Friday, June 22nd, 1974

Dad was home again. A slight cold yesterday had expanded greatly today.

The paper once again lists The Madison for THE EXORCIST. Just another week.

It may be just an idle thought but I think I'd like to be an actor.

I got the new SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN.

Saw a TV commercial for DEADLY WEAPONS. Seems "Chesty Morgan" is not just the character bit the actress!

IT twice today. Wish it would just stop.

NOTES: In time, my wanting to be an actor modified a bit. I wanted to be a voice actor! It's never really happened. I have been able to indulge the fantasy by performing with pros and talented amateurs onstage at the Old Time radio Convention since the late eighties. When I was working at the Public Library, I was tapped to narrate a segment on canine visits for kids. The interesting part was that I recorded the narration about a week before the event. Then scenes from the event were edited together to match my narration! Not exactly acting but fun.


SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN was Marvel's black and white, more adult version of the Conan character. Most issues were epic length tales written by Roy Thomas with an eye toward the overall continuity and timeline of the character. Drawn by John Buscema, Ernie Chan and other illustrators who were really given their head and allowed to run with it, these were well-done stories! BUT...in the long run, they were a bit repetitive and my enthusiasm for the title wore off. On this day, though, it was the very first issue that I bought. Bolstered by the Ah-nold film adaptations, the title overstayed its welcome by running into the mid-1990's!

Thursday, June 20th, 1974

I had to give up several mags to get a copy of WILLIAM PETER BLATTY ON THE EXORCIST. For $1.95, I got the complete screenplay of the film , inside stories and pages and pages of pictures! Some of Linda I never expected to see and lots of behind the scenes shots. It was worth the price!

I also got all the new comics and the new SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN TREASURY EDITION for a buck fifty!

Dad stayed home sick today. I felt better today myself after yesterday's unexpected workout. Terry maintains he's doing it again on Saturday. Not with me!

Still haven't gotten that Hammer book in the mail and now we're expecting the 1973 Encyclopedia Yearbook also.

NOTES: EXORCIST screenwriter William Peter Blatty had been in Hollywood a long time and knew his way around a screenplay but this one turned out to be a phenomenon. Assuming he wrote the book himself, he did an excellent job. There were a lot of behind-the-scenes books on particular movies in the seventies but this one remains one of the best in my opinion


I never did invest a whole day in walking to that Showcase Cinemas. Soon enough we were going to get one of our own in Northern Kentucky and it was, in its own way, just as hard to get to if you didn't have a car! What were they thinking?


We had a complete set of Funk and Wagnells' Encyclopedias, purchased one per week at the local supermarket back in 1968. We also purchased matching yearbooks for every year since which started taking up a lot of space. The idea was that I could use them for my homework. Only I rarely actually had homework! We continued getting the yearbooks until. I believe, 1982. By that point there was nowhere to actually put them except filling the top of the mantle all the way across. Around that time, I canceled the Yearbook and we boxed them all up, to be donated to...somewhere...a dozen years on.

Wednesday, June 19th, 1974

We got paid today.

I met Terry here at 11 and then we went over the river.All the new stuff was out but we didn't get any so we wouldn't have to carry it. We caught the bus at 12:40. A little over an hour later, about 1:45, we finally arrived at Tri-County Shopping Center. We asked some people for directions but no one knew exactly. So we walked across the street to a gas station and got directions there. We started walking but after about 10 minutes, we had to stop and ask for directions again. We finally found the right road but we had to walk all the way to the other end to find the theatre! It took us so long that we literally arrived just moments before the picture started.

We did get to see THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, though and it was marvelous!

At first sight of the Showcase Cinemas I was very elated! I never thought we'd actually find them! I was in the same building as THE EXORCIST, too.

Took us forever to walk back, too, and then we had to wait on the bus and take the hour long bus back to town and then the TANK bus back to Kentucky! By the time I got home, I had a bad headache and stomachache and had to skip work! It was late enough that Mom and Dad were already at the Office by the time I got back.

I felt terrible by the time the day ended but I wouldn't have missed it. Also saw three more theaters along the way--The Alpha and the Princeton 1 and 2.

NOTES: The Showcase Cinemas in Tri-County had been open about a year at that point I believe but I had never been there. They had 6 screens at a time when 2 was the maximum anywhere else. The ads in the paper always said "Near Tri-County Shopping Center" so, of course, it made sense to take the bus to the Center and then walk. Only it wasn't THAT near the Tri-County Shopping Center! It took nearly 90 minutes to get there down a long country road about half a mile North of the Mall and it was an extremely hot day!


So about 90 minutes to get to Tri-County from Kentucky, 90 minutes to walk to the theaters, arriving just in time for a 90 minute movie, followed by a 90 minute walk back as the sun started setting, then waiting for the return bus and another 90 minutes to make it home. About 8 hours to see the new Ray Harryhausen film!


Now here's the thing. If one is driving, it really is about five minutes away from the Shopping Center (now called a Mall). Only two geeky teenagers would walk it! For many years in the nineties, the Cincinnati Old Time Radio Convention would be held just across the street from it. I often looked out at the theater from the hotel parking lot and remembered that hot, looooong day.

Tuesday June 18th, 1974

I saw a couple of EXORCIST stars on with MIKE DOUGLAS but not Linda, sad to say. I don't believe in the devil. I believe that men's own minds hold the keys for all "devil"-attributed phenomena.

Got kind of crazy and did IT differently today but now I'm over that weird feeling I've had for the past few days.

There are several good movies starting this week. Some I've done seen (MAGNUM FORCE) and some I most likely won't see (CHESTY MORGAN'S DEADLY WEAPONS) and then there's THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD. It's out at the Showcase Cinemas but if Terry will come with me, I'll go. It's rated G and I remember the bus number form when me and Dad tried to go out there to see THE EXORCIST. I really hope we go. Terry says his Mom might take us to see THE EXORCIST which means there's a better chance that Dad will take us to THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT. I saw both advertised on TV tonight!

The guy was here today working on the furnace and I had to stay home to let him into the apartment when the time came.

I read this very book today and realized just how often IT has happened. Wish I'd never discovered it!

I recorded an old SHADOW radio drama on tape.

NOTES: That last is obviously another early example of my building interest in old time radio. Last year, 2011, I worked as proofreader for Martin Grams' extensive and definitive history on THE SHADOW radio series. Today, in 2012, son David had a friend over and, without any hint for us, she told us how much she enjoyed listening to OTR when she could find it! One of us!


Don't ask about the crazy IT. I don't remember. The mind boggles though, doesn't it? 


Remember a time when you didn't think twice about a 15 year old boy being left at home alone to allow a strange man in to fix the furnace?


