Two Days!

Two days until Self - Stitched September!  And my camera broke! 

I always did love a good adventure at the last minute :)

A Motorcycle Diary - Day Two

We wake feeling as though we've been rummaging through a lucky dip in a deep-fat fryer. To try and give my mitts some protection, I bite holes in the arms of my jumper, making a pair of chic hobo-gloves. More importantly, today is Wee Mo's birthday and for a number of reasons, it may well prove to be one of her most memorable.

Full of birthday cheer, and with the sky over overcast, we set off quickly in the gloom. Our next stop – Laksao – is 62km away, along a road that is classified for 4x4s only and said to be impassible during the rainy season. Again, though, all that's hard to believe as the first 10km pass through some more of that weird Doomsday landscape without incident. At this rate, it'll take us less than two hours, not the four that Mr Kip projected.

We stop to take some more footage and it seems that the moment we put the camera away, everything changes for the worse. The surface of the road changes repeatedly, without warning and it's hard to say which of the conditions is toughest: large rocks and potholes; cloying mud; sliding gravel; or oleaginous goo.

Photo: Wee Mo

Both handle bikes well, though, despite testing terrain. My riding too seems passable; easing off the accelerator and a quick wiggle of the hips later, I've navigated a chicane. It's a decade since I did any real mountain biking, but this is fun, even with the re-emergence of the sun.

Eventually, in spite – or perhaps because – of my growing confidence, I come undone. Taking a slimy ridge at too shallow an angle, the back slides away and I am duly dumped in the mud. For an instant, I worry that I've seriously damaged something on myself or the bike, but so far as crashes go, it could hardly be more gentle.

But inside I'm trembling. Soft as the landing was, and although the damage to the bike was minimal (a bent peg that stopped the gears from shifting – a problem that was resolved with a few well-aimed kicks) my confidence is totally shaken. Now I feel the need to be cautious I become altogether more inept in the conditions. Worse, the incident heralds major change in our fortune.

Before the hour is out, the chain is off again and a mechanic is fruitlessly trying to adjust the back wheel. Next, we find ourselves on a long stretch of muddy farm road that is difficult to navigate, even for the experienced locals.

Thinking I know better, I try to take a short cut through a massive puddle and promptly find myself in two foot of water, the engine giving little protest as it drowns in rainwater. Wee Mo and I stand in the sunshine, burning, yet muddy, helpless as the engine offers nothing in response to our attempts at kick-starting it.

A quite monumental amount of swearing later, a benevolent local in a Liverpool top stops and helps. A screwdriver here, a push there and eventually the engine comes back to life. The Kop in my head roars.

We get going again, more cautious with the water now but before long the chain is off again, evidently being pulled off by the still buckled back wheel. Thankfully, the third mechanic seems to be worthy of the name. Better, he refuses to take a fee.

We set off again for the final assault to Laksao. The bastard Nixon administration apparently stopped bombing here some time in the 1970s, but I'd wager not a scrap of work has been done on the roads since. Occasional bits of tarmac pop up, but bumping onto them and plopping off again becomes so debilitating, I resent that they're there at all. Wee Mo speculates that the periodic agony will be akin to contractions: the closer together they get, the sooner the ordeal will be over.

By the time we stop for lunch, it feels as though Manny Pacquiao has had at our liver and kidneys with merciless abandon. Our spines feel as though they're fused into searing iron rods, and arses and seats are melding together like trees and the Temples of Angkor. By far, though, it's our ruined hands that cause us the most problems, all because of this stuff:

Avoid this crap at all costs

We collapse into a café, muddied, bloodied and on the brink of tears. 

Again, though, fate comes calling: the owner is a French-Canadian-Laotian who whips up some tasty noodles before raiding his mother's cosmetics to bring us some genuine sunblock. That horse may well have bolted, but coating our increasingly amphibian skin at least gives us some respite.

Too soon we have to leave. Sitting gingerly back on the bikes, we look at the map. We've done 62km today. There are over 100 to go.

Next: From Worse to Better

'YELLOW ROCK' EXCLUSIVE NEXT WEEK!

Howdy, readers!

Change of plans -- it's almost one a.m. on Monday -- which means it's really Tuesday, and I'm still not done with the YELLOW ROCK piece -- paying work keeps intervening. So, I'm going to put it off until this coming weekend, hen it will be a finely polished jewel of an article! Sorry for the delay!

CINECON 46 – CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL SEPT. 2ND-6TH

This 46th annual presentation of hard-to-nearly-impossible-to-see movies will be held Thursday through Monday, with screenings in Grauman’s Egyptian on Hollywood Boulevard. The dealer room for memorabilia collectors will be on the 3rd floor of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, adjacent to the Hollywood-Highland Entertainment complex. There will be lots of screenings, celebrity events, a banquet, and of particular interest are a number of Western screenings. Tennessee's Pardner (1916), a rare 50 minute feature from the Bret Harte story [Friday Sept 3 at 10:55 AM], The Thrill Hunter (1932) starring Buck Jones [Saturday September 4, 10:20 AM], The Testing Block (1920) starring William S. Hart [Saturday evening at 9:45 PM], and From Hell to Texas (1958) starring Don Murray--who will be in attendance [Sunday September 5, 1:55 PM]. Also on Saturday they’ll be showing THE THIEF CATCHER, a recently rediscovered Keystone Charlie Chaplin comedy from 1914! There are nearly forty films screenings and all different packages available. For more information, CLICK HERE.

IDA LUPINO FEST AT MOMA

Now through September 20th, under the title ‘MOTHER DIRECTS’, the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City, will present a large variety of films either starring or written by or directed by that unique talent, Ida Lupino. Although there appears to be only one Western in the bunch, LUST FOR GOLD (1949) shows Saturday September 4th at 5 p.m., there are a slew of noirs that are well worth seeing. LUST stars Lupino and Glenn Ford, was directed by S. Sylan Simon from the Ted Sherdeman, Richard English screenplay from Barry Storm’s novel. For more information, CLICK HERE.

