Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Television Westerns



For six decades Television Westerns have been broadcast over the airwaves.
 
Network TV or Cable TV, it makes little difference-Western fans can’t seem to get enough.

Since they were first introduced on TV Westerns have drawn in audiences-albeit Westerns viewership has dwindled over the decades. 

Still, they are still produced and there is an audience or they would have simply disappeared.

When they first aired they were little more than kid fare with simple plots, wooden acting and historically inaccurate costumes and settings.

As they grew in popularity, authenticity and more mature storylines began to manifest and before long the ‘entire’ family could watch them.

In ‘Television Westerns’ written by Alvin H. Merrill and published by Rowman & Littlefield, readers are provided a thoroughly researched and comprehensive analysis and historical accurate account of the TV Western.

Experience six decades of sagebrush, sheriffs, scalawags and sidewinders that recalls not only Western TV series but specials, documentaries and much more.

If it has anything to do with TV Westerns you’re sure to find it in ‘Television Westerns’.

Route US 66 America’s Longest Small Town 2,451 mi.



Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.  It allows you to view the past through rose-colored glasses and reminisce about the old times filtering out the bad times and focusing on the good times.
 
Looking at old things or locations via photographs more often than not reminds you of simpler and easier times.

Nowhere is that more so than America’s (and the worlds') fascination with the ‘Mother Road’ of America: Route 66.

Visions of Route 66 bring up images of side show attractions, gas stations and rest stops and theme motels and business establishment.

Route 66 fandom continues to grow as more and more people traverse its long and historic trail sprinkled with buildings and attractions from the past (some that still survive and some falling into decay).

In Jim Hinckley’s ‘Route US 66 America’s Longest Small Town 2,451 mi.’ published by Voyageur Press/Quarto Publishing Group, relive the past via beautiful color photos, fact-filled text, personal recollections and much more.

It’s a visual stroll through yesteryear that is fun, fascinating and a wonderful journey down Memory Lane.

Television Western Players, 1960-1975



TV Westerns were in their heyday during the 1950s in the U.S.A.
 
Every kid wanted to be a cowboy and explore the Ol’ West, fight Indians and bad guys and clean up small towns for decent folk.

Most 1950s Westerns were pretty cut and dry; good guys versus bad guys and the good guys always won.

Things began to change in the 1960s. ‘Adult’ Westerns became increasingly popular and would remain so through the mid-1970s.

Ironically as audience sophistication grew the number of TV Westerns dwindled.

In ‘Television Western Players, 1960-1975 A Biographical Dictionary’ writer Everett Aaker and McFarland& Company, Inc., Publishers, spotlight the actresses and actors who populated the TV Westerns during that 15 years. 

Key players in each series are chronicled including their personal and professional information, family and other information.

Listed in alphabetical order each individual is given their just due and credit.

It is fully indexed and gives complete filmography of each individual.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Beauty And The Beast



Leave it to Disney Studios.

Only Disney could take a much-loved literary classic: The Beauty And The Beast, and transform it into an animated film to a Broadway play to a live-action film!

In ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Disney has outdone itself with this much-loved classic brought beautiful to 3D life in stunning new film that combines live-action, computer animation and effects, a spectacular music score and stellar acting.

It brings Belle and the Beast to life along with their friends and foes.

It’s a classic love story that will bring a tear to the most skeptical eye.

Filled with romance, danger, intrigue, magic and music the new Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD Combo Package also comes with loads of bonus features including featurettes, a music video, deleted scenes and much, much more!

It’s ‘a tale as old as time’ and ‘more magical than ever!’

You’ll be pleasantly surprised and delighted at the incredible choreography, music, songs and acting that bring a classic tale to a whole new generation of viewers.

Comedy, Shop and Shocked

Admit it.  Sometimes day-to-day life can be a drag.  Work, coming home, doing chores, watching the kids, too short weekends and then back to the same, old boring routine.


Surely life is more than work, work, and work!  There has to be a way to break up your day and bring a little fun and variety to your day.

Cheer up! There is!

Nothing earth-shaking or life-changing, but something that brings a little sunshine in your life and a spring to your step.

I’m talking about Offshoot Book’s cornucopia of fun books that include puzzles, memo pages, cutouts, coloring pages and bunches of other offbeat and fun-filled activities.

Think of the books a recess for adults.  They are a great way to break up the day and recapture a little of your childhood.

After all, grown-ups are just big kids in older bodies.  Take the challenge and release your inner-child.  You won’t regret it.

Check in and check out with Offshoot’s ‘Shocked!: When The Office Doesn’t Rock!”

Be warned! Don’t let your boss see you looking at this book with all of its fun activities.  He might want to join in.  Maybe that’s a good thing.

It’s fun, colorful, challenging and a little silly fun for the kid in all of us.

On a more serious note—no not really!

