RetroFan #7 by TwoMorrows Publishing

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Winter 2020 No. 7 $9.95

World’s Largest CHARLIE’S ANGELS Collection

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW

An interview with the heavenly

Jaclyn Smith

82658 00390

JONNY QUEST CREATOR

…plus we reopen the Charlie’s Angels casebook

Captain Action • Larry Storch Interview • Rare Marvel World Playset & more!

Relive The Pop Culture You Grew Up With In RetroFan! If you love Pop Culture of the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties, editor MICHAEL EURY’s latest magazine is just for you!

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NOW BI-MONTHLY! Interviews with the ’60s grooviest family band THE COWSILLS, and TV’s coolest mom JUNE LOCKHART! Mars Attacks!, MAD Magazine in the ’70s, Flintstones turn 60, Electra Woman & Dyna Girl, Honey West, Max Headroom, Popeye Picnic, the Smiley Face fad, & more! With MICHAEL EURY, ERNEST FARINO, ANDY MANGELS, WILL MURRAY, SCOTT SAAVEDRA, and SCOTT SHAW! (84-page FULLCOLOR magazine) $9.95 (Digital Edition) $4.95 Ships March 2020!

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Interviews with MeTV’s crazy creepster SVENGOOLIE and Eddie Munster himself, BUTCH PATRICK! Call on the original Saturday Morning GHOST BUSTERS, with BOB BURNS! Uncover the nutty NAUGAS! Plus: “My Life in the Twilight Zone,” “I Was a Teenage James Bond,” “My Letters to Famous People,” the ARCHIE-DOBIE GILLIS connection, Pinball Hall of Fame, Alien action figures, Rubik’s Cube & more!

NOW BI-MONTHLY! Interviews with ’70s’ Captain America REB BROWN, and Captain Nice (and Knight Rider’s KITT) WILLIAM DANIELS with wife BONNIE BARTLETT! Plus: Coloring Books, Fall Previews for Saturday morning cartoons, The Cyclops movie, actors behind your favorite TV COMMERCIAL CHARACTERS, BENNY HILL, the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, 8-track tapes, and more!

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THE CRAZY, COOL CULTURE WE GREW UP WITH! LOU FERRIGNO interview, The Phantom in Hollywood, Filmation’s Star Trek cartoon, “How I Met Lon Chaney, Jr.”, goofy comic Zody the Mod Rob, Mego’s rare Elastic Hulk toy, RetroTravel to Mount Airy, NC (the real-life Mayberry), interview with BETTY LYNN (“Thelma Lou” of The Andy Griffith Show), TOM STEWART’s eclectic House of Collectibles, and Mr. Microphone!

HALLOWEEN! Horror-hosts ZACHERLEY, VAMPIRA, SEYMOUR, MARVIN, and an interview with our cover-featured ELVIRA! THE GROOVIE GOOLIES, BEWITCHED, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and THE MUNSTERS! The long-buried Dinosaur Land amusement park! History of BEN COOPER HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, character lunchboxes, superhero VIEW-MASTERS, SINDY (the British Barbie), and more!

40th Anniversary interview with SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE director RICHARD DONNER, IRWIN ALLEN’s sci-fi universe, Saturday morning’s undersea adventures of Aquaman, horror and sci-fi zines of the Sixties and Seventies, Spider-Man and Hulk toilet paper, RetroTravel to METROPOLIS, IL (home of the Superman Celebration), SEA-MONKEYS®, FUNNY FACE beverages, Superman and Batman memorabilia, & more!

Interviews with the SHAZAM! TV show’s JOHN (Captain Marvel) DAVEY and MICHAEL (Billy Batson) Gray, the GREEN HORNET in Hollywood, remembering monster maker RAY HARRYHAUSEN, the way-out Santa Monica Pacific Ocean Amusement Park, a Star Trek Set Tour, SAM J. JONES on the Spirit movie pilot, British sci-fi TV classic THUNDERBIRDS, Casper & Richie Rich museum, the KING TUT fad, and more!

Interviews with MARK HAMILL & Greatest American Hero’s WILLIAM KATT! Blast off with JASON OF STAR COMMAND! Stop by the MUSEUM OF POPULAR CULTURE! Plus: “The First Time I Met Tarzan,” MAJOR MATT MASON, MOON LANDING MANIA, SNUFFY SMITH AT 100 with cartoonist JOHN ROSE, TV Dinners, Celebrity Crushes, and more fun, fab features!

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The crazy cool culture we

grew up with

CONTENTS Issue #7 Winter 2020

Columns and Special Features

Retrotorial

Too Much TV Quiz

Retro Super-Heroes Captain Action

Will Murray’s 20th Century Panopticon Jonny Quest creator Doug Wildey

Retro Interview Larry Storch

Scott Saavedra’s Secret Sanctum The Not-So-Super Collector

Ernest Farino’s Retro Fantasmagoria The Dick Van Dyke Show

Oddball World of Scott Shaw! Batman #183 (1966)

Retro Television Charlie’s Angels Retro Interview Jaclyn Smith

Departments

20 23 37

Super Collector Charlie’s Angels Collectibles by Jack Condon

RetroFad Streaking

Retro Toys Marvel World

Celebrity Crushes

Retro Travel The Land of Oz – Beech Mountain, North Carolina

RetroFanmail

ReJECTED RetroFan fantasy cover by Scott Saavedra

RetroFan™ #7, Winter 2020. Published quarterly by TwoMorrows Publishing, 10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614. Michael Eury, Editor-in-Chief. John Morrow, Publisher. Editorial Office: RetroFan, c/o Michael Eury, Editor-in-Chief, 112 Fairmount Way, New Bern, NC 28562. Email: euryman@gmail.com. Six-issue subscriptions: $67 Economy US, $101 International, $27 Digital. Please send subscription orders and funds to TwoMorrows, NOT to the editorial office. Jaclyn Smith photograph by Charles Bush. Charlie’s Angels © Sony Pictures Television, Inc. Jonny Quest © Hanna-Barbera Productions. Batman TM & © DC Comics. All Rights Reserved. All characters are © their respective companies. All material © their creators unless otherwise noted. All editorial matter © 2019 Michael Eury and TwoMorrows. Printed in China. FIRST PRINTING. ISSN 2576-7224

by Michael Eury

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It was easy for critics back in the fall of 1976 to dismiss TV’s newest sensation, Charlie’s Angels, as “jiggle TV.” I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the sex appeal of its stars didn’t lure me, then a college student in my late teens, to the tube each Wednesday night for a weekly Charlie’s Angels guys’ gathering around the big color TV in my dorm’s rec room, as the portable black-and-white set in my room just wouldn’t do! But I soon became enthralled with Charlie’s Angels’ other attributes, particularly the charisma of each of its stars and the appeal of a crime show featuring women as the heroes instead of damsels in distress (although the Angels certainly found themselves imperiled each week). While a few ambitious characters including Emma Peel had earlier dipped a cautious toe into the waters of femaleempowering television, Charlie’s Angels’ Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe, and Kelly Garrett made a splash-dive into the deep end of the pool. Soon, many other wonder women would follow. This issue of RetroFan includes articles celebrating Charlie’s Angels, and features a trio of important guests with intimate insights into this classic Seventies TV series. Jack Condon, co-author of The Charlie’s Angels Casebook, writes our lead article, a Charlie’s Angels history, as well as our Super Collector spotlight on his Angels merchandise, certified as the Guinness World Records’ largest such collection. Chris Mann, a Hollywood writer/interviewer covering popular culture and health and fitness, brings us a delightful wellbeing-focused Q&A with our cover star, the wonderfully accommodating Jaclyn Smith, known and loved by many of you as Angel Kelly Garrett. (Special thanks must go out to our own Andy Mangels for putting Jack and his Angels collection on my radar. From my initial invite to Jack about a Super Collector column grew our lead article and his recommendation of Chris for the interview with Jaclyn. Thank you, all!) But wait, there’s more! Our Celebrity Crushes fan column is a love letter to the late Farrah Fawcett. Why, you’ll learn so much about Charlie’s Angels this issue that you’ll be eligible to become an honorary Bosley! Yet there’s much more in this issue outside of what’s squawking from Charles Townsend’s speaker box. Funnyman Larry Storch has been mentioned in our pages on several occasions (and we haven’t even covered F Troop!), and this issue we’ve managed to catch up with the multi-talented 96-year-old for an interview. Pop-culture author Tim Hollis, a super collector himself (as you’ll see in a future issue), time-travels to the Seventies’ to visit the Land of Oz amusement park in its early days (and has shared one of the earliest photos you’ll ever see of Carrie Fisher, who was at the park on opening day with her famous mom). Toy expert John Cimino, who scored a hit with his Elastic Hulk article in our first issue, is back with a look at the incredibly rare Marvel World playset. And our regular columnists are in fine form, as you’d expect. Scott Shaw! revisits a campy Batman comic book published during the peak of Batmania, Will Murray introduces us to Jonny Quest creator Doug Wildey, Ernest Farino steps away from matters macabre to tune in to The Dick Van Dyke Show, and our designer Scott Saavedra pokes fun at some not-so-super items from his collection, including the Martha Kent (mother of Clark Kent) 7-Eleven Slurpee cup that no kid could possibly want. (Andy Mangels is off this issue but returns in #8 with a look at Electra Woman and Dyna Girl.) And then there’s a history of the original super-hero action figure, Captain Action, written by yours truly, the author of TwoMorrows’ book on that imaginative Sixties toy. This article was originally slated for RetroFan #10 but bumped into action earlier to fill in for Martin Pasko’s “My Life in the Twilight Zone” article announced last time for this issue. Currently Marty’s schedule won’t allow his participation in our mag on a regular basis, but his Pesky Perspective columns will appear whenever possible… and we’ll welcome him back as soon as we can! All that and more is waiting for you, making RetroFan #7 yet another groovy grab bag of the crazy, cool culture we grew up with.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to overwhelming demand, starting next issue, RetroFan goes bi-monthly! Look for #8 in March 2020, then every two months thereaf ter!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Eury PUBLISHER John Morrow CONTRIBUTORS Lyn Anderson John Cimino Jack Condon Michael Eury Ernest Farino Tim Hollis Chris Mann Will Murray Rose Rummel-Eury Scott Saavedra Scott Shaw! DESIGNER Scott Saavedra PROOFREADER Rob Smentek SPECIAL THANKS Marina Coates June Cross Ernest Farino Hake’s Auctions Heritage Auctions Rena Jacobs Andy Mangels Joe Zastawny VERY SPECIAL THANKS Jaclyn Smith Larry Storch

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RetroFan

Winter 2020

RETRO TELEVISION

by Jack Condon

season, the networks featured Robert Blake in Baretta, William Conrad in Cannon, Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones, and duo-cops Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul in Starsky & Hutch. NBC did venture out of the maledominated mindset in 1974 by featuring Angie Dickinson as the lead in Police Woman; however, her character was usually dominated or rescued by her male counterparts. In a series that would feature three female leads, there would be no man to save these women!

