Blog – Page 24 – Ed Robertson

This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: Robert Loggia and Vincent Baggetta star in “Drought at Indianhead River,” airing Nov. 5, 1976. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press

DROUGHT AT INDIANHEAD RIVER
Original Air Date: November 5, 1976

Synopsis. Angel becomes the major player in a multi-million dollar real estate deal, without realizing that he is actually the front for a major tax fraud scheme orchestrated by tax felon Dominic Marcon (played by Robert Loggia). Rockford intervenes and enlists Beth’s help to get Angel out from under.

Rockford demonstrates some of his golf prowess in this episode. In real life, James Garner and his brother Jack were both avid golfers. Jack Garner was a member of the Professional Golfers Association for many years.

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details

This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: MAGNUM, p.i. pays homage to THE ROCKFORD FILES, while also poking fun at Lance White (the character played by Tom Selleck on Rockford), in the episode “Tigers Fan,” airing Nov. 4, 1987. “Tigers Fan” features Joe Santos in his recurring role as police lieutenant Nolan Page, as well as Rockford guest stars James Karen and Carlos Romero. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details

This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: “The Empty Frame,” James Luisi’s favorite episode, airs on Nov. 3, 1978. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press

THE EMPTY FRAME
Original Air Date: November 3, 1978

Synopsis. Despite a security force led by Lieutenant Chapman, political activists crash a party honoring the appointment of Aaron Kiel to the Los Angeles Police Commission and steal a set of paintings worth two million dollars. After landing in the doghouse with the chief of police over the embarrassing incident, Chapman swallows his pride and asks Rockford for help.

Mostly known for playing hard-ass cops or steely-eyed killers, James Luisi got a rare opportunity to showcase his comic skills in “The Empty Frame.” Not surprisingly, the episode remained the actor’s personal favorite for many years.

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details

This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Fredd Wayne and Sheb Wooley star in “Relic of Fort Tejon,” airing Nov. 3, 1957. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press

RELIC OF FORT TEJON
Original Airdate: November 3, 1957

Synopsis. Bret wins an old Army camel named Fatima as partial payment in a poker game. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell Fatima, Bret travels to Silver Springs, where he hopes to trip up Carl Jimson, a notorious card shark who has snowed the entire town into believing his reputation for an “honest deal.” Among those whom Jimson has fooled is Donna Seely, his fiancée—and a former girlfriend of Bret’s. After Bret exposes him as a fraud, Jimson tries to kill Maverick.

Guest stars include Fredd Wayne, the actor known for his portrayals of American statesman Benjamin Franklin, and singer/actor Sheb Wooley (Rawhide, High Noon, The Outlaw Josey Wales, “Purple People Eater”).

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever

This Date in MAVERICK TV History: “The Judas Mask” airs on Nov. 2, 1958. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press

THE JUDAS MASK
Original Airdate: November 2, 1958

Synopsis. After winning more than $20,000 playing poker in Silver City, New Mexico, Bart plans to buy half-ownership of the Bella Union with the current owner Walter Delourne. Karen Gustavsen, a showgirl at the hotel, steals Bart’s money and flees to Mexico. Bart and Elliot Larkin (Karen’s protective lover) follow her south of the border. Karen doesn’t have the money (it’s at a bank in Silver City), but she explains why she stole it: Delourne is a ruthless man who drove her sister, also a showgirl, to suicide. Karen convinces Bart not to purchase the hotel. But a jealous Elliot, afraid of losing Karen to Bart, summons Delourne to Mexico.

This episode features one of the most remembered Pappyisms of the entire series: “He who plays and runs away, lives to run another day.”

