Now, On A Cheerier Note...

Time for a 1934 movie from Invincible Pictures (a division of Chesterfield Motion Picture Corporation) entitled "The Ghost Walks."  In this one, three men are stranded when their car gets stuck in the mud on a country road during a storm.  They take refuge in a nearby mansion.  Now this happens to be the anniversary of a death that took place in the mansion and, yes Virginia, there is the palpable presence of his ghost.

This flick stars John Miljan, June Collyer, Richard Carle, Henry Kolker, Johnny Arthur, Spencer Charles, Donald Kirke, and Eve Southern.

With screenplay and dialogue by Charles S. Belden, this movie was produced by Maury M. Cohen and directed by Frank R. Strayer.

This Sucks!

There's no longer a Round Table Pizza parlor in Medford, Oregon.


That means I would have to travel to Yreka, California to find the nearest Round Table Pizza parlor.


I guess the local pizzeria recently closed its doors.

UPDATE:  The closing took place the day before Thanksgiving.

Thankfully, a new Round Table Pizza parlor is expected to open its doors at another Medford location next month.

Pizza! Pizza! Late Kick Makes FIU's Bowl Debut A Success

At Detroit:

Jack Griffin's 34-yard field goal as time expired carried Florida International (7-6) to a 34-32 win over Toledo (8-5) in Sunday's Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl.  It was the Golden Panthers' bowl debut, in this, their sixth season at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

Assisted Hari-Kari For Samurai Mike: Niners Can Coach

It became official on Sunday night soon after the San Francisco 49ers returned home after their road loss at St. Louis.

His team had underperformed badly this season, a season in which many thought the Niners would reign supreme in the NFC's Worst----uuuuhhhh----West Division.

Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula will coach the 49ers' season finale next Sunday at home against Arizona.

Just twelve hours ago, this looked this might be the game in which the Niners would win the division.  Instead, they would have to win or tie the game to avoid finishing in the basement.

That argument Samurai Mike had with quarterback Troy Smith that was caught on camera didn't help matters, either.

Counting what would almost certainly be the one-game reign of the interim coach, the 49ers have made four coaching changes since their last winning---and playoff---season (2002) and seemed to change offensive coordinators yearly.  In fact, following their debacle at Kansas City, the Niners changed O-coordinators.

But then again, this is a front office that has looked like it had been run in recent years by Beavis and Butt-Head.

In the end, Samurai Mike was in over his head.

Bud Greenspan, R. I. P.

Filmmaker Bud Greenspan, whose documentaries of Olympic athletes he made over more than six athletes ofter soared as high as the athletes themselves, passed away of complications from Parkinson's Disease at his New York City home on Saturday at age 84.

Niners Eliminated

At St. Louis:

Quarterback Sam Bradford completed 28 of 37 passes for 292 yards on Sunday to set a new rookie record for pass completions in a season and threw for a touchdown (3 yards to Laurent Robinson) as the St. Louis Rams (7-8) defeated the visiting San Francisco 49ers (5-10) 25-17 to stay very much alive in the race for the NFC Western Division title.  The loss assured the Niners, who finished the season 1-7 on the road of missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. 

Yes, Folks, Yul Brynner DID Have Hair

Okay, friends and neighbors, time for another flick.  From 1949, released by Eagle-Lion Films, produced by Aubrey Schenck and directed by Laslo Benedek, we present, "Port of New York," a film that was shot in semidocumentary style.  This film featured Scott Brady, Richard Rober, K. T. Stevens, Yul Brynner (his film debut), Arthur Blake, Lynne Carter, John Kellogg, and William Challee.  

Screenplay by Eugene Ling with additional dialog by Leo Townsend as suggested by a story by Arthur A. Ross and Bert Murray.

Photographed by George E. Diskant, A. S. C.

Enjoy!

 

And Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, Our Christmas Gift To You!

Yessir, folks, what can be more Christmassy than "Brothers United," the fifteenth and final chapter of our 1937 Republic Pictures Dick Tracy serial?

