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DOG STARS: RIN TIN TIN AND KEYSTONE TEDDY

During the age of silent films, two of the biggest canine stars were the original Rin Tin Tin and Keystone Teddy. 

rin tin tin at typewriterRIN TIN TIN (1918-1932) – Here at Balladeer’s Blog, I’m even fonder of dogs than I am of silent movies, so this post will combine the two topics. Sadly, most silent films have become so little remembered that few people even realize that there actually WAS a real Rin Tin Tin, adopted by American soldiers during World War One.

Amid battles in September of 1918, Corporal Lee Duncan of the 135th Aero Squadron was doing recon work on a bombed-out area near Flirey, France. One of the buildings had been a breeding kennel for German Shepherds trained for Kaiser Wilhelm’s troops. The only animals still alive were a starving mother with five nursing puppies who were so young their eyes had not even opened yet.   

Duncan adopted the six German Shepherds and took them back to his unit. His superiors permitted the mother to be given to an officer, one each of the puppies to three enlisted men and the final two – a boy and a girl – were adopted by Lee Duncan himself and named Rin Tin Tin and Nanette. Continue reading →

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COOL NAMED SPORTS TEAM: DAYTONA BEACH CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at another university whose sports teams go by a much more memorable name than the overused Eagles, Tigers, Bulldogs and Wildcats.

DAYTONA BEACH CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Continue reading →

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THE DAY PENNSYLVANIA’S TREASURER KILLED HIMSELF ON LIVE TELEVISION

JANUARY 22nd, 1987 – It was on this date that one of the most horrible incidents ever captured during a live news report occurred. Pennsylvania’s 70th Treasurer, R. Budd Dwyer (R) was due to be sentenced on January 23rd after having been found guilty of assorted charges in 1986 following a bribery scandal.

On the 22nd, Dwyer held a press conference at which he protested the guilty verdict, produced a .357 Magnum handgun from a large envelope he was holding and shot himself to death. The tragic event was broadcast live and since many schools were out on a snow day on that date countless school children happened to be watching. WARNING: ADULTS ONLY MATERIAL BELOW. Continue reading →

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THE DOBERMAN GANG MOVIES (1972-1980)

Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at the neglected Doberman Gang series of movies.

THE DOBERMAN GANG (1972) – I’m a lifelong dog lover, so let me point out that this was the very first film to carry the American Humane Association’s guarantee that “No animals were harmed in the making of this film.” Despite spawning a franchise, The Doberman Gang flies by the proverbial seat of its pants, and while it’s good to know that no dogs were harmed this flick features a few Doberman attacks on humans that seem too gritty.

This movie bounces erratically between Family Friendly and low-budget gimmick production. Eddie (Byron Mabe) leads his bank robber accomplices Sammy and JoJo (Simmy Bow and JoJo D’Amore) who idiotically screw up heists that seem like sure things.

Fed up with the way that human error keeps messing up his carefully planned capers, Eddie strikes upon the idea of using trained dogs to rob banks for him. That may sound like the premise of a light-hearted Disney movie from the 1970s but The Doberman Gang retains a low-life criminal air that’s too grimy at times. Continue reading →

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Here are this week’s rankings in the 12 divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

NAIA 

### 1. GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS   ###   2. BETHEL (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots)   ###   3. FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS   ###   4. AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES   ###   5. OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES      ###

6. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM   ###   7. UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS   ###   8. HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ROYALS   ###   9. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS   ###   10. OREGON TECH HUSTLIN’ OWLS   ###     

USCAA DIVISION ONE  

### 1. NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STALLIONS   ###   2. BRYANT & STRATTON COLLEGE (Buffalo) BOBCATS   ###   3. NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders)   ###   4. BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE BEARS   ###   5. SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE FALCONS   ### Continue reading →

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THE GREAT ACTRESS SARAH BERNHARDT IN MERES FRANCAISES (1917)

MERES FRANCAISES (1917) – This silent film was made and set during World War One. It starred the legendary stage actress Sarah Bernhardt, whose career spanned from 1862 to 1923. She was practically royalty when she deigned to appear in a few silent films. 

The title Meres Francaises means Mothers of France and it was a morale-building wartime film. Sarah Bernhardt was in her 70s but nobly did her best as Madame Jeanne D’Urbex, the matriarch of a French family which suffers more than its fair share of loss and heartache as World War One rages on.  