3D FESTIVAL AT FILM FORUM, NEW YORK CITY

During the Film Forum William Castle retrospective, a 3D Western and a 3D Eastern: Friday & Saturday, 9/3 and 9/4 JESSE JAMES VS. THE DALTONS
(1954) Brett King believes he’s the son of the notorious bandit, and hooks up with the Daltons to try and learn the truth. But 3-D’d sexpot Barbara Lawrence is raison d’être enough for this Castle oater. Color; Approx. 65 minutes. 6:30 ONLY

Sunday & Monday 9/5 and 9/6 FORT TI (1953) Rare French and Indian War Eastern, with colonial George Montgomery teaming up with the Redcoats as they go toe-to-toe against those Frenchies at Fort Ticonderoga. Color; Approx. 75 minutes. 6:30 ONLY


SCREENINGS

‘LOST’ JOHN FORD, ‘UPSTREAM’ SCREEN AT ACADEMY

As detailed in the June 11th Round-up (CLICK HERE to read it), a treasure-trove of 75 American movies, all thought to be lost, were discovered in the New Zealand Film Archive. On Wednesday, September 1st, at 7:30 p.m., the Academy will screen one of the gems from this collection, John Ford’s ‘UPSTREAM’, one of his last silent films, focusing on a love-triangle involving a vaudeville knife-throwing act! Also to be screened will be the trailer for John Ford’s STRONG BOY (1929), and the trailer, alas, is all that survives of said film – time to check those New Zealand Archives again! Musical accompaniment will be by Michael Mortilla. Tickets are $5, $3 for Academy members and students, and are available HERE.

WESTERN DOUBLE BILL AT THE NEW BEVERLY CINEMA

Sunday and Monday, September 5th and 6th, The New Beverly will present ULZANA’S RAID (1972) directed by ROBERT ADRICH from ALAN SHARP’S script, and starring BURT LANCASTER, and TELL THEM WILLIE BOY IS HERE (1969), directed and scripted by ABRAHAM POLONSKY from HARRY LAWTON’S book, and starring ROBERT BLAKE as Willie Boy and ROBERT REDFORD as the lawman trying to track him down – and KATHERINE ROSS as Lola. For more info, CLICK HERE.

GENE AND ROY AT THE EGYPTIAN SEPT 15TH

On Wednesday, September 15th, at 7:30 p.m., The Egyptian Theatre will mark the 75th Anniversary of Republic Studios with a special program: "Meet the Stars #7: Meet Roy Rogers," 1941, Republic Pictures, 10 min. Dir. Harriet Parsons. "It’s a Grand Old Nag," 1947, Republic Pictures, 8 min. Dir. Robert Clampett, probably the only cartoon Republic ever made, UNDER WESTERN STARS, 1938, Republic Pictures, 54 min. Dir. Joseph Kane. This is the one that started it all for Roy Rogers – Gene Autry was on strike, and Republic re-tailored the script, about a cowboy elected to Congress, fighting for his constituents’ water rights, to fit Roy. There are tons of parallels with MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, which came out a year later! The listing says 54 minutes, but I’m betting they’ll show the version shown recently at the Autry, with the missing scenes back in place. SOUTH OF THE BORDER, 1939, Republic Pictures, 70 min. Dir. George Sherman. It is the eve of World War II, and Federal agents Gene Autry and Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnett) head to Mexico to foil the schemes of a fleet of foreign spies at a submarine base.

LIVE EVENTS

OLD FASHIONED THRESHING BEE – TEMPLETON Sept. 4
Visitors can see how, in the early 1900s, wheat was bound in sheaves, threshed, fanned and augered into burlap sacks on a real working farm; help grind the grain into flour; and sample freshly-baked whole wheat bread. Jack Creek Farms. (805)239-1915 jackcreekfarms.com

STAGECOACH DAYS – BANNING Sept. 9-12

Parade, carnival, ranch rodeo, historical encampments, Wild West gunfighter competition, blacksmithing contest, food, entertainment, carnival, kids’ zone. A.C. Dysart Park (951)922-3241, banningstagecoachdays.com

OLD WEST DAYS – RANDSBURG Sept. 18

Western and bluegrass music, pancake breakfast, antiques and collectibles, food vendors and reenactments in this “Living Ghost Town” of the high desert. Downtown (760)371-0965, randdesertmueum.com

CIVIL WAR REENACTMENTS – LEBEC Sept. 19

Union and Confederate Army encampments, battle demonstrations and living history presentations. Fort Tejon State Historic Park (661) 248-6692 forttejon.org

GRAND WESTERN GRUB FEST – SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Sept. 26

Chili cook-off, vendors, country music, Old West shootout, food, beer and wine, carnival booths, dunk tank, pie-eating contest, kids’ activities. Proceeds benefit U.S. military troops and their families. St. Margaret’s Episcopal School at Gateway Field. 949) 248-9468 gwgf.org


FREE WESTERNS ON YOUR COMPUTER AT HULU

A staggering number of western TV episodes and movies are available, entirely free, for viewing on your computer at HULU. You do have to sit through the commercials, but that seems like a small price to pay. The series available -- often several entire seasons to choose from -- include THE RIFLEMAN, THE CISCO KID, THE LONE RANGER, BAT MASTERSON, THE BIG VALLEY, ALIAS SMITH AND JONES, and one I missed from 2003 called PEACEMAKERS starring Tom Berenger. Because they are linked up with the TV LAND website, you can also see BONANZA and GUNSMOKE episodes, but only the ones that are running on the network that week.