The serial starred Ralph Byrd in the title role with Kay Hughes, Smiley Burnette (best remembered as sidekick, or stooge, in many of Gene Autry's Republic and Columbia features), Lee Van Atta, John Piccori, Carleton Young (who portrayed dope pusher Jack Perry in "Reefer Madness"), Fred Hamilton, and Francis X. Bushman.

Based on Chester Gould's comic strip, this 15-installment chapter play, with screenplay by Barry Shipman and Winston Miller plus story by Morgan Cox and George Morgan, was produced by Nat Levine and directed by Ray Taylor and Alan James.

Enjoy!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

From all of us at Bob's House!

Tulsa Too Much For Warriors In Hawaii Bowl

At Honolulu:

Damarius Johnson picked up 326 all-purpose yards while scoring a pair of touchdowns as Tulsa (10-3) knocked off Hawaii (10-4) 62-35 in Friday's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.  The Golden Hurricane, in picking up their third consecutive bowl victory,  ended the season winning their last seven games.

Can You Walk After You have Assumed Room Temperatue?

From 1943, here's another PRC flick, "Dead Men Walk," strring George Zucco and Mary Carlisle.  This picture, with original screenplay by Fred Myton, was produced by Sigmund Neufeld and directed by Sam Newfield.  After being killed by his twin brother, Elwyn Clayton rises from the grave as a vampire intent on ruining his brother's life.

Time For Some PRC Cinema

From PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation) in 1945, we present, "The Man Who Walked Alone."  This picture starred Dave O'Brien (or "Reefer Madness" fame or infamy), Kay Aldredge and Walter Catlett, along with Guinn (Big Boy) Williams.  Screenplay by Robert Lee Johnson, with original story by the film's associate producer and director, Christy Cabanne.

Enjoy!

Have A Merry 7-Up Christmas!

Here's another commercial that aired in 1987.

Hope You Enjoy Your Oreos, Santa

Santa certainly enjoys a plateful of Oreo Cookies in this 1987 commercial.

Aztecs Ambush Navy In Poinsettia Bowl

At San Diego:

Running back Ronnie Hillman ran for 228 yards and four touchdowns on Thursday night as San Diego State (9-4) picked up their first bowl victory  since 1969 by defeating Navy (9-4) 35-14 in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. 

Time Now For The East Side Kids

From Monogram Pictures in 1942, here are the East Side Kids (led by Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall, and Gabriel Dell) in "Let's Get Tough!"  In this one, the boys take on German and Japanese saboteurs.  With original story and screeplay by Harvey Gates, this picture was produced for Banner Productions by Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz and directed by Wallace Fox.

Time For Another Flick From Poverty Row

From Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) in 1943, here are George Zucco, Wanda McKay, Byron Foulger, and Glenn Strange in "The Black Raven." With original screenplay by Fred Myton, this picture was produced by Sigmund Neufeld and directed by Sam Newfield.

Time For A Tim McCoy Western

From Sam Katzman's Victory Pictures in 1939, here's Tim McCoy starring in the dual role of "Lightining Bill" Carson, who tries to stop cattle rustlers by posing as Miguel, the Mexican, in "Code of the Cactus."  With story and screenplay by Edward Halperin, this film was directed by Sam Newfield. Joining Tim in the cast are Ben Corbett, Dorothy Short, Ted Adams, Alden Chase, Dave O'Brien, and Forrest Taylor.

Devils Can Coach

On too many occasions this season, New Jersey's performance was too reminiscant of the Mickey Mouse years.

Jacques Lemaire has been brought back in an attempt to right the ship.

Fred Foy, R. I. P.

Fred Foy, best remembered as the long-time announcer and narrator of the Lone Ranger radio and television series, passed away on Wednesday at his Woburn, Massachusetts home from natural causes at age 89.

For many a listener back in the days of yore, those words that Mr. Foy uttered on the radio still leave goosebumps in those who remember "those thrilling days of yesteryear:"

A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty Hi-Yo, Silver! ...

