Cast a Giant Shadow

CAST A GIANT SHADOW was one of those big-budget war flicks with an all-star cast, many of whose appearances amount to little more than glorified cameos.  In this case, the war, although you can't really tell it well from the marketing, was the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Based on a more-or-less true story, Kirk Douglas stars as a former American Army Colonel who is called on to help the Israeli troops. John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Yul Brynner have nice billing but don't appear nearly as much as Kirk. The whole thing was put together by Mel Shavelson, better known for comedies with Bob Hope, Cary Grant and Danny Kaye as well as for TV's MY WORLD AND WELCOME TO IT.

TV Commercials From '66

My First Supermen

I had known who Superman was all my life via the endless reruns of the fifties' TV series, THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. It wasn't until '66, however, that I read comic books with him and the so-called "Superman Family." Seen here are my first issues of the major Superman titles, all from '66, in the order which I discovered and purchased them.

 

Aurora Frog Model

In an era where Aurora put out monsters, pirates and Green Berets as popular plastic model kits seen everywhere and advertised on the back covers of comic books, The frog--left--always seemed a bit incongruous. Here's what it looks like apparently.

Paul Lynde, Elizabeth Montgomery and Vic Damone

Batstuff # 35

00 Division # 23

The Kat From AMT

The Kat from AMT was the spokescharacter for AMT models in the mid-sixties.

In My Life-Judy Collins and Friends

Here we have a very early appearance from folk singer Judy Collins, later the inspiration for Stephen Stills' SUITE: Judy Blue Eyes. Doing  aversion of one of John Lennon's prettiest and most wistful songs here, she introduces her back-up musicians. Chuck Israels is a Jazz arranger, composer and bassist best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio. He later became a Jazz teacher.Eric Weissberg went on to some fame as the banjoist on classic theme from DELIVERANCE, DUELING BANJOS. Nearly 4 decades later, my wife would actually meet Judy Collins unexpectedly...at the United Nations.

Donovan-Sunshine Superman

The signature single from the Scottish pop-folk troubadour was released in mid-66 in the US and later in the year in the UK. In 66, though, Donovan was also the first big name pop star busted for possession which kept him unable to come to the states until late the following year.

Bang! Bang! You're Dead! aka Our Man in Marrakesh

Tony Randall and Klaus Kinski! Throw in Terry-Thomas, Wilfrid Hyde-White and Herbert Lom...to say nothing of beautiful Senta Berger... and you have a surprisingly good Hitchcock homage.

Batstuff # 34

I actually used this trash can until the early 1990's! The only thing is that back when I first bought it I painted glow in the dark paint on the bat...which ultimately caused the original paint to simply peel off. It was in pretty bad shape by the time I gave it up. But it was also my last remaining non-comic souvenir of Batmania.

Peppermint Patty Debuts

Chevy Camaro Commercial

Tarzan of the Apes

In 1966, Ron Ely became the face of TARZAN on television and so Ballantine Books added his face to their latest reissue of the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs novel, too.

Spicks and Specks-The Bee Gees

The Bee Gees' biggest hit before hitting the international market after years of success since they were children. R.I.P. Robin Gibb.

Popular Science, january, 1966

Fighting American

FIGHTING AMERICAN began as a 1950's attempt by longtime partners Joe Simon and Jack Kirby at redoing their biggest triumph of a decade earlier,  CAPTAIN AMERICA, in a Cold War setting. Somehow it very quickly turned into a superhero spoof, though, which is where the short-lived series gained what popularity it had. Apparently Simon retained the rights and here, along with introducing a number of new characters at Harvey in '66, he revived FA (and sidekick Speedboy!) in this one-shot quarter book, cashing in on both the renewed popularity of superheroes and the newfound Marvel fame of his former partner. I believe one of the stories was a previously unpublished inventory story but the rest were reprints. There was no second issue.   

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'s ABC of Espionage

Captain Action TV Ad

Doctor Who Annual

Bat Stuff # 33

Seen poste on FB by Jerry Beck. Never seen this before but I would have loved it!

Bowie's First Single

The first single release crediting Britain's OTHER David Jones as David BOWIE. From '66.