FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: HARLEM DETECTIVE (1953-1954) INTERRACIAL COP SHOW

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

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JULY SIXTH NEWS ROUNDUP

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog is here with a Monday current events roundup after America’s 250th Birthday Weekend, which was fittingly presided over by President Donald Trump, the ONLY LIVING U.S. PRESIDENT NOT DESCENDED FROM SLAVE HOLDERS. (Yes, even Obama, the Eddie Haskell of American Politics, was descended from slave holders.)

      It’s still refreshing to have a president with NO connection to slave holders. That’s a historical distinction that doesn’t get emphasized enough. Meanwhile, hate-filled Democrats still can’t comprehend that it’s as disgusting to choose the 4th of July to bash the U.S. as it would be to choose Cinco de Mayo to bash Mexico. There are hundreds of other days of the year to do it. 

MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS LIKE ELLISON AND WALZ CONTINUE TO GET HEAT OVER PARDONING A CHILD RAPIST TO PREVENT HIM FROM BEING DEPORTED. “Illegal immigrants uber alles” remains the Democrat motto.

ICE CONTINUES TO ARREST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED OF MURDER, ASSAULT AND DRUG DEALING. Always remember that these convicted figures were still at large due to Democrats’ insane refusal to stop abetting illegals who are also guilty of these additional offenses.

AND ANOTHER ELECTED DEMOCRAT – SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY – ADMITS THEIR PARTY WILL TARGET THE FILIBUSTER IF THEY SEIZE CONGRESS IN NOVEMBER. And still the clueless, outdated and utterly useless “harrumph, harrumph” Republicans in the Senate fail to act. Thune is Exhibit A.

REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, LED BY SPEAKER JOHNSON, KEEP ACHIEVING ONLY FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS TO FUMBLE IT AWAY ON SAVE ACT AND MORE.

THE AMERICA 250 CIVICS EDUCATION COALITION PROMOTES THE RESUMPTION OF TEACHING STUDENTS THE BASICS ABOUT HOW THEIR OWN COUNTRY WORKS. The Democrat-run “educational system” (LMAO) prefers students who believe the irrational lies that The Party’s functionaries use to push hysteria over things that cannot happen.   

FEDERAL RESERVE PAPER SHOWS THAT JOE BIDEN’S MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HE LET IN FROM 2021 TO LATE 2024 CAUSED HOUSING PRICES FOR CITIZENS TO GO UP BY THIRTY PERCENT. The unfit and illegit little man has much to answer for.

ITEM: SEVENTY-THREE PERCENT SAY THEY ARE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS.

FLASHBACK: BOB WOODWARD ON BARACK OBAMA’S USE OF THE IRS TO PERSECUTE HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS. Obama needs reminded of all of his regime’s scandals on a regular basis. Continue reading

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B-MOVIE HOSTESS: CYN RENTERIA

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 Frightmare Theater and Dark Jungle Theater have been reviewed previously here at Balladeer’s Blog.

Cynful Movies is another of the Stephens projects saluting the tradition of late-night bad movie shows that presented – and often mocked – some of the worst or campiest horror and sci-fi films ever made. One of the things I like about the many film shows that Joel and company churned out is the repertory company feel. Cyn Renteria had also worked in the Makeup Department and Costume & Wardrobe Department for them.

Before starring as the hostess of her own show, this talented lady appeared as her character Original Cyn on Sprockets and Splices in 2014 and Pale Moonlight Theater from 2014-2017. The beautiful Ms. Renteria also assisted Mistress Scarlet, the hostess of Frightmare Theater, from 2017-2022.

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 Texas 27 Film Vault and the later Mystery Science Theatre 3000.    Continue reading

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ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: THE DEATH-TRAP (1908) A DINOSAUR IN LAKE MICHIGAN

Pearson'sTHE 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.

The tale’s unnamed main character leaves his Chicago gentleman’s club at 2 in the morning after a night of drinking, card-playing and cigar smoking. He refrains from taking a horse-drawn cab since he feels that walking will do him good.

masc graveyard newHe 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.

It is there that he encounters Hood, an eccentric but courageous Chicagoan who had his own encounter with the sewer monster weeks earlier and has been looking for it every night since. Hood spotted our main character’s headlong flight and figured he had just found another witness to the creature’s existence.

The pair decide against trying to convince the authorities about what they saw and plan to kill the beast themselves. Kolchak should have been so sensible. Continue reading

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HAPPY TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH FOURTH OF JULY: AMERICA IN 2026

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.

JULY 4TH, 1783 – The Massachusetts Supreme Court is finalizing its written decision holding that slavery has been illegal in the state since adoption of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights in 1780. 

JULY 4TH, 1788 – The Constitution of the United States is starting to come into full effect this calendar year, instituting the government we are still officially ruled by. First elections are scheduled for later in the year.

JULY 4TH, 1789 – Congress passes a tariff that taxes goods imported in American ships at a rate 10% lower than on goods imported in ships under foreign flags.

JULY 4TH, 1794 – The “Whiskey Rebellion” is underway in western Pennsylvania. Farmers protesting a federal tax on grain alcohol act against it by refusing to pay it and by tarring and feathering the revenue agents sent to collect the tax money. They also take to burning down the homes of revenue officials. The rebellion ends in November.    Continue reading

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THE SUPERHERO UNCLE SAM: FIRST TWENTY STORIES

Happy Fourth of July! I’ll have my FULL Independence Day blog post later, but we’ll start the day with this look at the earliest stories of the Quality Comics superhero Uncle Sam in the 1940s. For over 20 more Quality Comics heroes click HERE.

uncle samUNCLE SAM

Secret Identity: Ezra Smith (assumed name)

First Appearance: National Comics #1 (July 1940) His final Golden Age appearance came in 1944.