For those who lived through the unexplainable Seventies, it was a time when shag rugs, bellbottoms, and the disco craze epitomized a time of self-discovery and independence. In 1976, America was cerebrating the 200th anniversary of its independence. It was also the year of the Apple Computer launch by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; the first space shuttle, introduced by NASA; and Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter being elected the 39th president, defeating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford. From Alley Cats to Angels Throughout the course of these events, another milestone The concept for Charlie’s Angels did not come immediately, nor emerged. It was March 21, 1976, and a new television movie aired easily. Power producers Aaron Spelling and longtime partner on ABC, which placed #6 for the week. This program caused Leonard Goldberg toyed with the idea of creating a female an unexpected sensation that launched the pilot for a new detective series for some time. Spelling, who originally produced series that would soon change the face of hit television shows with Danny Thomas, television, Charlie’s Angels. including The Mod Squad (1968–1973), (ABOVE) The Charlie’s Angels logo Before there were streaming channels previously attempted to launch a female and iconic “praying hands” publicity such as Netflix or Hulu, and before there detective series, Honey West (1965–1966), photo of the original Charlie’s Angels was cable, there were three networks: ABC, starring Anne Francis. The series lasted stars, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, CBS, and NBC. These were the only choices only for one season [but will be explored and Jaclyn Smith. Unless otherwise for original programming, and all three by columnist Will Murray in the next issue noted, all photos accompanying this article are courtesy of Ernest Farino. offered up an array of successful crimeof RetroFan—ed.]. Goldberg, a former vice Charlie’s Angels © Sony Pictures Television, drama shows, mostly featuring gritty male president of daytime programming, was a Inc./CPT Holdings, Inc. leads. During the 1976–1977 television fan of the British espionage television series,

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RETRO television

of the audience that night. The movie ranked as the third highestrated television movie for 1976, and aired again on September 14, 1976, finishing fourth in the same ranking, paving the way for series success!

Angels Soar

Check your local listings: Charlie’s Angels debuts on ABC! © Sony Pictures Television, Inc.

& Lacey (1981–1988), which ran for seven seasons. Rosenzweig came into Charlie’s Angels with distinct ideas; instead of Charlie instructing the Angels as to what to do, he felt as if the Angels should meet with their clients before the assignment. It would allow them to make solid decisions on how to handle a case. Instead of Charlie presenting the case, he thought it more viable for the Angels to take the initiative. While Rosenzweig felt a sense of accomplishment for the direction in which he wanted the series to proceed, the ratings for the series continued to climb. Spelling and Goldberg decided that there was no need to retool the format, and essentially Rosenzweig was told to “stop improving the show.” Devastated, Rosenzweig tried to appeal to the executive producers, but the show became a phenomenon, and no one wanted to tamper with success. Within weeks of its debut, Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith graced the covers of TV Guide, People, and Time magazines. A poll conducted by ABC confirmed that 92 percent of those surveyed had seen Charlie’s Angels within a month after it debuted. Nearly 59 percent of television sets were tuned into ABC on Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m., making it a bona fide hit. As a counter argument, NBC executive Paul Klein criticized ABC’s television production and marketing strategy under Fred Silverman by asserting that Charlie’s

Charlie’s Angels debuted as a weekly series on September 22, 1976. It was the bright spot for an otherwise bleak season of new television entries. The first episode, “Hellride,” involving the death of a female stock car racer, immediately placed in the top 10 and remained there throughout the season. Despite its success, including the infamous “Angels in Chains” episode, where the Angels were sent to prison to expose a prostitution ring, the series went through several segment producers, trying to find its footing. Original segment producer Rick Husky tried to develop the Angels’ characters so that they would seem less interchangeable. He also emphasized situations in each script where the Angels would find themselves in jeopardy, creating action. Spelling loved the idea of action, and his input was to make the show more of a suspenseful fantasy, rather than focusing on acting and story content; however, the reviews were not as complimentary as the audience, and unsure of which direction to go, Spelling and Goldberg brought in veteran segment producer Barney Rosenzweig to add substance to the formulaic farce. Rosenzweig was determined to work on Charlie’s Angels. He previously worked for Spelling and Goldberg on a television Movie of the Week One of My Wives is Missing (1976). When he heard Rick Husky was leaving the series, he hoped he would be next in line. Rosenzweig was familiar with Husky. They both worked together on the successful NBC Western series Daniel Boone (1964–1970), and Rosenzweig wanted his name attached to Charlie’s Angels. During this time, Rosenzweig was working on his own script about two female police officers working together (TOP) Shortly after the series’ premiere, the in New York City, and thought if Angels began to appear on magazine covers a show with female leads would including the November 22, 1976 edition of be successful, it would help the Time. (RIGHT) An alternate pose of Farrah, chances of him selling his own Kate, and Jaclyn from the Time photo shoot. Photos by Douglas Kirkland. Time © Time USA, LLC. script. His instinct paid off. His teleplay ultimately became Cagney 8

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Angels was nothing more than “jiggle TV.” This assessment was an attempt to reach out to the morality of Americans by suggesting that the sexuality of young women was being exploited in an attempt to appeal to ratings. Charlie’s Angels then became misconstrued as nothing more than three women running around in bikinis, yet during the first season, Kate never wore a swimsuit and Farrah wore a one-piece swimsuit in only one episode. These attempted disparaging remarks only created more attention for the show. Throughout the 1976–1977 season, Charlie’s Angels was the most talked-about series, and the actresses were lauded. They were featured on countless magazine covers, appearing on a slew of talk shows, and followed around by paparazzi. The series became a merchandising bonanza with products including fashion dolls, board games, and trading cards [see the Super

own. Before long there were Farrah T-shirts, pillows, mugs, and beanbag chairs immortalizing the famous Farrah poster. Her pop-culture status was omnipresent, listing her in the December 27, 1976 issue of People magazine as one of the “25 Most Intriguing People of 1976,” while the June 10, 1977 issue of New Times magazine took a tongue-and-cheek approach by running her image on the cover with the caption, “Absolutely Nothing in this Issue about Farrah Fawcett-Majors.” Not since Marilyn Monroe did a blonde actress receive cult status in such a short amount of time… but that was all about to change. The third Annual People’s Choice Awards honoring the best in popular culture for 1976 was held on February 10, 1977. Charlie’s Angels was awarded “Favorite Overall New TV Program,” while Farrah took home the award for “Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Program.” It was at this event that producer Aaron Spelling was to discover Farrah would not be returning to the series for a second season. According to Farrah’s longtime agent, Jay Bernstein, it was her husband Lee Majors, not Farrah, who was unhappy of the long work hours. At the time, Farrah was Angels mania quickly spread into numerous merchandising venues— and if you don’t believe us, check out this author’s guest Super Collector column, later in this issue! Charlie’s

Angels © Sony Pictures Television, Inc. MAD © E.C. Publications.

Collector article elsewhere in this issue—ed.]. The women were constantly working 14 hours a day and had little time to bask in their success, but one actress rose beyond the success and into a phenomenon that helped catapult the series into a national obsession. Coincidentally, prior to the premiere of Charlie’s Angels, in mid-1976, Farrah was approached by a small Ohio company, Pro-Arts, to pose for a poster. Although her name was not yet well known, her likeness was, from the dozens of commercial endorsements that were already attached to her resume. Farrah was photographed in a clinging one-piece red swimsuit, with her head tilted back while projecting a fetching smile that radiated with her cascading blonde, feathered hair. The poster was released in fall 1976. That image soon became an iconic symbol of the embodiment to the all-American girl. The poster ultimately sold over 12 million copies. Throughout the first year of the series, Farrah’s image became synonymous with the show and with the hearts of millions of adoring fans. Every woman in America wanted to have the now-famous Farrah hairdo. Her blonde mane took on a life of its

making $5,000 per episode by comparison to Lee’s $50,000 weekly salary. He felt as if the 14-hour-a-day work schedule was not worth the compensation, so he decided Farrah would not return. It was officially announced on March 7, 1977 that due to the fact there was not an official contract signed, Farrah Fawcett would not return for a second season of Charlie’s Angels. During the next few months, emotions were tense and the future of Charlie’s Angels was in limbo. The series was a certifiable hit, ranking #5 in the Nielsen ratings. Negotiations for Farrah’s return continued throughout the second quarter of 1977 when Spelling, Goldberg, and ABC hoped for her to resume her obligation. When shooting began on June 1, 1977, Farrah was out of the country, and production ultimately halted on June 11th. Farrah was sued for a whopping $7 million for breach of contract, but the producers had an imminent concern on how to move forward with the series and replace her.

