10/30/09
Hello all,
Here is a rumor from TvShowsOnDVD.com as it reached my e-mailbox today--
*********************************************************************
Are you sitting down? The rumors have reached our ears, from a VERY reliable
industry source- who spoke on condition of remaining anonymous- that the classic
Robert Wagner series "It Takes a Thief", which ran on ABC for 3 seasons (from
1968-1970), is finally going to come to DVD (supposedly sometime in 2010 --ed.)!
The series co-starred Malachi Throne, who had key guest roles in such classic
shows as Star Trek ("Commodore Mendez"), Batman ("False Face", which is said to
be that show's more family-friendly version of the classic villian Two-Face),
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ("Blackbeard the Pirate") and Babylon 5
("Centauri Prime Minister"), among many others in his long career. The
legendary Fred Astaire had a recurring role in the show's last season, and
another recurring role was had by the ever-lovely Susan Saint James (Kate &
Allie, McMillan & Wife).
There are many more recurring stars and guest stars to mention from the show's
66-episode run, but we'll save that for the official announcement, if and when
that comes! Right now this DVD is just gossip, officially, but it comes from a
source that has always proven to be right on the money. We'll fill you in once
we find out which studio is involved (it may have been sub-licensed), and what
else we can expect about the show's release. Stay tuned!
*********************************************************************
Currently almost all "It Takes A Thief" shows are viewable in full on Hulu.com.
This news certainly bodes well for the further possibility of a "Name Of The
Game" DVD set, what with the similar Universal Studios creative inputs (stars,
writers, producers like Leslie Stevens) between the two series. Let's send
TVShowsOnDVD another round of requests for NOTG on DVD -- keep the pressure on
everyone....
Peter
Producer George Eckstein, who produced the TV series The Fugitve, The TV film
"Duel", and the Robert Stack segments of "The Name Of The Game" for seasons 2
and 3, died September 12th at age 81.
TV producer Steven Bochco, who worked on Name Of The Game as story editor during
George Eckstein's tenure, called the producer an early mentor on his career. The
obituary is at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-george-eckstein13-2009sep13,0,30598\
7.story
Peter
Of all the tv-episodes free websites like First on Mars, Joost, and Tidal, I am
surprised "Name of The Game" has not been added by now. The series would fit in
perfectly.
--- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com, "dataguy592003" <phh205@...> wrote:
>
>
> > Do you know how many scores did Oliver Nelson compose for the series?
> > And the list of these episodes.
>
>
>
> Thomas,
>
>
> You may have seen this site before:
>
> **********************************************************************
> http://www.dougpayne.com/on67-75.htm
>
> THE NAME OF THE GAME
> Oliver Nelson
> prob. Hollywood, California: c. 1968-71
> Oliver Nelson (arr, cond).
>
> Nightmare (aired October 18, 1968)
> The White Birch (aired November 29, 1968)
> Jenny Wilde Is Drowning (aired March 27, 1970):
> Psychedelic Daffodil (Oliver Nelson)
> Cynthia Is Alive And Living In Avalon (aired October 2, 1970)
>
> (Note: This episode features a cue, used in two places, that later became
known as "Skull Session" and recorded later by Nelson for the album SKULL
SESSION.)
> **********************************************************************
>
> This information checks with my examination of the series credits:
>
> Oliver Nelson's name is on these episodes:
>
> Nightmare ("Music Score")
> The White Birch ("Music Score")
> Cynthia Is Alive And Living In Avalon ("Music Score")
>
> His name does NOT appear in the credits of "Jenny Wilde Is Drowning"
> although the above source states he did do work on that show.
> I asssume his information is valid, since he seems to have a lot more
> information on Oliver Nelson.
>
> Hope this answers your question!
>
>
> Peter
>
Thank you Peter.
I only own "Cynthia Is Alive And Living In Avalon" on DVD and the score is very
good and typical of Nelson's television signature. I don't know about the first
two.
Thomas
> Do you know how many scores did Oliver Nelson compose for the series?
> And the list of these episodes.
Thomas,
You may have seen this site before:
**********************************************************************
http://www.dougpayne.com/on67-75.htm
THE NAME OF THE GAME
Oliver Nelson
prob. Hollywood, California: c. 1968-71
Oliver Nelson (arr, cond).