Still have never seen DEADLY WEAPONS but I've read extensively on no-budget filmmaker Doris Wishman who made it and the painfully endowed stripper who starred in it, Chesty Morgan. Chesty actually was appearing in nearby Newport to promote the film when it opened locally and was interviewed by THE CINCINNATI POST's Mary Wood. 


As far as taking the bus to the Showcase Cinemas, I believe I've touched on what happens before. Check back tomorrow for the full story.

Monday, June 17th, 1974

It's official. Today's paper says that THE EXORCIST will show up at The Madison on June 26th! Now the only problem will be if Dad changes his mind about taking me.

I switched my chair with Sidney's this afternoon and then watched a Martin and Lewis film.

I tried on my entire white outfit and tested my singing skills on tape.The outfit's great! The singing needs work.

As far as I know, my great horoscope for today didn't come true after all. Too bad. That would have been a marvelous thing. At least someone who would like me for who I am. Other than Debbie, so far only Susan was like that but that relationship was extremely short-lived and we ended up as just friends. She's gone now anyway. All the ones I liked go away. Cheri, Susan, Debbie, Phyllis, Regina...Every girl who ever liked me in any way is gone form my life now. But I sure wouldn't mind for a minute if I had someone now. Someone I like who likes me. Someone smart, pretty, funny...not necessarily Linda but...just someone, anyone, I can love. Adoring someone like Linda from afar is alright but I need someone I can see, feel, touch and talk with. And that's what my horoscope kind of promised. And I foolishly believed it. Now the disappointment sets in and it's love that's lost again.

NOTES: Sidney, you may recall, was Sidney Australia, the human-sized stuffed rabbit who had his own easy chair in our living room for several years. I've mentioned him here before and also on the '76 blog. He had been left behind by another tenant and we took him in. MyDad called him Cedric Weehunt after an old LUM 'N' ABNER radio character but I maned him Sidney. The Australia came later on.


The white outfit was in emulation of Elvis. I loved his Nudie suits and bought white bellbottom pants, a long-sleeved white shirt and white shoes. Didn't help my singing one single bit.


As for the last paragraph---who says "emo" wasn't around back then?

Sunday, June 16th, 1974

We went to Church. Today is Father's Day.

Almost accidentally did IT later but I can't risk my horoscope not turning out right tomorrow.

After about six years of the same record player, I finally today picked up a new needle along with a Nilsson record from SON OF DRACULA.

NOTES: I've been a big Harry Nilsson fan ever since I first heard that smoooooth voice of his. He really wasn't an actor though and SON OF DRACULA, a drug-fueled horror musical produced by and co-starring Ringo Starr (as Merlin) ended any hope that he might be, Had some good music though including DAYBREAK, the record I bought on this day.

Saturday, June 15th, 1974

I went with Dad over to the Post Office early this morning and took some pictures along the way. He let me out downtown on the way back and I went to OBS. They've sold almost their entire collection up front.

Narrowly avoided IT later in the day but the point was I DID avoid it thanks to thinking about my horoscope. IE: "Cupid has special plans for you." I hope for once it's true.

I passed up NATIONAL LAMPOON to get Dad a Father's Day card. I'm glad I did that.

I watched HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING on TV.

NOTES: I still have the pics I took that day including one of my dad walking toward the Post Office (where he worked) while I sat in the car. You can see him walking away and you can also see me in the rear-view mirror holding my camera to take the photo. Of course, I couldn't find it to post here but I know I've seen it recently.


HOW TO SUCCEED... was, after CABARET, one of the few soundtrack albums I ever bought...and I picked it up used. Not a huge fan of the movie but I do enjoy the songs.


In another odd time coincidence, today in 2012 I mailed out what I believe was my last original issue of NATIONAL LAMPOON to a person who bought it from me over the Net the other day. 

Friday, June 14, 1974

The television man was supposed to come today but I ventured across the river anyway. Later he called and explained that he couldn't make it anyway.

I got VAMPI, SPIRIT and FIGHTING STARS with another great big article on Bruce Lee. Also got TBG in the mail and later on Terry stopped by and gave me the new MONSTERS UNLEASHED to make up for the buck fifty he owed me.

Had seven coneys but it made me a bit sick for a while.

Mrs. Pritchett brought down her grandbaby for a while tnight. I'm not used to babies and I don't want to get used to them as I never want one.

NOTES: FIGHTING STARS was a magazine about celebrity martial artists that fortuitously premiered only weeks before Bruce Lee's death. Their initial cover story was on ENTER THE DRAGON and how Bruce was poised to become a big star. After he died and the film was released, it became a huge seller and lasted several years with every issue seeming to feature more Bruce articles amidst stories of Robert Conrad and William Shatner breaking boards and Larry Hagman (bald with a porn star mustache) doing high kicks. As the martial arts craze settled down after a few years, the mag went away.


As a kid I ate 2 coneys ata  time, then 3, then 4, 5 and 6. Around this time, I was experimenting with moving up my regular meal to 7. Didn't work. 6 ended up being my ideal as far as being filling and not tearing up my gastrointestinal system. To this day, I get 6 at a time when we can afford them at all...although I often eat 3 and save 3 for later. 


I was never around babies much. Little kids, sure. But not babies. My friend Timmy got a baby brother when we were 5 but we moved away soon after. Debbie had a baby brother but she had little to do with him when I was around so I didn't see him much. She and I once babysat for a little baby girl for a couple hours but the baby mostly slept while we watched TV. My cousins Rachel and Andrea were babies when i met them but we only saw them once a month or so and they grew quickly. There just weren't a lot of babies I ever knew!


That said, I think it was the lack of experience with them that made me write I didn't want any. Later on, after I'd been married a few years,  my "biological clock" kicked in. I would see fathers and daughters come into my store shopping and I absolutely started longing for a daughter. I wanted a daughter right up until the moment they told us ours was a boy. Immediately then I wanted a son more than anything in the world. And I ended up with the best one ever!

Thursday, June 13th, 1974

IT.

I went and got 3 burgers and then Dad got me 2 more later!

I watched Lilias' Yoga show.

I fixed the alarm clock to wake me up at 1 AM so I could catch TOMORROW with comic collector Mitchell Mehdy, the guy who bought ACTION COMIC # 1 for $1801.26. He didn't sound to knowledgeable fan-wise but he sure had some good books there including MICKEY MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS from 1938, the only existing copy in the world! There were also a couple of fully clothed streakers as guests. Overall, it was worth the hour of sleep I lost.

I took the Coke picture, today.

NOTES: LILIAS, YOGA AND YOU was a long-running PBS yoga show based locally out of Cincinnati's WCET, Channel 48. Lilias Folan was kind of hot. Years later, she came in my store once or twice.


TOMORROW was Tom Snyder's sometimes controversial overnight talk show. 


Mitchell Mehdy is apparently now a prominent attorney in San Diego. At the time he was ridiculed for paying so much for a comic book that used to be worth ten cents! He got tons of publicity though. In more recent times, of course, ACTION COMICS # 1 has been selling for more than a million and a half. 