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever

This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Carole Wells and Joanna Moore star in “The Lass with the Poisonous Air,” airing Nov. 1, 1959. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press

THE LASS WITH THE POISONOUS AIR
Original Airdate: November 1, 1959

Synopsis. While riding a mare he won in a poker game in Denver, Bart meets, and immediately becomes attracted to, Linda Burke (played by Joanna Moore)—a woman of great beauty, few words, and many secrets. Unbeknownst to Bart, Linda’s husband is a mining tycoon with gubernatorial aspirations. Maverick secretly meets Linda every day at a secluded spot in a nearby meadow, much to the suspicion of Linda’s love, Phil Dana, the son of Burke’s former partner. Bart and Phil soon become rivals in cards and in love. When Phil is found shot to death, Maverick becomes the prime suspect.

The title for this episode was derived from “The Lass with the Delicate Air,” the classic eighteenth-century British song written by Michael Arne.

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever

This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: Joan Van Ark and Paul Michael Glaser star in “Find Me If You Can,” airing Nov. 1, 1974. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press

FIND ME IF YOU CAN
Original Air Date: November 1, 1974

Synopsis. Barbara Kelbaker (played by Joan Van Ark) approaches Rockford with an unusual request: she wants to hire him to find out if she can be “found.” But Barbara refuses to explain why—she doesn’t even give Rockford her real name—because she’s frightened for her life. Barbara witnessed her boyfriend, Denver crime lord Ralph Correll (Paul Michael Glaser), murder a man. Barbara believes that Correll is after her, and she figures that if Rockford can find her, so can Correll.

Known around the world as Valene Ewing on Dallas and Knots Landing, Joan Van Ark was among the actresses under consideration for the part of Mildred Elias in the Rockford Files pilot. We’ll see her again in “Resurrection in Black and White” and “There’s One in Every Port.”

Enjoy the podcast of our conversation in which Joan discusses the advice that James Garner once gave her, early in her career.

LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details

Black Pawn Press, the publisher of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition, RADIO HONEY, and many other titles has just announced its first Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion! Order a copy of any of Black Pawn Press’s available titles from any retailer, send the dated receipt to Black Pawn and you’ll receive a bonus gift related to the title you’ve purchased. Fans of The Rockford Files and Maverick, for example, will be treated to a PDF copy of an original signed series script. Four-day sale runs from the start of Black Friday through the end of Cyber Monday. For details and more information, visit the Black Pawn Press page on Facebook or Instagram

Black Pawn Press, the publisher of #45YearsofTheRockfordFiles, #mavericklegendofthewest revised third edition,… Posted by Ed Robertson on Monday, November 23, 2020

This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: Janis Paige, Robert Alda, and Richard Romanus star in “A Three-Day Affair with a Thirty-Day Escrow,” airing Nov. 10, 1978. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press

A THREE-DAY AFFAIR WITH A THIRTY-DAY ESCROW
Original Air Date: November 10, 1978

Synopsis. A sheik named Talib kidnaps Rockford and demands to know the whereabouts of his daughter, Khedra Aziz, a woman whom a gigolo named Sean Innes (played by Richard Romanus) hired Rockford to find. After escaping Talib’s family, Jim locates Innes, and discovers a bizarre scheme designed by unscrupulous real estate broker Cy Margulies (Robert Alda) to break up Khedra’s marriage so he can sell her home. LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details.

