SHIRLEY TEMPLE’S STORYBOOK (1958-1961) – This time around, Balladeer’s Blog’s recurring feature Forgotten Television takes a look at this overlooked children’s series hosted by an adult Shirley Temple. Like Shelley Duvall’s 1980s series Faerytale Theatre this earlier program managed to attract some big names and soon-to-be-big names for its cast.
With Shirley hosting, this series ran 41 episodes, some fitting a half-hour slot with commercials and some fitting an hour-long slot with commercials. Similarly, some were black & white, others in color. Temple owned the series and released a few episodes here and there on video over the decades.
Shirley Temple’s Storybook was one of Shirley’s A.J.A. (After John Agar) ventures, in fact it debuted 8 years after their divorce. The program aired from January 12th, 1958 to July 16th, 1961.
SEASON ONE HIGHLIGHTS
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – We all know this story, so I’ll jump to the cast – Charlton Heston as the Beast, Claire Bloom as Beauty, June Lockhart and Barbara Baxley as her sisters, and E.G. Marshall as a merchant. Continue reading
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – The UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA AT ANCHORAGE SEAWOLVES welcomed the number 2 team in the nation – the ST. MARTIN’S UNIVERSITY SAINTS. The Seawolves put the Saints on Upset Alert by Halftime with their 33-25 lead. After the break SMU rallied, but Alaska-Anchorage held on for a 71-68 victory. Tyson Gilbert logged 28 points to lead the Seawolves.
MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – The FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE MOCS (Moccasins) visited the PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SAILFISH yesterday. At the Half the Mocs were up 42-34 but the Sailfish forced OT with a 74-74 tie to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime ended at 80-80, the 2nd at 89-89, the 3rd at 102-102 and the FOURTH OVERTIME saw FSC win out 117-110. Luke Anderson’s Double Double of 31 points and 12 rebounds led the Mocs.
FANTASTIC FOUR Vol 1 #58 (January 1967)
THE BILLDAD
DESERT CRUSADER (1968-1969) – This French television series is also known as Thibaud, ou les Croisades, Thibaud, il Cavaliere Bianco, Thibaud, der Weisse Ritter and other variations of those titles. The color series ran two seasons of 13 episodes each, with those episodes lasting around 26 minutes apiece.
Thibaud and his sidekick Blanchot (Raymond Meunier) are part of the knightly efforts to safeguard people making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He often works alongside the Knights Templar but doesn’t seem to be an official member of their Order.
FRIGHTMARE THEATER (2015-2022) – Over the years, Balladeer’s Blog has examined plenty of Movie Host Shows, old and new. Frightmare Theater is another hostess-themed film show created, written and directed by Joel Stephens, just like
Frightmare Theater delivers an entire coven of hostesses, led by Mistress Scarlet (Scarlet Ryan), the red head who rises from her coffin to host the bad movie proceedings. Some of her assistants are Original Cyn (Cyn Renteria), Sister Jane (Jane Victoria Colley) and Sister Monalisa (Monalisa Davinci). Stephens himself appeared as Boris the Butler for a while.
A FORCE OF ONE (1979) – Fresh off the success of Good Guys Wear Black, Chuck Norris starred in this action film directed by Paul Aaron in only his second directing effort. The prolific Ernest Tidyman wrote the screenplay.
CLOSE CALL FOR NUMBER FIVE – The number 5 team in the nation – the TRINITY (CT) BANTAMS – took it on the road against the WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY CARDINALS. At Halftime the Cardinals were on top 36-29, but after the break the Bantams forced Overtime by tying things up 70-70 to end Regulation. In the extra session Trinity College prevailed 79-77. Ben Callahan-Gold notched 25 points to lead the Bantams.
CENTURY CLUB – The (25) CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS welcomed the WARREN WILSON COLLEGE OWLS and proceeded to fold, spindle and mutilate them 111-48 ### Meanwhile, the THOMAS COLLEGE TERRIERS won 101-67 at the LESLEY UNIVERSITY LYNX ### And the MORRISVILLE STATE MUSTANGS routed the CANTON (NY) KANGAROOS 105-71.
WONDERMAN
ACROMAID
Powers: Acromaid was in peak physical condition and excelled at unarmed combat. She was as agile as an acrobat and was also very skilled at knife-throwing. In addition, Acromaid carried vials of truth serum with her so she could inject it into criminals she was interrogating.
JANUARY 19th, 1847 – With the Mexican War (April 1846 – February 1848) still raging, New Mexico Territorial Governor Charles Bent was killed, scalped, and stripped naked at his home in Taos, NM on this date. Five others were murdered along with him, including a female Native American.