HARLEM DETECTIVE (1953-1954) – Black actors like THE William Marshall and William Hairston played police detectives in multiple episodes of this short-lived television series set in Harlem. They were partnered with the program’s major white detective, portrayed by Owen Jordan. Other black performers appeared in supporting roles each episode and several scripts were written by African American writer William Attaway (Above left). William’s sister Ruth appeared in the first episode of Harlem Detective.
Not only have no episodes of this pioneering program survived, but I haven’t even been able to find the character names of the regular cast members! A contemporary review of Harlem Detective describes it as a noble effort at depicting interracial cooperation as the cop characters work to carry out their mission to protect and serve the community. Stories were based on police files.
Before I delve into the few episodes that I was able to learn details about I’ll point out that William Marshall was forced off the series when he was accused of being a communist. Some online mentions claim the entire series was canceled because of that.
THE EPISODES: Continue reading




CYN RENTERIA aka ORIGINAL CYN aka CYNTHIA RENTERIA hosted Cynful Movies from 2019-2022. That show was another movie hosting production from Joel Stephens, whose programs
Best of all, from 2019-2022 Cyn was simultaneously the starring hostess of Cynful Movies, on which series she got to present movies outside of just horror flicks. Original Cyn served up Psychotronic classics from additional genres, including peplums, sci-fi, mysteries and spaghetti westerns. Cynful Movies boasted at least as much of a variety of B-Movies as
THE DEATH-TRAP (1908) – Written by George Daulton, this story was published in the March, 1908 issue of Pearson’s Magazine. It’s once again Ancient Creature Feature time with this story about a monster from Lake Michigan which sometimes enters the Chicago sewer system to prey on unsuspecting denizens of the Windy City.
He comes to regret that decision when, on a poorly-lit street, he sees a drunken sailor get dragged down into the sewer and devoured by a slimy, half-glimpsed creature. Our hero flees for his life and doesn’t stop running until he’s reached one of Chicago’s bridges.
HAPPY TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! What happened in early July of 1776 certainly needs no rehashing so in keeping with my blog’s theme of addressing more out of the way subjects this post will examine various events that took place on other July 4ths throughout American history.
JULY 4TH, 1778 – George Rogers Clark led his rebel forces in taking the British stronghold of Kaskaskia, near the confluence of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers. Clark and his Rangers were on a mission for then-Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.
UNCLE SAM
Powers: This hero had Superman-level strength and invulnerability. He could fly in a sense by making enormous Hulk-sized leaps. He had a mystic ability to know where he would be needed. Due to his supernatural nature, Uncle Sam could not be photographed or filmed.
NATIONAL COMICS #1 (July 1940) 
CONNECTICUT –
DELAWARE – 


America’s 250th birthday is mere days away and as we honor men and women from long, long ago the current heat wave should remind us that Willis H. Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning, is truly the lion of the hour.
THE CHASSEUR – This vessel was granted its Letter of Marque to prey on British shipping and take prizes on February 23rd, 1813. The Chasseur had 16 cannon and a crew of 160.