Newsletter September 2024

Carl’s Corner

by Carl Amari

TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS

by Carl Amari 

Westerns were a very popular genre on both radio and television. Whereas most western-themed shows took place from the time period between The Battle of the Alamo (1836) and The Mexican Revolution (1920), Tales of the Texas Rangers was unique in its contemporary setting with Western-style tradition and ideals.

The role of The Texas Rangers in Texas History was especially significant during the Mexican Revolution when nasty cross-border attacks were prominent. They are an important part of the mythology of the Wild West and today there are still over 100 Rangers actively serving the State of Texas.

Like Dragnet, Tales of the Texas Rangers was a procedural drama based on actual modern Texas Rangers. Star Joel McCrea lead as “Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson, who used forensic science to track and identify criminals. Though most of the criminals used automobiles, the plots would often necessitate Pearson riding his faithful horse, Charcoal.

Producer-director Stacy Keach, Sr. traveled to Texas and worked with Texas Ranger Captain Manuel “Lone Wolf” Gonzaullas, who was said to have killed thirty-one men during his 30-year career as a Texas Ranger. Gonzaullas served as the show’s advisor giving the drama an unmistaken realism. The slant was modern with cases spanning the time from 1928-1948.

Sponsored by Wheaties, Tales of the Texas Rangers aired from 1950 to 1952, spawning a popular television version (mainly targeted at children), which ran from 1955 and 1957.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CARL AMARI:  

BOLD VENTURE and BOSTON BLACKIE fans – THANK YOU – we saved both series!

As most of you know, I have licensed the entire Frederic W. Ziv library of more than 10,000 original radio shows. Mr. Ziv was one of radio’s premiere radio producers and syndicators.

The Ziv library contains 41 different radio series including the entire runs of BOLD VENTURE, BOSTON BLACKIE, I WAS A COMMUNIST FOR THE FBI, PHILO VANCE, THE CISCO KID, MR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY, FAVORITE STORY and many more.

Mr. Ziv preserved these radio shows on “unplayed” 16 inch transcription discs, which have been stored in a climate-controlled warehouse for more than 60 years. If these episodes are not transferred, they will never be heard by the world.

We launched two Kickstarter campaigns to raise the funds to transfer all 78 BOLD VENTURE and all 219 BOSTON BLACKIE radio shows. Thanks mostly to YOU the HOLLYWOOD 360 listeners, we were successful in saving both of these series. We already made the transfers for the 78 BOLD VENTURE shows and for all 219 BOSTON BLACKIE shows.

If you did NOT pledge and you’d like to receive the complete runs of BOLD VENTURE and BOSTON BLACKIE via digital download or audio CDs, call us at 815-900-7535 and speak to a live operator. Because BOSTON BLACKIE is 219 episodes, we are offering a 3-pay option.

Our next Kickstarter is I WAS A COMMUNIST FOR THE F.B.I and we will soon have a Kickstarter website up with more information so check often for our Kickstarter website by searching “Kickstarter” and “I Was A Communist for the F.B.I” (tune in to two episodes of I Was a Communist for the F.B.I. this month on Hollywood 360).

LEND ME YOUR EARS by Lisa Wolf

ME AND MRS. JONES, by Billy Paul

RELEASED: 1972

Watch On YouTube

“This guy used to come into the bar every day…The next day he came in again, and every day after he’d come in, this girl would come in 10-15 minutes after he’d get there, and they’d sit in the same booth, then go to the jukebox and play the same songs. We said, ‘That’s me and Mrs. Jones.’ Then, when they’d get ready to leave, he would go his way and she would go hers. It could have been his daughter, his niece, anybody, but we created a story that there was some kind of romantic connection between these people, so we went upstairs to our office and wrote the song.” ~ Kenny Gamble, Writer

“Me and Mrs. Jones” was written by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert. This songwriting team was part of Philadelphia International Records, a label known for producing a string of hits during the 1970s. The song was a part of Billy Paul’s fourth studio album, “360 Degrees of Billy Paul,” and it quickly became the standout track, earning Paul a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1973.

At its core, “Me and Mrs. Jones” tells the story of an extramarital affair. The lyrics describe a man and a woman, both involved with other partners, meeting for their forbidden relationship. The song expresses both the excitement and the guilt associated with their secretive rendezvous.

Upon its release, “Me and Mrs. Jones” became an instant hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has since been covered by numerous artists, including Michael Bublé, whose 2007 rendition introduced the song to a new generation.

Watch On YouTube