format and style of the physical magazines themselves. Leigh and Neil hope that the Replicas will not only provide existing collectors and enthusiasts with items for their collections, but will also introduce newcomers to a better understanding of these vintage classics via a convenient but faithful reprint medium.
Sanctum Press unleashes two new Reprint Volumes of Pulp’s Greatest Heroes into the Pulp Book Store!
DOC SAVAGE Volume 53!
The Man of Bronze battles the supernatural in classic pulp thrillers by Lester Dent writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, Doc Savage follows his stolen dirigible to a magic island and discovers the lost city of Ost, in an expanded novel with never-before-published text from Lester Dent’s original manuscript. Then, Renny Renwick awakens in the body of a fugitive gangster after encountering a strange impish man. What is the bizarre connection between the One-Eyed Mystic, a stolen military secret and a Nazi plot? This classic pulp reprint features the original color pulp covers by Robert G. Harris and Modest Stein, Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of eight Doc Savage novels.
THE SHADOW Volume 55!
The Shadow’s true identity takes center stage in two classic pulp novels that inspired the classic 1940 Shadow movie serial. First, explorer Kent Allard is invited to join The Green Hoods, a hooded secret society whose true purpose is an enigma. Then, airplanes carrying wealthy passengers disappear over the Rockies, setting The Shadow on the trail of the criminal mastermind called Silver Skull. PLUS “Prelude to Terror,” a 1939 radio classic. This instant collector’s item showcases both classic pulp covers by George Rozen, the original interior illustrations by Edd Cartier and commentary by popular-culture historians Ed Hulse and Will Murray.
The Red Spider is an authentic lost Doc Savage novel that had not been printed in any magazine. It was rediscovered by Will Murray in the late 1970s among Lester Dent’s papers. The original title was “In Hell, Madonna” which was a quote from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Scene Five: “I think his soul is in Hell, madonna.”
It is 1949, and the world is buzzing with this question: “Do the Russians have the atomic bomb?” Doc Savage is sent on a secret mission to the heart of the Soviet Union to discover the answer. He is flown in by a supersonic aircraft and does a high altitude parachute jump into the heart of Mother Russia. Monk Mayfair and Ham Brooks are already there under deep cover. The plan is to infiltrate the heart of the Kremlin and discover the truth.
Doc and his aides must make their way through hostile territory where the secret police hold the populace in thrall and everyone is considered a spy until proven innocent. The Bronze man battles with both his wits and fists to carry out his mission.
During this adventure he meets a host of intriguing characters: Zardnov, the Russian spymaster, Seryi Mitroff, a beautiful female Russian agent whom Doc Savage starts to fall for, the mysterious Frunzoff who holds all of Russia’s secrets and Josef Stalin, the mad dictator of the Soviet Union whom Doc Savage confronts face to face. This is a cold war spy novel that presaged the work of Ian Fleming, John le Carre, and Len Deighton. Don’t miss it! Available now for $12.95 from Radio Archives!
Comments From Our Customers!
Fred Bacon:
Great quality and great programs. At 76 I have many fine memories of what is called Old Time Radio. I heard my dad tell my mom, years ago…”I know he has that radio on under his blankets”
Jim Gaudet:
Now that you are carrying the Altus books, among others, I plan to make a series of very large orders. Let me offer my congratulations on your audio productions! They are terrific. Also, congratulations on your expanded line of pulp reprints! I was requesting this back at the start of this year, and apparently I am not the only one doing so. I have been buying Shadow, Doc Savage, and Spider reprints from you for about a year now, and look forward to enjoying your expanded selection. Many thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email to Service@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!
The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you at RadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items at RadioArchives.com.
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You have to appreciate the efforts from MGM and Warner Bros., trolling through their film libraries and resurrecting titles that only a handful of videophiles might be interested in owning. After transferring these to disc, they are made available as manufactured to order, largely available only through websites. Warner has over 1000 such videos available in every genre imaginable while MGM is catching up quickly. Among the recent releases is one curiosity worth noting for ComicMix readers.
While we are all familiar with Conde Naste’s The Shadow, few beyond Anthony Tollin may recall that there were three really low budget features produced in 1946 from Monogram, all starring Kane Richmond. The second of the trio, Behind the Mask, is now out and if you’re a big fan of the character, you might want to check this one out.
