Project Tic Toc

PROJECT TIC-TOC: The Making of The Time Tunnel

by William E. Anchors Jr.

Edited by Flint Mitchell.

Imagine my excitement when this book arrived from Amazon, only to discover it was published by Alpha Control Press. I've bought books from them before and fought like hell to get what I paid for. They kept my money and then never sent the books. I had to pay for them twice because they were insistent that they never got my payment. (The checks for both orders did clear with the same endorsement on the back, proving they lied to me.) But shelving my disappointment of paying twice the price for their books, I discovered they are self-published by fan boys who want to do nothing but relish the fondness of the programs they watch every day on DVD. And not worth even half the price I shoveled out.

So when I got this book, I said to myself, "Oh, boy..." Well, shelving my disgust for the company and providing an honest review of this book. I am still disappointed. The blue prints of the Time Tunnel complex that was advertised are not originals, but reproductions from a modern-day illustrator. Some of the photographs are screen captures from the DVDs. Fifty-one of the two hundred and twelve pages (one fourth of the book) are dedicated to brief biographies of cast and crew such as birth dates and other movies they did. This includes writers, character actors and directors. You can get more from simply looking them up on imdb. About ninety percent of the episode guide consists of lengthy plot summaries from which I could gather myself simply by watching the episodes. If you are expecting behind-the-scenes trivia for each episode, forget it. The only thing of value is Flint Mitchell's foreword in the book, which I found well-written and an enjoyable read.

On more than one occasion I said that self-published books are many times better than the "authorized" editions or books put out on the same subject through a University Press. This is one of those examples that proves me wrong. This is clearly a self-published feat that should not be endorsed, in my opinion. Hopefully one day someone will do justice to The Time Tunnel. William E. Anchors Jr. certainly isn't that person. What surprises me most is why the Irwin Allen folks, who built a reputation for protecting their properties, hasn't put a stop to this book. This is clearly a copyright and trademark violation and the only thing this book accomplishes is turning people away from a TV show that deserves better attention. Stay away from this one.

SUSPENSE: The Radio Program

Author Darryl Shelton sent me a complimentary copy of his latest book, Tales Well Calculated to Keep You in SUSPENSE, published in 2007. Mr. Shelton continued to hound me about doing a book review and I was being polite by telling him I would get to it when I had the time. But his insistence has become peer pressure. So, Mr. Shelton, here's your review. The cover is fantastic. I love the art work. I wish I could say the same about the interior of your book.

Honestly, a young man named Martin Grams was in high school in 1998 when he wrote a 500 page book on the same subject, spent his life savings self-publishing his massive thesis, and did a hell of a better job than you. Worse, there is absolutely nothing in Mr. Shelton's book that isn't in the 1998 book. Mr. Shelton even acknowledges Mr. Grams on the first page for permission to reprint material from Suspense: Twenty Years of Thrills and Chills. But I wonder if Mr. Grams knew that 95 percent of Shelton's book was going to be a reprint from Grams? I am not saying Grams' book is perfect by any means. But when I have a question that needs answering, I find it in Grams' 500 page book. Darryl Shelton's 270 page book doesn't even have a fourth of what is contained in the former.

Honesty is brutal, but so is Mr. Shelton's book.

Paul Picerni: Steps to Stardom

Fans of Golden Age television will remember Paul Picerni as one of the stars of the greatest of all crimebusting series, The Untouchables with Robert Stack. Movie fans might instantly associate him with the horror hit, House of Wax, in which he played the romantic lead - and in 3-D! These credits are just the tip of the iceberg in Picerni's stage-screen-TV career, which took him from small East Coast theater groups to Hollywood studios where he acted alongside stars on the level of John Wayne, Errol Flynn, Audie Murphy, Burt Lancaster, Vincent Price, Charles Bronson and his best friend Telly Savalas. 

In this book, master storyteller Picerni vividly describes working with these legends (and scores of others) and recalls in detail all the phases of his astounding 60 years in the acting profession--all of his many "Steps to Stardom."