Nightmare (aired October 18, 1968)
The White Birch (aired November 29, 1968)
Jenny Wilde Is Drowning (aired March 27, 1970):
Psychedelic Daffodil (Oliver Nelson)
Cynthia Is Alive And Living In Avalon (aired October 2, 1970)
(Note: This episode features a cue, used in two places, that later became known
as "Skull Session" and recorded later by Nelson for the album SKULL SESSION.)
**********************************************************************
This information checks with my examination of the series credits:
Oliver Nelson's name is on these episodes:
Nightmare ("Music Score")
The White Birch ("Music Score")
Cynthia Is Alive And Living In Avalon ("Music Score")
His name does NOT appear in the credits of "Jenny Wilde Is Drowning"
although the above source states he did do work on that show.
I asssume his information is valid, since he seems to have a lot more
information on Oliver Nelson.
Hope this answers your question!
Peter
Hello,
Do you know how many scores did Oliver Nelson compose for the series?
And the list of these episodes.
Thank you because I am currently preparing a blog about Nelson's conribution
to various Universal series.
Anyone can tip me off about "It Takes a Thief too?
Best,
Thomas
PS: I watched recently a season 6 episode ("The Visitors") of
"Mission: Impossible" with a guest actor playing a press tycoon
but on the flip side of Glenn Howard.
If you're interested in, I can publish a full review about it.
There's a plethora of films featuring Anthony Franciosa this month. Who knows
why. His birthday is not until October.
A face in the Crowd?? June 16
Fathom June 18
Pleasure Seekers? June 8 and 27
Rio Conchos June 27
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Sorry!! I hadn't meant to be cryptic! I actually meant The Iron Horse with
Dale Robertson, which debuted as a series before the Name of the Game movie
aired.>
Lee,
WOW, you are totally right, I overlooked that one. "Iron Horse" was
based on the very early ABC MTV movie "Scalplock"(aired in April 1966).
It was about the 3rd or 4th MTV movie ever made coming after NBC's
"The Killers" (released only in theaters), "The Hanged Man" and "See How They
Run", all airing in 1964. I don't think any of these were series pilots.
Thanks!!
peter
Sorry!! I hadn't meant to be cryptic! I actually meant The Iron Horse with Dale
Robertson, which debuted as a series before the Name of the Game movie aired.
But Peter is also right that, in between, Ironside slipped in and did both a
movie and a series. Maybe, now that he brought it up, the success of Ironside
for Universal made them look back and consider what other TV movies might yield
a hit show.
--- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com, "dataguy592003" <phh205@...> wrote:
>
>
> Ironside (TV film, March 1967-- series debut September 1967)
> BTW, Name Of The Game story editor Steven Bochco did "supplementary"
writing(extra stuff to pad the running times)on the first 6 series Ironsides.
>
> Peter
>
>
> --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com, John <actingman6@> wrote:
> >
> > This is stretching my trivia prowess...what was the show?
> >
> > On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 8:40 AM, r0thornhill <r0thornhill@> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > At that time, only one show had ever gone from TV-movie to series. It
> > > wasn't planned that way, and it wasn't an industry practice yet, so it may
> > > just have taken that long for someone to think of it.
> > >
> > > --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com <nameofthegame%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > "dataguy592003" <phh205@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hello John,
> > > >
> > > > Interesting question, could be that the relatively risky "long form"
> > > aspect of Game kept the idea in the formative stage a little longer than
was
> > > the norm for most TV series then. Keep in mind, "Columbo" (also a
Universal
> > > LF series) took 3 years and two pilots to become a regular series.
> > > >
> > > > Peter
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com <nameofthegame%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > John <actingman6@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I have always wondered why it took two years for Fame Is...to go from
> > > highly
> > > > > rated movie to Name Of..series.
> > > > >
> > > > > I would have thought it would have gone to series in Sep '67 rather
> > > than Sep
> > > > > '68.
> > > > >
> > > > > An extra year?
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
Ironside (TV film, March 1967-- series debut September 1967)
BTW, Name Of The Game story editor Steven Bochco did "supplementary"
writing(extra stuff to pad the running times)on the first 6 series Ironsides.
Peter
--- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com, John <actingman6@...> wrote:
>
> This is stretching my trivia prowess...what was the show?
>
> On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 8:40 AM, r0thornhill <r0thornhill@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > At that time, only one show had ever gone from TV-movie to series. It
> > wasn't planned that way, and it wasn't an industry practice yet, so it may
> > just have taken that long for someone to think of it.
