Midnight in Moscow page 12

 

"Honestly, Kent--'My Lord?'"

(fun Greystoke/Tarzan cameo) 

Doc Savage: RIP

 

 It may not have been a cinematic masterpiece but Doc made it to the screen with Ron Ely, who had already played another iconic hero on the small screen, Tarzan.  Ron was a terrific choice to play The Man of Bronze and I think his portrayal could have launched a pretty good series of films if not for some poor decisions regarding the tone of the film.  

  I always thought highly of Ron Ely and enjoyed seeing his various roles over the course of his career.  But after not hearing of him for many years tragedy brought him back to our attention in 2019 with the death of his wife at the hands of their son.  This ended with the death of his son, as well.  The strength he must have needed to survive those events only makes him seem more like the heroes he portrayed.

  It appears that Mr. Ely passed September 29th at the age of 86.

 

"The Adventure of the Peerless Peer"

 

When I was a kid (ten or eleven) I just loved this book as I was just becoming acquainted with The Shadow.  I wasn't familiar with the Wold Newton concept at the time and just thought it was great to see Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes and The Shadow all in the same tale.  I reread it recently and found that some things are best left as treasured childhood memories.  I still love the cover art, though.

 

Look what I found in a Second Hand bookstore in Butte, Montana

1914 Grosset & Dunlap edition in really great condition.  I have a couple of others from this line but this is the first time I've gotten this particular novel.  It's condition is better than any of the others and I feel fortunate to have found this just sitting there... waiting.

What I'm reading now

 

Taking a break from The Shadow's adventures and returning to Burroughs' great character, Tarzan.  The sequel to the classic "Tarzan of the Apes".  Not sure if I will read the entire series since some of them get very poor reviews from his most ardent fans.  Still, the first few should be worth the time.

What I'm reading now

I've been trying to get back to Burroughs' classic stuff for some time.  Taking another crack at "Tarzan of the Apes".  Hope to read all 24 and maybe even the Lost Adventure that was recently published.

Here is the latest version.  Joe Jusko is painting the covers for all of the novels in the latest reissue.

Okay, not quite done with Doc...

It looks as though something unfortunate has touched Doc Savage actor Ron Ely.  Here is a link to the story.  Appears to be a breaking story with little actual information.  I'll update as I run across more.

Update:

The incident took place after 10 p.m. in the 4100 block of Mariposa Drive in Hope Ranch.

Deputies with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office shot and killed a homicide suspect in the home of Tarzan actor Ron Ely on Tuesday night.
Authorities received a call for help after 10 p.m. in the 4100 block of Mariposa Drive in Hope Ranch, according to Lt. Erik Raney, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
When they arrived, deputies located an elderly woman who had been stabbed to death, Raney said.
Neighbors were told to stay in their homes and lock doors while authorities searched for the suspect.
Shortly thereafter, the suspect was found hiding in the same home as the victim. And when deputies approached the unidentified man, he allegedly threatened them with a weapon and was fatally shot, Raney said.
Ely, who played the lead character in the 1960s television series Tarzan, was not injured, Raney noted.
The homicide victim was not identified. The investigation is ongoing.

The Theatre of the Mind

My best friend just sent me a link to the archives of the radio program that most likely turned me on to The Shadow all those years ago, The CBS Radio Mystery Theater.  Soon after this program started airing I remember my local station airing The Shadow.  I can't remember if they were reruns or if they were some kind of re-enactment.  Whatever it was, it changed my life forever.
As I'm watching the latest Tarzan film (for the umpteenth time) on my second screen I'm just feeling nostalgic for the simpler tales of morality and heroism.  The Shadow, The Phantom, Tarzan and John Carter.  Cardboard heroes?  Probably.  But it's what you take from those characters that make them special.  Those nights listening to The Shadow and Radio Mystery Theater probably cemented that for me.  Take a listen and be transported through the Theatre of the Mind.