This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at several vintage characters from Italian creators.
MASKAR
Debuted: 1951
Secret Identity: Unknown
Origin: An ordinary man decided to use his criminology skills to fight crime without endangering his loved ones. He adopted the costumed identity Maskar and went into action.
Powers: Maskar was in peak physical condition, was as agile as an acrobat and was a master of unarmed combat. He was a first-class detective and an expert regarding the supernatural. This hero’s series ran until 1966.
BARBEL
Debuted: 1965
Secret Identity: Barbara Bell
Origin: Fashion model Barbara Bell one day met the twin sister she never knew about. The twin was taken into outer space as an infant. She bestowed superpowers on Barbara so she could combat evil, then left Earth for good.
Powers: Barbel possessed greater than human strength, telepathy and telekinesis plus a degree of invulnerability. Her sidekick was her police detective boyfriend. Continue reading
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION ONE – Every year NAIA teams upset some teams in the higher division aka NCAA Div 2. Less frequent are the times that NAIA teams defeat NCAA Div ONE teams, but such upsets do happen. Last night the LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS visited D1’s NORTHWESTERN STATE DEMONS. At Halftime the Demons led 27-14, but a big 3rd Quarter put the Wildcats up 35-30. The teams exchanged TDs in the 4th as LCU toppled Northwestern State 42-37. 
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO – The KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS welcomed D2’s KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE PANTHERS. The Knights parlayed a 14-3 1st Quarter lead into a 35-3 advantage at Halftime. After the break, the Panthers rallied but fell far short as Kentucky Christian University won by the comfortable margin of 44-24. 
THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940) – Tyrone Power starred in this semi-remake of 
Not even Diego’s father knows about his son’s dual identity, so he is just as contemptuous of the cowardly, buffoonish figure he pretends to be as everyone else. Eligible ladies of California look down on Diego, too, despite his family’s wealth. They all have the hots for the dashing Zorro who strikes the oppressors with his sword, pistols and whip, then vanishes into the night. 
PART 74 – Some of the Fool Killer’s targets on both sides of the aisle in the October of 1914 edition of the folk figure. The World War is in full swing. 
Yes, “the Broadway of TV” is back for this look at the program’s third season. 
CHAR-BROILED – The number 2 team in the nation – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – welcomed the CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS. The Blue Dragons proceeded to fold, spindle and mutilate Cisco College, leading them 21-0 to end the 1st Quarter, 42-7 at Halftime, and 52-7 in the 3rd Quarter before logging a FIFTY-NINE to SEVEN triumph over the Wranglers in the 4th.
ANOTHER ROSWELL INCIDENT – In Roswell, NM the NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE BRONCOS (should be Cavalry) took the field against the visiting DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS. The Conquistadors led the Institute 7-3 in the opening Quarter, but the Broncos went up 23-20 by the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with NMMI leading 30-20 before winning out 37-20 in the end. 
STRAIGHT TALK (1992) 
EDDIE L. DRISCOLL played several different Movie Host characters during his THIRTY-THREE years working at the same television station – WLBZ Channel 2 in Bangor, Maine. That Maine location made Driscoll’s characters the Movie Hosts that a certain horror author had watched in his youth (see below). Eddie’s shows aired throughout Maine and into Canada’s Maritime Provinces.
Over the years, he worked there as a cameraman, weather man, kiddie show host and much more. He retired from WLBZ in 1987. His Movie Host characters: 
UNCLE GORY – From 1964 to 1967 Eddie hosted his new Saturday night at Midnight show titled Weird. On this Bad Movie Show he played Uncle Gory, a Dungeon Master in a fur vest and a mop-top wig. Uncle Gory hosted from his dungeon with a human skull displayed on a slab near him. He presented each week’s movie like it was a story coming to life from a book he was reading aloud. 
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