The features include a dozen Zane Grey adaptations, and many or most of the others are public domain features. To visit HULU on their western page, CLICK HERE.

AROUND LOS ANGELES

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepeneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permenant galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. Currently they have THE ART OF NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETRY: A LIVING TRADITION, through November 7th. I've seen the show three times, and am continually astonished at the beauty and variety of the work of the various tribes. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.

HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM

Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywood western, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.

WELLS FARGO HISTORY MUSEUM

This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.

ON TV

TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE

Every weekday, TV LAND airs a three-hour block of BONANZA episodes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They run a GUNSMOKE Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and on Friday they show two, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. They're not currently running either series on weekends, but that could change at any time.

NEED YOUR BLACK & WHITE TV FIX?

Check out your cable system for WHT, which stands for World Harvest Television. It's a religious network that runs a lot of good western programming. Your times may vary, depending on where you live, but weekdays in Los Angeles they run THE LONE RANGER at 1:30 p.m., and two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. On Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. it's THE RIFLEMAN again, followed at 2:30 by BAT MASTERSON. And unlike many stations in the re-run business, they run the shows in the original airing order. There's an afternoon movie on weekdays at noon, often a western, and they show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.

That's it for this week, and next week I'll have details about the Republic Pictures 75th Anniversary Celebration!

Adios,

Henry

All contents copyright August 2010 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved

Steamed Fish, Asian Style

I grew up eating fish whole, on the bone. Small fish, like tilapia or galunggong (mackarel scad), simply fried and eaten with soy sauce or vinegar. Bigger fish, like lapu lapu (grouper) or apahap (sea bass), baked or steamed for special occasions. Oh sure, we also had fish in fillets and steaks (fillets I like, but I mysteriously cannot abide by steak cut fish), but there was something special about having a whole fish. To this day I prefer whole fish over fillets and other cuts.

I love the simple perfection of a fish rubbed with salt and then fried exactly right, the outside and edges crisp, the inside tender and moist, eaten hot and with my hands. Maybe with a dipping sauce of vinegar with just a touch of soy and some crushed bird’s eye chilies…or maybe not. I work through it precisely but slowly, savoring every bite, missing nothing. When I’m done there is nothing left but a pile of clean bones that not even a skilled cat could get more out of.

This is another wonderful way to have whole fish. Healthier too, but no less delicious :)

Steamed Fish, Asian Style

• One whole 3/4-kilo (approx) Bisugo (threadfin bream), Maliputo, or Lapu-lapu (garoupa), scaled and gutted
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
• Half a lemon, sliced
• 1 white onion, sliced
• 2 stalks of lemongrass, white and light green parts only, sliced
• 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced on the diagonal
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• Optional: 1 cilantro root (if the bunch of cilantro you use has them, and it should)
• 1-2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3-4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoons sesame oil

- Line a bamboo steamer with parchment so it comes up over the sides. Line the parchment with the onion slices, some ginger slices, and one slice of lemon. Lay your fish on top of these aromatics. Stuff the inside of the fish (inside the belly as well as inside the head) with most of the remaining ginger and lemon, lemongrass, some of the leeks, a few stalks of cilantro, and cilantro root. Top the fish with any ginger and lemon you have left, the rest of the leeks, and the most of the cilantro (saving a few stalks to garnish fresh once the fish is cooked). Top everything with the soy sauce, fish sauce, and sesame oil. I’ve made the amounts above flexible as this really depends on your taste and the size of your fish. Fold sides of parchment over the fish – it doesn’t have to cover it completely – and cover.
- While you are arranging your fish, fill a wok with enough water not to touch the steamer when you lay it inside. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower to a fast simmer.
- When the fish is ready and the water in the wok is at a fast simmer, carefully place steamer on the wok.
- Steam fish for about 20 minutes. You may need more or less time depending on the size of your fish so check for doneness before taking it off the heat. Simply open the steamer (carefully! Steam burns!), and insert a small knife into the fleshiest part of the fish – if it flakes easily it’s done.
- Turn of the heat and remove the bamboo steamer from the wok – do this carefully with your hands protected as very hot steam will escape when you lift the steamer from the wok. Place the steamer on a plate and serve directly! Tear the remaining cilantro over the newly cooked fish.

This is my basic framework for our favorite Asian-style steamed fish. The fish stays moist and the aromatics infuse it with their crisp, fresh flavors. The soy, fish sauce, and sesame oil pool below the fish where the onions have gone all melty to make a delicious sauce. This recipe is adaptable and forgiving. Add, take away, or replace some of the herbs as you like (not everyone is a cilantro junkie like me I suppose) or as available (I’m going to try a version with Kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil next!). Use your favorite fish or try a new one from the market. Fillets would work here as well, although I implore you to try this with fresh whole fish as there is really nothing quite like it!

Only One More Week And The Giveaway Continues!

For us, there's only one more week until the start of the new school year. The summer holidays went so fast! I am going to extend the giveaway of Shannon Okey's book until Friday because I have been travelling and now I have a sick little one. Brain. Can't Think.

xo, L

OBX Watercolors

I spent last week at the OBX with my family (and pugs.) We had a great time together and the weather was wonderful. Here's a great photo of Duck, NC by my son, Ryan.
With my trusty traveling watercolor kit I painted every day and had a little gallery display on the windowsill of our beach house. Most of the watercolors were small quick studies, postcard or trading card size.


































Here I captured the pugs on the beach. Many family members became inspired to picked up a brush and have a hand at watercolors too. Great fun! Until next year ... I have these little studies to remember our week at the beach! Now back to illustration work.

A Motorcycle Diary - Day One

Just because within an hour of being strong-armed into paying baksheesh to an immigration officer it's possible to buy a kilo of grass, get black-out steaming and hire a vehicle you're not qualified to drive, it'd be disingenuous to describe lanky little Laos as utterly lawless.