Broncos Buck Utes In Vegas

At Las Vegas, Nevada:

An 84-yard touchdown run by Doug Martin ignited Boise State as the Broncos (12-1) defeated Utah (10-3) 26-3 in Wednesday night's MAACO Las Vegas Bowl.  The loss ended a nine-game bowl-winning streak for the Runnin' Utes, who played their last football game as a member of the Mountain West Conference before joining the soon-to-be-renamed Pacific-12 Conference.  The Broncos played their final football game as members of the Western Athletic Conference, before joining the Mountain West next school year.

Get Ready For A Republic Pictures Musical

From 1947, it's time for "Calendar Girl."  In this one, a songwriter finds out that his beautiful girlfriend is going to become an artist's model.  Starring Jane Frazee, William Marshall, Gail Patrick, Kenny Baker, and Victor McLaglen.  This Republic Pictures film, with screenplay by Mary Loos, Richard Sale, and Lee Loeb (who also wrote the original story), was produced and directed by Allan Dwan.

Here's Something You Don't See Every Day:

A non-Three Stooges Columbia Pictures comedy short subject.  From 1940, in two parts, here's Harry Langdon, with Ann Doran and Monty Collins, starring in "Cold Turkey."  This short, with story and screenplay by Harry Edwards and Elwood Ullman, was produced by Del Lord and Hugh McCollum and directed by Del Lord.

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas From Some Folks In Milwaukee

Here's a 1977 Christams commercial for Miller High Life Beer.

Even Our Name Says Merry Christmas

Here's a 1978 television commercial for the Norelco Electric Shaver with a stop-motion Santa. 

Just Tell Me: What The Hell Is The Beef O'Brady Bowl Anyway?

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

Justin Burke passed for a pair of touchdowns and Jeremy Wright scored on a 95-yard kickoff return as Louisville (7-6) defeated Southern Mississippi (8-5) 31-28 in the Beef O'Brady Bowl played on Tuesday night. 

It's Victory Time!

Okay, so here's a 1936 flick from Victory Pictures Corporation, "A Face In The Fog."  In this one, multiple murders are committed by The Fiend.  June Collyer and Lloyd Hughes star in this one.  Adapted from Peter B. Kyne's "The Great Mono Miracle," this picture, with screenplay by Al Martin, was produced and supervised by Sam Katzman and directed by Bob Hill.

Here's Another Quickie Western

Here's Tim McCoy starring in the 1936 motion picture "Border Caballero."  After his friend is murdered, an FBI sharpshooter takes his place in trying to capture a band of bank robbers.  With original story by Norman S. Hall and continuity by Joseph O'Donnell, this film, produced for Puritan Pictures  (under the Excelsior Pictures banner) by Sig Neufeld and Lesile Simmons and directed by Sam Newfield.  Joining Tim in the cast are Lois January, the movies'---and television's----future Dick Tracy himself, Ralph Byrd, Frank Glendon, Ted Adams, John Merton, and Earl Hodgins.

Another flick from a short-lived Poverty Row studio.

Enjoy!

Murder On The Campus

From Chesterfield Motion Picture Corporation in 1933, here is "Murder On The Campus," a murder mystery.  With Shirley Grey, future Durango Kid Charles Starrett, J. Farrell MacDonald, Ruth Hall, and Dewey Robinson, this motion picture was produced by George R. Batcheller and directed by Richard Thorpe, with story by Whitman Chambers and continuity by Andrew Moses, adapted from the novel, "The Campanile Murders."

Here's An Early Flick With The Duke

John Wayne plays an undercover agent in the 1934 movie, "Rainbow Valley." Joining the cast with John are Lucille Browne, George (Gabby) Hayes, and LeRoy Mason. With story by Lindsley Parsons, this film was produced by Paul Malvern and directed by Robert North Bradbury. A Lone Star production released by Monogram Pictures.

More Flip

Here's another cartoon starring Flip the Frog.  Entitled "Bulloney," this one sees Flip caught in flagrani with the bullfighter's girlfriend.  Now, our hero not only fight the old bullfighter, but an even meaner bull.  This 1933 cartoon was produced and drawn by Ub Iwerks for Celebrity Productions and was released theatrically by MGM.