The Kid Sister Angel

The term “overnight success” could not be more true for Cheryl Ladd; however, it took seven years for the actress to reach it. RetroFan

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Nineties, each actress enjoyed television film careers dealing with storylines ranging from domestic abuse and drug addiction to murder mysteries and biographical roles. Each of their films were generally rating successes and for over two decades, all six actresses combined starred in a total of 128 film roles since the series ended in 1981. The popular cable network Lifetime created “Angel Marathon” weekends beginning in 1999, playing some of the actresses’ popular telefilms. There have been other successes for the actresses. Kate Jackson returned to weekly television in the CBS action-spy series, Scarecrow & Mrs. King (1983–1987). Farrah Fawcett received her first Emmy nomination for portraying Francine Hughes in the shocking NBC television film, The Burning Bed (1984). Jaclyn Smith launched her celebrity brand for the retail department store Kmart (1985), and eventually Sears; she has since parlayed her success to include a skincare beauty line, wigs, and fabrics (JaclynSmith. com). Replacement Angel Cheryl Ladd added “author” to her credits, penning a children’s book and one on her favorite pastimes, golf. The series itself became a brand, thanks to the beauty, charm, and talent of the actresses that created this legacy. It catapulted the series into becoming a worldwide success, airing in over 90 countries. Since 1983, it began showing five days a week in syndication, and throughout the years it continues to air on cable channels such as TV Land, Cozi, and MeTV. The entire series has been released and is available on Blu-ray DVD through Mill Creek Entertainment, and the concept has taken on several dubious and successful incarnations. Back in 1987, Aaron Spelling had gone from a successful run at producing many of ABC’s top shows—Hart to Hart, Starsky & Hutch, and The Love Boat—to holding on with only Dynasty and Hotel on its schedule. The newly developed FOX network had launched, and Spelling hoped to launch the idea of a Charlie’s Angels remake of sorts to the rookie network. Angels ’88 cast Tea Leoni (Madame Secretary), Sandra Canning, Karen Kopins, and Claire Yarlett as television actresses who open a detective agency. Like the former series, a nationwide casting call went out to generate interest, but the series never got beyond a pilot script. In 2000, Sony Pictures Studios rejuvenated the franchise by releasing a Charlie’s Angels action film starring Drew Barrymore,

(ABOVE) Angels, the next generation: promo poster for the 2000 Charlie’s Angels movie. Courtesy of Heritage. (INSET) Charlie’s Angels: The Complete Series, now available on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment. Charlie’s Angels © Sony Pictures

Television, Inc./CPT Holdings, Inc.

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Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. The studio had modest hope for the film to be successful, but in the end, it generated an impressive $264,105,545 in global ticket sales. This prompted the 2003 sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, which grossed $259,175,788 worldwide. ABC had hoped lightning would strike again and in 2011 ordered 13 episodes for a revamped Charlie’s Angels series starring Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, and Rachael Taylor. The series premiered 35 years to the day of the original; however, it was cancelled by the fourth episode due to low ratings. Despite the lack of public interest in another series, in 2019 Sony commissioned Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect) to take over as Bosley and direct a new version of the trademark venture, starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska as Charlie’s latest operatives. Despite all of its resurgences, Charlie’s Angels will invariably be associated with the original series that once coined the phrase “jiggle TV.” Praised by fans and lambasted by critics, it is a show that might have been taken too seriously, or had been enjoyed far too much. It is cemented in society as the first show that featured strong female leads and a dynamic cast that exuded chemistry. Sadly, one of the actresses, Farrah Fawcett, passed away on June 25, 2009, due to anal cancer; however, her legacy, which inspired a hairdo trend and a poster sensation, will be forever immortalized through that famous image. The series itself, having reached pop-culture status, will continue to entertain new audiences through some form of media for years to come. And in the end, like all classics, the show will live on eternally in the heavens above, because after all, that is where true angels genuinely belong. JACK CONDON is the author (with David Hofstede) of the 2000 book, The Charlie’s Angels Casebook, and was a creative consultant for the 2004 telefilm, Behind the Camera: The Story of Charlie’s Angels. His massive Charlie’s Angels memorabilia collection has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest such collection on the subject. Contact Jack Condon at: charliesangelsfan.com

From TV Angel to Real-life Superwoman

Photo by Charles Bush. Courtesy of Jaclyn Smith.

by Chris Mann She began inspiring generations as one of ABC’s karate-chopping Charlie’s Angels in the Seventies, became a trusted lifestyle brand in the Eighties, and empowered women as a breast cancer survivor in the 2000s. But now, actress, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate Jaclyn Smith strikes a healthy balance in part by chasing after her cherubic, three-year-old granddaughter and embracing fond memories. Among those: her life-changing primetime gig opposite Kate Jackson and Farrah Fawcett (and later Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack, and Tanya Roberts) as Charlie Townsend’s longestrunning private eye, Kelly Garrett. And while she has elegantly upheld her status as one of TV’s superwomen, the age-dyfing Smith, who turned 74 in October 2019, is quick to reveal that even the most multitasking of gals should regularly take a breather and practice self-care. “It’s about balance and being good to yourself,” she says. “I think a lot of women think they’ve gotta prove everything and do everything, and they really don’t. If they’re not being good to themselves, they can’t be good to anybody else.” Since 1985, Smith has helped women fashion a sense of wellbeing by offering affordable lines of ladies clothes and, more recently, home linens and furnishings at Kmart and Sears. Her eponymous lines of skincare and fashion wigs, available via JaclynSmith.com, offer the same brand of wholesome glamour that Smith has embodied since her days as a Breck and Wella Balsam hair-care modelturned-Aaron Spelling-blessed TV Angel-turned Max Factor spokeswoman. And her Spencer line of baby clothes—named after her daughter, Spencer Margaret Richmond, and inspired by Spencer’s own daughter, three-year-old Bea—is extending Smith’s multigenerational brand appeal in Sears and RetroFan

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COMICS MAGAZINES FROM TWOMORROWS BACK ISSUE

BACK ISSUE celebrates comic books of the 1970s, 1980s, and today through a variety of recurring (and rotating) departments, including Pro2Pro interviews (between two top creators), “Greatest Stories Never Told”, retrospective articles, and more. Edited by MICHAEL EURY.

BACK ISSUE #113

ALTER EGO

ALTER EGO, the greatest ‘zine of the ‘60s, is all-new, focusing on Golden and Silver Age comics and creators with articles, interviews and unseen art. Each issue includes an FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America) section, Mr. Monster & more. Edited by ROY THOMAS.

ALTER EGO #160

COMIC BOOK CREATOR

COMIC BOOK CREATOR is the new voice of the comics medium, devoted to the work and careers of the men and women who draw, write, edit, and publish comics, focusing always on the artists and not the artifacts, the creators and not the characters. Edited by JON B. COOKE.

COMIC BOOK CREATOR #19

DRAW!

DRAW! is the professional “How-To” magazine on cartooning and animation. Each issue features in-depth interviews and step-by-step demonstrations from top comics professionals. Some issues contain figure-drawing instruction nudity; Mature Readers Only. Edited by MIKE MANLEY.

DRAW #36

JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR

JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR celebrates the life and career of the “King” of comics through interviews with Kirby and his contemporaries, feature articles, and rare & unseen Kirby artwork, showcased in dynamic full-color! Edited by JOHN MORROW.

KIRBY COLLECTOR #77

REMEMBERING STEVE DITKO! Sturdy Steve at Marvel, DC, Warren, Charlton, and elsewhere! A rare late-1960s Ditko interview by RICHARD HOWELL— biographical notes by NICK CAPUTO— tributes by MICHAEL T. GILBERT, PAUL LEVITZ, BERNIE BUBNIS, BARRY PEARL, ROY THOMAS, et al. Plus FCA, JOHN BROOME, BILL SCHELLY, and more! Spider-Man cover by DITKO!

Celebrating the greatest fantasy artist of all time, FRANK FRAZETTA! From THUN’DA and EC COMICS to CREEPY, EERIE, and VAMPIRELLA, STEVE RINGGENBERG and CBC’s editor present an historical retrospective, including insights by current creators and associates, and memories of the man himself. PLUS: Frazetta-inspired artists JOE JUSKO, and TOM GRINDBERG, who contributes our Death Dealer cover painting!

MIKE HAWTHORNE (Deadpool, Infinity Countdown) interview, YANICK PAQUETTE (Wonder Woman: Earth One, Batman Inc., Swamp Thing) how-to demo, JERRY ORDWAY’s “Ord-Way” of creating comics, JAMAR NICHOLAS reviews the latest art supplies, plus Comic Art Bootcamp by BRET BLEVINS and MIKE MANLEY! May contain nudity for figure-drawing instruction; for Mature Readers Only.

MONSTERS & BUGS! Jack’s monster-movie influences in The Demon, Forever People, Black Magic, Fantastic Four, Jimmy Olsen, and Atlas monster stories; Kirby’s work with “B” horror film producer CHARLES BAND; interview with “The Goon” creator ERIC POWELL; Kirby’s use of insect characters (especially as villains); MARK EVANIER and our other regular columnists, Golden Age Kirby story, and a Kirby pencil art gallery!

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RETRO SUPER-HEROES

Captain Action The Original Super-Hero Action Figure by Michael Eury

Captain Action original artwork produced for a 1966 model kit from Aurora. Artist unknown. Captain Action

TM & © Captain Action Enterprises. Courtesy of Heritage.