> >
> > --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com <nameofthegame%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > "dataguy592003" <phh205@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello John,
> > >
> > > Interesting question, could be that the relatively risky "long form"
> > aspect of Game kept the idea in the formative stage a little longer than was
> > the norm for most TV series then. Keep in mind, "Columbo" (also a Universal
> > LF series) took 3 years and two pilots to become a regular series.
> > >
> > > Peter
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com <nameofthegame%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > John <actingman6@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have always wondered why it took two years for Fame Is...to go from
> > highly
> > > > rated movie to Name Of..series.
> > > >
> > > > I would have thought it would have gone to series in Sep '67 rather
> > than Sep
> > > > '68.
> > > >
> > > > An extra year?
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
This is stretching my trivia prowess...what was the show?
On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 8:40 AM, r0thornhill <r0thornhill@...> wrote:
>
>
> At that time, only one show had ever gone from TV-movie to series. It
> wasn't planned that way, and it wasn't an industry practice yet, so it may
> just have taken that long for someone to think of it.
>
> --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com <nameofthegame%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "dataguy592003" <phh205@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hello John,
> >
> > Interesting question, could be that the relatively risky "long form"
> aspect of Game kept the idea in the formative stage a little longer than was
> the norm for most TV series then. Keep in mind, "Columbo" (also a Universal
> LF series) took 3 years and two pilots to become a regular series.
> >
> > Peter
> >
> >
> > --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com <nameofthegame%40yahoogroups.com>,
> John <actingman6@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I have always wondered why it took two years for Fame Is...to go from
> highly
> > > rated movie to Name Of..series.
> > >
> > > I would have thought it would have gone to series in Sep '67 rather
> than Sep
> > > '68.
> > >
> > > An extra year?
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
At that time, only one show had ever gone from TV-movie to series. It wasn't
planned that way, and it wasn't an industry practice yet, so it may just have
taken that long for someone to think of it.
--- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com, "dataguy592003" <phh205@...> wrote:
>
> Hello John,
>
> Interesting question, could be that the relatively risky "long form" aspect of
Game kept the idea in the formative stage a little longer than was the norm for
most TV series then. Keep in mind, "Columbo" (also a Universal LF series) took 3
years and two pilots to become a regular series.
>
> Peter
>
>
> --- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com, John <actingman6@> wrote:
> >
> > I have always wondered why it took two years for Fame Is...to go from highly
> > rated movie to Name Of..series.
> >
> > I would have thought it would have gone to series in Sep '67 rather than Sep
> > '68.
> >
> > An extra year?
>
This is bad news. They only got through season 3, episode 9 or so on "Lou
Grant," then went back and started from the beginning again, so we didn't
even get the complete run. Same thing with "12 O'Clock High." Someone said
awhile back they were in financial trouble, and if they're going to TVLand
type of programming, they must be hoping it will get them more advertising.
Marta
http://www.steveandmarta.com - Featuring the 1985 Twilight Zone series!
"It is setting a high value upon our opinions, to roast men alive on account
of them." Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
"Our relationship hasn't been exactly...domestic, has it?" Emma Peel to John
Steed, "The Avengers: Escape in Time"
-----Original Message-----
From: nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com [mailto:nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of dataguy592003
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2009 10:02 PM
To: nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [nameofthegame] The New "American Life Network"
Hello All,
Just a word about the new "American Life Network" - Ugh!!
Bad Points --
They have dropped the "nightly variety" format (soldiers, action heroes,
spin off series, etc...) for what appears to be straight TV Land-style 5
night a week overkill ala Cosby / Cheers. Fewer shows, less variety and more
homogeny. Call it TV Land 2. Goodbye Combat, Rat Patrol, 12 O'Clock High,
Burke's Law, Lost In Space, Mary Tyler Moore, Lou Grant, Land Of The Giants,
Trapper John, Green Hornet, Batman, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
But.
Good Point-
They're running a few obscure 1970's and 1980's movies - "Final Assignment"
(1980) w/ Burgess Meredith, tomorrow on Sunday 6/6 its "Murder On Flight
502" (1975) w/ Hugh O'Brian & Robert Stack, which I haven't seen in ages.
Who knows? Maybe they need input from viewers as to what shows would work
best..
Let's bombard them with requests for NAME OF THE GAME!!!!
They're already showing two great Steven Bochco series' (LA Law, Hill Street
Blues) how about a third??
Everyone EMAIL!!!!!!
Peter
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
Hello All,
Just a word about the new "American Life Network" – Ugh!!
