LAS SERGAS DE ESPLANDIAN AKA The Adventures of Esplandian (1510) – There were many subsequent editions of this Spanish novel by Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo but 1510 is the year of the oldest known version. Part fantasy, part proto-science fiction and part chivalric romance saga, The Adventures of Esplandian is best remembered today for its supposed role in naming California.
To begin with, Montalvo wrote this book as his own personal addition to the legends surrounding Amadis of Gaul. Esplandian, the son of Amadis, was also known as the Black Knight because of the color of his armor. After a series of adventures Esplandian and his forces conquered Constantinople, taking it from the Muslim armies.
As the various Islamic city-states gather to besiege Constantinople many battles are fought, with Esplandian and his Christian forces managing to hold the city. The conflict widens, with Christians and Muslims alike sending word all around the world for allies to help defend or seize Constantinople.
Many chapters go by devoted to tales of the cosmopolitan rulers and warriors who journey to join their faith’s side in the ongoing war. Chapter FIFTY finally deals with a Muslim explorer named Radiaro who reaches California, but it’s a California that’s far from what you would expect. Continue reading
WILD WEST – The EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS welcomed the COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA COYOTES. At Halftime the Gila Monsters were clinging to a 39-34 advantage but after the break EAC got some separation from the Coyotes for a 96-83 win. Armari Carraway put up THIRTY points to lead the Gila Monsters. 
CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 or more in Regulation: The MONTGOMERY COLLEGE RAPTORS won a 106-74 beatdown at the COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND HAWKS ### Meanwhile, the ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE TITANS eviscerated the visiting FLORIDA COLLEGE FALCONS 109-57 ### And the INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES won 104-85 at the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. 
DOC SAMSON – Leonard Samson, MD and PhD, used tightly focused Gamma Radiation drained from the Hulk himself to gain superpowers. 
SUPERBOWL XXII – The WASHINGTON REDSKINS clashed with the DENVER BRONCOS in San Diego, CA. The period of NFC dominance over the AFC continued as the Broncos saw their 10-0 1st Quarter lead over Washington turn into a 35-10 Redskins advantage by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter and the final tally was Washington 42 Denver 10. 
WILDSIDE (1985) – After The Wild Wild West, The Barbary Coast and Bearcats but before The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. came this short-lived series about a secret crime-fighting group in the 1880s American West. 
HOWARD ROLLINS portrayed Bannister Sparks, who had been a demolitions man as an outlaw and retained that expertise as a crime-fighting operative. 
WILLIAM SMITH played Brodie Hollister, gunfighter extraordinaire. Hollister breeds and trains horses.
MABEL NORMAND – Born Amabel Ethelreid Normand on November 9th, 1893 in New York, this silent film comedienne blazed trails for countless subsequent actresses as well as female directors and screenwriters. Like so many silent film stars Normand is largely neglected today except for my fellow silent movie geeks and I. 
INDISCRETION OF BETTY (1910) – Mabel had her first starring role in this short drama but had appeared in an unknown number of previous films in smaller roles. Mabel played Betty, the wife in the marriage of a social-climbing couple. 
HER AWAKENING (1911) – The above-mentioned short in which Mabel caught the eye of Mack Sennett, who then signed her for comedy collaborations. In this short drama, Normand played a young lady trying to snare a successful husband. 
THROUGH HIS WIFE’S PICTURE (1911) – Mabel Normand’s first film short with Mack Sennett. He directed and had a supporting role in this 9-minute comedy about a misunderstanding that threatens a marriage. 
THE MAN IN THE BLACK CLOAK (1886) by P.T. Raymond (Francis W Doughty). Before Batman there was the Shadow. Before the Shadow there was Judex. And before Judex there was the Man in the Black Cloak, or simply the Black Cloak as I’ll call him for short. And ironically, four years before The Man in the Black Cloak was published there was simply The Man in Black, a story I will examine another time. 
It’s time for another current events roundup, courtesy of
Balladeer's Blog 