And yet, what better place to engage in the kind of reckless behaviour that would, in other parts of the world, result in a hefty fine and/or jail time? Wee Mo and I resolve to take advantage in Tha Khaek by going on The Loop, a (sober) three-day motorbike tour around central Laos.

It's no exaggeration to say that my experience who two-wheel transport isn't altogether happy. I couldn't ride a push bike without stabilisers until the age of 11; until this trip I'd never been on a motorbike of any type. I'm still haunted by the shame of watching my younger brother heroically zoom off around the block on the back of my uncle's Yamaha while I nervously twitched the curtains.

We're given a pair of Honda Wave 100's; red scooters hired from Mr Ku, also known by some unkind folk as Mr Kip. “I've got a bike – you can ride it if you like,” says the little Laotian.

“It's got a basket, a bell that rings and things to make it look good...”

“...I'd give it to you if I could, but you can borrow it.”

And by borrow, he of course means rent. At 100,000 kip a day (£8.50) for each bike, it seems a little pricey for this part of the world, but included is a map of The Loop, an advance driving course that takes all of about 7 minutes to complete, and the guarantee of covering any repairs needed on the journey. Little did we know, but this last clause would be our saviour.

Wrongly assuming that as a man I am a more competent rider, Mr Kip gives me bike 37, a kick-starter and probably the worst bike in Asia. Meanwhile, Wee Mo (who, for those not in the know has a semi-professional moto-cross rider for a brother, and a mechanic with over 40 years experience for a father) gets bike 12, a button-starting dream machine.
Having passed Mr Kip's cycling proficiency test – badge not included – we set out to get petrol. My gauge says I'm running on empty, but a full tank later, it reads the same. I look at the rest of the display and quickly discover that virtually all of it is kaput. Fuel level, speedometer, odometer – all knackered. In fact, the only thing that does work are three lights of five to let me know what gear I'm in.

Most disturbing, though is jammed mileage. 31009.7 km on clock – it's like a Hiroshima wristwatch. What cataclysm befell the driver at that point? And how many miles has this thing done since? Perhaps that's on my mind as I attempt to speed away from the petrol station and come within inches of ploughing into the side of a glimmering pick-up truck. (It's not, but I look like such a prick in the process, any excuse will do.)

Early drama behind us, we set off into the wild. The first section of The Loop is so smooth and scenic that it's hard to believe some of the tales of infamy that we'd heard of back in Tha Khaek. Our guesthouse (the altogether exploitative Tha Khaek Travel Lodge) has pages of gripes in vast logbooks from people who'd attempted the route. Too much dust in the dry season; too much mud in the wet. Back in Cambodia, we'd also heard-tell of a Dutch couple having to abandon the trip and get their bikes on the back of a tractor. Of course it was that kind of namby-pamby flim-flammery that means today the only people in the world speaking Dutch are the Dutch.

As we motor along past lurching karst peaks under a brilliant sun, such travails seem like laughable impossibilities. This is supposedly rainy season and certainly the last couple of weeks have lived up to that moniker. Skies darken, shed their load and clear in a matter of minutes; we're even becoming a little war-weary towards thunderstorms.

But golly! So sunny today! There seems little to worry about as all our naked bits are covered in factor 30 sun cream and that'll protect us, right?

We hare along the new highway towards the town of Tha Lang, stopping off at a few pretty dull caves as we go, taking advantage of the weather and ease of our schedule to take some videos (which won't be ready to see for over a year as our plucky little netbook can't handle HD files).

And biking? It gives me a real freedom and allows me to see so much more of the world than the restricted views from four-wheelers. For Wee Mo, it's the smells and sounds that enhance the whole thing. Put simply: your senses are much more alive when you're biking. I never really feel threatened by the speed too, despite the obvious danger of being eviscerated by a truck and splashing back to earth like fleshy rain.

However, by the time we get to the town of Yommalat, we're really feeling heat. In three hours, my arms have gone from tan, to mahogany, to red, to purple. Wee Mo suddenly has the nose of a terrible alcoholic. Now, either there's an enormous, undiscovered hole in the ozone directly above Laos, or the cheap Thai-made sun cream we bought is fake. I examine to these two possibilities and decide that we've been swindled.

To compound our problems, sun cream barely exists in Laos – the locals either stay indoors or cover up, neither of which are options for us. Every other day we've had in Laos, the afternoons have brought every shade of grey and unanimous rain. Today, there's not a cloud in the bastard.

We scoot on and leave the tarmac for gravel and a winding mountain road towards Tha Lang, where we will spend the night. A few kilometres from our destination, we pause to look at some of the eerie (though strangely appealing) scenery that results from the devastating logging that goes on in these parts.

It's been a good day – neither of us are dead, for a start – and, pissing around, I declare myself a fulling qualified “man of the road” before tearing away as fast as my 100cc motor will allow. Fifteen metres later, fate knocks as the door and off comes the chain. Being a fearlessly intrepid traveller, I fix it, even getting oil on my delicate writer's hands.

The repair doesn't even get me over the hill before it's off again. Four or five slips more and we notice that the entire wheel looks knackered. Wee Mo scoots off for help for the first time.

In her absence, I garble my way through a conversation with two locals, one of whom erroneously thinks I need petrol. Finally, I manage to work out that the mechanic is close by. I push the bike into the forecourt and it turns out that only the grease monkey's wife and five kids are on hand – the man is no where to be found. Nonetheless, they bravely set about the repairs while I call Mr Kip to let him know the problem. 

He negotiates with the woman fixing the bike but refuses to listen to my insistence that she hasn't put the wheel on straight. The returning Wee Mo can't believe how shoddy a job they've done. Some time around this point, the heavens open.