Bad Points --
They have dropped the "nightly variety" format (soldiers, action heroes, spin
off series, etc...) for what appears to be straight TV Land-style 5 night a week
overkill ala Cosby / Cheers. Fewer shows, less variety and more homogeny. Call
it TV Land 2. Goodbye Combat, Rat Patrol, 12 O'Clock High, Burke's Law, Lost In
Space, Mary Tyler Moore, Lou Grant, Land Of The Giants, Trapper John, Green
Hornet, Batman, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
But…
Good Point—
They're running a few obscure 1970's and 1980's movies – "Final Assignment"
(1980) w/ Burgess Meredith, tomorrow on Sunday 6/6 its "Murder On Flight 502"
(1975) w/ Hugh O'Brian & Robert Stack, which I haven't seen in ages.
Who knows? Maybe they need input from viewers as to what shows would work best….
Let's bombard them with requests for NAME OF THE GAME!!!!
They're already showing two great Steven Bochco series' (LA Law, Hill Street
Blues) how about a third??
Everyone EMAIL!!!!!!
Peter
Hello John,
Interesting question, could be that the relatively risky "long form" aspect of
Game kept the idea in the formative stage a little longer than was the norm for
most TV series then. Keep in mind, "Columbo" (also a Universal LF series) took 3
years and two pilots to become a regular series.
Peter
--- In nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com, John <actingman6@...> wrote:
>
> I have always wondered why it took two years for Fame Is...to go from highly
> rated movie to Name Of..series.
>
> I would have thought it would have gone to series in Sep '67 rather than Sep
> '68.
>
> An extra year?
I have always wondered why it took two years for Fame Is...to go from highly
rated movie to Name Of..series.
I would have thought it would have gone to series in Sep '67 rather than Sep
'68.
An extra year?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
6/3/09
Don,
Much appreciation for the uploads of "Fame is the Name Of The Game"
& "All the Old Familiar Faces." I always thought that Benny Carter's music was
one of the best features of "Fame", especially the climactic garage/gunfight
scene.
Below is an original 1966 review of "Fame" from a regional New York state
newspaper. It's from one of the few free newspaper databases I've found:
http://www.fultonhistory.com/Fulton_New_form.html
**********************************************************************
The Citizen Advertiser, Auburn, NY, Monday, November 28, 1966
2 HOUR SPECIALLY-MADE FILM CALLED SATISFACTORY VIEWING
By CYNTHIA LOWRY
NEW YORK (AP)
"Fame Is the Name Of The Game", a two-hour motion picture made for initial
television broadcast, proved to be very satisfactory viewing in many ways.
The NBC broadcast Saturday night was a bright, slick retread of one of the most
familiar plots in movieland. It was of particular interest inside the industry
because it may start a trend now that the supply of old movies is running low.
After NBC has shown the million-dollar movie several times, it will be released
for theater distribution.
The story line was as old as the talkies; the intrepid wise-cracking star
reporter who talks back to his boss, confounds the cops and solves the murder.
It was spiced with blackmail, illicit love affairs, fights, gunplay and
nightclub scenes, but the clothes, the dialogue and the music score were modern.
Because it was made for television's small screens, there were plenty of
close-ups and large busy scenes were avoided. It was designed to fit the time
period and to accommodate the breaks for commercials. At no time did the viewer
feel that some editor had chopped out an important hunk of plot to make room for
a sales pitch.
There were some engaging people, too. Tony Franciosa played the star reporter
eager for the scoop as if he had invented the character. Jill St. John, the
beautiful blonde temptress, may have telegraphed the windup by her aggressive
behavior, but she added some zing to the business.
The show must be counted as a successful experiment. It was not a major motion
picture, but was lively, gay and held one's attention to the end. The real name
of the game is entertainment – and this one filled the bill.
**********************************************************************
Peter
A new album is in the Photos section for the TV movie that became the series
pilot, "Fame is the Name of the Game."
http://tv.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/nameofthegame/photos
00_Fame Is TNOTG
TV Party has an article:
www.tvparty.com/vaultmov.html
TV Obscurities has ratings info:
www.tvobscurities.com/category/historical-tv-ratings/
I have enjoyed "visiting" these Bat LocationsThanks for the links. Now, wouldn't
it be something if we could do the same for NOTG.
Alan.
To: nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com
From: dghprobe3@...
Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 21:44:20 +0000
Subject: [nameofthegame] Articles on studios, location shooting, etc.
One of the "Batman" TV series fan sites has a fair amount of material on
shooting locations. Since I haven't seen all of the NOTG episodes, more of this
may apply to our series than we currently know.
