TRADER HORN (1927) – This book was the quasi-autobiographical account of Alfred Aloysius Horn (1854-1931), a British trader in Africa during the 1800s. Ethelreda Lewis added pertinent commentary to each chapter.
For newbies to the Trader Horn legend, this book did for tales of adventuring in Africa what the quasi-autobiographical writings of the likes of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Charlie Siringo and Buffalo Bill Cody did for Wild West excitement. There were multiple film adaptations of Trader Horn, plus elements of this book were imitated in fictional accounts of jungle adventures to a degree not seen since H. Rider Haggard’s tales of Allan Quatermain.
I personally have no doubt that Alfred A. Horn embellished his experiences like Wyatt, Bat, Charlie and Buffalo Bill did, so there is no real way of separating fact from fiction in this book, that’s why I classify it as both myths & legends AND neglected history. Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The NJCAA’s defending champs of Women’s Flag Football – the FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE TIMBERWOLVES – took on the HESSTON COLLEGE LARKS for the 2024 title. 
FANTOMCAT (1995) – This animated adventure series is pretty much the overlooked stepchild of Cosgrove Hall’s much more well-known and longer-lasting series Danger Mouse. No spy antics in Fantomcat, however, but anthropomorphic cartoon animals represent all the characters. 
Fantomcat’s archenemy was the sword-wielding sorcerer Baron Hugo von Skelter. On the night of December 31st, 1699, a battle between our hero and von Skelter and his henchmen ended with the villains mystically trapping Fantomcat in a painting on the wall in Fantomcat’s castle. 
ROGER CORMAN (April 5th, 1926 – May 9th, 2024) – Many words have already been said about the passing of this film industry legend and I’m sure many, many more are yet to be said. From the 1950s to the current year – and with projects still in production – Roger William Corman was a Hollywood fixture. 
Roger was never known as someone who lacked talent, he was just in it for the money most of the time, and therefore kept his budgets tight and his schedules tighter. From 50s monster movies to Raging Youth films to whatever horror trends were ascendant to big-screen soap operas that could be more explicit with their content, Roger Corman was there, raking in bucks and working with future giants of the industry. 
BATTLE ROYAL – The WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS clashed with the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS. 
AND AT THE OTHER EXTREME … – The THOMAS UNIVERSITY NIGHTHAWKS were anti-drama in their game against the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers). 
This weekend’s light-hearted and escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog is a Double Feature. The main event is a look at the early adventures of Marvel’s neglected hero El Aguila (the Eagle). 
EL AGUILA 
Through trial and error, Alejandro found that long, slender metal objects were the best conductors for his bioelectricity and gave him the most accuracy with his energy blasts. He began using a sword through which to shoot his rays but to conceal his mutant nature publicly pretended his swords contained micro-generators that accounted for the rays he projected. 
THE VIOLET FLAME (1899) – Here is another of the science fiction works written by THE Frederick Thomas Jane, of Jane’s Guides fame. Previously, Balladeer’s Blog reviewed Jane’s works 
FRANCOIS VILLON PART SEVEN – We pick up this time in 1460, as Villon’s roaming career as a highwayman and armed burglar among the Coquillards was fast approaching its end, though the poet seems not to have realized it. None of his poetry from 1458 and 1459 has survived, unfortunately.
GAME ONE – The MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY BUFFALOES took on the LIFE UNIVERSITY RUNNING EAGLES. 
For readers who are enjoying Balladeer’s Blog’s recent coverage of Women’s Intercollegiate Flag Football there are no scores to report today because the regular season ended last week. The playoffs begin on May 7th, so on the 8th I will have results to report on. 
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