Wish I knew what that Mickey Mouse comic book was that he had. The closest I can find listed is a 1939 one entitled MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MICKEY MOUSE which is listed as "Rare" but hardly the only existing copy.


I think the Coke picture was one where I tried to be artsy. I set up a cardboard background and positioned various Coke bottles around it to take a photo. I was teaching myself about design but it really didn't work out well. I don't think I have it anymore. 

Wednesday, June 12, 1974

Well, I mailed the letter. I hope she gets it. I also wrote and mailed my penpal letter.

There aren't any films that I'll see this week although there are a few I'd like to. But not in Louisville. We got the COURIER-JOURNAL from down there and there wasn't even anything worth clipping out.

I played my Marlo album and The Partridge Family's Christmas record this afternoon. Unorthodox, yes, but it made me feel good. Later  on I saw Marlo on MERV.

Late tonight we got our own new telephone books delivered. We gave the man all 27 old ones they threw out at the Social Security office!

NOTES: I really used to enjoy playing Christmas music in the summer. Always made me feel good...and cool on a hot day! I find in recent years I don't tend to listen to it even in the Winter. A PARTRIDGE FAMILY CHRISTMAS CARD was a pretty good album as pop Christmas records went. The highlights were a couple of songs where Shirley Jones soloed, something that just didn't happen on other Partridge albums. In fact, she was rarely on the other albums at all!

Tuesday, June 11th, 1974

I wrote what I think is a very nice letter to Linda. I'm praying that she'll answer it. I'll probably mail it tomorrow.

THE SUPER COPS is through being read.

For once tonight there was something good on TV for a change. THE SNOOP SISTERS.

I saw Rex Reed on DONAHUE. Saw the creator of Barbie on TV, too.

The Cool Ghoul will be back for a telethon on Saturday.

I got to work early and finished by 6:30.

A nearly perfect day was dampered but not ruined by IT.

NOTES:I sold that copy of THE SUPER COPS a long time ago but ended up getting a different copy a few years ago in a box of assorted paperbacks.


The Cool Ghoul was Cincinnati's own horror host but he'd been off the air for a couple of years by that point. He would continue to make appearances until his passing nearly three decades later!


Film critic Rex Reed was (and presumably still is) an arrogant know-it-all but I do enjoy his writing. Today in 2012, Facebook suggested I friend him as we have several mutual friends!


THE SNOOP SISTERS was a fun but short-lived mystery series in the 90 minute Mystery Movie mode. It starred Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick as two aging, eccentric mystery writers who constantly stumble upon real mysteries. I was able to re-watch the whole series a couple of years back and it holds up very well indeed. 


I'm so embarrassed by all this gushy Linda Blair stuff.  

Monday June 10th, 1974

Yesterday, I found out that Linda would be in AIRPORT, 1975. Today I received her writing address from the ENQUIRER. Tomorrow I'll write her. I hope.

Wasn't sick at all today.

I saw Marlo Thomas and Barry Manilow on TV this morning.

I took the trash out early and so was home to see TARZAN again.

The guy next door gave off hints that he's a teacher and that he would be teaching at CJH next year. Ah, good ol' CJH!

I pray that Linda writes me back. Who knows? Maybe we'll start a long friendship!

I hear from Terry that SUPERDAD is coming near and DELIVERANCE, too. Might see that but probably not. DIGBY maybe?

NOTES: I had mentioned recently about Dean Jones in SNOWBALL EXPRESS. Jones had been Disney's major leading man for several years but behind the scenes had developed a drinking problem. The studio quietly tried replacing him with Ken Berry and, in SUPERDAD, Bob Crane, both squeaky clean types. Only it turned out Crane wasn't at all squeaky clean as he was a sex addict whose reputation by that point was getting the better of him. SUPERDAD reportedly sat on the shelf for a year before finally being released. I wouldn't see it until a few years later on TV. Crane would infamously be murdered not long after I finally saw it. 


Not sure why I noted seeing Barry. I wasn't a big fan of his. Years later, though, my wife would convince me to see a concert and it was the best live concert I had seen up to that time. 


Sigh...this pining over Linda Blair is getting embarrassing. She's one of my Facebook friends. Hope she doesn't see this. 


DELIVERANCE? Really? Doesn't seem like it would have been my type of flick at all at that point.

Sunday, June 9th, 1974

Felt better again today. Cleaned out most of my school stuff and then just lay around and read the rest of the day. I took a few more pictures but read nearly all of SUPER COPS. I'll finish it tomorrow.

NOTES: In the eighty movies I saw in 1974, it's interesting to note some major films I had no interest in at that time. In many cases, I did see these films later on TV or video but, at 15, I just didn't care.


ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
AMARCORD
THE CONVERSATION
DARK STAR
EMMANUELLE
FEMALE TROUBLE
FOXY BROWN
THE GODFATHER PART II
THE GREAT GATSBY
HARRY AND TONTO
LENNY
MAME
PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE
THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT
A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Saturday, June 8th, 1974

After this morning, my stomach felt much much better the rest of the day and my headache was gone completely.

I stayed home, though. Watched TV. Helped Mrs. Pritchett and earned 75 cents!

All 40 pictures took and took good!

Mom got me the SUPERCOPS book today at Woolworths. Boy, that'll be some movie. And it's going off in about a week already!

I got my first look in the attic yesterday but I couldn't see a thing!

I killed an insect which might have been a locust! I think so. Dad says it was a bee.

NOTES: I don't think I was being facetious when I put the exclamation mark after "75 cents." It really WAS a big deal back then! 


I remember really enjoying THE SUPER COPS. There was a comic book tie-in as well (by Gray Morrow). As I've noted already, I wouldn't see the movie until it hit TV a couple years later and it wasn't really very good.


The pictures I was referring to would have been the Kings Island ones I took. Odd that I took 40 and yet I only know of about 8 that I still can put my hands on.


Lime most comics collectors, I had always envisioned finding a secret stash of mint condition comics up in the attic. Didn't happen.

Friday, June 7th, 1974

I still had a bad headache coupled with a stomach ache. It was very hot. I didn't end up going with Terry but I met him. Ended up loaning him a quarter. I only got a few mags. Even have money left!

I got my penpal letter already.

I made myself some vegetable soup for lunch and tonight had chili and coneys.

NOTES: How bad could my stomach have hurt if I ate all that? Wish I had money. I could use some Covington Chili. Haven't had any lately.

Thursday, June 6th, 1974

I didn't feel good all day today. They predicted rain but it was all very sunny. I went to see the 007 double-feature because I thought it might make me feel better. It did a little. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER is still my second favorite Bond flick.

After the movies, I got FM and THE SHADOW.

No locusts yet.

I managed to finish work again tonight in time to see TARZAN.