Unfortunately, I haven't found anything pertaining to the unidentified mansion
which appeared in "Familiar Faces."
Interesting to look over the photos, and note that some of the locations and
studio backlots no longer exist.
The last link below is to the Warner Bros. backlot, and I believe "the streets
of New York" appeared in a number of NOTG episodes. Unfortunately, wasn't this
was part of the backlot areas that burned last year?
Has anyone heard whether or not Universal plans to rebuild their backlots which
burned last year in June 2008?
Info on various locations, including 'Wayne Manor':
http://www.1966batfan.com/batlocations.htm
Direct link to 'Wayne Manor' info (rental was $500/day):
http://www.1966batfan.com/waynemanor.htm
Info on Culver Studios:
http://www.1966batfan.com/batlocations.htm
Info on 20th Century Fox Studios:
http://www.1966batfan.com/20thcenturyfox.htm
Info on the Warner Bros. backlot:
http://www.1966batfan.com/warnerbrothers.htm
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
One of the "Batman" TV series fan sites has a fair amount of material on
shooting locations. Since I haven't seen all of the NOTG episodes, more of this
may apply to our series than we currently know.
Unfortunately, I haven't found anything pertaining to the unidentified mansion
which appeared in "Familiar Faces."
Interesting to look over the photos, and note that some of the locations and
studio backlots no longer exist.
The last link below is to the Warner Bros. backlot, and I believe "the streets
of New York" appeared in a number of NOTG episodes. Unfortunately, wasn't this
was part of the backlot areas that burned last year?
Has anyone heard whether or not Universal plans to rebuild their backlots which
burned last year in June 2008?
Info on various locations, including 'Wayne Manor':
http://www.1966batfan.com/batlocations.htm
Direct link to 'Wayne Manor' info (rental was $500/day):
http://www.1966batfan.com/waynemanor.htm
Info on Culver Studios:
http://www.1966batfan.com/batlocations.htm
Info on 20th Century Fox Studios:
http://www.1966batfan.com/20thcenturyfox.htm
Info on the Warner Bros. backlot:
http://www.1966batfan.com/warnerbrothers.htm
Well done for finding this one. So that house has appeared in several TV series.
I wonder if it has also appeared in any films? Surely it must be located near to
the main studios to be used so often? Thanks for sharing this exciting new
information.
Alan.
To: nameofthegame@yahoogroups.com
From: dghprobe3@...
Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 01:50:25 +0000
Subject: [nameofthegame] New photos - 'Familiar Faces' mansion in 'The FBI'
episode
A new folder has been added to Photos:
61_Faces_mansion_FBI
The unidentified mansion that was used in the NOTG episode, "All the Old
Familiar Faces," also appeared in an episode of "The FBI." "Counter-stroke"
aired 9-24-67 and was directed by William Hale. Guest stars who appeared at the
mansion, besides star Efram Zimbalist, Jr., were William Smithers, Jessica
Walters, and Kevin McCarthy.
A different mansion was also used in this episode, it was the same mansion used
by the Adam West "Batman" series for 'Wayne Manor.'
As we have discussed previously, this mansion was also used in the "Probe" pilot
for the 1972-73 "Search" series, and it also appeared in a first season 1967
"Mannix" episode, "Nothing Ever Works Twice."
Thanks also go to Peter for letting me borrow his tape of this a while back.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
A new folder has been added to Photos:
61_Faces_mansion_FBI
The unidentified mansion that was used in the NOTG episode, "All the Old
Familiar Faces," also appeared in an episode of "The FBI." "Counter-stroke"
aired 9-24-67 and was directed by William Hale. Guest stars who appeared at the
mansion, besides star Efram Zimbalist, Jr., were William Smithers, Jessica
Walters, and Kevin McCarthy.
A different mansion was also used in this episode, it was the same mansion used
by the Adam West "Batman" series for 'Wayne Manor.'
As we have discussed previously, this mansion was also used in the "Probe" pilot
for the 1972-73 "Search" series, and it also appeared in a first season 1967
"Mannix" episode, "Nothing Ever Works Twice."
Thanks also go to Peter for letting me borrow his tape of this a while back.
Don,
Thanks for posting the themes, there were actually 2 Bold Ones themes,
the other was done by Robert Prince, I think, for season one (1969-70)
before he worked on the Name Of The Game episode "LA 2017" with Billy
Goldenberg (and received an Emmy nomination).
Peter