Category: Sci-Fi

An Animated Radio Guy

In the Sixties, Filmation was one of the cartoon studios that began competing with Hanna-Barbera for Saturday morning TV network time. Comic book artist Curt Swan is mentioned in this featurette, and I’ll say more about him in my next post.

Filmation later produced a well-regarded Star Trek TV cartoon that featured writing worthy of the original series.

As stated in the featurette, Filmation co-founder Norm Prescott was originally a radio announcer. In the 50’s he had a stint here in Boston on WBZ-AM 1030, as heard in this aircheck.

Somebody who was interested in both radio and cartoons? Sorry, can’t relate. 😉

Oh, Bama!

1966 Star Trek promotional painting by James Bama

A friend of James Bama reports that the great illustrative painter has passed away, the day before his 96th birthday. Often working from photographs, Bama had a more realistic style than his contemporary, Frank Frazetta. He’s best remembered by comic book fans for his dynamic Doc Savage paintings, when the pulp magazine stories were reprinted as paperbacks, beginning in the 60’s.

Doc Savage painting by James Bama

The Lunch Bunch Box

The gang’s all here! Dr. Paul Armstrong and his wife Betty! Kro-Bar and Lattis! Dr. Roger Fleming! Ranger Brad and the Farmer! The lovely Animala! The Mutant and, of course, that nefarious post-cadaver creation, THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA!

LUNCH BOX
The Official Lost Skeleton of Cadavra Lunch Box

The alluring Animala explains the problem with my name.

lost skeleton of cadavra

Thank you, Animala!

Original screenplay for The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, by Larry Blamire

Where Elvis Met Trek

Laurel Goodwin has passed away. A couple of years after appearing in Girls! Girls! Girls! with Elvis, Laurel was Yeoman Colt in “The Cage”, the first Star Trek pilot. I saw it as part of “The Menagerie” when it first aired.

laurel goodwin

Laurel’s character was the subject of a memorably embarrassing revelation made by a telepathic alien. I was just old enough to have an inkling of what was implied by, “The factors in her favor are youth and strength, plus… unusually strong female drives.”

Laurel was one of quite a few crossovers between Elvis and Trek.