Thanks to author Tom Weaver, Paul Picerni's autobiography is told and not spread thin. There's a chapter about House of Wax, a chapter about his good friend Audie Murphy, and a couple chapters about The Untouchables. Photos obviously came from Picerni's personal collection so many have never been published before. The index is not very thorough (it stretches only two pages) but this was a great read.

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Irwin Allen Television Productions

Irwin Allen Television Productions, 1964-1970
A Critical History of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel and Land of the Giants

It took me a week to go through every page and before I post my review of this book, I'd like to add a brief commentary that explains why this book may or may not be good for you. For many years, McFarland Publishing, located in North Carolina, was a company that provided a product you could feel certain you got your money's worth. Their books were (and still are) expensive. I paid as much as $95 for a book, but always believed that it was worth every penny. Reference works that were well-researched, and completely thorough. You knew what you were getting when the subtitle read "A History," "A Biography" or "Complete Episode Guide." Then they began putting out hap-hazard publications that were not well researched, laden with errors and when you contacted the publishing company about the errors, they didn't bother responding with concern. Sometime around 1992 or 1993 I began noticing a lack of quality in their books and began sending a few back for a refund or credit. Their book on Raymond Burr, for example, was purchased in 1999 and when I discovered a listing of his radio work wasn't even complete (it had about a tenth of his radio credits), I sent it back. 

Lately, McFarland has been publishing more books with subtitles such as "A Critical History," "Essays About..." and "Collected Essays." Which means you are not buying a reference guide, but someone's critical opinions (much like book reviews) posing as thorough reference guides. Some people prefer essays and critical opinions and if that is what you crave, you'll love this book. However, if you want a reference guide that provides more information than what you can gleam looking up imdb, then do not buy this book.

It appears half of the trivia and criticism is nothing more than brief biographies and screen credits of actors who made guest appearances. An example? Under the pilot episode of Lost in Space, the author writes: "The President of the USA in 1997 is portrayed by Ford Rainey, who had previously played the role in "Hot Line" and "Doomsday," two episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (set in the '70s!) and would play Abraham Lincoln in "The Death Trap," an episode of The Time Tunnel. He was demoted to a mere General in Allen's short promo film for The Man from the 25th Century, an unsold series concept. Other SF roles include two episodes of The Invaders, "Panic" and "Summit Meeting," and "I, Robot" for The Outer Limits. He was frequently cast as figures of authority, and never failed to transcend the visual cliche and give them depth. Rainey also appeared in "The Bionic Woman" and "The Return of the Bionic Woman," two landmark episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man, and then in "The Bionic Dog," an episode of the Bionic Woman series. He also had brief roles in episodes of the classy '80s series Wiseguy and China Beach."

Now I ask, what does most of this have to do with the pilot episode of Lost in Space? Many episodes feature lists like this and while it might be cool to know the name of the guy in the rubber monster suit, it gets boring to read a lengthy paragraph listing the Republic cliffhanger serials and television appearances and movies he also appeared in. Frankly, it steers away from the subject at hand. Most of his references, as evident in the bibliography and the text (should you choose to do what I did and read it from page one to page 321), came from articles in TV Zone and Starlog. Plot summaries for episodes are reduced to a single sentence each. Photographs are the same ones that have appeared in magazine articles.

In short, while it was an interesting read and I did learn a few things and there was a bit of trivia here and there regarding certain episodes, I felt I could have gotten more just by browsing the internet. The retail price is a bit steep for a book of this count. I paid $39.95 for the paperback version and I felt it was only worth half that price. Remember, I have paid as much as $95 for books totaling 300 pages and those I found to be worth the price. I don't gauge the value of a book by the price or the page count. Simply by the contents.

Worst thing I can say about this book is that it makes those amateur, unauthorized, homemade books put out by Alpha Control Press, even with grammatical errors and mistakes, a bargain of a price. And that speaks volumes.

www.coverout.com

Science Fiction Theatre: Television Program

From 1955 to 1957, Science Fiction Theatre, a semi-documentary series, explored the "what ifs" of modern science. Placing an emphasis on science before fiction, television viewers were treated to a variety of complex challenges from mental telepathy, robots, man-eating ants, killer trees, man's first flight into outer space and the possibility of visitation from outer space. Hosted by Truman Bradley, a former radio news commentator, Science Fiction Theatre became an influential program for the time, courtesy of Ivan Tors, a man with a healthy regard for science and nature. 

