A Big Hand For the Little Lady

An atypical 1966 Henry Fonda western that's perfect for fans of MAVERICK and, from some years later, THE STING. Wonderful performances all around, some tense moments and an extremely satisfying twist ending. Joanne Woodward steals the show!

Daktari Paperback Tie-In

Uncle Scrooge

Scrooge McDuck had first appeared in comics in 1949 and almost immediately the Duck side of the Disney comic book universe seemed to form around him. As hard as it is to believe, however, Uncle Scrooge never appeared in an animated cartoon until more than 15 years after his four-color debut.

Carl Barks was the anonymous show-runner behind Scrooge and the fans took notice, even though it would be years before they knew the identity of the "Good Duck Artist."Other artists and writers handled the character but the World's Richest Duck was mainly Barks' baby and he turned out some of the best comic book adventure stories of all time.

Seen here are the UNCLE SCROOGE issues from '66 as "Unca' Carl" wound down toward retirement.  Having premiered at Dell, by '66 Gold Key was publishing it. Gladstone would follow, then Gemstone and Boom. Along the way, the character would finally reach a wider audience via the successful TV cartoon, DUCKTALES, where he was voiced by MR. ED's human pal, Alan Young.

 

Bob Hope Ad

Bob Hope seemed to be everywhere in 1966--on TV,  in movies, in comic books, in Viet Nam and in magazine ads.

Hawk

Before he became THE superstar of seventies cinema, Burt Reynolds was a TV fixture on GUNSMOKE, RIVERBOAT, HAWK and DAN AUGUST. HAWK was from '66 and was later rerun in primetime after Burt hit the big-screen big-time.

Satisfaction-The Rolling Stones

Here's Mick and the Stones singing a bit of SATISFACTION on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW in 1966, 46 years ago. Last week in 2012, hosting SNL, Mick answered some Frequently Asked Questions, one of which was, "Have you achieved satisfaction." He responded that if he said no, people would ask "WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!!??" but if he said yes he wouldn't be able to sing the song anymore.

Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN

LT. ROBIN CRUSOE, U.S.N. was one of Dick Van Dyke's better theatrical vehicles and came out just as his classic TV run was ending. The film, about a Navy man stranded on an island with a chimp and several women, was one of the last films Walt Disney actually worked on and, in fact, the ONLY one on which he received a writing credit! Nancy Kwan co-starred and character actor Tyler McVey, whom I would get to work with many years radio at Old Time Radio Conventions, has a small role near the end.

Get Smart Trading Cards

Batstuff # 32

Go-Go Comics

DC may have had its "go-go checks" but Charlton--of all companies--had the actual hip GO-GO comic book! A bit of an odd combination of MAD-like humor comic and teenage fan magazine, GO-GO featured  pop culture lampoons of everything from TV's PEYTON PLACE to Marvel Super Heroes. A number of interesting creators had early work in GO-GO including Gary Friedrich, Bill Dubay, Denny O'Neil, Grass Green, Steve Skeates and Jon D'Agostino. Perhaps it's best remembered though for the art debut of Jim Aparo. GO-GO began in mid-'66 and lasted through most of '67, here are the covers of all 9 issues. 

The Best Jokes of 1966

Courtesy of Ace Researcher Derek Tague, this year-end compilation of the best jokes of' 66 appeared in PARADE magazine at the end of that year. The only problem? The BEST?? These are more like the WORST jokes of '66.

Everybody Loves a Nut--Johnny Cash

Still a few years away from mainstream superstardom, Johnny Cash was already a well-established country performer. His album of 1966, EVERYBODY LOVES A NUT, came out with this terrific Jack Davis cover and featured his fun novelty song, THE ONE ON THE RIGHT WAS ON THE LEFT.

Dionne Warwick-You'll Never get to Heaven...

Fireball 500 Traiiler

Although a little more serious and adult (not much) FIREBALL 500 was, for all intents and purposes, just another Beach movie in a different setting. Frankie and Annette appear along with Harvey Lembeck. Fabian and a host of familiar faces find themselves competing with faded, mismatched stock footage of car races while the stars are clearly in rear-screen projected cars.

Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison

MAKE ROOM1 MAKE ROOM! is a dystopian science-fiction novel about an overpopulated Earth at the end of the Millennium. The author i Harry Harrison, a former comic book artist who was paired with Wally Wood in the early days of EC. In the early seventies, NAKE ROOM! MAKE ROOM! would translate to the big screen as SOYLENT GREEN. In my opinion, SOYLENT GREEN is one of these cases where the movie version is much, much better than the book.

The Mighty Heroes

One of the well-remembered Ralph Bakshi-created Terrytoons of '66, here's THE MIGHTY HEROES in a fun cartoon that proves that Asian stereotypes were still running rampant in the era of Civl Rights.

I Dream of Jeannie

Although popular on television, I DREAM OF JEANNIE was a bust as a comic book, running only two issues in '66 and a failed attempt at a revival 36 years later!

KIng of Hearts

One of the first actual "cult films" I became aware of in the mid-seventies was the 1966 French film, KING OF HEARTS. Directed by Philippe De Broca (who would later direct DEAR INSPECTOR and the marvelously fun LE MAGNIFIQUE), KING OF HEARTS is an odd, surreal, metaphorical comedy/drama about a WWII soldier charged with defusing a bomb left behind in a small French town. Although the townspeople have evacuated, the town has been taken over by the inmates of the local asylum...who name the soldier their King.

KING OF HEARTS appeared regularly at midnight shows, revival houses and art theaters and, as home video took over in the early eighties, was popular there, also. In time, its star fell, replaced by ever more outrageous midnight movies. Taken on its own, though, KING OF HEARTS is a must for film buffs. 

Eclectic English actor Alan Bates starred in his second significant film of '66, the other being GEORGY GIRL with Lynn Redgrave.

French actress Genevieve Bujold has an early role in KING OF HEARTS. She went on to be in a  number of major English language and International productions throughout the seventies and eighties and became the answer to the trivia question of "Who was the original actress cast as Capt. Janeway on STSR TREK: VOYAGER?"