I cried like a baby that Christmas morning. Now, before you RetroFans rechristen ye ed as this mag’s “Crybaby-in-Chief,” let me explain. I was a baby. Or close to it. A grade-school boy, in fact. And the Christmas I’m referencing was in 1966. That’s the year I experienced The Big Disappointment. For much of 1966, I had been whipped into a Pavlovian slobber-state by advertisements. Television commercials and the ad pages of my beloved Batman comic books tag-teamed to pound it into my consumer conscience that I must own what would become my favorite childhood toy, Ideal Toys’ Captain Action. I could not escape Captain Action’s siren call. Once the leaves fell and the air chilled, that tome of dreams, the Sears Christmas Wishbook, also summoned me, its slick, color-packed pages possessing my thoughts with their dynamic poses of the good captain garbed as some of my favorite super-heroes. Wow, a super-hero who could become another super-hero? Including my (as-seen-on-TV) fave, Batman? My dad, always eager to please, shrugged off my constant badgering for a Captain Action and costumes with this response: “Add it to your Christmas list, son.” And what a list it was, with my cursively penned pleas for the Captain Action figure plus uniforms for Batman, Superman, and Aquaman (not to mention Ideal’s 23-piece Batman and Robin playset and Mattel’s Batman Switch ’n Go Batmobile Set). Come the morning of December 25th, I received proof that Santa Claus did indeed read my scribbled entreaty as each of my requested Captain Action items, all neatly giftwrapped, waited for me under the tree. After the fevered exhilaration of shredding apart the colorful wrap to uncover my bounty, my heart sank. My mint-in-box Captain Action action figure, anchored rigidly at attention, gripped into position by upperand lower-body cardboard support pieces, his awesome lightning sword and ray gun safely secured inside a plastic pouch, had… two left hands. Let the bawling begin. I learned two important life lessons that day. First, be prepared for disappointments—not everything is always going to go your way. And second, I was reminded that I

RetroFan

Winter 2020

WILL MURRAY’S 20TH CENTURY PANOPTICON

Doug Creator Wildey of Jonny Quest by Will Murray Over the course of nearly 30 years of interviewing celebrities and other artistic talent with the Starlog group of magazines, I have probably talked to several hundred people. Much of it was routine, but every once in a while I had the rare opportunity to interview someone who resonated with me. As often as not, this category included people who influenced me during my childhood. One of my favorite interview subjects was Doug Wildey, with whom I spoke back in 1987 during a revival of a childhood favorite, Jonny Quest.

Wildey’s Wild Adventures

The Jonny Quest cast: (FRONT) Hadji, Jonny, and Bandit; (MIDDLE) Race and Dr. Quest; and (BACK) occasional cast member Jezebel Jade. Jonny Quest creator Doug Wildey produced this illustration in 1986 when the property, originally launched in 1964, was enjoying a comeback in comic books and on syndicated television. TM & ©

Hanna-Barbera Productions. Art courtesy of Heritage.

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Winter 2020

The Adventures of Jonny Quest was an animated TV show produced by HannaBarbera Studios back in 1964–1965. It had the distinction of being shown in primetime, something that was pioneered by Hanna-Barbera’s Flintstones four years prior. But The Flintstones was typical TV animation––a cartoony takeoff of The Honeymooners. Jonny Quest was something vastly different. The animation and storytelling were realistic, atmospheric, and illustrative. And the person chiefly responsible for this was the legendary artist Doug Wildey, who created the series and designed most of the characters. Jonny was an 11-year-old boy. His father was Dr. Benton Quest, one of the top three scientists in the world, who lived and worked on Florida’s Palm Key. Because of his importance to U.S. interests, the Quest family was guarded by Race Bannon, who worked for a government agency called Intelligence One. This was during the Cold War. Jonny Quest came about when Hanna-Barbera toyed with reviving the classic radio show, Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy, about a 17-year-old who travels the world with his uncle, having exotic adventures. Wildey assembled test animation footage for an episode set in Africa. Partners Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera loved it. But rights issues compelled Hanna-Barbera to abandon the property and turn their ambitions toward an original character. And so was born Jonny Quest. I spoke with Doug by telephone, and he couldn’t have been more gracious or generous with his time. His career had begun with drawing Buf falo Bill comics for Street & Smith back in 1948. He soon branched out to other publishers, specializing

in Westerns. For Marvel’s Stan Lee, he drew The Outlaw Kid between 1954 and 1957. Wildey drifted into TV animation in 1962, when Cambria Studios hired him on Space Angel, a science-fiction cartoon whose “animation” was limited to superimposing real lips onto faces drawn by another fugitive from comic books, character designer Alex Toth. “The animation was nonexistent,” Wildey recalled. “It was simply well-drawn still figures. Alex Toth carried about 80 percent of the show with his style.” After Space Angel, the artist applied to Hanna-Barbera, where they were taken by his realistic painterly art and decided to build Jack Armstrong around it. When that project crashed, Wildey was asked to salvage the idea. “Joe Barbera strolled in and said, ‘Create another show for us, then,’” he recounted. “I went home and wrote another one, which was actually a parallel to Jack Armstrong. I subsequently came up with Jonny Quest. The working title was ‘The Saga of Chip Balloo.’ Later, I got ‘Quest’ out of the LA phonebook.” Joe Barbera came up with ‘Jonny’––short for Jonathan. Wildey was made supervising art producer, but was denied a “Created by” credit. “I was not in charge of the animation because I’m not an animator,” he explained. “I would write the story and set the mood, the backgrounds, the characters. I would work mostly on the action part.” His first task was to design the cast. Blond Jonny was inspired by two kid actors, Jackie Cooper and Frankie Darrow. Redbearded Dr. Quest came from a character in a Wildey episode of The Saint newspaper strip. Bodyguard Roger T. “Race” Bannon was based on white-haired actor Jeff Chandler. “He wasn’t the greatest actor in the world, but he had this rather striking screen presence,” Wildey told me. With an eye toward future syndication, Hanna-Barbera directed that the show look as if was set ten years ahead, with futuristic airplanes and advanced technology. They also wanted Jonny to have a pet dog, designed for toy licensors. “I fought against Bandit quite a while,” Wildey said. “He was a cartoon dog. It was a little bit too unrealistic for the characters.” Flintstones animator Dick Bickenbach designed Bandit, the white bulldog. Wildey had pitched a pet monkey and a small white cheetah, and hated Bandit’s cartoony, raccoon-masked look. But he was stuck with him. “As soon as they put in Bandit,” he noted, “I immediately created Hadji. I felt very strongly that we needed someone besides a dog. It’s simply not natural for a kid to talk to grown-ups on the same level.”

(TOP LEFT) Doug Wildey. (TOP CENTER & RIGHT) Which Jonny Quest monster gave you nightmares? In addition to creepsters the Invisible Monster and the Robot Spy, the mummy Anubis, shown here in Wildey design illustrations, had a lot of Sixties kids leaving their lights on at bedtime! (ABOVE) Wildey’s 1964 original art showing the size comparison of the Quest cast. TM & © Hanna-Barbera Productions. Courtesy of Heritage.

Hadji joined up in the second episode, but his origin was not told until Episode Seven, “Calcutta Adventure.” Wildey wanted a minority companion for Jonny, and reached into his movie-going memories for inspiration: Sabu Dastagir, star of Elephant Boy and Thief of Baghdad. In the JQ series, street urchin Hadji saves Dr. Quest from an assassin’s knife and is adopted as a companion for Jonny. “Later on,” Wildey told me, “when we were auditioning for voices on the series, Sabu’s son, Paul Sabu, showed up to audition.” But he didn’t get the part. Wildey put careful thought into making each character separate and distinct, giving every major personality a different hairstyle and color. “I still feel that the most important thing in character design is the hairstyle and the color because these are the two things in long-shots, or close-ups, or silhouettes, that identify the characters. If you get two people with black hair and they’re the same size, you’re in trouble.” Next came casting the voice actors. Wildey did that as well. Future Animal House star Tim Matheson landed the plumb part of Jonny. Race Bannon was voiced by Mike Road, who also played Mr. Fantastic in The Fantastic Four. Paul Subu lost the part of Hadji RetroFan

Winter 2020

MONSTER MASH The Creepy, Kooky Monster Craze In America, 1957-1972 Time-trip back to the frightening era of 1957-1972, when monsters stomped into the American mainstream! Once Frankenstein and fiends infiltrated TV in 1957, an avalanche of monster magazines, toys, games, trading cards, and comic books crashed upon an unsuspecting public. This profusely illustrated full-color hardcover covers that creepy, kooky Monster Craze through features on FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine, the #1 hit “Monster Mash,” Aurora’s model kits, TV shows (SHOCK THEATRE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE MUNSTERS, and DARK SHADOWS), “MARS ATTACKS” trading cards, EERIE PUBLICATIONS, PLANET OF THE APES, and more! It features interviews with JAMES WARREN (Creepy, Eerie, and Vampirella magazines), FORREST J ACKERMAN (Famous Monsters of Filmland), JOHN ASTIN (The Addams Family), AL LEWIS (The Munsters), JONATHAN FRID (Dark Shadows), GEORGE BARRIS (monster car customizer), ED “BIG DADDY” ROTH (Rat Fink), BOBBY (BORIS) PICKETT (Monster Mash singer/songwriter) and others, with a Foreword by TV horror host ZACHERLEY, the “Cool Ghoul.” Written by MARK VOGER (author of “The Dark Age”). (192-page FULL-COLOR HARDCOVER) $39.95 • (Digital Edition) $11.95 • ISBN: 9781605490649 Diamond Order Code: MAR151564