The stories are watered down crime adventures; missing the spark Walter Gibson (writing as Maxwell Grant) brought to the pulp magazine that debuted in 1931 and was still coming out twice-a-month but running out of steam by this point. Visually, the gun-toting vigilante wears a full black face mask rather than the red scarf covering the lower half of his face. The slouch hat and cloak are present along with familiar figures for the magazines and popular radio series.
The fairly pedestrian story, from Arthur Hoerl (Reefer Madness) and George Kallahan involves the murder of Daily Bulletin reporter Jeff Mann with people thinking it’s the Shadow when it’s actually an impostor, the Silhouette. While this is happening, Lamont Cranston is about to marry Margo Lane (Barbara Reed), something that was never going to happen. Oddly, despite being his confidante and agent for countless missions, she now wants him to hang up his .45s simply because they are to be married, as if his cause has become superfluous. Others from the mythos include Shrevvy (George Chandler), the faithful chauffeur.
The mystery is predictable but we take our time getting to the obvious, with comedic asides that do nothing to make the characters appealing or counterpoint the story. Richmond handles the comedic elements far better than he does portraying the cold, cruel crime fighter. The film was handled with a by-the-numbers approach by director Phil Karlson, who apparently never thought to make the low budget work in his favor with camera angles and lighting to create some sense of mood, the same mood so easily created on radio. Trust me, the earlier movie serials were better. As for the other two Monogram films, The Shadow Returns and The Missing Lady, last time I looked, both were available for instant streaming on Netflix.
One of the joys of the current Blu-ray era is that studios have been delving into their libraries and restoring gems, releasing them with varying degrees of love and care. We’ve recently seen, for example, the arrival of musical greats West Side Story and My Fair Lady. But studios have also been working to bring back the really good films that have been somewhat forgotten. They may not get the deluxe restoration or bonus features, but it’s nice to have clean prints and high definition editions so we can still enjoy them at home. I’m reminded of all this because out now is the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. This film, starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw, is based on a novel and was one of my favorite films of the 1970s. I was interested to see the Tony Scott remake a few years back but longed for the original which I finally tracked down. I watched it and felt incredibly nostalgic.
The film is far from perfect, but is an excellent time capsule of New York City in the mid-1970s, as crime was rampant, the city was dirty, and the public servants were rumpled and dogged. Four men with colorful pseudonyms — Mr. Green (Martin Balsam); Mr. Grey (Hector Elizondo); Mr. Brown (Earl Hindman); and Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) — took possession of the subway designated Pelham One Two Three. They make demands of cash, threatening the passengers’ lives. On the other end is the MTA’s Lt. Zach Garber (Matthau), trying to determine how they could pull off the hijacking with such precision. It had to be an inside job and the hunt is on. Amusingly, a delegation from Japan is visiting the MTA control center just as all hell breaks loose and provides some stereotypical comic relief with a killer punchline. The film is filled with a wondefrul supporting cast, from Kenneth McMillan to Jerry Stiller.
A cash-strapped New York has one hour to assemble a million dollars cash and deliver it to the subway. Some of the most knowing sequences are set at the home of the mayor (Lee Wallace, who also was Gotham City’s Mayor in Batman), surrounding by his chief aide (Tony Roberts) and his wife (Doris Roberts).
As directed by Star Trek veteran Joseph Sargent, the film is tense and atmospheric, restrained in the action but with enough humor to make it feel real.
The transfer is solid without being perfect, the original’s graininess and subtle colors are nicely preserved. 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment has included the original trailer as the sole extra.
Seeing this film in comparison with the 2009 remake is a fasciating example of how our moviemaking has changed, along with audience expectations. Now we get a lot of crashes and cursing and time devoted to bringing the characters to an approximation of three-dimensions. Still, the original remains superior for the tension it creatres and the cold, calculating Shaw matching wits with Matthau, a far more interesting matchup than Denzel Washington and John Travolta.
There are times we lose sight of Ricky Gervais’ comedic genius now that he has become a celebrity in his own right. The news that he will once again host the Golden Globe Awards brings with it nervous anticipation but the better news is that The Office Special Edition is coming out this week from Warner Home Video. The 2001 series is collected in its entirety with both Christmas specials included along with new featurettes plus the original bonus material.