Wee Mo and I look at each other, then at a divine sunset to try and distract ourselves from the knowledge that everything is turning to shit – and that tomorrow we must take this hopeless banger onto The Loop's most notorious section.

Next: From Bad to Worse

Summer Days Going Fast And A Giveaway Too!

I have heard that some of you have sent your kids back to school already. Yikes! Is it that time for us? We were just enjoying hockey and hanging out with our cousins in Toronto. Now it's time to buckle down. Oh, don't worry, we'll still have fun. It's the back-to-school paperwork that Mommy dreads.

Notice we have mostly all boy cousins except Miss Taylor. So the daddies took all of the boys out for some hockey time while the ladies stayed in, played cards and chatted. So relaxing but we are a competitive bunch when we play cards. So fun.

Now that we are getting back to school mode, what are we mommies going to do? I got to read this terrific book on professional knitwear design, The KNITGRRL Guide To Professional Knitwear Design. I love reading interviews. That was my very favorite part of the book. Some of the designers who were interviewed were quite frank and I appreciate that. The other parts of the book were good too! There's information on how to start your own designing business and how to use social media to benefit your business. Terrific read even if you are not in the industry. I have a copy for you to win. All you have to do is tell me what you'll be sewing, knitting, scrapbooking or crafting as soon as the kids are back in school. Drop me a note here or on Facebook. Contest closes this Sunday at midnight.

I can't wait to see what you're going to busy yourselves with this fall! xo, L

p.s. The giveaway is not just for mommies. All entries are welcome!

What It Takes To Be "It"

I discovered this funky camera bag recently. I. SO. WANT. ONE. I haven't seen it in person but the ads are so my speed. I love the edgy feeling of the photos. So gorgeous yet so practical. You can't beat that.

Look at all the space in the bag. This looks like a fantastic bag. It's so stylish and so fashion forward. No more nylon bags!!

I love it when something has that "it" factor. Looks, branding, and functionality all tied into one. They're having a giveaway too! Oooooooh! When is Christmas? It can't come soon enough.
xo, L

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF DUNCAN RENALDO!

After I ran my review of THE CISCO KID radio shows (CLICK HERE if you missed it), I received a nice e-mail from Harlan Zink of Radio Archives. Modesty forbids my quoting his compliments, but he added… “One correction: the original Cisco series, starring Jackson Beck in the title role along with Louis Sorin as Pancho, originated out of WOR New York and was aired live for about a year. The subsequent series, from which our CD sets were taken, was produced by the Frederick Ziv Company out of Cincinnati, Ohio but was recorded in Hollywood.”

(Photos: top left, Warner Baxter, top right, Cesar Romero, below, Duncan Renaldo as Cisco at Monogram, Gilbert Roland, Duncan with producer Philip Krasne, Duncan with Marcia Mae Jones, Leo Carrillo and Duncan)

Actor Duncan Renaldo, the man almost everyone thinks of at the mention of The Cisco Kid, had one of the most amazing roller-coaster careers of any actor in Hollywood. After making a big impression in THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY (1929), he was cast as ‘Peru,’ the young friend of Harry Carey in MGM’S TRADER HORN (1931), which was the first talking-picture shot on location in Africa, directed by W.S. “One-take-Woody” Van Dyke. Duncan and the female lead, lovely Edwina Booth, attended the premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. He was lucky he got to attend, because he’d been arrested a few days earlier.

Duncan and Edwina both were married when they left for Africa, but both were quickly divorced shortly after their return. Actually Edwina managed to have her marriage annulled on the grounds that she was under-age when she married in 1927 – a good trick, considering that she was young, but only underage if you go by the fake studio biography that claims she was born in 1909, not 1904.

In September 1930, Suzette Renaldo, now divorced from Duncan for six months, filed a $50,000 alienation of affection suit against Edwina. Duncan countered by threatening to have ex-wife Suzette declared mentally unfit to be custodial parent to their four-year-old son. Then Suzette played her trump card: she informed U.S. Emigration that Duncan had entered the U.S. illegally.

Suzette’s case against Edwina went nowhere: there was no proof against her. The sanity hearing against Suzette would be funny if it were not so tragic: she claimed under oath that Duncan was a member of a Chinese gang, and that his grey fedora possessed occult powers. And sadly, Duncan, as he would later admit, was guilty as charged. Orphaned at an early age, he had no memory of his parents or where he was born, but he believed it was Spain or Romania. A merchant marine (I’ve been unable to find out from what country) from the age of 13, the ship he was on burned in the Baltimore harbor in 1921. He simply stayed here. To make matters worse, he falsely testified that he was born in Camden, New Jersey, and was additionally charged with making false statements to obtain a passport. He was sent to prison.

According to Philip Kranse, producer of all the non-Fox Cisco Kid films and the TV series, Duncan credited his salvation to an unnamed U. S. Prosecutor. Poking through files out of idle curiosity, the prosecutor stumbled upon the case, and saw a great miscarriage of justice. He went to bat for Duncan, and his pleas eventually reached First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Duncan was freed after eighteen months, and instead of being deported to God knows where, F.D.R. declared him an American citizen by Presidential Proclamation!

Now a free man, Duncan went to the studios looking for work, and found it: as a janitor. But he started picking up bits and supporting roles in mostly poverty row pictures, and at least one at MGM. The real turning point came when Herbert J. Yates, President of Republic Pictures, heard about his situation, and placed him under contract. Renaldo called Yates, “The man who saved my life!” Soon he was playing ever-larger roles in Republic Serials, Red Ryder films, and co-starring in Three Mesquiteers Westerns.