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KIRBY & LEE: STUF’ SAID (Expanded Second Edition)

After achieving the quickest sell-out in TwoMorrows’ history, we’re going back to press for an EXPANDED SECOND EDITION, including minor corrections, and 16 NEW PAGES of “Stuf’ Said” by the creators of the Marvel Universe! This first-of-its-kind examination, completed just days before STAN LEE’s recent passing, looks back at KIRBY & LEE’s own words, in chronological order, from fanzine, magazine, radio, and television interviews, to paint the most comprehensive and enlightening picture of their relationship ever done—why it succeeded, where it deteriorated, and when it eventually failed. Also here are recollections from STEVE DITKO, WALLACE WOOD, JOHN ROMITA SR., and more Marvel Bullpen stalwarts who worked with them both. Compiled, researched, and edited by publisher JOHN MORROW. SECOND EDITION NOW SHIPPING! (176-page FULL-COLOR trade paperback) $26.95 • (Digital Edition) $12.95 ISBN: 978-1-60549-094-6 • Order at www.twomorrows.com

SUPER COLLECTOR

Collecting Angels by Jack Condon Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the police academy… and they were each assigned very hazardous duties. But Charlie took them away from all that, and I began collecting. My name is Jack Condon. The three girls who grew tired of their policewomen duties— parking tickets, clerical work, and crossing guard detail—became Charlie’s Angels, television’s biggest stars of the Seventies. Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith (plus later replacements Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack, and Tanya Roberts) created a sensation when Charlie’s Angels debuted on ABC on Sept. 22, 1976. The series, produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, was characterized as a crime-drama; however, it was more escapism and fantasy. Being an impressionable child, I was primed for the series. It was unique from the traditional detective and police dramas, shot stylistically throughout Los Angeles, and featured a relatively unknown cast of actresses. For me, the women came off as larger than life, yet approachable. I was not alone. The chemistry of the three leads was an instant success, landing the action series in the top five of the Nielsen ratings right from the beginning. My interest in the show was incited by another SpellingGoldberg series, The Rookies (1972–1974), which featured Kate. As the only female of an all-male cast, she stood out to me. There were episodes that featured Kate’s character, Jill Danko, being (ABOVE) Charlie’s Angels Super Collector Jack Condon stands with a promotional standee featuring the original Angels in their iconic pose. © Sony Pictures Television, Inc./CPT Holdings, Inc. Photos by Joe Zastawny.

kidnapped or stalked. Those were the episodes that impressed me because of her character’s vulnerability and strength. As an avid television watcher, I would look forward every week to the new issue of the TV Guide to be delivered by mail. I would scan through each page to see what was airing for the week ahead. When the March 20–26, 1976 edition announced the pilot movie for Charlie’s Angels airing on March 21, I was enthusiastic about it after seeing a small image of Kate in the ad. I also recognized Farrah from TV guest appearances she did previously. Billing the movie as an ABC Special Sunday Double Feature, the advertisement stated, “Money, Mystery, Murder… They’re in it Up to Their Gorgeous Private Eyes.” The premise reminded me of another series I enjoyed, Get Christie Love (1974–1975), starring Teresa Graves as a sexy undercover cop. In my mind, I thought, with the concept similar to Christie Love and Kate attached to the movie, how could I go wrong? After watching the 90-minute film, I was more enthralled than before and hoped that it would become a weekly series. Little did I know at the time, the pilot movie would be one of the highest-rated telefilms of the year, and the series was already in the works. I first learned that Charlie’s Angels would be part of the 1976 fall television lineup when my mother read to me a blurb about it in the local newspaper in June. The anticipation to watch it weekly grew for me during the summer months. Once it aired regularly at 10:00 p.m., I was allowed to stay up for each episode as a special occasion, even though it was a school night. I did not set out to collect initially; however, collecting ran in my family. I had a grandmother and aunt who loved to shop and pick up mementos along their travels. Subconsciously, they might have instilled the RetroFan

Winter 2020

Super collector

an optimal choice, but my next question would be, how do I get it produced? I did not have to wait long to discover the answer. Within weeks of my discussion with my mother, I was approached by a Santa Monica production company with an offer to turn the Charlie’s Angels Casebook into the 2004 NBC movie Behind the Camera: The Story of Charlie’s Angels. At first, the offer seemed inconceivable. I was in the brainstorming phase of how to pursue this goal and a producer contacted me! Ultimately, everything worked out seamlessly. It is ironic, because the book about the original television show soon became the TV movie about the book that was about the original television show. Working on this film for me was the culmination of my years of collecting, as I not only sold the rights to the book but also served as a creative consultant for the film. It was important for me to make sure that this film would represent the series, actresses, and timeline perfectly. My first task was to create the story bible, which is a complete outline with photos, suggestions, and notes for the concept of the film. It was used by the screenwriter to assist with character development settings and other visual elements to recreate specific details for the film. Working closely with the screenwriter, Matt Dorf f, allowed me to enhance storyline content. I also assisted with the casting of the actresses who starred in the film. Providing input on the casting of the actresses and working with each of the women to achieve their character development was my favorite part of the project. I worked diligently with each of the actresses chosen for the roles: Lauren Stamile as Kate Jackson (Sabrina), Tricia Helfer as Farrah Fawcett (Jill), and Christina Chambers as Jaclyn Smith (Kelly). In the beginning, we recited line readings in my Charlie’s Angels collection room so they could understand the phenomenon of the series. I also provided them with old videos of the early episodes and reminded them that they were playing the real actresses at the time when the women were still novices. Lauren, Tricia, and Christina successfully portrayed Kate, Farrah, and Jaclyn visually as well as in their voice inflections and mannerisms. Another twist for me was the filming of the movie. As a child reading the first TV Guide mention of Charlie’s Angels, I fantasized about flying out to Hollywood to be on the show’s set. Flashforward, I am now living in the Hollywood area, but I had to travel to Canada to be on the recreated (INSET) Behind the Camera: Charlie’s Angels DVD. (TOP) Jack Condon’s Guinness World Records certificate for his amazing collection. (RIGHT) Charlie’s Angels Casebook by Jack Condon and David Hofstede led to an NBC movie about the show in 2004. 44

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set because it was cheaper to film in Canada. Being on the set of the movie in the Charles Townsend office was a definitive throwback to my childhood. One of the proudest moments for me on the set was during a break between takes. A crew member approached me to thank me for writing the book. He mentioned that he had a hard time finding production work in Canada. Because of the Charlie’s Angels Casebook becoming a film, he was employed again. It was a surreal moment for me to realize that a collection I began years earlier had a significant impact on someone’s life in a powerful way. The fact that not only this man but also an entire cast and crew found employment due to my effort was a moment that is still paramount for me. The successes of both the Charlie’s Angels Casebook as well as the NBC television movie were two triumphs that I would never have anticipated happening if someone had mentioned it to me as a young boy in Boston. I did not think there could be any further feats for me with collecting, until 2011, when I was inducted into the Guinness World Records. It became another unexpected accomplishment for me. Moreover, my collection was chosen as the “#3 Most Interesting Record for 2012!” To become a Guinness World Records holder is an esteemed distinction for me because I grew up reading about all of the greatest records from around the world. I am proud to be part of the Guinness World Records family, which I wear as a badge of honor. Charlie’s Angels has been a focused and positive influence on my life for decades. What began as a childhood fascination became an ongoing experience! As the only collector who has parlayed my enthusiasm into an in-depth book and television movie and has become a Guinness World Records holder, I have been fortunate with all of my endeavors in the world of collecting. While I continue to search for items that are listed on my charliesangelsfan.com website such as a Radio Communications Center or Toy Fashion Watch, I simultaneously pursue present-day aspirations. One ambition in particular: educating as a college and university professor. After earning my MBA, I now thrive in a more cerebral life, teaching business. Perhaps it was destiny, since it is a subject that I know all too well. After all, merchandising, marketing, and trading first began for me when I was that small child growing up in Boston, when my hobby always meant business! It is a natural progression for me, and another extension of who I became thanks in part through my ongoing quest of collecting everything imaginable on Charlie’s Angels!

SCOTT SAAVEDRA’S SECRET SANCTUM

by Scott Saavedra

(ABOVE) ’Tis but a portion of the Secret Sanctum collection of collections. Proper storage and thoughtful display efforts are always recommended for the serious collector. (INSET ABOVE) Is there anything worse than a collector who goes on and on about their collection? Panels from Key Comics #3 (Winter 1945). Art by Fred Ball. Except for the comic panels all photos by the author.

The idea of having a specialized collection of a particular focus is alien to me. I collected coins, some stamps, comic books, and MAD magazines as a kid. My specialty was not having a specialty. My other specialty was not having much of anything. Except for my unexceptional collection of comic books and MAD magazines, when I first moved away from home (as a lad of but 18 summers) I managed to fit most of what I owned into a backpack. The summers piled up quickly, so too did the stuff that I, and eventually, I and my wife accumulated. We both have a tendency to hang on to things. But this is not the same thing as being a collector. Before we were married a church counselor advised us—not against marrying, exactly—to be aware that we’d likely encourage each other’s worst traits. Spot on, my good man. He was absolutely right. And yet, we’re still together 31 years later. I suppose that says something about how hard it is for us to get rid of old things once they’ve been gotten.