Never before has there been a television series set in an office environment that felt so accurate even though there were some distinctly English touches. Coming two years after Mike Judge’s brilliant Office Space, Gervais and partner Stephen Merchant gave us the employees at Sough’s Wernham Hogg Paper Company and a mockumentary style that has been imitated by numerous shows ever since.
Gervais’ David Brent is everyone’s worst nightmare of a boss; a man who desperately wants to be liked and is willing to ignore the company’s smooth running so as not to ruffle anyone’s feathers. He’s surrounded by your basic office drudges, self-deluded ladder climbers, and the utterly clueless. With sharp writing and excellent casting, the series arrived on BBC 2 with a splash and it wasn’t long before American audiences embraced it. As happens all too often, NBC snapped it up for adaptation but in a rare feat, managed to do so successfully. With Steve Carrell and a wonderful ensemble, the show quickly exhausted the source material – a mere twelve thirty-minute episodes — and found its own voice. (more…)
History And The High Seas Collide! If you’re looking for a good pulpy audio serial, the recipe is simple. Equal parts High Seas intrigue, colorful, exciting characters, and pulse pounding tales of pirates and buccaneers. Mix these together with the skills of a man who many consider a penultimate voice actor and a production genius behind the scenes. The result is a 52 episode Australian series in 1947 that can now be heard again in fifteen minute punches of action and adventure in Afloat with Henry Morgan, Volume 2!
Afloat with Henry Morgan followed the adventures of the title character, a real life privateer for the Queen of England employed and licensed to fight the Spanish Armada. His mission, starting around 1655, quite simply was to fight Spanish fleets, scuttle and sink their crafts, and take whatever booty there might be on the ships he managed to attack as payment for his dedication to the English crown. For obvious reasons, Morgan is often portrayed as more pirate than English seaman.
The magical part, though, according to many, of this classic program was the man behind it. Well-known Australian radio personality George Edwards produced Afloat with Henry Morgan. The man behind other Australian series, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Corsican Brothers, and Son of Porthos, Edwards lent not only his production skills to Afloat, but shared his amazing vocal talents as well. Known as “The Man with a Thousand Voices,” Edwards parlayed his ability to sound like a young child, any male he wanted to, nearly any nationality necessary, and even older women into a legendary career as a radio actor. The skill to do sometimes twelve different voices in a single episode definitely fit the needs of Afloat with Henry Morgan.
This program stands out due primarily to the intense pacing of the stories themselves as well as the historical component, the high quality production values, and the talented voice acting of Edwards and the rest of the cast.
The final 24 episodes of this cliffhanger non-stop serial are presented in Afloat with Henry Morgan, Volume 2! Restored to the finest sparkling quality possible, this collection brings you 6 hours of history, mystery, hard men, courageous women, and sea battles galore! Thrill as Morgan becomes involved in the theft of an Aztec artifact, plots are hatched and betrayed, raids are planned and double crossed, and a plethora of characters, many voiced by George Edwards, all come together to take you Afloat with Henry Morgan in this second volume of this classic show brought to you by Radio Archives! Available now on Audio CDs for $17.98 and digital download for $11.98!
Ask fans of Private Eye mysteries for a list of ‘classic operators’ and you’ll get a handful of names. There will be some, depending on the fan, that society at large may not recognize, but the standards will be there. Spade. Archer. Hammer. Wolfe. Shayne. Who? The last one? Shayne. Michael Shayne. Not familiar? Then do I have a way to introduce you to one of the best examples of the popular Private Investigator mystery genre, who is also sadly largely forgotten.
Introduced in a novel in 1939, Michael Shayne was the creation of author Davis Dresser. Ask a fan, however, who wrote Michael Shayne and you’ll be told that his creator was Brett Halliday, from his first adventure to his last in the mid 1980s. Halliday began life as Dresser’s pen name when he wrote Shayne tales and became a house name when Dresser moved on, opening up the chance for a multitude of writers to put Shayne through his paces.