Ole!

Time For Flip The Frog

From 1933, here's Flip the Frog starring in "Chinaman's Chance."  The cartoon, produced and drawn by Ub Iwerks, was released theatrically by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.  This was one of Flip's last cartoons.

Saints Deny NCAA D2-Bound Cougars In Winning Sixth NAIA Gridiron Crown

At Rome, Georgia:

Quarterback Gary Wagner ran for 75 yards and scored the game's lone touchdown as Montana's Carroll College Saints held off South Dakota's University of Sioux Falls Cougars 10-7 to win their sixth NAIA national championship on Saturday.  The Cougars' Braden Wieking's 46-yard field goal attempt with 8.4 seconds remaining in regulation time went wide left, denying the Cougars----playing their final NAIA game before transitioning to NCAA Division II next year---a third staight NAIA national title, and snapping the South Dakota school's NAIA record-tying 42-game winning streak.

Time For An Early Christmas Movie

From 1905, here's the silent motion picture from Thomas Edison, "The Night Before Christmas."  This picture was directed by Edwin S. Porter, who directed the 1903 classic, "The Great Train Robbery."

Enjoy!

NFC Worst: Niners Stay In Hunt As Rams And Seahawks Lose At Home; Cardinals Eliminated

Yes sir, boys and girls, in that junkyard known as the Western Division of the National Football Conference, even after getting piled upon in San Diego the other night, the 5-9 San Francisco 49ers are still alive in the race for the division title with two weeks remaining in the regular season as St. Louis and Seattle (both 6-8) lost at home on Sunday to Kansas City (9-5) and Atlanta (12-2, clinching a playoff berth) respectively.  Meanwhile, Arizona's (4-10) two-year run as division champions ended with their loss at Carolina (2-12).

Wisconsin-Whitewater Repeats As D3 National Champions

At Salem, Virginia:

Levell Coppage's 75-yard touchdown run helped seal Wisconsin-Whitewater's third NCAA Division III national football championship in the last four years as the Warhawks (15-0) completed their second straight unbeaten season with a 31-21 win over Mount Union (14-1) in a battle unbeatens om Saturday.

Late Field Goal Carries Minnesota-Duluth To D2 National Crown

At Florence, Alabama:

David Nadeau's 32-yard field goal as time expired lifted Minnesota-Duluth (15-0) to a 20-17 win over Delta State (11-4) to win their second NCAA Division II national title, capping off their second perfect season in the last three years on Saturday.

Trojans Make Things Unbearable For Ohio U. Bobcats

At New Orleans:

Corey Robinson threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns---three to Tebairus Gill (in the first half)---as Troy (Alabama; 8-5) set a New Orleans Bowl single-game scoring record in their 48-21 spanking of Ohio (8-5) Saturday night.

Bulldogs No Match For Huskies In Boise Dogfight

At Boise, Idaho:

Quarterback Chandler Harnish ran for two touchdowns and passed for a third as Northern Illinois (11-3) thrashed Fresno State (8-5) 40-17 in the Humanitarian Bowl played on Saturday.

BYU Starts Bowl Season With A Bang

At Albuquerque, New Mexico:

Quarterback Jake Heaps threw for four touchdowns---three to Cody Hoffman---as Brigham Young (7-6) dismantled Texas El-Paso (6-7) in the New Mexico Bowl as the collegiate bowl season got under way on Saturday.

Can Dick Pull Through This Time?

Time now, boys and girls, for "The Devil In White," the fourteenth----and next-to-last----installment in our 1937 Republic Pictures Dick Tracy  chapter play, starring Ralph Byrd as Chester Gould's legendary comic strip character.  Produced by Nat Levine and directed by Ray Taylor and Alan Jones.

 

Chargers Dominate Niners In Thursday Night Rear-End Whuppin'

At San Diego:
Quarterback Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes---all to Vincent Jackson---as the San Diego Chargers (8-6) remained in the thick of the AFC West Division race on Thursday night with a 34-7 home beatdown of the San Francisco 49ers (5-9). 