Summer won't really start from me until I hear from THE ENQUIRER. I just hope whatever I hear from them I hear before July.

It was almost this time last year (June 2nd?) when I got pretty sick out at the drive-in. Heatstroke maybe? I hope this doesn't last.

NOTES: The bit about THE ENQUIRER was in reference to my entry into THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER's contest to grant a wish. In my case, that wish was to meet Linda Blair. Needless to say, it wasn't going to happen but at that point I was still optimistic.


My favorite 007 movie, btw, was and remains GOLDFINGER.


More of Ron Ely's TARZAN. Still trying to work out that interview in 2012.


When I mentioned locusts, I meant cicadas. I just didn't know it at that point. 


FM was, as always, FAMOUS MONSTERS rather than anything musical related. THE SHADOW was most likely the first of the new paperback reprint series with STERANKO covers. 


I don't recall getting really sick at the drive-in. As I've mentioned before, only once was I ever able to convince my Dad to take me and that was in 1971. A few times after that Terry's Mom took us to see monster flicks or a Raquel Welch picture. 

Wednesday, June 5th, 1974

The lowest exam grade I got was a C in IPS! Otherwise I got all A's and B's.

All the girls at school today for report cards wore next to nothing! Hot pants and halter tops!

THE EXORCIST's last days have increased to 21 days. Three more weeks of waiting.

THE SUPER COPS is saying "Last 14 days."Need to catch that one.

There's a Bruce Lee triple feature at a drive-in.

I did IT rather accidentally today but still it counts as IT.

I saw a good movie on TV with a girl that kind of resembled Linda Blair--THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT.

NOTES: We didn't have an actual dress code that I recall in school but there were some items not permitted and those included hot pants and halter tops.  Thus my surprise to note that many of the girls I had been going through school with were...well... growing up.


THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT became and remains a favorite movie. Technically it stars Peter Sellers but in reality it stars two young teenage girls who become obsessed with Sellers' concert pianist and essentially become non-threatening stalkers. The actress who reminded me of Linda B was Tippy Walker (R in the picture above).

Tuesday, June 4th, 1974

I got up at 6:30 and watched HAZEL. There isn't going to be much good on TV all this week.

I narrowly avoided IT today but this time I managed to WIN!

Tomorrow's the last official day of school--Report Card Day. I suppose Doug knows I'll pick him up.

It's been five weeks since I ordered that book and I'm tired of anticipating it every day. It's always such a letdown when it doesn't arrive.

Tomorrow, if it matinees, I'll probably see a 007 double feature.

I've decided to ride the bus out to the Showcase Cinemas to see SINBAD if it matinees when it starts in a couple of weeks.

I watched a TV movie with Ted Bessell and Barbara Feldon. I'd seen it before and didn't like it but this time I thought it was terrific.

NOTES: Looks like that movie I watched was a TV movie entitled WHAT ARE BEST FRIENDS FOR? In addition to the stars mentioned above, it also starred Larry Hagman and Lee Grant along with sone great character actors. It was directed by Jay Sandrich, one of THE great sitcom directors. All that said, I have exactly NO memory of this film today.


HAZEL was the almost classic sitcom with Shirley Booth as the perfect maid and housekeeper. It was, I would find out later, based on a comic panel by cartoonist Ted Key who also did a strip I loved as a kid, DIZ & LIZ, in JACK & JILL.

Monday, June 3rd, 1974

It started off as a good day. A little hot but... I went to Cincinnati, picked up a few books I missed and a couple of old ten cent ones at OBS. Then I had to ruin it all with IT for the first time in a while.

I haven't been paying enough attention to Linda Blair lately. Guess I'll have to make up for that.

NOTES: Not much to say here. Here are three comic books I may have purchased that day as I definitely bought all of these and they would have been out right around that time of that year. 

Sunday, June 2nd, 1974

Mom went with me to see SNOWBALL EXPRESS and THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE again. The first was I think one of the best live action Disney films I've ever seen! That's what I said when I saw it before and that's what I say now. I was very surprised to see that Marvin Hamlisch did the music for ATHLETE.

"Something...almost beyond comprehension is happening to a little girl on this street, in this house, and they have sent for this man...The Exorcist." That's what the preview said and despite a few doubts as to whether I'll be allowed in or not, I've just about got it all in the bag. Dad said he'd be willing to take me if it's at the Madison and it said Coming Soon in the preview. I'll be seeing you soon, Linda.

NOTES: The Linda Blair obsession continues.


As far as SNOWBALL EXPRESS, I always say a movie with good snow scenes is a good movie. That movie is ALL snow scenes. In retrospect, of course, it certainly was not on a par with other Disney live-action films like MARY POPPINS but it really is a fun and entertaining film. I've seen it a number of times over the years.

Dean Jones, then Disney's go-to guy, stars in SNOWBALL EXPRESS with Michael McGreevey and Kathleen Cody. Mister McGreevey and I talk occasionally these days on Facebook and I recently exchanged a few emails with Ms. Cody (also a DARK SHADOWS veteran). Dean Jones actually called me on the phone back in the nineties but it was at work on my day off so I didn't get to speak with him. 

Saturday, June 1st, 1974

A new month. School's out. I didn't go over the river today although tomorrow I might to see a movie. I saw a Peter Sellers flick and THE SAINT on TV. Also an animated STAR TREK episode.

Narrowly avoided IT this morning.

NOTES: The animated STAR TREK premiered a year earlier with well-written scripts and most of the original series cast doing voices. The problems with it were the half hour format, extremely limited animation, the fact that the actors all recorded their performances separately --leaving no room for real interaction--and waaaay too much annoying music!!

Friday,May 31st, 1974

The last day of school. For most of the best (and worst) years of my life, I went to that school. I guess I will miss it. But I'm glad I'm done. I got to leave as soon as I finished my exam so I met Terry and we went over to get the new books today. I got some new mags, old comics, a fanzine and. later, at the SS, a series of record albums featuring Donna Fargo in 5 minute radio shows on them. Those are neat!

For the second time in my life, I also bought a copy of THE LOS ANGELES TIMES with news of a bunch of new films.

NOTES: It was hard to be sad as I left the school as, in some ways, I blamed all my problems on it. Grades 1-6 had been great, every year better than the last. I was smart, popular enough, had friends and liked the teachers and the administrators. Sure there were issues from time to time but overall, I loved elementary school. Then they rehabbed the building and added on the huge section to the right in the photo which housed a cafeteria (we had never had one before), a library, study halls and a couple extra classrooms. Kids from schools all over town were bussed in and, from 7th grade on, it was  like living in an alternate universe from the one I was used to. I was still one of the smartest kids but I had few friends and no real new close ones,  I was ridiculed by bullies for my brains, my lack of athletic abilities and my early graying hair. I became really unhappy and school, a place I once defined myself by, became a real source of pain and depression. By ninth grade things had finally started to get a little better and now here I was looking at a whole new school the following year. 