The Michael Shayne you’ll encounter in The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, Volume 1 is by far my favorite interpretation of him and very close to the way later authors wrote the highly likable rough-hewn character. Largely the brainchild of Director William Rousseau, this audio version of Mike’s escapades, the second time Shayne came to radio, found our hero hawking his skills in New Orleans. Described in each episode as “that reckless, red-headed Irishman,” Shayne was portrayed by Jeff Chandler. An excellent actor who would become known for his stoic heroic presence in films, Chandler lends a wild abandon, a dangerous youthful sardonic edge to the character. Chandler’s strong sucker punch of a baritone keeps the listener engaged as Shayne weaves through the dark streets of the Big Easy.
There’s a roughness to not only Chandler’s portrayal, but to the entire show itself. I’m not necessarily referring to production quality, it’s top notch, but more to the attitude, the spirit of the program. Each show opens with Shayne narrating some suspenseful moment where he’s either about to be shot, stabbed, or somehow violently dispatched from this world and then, right after terse credits, rolls into the beginning of the case. There’s little time taken to set the scene, the assumption being the listener has some concept of New Orleans as well as some idea of the type of character Shayne is from the opening. The rhythm of each episode is hard and hammering, like the rat-a-tat of a Tommy gun. If you’re looking for sophistication and character and tension building in your program, this isn’t the show for you. This is delivered just like a sap to the back of the head. Quick, sudden, and a knock out every time.
The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, Volume 1 is not only the perfect introduction to a classic PI character, but it’s also a great gateway into the pulp mystery/crime side of OTR. Few better examples exist of fast paced, plot driven programs that are both clever and in your face simultaneously. Chandler as Shayne will not only be the voice you hear in your head if you ever pick up a tale of Halliday’s. It may very well be the voice you hear any time you read a hardboiled gumshoe from now on. See what I mean by getting The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, Volume 1 from Radio Archives today, $20.98 for 7 Audio CDs containing 14 episodes or $13.98 for digital download!
The history of the thriller is populated by striking supervillains—Doctor Nikola, Professor Moriarity, Fantomas, and perhaps the most diabolical of all, Doctor Fu Manchu. A variation on these evil geniuses was the Mad Scientist. And no fictional scientist was madder than the man who called himself Doctor Death.
The creation of a newspaperman and pulp writer named Harold Ward writing under the obscure pen name of Zorro, Doctor Death was the star of his own bizarre pulp magazine back in 1935. He was equal parts Doctor Frankenstein and Albert Einstein, with a dash of Fu Manchu and a dram of wormwood. In reality, a Yale psychologist with the improbable name of Rance Mandarin, Doctor Death was a scientist who wandered over to the dark side, consorting with demons, elementals, zombies, disinterred mummies, other unclean denizens of Hell.
His supreme goal in life was to crush civilization. Apparently, Mandarin practiced a strange brand of necromancy because he believed that the Almighty had commanded him to force modern man to abandon automation, quit the factories, cease inventing, and revert to a pre-industrial state. In the depths of the great Depression of the 1930s, this may have struck the American reading public as the height of horror.
A frightened nation responded to this challenge by organizing the Secret Twelve, a band of the top U. S. civil and business leaders, whose number included the President of the United States and the nation’s top gang leader! It was quite a group. The heroic head of that organization was the remarkable Jimmy Holm, a millionaire criminologist and occultist who joined New York’s Finest as a detective. Working under Inspector John Ricks, and sometimes allied with Mandarin’s mysterious assistant, the exotic Nina Fererra, Holm battled Doctor Death from Manhattan to Egypt and into the very bowels of Hell itself.
The series is one of the rare unabashedly supernatural series the pulps ever produced. When Jimmy Holm confronts the undead minions of Doctor Death, the mummies and zombies are the real deal. The explanation for that is very simple: Harold Ward was a frequent contributor to the legendary Weird Tales magazine…and that’s why Doctor Death is a classic of its type.
RadioArchives.com is resurrecting this wild and wonderful series by presenting Doctor Death’s first fatal foray into reversing mankind’s fortunes, 12 Must Die, in a audiobook voiced by the talented Joey D’Auria. Get yours today for $14.98 for Audio CDs and $9.98 for the Digital Download!
Radio Archives is the only place to find fast paced, high octane audio adventures of Pulp’s Greatest Heroes! Fans are flocking toRadioArchives.com to tune into to Audiobook tales of Doc Savage, The Spider, and more!
For over eighty years, the name Doc Savage has meant thrills and excitement to millions of readers worldwide. Now, the Man of Bronze comes to vivid life in a series of Audiobook adventures from Radio Archives!
