Television Anthology Series WESTINGHOUSE DESILU PLAYHOUSE was an American television anthology series produced by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's Desilu Productions. It ran on the Columbia Broadcasting System between 1958 and 1960, and was hosted byy Betty Furness in the first season, and Desi Arnaz in the second. Stories came from several genres, but there … Continue reading Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Year: 2018
Duncan Maclain
Created by Baynard H. KendrickPseudonyms include Richard Hayward(1894-1977) Blinded in World War I, wealthy, dashing CAPTAIN DUNCAN MACLAIN moves to New York and sets up a successful detective agency, aided by his partner, Spud Savage (is that a great name or what?) and his secretary (and Spud's wife) Rena. Rounding out the staff are Duncan's two specially-trained … Continue reading Duncan Maclain
Not Quite Ready for Prime Time
Pilots That Didn't Fly & Spin-offs That Didn't Spin Television has always been a battlefield when it comes to getting a show actually on the air, and the P.I. genre has had it as rough as any other genre, although the nineties were particularly brutal. Some of these aired and nobody bit, and some of … Continue reading Not Quite Ready for Prime Time
Climax!
Television Anthology Series (1954-58, CBS) An American television anthology series specializing in thriller and suspense stories that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. TELEVISION CLIMAX! (1954-58, CBS) Black & white Mono Among the shows of most interest to visitors to this … Continue reading Climax!
Kraft Mystery Theatre & Kraft Suspense Theatre
Television Anthology Series (1958-63, NBC) Originally called Kraft Television Theatre (which had started way back in 1947), in April 1958 it was revamped as KRAFT MYSTERY THEATRE, when the focus shifted to crime. Alex March, one of the most acclaimed anthology directors, produced the series. It featured original dramas, for the most part, with many … Continue reading Kraft Mystery Theatre & Kraft Suspense Theatre
My Scrapbook: Raymond Chandler Square
My Scrapbook Raymond Chandler Square, Los Angeles, December 13, 2018 It's sad enough that Raymond Chandler still doesn't have his own star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, but that's run by a private entity now and any buffoon, reality show huckster or U.S. President can pretty much buy their own star -- it's pay-for-play. But the City … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Raymond Chandler Square
Maxwell Dent
Created by Kenneth Orvis Pseudonym of Kenneth Lemieux "God help us, Dent – the thing is, my daughter has become a dope fiend." Montreal private eye MAXWELL DENT studied law at McGill and served in the RCAF and Intelligence M-5 during the Korean War, where he took down a drug ring. He’s got a reputation for … Continue reading Maxwell Dent
Russell Teed
Created by David Montrose Pseudonym of Charles Ross Graham) (1920-68) A Montreal eye! RUSSELL TEED, "Montreal's version of the tough private eye" appeared in three novels set in my hometown back in the early fifties. And Bob and Doug would be proud of this particular hoser. Dow? Molson? Labatt? The pages of these three … Continue reading Russell Teed
David Thompson’s Suspects
Characters from Crime and Noir Films in David Thomson's Suspects "Film noir...meant the most to me..." -- David Thomson, in a new introduction In his 1985 audacious, brain-warping, acid trip of a novel, Suspects, which The Village Voice tagged as a "a dazzling work of narrative invention," eminent film critic and well-known movie geek David … Continue reading David Thompson’s Suspects
Murder in the Library: Film (and Film Noir)
What? You thought I made this all up, or downloaded it all from Wikipedia? Nope. Here are the books that inspired me to create this site, and the books I've used to cobble it together over the years, as well as the ones I've discovered along the way, broken down into various categories. If you … Continue reading Murder in the Library: Film (and Film Noir)