I wanted to miss my old school and there have been times over the years that I have but for the most part, I was glad, after nine years, to finally be out.

Thursday, May 30th, 1974

Oh, the IPS exam seemed easy! I hope it was! I know I missed some though. I left a few blank and wasn't sure of a couple in Health.

I brought all my books home and studied some. I've got just 24 hours and one more exam to go.

I got out a bit early today.

I sold Tim those two movie passes so he could see PAPILLON. He gave me a dollar and I had only asked for 50 cents! I'll probably see BADLANDS this Sunday at The Place.

I drew a picture of Linda Blair as Regan in the movie. I think it's pretty good.

NOTES: I thought this was the picture I drew that day but this one is dated a year later, 1975. I think the one I drew that day was just a close-up of the possessed face. Yuck!

Wednesday, May 29th, 1974

Record time! I finished at work in less than 30 minutes tonight.

It stormed all afternoon.

I finished my Algebra exam with only one problem undone. I finished my Art exam except for a sketch which I get to do Friday. Tomorrow more exams. The hard ones! I have every class only one more time in the ninth grade. I can hardly believe that.

I worked on my IPS notebook tonight, finished reading my new horror book and then just listened to records and watched TV.

Almost two weeks since IT happened and it's all because of my love for Linda Blair. She's so beautiful. I love infatuation like this!

NOTES: And you thought girls were the only ones who thought about celebrity crushes like this. Hah! 

Tuesday, May 28th, 1974

We were supposed to go to the ball game tonight but since my tickets were free and I didn't want to see it, I just went so Mom could get in and then I left. I went up to Fountain News and picked up a TV GUIDE and a movie star directory and went home. As soon as I got there, I turned around and went back to get a bigger book with Linda in it. Then I watched the Emmy Awards.

I finally mailed those letters.

We had part of our Algebra exam today. Also, I got a 70 on my Blue Book test which I'm told is pretty good.

NOTES: Okay, even now that ball game thing seems odd to me. I can't imagine my mother wanting to go so bad that we'd do that. And where was my Dad? He was the Reds fan. Maybe he went and bought a ticket and I had to go to get her in free on the Straight A tickets. Don't know.

Monday, May 27th, 1974

Officially Memorial Day. We went out to Kings Island. For once I had a real good time. We saw a high wire walker, skydivers, hot air balloons, etc. I imagined being there with Linda B. I played lots of games in the Arcade, rode a couple rides (including the new Lion Country Safari where we waited in line an hour for the fifteen minute ride). I took 40 pictures! I hope they all turn out.

At Shillto's, I bought a book on horror films.

We got back about 8:30 and went over to clean for about a half hour, then came home and just sat around watching TV.

Oops! My ink pen's dyi...

NOTES: I couldn't ride rides at amusement parks due to my motion sickness issue so I really didn't have much to do normally at such places and, as I grew into a teen, often didn't go along with my parents. 


The person I described as "a high wire walker" was the great Karl Wallenda who that day set a skywalk record by crossing the park, reversing and crossing back the other way. It took him much of the day but he did it! Seen here is a pic I took when he was right over our heads. Four years later he would be less lucky and fall to his death in high winds. His son (grandson?) re-cereated the record-setting feat of 1974 at Kings Island a few years back.


Shillitos was the big department store in Cincinnati. Eventually it became Shillito-Rikes, then Lazarus, then Macy's. What it was doing open on a holiday--and late enough that I could buy a book there on the way home--I have no idea!

Sunday, May 26th, 1974

Tomorrow is Memorial Day but Mom and Dad went to the cemetery today without Aunt Rosie and Uncle Bill. She gave me a Beatles album and wants me to get copies of two of the pictures I took. Mom also bought me some new clothes while they were out and Dad got me three footlongs from Dairy Queen!

I saw Mike Oldfield do TUBULAR BELLS on TV.

I finally wrote the penpal letter. It's been almost three months since I heard from the other one.

I entered a NATIONAL ENQUIRER contest where they grant your wish. I wished to meet Linda Blair. In case that doesn't work, I also wrote to find out her address. (I also asked if they knew who was going to play on PLANET OF THE APES on TV this fall.) All day long I've been thinking about Linda Blair. I don't know what I'd do if I ever did meet her. I now have almost 40 different photos of her, though, and I still intend to see her movie eventually.

I saw on TV a Laurel and Hardy short and a special called MAGICAL MYSTERY TRIP THROUGH LITTLE RED'S HEAD. I was really attracted to the show. I don't know why.

I put a blotter I salvaged from SS on my desk this afternoon. I may not leave it long, though.

I didn't get to work on my story much if at all so I may not be able to turn it in after all. I'm having second thoughts about a writing career anyway. I'm thinking maybe of an acting or even a political career!

 


NOTES: As you can see, that TV special was a Depatie-Freleng animated, educational after-school special. With Timer! This being a Sunday, it may have been a rerun since obviously there was no school. 


Politics!!?? In time, I did get to do some acting and I've been told I'm pretty good at it. But politics!!??

Saturday, May 25th, 1974

All I got today was a couple more mags with Linda, three old comics and a TV GUIDE.

I saw CHOSEN SURVIVORS with Terry late this morning and SERPICO with Dad later in the day. They were both good and saw previews of two more movies I want to see.

I've got to write my penpal letter soon. I haven't gotten one in a long time.

NOTES: Literally Terry and I saw the 11:20 showing of the one movie at the Times, then I went home, had some lunch, then Dad and I took the bus back over and saw the other movie. I had more stamina in those days. 


In retrospect, CHOSEN SURVIVORS was no big deal. SERPICO, on the other hand, from its iconic poster to a great script and a riveting performance from Al Pacino that forever prevented him being stereotyped as a gangster after THE GODFATHER films. My dad loved it, too!

Friday, May 24th, 1974

I GOT Monday's strip! Great! Got it from Mrs. P.

I got THE PATRIOT and had two signers. I signed less than 10 myself. It's not half as good as either of its forerunners, though.

Debbie Ryland talked to me this morning and I mean, like, it REALLY made my day.

Just four more days of school.

I will definitely see one flick tomorrow and possibly two more. Mom got me free passes for the Newport Cinemas but they're only good if I go tomorrow afternoon.  We'll see.

NOTES: Well, what do you know? Two signatures. One reason I didn't remember them is that I don't even recall one of the signers. The other was another nerd that I had hung out with in 7th grade but somewhere along the way, he became cool. Within the next year or so he had a girlfriend and a van! We didn't hang out at all beyond this point as we obviously had nothing in common anymore. He actually signed it twice--once in pencil and then in en right under it. 