Sarah as Jeanne loses her husband and a son to the grave, plus members of her extended family endure blindness and the loss of beloved friends. Madame D’Urbex puts aside her own pain and becomes the rock on which the women of her family and the young nurses serving under her can rely. Continue reading →

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FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: CHANNING aka THE YOUNG AND THE BOLD (1963-1964)

CHANNING (1963) – Also known as The Young and the Bold this hour-long drama series was a college version of Mr. Novak, against which it went head-to-head. B-Movie titan Jason Evers starred as Professor Joseph Howe, a Korean War veteran now teaching at fictional Channing College. Henry Jones portrayed Fred Baker, his former professor and now Channing Dean.

Two episodes of the anthology series Alcoa Premiere served as pilots for the series. It was called ahead of its time, ran for 26 episodes and addressed Generation Gap issues involving instructors and their students. And the students were played by a Who’s Who of up-and-coming stars of the big and small screen.

PILOT ONE: OF THIS TIME, OF THIS PLACE (March 6th, 1962) – This episode of the Fred Astaire-hosted Alcoa Premiere introduced viewers to Jason Evers as Professor Howe and Henry Jones as Dean Baker. The story, based on a Lionel Trilling short story, depicted Howe standing beside a brilliant but mentally volatile student who rankles the staid academic community at Channing College. Also starred Burt Brinckerhoff, Dabbs Greer and Nancy Hadley as Howe’s wife Mary.  Continue reading →

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THE SHIP OF SILENT MEN (1920) ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION/ HORROR MIX

THE SHIP OF SILENT MEN (1920) – Written by Philip M Fisher. The crew of a ship called the Lanoa set out from Hawaii. A few days later an abnormally powerful electrical storm strikes, leaving the area unusually cold in its wake.

The men on board the Lanoa don’t have much time to ponder that before they begin receiving distress signals from a ship identified as the Karnak. Even though the message indicates that the death of the entire crew seems imminent, the Lanoa receives the message again later, after assuming the Karnak met with disaster. 

The Lanoa investigates and eventually arrives alongside the Karnak, whose crew is shambling around performing their normal duties but in a very sluggish manner. An away team from the Lanoa rows over to see what is going on when the Karnak’s crew refuse to respond to any attempt at communication. Continue reading →

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Filed under Ancient Science Fiction, Halloween Season

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS: JAN 18th

NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) DIVISION ONE

The NCCAA no longer has football, so I had no posts about them from Aug to Dec.

KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – The 11th ranked INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS visited the number 2 team in the nation – the BETHEL (IN) PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots). The Wildcats put Bethel U. on Upset Alert with their 47-37 Halftime lead, then consummated the Upset 96-86. Caedmon Bontrager led Indiana Wesleyan with 29 points.

CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring at least 100 points in Regulation: The (5) OHIO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS edged the visiting UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI AT CLERMONT COUGARS 103-102   ###   Meanwhile, the (4) NELSON UNIVERSITY LIONS defeated the UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS 106-96   ###   And the (6) MALONE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS won 107-80 over the KENT STATE AT TUSCARAWAS GOLDEN EAGLES.  Continue reading →

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CAPTAIN AMERICA: MORE 1940s STORIES

This weekend’s escapist and light-hearted superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog picks up where my original review of his 1940s adventures left off.

CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS Vol 1 #6 (Sep 1941)

Story 1: The Camera Fiend

Synopsis: Captain America and Bucky prevent the theft of Great Britain’s Crown Jewels by a Nazi spy/ British traitor called the Camera Fiend. That villain wielded a camera (duh) that shot poison darts and other projectiles. He also had a gang of thugs, but they all fell to Cap, Bucky and agent Betsy Ross.

Story 2: Fang, Arch-Fiend of the Orient

Synopsis: Imperial Japanese supervillain Warlord Fang, one of Captain America’s best remembered foes from World War Two, is operating an undercover ring of spies in Chinatown. When Chinese officials in exile arrive in America to discuss what their country is suffering under the Japanese invaders, Fang and his men try to assassinate them but Cap, Bucky and Betsy defeat them. 

Story 3: Captain America Meets the Hangman

Synopsis: Captain America and Bucky are assigned to protect Russian American scientist Dr. Vardoff, who has developed a new type of rope that is fireproof, & incredibly strong but flexible. Our heroes prevent organized crime plus an Italian fascist agent named Dino Cardi from stealing the invention. A costumed supervillain called the Hangman steals the rope material, then uses it to hang Vardoff, his lab assistant and others. Cap and Bucky defeat the Hangman and ultimately expose him as Dr. Vardoff himself. Continue reading →

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