Challenge your knowledge of William Shakespeare’s literary works with ‘Comedy In Tragedy’.

The old Bard would get a real kick out of this clever compilation of puzzles, Q & A activities that will challenge any would-be thespian.

‘To be, or not to be!”-having fun with this book.

Who doesn’t like to shop?

In Shop-o-holic: I Would Rather Shop Than Color!’ readers get the chance get to mix up merchandise and fun activities all in one book.

How’s your shopping knowledge? Can you figure out a budget, pick out the best deal or resist the urge to splurge?

Let’s go shopping!  It’s ‘time well ‘spent’.

Preview, June



COMIC BOOKS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Equilibrium: Deconstruction #1 l AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY PRODUCTIONS
Providence Act 3 HC l AVATAR PRESS INC
Mech Cadet Yu #1 l BOOM! STUDIOS
Adventure Time/Regular Show #1 l BOOM! STUDIOS
Sheena #0 l D. E./DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
The Shadow #1 l D. E./DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Lark’s Killer #1 l DEVILS DUE /1FIRST COMICS
Ghost In Shell Readme 1995-2017 HC l KODANSHA COMICS
The Tick #1 l NEW ENGLAND COMICS
Dead of Winter #1 l ONI PRESS INC.
Captain Harlock Dimensional Voyage Volume 1 GN l SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Cutie Honey A-Go-Go Volume 1 GN l SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension Alpha #1 l TITAN COMICS
Quake Champions #1 l TITAN COMICS
Back Issue #100 l TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
Robotech Visual Archive Macross Saga HC l UDON ENTERTAINMENT INC
War Mother #1 l VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC
The Art of My Little Pony: The Movie l VIZ MEDIA LLC

BOOKS
Cannabis Works 2 HC l ART BOOKS
Wonder Woman: Warbringer HC l COMICS
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons l DISNEY/ PIXAR
MAGAZINES
Cartoons Magazine #10 l CARTOONS
Comics Revue Presents August 2017 l COMICS
007 Magazine #40 l MOVIE/TV
40 Years of Star Wars Magazine l STAR WARS
TRADING CARDS
Topps 2017 The Walking Dead Season 7 Trading Cards l NON-SPORTS CARDS
APPAREL
Marvel: “Captain Hydra” Black T-Shirt l PREVIEWS EXCLUSIVE WEAR
Marvel: “Gems Info” Black T-Shirt l PREVIEWS EXCLUSIVE WEAR
Marvel: “Gwen Hood” Pink Foil Turquoise T-Shirt l PREVIEWS EXCLUSIVE WEAR
Justice League Movie Logo T-Shirt l GRAPHITTI DESIGNS
Wonder Woman Movie Logo T-Shirt l GRAPHITTI DESIGNS
TOYS & STATUES
The Dark Tower Select Action Figures l DIAMOND SELECT TOYS & COLLECTIBLES
Mr Potato Head: Alien Xenomorph l ALIEN
Rick & Morty Action Figures l FUNKO
Wonder Woman Movie: Wonder Woman Statue l ICON HEROES
Wonder Woman Movie: Wonder Woman Bust l ICON HEROES
Wonder Woman Movie: Sword Letter Opener l ICON HEROES
X-Men Legends 6-Inch Action Figures l MARVEL HEROES
Playmobil Ghostbusters: Ecto-1 Play-Set l PLAYMOBIL
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Legacy: Titanus Black Edition Figure l POWER RANGERS
Star Wars: The Black Series 40th-Anniversary Legacy Action Figure Set l STAR WARS
IMPORT TOYS
Godzilla 12-Inch Series: Tokyo S.O.S. Mechagodzilla Figure l GODZILLA
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 EAA-050: Star-Lord Action Figure l GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 2
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Link RAH Figure l LEGEND OF ZELDA
Marvel Universe Variant Play Arts Kai: Doctor Strange Figure l MARVEL HEROES
Spider-Man Homecoming: Spider-Man S.H.Figuarts Wall Set l MARVEL HEROES
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rocksteady PVC Figure l TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
COLLECTIBLES & NOVELTIES
Grand Heritage: The Punisher Vest Replica l MARVEL HEROES
Star Wars Episode 4 40th-Anniversary Opening Crawl Glow-in-the-Dark Scarf l STAR WARS
GAMES
Cartoon Network Crossover Crisis: Animation Annihilation l CRYPTOZOIC ENTERTAINMENT
Rick and Morty: Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind l CRYPTOZOIC ENTERTAINMENT
Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting HC l GREEN RONIN PUBLISHING
Star Wars 40th-Anniversary Monopoly l HASBRO TOY GROUP
Starfinder RPG: Core Rulebook HC l PAIZO
Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Card Game l RENEGADE GAME STUDIO
DC HeroClix: Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls Booster Brick l WIZKIDS/NECA