Debbie Ryland was an ultra-cute girl who had been in my class off and on since about the fourth grade. Her big brother was a bully but he was a year ahead of us so was no longer at this school. She had rarely given me the time of day before in all the time I'd known her.  I really do recall that walking on air feeling from talking with her today but have no recollection of the circumstances that led to that conversation.

Thursday, May 23rd, 1974

I got the new TBG.

I did a lot at work tonight.

Dad stayed home today.

I brought home my Algebra book. We won't need it anymore with only a week until school's out.

I still haven't gotten Monday's paper.

I'm to take the Blue Book test Tuesday now. (Illegible) one next week.

Tomorrow we're supposed to get THE PATRIOT. We get out of 5th period for everyone to have it signed. I never get mine signed anyway. Well, not much. Three in 7th grade and 1 in 8th.

NOTES: THE PATRIOT was the school yearbook. It was a slick paper, photocopied affair made up more like a magazine than a typical hardcover yearbook. 


I am nothing if not sentimental and maybe I'd feel differently if I had actually had a lot of friends in school. I just always felt that immediately having a book defaced seemed a bit drastic. One kid I didn't even like grabbed my 7th grade PATRIOT and signed it. After that I did get two others to sign it. I don't even recall who signed my 8th grade one but I think I managed to keep this new one away from everyone. Everyone else's copies may be all marked up but mine is still mint!

I'm weird.

Wednesday, May 22nd, 1974

I got an A and a B+ on my poems.

At 3rd period, Mr. Howard took myself and 8 others out to discuss the award controversy from yesterday. We came to no definite conclusions and a lot of people remain very upset.

Some lady where Mom works thinks she can get me the missing PEANUTS strip.

BILLY JACK's still on. I have another chance.

I'm supposed to take that Blue Book test tomorrow afternoon.

I watched TARZAN tonight to get an idea of what Ron Ely will be like as DOC SAVAGE. I think he's gonna be great! I really can't wait.

I also saw a special MERV GRIFFIN on location on the set of a new movie called THE KLANSMAN.

NOTES: Okay now these 34 year coincidences are getting weirder. On this date in history I wrote about TV Tarzan Ron Ely. On this date in history in 2012, I contacted Ron Ely regarding an upcoming interview to publicize an appearance!


THE KLANSMAN was a glorified B movie with Richard Burton and the ultimately infamous OJ Simpson. Merv was treating it as an A production with a major publicity boost. Didn't help. 


If I'm remembering correctly, it was all of the students who had been in the running fro the Academic award who were gathered together to be lectured by the Principal, Mr. Howard. The room we were taken to, by the way, was the Music room which happened to be my home room that year so I just sat in my regular seat. I don't believe the actual recipient was there but the girl who walked out in protest the day before was and loudly continued her protest some more. Her argument was that she had been there all three years and he had just moved into the area for the 9th grade. Since I had not only accepted the winner but genuinely believed he deserved it, I sat there reasonably distanced from it all just feeling the tensions in the room. 


The trophy that had been awarded was supposed to go in a trophy case where it would stay forever. The school, however, would only stay as a Junior High for about one or two more years. It sat empty for quite  a while and then reopened as an elementary school again. My son ended up going there for a single year. The first time we visited as parents, I checked the trophy case. The case was still there, adjacent to the office...but there were no trophies from when it had been a Junior High. 

Tuesday, May 21st, 1974

I had a dream last night that Debbie had moved back. I don't remember much else about it except that she was there and that made it a good dream. I thought of her a lot today. I really wish she'd never moved so far away.

What do you know? I did get an award. I was elected into the National Junior Honor Society. I got a pin, a card, a certificate and a flower. We all had to take an oath.  I think it's one of the best awards. 

I'm glad I didn't win the big one. Dan got it. I really think he deserves it but apparently others didn't. It started fights and one girl even walked out and went home! Oh, well.

The feel of summer is really here. Less than two weeks of junior high school remain.

I passed the Algebra test finally.

Wrote another poem inspired by Linda. I turned both in.

I hope to see SERPICO this weekend. And maybe a couple of others.

I discovered that after two and a half years of collecting, I'd finally missed a PEANUTS strip. Ugh.

NOTES: "So far away." Sigh...Everything's relative. She had moved to an area which is only about 15 minutes away by car. By bus, however, it was nearly an hour and then once you got off at the bus stop, you'd have to walk about two miles through confusing subdivisions. In 1974, my ONLY real source of transportation was the bus.


I was finishing 9th grade which technically means I was finishing my Freshman year of High School but for some bizarre reason when they had revamped my grade school into a Junior High, they added 7th, 8h AND 9th grades. So while I was leaving Junior High, I had already finished my first year f High School, too. Complicated. 


Odd that I seemed to appreciate the National Junior Honor Society thing so much that day as it was never mentioned or referred to again, nor was I ever added to the parent group, the National Honor Society, in spite of my exemplary grades. Why? No clue. As I said, it was literally never brought again. It was like the whole ceremony had simply never happened. I don't even have the pin, the card or the certificate anymore! (or the flower for that matter)


We'll have more to come on the controversy about the top academic award in days to come. Oddly enough, it WAS mentioned again. 

Monday, May 20th, 1974

Another big day. I would've flunked the Algebra test if Mr. Gamble hadn't said he wanted to talk to me about it more. I'll get to take it again. I actually brought my Algebra book home to study. First time this school year I think.

It was terribly hot today.

We went up to Holmes. Man, it's a big place! I don't think I'd mind going there if it wasn't for the fact that everyone else in my class will be going there, too. I picked up two copies of the Holmes newspaper while we were up there. Go to sit right behind Cheryl. Wish I had a chance with her.

Tomorrow's Honor Day. I don't expect to get any awards but I'd love to get that one for highest scholastic average.

Mr. Blanchard was absent and so didn't get to see my poem yet. Didn't get to rewrite my story either other than just starting it.

I still haven't made up the Blue Book Test. I haven't even mentioned it.

Tonight I watched my favorite Gidget flick again, the one with Karen Valentine.

Boy, what a day.

NOTES: So today was my first ever day at Holmes High School...even if it was just visiting. I was up there this past Wednesday in 2012 picking up my son. 


No idea (again) what this Blue Book Test was. 


The Gidget movie was GIDGET GROWS UP, a TV movie from just a couple years earlier starring Karen Valentine, Paul Lynde and my current Facebook friend Paul Peterson. 

Sunday, May 19th, 1974

It rained hard again this morning. I just played my new records a lot.

I wrote what I consider to be a lovely poem while thinking of Linda Blair. I also finished THE DARK AGE. One more quick rewrite and it'll be ready to turn in.

IT.

At work, we had to drag the ladder around and I had to pull one fluorescent light bulb from every single group of four to conserve energy.

A new sci-fi flick starts downtown at the Times on Wednesday.