Breakfast Cereal, Coca-Cola and Television: Next on TVC

We’ll replay our conversations with pop culture historians Tim Hollis and Mark Pendergrast on the next edition of TV CONFIDENTIAL, airing Sept. 4-6 at the following times and venues:
WBRT AM 1320 and FM 97.1 Bardstown, KY Friday 9/4 9am ET 6am PT Listen Live at WBRTCountry.com
Share-a-Vision Radio San Francisco Bay Area Friday 9/4 7pm ET, 4pm PT 10pm ET, 7pm PT Click on the Listen Live button at KSAV.org or listen to us on the KSAV TuneIn channel
RadioSlot.com San Francisco, CA Friday 9/4 10pm ET, 7pm PT Saturday 9/5 11pm ET, 8pm PT Sunday 9/6 11pm ET, 8pm PT with replays Monday thru Friday 11am ET, 8am PT Click on the Talk Slot button at RadioSlot.com
WKXO AM 1500 and FM 103.5 Lexington-Fayette/Richmond/Berea, KY Saturday 9/5 8am ET, 5am PT Streaming at Facebook.com/1035wkxo
WTCA 1050 AM and FM 106.1 South Bend/Plymouth, IN Saturday 9/5 3pm ET, Noon PT Streaming at am1050.com or listen to us on the WTCA TuneIn channel
KSCJ Talk Radio 1360 AM and 94.9 FM Sioux City, IA Saturday 9/5 4pm CT, 2pm PT Sunday 9/6 6pm CT, 4pm PT Streaming at KSCJ.com or listen to us on the KSCJ TuneIn channel
Indiana Talks Huntington, IN Saturday 9/5 8pm ET, 5pm PT Sunday 9/6 10am ET, 7am PT Click on the player at IndianaTalks.com or listen to us on the Indiana Talks TuneIn channel
WON 920 The Apple Brooklyn, NY Saturday 9/5 10pm ET, 7pm PT Streaming at WONNewYork.net
WLAD AM 800 and FM 94.1 Danbury, CT Sunday 9/6 5am ET, 2am PT Also streaming at WLAD.com or listen to us on the WLAD TuneIn channel
KSCO AM-1080 and FM-104.1 San Jose, Santa Cruz and Salinas, CA Sunday 9/6 9am ET, 6am PT Also streaming at KSCO.com or listen to us on the KSCO TuneIn channel
KOMY AM-1340 La Selva Beach and Watsonville, CA Sunday 9/6 9am ET, 6am PT Hear us online on the KOMY TuneIn channel
CROC Radio Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada Sunday 9/6 1pm ET, 10am PT Streaming at CROCRadio.com or listen to us on the CROC Radio TuneIn channel
KLTF 960 AM St. Cloud/Little Falls, MN Sunday 9/6 6pm CT, 4pm PT Streaming at FallsRadio.com or listen to us on the KLTF TuneIn channel
KPLT 1490 AM and 96.3 FM Paris, TX Sunday 9/6 8pm CT, 6pm PT Streaming at EastTexasRadio.com/stations/kplt/ or listen to us on the KPLT TuneIn channel
WDIG AM 1450 Dothan, AL Sunday 9/6 10pm ET, 7pm PT Streaming at WDIGRadio.com or listen to us on the WDIG TuneIn channel
KHMB AM-1710 KHMV-LP 100.9 FM Half Moon Bay, CA Sunday 9/6 9pm PT (Mid ET Mon 9/7) Click on the Listen Live button at KHMBRadio.com or listen to us on the KHMB/KHMV TuneIn channel PassionateWorldTalkRadio.com A member of the Truli Media Group Ann Arbor, MI ~ Boston, MA ~ Chicago, IL ~ Melrose, FL ~ Los Angeles, CA Various times throughout the week on PassionateWorldTalkRadio.com and the PWR channel on TuneIn

If you grew up watching television in the ’50s, ’60s and early 1970s, you know that part of the fun of watching TV back then were the ubiquitous—and often ingenious—animated commercials for Cap’n Crunch, Sugar Crisp, Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles, Quisp and Quake, Trix, Count Chocula, Franken Berry and numerous other popular breakfast cereals made by Kellogg’s, Post, Quaker, Ralston-Purina and other manufacturers. Much of these appeal of these commercials is the host of animated characters that are still popular today, including Tony the Tiger, Snap, Crackle and Pop, Lucky the Leprechaun, the Trix Rabbit and the Cheerios Kid. These cereal characters became big stars not only through their TV commercials, but through merchandise such as comic books, stuffed toys and, in some cases, their own TV series.