The role of the Cisco Kid came to Duncan Renaldo in the midst of World War II. 20th Century Fox had made three ‘A’s with Warner Baxter in the role, and six ‘B’s with Cesar Romero, the last in 1941. Though popular in many quarters, the Romeros were not that popular amongst fans of traditional Westerns, because too much time was spent on romance that could be better spent shooting and fighting. But the objections in Mexico were far greater – they despised the films, finding the general portrayal of Mexicans insulting, and complaining that Romero dressed more like a ballet-dancer than a caballero. Incredibly, in the midst of World War II, these films, and the idea of making more of them, had actually strained international relations at a time when it was crucial for The United States, Mexico, and the nations of Central and South America be united in their fight against fascism.

Philip Krasne had obtained the rights to Cisco Kid from 20th, and sent Duncan, who had signed on as an associate producer, to Mexico, to meet with the Inter-American Relationship Committee. According to Duncan, after days of fruitless discussion, he’d been inspired: he wanted to base Cisco and Pancho on Cervantes’ DON QUIXOTE, and Sancho Panza – ‘Pancho’ actually be a combination of syllables from that name. The idea was that, rather then being bandits out for themselves, they were out to good-naturedly right wrongs – while not being crazy like Quixote. Duncan pitched this idea to the group, and they bought it. This was not the first Duncan had been involved in writing stories – under the names Duncan Renault and Renault Duncan he had scripted several Western films.

Krasne set up the Cisco Kid films at Monogram, signed Martin Garralaga to portray Pancho, and made three Ciscos with Duncan in 1945. And here, the story gets a bit more mysterious. In 1946, the fine actor Gilbert Roland took over the role of Cisco for the next six movies. Then in 1948, Duncan Renaldo returned to the role, as Krasne moved the series from Monogram to United Artists, and added Leo Carrillo as Pancho. So, why did Duncan Renaldo suddenly leave the role he’d fought so hard for? Nobody’s saying. But if you can lay your hands on a VHS double bill from RKO, DON AMIGO (a.k.a THE GIRL FROM SAN LORENZO) and STAGE TO CHINO, a George O’Brian western, the films are preceded by Duncan Renaldo’s narrated telling of the history of the Cisco Kid films. After describing his dealings with the Inter-American Relationship Committee, he says, “During the war I was busy working for the government, so Gilbert Roland played in five (actually six) pictures for Monogram.” What work for the government? Considering he’d had to bow out of starring in a half dozen movies, after all the trouble he’d been through with them, it must have been something important, but I can find no reference to that work anywhere. If you know anything about what government work Duncan Renaldo was doing, PLEASE put it in a comment or e-mail me!

If you want to hear Duncan in his own words, DON AMIGO/STAGE TO CHINO double-bill is available for rent in VHS at Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee. Eddie’s is the unofficial film and TV archive that all the studios rely on. They’re at 5006 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91601. 818-506-4242. They’re open Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you'd like to read more about the Cisco Kid or Duncan Renaldo you can visit the excellent site THE OLD CORRAL at B-WESTERNS.COM, CLICK HERE. And if you'd like to read the O. Henry story that started it all, CLICK HERE.

DVD REVIEW – CLASSIC TV WESTERNS

If you want to see GUNSMOKE or BONANZA, you haven’t got a problem. They’re shown every day on TV-Land and other channels. Other popular Western series like HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL and THE VIRGINIAN are available on DVD. But most Western series are a lot harder to locate, especially those in dreaded black and white. SHOKUS VIDEO, long a purveyor of quirky fare, especially television from the 1950s, has a series of ‘sampler’ western DVDs entitled CLASSIC TV WESTERNS which will, depending on when your childhood happened, either bring back fond memories, or introduce you to some of the best of children’s television – from when children’s television involved a lot of riding and fighting and shooting bad guys.

Volume I features episodes from four different series, and two of them, THE RANGE RIDER (1951) and BUFFALO BILL, JR. (1955), come from Gene Autry’s FLYING ‘A’ stable. Range Rider stars Jock (here credited as ‘Jack’) Mahoney as the title character, and Dickie Jones as his youthful sidekick Dick West. Jock, who had graduated from stunt-doubling Gene, John Wayne and Errol Flynn (and being the romantic interest in Three Stooges shorts) plays a much revered cowboy detective. After 78 episodes Jock would leave and become first YANCY DERRINGER, then one the of the screen’s most athletic Tarzans. Dickie, 23 when the series started, but small, and playing younger, had been the voice of PINOCCIO, and was an accomplished trick-rider and athletic stuntman. One of the real pleasures of watching Jock and Dickie in action is that the camera is up close because no one had to double either of them, and their riding and fighting are a joy to behold. This particular episode, about the fight to keep a freight contract, features crotchety Raymond Hatton, whose screen credits started in 1909, and ended with 1971’s IN COLD BLOOD, plus villains Kenne Duncan (the tough) and Jim Bannon (the suave) – the last of Hollywood’s Red Ryders. It’s directed by John English, who, with William Witney, directed the finest of Republic Serials – he definitely makes the show MOVE.
In BUFFALO BILL JR., Dickie has become Dick Jones, turned 27, but still convincingly plays the teen older brother of a girl named Calamity (Nancy Gilbert), both of them watched over by kindly-but-gruff Judge Ben ‘Fair-And-Square’ Wiley (Harry Cheshire). This episode features a re-telling of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and stars Walter Reed as Wyatt Earp and James Griffith as Doc Holliday. Directed by action whiz Ray Nazarro, Dick is more athletic than ever, doing running mounts, fighting and endlessly diving through windows!
THE GABBY HAYES SHOW (1951), is an interesting novelty of early TV. Opening with impressive footage of everyone’s favorite toothless sagebrush raconteur riding through the desert, Gabby is next seen sitting on a porch, telling a tall tale directly to camera. He then introduces a story about a town that doesn’t have a bank – and suddenly we are smack in the middle of a movie starring Buster Crabbe, Al St. John and Kermit Maynard! Each episode of The Gabby Hayes Show would take a feature-length PRC Western and cut it down to about 22 minutes, ending with Gabby summing up the plot and telling another tall tale. Although obviously truncated, here you can at least follow the plot of the movie-within-a-movie -- which was not always the case with this series. Although, in preserving the plot, they’ve let a lot of action go by the wayside. When characters say, “Don’t you ever hold up the stage-coach with me on it – you might have shot me!” or “Thank you for saving me from that run-away horse,” you wish you’d seen those scenes.
Finally, Bill Williams stars in THE ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON (1951) with Don Diamond as his Pancho-like sidekick, El Toro (best remembered as Crazy Cat on F-TROOP). To the best of my knowledge, this series had nothing to do with the actual historical Kit Carson, but Williams is a solid actor, with a Hoppy-like smile, and good with the action. This story involves the challenge of keeping an outlaw in custody in a town without a jail-cell.