In “Python Isle”, Doc Savage and his iron comrades race to untangle a weird puzzle so deep that the only clues can be found in the Bible!
Written by Will Murray and produced and directed by Roger Rittner,“Python Isle” features dramatic narration by Michael McConnohie, cover art by Joe DeVito, and more!
A new supercriminal emerges in “White Eyes”, the second Doc Savage audiobook from Radio Archives! From his skyscraper headquarters high above the streets of New York City to the sugarcane fields of Cuba, Doc Savage races to crush gangland’s latest uncrowned king!
Also written by Murray and produced and directed by Rittner, “White Eyes” features dramatic narration by Richard Epcar, cover art by Joe DeVito, plus fantastic extras!
Other characters also fight their way through evil and injustice making their way to Audibooks! In Will Murray’s Pulp Classics, classic heroes like The Spider and The Black Bat lead off the charge by appearing in the first audiobooks of this new line! These and other great creations have meant thrills and excitement to millions of readers worldwide. Now, these timeless heroes are brought to vivid life in a new series of audiobook adventures from RadioArchives.com and feature the talents of some of the most well-respected readers in the audiobook industry.
Hear the greatest Pulp you’ve ever read! Get a Radio Archives Pulp Audiobook today!
Like your action classic, full of hard-boiled heroes, dames, and scientists and their mad monsters? Do you prefer new adventures and exploits of masked men and women, bad guys and gals, and weather machines, six shooters, and death rays? Or do you like both and so much more! Then welcome to The Pulp Book Store! From classic Pulp reprints to New Pulp tales by modern writers, you can find the top publishers today right here in The Pulp Book Store!
With the advent of Pulp Publishers of all varieties in the last several years, some within the Pulp field have called this current trend a ‘Pulp Renaissance’ or at the very least a ‘Resurgence.’ This is due in part to fans of Pulp who also happen to be writers, creators, designers, and much more taking hold of their interest in this often overlooked art form and producing quality work. One of the leaders in this, providing the reading public with top of the line reprints as well as professionally designed collections and comprehensive Pulp academic works, is Altus Press.
“Altus Press,” according to its owner and publisher Matt Moring, “is a small-press publisher, primarily of pulp-related material. We typically focus on material published between 1920-55, though we do publish new material written in the pulp tradition featuring classic characters; Lost Race stories from the1880s-1920s; and pulp history books.” One of the most notable aspects of Altus Press’ current lineup is that the company is the Publisher of The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage as written by Author Will Murray. This line of new Doc Savage novels is the only new work licensed and sanctioned by the owners of the character, meaning Altus is currently the sole publisher of new Doc Savage material.
Five years ago, Moring took both his longtime love of Pulps and improvements in modern technology and, putting them together, began Altus. Circa 2005, print on demand technology–as well as several solid distribution methods–became available in an affordable way,” explained Moring. “As a designer who had worked in publishing for several years, I jumped at the opportunity to present forgotten material back into print. There’s a wealth of material out there that deserves to be presented in a fresh, polished, modern way.”
“I know, Matt continued, “how difficult it is for interested readers to track much of this material down. Our mission is to present complete series, uncut and in as an affordable package as possible. We’ve over 100 titles either available or nearly complete, with many more on the way.”
Moring also feels that Altus answers the needs of a growing fan base for Pulp, readers finding something in these classic stories that appeal to modern sensibilities. Moring stated, ” My feeling is there is so much of current popular culture that is based upon the foundations of the pulps: the characters, plots, pacing, etc. And due to advances in cheap reading (print on demand publishing and the popularity of tablets), there seems to be an upswing in interest in these old stories. Just because they’re decades old doesn’t mean they’re not solidly-written, entertaining tales.”
Most of all, Matt Moring takes his work and the overall mission of Altus Press very seriously, to produce the best quality possible. “There are some nice-looking pulp reprints out there, but we really strive to make the best product for your buck. This may mean getting new introductions written, historical notes, restoring cut passages from the copy, restoring the artwork, and the like. And we’re constantly revisiting our older titles: polishing up things as typos become apparent, tightening book layouts, etc. We’re appreciative of our customers and we put our best effort into each title.”
