GOOD EVENING, MR. TIBBS – As promised, I recently obtained a copy of author John Ball’s final story featuring his iconic African American homicide detective Virgil Tibbs. Yes, THAT Virgil Tibbs, introduced in the 1965 novel and 1966 movie In the Heat of the Night.
Roughly ten days back I reviewed John Ball’s subsequent novels and short stories about the brilliant and coolly professional Virgil Tibbs. This final short story, Good Evening, Mr. Tibbs, followed the 1986 Tibbs novel Singapore.
Unlike that novel, this tale depicts Virgil in his home territory of Pasadena, California. (It was only in the movies that Tibbs worked in Philadelphia and San Francisco.) In the middle of the night a woman’s dead body is found in the center of the street. Circumstances prompt a call to bring in Pasadena’s senior Homicide Detective – our man Virgil. Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeds – the CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS – took on the 2nd seeded WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be Flying Ws) in this title tilt. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this Division were the top seeded CROWN COLLEGE POLAR BEARS and the 3 seeds – the NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY RAMS. 
HAPPY EASTER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! The good response to my blog post about 
CHRISTUS (1916) – Directed by Giulio Cesare Antamoro, this is a fascinating look at Jesus, from the Angel visiting Mary through his Resurrection and subsequent visit with his Apostles. Christus runs 88 minutes and features some inventive variations on Biblical tableaux. The Star of Bethlehem is depicted as a comet; when Mary finds young Jesus preaching to his teachers His shadow appears as a cross; and Judas gets three visions of the Devil – first urging him on to betray Jesus, then taunting him when he regrets that betrayal, and finally welcoming him into Hell, which opens up under Judas’ swinging corpse. 
DE STILLE GETUIGE (The Silent Witness) 
THE QUEST OF SETH FOR THE OIL OF LIFE (1962) – Written by Esther Casier Quinn, this is one of the best and most concise works of comparative mythology that I have ever read. It’s a medieval legend often compared to the Grail story and is appropriate for Holy Thursday. The Quest of Seth for the Oil of Life is also known as The Quest of Seth for the Oil of Mercy, The Legend of the Rood and many other titles. 
For those not familiar with this particular popular offshoot of the canonical story of Jesus Christ here’s a brief overview:
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – It was a case of Lion-on-Lion violence as the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS did battle with the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS (should be Hugheses) for the title. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The 6 seeds – the SAGU-AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE WARRIORS – had a surprise in store for the 3rd seeded MISSION UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS. 
Since this is Easter Week the Silent Film geek in me figured I’d post this 44-minute work about Jesus from the cradle to the crucifixion. 
Balladeer's Blog 