CLASSIC TV WESTERNS III will really bring back the memories, as it contains not only four shows, but all of the original commercials – if you’re trying to introduce young kids to early TV, they usually get a big kick out of the ads.
First up in another KIT CARSON (1952), this one featuring guest star John Dehner, radio’s Paladin, and a very popular western guest star. The Pepsi ads feature a bunch of well-dressed, pop-guzzling teens being regaled with Western lore by frequent movie sidekick William Fawcett. Next up is THE ROY ROGERS SHOW (1954), with all of the Post Cereal ads, and featuring Roy, Dale, Pat Brady, Bullet and Trigger, and their attempts to saved an innocent man who’s been framed. For my money, Roy will always be the King of the Cowboys, and his show tops them all. THE CISCO KID (1952) stars Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo as Cisco and Pancho, and their attempts to help a New York cop save a woman from being swindled out of her property. Although CISCO was one of the first series to be shot in color, this is a black and white TV print, from the days before TV could in fact show color, but it has its Weber Bread ads, and even a neat PSA with Cisco and Pancho at the end! Finally, WYATT EARP (1955) rounds out the set, and is the only show not specifically aimed at kids – although it features the kid-friendly story of Earp, played by Hugh O’Brien, getting roped into judging a beautiful baby contest. And the guest star is Touch Connors, who later became Mike Connors, the star of MANNIX.

Shokus Video offers two other CLASSIC TV WESTERN volumes, for $14.95 each, as well as volumes of THE CISCO KID, BUFFALO BILL JR., THE GABBY HAYES SHOW, and several volumes each of ANNIE OAKLEY and ROY ROGERS. CLICK HERE to go to their western page. They also offer a wide variety of mystery and comedy shows, and their SHOKUS INTERNET RADIO -- CLICK HERE -- is a 24 hour mix of music, comedy and interview programs: my favorite is Stu Shostak’s daily interview show from 4 to 6 p.m.

SCREENINGS

IDA LUPINO FEST AT MOMA

From August 26th through September 20th, under the title ‘MOTHER DIRECTS’, the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City, will present a large variety of films either starring or written by or directed by that unique talent, Ida Lupino. Although there appears to be only one Western in the bunch, LUST FOR GOLD (1949) showing Friday August 27th ay 4:30, and again Saturday September 4th at 5 p.m., there are a slew of noirs that are well worth seeing. LUST stars Lupino and Glenn Ford, was directed by S. Sylan Simon from the Ted Sherdeman, Richard English screenplay from Barry Storm’s novel. For more information, CLICK HERE.

3D FESTIVAL AT FILM FORUM, NEW YORK CITY

Jumping on the 3D bandwagon, the Film Forum is having a two week festival of many rarely seen films in 3D, and a surprising number of Westerns are included!

WEDNESDAY 8/25 INFERNO (1953) Directed by Roy Ward Baker, and starring Robert Ryan as a millionaire dumped in the desert by his scheming wife and her lover. And as an added attraction...you know Harold Lloyd as a great comedy pioneer, but did you know he also pioneered 3D photography? Mostly of women sans clothing! Between showings of INFERNO, a selection of Harold Lloyd's 3D nude slides will be shown! I wish I was in New York right now!
THURSDAY 8/26 SANGAREE (1953) directed by Edward Ludwig, set in post- Revolutionary Georgia, starring Fernando Lamas as a doctor during a plague outbreak, and Arlene Dahl is the beautiful heiress. New 35mm 3-D print courtesy Academy Film Archive. Color; Approx. 94 minutes, plus 10-minute intermission. 5:30, 9:45, AND ARLENE DAHL WILL ATTEND, AND PARTICIPATE IN A Q&A FOLLOWING THE 5:30 SHOW!

And coming in September, during the Film Forum William Castle retrospective, a 3D Western and a 3D Eastern: Friday & Saturday, 9/3 and 9/4 JESSE JAMES VS. THE DALTONS
(1954) Brett King believes he’s the son of the notorious bandit, and hooks up with the Daltons to try and learn the truth. But 3-D’d sexpot Barbara Lawrence is raison d’être enough for this Castle oater. Color; Approx. 65 minutes. 6:30 ONLY

Sunday & Monday 9/5 and 9/6 FORT TI (1953) Rare French and Indian War Eastern, with colonial George Montgomery teaming up with the Redcoats as they go toe-to-toe against those Frenchies at Fort Ticonderoga. Color; Approx. 75 minutes. 6:30 ONLY


FREE WESTERNS ON YOUR COMPUTER AT HULU

A staggering number of western TV episodes and movies are available, entirely free, for viewing on your computer at HULU. You do have to sit through the commercials, but that seems like a small price to pay. The series available -- often several entire seasons to choose from -- include THE RIFLEMAN, THE CISCO KID, THE LONE RANGER, BAT MASTERSON, THE BIG VALLEY, ALIAS SMITH AND JONES, and one I missed from 2003 called PEACEMAKERS starring Tom Berenger. Because they are linked up with the TV LAND website, you can also see BONANZA and GUNSMOKE episodes, but only the ones that are running on the network that week.