We’re both driven to keep and/or acquire objects based on whether it attracts or touches us in some way. These days, if we have large ongoing, specific collections of anything, it would be wife Ruth’s heaping masses of wool for spinning and my multiple boxes of blank paper going back to before World War II (much of it inherited from my late father-in-law, an amateur printer) intended for… oh, I’m sure I’ll think of something someday. Neither are the stuff of legendary RetroFan Super Collector articles (like this issue’s Super Collector on page 37). However, despite our unfocused and meandering ways we do have a few items which fall into the areas covered by this fine, fine publication and may be of interest. For today’s episode of Secret Sanctum they’ve been organized into (very) small, related groups. Collections, if you will, that are anything but super. Let’s talk about these not-so-super collections, shall we? We shall.

The Mistakes Were Made Collection The Martha Kent Slurpee Comic Cup is now one of my favorite objects. But it was once one of my most loathed. It was something I saved only because it was like other things that I was already saving. That is the madness of collecting right there. Around 1973–1974, 7-Eleven convenience

RetroFan

Winter 2020

SCOTT SAAVEDRA’S SECRET SANCTUM

The Groovy Collection Hey, man. The Partridge Family book, Marked for Terror (Keith sure doesn’t look too worried), is my absolute latest purchase, a real gas. The Monkees and various Beatles paperbacks are from my wife, who bought them new and was better in tune to this stuff than I was in the Sixties. I certainly enjoyed the music; however, the sex appeal of the performers escaped me (but Mrs. Partridge was a very attractive lady, now that the topic comes up). One title here, The Beatle Book, bugs me. The cover promises a triple-sized AUTOGRAPHED picture and it’s only a double-sized print of an image of an autographed photo. Very not bitchin’. Partridge Family © Sony. Monkees © Rhino Entertainment. Beatles © Apple Corps.

a drawing of it made by my father. Sort of. The toy The Toys from My Youth Collection dowashave a soft cloth clown doll with little jingle bells at the end G.I. Joe © Hasbro.

This is the saddest of all my collections. As the firstborn of seven kids, my toys often got handed down, lost, or destroyed. The G.I. Joe Action Soldier Army Manual is all that is left of my wonderful Joes. I used to have the Space Capsule and Space Suit, but one summer we neighborhood kids played “Splash Down” with it in a friend’s doughboy pool. The paper control panels peeled off afterward, and eventually everything Joe was gone… except, for years, a boot and the Army Manual. Today only the manual remains. For forgotten reasons, the kid version of me added beards to almost all of the faces. On the first page I listed my name, rank, and serial number. My rank was General. Fun fact: I would use sticky green florist’s clay and a toothpick to turn my G.I. Joe’s face into a generic green Planet of the Apes character, green Frankenstein’s monster, or green Wolf Man. My Joe was a regular green Lon Chaney, he was. Another remnant of my tiny tyke era is a 5.5-inch tall bald, yelling plastic spaceman by MPC (a.k.a. Multiple Toymakers). He used to have a helmet and some kind of oxygen pack or something that attached to the hole in his abdomen. I think I had two or three different ones originally. MPC made ten figures. All had accessories. This last item I no longer have— it was one of my first toys—but I

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Winter 2020

of its appendages. My great-grandma gave me the doll and it was like one sold at Bullock’s Wilshire in Los Angeles, where my father worked as an elevator operator and later as an illustrator for the store’s newspaper ads. He also met my mom there. The illustration here was used for a Bullock’s ad circa 1965. One of my brothers made a small print of the art after my dad died, and it’s been on display in my office ever since. So… some non-super collections for you to mock, feel sorry for, or, less likely, envy. Why do people collect things? Why? Why? I asked the internet that question and the answers made my eyes glaze over. We collect because we must. Or it’s a mental issue. Maybe collecting is just really, really sexy (no). I don’t care. I don’t know. I love it. You probably do too. SCOTT SAAVEDRA is a graphic designer, writer, and artist who used to have some cool toys. He is perhaps best known as the creator of the long-ago comic-book series, It’s Science with Dr. Radium (SLG), and he wrote for the short-lived Disney Comics line, where he scripted stories featuring Chip ’n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and others. His fanzine, Comic Book Heaven, about crazy, vintage comics, had a devoted but, sadly, tiny following. Check out his Instagram thing, won’t you? (instagram.com/scottsaav/)

ERNEST FARINO’S RETRO FANTASMAGORIA

Walnuts and Wenches and The Guns of Navarone …or, Don’t Trip Over That Ottoman! by Ernest Farino

The Dick Van Dyke Show premiered in 1961, the brainchild of one of comedy’s true geniuses, Carl Reiner. Actually, Carl Reiner might not be regarded as such now had the original plans fallen in line. Reiner had conceived and written the pilot for a comedy series called Head of the Family and cast himself in the lead role of Robert Petrie, a writer for a famous TV comedian. His wife, Laura, was played by Barbara Britton, who previously co-starred with Richard Denning on the TV series Mr. & Mrs. North (1952); she was Revlon’s pitchwoman for 12 years, and appeared in “B” films as Arch Oboler’s infamous foray into 3D, Bwana Devil, in 1952. However, the pilot tripped over its own ottoman and fell flat on its face. But producer Sheldon Leonard had faith in the project and decided to give it another go. Reiner didn’t want to do it again at first, saying that he didn’t want to fail a second time with the same material. Sheldon Leonard replied, in his Brooklyn-ese, gangster-ish way of speaking, “You won’t fail because we’ll get a better actor than you!” So they started anew. Sheldon Leonard had been dazzled by Dick Van Dyke’s performance in the Broadway production of Bye, Bye Birdie, so Dick became the reinvented Rob Petrie

(LEFT) Sheldon Leonard. (RIGHT) TV Guide listing/ad for Head of the Family, the original pilot for The Dick Van Dyke Show. © TV Guide

(LEFT) Carl Reiner. (TOP RIGHT) The Dick Van Dyke Show opening title. (ABOVE LEFT AND RIGHT) The Dick Van Dyke Show’s stars, Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie and Mary Tyler Moore as Laura Petrie. © CBS. (INSET BELOW) Meet “the girl with three names.” Mary Tyler Moore as an uncredited model on the LP record album for Latin Rhythms with Miguelito Valdez (Sutton, SSU 288), pre-Dick Van Dyke Show (exact year unknown). Mary appeared on at least ten such album covers during this time.

(beating of Johnny Carson, who was also considered). Later, Dick commented, “It’s quite hard to act yourself all the time. My first wife, Margie, used to say she could see no difference between Rob Petrie and me. She said, ‘You’re not acting. You are exactly the same on screen as you are at home.’” Rob’s wife Laura was a bit more difficult to cast. According to Reiner, he had auditioned 26 actresses but hadn’t found the right one and was getting frustrated. Sheldon Leonard said, “You’ll know her when you see her.” Producing partner Danny Thomas then remembered “the girl with three names” whom he had turned down previously on another project, so a lengthy search began through photos and records. They finally found “the girl with three names” and in came Mary Tyler Moore, looking, as Reiner put it, “like Mary Tyler Moore.” She delivered her first line with a “ping” of an inflection and Reiner said, “That’s it!” And he clamped his hand down onto the top of her head and marched her into Sheldon Leonard’s office and said, “I found her.” Ironically, Mary later wrote that she almost skipped the audition. Although she had appeared in guest spots on numerous TV series such as Thriller; Hawaiian Eye; Surfside 6; The Deputy; Bachelor Father; Riverboat; Wanted: Dead or Alive; Richard Diamond, Private Detective (on which, famously, only her legs were seen under her desk), and a few movies like Operation Mad Ball and X-15 (opposite Charles Bronson and directed by Richard Donner), she had become unhappy with what she felt was a stalled career RetroFan

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ER EISN RD AWA ER!! N WIN ER EISN RD AWAINEE! M NO

ER EISN RD AWAINEE! NOM

BACK ISSUE #118

BACK ISSUE #119

GREATEST STORIES NEVER TOLD! ALEX ROSS’ unrealized Fantastic Four reboot, DC: The Lost 1970s, FRANK THORNE’s unpublished Red Sonja, Fury Force, VON EEDEN’s Batman, GRELL’s Batman/Jon Sable, CLAREMONT and SIM’s X-Men/Cerebus, SWAN and HANNIGAN’s Skull and Bones, AUGUSTYN and PAROBECK’s Target, PAUL KUPPERBERG’s Impact reboot, abandoned Swamp Thing storylines, & more! ROSS cover.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ISSUE! A galaxy of comics stars discuss Marvel’s whitehot space team in the Guardians Interviews, including TOM DeFALCO, KEITH GIFFEN, ROB LIEFELD, AL MILGROM, MARY SKRENES, ROGER STERN, JIM VALENTINO, and more. Plus: Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon before the Guardians, with CHRIS CLAREMONT and MIKE MIGNOLA. Cover by JIM VALENTINO with inks by CHRIS IVY.

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ALTER EGO #162

ALTER EGO #163

MIKE GRELL

LIFE IS DRAWING WITHOUT AN ERASER

Career-spanning tribute covering Legion of Super-Heroes, Warlord, & Green Arrow at DC Comics, and Grell’s own properties Jon Sable, Starslayer, and Shaman’s Tears. Told in Grell’s own words, with PAUL LEVITZ, DAN JURGENS, DENNY O’NEIL, MARK RYAN, & MIKE GOLD. Heavily illustrated! (160-page FULL-COLOR TPB) $27.95 (176-page LTD. ED. HARDCOVER) $37.95 (Digital Edition) $12.95 • Now shipping!

DRAW #36

COMIC BOOK IMPLOSION

AN ORAL HISTORY OF DC COMICS CIRCA 1978! Marking the 40th anniversary of the “DC Implosion”, one of the most notorious events in comics (which left stacks of completed comic book stories unpublished and spawned Cancelled Comics Cavalcade). Featuring JENETTE KAHN, PAUL LEVITZ, LEN WEIN, MIKE GOLD, and others, plus detailed analysis of how it changed the landscape of comics!

