For Balladeer’s Blog’s latest look at a silent movie star I will cover Elmo Lincoln, who is best known as the big screen’s very first Tarzan but also starred in other films outside the Tarzan series.
TARZAN OF THE APES (1918) – Though Elmo had been appearing as an extra or in small supporting roles since 1913, his portrayal of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan in this movie put him on the map. For nitpickers, Gordon Griffith of silent Tom Sawyer fame played the very young Tarzan when his parents died early in this film, but Elmo Lincoln was the first adult Tarzan performer in movie history.
Surviving prints of Tarzan of the Apes run 61 minutes and cover the basics of the original novel’s opening half in workmanlike if not spectacular fashion. Lord Greystoke and his wife perish after becoming shipwrecked in Africa and their surviving heir is raised by apes.
The boy’s discovery of his late father’s knife among the shipwreck ruins enables him to rise to dominance among the apes by killing off rivals. As he matures, Tarzan becomes a legend in the jungle as he wars on tribes which kill apes plus frees slaves captured by Muslim slavers.
Binns the sailor realizes Tarzan is the long-lost Greystoke heir and an expedition heads to Africa, headed by Professor Porter. The professor’s daughter Jane Porter (Enid Markey) accompanies her father’s expedition and winds up abducted by a villain only to be saved by our King of the Jungle.
Jane uses gentleness to calm down the horny Tarzan when he gets too pushy. Her line “Tarzan is a man, and men do not force the love of women” conveys what we need to know without getting graphic. Charmed by the Ape Man, she eventually canoodles with him willingly. Continue reading
HBCU CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The title tilt in this storied conference pitted the 3 seeds – the SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS KNIGHTS – against the top seeded TOUGALOO COLLEGE BULLDOGS. The Knights were up 35-30 at Halftime but Tougaloo forced Overtime with a 72-72 tie. In the extra session SUNO won out 84-81. Dorian Booker led the victors with his 26 points. 
AMERICAN MIDWEST CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Fighting it out for the conference crown were the top seeded COLUMBIA (MO) COUGARS and the 3 seeds – the WILLIAMS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Cougars had Williams Baptist on the run, leading them 42-29 at the midpoint before putting them away by a final tally of 83-71. Seventeen points from Max Rieger led the way for Columbia College. 
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS (1958-1959) – This Cold War spy series starred and was narrated by Bruce Gordon, who portrayed U.S. Navy Commander Matson (no first name given). Matson would take an active role in some episodes and would narrate from a supporting role in others. 
THE CAPE CANAVERAL STORY – Commander Matson and U.S. Naval Intelligence deal with a Soviet submarine sent to monitor American rocket tests at Cape Canaveral as well as with a Russian spy who tries forcing a charter boat captain in the area to take him to a spot where he can observe launches. Virginia “Mrs. Olson” Christine also stars. 
PLAYGIRL KILLER (1967) – Oh, Canada! With the passing of Neil Sedaka I no longer had an excuse to put off reviewing this Canadian-made “horror” film which was Sedaka’s first, last and only thespian effort. 
Bill and his lovely lady pull up at a rock overlooking the lake and he starts trying to sketch her since he’s an artist. She’s not in the mood to sit still, though, and starts laughing at how bizarrely angry Bill gets about it. 
APPALACHIAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this conference tournament were the 3 seeds – the JOHNSON UNIVERSITY ROYAL CRUSADERS – and the top seeded UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS. By Halftime the Royal Crusaders had UPike worried with their 38-30 advantage. From there the Bears rallied but fell just short as Johnson University triumphed 76-75 led by Mason Lockhart and his Double Double of THIRTY-SEVEN POINTS and 12 rebounds. 
CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE: ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The 3rd seeded CAL MARITIME ACADEMY KEELHAULERS took the court against the 6th seeded PACIFIC UNION COLLEGE PIONEERS. This was a tale of two Halves as the Pioneers dominated at first, leading 51-41 at the midpoint. After the break, the Keelhaulers owned the 2nd Half, winning out 87-78. Lawrence Long led Cal Maritime with a Double Double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. 
Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at some neglected westerns. And when it comes to neglected it’s tough to top the tiny sub-genre of what is already a sub-genre: Spaghetti Westerns. I’m talking about Llama Westerns, the microscopic fraction of Italo-Westerns that deals with gunslingers in Peru shooting it out over Inca treasure instead of the usual gold or revenge. 
MR. A 
UTOPIA or THE HISTORY OF AN EXTINCT PLANET, PSYCHOMETRICALLY OBTAINED (1884) – Written by Alfred Denton Cridge. An unnamed narrator comes across the remains of a meteor that entered Earth’s atmosphere. This narrator has the gift of psychometry (the author’s uncle was THE William Denton) and after he picks up the tangerine-sized chunk of black rock from another planet he begins getting impressions from it. 
The planet was just 2,500 miles across and was home to a race of roughly 5 1/2 feet tall humanoids, some with yellow skin, some with brown skin and others with gray skin. All the races had long, black hair. Utopia sported Earthlike plains, mountains, lakes and rivers with just one huge ocean. 
BEN VEREEN … COMIN’ AT YA (1975) – As famous and celebrated as the multitalented Ben Vereen is, he’s STILL underrated! At least here in 2026 he is, but in 1975 the stage and television performer was enchanting the U.S. like no other black performer since Sammy Davis Jr. 
Vereen hosted the program plus sang, danced and starred in comedy sketches with celebrity guest stars. One of the show’s regulars was the one and only Lola Falana, who always got a show-stopping introduction from Ben. (“Lola Fuh-LAW-Naaa, Lola Fuh-LAW-Naaa.”) 
HEART OF AMERICA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE – Only one Upset in the HAAC Tournament Opening Round. 
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