NOTES: I'm surprised I didn't rant a bit more abut that light bulb thing. It's my recollection that it was a bit of a nightmare. If you weren't there, it's hard to realize how bad the Energy Crisis of the 1970's got...or at least seemed to get. A government edict came down on the lightbulb idea and since it was the Social Security Office, we were bound to comply. The office was lit by rows of fluorescent light fixtures, each with four bulbs inside and each with a cover that was a real bear to try to get off...especially without cracking it.


So that night we each had to do our regular cleaning and then Dad and I pulled the bulbs. Each bulb in the main area was about four feet long. In the conference rooms and the basement, they were six feet long!After I managed to wriggle each one out, thereby dimming its counterpart, we then had to figure out what to DO with the bulbs! They ended up lying on the floor in a little used storage room in the basement. For a couple of years. By the time we were instructed that we could replace them, many had been cracked or broken and had to be trashed. What a mess. 

Saturday, May 18th, 1974

A real rainy day. I went over to Cincy twice, only the second time with Terry. Got several big comics and mags, two MEDIASCENES, the new EC reprint (so soon!) and three underground comics including STAR* REACH. Terrific! The new PLANET OF THE APES paperback is out but I didn't get it. I got one Beatles album and three Beatles records.

Never did see BILLY JACK.

A Clint movie was on TV tonight I'd never heard of--TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA. Better than some movies I've seen lately.

Got my pictures back today. Rachel is really photogenic.

Watched STAR TREK tonight.

NOTES: MEDIASCENE was a performing arts newspaper with an emphasis on fantasy, science-fiction and comics. It was published by former comics artist Jim Steranko. Last year, 2011, I got to hang with Jim for a few minutes behind his table at a Con. 


STAR*REACH was actually referred to by its publisher as a "ground-level" comic book rather than an underground as it featured uncensored stories by mainstream creators that weren't really all that different. Eventually newer and more experimental creators would be added to the mix. STAR*REACH pioneered the independent comics market that would go on to dominate the eighties. 


Eventually I did see BILLY JACK...multiple times. 


My photogenic cousin Rachel would have been 10 that year. Here's one of the only two shots I took of her in the 12 pics I had gotten developed from a recent family gathering. I liked this one so much I had it blown up, framed and presented her a copy of it. I still consider it one of the earliest indicators that I really could take good pictures and not just out of focus snapshots cutting off people's heads. Eventually I would get paid for my photography which technically means I was, briefly, a professional photographer. 


TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA co-stars cowboy Eastwood with Shirley MacLaine as a Nun...sorta. It really is entertaining but for some reason remains one of his lesser-known starring vehicles.  

Friday, May 17th, 1974

On a bright sunshiny morning about a month or so from now, a telephone rings in New York City. "Hello, John." "Paul, get here as soon as you can, mate. We've been foolish. We were meant to be together. " "Alright, pal but what about...?" "I've already been in touch with Ringo and George. They're on their way." And they all meet in a rented studio and it starts all over again.  These were the kinds of thoughts going through my head on this rainy first day back at school.

Things worked out well enough. Later, I got my Kung-Fu book and a Beatles book. Might get a Beatles album tomorrow. Terry and a friend will be coming over with me tomorrow. Still plan on seeing BILLY JACK.

NOTES: Yes, having become a Beatles fan literally as the group was breaking up in 1970, I was one of the hordes clamoring for a reunion. We bought all the magazines with deceptive titles like THE BEATLES ARE COMING AGAIN and ate up all the rumors that dotted the real news fairly often such as the one about hoe the Fab Four would reunite for a charity concert for the UN or the Boat People.


Never happened, of course. John had Ringo and George on some of his albums. George used Ringo on his. Ringo would have Paul, John and George all on his but never all on the same cuts. Paul and John had actually gotten together in a Los Angeles studio in March of  this very year along with Harry Nilsson and Stevie Wonder. It's the last time the pair were ever recorded together and I wish I could say it was good. Instead, it's a virtually unlistenable cocaine-fueled jam session. Historically important in its own way but...a muddled musical mess to put it mildly.  


I maintain that, had Lennon lived, the only time the Beatles would have ever reunited would have been in animated form on an episode of THE SIMPSONS. And looking back from 2012, I realize that that would have probably been for the best.

Tuesday, May 16th, 1974

Home sick again.

IT but I destroyed the mags again.

I worked tonight, felt better finally and I know I'll be headed back to school tomorrow.

We got our check again. I'm getting to like this!

Found out Clint's new movie opens downtown next month!

NOTES:


Wish I could say I was in a position where I could like getting a check on a regular basis these days. :(


At this point in my mind, Clint Eastwood could not make  abad movie if he tried. Ah, I was so naive. Here's what I wrote recently about the movie I was SO looking forward to on this date:

As I've said, I was a big Eastwood fan by this point. But I hated this. Clint and Jeff Bridges as violent ant-heroes in Michael Cimino's excesses that just left me feeling yuck. Many love it, I know. I'm not one.

Wednesday, May 15th, 1974

Well I had to stay home again today. Took my medicine--pills, in an ice cream sandwich--and was some better after that.

I did go to work tonight but felt terrible afterwards.

IT.

I have to see THE SUPER COPS (R) sometime with David Selby and I'll probably make BILLY JACK this saturday at the Madison.

Watched Roddy on HOLLYWOOD SQUARES both yesterday and again today.

NOTES: As already noted two years later (in my other Journal) I didn't see SUPER COPS until it came on TV. It was, I believe, David Selby's only feature film starring role. Oddly enough, the DARK SHADOWS star is in the news again just this week for his cameo in the new DS movie. 


Note that no matter how bad I felt, IT was always a priority.

Tuesday, May 14th, 1974

I stayed home and went to the doctor and now I have to take some medicine.

Since I was home, I got to see a special 1930's show on MIKE DOUGLAS.

I'll probably return to school tomorrow.

Jeff Higgs told me that a girl actually fainted in a Glee Club presentation at school today!

The Social Security people didn't ;eave until very late tonight but I felt too rotten to go anyway.

NOTES: The nostalgia craze began in the late sixties and lasted about a decade. Everything old was hot again--books, movies, songs, dances, fashions. The twenties and thirties were huge in this period but the fifties had become the big deal by the end of the decade, probably thanks to the success of AMERICAN GRAFFITI and HAPPY DAYS and the failure of films such as DAY OF THE LOCUST, THE GREAT GATSBY and WON TON TON, THE DOG THAT SAVED HOLLYWOOD.


Jeff Higgs was a kid who was a year behind me. We had known each other since I was in second grade and he was in first. Last year, I spotted him on Facebook, a grey-haired psychologist now. We exchanged  a couple of emails. Ya gotta love the Internet.

Monday, May 13th, 1974

I made it through school. Didn't have to read much of the sex chapter aloud because my cough and sore throat are still so bad. I may have to stay home tomorrow and go to the doctor. We were supposed to go to the ballgame tonight but since I was sick, Mom gave the tickets to Agnes.