The features include a dozen Zane Grey adaptations, and many or most of the others are public domain features. To visit HULU on their western page, CLICK HERE.

AROUND LOS ANGELES

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepeneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permenant galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. Currently they have THE ART OF NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETRY: A LIVING TRADITION, through November 7th. I've seen the show three times, and am continually astonished at the beauty and variety of the work of the various tribes. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.

HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM

Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywood western, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.

WELLS FARGO HISTORY MUSEUM

This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.

ON TV

TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE

Every weekday, TV LAND airs a three-hour block of BONANZA episodes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They run a GUNSMOKE Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and on Friday they show two, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. They're not currently running either series on weekends, but that could change at any time.

NEED YOUR BLACK & WHITE TV FIX?

Check out your cable system for WHT, which stands for World Harvest Television. It's a religious network that runs a lot of good western programming. Your times may vary, depending on where you live, but weekdays in Los Angeles they run THE LONE RANGER at 1:30 p.m., and two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. On Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. it's THE RIFLEMAN again, followed at 2:30 by BAT MASTERSON. And unlike many stations in the re-run business, they run the shows in the original airing order. There's an afternoon movie on weekdays at noon, often a western, and they show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.


I'll have some more stuff tonight or tomorrow, and coming soon, interviews with Earl Holliman and Ty Hardin! But for now, Adios!

All Contents Copyright August 2010 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved

Special Things

How's your summer? It's going so fast! I think that I am having panic attacks because school will be back in session, and everything is going to be crazy, crazy, crazy. Plus, Quilt Market will be upon us again. Oh, dear! I have been doing designing stuff that I hope to show you in a few weeks and am working hard at putting it together. I have been mulling over changes and direction for a long time now. The ideas are coming together and I'll be getting my act together soon. I've also volunteered myself to teach some classes on re-purposing, knitting and scrapbooking/journaling at my kids' school for their enrichment program. I'm still in the planning stages of the classes but I'm hopeful and looking forward to the fun.

There's been so much activity around here! There was camp, summer rec, and many, many big special moments. My big guy just had a birthday!

Hubby and I celebrated a big anniversary!

My girlfriend Colleen celebrated a big birthday! Happy birthday!! My other girlfriend, Joanne, celebrated a big birthday too! Happy birthday, girls! It was a girls night out. I think that was special in itself!

My high school pal, Nancy and her family visited NJ. She and her hubby celebrated a bigger anniversary than mine and even got to kiss under the new statue in NYC the first day the statue was revealed!

         

There were everyday special moments too. Our visit to Pittsburgh to visit our friend Emily was a blast.

Catching our first fish was so fun too!

Now it's time to sit back, relax and blow some bubbles. Soon it will be back to school. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Fall is just around the corner and I'm sure that we'll make some more special memories.

xo, L

Not Just Vegetable Soup

A number of you have commented that you wouldn’t mind seeing more of what I’m feeding little C. Although I seriously doubt the interest in preparing limited ingredient, zero-seasoned dishes, it is heartening to see such concern in what we put into our little ones. And really, although I was advised otherwise, making your own baby food isn’t as difficult or as complicated as it may at first seem.

After the first months of solids (which shouldn’t really be called solids at all since most of the food is mushed!) I was given the green light for chunkier foods. “Yay!” I thought. Finally some change of pace. I decided to make little C’s very first vegetable soup.

No fixed recipe for this but here is what I did (more or less): I peeled and chopped 1 small carrot, 1 small potato, and added some chopped butternut squash (roughly the same amount as the carrot). Place everything in a saucepan with 1 sprig of parsley (tied in a knot) and a finger-sized rib of celery. Add water until just covered. Bring to a boil and then simmer until vegetables are soft (soft enough to be mashed easily with a fork or baby gums). Add a couple of heaping tablespoons of cooked rice and simmer until heated through. Discard parsley and celery. Allow to cool to a baby-comfortable temperature before serving (you can do this quickly with an ice bath – place some of the soup in a bowl and place the bowl in a bigger bowl with ice water). Depending on the age and teeth-situation of your baby you can mash the veggies roughly or finely with a fork.

The soup is quite versatile in such that you can use whatever vegetables your little one (or you) prefer. If you have frozen pureed veggies that you haven’t used yet you can mix them into this at the last moment. It goes especially well with pureed broccoli (which adds a touch of green and reminds me a bit of minestrone with pesto). You can make this soupier if you wish but I keep it fairly chunky as it acts more like a main meal than an actual soup.

Little C loved this and I think this may become one of her favorites (along with yogurt and avocado)! And, not one to feed people something I wouldn’t eat myself, I had a (very restorative) bowl of this drizzled with some extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper…basic, comforting, and delicious. I’m sure it would be even better with some grated parmesan cheese on top…something that little C will be trying once I get the go-ahead for cheese!

Have I bored you with all this intense blathering about what is essentially some boiled vegetables? But this isn’t just vegetable soup you see…it’s a stepping stone to that meal of foie gras, oysters, and chocolate tart that I promised little C we would have when she becomes a “big girl” ;) All in good time my sweet girl!

p.s. If you haven't already noticed, I've done a little fixing up here :) After 5 years (!!) with the same blogger template, I think we can all agree that some changes were in order. Nothing major league here -- this is still a blogger template (and until I can find a cute html geek who will work for cookies, blogger templates are all I can aspire to) -- but it's nice to have a change of scenery! High time too! :)