Even though he is Publisher at Altus, Matt is also, probably first and foremost a fan. And like most fans who end up in the business producing what they love, he has his favorites from the Altus catalogue. “In the pulp history category, I’d say The Phantom Detective Companion, as the overall package turned out to be such a solid overview of the character. For new material, I’d say Doc Savage: The Desert Demons turned out very well. As for classic pulp material–and this is a tough one–I’d say When the Death-Bat Flies: The Detective Stories of Norvell Page would probably be tops. It’s 800 pages long, contains 33 complete stories, and clocks in at nearly half a million words. You can’t go wrong with it if you’re a fan of detective stories or The Spider.”
Altus Press, a leader in Pulp Fiction Reprints and History and pioneer of the Pulp Renaissance, offers its massive, top quality books in The Pulp Book Store! Come see what you’ve been missing!
Striving to bring you the most and best Pulp available today, the Pulp Book Store is glad to announce the addition of new product and new stores to its lineup!
Known for excellent reproductions and great attention to detail, Girasol Collectables has added over 300 Pulp Replicas to their storefront! These fantastic books are authentic replicas of original pulp magazines, just as they appeared on newsstands when they were first issued. These editions are exact replicas of the original magazines, designed to give the reader an authentic taste of what a typical pulp was like when it was first issued. Thrill to authentically presented adventures of characters like The Spider and Operator 5 and read classic Pulp titles like Black Mask and Weird Tales! Exquisitely reproduced, these new replicas, more than 300 of them, are available now from Girasol Collectables and the Pulp Book Store!
The Pulp Book Store would also like to welcome three new publishers and their Pulp products to its ranks as well!
THE MURDER MASTER was originally published in the February 15, 1938 issue of The Shadow Magazine. He broadcast over a little-known radio station in New York. But he broadcast for an elite audience, among which was New York Police Commissioner Ralph Weston. His message was simple. Men would die during his broadcast. He knew the names, the times, the places and the methods. He was… the Murder Master!
As it happens, The Shadow had also been listening to the broadcast of The Murder Master. And while the broadcast was in progress, The Shadow had headed for the obscure radio station, WQJ. And so it was that The Shadow entered the broadcast building not knowing that his own name had been just uttered by the sinister Murder Master.
So far, this story has been a fast paced whirlwind of action and excitement, and we aren’t even past chapter four, yet. And it gets even better. This 1938 story is a slam-bang pulp adventure that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. Most of the story involves The Shadow in his usual cloaked guise of black. He makes a few other appearances as Kent Allard, his true identity. That was all explained in the pulps just six months earlier in “The Shadow Unmasks.” There’s no mention of Lamont Cranston. Apparently that angle was being played down at this point in time.
The Shadow receives a bit of assistance from his ever-faithful contact man Burbank, as well as underworld aides Cliff Marsland and Hawkeye. Other recurring characters are Commissioner Ralph Weston and Inspector Joe Cardona. It’s a pretty streamlined cast, but there’s no real need for more. Also, A few gadgets appear in this story. The Shadow’s amazing rubber discs that he uses as suction cups to scale smooth walls are mentioned.. And there’s a hidden recording device that The Shadow uses to record the voice of the unseen Murder Master.
For fans of old radio shows, this pulp story holds special interest. There’s the visit to the radio station and the broadcast booths. And let’s not forget the stacks of electrical transcriptions containing possibly an untold wealth of wonderful recordings. Author Walter Gibson had originally intended this story to be entitled “The Radio Crimes.” And it was a most appropriate title, because it all begins with a strange radio broadcast over station WQJ. And it includes an interesting visit to the radio station by The Shadow. But editors at Street & Smith decided, for some unknown reason, that “The Murder Master” was a more appropriate title. I think Gibson’s original instincts were more accurate.
This is another of those Shadow pulp novels that gets my hearty recommendation. As with so many of the stories from this era, it’s an enjoyable romp that will thrill you and chill you. Follow The Shadow on the trail of the Murder Master. You won’t regret it. Add it to your shopping cart today for $12.95 from Radio Archives!
High quality Audio, Pulp, and Classic DVDs! And at a fantastic price! That’s the Radio Archives Deal of the Day! The Deal of the Day is actually several great deals at all times. No limits! Simply Great Products at Unbelievable Prices!