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KIRBY & LEE: STUF’ SAID WORLD OF TWOMORROWS AMERICAN COMIC BOOK Celebrate our 25th anniversary with this CHRONICLES: The 1980s retrospective by publisher JOHN MORROW

WILL MURRAY presents an amazing array of possible prototypes of Batman (by artist FRANK FOSTER—in 1932!)—Wonder Woman (by Star-Spangled Kid artist HAL SHERMAN)—Tarantula (by Air Wave artist LEE HARRIS), and others! Plus a rare Hal Sherman interview—MICHAEL T. GILBERT with more on artist PETE MORISI—FCA— BILL SCHELLY—JOHN BROOME—and more! Cover homage by SHANE FOLEY!

The early days of DAVE COCKRUM— Legion of Super-Heroes artist and co-developer of the revived mid-1970s X-Men—as revealed in art-filled letters to PAUL ALLEN and rare, previously unseen illustrations provided by wife PATY COCKRUM (including 1960s-70s drawings of Edgar Rice Burroughs heroes)! Plus FCA—MICHAEL T. GILBERT on PETE MORISI—JOHN BROOME—BILL SCHELLY, and more!

EXPANDED SECOND EDITION—16 EXTRA PAGES! Looks back at the creators of the Marvel Universe’s own words, in chronological order, from fanzine, magazine, radio, and television interviews, to paint a picture of JACK KIRBY and STAN LEE’s complicated relationship! Includes recollections from STEVE DITKO, ROY THOMAS, WALLACE WOOD, JOHN ROMITA SR., and other Marvel Bullpenners!

and Comic Book Creator magazine’s JON B. COOKE! Go behind-the-scenes with MICHAEL EURY, ROY THOMAS, GEORGE KHOURY, and a host of other TwoMorrows contributors! Introduction by MARK EVANIER, Foreword by ALEX ROSS, Afterword by PAUL LEVITZ, and a new cover by TOM McWEENEY!

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NEW PRINTING with corrections, better binding, & enhanced cover durability! KEITH DALLAS documents comics’ 1980s Reagan years: Rise and fall of JIM SHOOTER, FRANK MILLER as comic book superstar, DC’s CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, MOORE and GAIMAN’s British invasion, ECLIPSE, PACIFIC, FIRST, COMICO, DARK HORSE and more!

(288-pg. FULL-COLOR Hardcover) $48.95 (Digital Edition) $15.95 • Ships Feb. 2020

TwoMorrows. The Future of Comics History.

COMIC BOOK CREATOR #21 COMIC BOOK CREATOR #22

KIRBY COLLECTOR #77

ERIC POWELL celebrates 20 years of THE GOON! with a career-spanning interview and a gallery of rare artwork. Plus CBC editor and author JON B. COOKE on his new retrospective THE BOOK OF WEIRDO, a new interview with R. CRUMB about his work on that legendary humor comics anthology, JOHN ROMITA SR. on his admiration for the work of MILTON CANIFF, and more!

P. CRAIG RUSSELL career-spanning interview (complete with photos and art gallery), an almost completely unknown work by FRANK QUITELY (artist on All-Star Superman and The Authority), DERF BACKDERF’s forthcoming graphic novel commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings, CAROL TYLER shares her prolific career, JOE SINNOTT discusses his Treasure Chest work, CRAIG YOE, and more!

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KIRBY COLLECTOR #78

SILVER ANNIVERSARY ISSUE! How Kirby kickstarted the Silver Age and revamped Golden Age characters for the 1960s, the Silver Surfer’s influence, pivotal decisions (good and bad) Jack made throughout his comics career, Kirby pencil art gallery, MARK EVANIER and our regular columnists, a classic 1950s story, KIRBY/STEVE RUDE cover (and deluxe silver sleeve) and more! (84-page FULL-COLOR magazine) $10.95 (DELUXE EDITION w/ silver sleeve) $12.95 (Digital Edition) $5.95 • Ships Winter 2020

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RETRO TOYS

The 1975 AMSCO Marvel World Adventure Playset The magical toy that put the entire Marvel Universe in every child’s hand!

by John “THE MEGO STRETCH HULK” Cimino

If I were to tell you that one of the most legendary Marvel super-hero toys ever made came from a company that specialized in reality-based toys such as kids’ kitchen sets, plastic food products, and baby dolls that pooped themselves, you might say I’m crazy (hey, I’ve been called worse). But it’s true, it’s damn true. In 1975, American Metals Specialties Corporation, a.k.a. AMSCO (a division of board-game manufacturer Milton Bradley), put out four remarkable adventure playsets: Space: 1999, Planet of the Apes, The Waltons (the wording of “adventure” was removed from the title on that set), and the standout star of the bunch—Marvel World. Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s all pause for a moment, bow our heads, and say that name again in its entirety—THE AMSCO MARVEL WORLD ADVENTURE PLAYSET! That’s a name that Marvel Comics lovers’ dreams are made of, and a name that implies exactly what kids got if they were lucky enough to hold this magnificent piece of toy heaven in the palms of their hands. The entire playset is made from heavyweight cardboard (called fiberboard) with full-color graphics printed on both sides. All of the pieces are die-cut and easy to punch out. You simply assemble the buildings and create your own Marvel Universe. Yes, you read that correctly. By building this playset, the entire Marvel Universe actually came alive in your home! Think I’m joking? Included was the Fantastic Four’s Baxter Building and Air Car, the Daily Bugle Offices, the Avengers Town House, Dr. Strange’s Mansion (a.k.a. the Sanctum Sanctorum), Peter Parker’s Apartment, the Negative Zone, a working elevator, a secret trap door, and even a wall for the Hulk to rampage through! And make no mistake about it, these weren’t simple

cardboard cutouts—the buildings and landscapes were detailed and completely accurate to what kids were familiar with in the funnybooks. Not only did the structures look great from the outside, but you could turn them around and have your heroes “step inside” for authentic comic action at its finest. And speaking of heroes, they’re all included here, along with those malevolent masters of malice that would constantly give them pause. Marvel World really was a “world” in every sense and came with an extraordinary 34 character cardboard standup pieces to use, a who’s who of all the super-heavyweights of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Dr. Strange, Sub-Mariner, Silver Surfer, Valkyrie, Scarlet Witch, the Vision, the Thing, Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Daredevil, Hawkeye, Luke Cage, Shang-Chi, Captain Marvel (dubbed Captain Mar-Vell), Falcon, Redwing (Falcon’s sidekick bird), Lady Sif, Dr. Doom, Loki, Dr. Octopus, the Red Skull, the Green Goblin, Kraven the Hunter, the Lizard, J. Jonah Jameson, Aunt May, Mary Jane, and the devourer of

RetroFan

Winter 2020

THE ODDBALL WORLD OF SCOTT SHAW!

Oddball Comics Holy BATMAN #183! by Scott Shaw! This cover, which was designed and penciled by Carmine Infantino, inked by Joe Giella, and lettered Gaspar Saladino (the colorist remains undetermined), was quite a big deal when it hit the spinner racks. ABC’s Batman series, airing twice weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays, had premiered on January 12, 1966, and every comic-book fan in America had been buzzing about the series for six months. The younger you were, the better you liked it. I was in high school and I loved the show, but most of my comics fan buddies felt otherwise. They disliked its “campy” approach, while I primarily dug the overall art direction’s attempt to replicate the look of comic books’ staging, design, and coloring. But whichever way our opinions fell, we were all watching it, despite the fact that Batman’s twice-a-week schedule caused the series’ unique appeal to wear out twice as fast as usual. We probably would have appreciated the television show even more if we’d known that the comic books that it was based on were almost cancelled just a few years before! During the Fifties and early Sixties, a man named Jack Schiff edited Batman and Detective Comics for DC Comics. He wasn’t particularly a risk-taker, though. He patterned the Batman stories he oversaw on editor Mort Weisinger’s line of Superman comics, adding derivative characters like Batwoman, Ace the Bat-Hound, and Bat-Mite to the world of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. For a while, the books were very successful, but by the early Sixties, the books’ art style and overly familiar gimmicks were beginning to falter noticeably. Sales were down and plummeting faster. National Periodical Publications, Inc.’s (DC Comics) brass took notice. At first, they considered cancelling both Bat-titles but immediately relented, since DC needed Batman to flesh out their 66

RetroFan

Winter 2020

Title: Batman Issue Number: 183 Cover Date: August 1966 (actual on-sale date: June 2, 1966) Publisher: National Periodical Publications, Inc. (DC Comics) Cover Artists: Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella

trifecta that included Superman and Wonder Woman. Suddenly, Jack Schiff was out and editor Julius “Julie” Schwartz and artist Carmine Infantino were brought in to visually remodel the Batman character and the feature itself. (I’m sure that Batman co-creator Bob Kane’s “ghost artist” Shelly Moldoff was just very happy to still be working.) Editor Schwartz dubbed their impressive effort as “The New Look,” the first examples of which appeared in the pages of Detective Comics #327 (May 1964) and Batman #164 (June 1964) And miracle of miracles, “The New Look” did improve sales. Infantino was a terrific designer and storyteller; he gave the character a sleek and dynamic look that was far different from Dick Tracy, the comic strip that influenced Kane and Batman co-creator Bill Finger from the beginning. While a lot of us loved the classic Batman work by ghost artists like Jerry Robinson and Dick Sprang, the world of super-hero comics was rapidly changing. Marvel Comics cartoonists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko—both with extremely “cartoony” drawing styles—were swiftly overtaking DC’s sales figures at the time, although Sol Harrison and the other big shots at DC refused to acknowledge any of that. Then ABC’s Batman primetime action series came along. The details of how that came to pass have been amply documented elsewhere… but one fact is unquestionably true: 1966’s Batman irreversibly changed Pop Art, pop culture, and comic books forever. And Batman #183 absolutely confirms that. Although the Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen comic book was directly inspired by the Adventures of Superman live-action TV series, this era in