NOTES: Agnes was my mother's friend from work and her perpetual ride to and from work also. It was Agnes who came to the house one day when I was three and told my mother that they wanted her back at the factory where she had worked before getting pregnant with me. I wasn't thrilled. LOUDLY I wasn't thrilled! But after throwing as much guilt on her as I was capable of throwing, she returned to work. Agnes came by every morning for years after that and beeped her car horn for my Mom to come out. It became a running gag that whenever my Mom, my Dad or I heard a car horn, one of us would say, "Better hurry, There's Agnes." My Dad and I still did that long after my Mom passed in 1981!


Pictured is my mother in the early seventies, possibly from '74. She rarely smiled for pictures because she had genetically poor teeth but sometimes I could get her to grin a little as here. 


Happy Mother's Day. Mom. R.I.P.

Sunday, May 12th, 1974

Mother's Day. We went to church where I saw that girl from school again. We found out my friend from when I was about four, Jenny Adams, was married there last week at about age 17.

We had White Castles for lunch.

I sent in what I think was a TV blooper to THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER. I might win $50.00!

Saw a whole lot of new superhero toys at Twin Fair.

Saw Steffie on McCLOUD again. It was a rerun.

IT.

The cough I had yesterday was much worse today.

NOTES: Jenny was our landlady's daughter. i remember thinking of her as a teenager then and even looking at pics of her she looks older but apparently she was just a few years older than I was. Last time we saw her was at the Florence mall a couple of years after this pushing a baby stroller.


THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER became a favorite of mine around this time for entertainment news you just didn't get anywhere else. Little by little I came to question its reliability. I sent in several of their TV bloopers contest entries and while i was usually correct, many others also responded and I was never chosen as a winner. 

Saturday, May 11th, 1974

IT.

I spent over 13 dollars today! Got three Gazettes, one EC reprint, a magazine, a newspaper, a mother's day card, new comics and an old (1948!) copy of POLICE COMICS with Plastic Man and the Spirit for three bucks!

Ended up not seeing any movies today but I might tomorrow.

NOTES: I loved getting the Golden Age comic books when they were still relatively inexpebsive. The issue I got on this date had the distinction of Plastic Man fighting a villain named Eloc...which was actually the name of the character's creator, Jack COLE, spelled backwards. 

Meanwhile... in 1976

After sitting at $127.00 for the past two weeks on our campaign to fund a book of my original 1976 Journal  blog, we suddenly got two more backers after adjusting the incentives so that you now get a signed copy of the eventual book at the $50.00 level! Please check it out and consider pledging! 31 Days to go!

Friday, May 10th, 1974

I got a 100 on an Algebra test. Probably my last one.

Terry got his stuff today. From what he says, I'll need a lot tomorrow!

I'm going to see BILLY JACK and BLACK EYE (maybe). I can't see as many going forward because now they have to come out of my own money.

I drew a great picture of The Shadow today.

NOTES: OK, now this is a little weird. 


In 2012 (Wednesday):


My son took his MAP Math test for 9h grade today. A score of 250 is considered excellent. He scored 290+.


I burned some disks for my old pal Terry and delivered them to him early this afternoon. "Terry got his stuff."


I found BLACK EYE online and finally watched it 38 years late. One of the co-stars in the film is a man more noted for his radio performances than his movie roles--Bret Morrison who played...THE SHADOW!!!

Thursday, May 9th, 1974

Today was a pretty nice day. The weather was cool, I got 100 on an IPS test, I didn't have to take Gym, and best of all (I think) I remembered all of last year's Top Ten flicks of mine. I'm glad of that.

On the other hand, there was a bad earthquake in Japan. I sure hope it didn't hit either of my pen-pals.

NOTES: "IPS?" Another head scratcher, I'm afraid.


Both of my Japanese pen-pals were okay. "The Izu-Hanto-oki earthquake of 9 May 1974 was one of the most disastrous earthquakes in Japan.The earthquake killed 30 people, injured 82, and destroyed 121 homes. The tremor also caused road damage and landslides." Needless to say the one from a couple years back was MUCH worse.

Wednesday, May 8th, 1974

I finished work early tonight.

Did well in volleyball in Gym. Hopefully I fare as well with it again tomorrow.

I'm almost finished with my second Arkon story, THE DARK AGE. It's the longest I've ever written.

Just realized it's been about a year since I recorded for WCLU.

NOTES: Arkon was a sword and sorcery character I had created the year before. He was sort of a combination of Merlin and Kull, a king but also a wizard--a warrior wizard, in fact, capable of turning his hand into a flaming sword. Ultimately I would write (and finish!) three stories of Arkon.


WCLU was a country music radio station locally. In 8th grade, they had had a contest for most creative essays about America. The three winners, myself included, were driven to the tiny radio station (housed in the building above behind a local strip mall) where we recorded our essays to be played on the air on Memorial day. While we were there we were each drafted to record plugs fro the station's coverage of the Indy 500, also. This was my very first time in a radio studio. I was in love with teh idea. I wanted so much to do that a s a living at that point and every once in awhile over the next dozen years or so until I met a  number of folks in the business and realized how insecure it was.

Tuesday, May 7th, 1974

We had a sports award assembly today at school.

I got the new TBG and I may order form Bud Plant again this week.

I'll probably see Fred Williamson in BLACK EYE and maybe BILLY JACK at the Madison and/or Redford's THE CANDIDATE and JEREMIAH JOHNSON (again) at the International '70.

Oh, yeah...IT...darn it.

NOTES: Bud Plant was a dealer in comics art books and fanzines that I ordered from a lot in those days. I finally met him in 1988 at a Con. In 2011, even though we didn't have any direct contact, Bud and I worked on the same project behind the scenes for Yoe Books. Later on, I even did some publicity for him. 


Fred Williamson's movies mostly eluded me until the new century when, thanks to the wonders of the Internet and cable TV, I was finally able to catch a score or so of his movies, both good and bad. An amazingly charismatic actor, his BLACK EYE is still one I have yet to see.

Monday, May 6th, 1976

Yesterday I moved my bed and expanded my office area.

After a pretty bad day at school, I went over to Ohio and got THE SPIRIT set # 2, a few GAZETTES and the brand new TV GUIDE already.

NOTES: THE SPIRIT sets were bagged black and white reprints of Will Eisner's classic comic strips. Ten came in a plastic bag, thus they are also known as the Spirit Bags. I had bought the first one the year before. I think there were only four sets released eventually. 


I'm actually selling the first two SPIRIT bags on my sale blog if anyone is interested. The one in the back of this shot is the one I bought on this date 38 years ago.


http://bookstevesbookstore.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-lower-pricespirit-bags-1-and-2.html