Bob Feller 1918-2010

Bob Feller, the legendary Hall of Fame pitcher who won 266 games in a war-interrupted 20-year career---all with the Cleveland Indians---passed away on Wednesday from acute leukemia at a  Cleveland area hospice at the age of 92.

An eight-time all-star, Rapid Robert compiled statistics from 1937 through 1956 that ensured his enshrinement in Cooperstown.  He led the American League in vicories six times  and is still the Indians' career leader in shutouts (46), innings pitched (3,827), walks (1,764), complete games (279), wins and strikeouts (2, 581). 

The Battered Old Gunslinger

Even the combination of Mother Nature, an extra day, and a change of venue could not keep ol' Brett's streak alive.

Niners Throttle Seahawks To Stay Very Much In NFC West Race

At San Francisco:

Alex Smith threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday---one each to Vernon Davis, Josh Morgan, and Brian Westbrook---as the San Francisco 49ers (5-8) throttled the visiting Seattle Seahawks (6-7) 40-21.

The win, coupled with New Orleans' 31-13 triumph at home over St. Louis, enabled the Niners to close within one game of the NFC West Division lead (shared by the Rams and Seahawks) with three games remaining on their regular-season schedule.  

The 49ers will now head to San Diego for a nationally-televised contest with the Chargers. 

Time To Get In Tune With The Season

From 1959 or 1960, here are Little Bobby Rey and his band with "Rockin' J Bells."

 

More Danger In Store For Dick

Stand by for "The Fire Trap," the 13th chapter of our 1937 Republic Pictures Dick Tracy serial.  Of course, Ralph Byrd stars as Chester Gould's legendary comic -strip character.  Produced by Nat Levine and directed by Ray Taylor and Allan James.

Enjoy!

Maybe I'm A Bit Jaded, Still As The Title Of A Song Popularized By Harry James Might Apply...

I've heard THAT song before.

Elizabeth Edwards, R. I. P.

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of the former US Senator from North Carolina and two-time presidential candidate John Edwards, passed away on Tuesday at her Chapel Hill, North Carolina home from cancer at age 61.

Broncos Boot Coach

This is a team that has still not recovered from a 2-8 finish after starting 6-0 last season.  It looks like their decision on a head coach prior to last season may have been a mistake.

The Broncos were also reeling from the news surrounding SpyGate 2.0. 

Turn Out The Lights: Dandy Don, R. I. P.

Dandy Don Meredith, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback (1960-68) who is best remembered for his two stints as the resident funnyman member of the Monday Night Football broadcast team, passed away on Sunday night at a Santa Fe, New Mexico hospital at age 72.

Dandy Don had been battling emphysema and had suffered a minor stroke in 2004. 

It's Official: Oregon vs Auburn For BCS Crown

It became official on Sunday as the #2 Oregon Ducks (12-0) will square off with top-ranked Auburn (13-0) in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game, to be played on January 10 at Glendale, Arizona.

It will be the first gridiron meeting between the two schools.

Other BCS bowls:

January 1:

Rose Bowl at Pasadena, California:

Wisconsin (11-1) vs. TCU (12-0)

Fiesta Bowl at Glendale, Arizona:

Oklahoma (11-2) vs. Connecticut (8-4)

January 3:

Orange Bowl at Miami:

Virginia Tech (11-2) vs. Stanford (11-1)

January 4:

Sugar Bowl at New Orleans:

Arkansas (10-2) vs. Ohio State (11-1)

The rest of the postseason lineup in the top level of college football:

December 18: 

New Mexico Bowl at Albuquerque:

BYU (6-6) vs. UTEP (6-6)

Humanitarian Bowl at Boise, Idaho:

Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

New Orleans Bowl at New Orleans:

Troy (7-5) vs. Ohio University (8-4)

December 21:


St. Petersburg Bowl at St. Petersburg, Florida:

Louisville (6-6) vs. Southern Mississippi (8-4)

December 22: 

MAACO Bowl at Las Vegas:

Utah (10-2) vs. Boise State (11-1)

December 23:


Poinsettia Bowl at San Diego:

San Diego State (8-4) vs. Navy (8-3, pending the outcome of their game next Saturday vs. Army)

December 24: 

Hawaii Bowl at Honolulu:

Hawaii (10-3) vs. Tulsa (9-3)

December 26: 

Little Caesars Bowl at Detroit:

Toledo (8-4) vs. Florida International (6-6)

December 27:


Independence Bowl at Shreveport, Louisiana:

Air Force (8-4) vs. Georgia Tech (6-6)

December 28:

Champs Sports Bowl at Orlando, Florida:

North Carolina State (8-4) vs. West Virginia (9-3)

December 29:

Military Bowl at Washington:

Maryland (8-4) vs. East Carolina (6-6)

Texas Bowl at Houston:

Illinois (6-6) vs. Baylor (7-5)

Alamo Bowl at San Antonio:

Arizona (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (10-2)

December 30:

Armed Forces Bowl at Fort Worth, Texas:

SMU (7-6) vs. Army (6-5, pending the result of their game on Saturday versus Navy)

Pinstripe Bowl at New York City:

Syracuse (7-5) vs. Kansas State (7-5)

Music City Bowl at Nashville, Tennessee:

North Carolina (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6)

Holiday Bowl at San Diego:

Washington (6-6) vs. Nebraska (10-3)

December 31:


Chick-fil-A Bowl at Atlanta:

Florida State (9-4) vs. South Carolina (9-4)

Sun Bowl at El Paso, Texas:

Miami (Fla) (7-5) vs. Notre Dame (7-5)

Liberty Bowl at Memphis, Tennessee:

Central Florida (10-3) vs. Georgia (6-6)

Meineke Car Care Bowl at Charlotte, North Carolina:

Clemson (6-6) vs. South Florida (7-5)

January 1: 

Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Florida:

Michigan (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (8-4)

TicketCity Bowl at Dallas:

Northwestern (7-5) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)

Outback Bowl at Tampa, Florida:

Penn State (7-5) vs. Florida (7-5)

Capita One Bowl at Orlando, Florida:

Michigan State (11-1) vs. Alabama (9-3)

January 6:


GoDaddy.com at Mobile, Alabama:

Miami (Ohio) (9-4) vs. Middle Tennesse State (6-6)

January 7: 

Cotton Bowl at Arlington, Texas:

Texas A&M (9-3) vs. Louisiana State (10-2)

January 8: 

BBVA Compass Bowl:

Birmingham, Alabama:

Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Kentucky (6-6)

January 9: 

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at San Francisco:

Nevada (12-1) vs. Boston College (7-5)


 
 

Niners Clinch Eighth Straight Nonwinning Season By Losing At Green Bay

At Green Bay, Wisconsin:

Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns on Sunday (two to Greg Jennings, one to Donald Driver) as the Green Bay Packers (8-4) defeated the San Francisco (4-8) 49ers 34-16 at home. The loss assured the Niners of their franchise-record eighth consecutive nonwinning season.

Ducks Top Beavers In Civil War, Setting Up BCS Title Clash With Auburn

At Corvallis, Oregon:

LaMichael James ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns while Kanjon Barner had 133 yards and scored a pair of TDs himself as the Oregon Ducks, ranked #2 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings (#1 in the AP and USA/Today Coaches polls), took care of the Oregon State Beavers 37-20 in the 114th edition of the Civil War game to finish the season at 12-0 overall and 9-0 in Pacific Ten Conference play and lock up an expected berth in next month's BCS National Championship game at Glendale, Arizona against Auburn.  For the first time in five years, the Beavers (5-7, 4-5) will not play in a bowl game.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Cam Newton passed for a career-high 335 yards and four touchdowns (and ran for a pair) in a Most Valuable Player performance as the BCS-topping Tigers turned South Carolina into fried chicken 56-17 to win the Southeastern Conference Championship Game and reach the BCS title game.   

Will Dick EVER Keep Himself Out Of Trouble?

"The Trail of the Spider" is the twelfth chapter in our 1937 Republic Pictures Dick Tracy serial, starring Ralph Byrd in the title role.