Batman’s comic-book history definitely represented the first time that a television show was controlling the goings-on in a comic book! So let’s all camp out! But before we wade into the contents of Batman #183, let’s take a quick look at the creators behind this classic Oddball Comic: A onetime science-fiction fan and literary agent, editor Julius Schwartz (1915–2004) worked only for DC Comics his entire career. Schwartz edited the comics starring his publisher’s most famous super-heroes, but his most Oddball editing assignments include the DC titles Rex the Wonder Dog, Charlie Chan, Strange Sports Stories, Captain Action, and Superman versus Muhammad Ali. Writer/editor Robert “Bob” Kanigher (1915–2002) wrote short stories, poems, and radio show scripts before working for Archie Publications on their Golden Age super-heroes Steel Sterling and the Web. At DC, Kanigher primarily wrote war and romance comics, but he also wrote super-heroes like Wonder Woman and the Flash. Some of his most Oddball creations include the Metal Men and their menace Chemo, G.I. Robot, the Bouncer, and the War That Time Forgot. Writer Gardner Fox (1911–1986) began creating comic-book scripts very early in the Golden Age and continued to do so until his death. In addition to thousands of scripts for super-hero and science-fiction comics, he worked in every genre on the racks. Some of the Oddball characters he created stories for include Crom the Barbarian, Cave Girl, Dogface Dooley, Thun’da, Red Wolf, Super-Chief, and those Three Stooges clones Winky, Blinky, and Noddy. He also wrote hundreds of paperback novels of many genres under many names. From the early Forties onward, cartoonist/art director/ publisher Carmine Infantino (1925–2013) worked in nearly every genre of funnybooks for dozens of publishers. His sense of cover design, especially during his stint as DC’s Creative Director, was outstanding. He will always be remembered for his co-creation of one of comicdom’s most beloved Oddball Comic character, DC’s “Detective Chimp,” as well as its most ignored, “Mopee” (the blundering imp behind the Flash’s origin). Cartoonist Sheldon “Shelly” Moldoff (1920–2012) had a very diverse career in comic books, animation, and advertising, but his most significant work went unacknowledged for decades: he “ghosted” the artwork for hundreds of Batman stories signed by Bob Kane. He also worked for Kane to create the animated TV

series Cool McCool and Courageous Cat. On an Oddball note, Shelly drew hundreds of promotional giveaway comics, including a few years’ worth of Adventures of the Big Boy. Cartoonist Joe Giella (born in 1928 and still around, I’m happy to report) has been working on comic books and comic strips since the mid-Forties. Primarily known as an inker, Joe occasionally penciled stories for a variety of publishers as well as penciling and inking the Mary Worth comic strip for a decade. Joe’s also worked on the Oddball-Comic-with-a-record, Holo-Man, as well as inking many stories for Archie Comics’ decidedly Oddball line of “Mighty Comics” in the Sixties. Letterer Gaspar Saladino (1927–2016) put words in the mouths of DC characters for nearly half a century. Gaspar also did a lot of lettering for Marvel Comics, Western Publishing, and MAD magazine. His Oddball assignments included Stan Lee and Frank Springer’s syndicated comic strip The Virtue of Vera Valiant and the promotional giveaway comic book The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man. Bob Kane (1916–1998) and Bill Finger (1914–1974) were the co-creators of Batman in 1939. The controversial Kane could barely draw yet for decades took sole credit for the character and his supporting cast. Most of the art in the early Batman stories consists of Kane’s “swipes” from other sources. Kane’s parents presented DC Comics with his doctored birth certificate; the situation of signing a contract with a supposed minor is how Kane was able to sign any Batman story with his signature. He engineered a brilliant deal, one that was incredibly cruel to his partner, writer Bill Finger. Not only did Bill do the heavy lifting in Batman’s creation, he wrote super-hero stories for Marvel Comics in the Forties and hundreds of stories for DC during the Golden and Silver Ages of Comics. Finger also wrote scripts for radio dramas as well as television series including 77 Sunset Strip, The Roaring Twenties, Hawaiian Eye, Surfside 6, and, ironically, ABC’s Batman (the shows featuring the villain the Clock King.) Facing the inside-front-cover “Treasure Chest of Fun” advertisement, this classic Oddball Comic opens with “A Touch of Poison Ivy!” This story was written by Robert Kanigher, penciled by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), inked by Joe Giella, and lettered by Gaspar Saladino. It opens as Bruce Wayne RetroFan

Winter 2020

CELEBRITY CRUSHES

Farrah, the Fairest

This issue of RetroFan features an article about Charlie’s Angels, which brings back memories of my teenage crush on Farrah Fawcett. In 1969, she began appearing in TV ads with Joe Namath for Noxzema Shaving Cream. This was a time way before the internet, social media, or any computer-related information. We only had three channels to watch on TV, but I loved watching TV. I was also a big sports fan, and that’s where Farrah’s Noxema ads would appear. To an 11-year-old boy just starting to be interested in girls, seeing her beautiful hair and perfect smile made Farrah really stand out to me. I thought, How could there be a more attractive woman? She then began popping up on many TV shows and commercials. In 1973, she married the Six Million Dollar Man, Lee Majors, and changed her name to Farrah FawcettMajors. For me, Lee Majors always seemed too stoic to be married to Farrah, but maybe that was just jealousy on my part. Next, in 1974, she was a semi-regular on Harry O, where she played star David Janssen’s girlfriend. Harry O was a private-detective show in the vein of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. Janssen was a big TV star at the time due to the hugely popular show, The Fugitive. So here was Janssen, playing this great character, and he gets to have Farrah as a girlfriend! How lucky can a guy get? Her big break came in 1976 when she played Jill Munroe on Charlie’s Angels. In the Seventies, this show was a departure from the male-dominated private-detective shows of the day and gave ladies the chance to be in the spotlight. Also in 1976, Farrah came out with the bestselling pin-up poster of all time when she posed in her iconic red swimsuit. The next year,

I was a freshman at NC State. I had this poster and several others of Farrah on my dorm room wall. My roommate had a poster on his wall of a Native American smoking a joint. You could tell we had different priorities! Farrah began to appear in some less-thanmemorable movies, but I still tried to see them. In 1978, she appeared on the cover of Playboy, which remains one of the magazine’s classic covers. She must have tired of the roles she had been getting and began to seek out better parts to change her image. She was in TV movies like The Burning Bed and Murder in Texas (the latter featuring Andy Griffith), which were definite departures from her previous roles. She was a nominee for four Emmy and six Golden Globe awards. She began a relationship with Ryan O’Neal in 1979, and even though this seemed a better fit, he reportedly had a bad temper and it was not ideal for her. Sometimes she would do things that seemed out of character, like her rambling interview on David Letterman and appearing nude in Playboy. In 2009, her life was cut short by cancer. It’s funny how when a famous person dies, we feel a loss, like we almost knew them. Famous people will always be with us in pictures or video that we can look at and enjoy. They can even transport me back to a time when I was a young man.

by Lyn Anderson

P.S.: I still have my original copy of the red swimsuit poster, as well as several other posters and magazines with Farrah. LYN ANDERSON started collecting comic books in 1973, graduated from NC State University in 1981, began hosting the Raleigh Comic Book Show [convention] in 1987, and has been married to his own Farrah (Anna) for 38 years.

Hey, lovelorn, quit sobbing into your pillow and writing diary entries—instead, share your Sixties/Seventies/ Eighties Celebrity Crushes with RetroFan readers! (Celebrity stalkers, please do not apply.) You can become famous, get three free copies of the magazine, and earn a whopping $10 as well. Submit your 600-word-maximum Celebrity Crushes column to the editor for consideration at euryman@gmail.com. 72

RetroFan

Winter 2020

RETRO TRAVEL

The Land of Oz by Tim Hollis

The story of how a theme park based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz came to exist on a mountaintop in northwestern North Carolina actually begins with another innovative aspect of tourism for that region of the country. In 1966, the three Robbins brothers (Grover, Harry, and Spencer), who were already well known in North Carolina’s tourist industry, announced plans to build an entertainment complex on top of Beech Mountain, a 5,506-foot summit near Banner Elk. The main feature of their new project would be a ski resort; the idea was a novel one for the southeastern part of the U.S., where obviously the ski season was much shorter than in Colorado or New England. For that reason, the Robbins family also wanted to do something that would make use of the ski facilities during the long off-season. The Robbinses turned to their valued associate, Charlottebased designer Jack Pentes, to come up with an idea for their summer attraction on Beech Mountain’s summit. In recounting the story, Pentes often related how he was first shown the

property for the proposed development, and it was the indigenous trees, twisted and gnarled by centuries of exposure to the harsh mountain climate, that reminded him of the crabby apple trees in MGM’s 1939 movie version of The Wizard of Oz. As it turns out, though, Pentes had long wanted to create a theme park based on the story. In the early Sixties, he had been responsible for a walk-through Oz display that served as a Christmas feature for the Charlottetown Mall, and ever since he had dreamed of doing basically the same thing on a full-scale basis. When he (ABOVE) Most theme park souvenir maps were designed to help people navigate their way around the property—but the Land of Oz map was more graphically attractive than functional. It was by no means drawn to scale, and showed things that were not usually part of the experience, omitting other things that were. (Unless otherwise noted, all images in this article are courtesy of Tim Hollis.)

RetroFan

Winter 2020