We’ll talk about this, and more, in our second hour as we replay our conversation from September 2013 with author Tim Hollis. Tim’s book Part of a Complete Breakfast: Cereal Characters of the Baby Boom Era not only reveals the origins and appeal of these commercials, but discusses how changing times helped lead to the demise of some of these popular animated breakfast-cereal characters.

Speaking of savvy advertising, we’ll talk about Coca-Cola—a product that has used print, radio and television very effectively throughout its long history—in our first hour as we replay our conversation from September 2013 with Mark Pendergrast, author of For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It. What began as a medicinal product in 1886 gradually evolved into a refreshment beverage that not only became the dominant consumer product in the United States throughout the 20th century, but, in many respects, came to be identified with America itself.

Originally published in 1993, For God, Country and Coca-Cola has been revised and updated with new information on the history and future of Coca-Cola, including a look at how Coca-Cola and Pepsi, once rivals in the “cola wars,” are now united in the “new cola wars”—despite the fact that both are considered the primary culprits behind the obesity epidemic. The new edition also documents beyond the shadow of a doubt that Coca-Cola originally contained cocaine; discusses the origins of such famous TV campaigns as “The Hilltop Ad” (as well as the differences in how Coke and Pepsi advertise their products), and reveals the original formula used by Frank Mason Robinson, the man who not only gave Coca-Cola its name, but wrote the name in the Spencerian script that became the product’s trademark.

TV CONFIDENTIAL: A radio talk show about television Fri 9am ET, 6am PT on WBRT AM 1320/FM 97.1 (Bardstown, KY) Fri 7pm ET and PT on Share-a-Vision Radio, KSAV.org and CX Radio Brazil Fri 10pm ET, 7pm PT, Sat/Sun 11pm ET, 8pm PT on RadioSlot (San Francisco, CA) Sat 9am ET, 6am PT on WKXO 1500 AM and 103.5 FM (Lexington-Fayette/Richmond/Berea, KY) Sat 3pm ET, Noon PT on WTCA 1050 AM and 106.1 FM (Plymouth, IN) Sat 4pm CT, 2pm PT and Sun 6pm CT, 4pm PT on KSCJ 1360 AM and 94.9 FM (Sioux City, IA) Sat 8pm ET, 5pm PT and Sun 10am ET, 7am PT on Indiana Talks (Huntington, IN) Sat 10pm ET, 7pm PT on 920 WON The Apple (Brooklyn, NY) Sun 5am ET, 2am PT on WLAD-AM 800 and FM 94.1 (Danbury, CT) Sun 9am ET, 6am PT on KSCO-AM 1080 (San Jose/Santa Cruz/Salinas, CA) Sun 9am ET, 6am PT on KOMY-AM 1340 (La Selva Beach/Watsonville, CA) Sun 1pm ET, 10am PT on CROC Radio (British Columbia, Canada) Sun 6pm CT, 4pm PT on KLTF (St. Cloud/Little Falls, MN) Sun 8pm CT, 6pm PT on KPLT AM and FM (Paris, TX) Sun 10pm ET, 7pm PT on WDIG AM (Dothan, AL) Sun 9pm PT, Mon Mid ET on KHMB-AM and FM (Half Moon Bay, CA) Various times throughout the week on the Entertainment Channel at Passionate World Talk Radio

Did you miss last week’s show? Download the podcast by hitting SHARE and listen to it on demand:

Join our mailing list and receive our weekly newsletter with news on upcoming guests and other things you’ll want to know. Best of all, it’s free! TV Confidential now has its own YouTube channel and TuneIn channel. Catch up on recent episodes, on demand, on the go, and for free. Alexa users: You can now listen to TV Confidential any time on your smart speaker just by saying “Alexa, play TV Confidential.” Become a TV Confidential Confidant and receive unlimited access to the last five years of TV Confidential and other Members Only privileges, including the opportunity to participate in select guest interviews, and more. Joining is easy. To find out how, go to TelevisionConfidential.com and click Become a Confidant.