Martin Milner dies at age 83

milner_nMartin Milner best known for the roles of Corvette owner Tod Stiles in the television series Route 66 and stone-faced police veteran Pete Malloy in Adam-12 passed away at the age of 83. The communication office of the LA Police Department issued an Instagram which stated, “Pete Malloy, you are end of watch.”
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Milner started his career with a 1947 appearance in Life With Father. He went on to do roles in many World War II movies, such as Sands of Iwo Jima, Halls of Monezuma, Fighting Coast Guard and other television shows and movies. He even stood out in his minor role as a southern shore patrol officer in Mister Roberts.

I remember him for his movie The Private Lives of Adam and Eve. He also stared in the Irwin Allen production of Swiss Family Robinson and the short-lived television series of the same name.

It was his role of Tod Stiles in the 1960 to ’64 Route 66 that brought him the most fame during this period. My father told me that when he was working on the Glen Canyon Dam, the show was filming somewhere in Arizona. He and a friend passed by and the friend said something that the producer liked and paid his friend $50 to allow him to use it in the show. My father said that he wished he had said something—anything—at the same time.

He played the role of Stephen Banner in the Dragnet series of 1951 to 1959. He returned to his association with Jack Webb in the Dragnet which ran from 1967 to 1970. He played to role of officer Pete Malloy. That character did not rest, however, appearing in The D.A. series and the television series Emergency! while the television series Adam-12 was running from 1968 to 1975.

His last role was Detective Halloran in the mystery television series Diagnosis Murder staring Dick Van Dyke. But he continued to draw fans and autograph seekers as this YouTube video at an event in Chicago in 1996 shows.

Do You Believe? screening at Methodist Church

believeWILLIAMS — The United Methodist Church at 127 W Sherman Ave in Williams will host a screening of Do You Believe? this Friday.

The film stars Sean Astin who gained recognition for the inspirational 1993 movie Rudy based on he life of Notre Dame football player Daniel E. ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger. Most recently he stared in The Lord of the Rings movie series.

The movie also features Delroy Lindo who is one of those actors you instantly recognize, but probably do not remember the name. He started in the 1971 television series Police Surgeon and since has played in a host of roles such as in the movie Malcom X, a colonel in Broken Arrow (promoted to General in The Last Castle). He’s played cops and criminals and most recently had a recurring role as Sheriff Tip Harrison in the television series Blood and Oil. He’s even played a Supreme Court Justice on TV (Justice Clarence Thomas). Quite frankly he is one of those actors that deserve better roles.

The movie, from the creators of God’s Not Dead, is also currently in theaters.

For The Love of Spock

Photo from Kickstarter web site

Photo from Kickstarter web site

Leonard Nimoy, best known for his role as Mr. Spock on Star Trek, was approached by his son on the possibility of doing a film on Spock for the 50th anniversary of Star Trek next year. They worked on the project until his unfortunate passing in February. Adam Nimoy now seeks to complete the film not only as a tribute to Spock, but as a tribute to his father.

Adam is a director in his own right having directed episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Babylon 5, Sliders and other non-science fiction shows.

In order to complete the film in time, Adam turned to the Kickstarter funding web site. The father and son team had already chosen 455 Films to produce the film and had contacted several of the Star Trek actors to be interviewed for the film. Zachary Quinto, the current Spock in the recent feature films, has agreed to narrate the film.

Kickstarter offers several donation levels from $5 on up, but some of the higher level offers are already sold out.

Local author book signing at Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe

levi-01WILLIAMS — Levi Thompson of Ash Fork will hold a book signing at Anna’s Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe this weekend. He will be signing copies of his book of poetry On Any Given Day.

The book, which also includes his own sketches, concerns his journey to find out if God is real. He said that the book contains his poetry about God’s world and his journey in it.

Additionally, local musician Daniel Volkart will be performing throughout the weekend and invites other musicians to attend and join in.

Anna’s Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe, in the Red Garter Inn on Railroad Avenue, is now offering Navajo tacos on Mondays and Fridays. They are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m except Wednesday when they close at 3 p.m.

Methodist Church will show God’s Not Dead Friday

methodist-churchWILLIAMS — The Williams Community United Methodist Church, Pastored by Billy Martin, will show the hit movie God’s Not Dead staring Kevin Sorbo and Shane Harper. The free showing will begin this Friday at 7 p.m. and free popcorn will be provided.

The church is located at 127 West Sherman Avenue in Williams; on the corner of 2nd Street and Sherman Avenue. Tourist and visitors simply drive south on 2nd Street from Route 66 and the church will be the left side.

Birdman takes the Oscar

300-american_sniperHOLLYWEIRD – The “black comedy” Birdman apparently took best picture at the Oscars this year. In case you haven’t heard of it, a synopsis from The Numbers reads:

An actor—famous for portraying an iconic superhero—struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself.

Whether ironically or by intent, Micheal Keaton known for his Batman role stars in the film. To be fair, I have not seen the movie and it might actually be excellent.

The movie with an $18-million dollar budget claims over $76-million in worldwide revenues.

“Right-wing” web sites are calling this a snub to American Sniper produced by Clint Eastwood. Some are contending it is some sort of “payback” for his RNC speech in which the “left-wing” called him—basically—a doddering old fool.

This should not come as a shock. The Oscars are selected by the members of the screen actors guild. Since most actors going into Hollyweird since the ’60s are generally Communists and hate America, it is not surprising that pro-American, pro-Christian movies will not receive recognition. Yes, it would seem that the cowardice remarks by Micheal Moore (who has never served his country) have taken their toll. His well-respected Hollyweird opinion may have taken its toll on American Sniper.

With a $58-million dollar budget, American Sniper has received $428,509,632 in revenues, though, it would seem that America made a different choice for the best movie in America. This does not include expected video sales.

Yes, while other producers and actors will take home a simulated, gold-plated statue, poor old, doddering Mr. Eastwood will have to cry all the way to the bank.

Roger Corman’s Little Shop of Horrors

It isn’t Halloween without a Roger Corman classic. And this one is about as classic as it gets. The Little Shop of Horrors was remade into a horrible musical in the 80s, but this is the original version. This film stars Jonathan Haze who worked in only a couple of dozen other films. There are a couple of other faces, however, you may recognize.

You will, of course, recognize three-time Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson as the masochistic Wilbur Force. He went on to star in The Raven, another Corman campy classic staring Vincent Price and Boris Karloff. He was the Joker in the Batman movie by Tim Burton. And, of course, the President in Mars Attacks.

Another face you might recognize is the flower munching Burson Fouch, but you may not know his name. That is Dick Miller who also played third man at lunch counter (You’ll have to research that one). Miller has been acting since 1955 and has had bit parts and co-stared in movies and on television right up to the 2014 horror comedy Burying the Ex.