Origin: During the Revolutionary War, a dying American soldier named Sam (last name unknown) felt such a fervent desire to continue fighting for the new country that he assumed supernatural status. Over the decades he incarnated as Uncle Sam whenever the United States needed him.

In 1940 he appeared to young Buddy Smith, whose father Ezra was just killed for opposing a Fascist organization called the Purple Shirts. Uncle Sam defeated that group and became Buddy’s substitute father, pretending to be his late father Ezra to legal authorities.

uncle sam againPowers: 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.

Comment: When he was no longer needed in a given time period, this hero faded away, to once again incarnate during the next period of crisis for the country.

national comics 1NATIONAL COMICS #1 (July 1940)

Title: The Coming of Uncle Sam

Villains: The Purple Shirts

Synopsis: The origin of Uncle Sam, including his “adoption” of Buddy Smith, the scrappy kid in short pants depicted on the cover. Uncle Sam wages war on the Purple Shirts army, which is being financed by an unnamed – but obvious – foreign power.

Our hero invades the Purple Shirts’ secret stronghold at Box Valley in the southern Rocky Mountains. Uncle Sam clobbers the villains and rescues the U.S. President, whom they kidnapped earlier in a commando raid. Continue reading

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AMERICA 250: SACRED HONOR – THE FIFTY-SIX SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

The big names among the signers of the Declaration of Independence get all the attention they need, so Balladeer’s Blog will be spreading the love to ALL the signers in this article.

Those big names are covered too, of course.

CONNECTICUT –

1. Samuel Huntington – Served as president of the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1781. After the war served as Connecticut’s Chief Justice and then Governor.

###2. Roger Sherman – In addition to signing the Declaration he also signed the Articles of Association, the Articles of Confederation AND the U.S. Constitution.   ###  

3. William Williams – Used his own money to finance various Connecticut Militia units and allowed American and later French troops to quarter in his home.  

###   4. Oliver Wolcott – Went on to serve as a Major General and led his forces against British Loyalists who were launching raids along the Connecticut Coastline. He also served in the Long Island and Saratoga campaigns.

DELAWARE –

1. Thomas McKean – Despite being from Delaware he led the military unit called the Pennsylvania Associators (talk about a name guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy) during Washington’s ultimately futile defense of New York City. When the British were moving through Delaware McKean had to move his family five times to keep them out of the Red Coats’ clutches.

###2. George Read – Served as the President of Delaware for part of the war and while fleeing the British advance he used an assumed name and bluffed the British soldiers who coralled him into thinking he was a Loyalist, so they let him go.  

###   3. Caesar Rodney – I think we’re all sick of hearing about Rodney’s late-night ride to get back to Philadelphia in time to let him and McKean outvote George Read and cast Delaware’s vote FOR independence. Instead, I’ll mention Rodney’s service as a Militia General whose troops helped defend Delaware from the invading Brits.  Continue reading

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NEWS ROUNDUP: JULY THIRD

Time for another current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR TIM WALZ PARDONS THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO REPEATEDLY RAPED A TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL JUST SO HE COULDN’T BE DEPORTED AND MAY NOW FIGHT AGAINST DEPORTATION IN COURT. More HERE. No surprise coming from Democrats.

MORE ABOUT DEMOCRAT TIM WALZ PARDONING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILD RAPIST.

DHS HEAD MULLIN JOINS THE VOICES CONDEMNING TIM WALZ FOR HIS SERVICE TO AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILD RAPIST.

ARTICLE: TRUMP – THE PERFECT PRESIDENT FOR AMERICA 250.

A LOOK AT HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP IS LOWERING COSTS FOR HOMEBUYERS.

ARTICLE: TRUMP’S WINS AGAINST THE DEEP STATE AKA THE CESSPOOL OF CORRUPTION CALLED AMERICA’S POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP VISITS THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.

EXAMINATIONS OF THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS. More HERE.

CIA VERMIN STILL REFUSING TO COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATIONS INTO THEIR ENDLESS MALFEASANCE. JFK had the right idea when he wanted to splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and cast it to the winds. Filth like John Brennan and George H.W. Bush have run that organization.

FLASHBACK: DAILY NEWS NAILS OBAMA’S CALLOUSNESS. Continue reading

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WILLIS H. CARRIER: THE SUMMER OF 2026’s GREATEST AMERICAN

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.

In 1902 Carrier invented the first electrical air conditioning unit. Thirteen years later, he founded Carrier Corporation which specialized in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, the HVAC we all take for granted. Continue reading

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AMERICAN PRIVATEER OF THE WAR OF 1812: THE CHASSEUR

Previously, Balladeer’s Blog has covered several American privateer vessels of the Revolutionary War. As our 250th birthday approaches, I’ll take a look at one of our privateer ships from the War of 1812.

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.

From July 1813 to Christmas of that year, William Wade captained this ship as it ran through the British blockade the previous month and was looking for prey in the West Indies come July. The Chasseur seized between 6-11 British vessels during this cruise. Continue reading

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