Look for the yellow ‘Deal Of The Day’ price tag on the right side of the home page and click it for a great deal every Single Day from RadioArchives.com!
Comments From Our Customers!
Curtis Cobb:
I got Desert Demons yesterday and I’m already half way through the book. It is excellent! Thank you for the very Speedy shipment, I really appreciate it. Thanks to everyone at Radio Archives.
James Davis:
Thank you for the Doc Savage audiobooks!!!
Audiobooks/eBooks@suite101 Review:
Calling All Cars Volume 1 is available as a 10 Compact Disc set or alternatively a download direct from Radio Archives. Lasting for approximately, 10 hours, the episodes have an excellent reproduction on CD Players or alternatively to listen to on your personal iPod or MP3 player.
Barney McCasland:
These audio pulps are really great, and sounds like there are some very cool ones coming up. Keep the great audio pulps coming!
Steve Sher:
Of the companies from which I have ordered radio shows, Radio Archives reproductions and mastering have been the best by far! Given how old some of the shows are, many of them sound as if they were broadcast today. Last night, after arriving home after a very long day, at 12:45AM, I sat in my car, in the garage, because I needed to finish the last chapter of Johnny Dollar on the last disc of Volume 2. So, I sat in the car for the next 15 minutes, listening intently. The garage security guard came over to check out my car. When I rolled down the window, he was distracted from his inquiry by the show. Never having heard anything like this (he’s about 25), he stood and listened for the last 10 minutes, asking me for the contact information. So, you might get an order from him. Good night.
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email toService@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!
The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you atRadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items atRadioArchives.com.
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Before you open the first issue of Shane and Chris Houghton’s Reed Gunther, ask yourself the following question: “How awesome is a cowboy riding a bear and fighting monsters?” If your answer was “The most awesome” then you’re going to love this book. Even if that wasn’t your answer, you’re still going to love this book.
Reed Gunther focuses on the titular cowboy, his smarter-than-average bear Sterling and their adventures through an Old West filled with giant snakes, shark monsters and ancient totems. The central man/bear duo is incredibly charming, akin to a Wild West Wallace & Gromit. Reed’s overconfident, super-manly nature contrasts nicely with Sterling’s silent but expressive puppy-dog nature. Granted, Reed is also a bit of a coward and Sterling can be an absolute badass, which provides for some great character moments. There’s an hysterical joke about their somewhat one-sided communication in issue 4, which I won’t ruin, but was easily the biggest laugh in this first story arc, which is saying a lot as this book is often laugh out loud funny.
In August, I raved a bit about Griff the Invisible, a charming independent film about man who dreams of being a superhero. The movie opened and closed without much attention, which is shame because it dared to think big on a tiny budget. Fortunately, though, the film is coming out this week on DVD and is well worth your attention.
This Australian film was written and directed by Leon Ford, who did some commentary on camera with the 50th Anniversary DC Universe poster seen over his shoulder, a testament to his affection for the super-hero. His movie had plenty of heart, anchored by a dynamite performance by Ryan Kwanten.
Fantasy and reality is approached by Griff, a lonely salaryman and Melody (Maeve Dermody), a scientist challenging the laws of physics. They make an unlikely, but thoroughly charming couple of misfits, falling in love.
Shot on 16mm for atmosphere, the film transfers nicely to Blu-ray but lacks the sharpness of the bigger budgeted behemoth super-hero films that also came out this year. Same with the audio so overall, it’s fine on disc and watching it on a home screen makes it feel more intimate and touching than on a Cineplex screen. In some ways, this is better at home than anywhere else.
The disc comes with only a handful of extras, all a little perfunctory such as the commentary form Ford, Producer, Nicole O’Donohue, and actor Patrick Brammall. Ford is also the focus of director diary videos which are too short to be worth seeing. He touches on his thoughts before, during, and after production but never really says anything. There are also several pieces under the umbrella title Anatomy of a Scene — Opening Sequence (3:16), the All-In-One Shot (2:16), and the Anyhoo (2:00) — but is shot and edited in such a way that there’s little to be learned. There’s also the 4:08 making of featurette that again is too short to be worthwhile. Brammall also hosts a 1:24 set tour that shows you only brief sections and again leaves you wanting something with substance. The best part of the extras are the 7:36 of deleted scenes, none of which were vital to the story but did flesh out the story and characters.