Hollywood actors Gene Barry, Ruth Hussey, Gene Lockhart, Basil Rathbone, Howard Duff, William Lundigan and Vincent Price are but a few who lent their talents. This 530-page book documents the entire history of the television program with biographies about Fred Ziv, Ivan Tors and Truman Bradley; behind-the-scenes production details; and an episode guide for all 78 episodes including dates of production, fake science props, cast list, salary fees, location shooting, and much more!

I am not exaggerating about the details. The talent fees for every actor who appeared on the series is provided. The dates of production, location shooting, behind-the-scenes trivia, original story treatments and plot proposals that later became actual shooting scripts, and much more. The photographs are magnificent. All behind-the-scenes photos reveal the inner workings of the series and this is the cream and sugar on a meats and potatoes book. Grams continues to set the standard of how books on retro television should be written and published.

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Barbara Payton: Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Barbara Payton Story is the heartbreaking saga of the wild and free-spirited actress who hit Hollywood in the late 1940s, equipped with little more than a suitcase full of dreams, a ravenous hunger for fame and a devastating beauty---only to see each one of her dreams destroyed by a disastrous private life that led her straight through the gates of Hell. Gutsy, vulnerable--and doomed--Barbara Payton blazed across the motion picture stratosphere in record-time, only to collapse in a catastrophic free-fall from which she would never recover.

Payton first gained notice in the 1949 film noir, Trapped, co-starring Lloyd Bridges. In 1950, she was given the opportunity to make a screen test for John Huston's production of the forthcoming MGM crime drama The Asphalt Jungle. She wasn't chosen and the part of the sultry mistress of a mob connected lawyer went to Marilyn Monroe.

After being screen-tested by James Cagney and his producer brother William, Payton starred with Cagney in the violent noir thriller Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye in 1950. William Cagney was so smitten with Payton's sensual appeal and beauty that her contract was drawn as a joint agreement between William Cagney Productions and Warner Brothers who together saw fit to bestow on Payton a salary of $5,000 a week; a large sum for an actress yet to demonstrate star power at the box-office.

Rumor has it that Hollywood is in the process of making a big screen bio pic about Barbara Payton with Scarlet Johanssen in the lead. I hope it works out. I never heard of Barbara Payton until I got this book and read it (took me four days to read). 470 pages thick and small print. And I enjoyed every bit of this book. The author, John O'Dowd, should be commended for his hard work because it shows. Archival photos from USC, UCLA, the Library of Congress and many others were consulted and they are reprinted with glorious quality. Another winner from Bear Manor Media.

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Boris Karloff: The Man Remembered

Since his death in 1969, Boris Karloff remains one of Hollywood’s most famous figures. He is still revered for his talent, his many qualities that earned him admiration and respect, and, of course, his landmark role as the Monster in the 1931 movie classic Frankenstein.This biography, the result of many years of interviews and extensive research, examines Karloff the person, as well as the actor. His work (which lasted more than half a century) in films, radio, television, and the theater is covered in detail, highlighted with accounts by many who knew him and worked with him. Among the contributors are Robert Anderson, Peter Bogdanovich, Ray Bradbury, Julie Harris, Tony Randall, Ronald Reagan, Eli Wallach, and Jonathan Winters. With the support of the Karloff family, Gordon Shriver pays tribute to this much-loved performer who will never be forgotten.

Gord Shriver wrote a facinating look at Boris Karloff and is perhaps the most obscure of the Karloff books out there. This is a result of a small press that doesn't market the book very well. Every Karloff historian who thinks they have every Karloff book ever printed might be surprised to discover they don't have this one. The book is loaded with interviews with cast and crew who worked with Karloff, offering a perspective most books don't offer. A great read and not dry with facts like an encyclopedia. A great read.

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