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Post by brutalis on Mar 14, 2021 12:33:51 GMT -5
I have a Bob Steele western too where he plays a mountie. And I also have the DVD collection of Bordertown with a Mountie and Marshall teamed up as the Lawgivers in a growing town on the border (of course) Canada and the USA.
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Post by brutalis on Jun 19, 2021 18:29:14 GMT -5
What comes to mind musically when you think of Western movies? For most folks it's likely Bernstein's theme for the Magnificent Seven that pops into your head 1st. An outstanding singular score that is memorable, iconic and instantly recognizable. Then there are those classic movie themes sung by Frankie Laine and Marty Robbins. Both have made a career singing their themes and cowboy anthems. Right after that in comes those grand old singing cowboys of the movie screen like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter and Rex Allen along with so many others.
Music of the West goes hand in boot setting the mood and memories delivering tunes that remain in your head and heart. I am always putting in CD's during my weekly work drive to enjoy. They deliver memories of beloved movies, evoking thoughts of the history and struggles of those building our country. I would much rather have dreams of flowing rivers, cool breezes through the pine tops and wide open prairies or wild rocky canyons or mountains than focusing upon the overstacked streets of traffic.
Western and Country music is uniquely our own American creation. A homegrown tradition built upon from the families in the countryside entertaining themselves, cowpokes singing soothing tunes upon long dusty cattle drives and voices uniting in Sunday church choirs. A good or great score or songs makes even the least western movie all the better when watching.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 19, 2021 23:24:22 GMT -5
Honestly, when I think of western movies the music that comes to mind is Ennio Morricone’s scores from various Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns. The music is such an integral part of those films that I can remember the score to most scenes. With most other films I’m lucky if I can remember the theme.
I was never a fan of singing cowboys and most of the songs from those films are 100% tin-pan alley and 0% west.
Now I’m actually a big fan of actual western music. I highly recommend Dom Flemons’ album “Black Cowboys.” It does for traditional western music what Flemons did for jug music with the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Also a big fan of Ian Tyson and Tom Russell both of whom do great neo-western stuff. And nothing beats Marty Robbins.
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Post by brutalis on Jun 20, 2021 4:20:21 GMT -5
Honestly, when I think of western movies the music that comes to mind is Ennio Morricone’s scores from various Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns. The music is such an integral part of those films that I can remember the score to most scenes. With most other films I’m lucky if I can remember the theme. I was never a fan of singing cowboys and most of the songs from those films are 100% tin-pan alley and 0% west. Don't be so dismissive of the Singing Cowboy. Their history can be traced back to the early 1870's when cowhands on the cattle drives would sing for soothing the cattle. This was to help calm and ease the stress for preventing panic and stampedes. Crooning to the cattle on the trail and at night around the campfire was a natural progression for being a cowpoke. This was before the advent of what was to become the genre called country music. In the 1920's recordings of these traveling troubadour's was spreading into homes across America. Until this time most folks considered country music as being more of a cultural "hillbilly" thang. Autry during the depression became famous and beloved to the masses, helping through his movies and songs to showing American's and the world a taste for "country" music becoming more recognizable. While it may sound or seem corny or hokey to many now, at the time the singing cowboy was influential in delivering the earliest beginnings of folk, blues, hillbilly and other forms to the general public for listening. It took these musical forms from their poor rural cultural starts and shared them for many to hearing for the very 1st time. The roots of country music dig deeply into rural Americana and the Singing Cowboy was if you will pardon the pun, "instrumental" in starting the growth and recognition of the diversity of and pleasure of this style of music to the masses. As for the Italian Western music, it is a memorable and iconic piece of the Western movies. Hollywood chose to mimic this tonal shift which marked the change of what was essentially American and layering in a style that is much more European, dark and violent. I enjoy and recognize those Italian tones as a "part" of the movie Western but feel the 50's and 60"s were more traditionally western flavored musically. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Jun 20, 2021 11:39:38 GMT -5
The score for "Lonesome Dove" by Basil Poledouris is a masterpiece. If you haven't heard it, but you've seen "Quigley Down Under" (a gem), you can say you've heard at least parts of it.  The score for "Silverado," composed by Bruce Broughton, is a sweeping reminder of the classic "big" Western scores, too. Broughton also composed the score for "Tombstone," but brought a darker quality to it. (He also wrote a delightful score for another old favorite of mine, "Young Sherlock Holmes.") |
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Post by berkley on Jun 20, 2021 22:42:56 GMT -5
I can just remember watching the Gene Autrey show as a very young child - Gene Autrey, the Singing Cowboy. I remember liking him better than Roy Rogers, unless I'm dreaming the whole thing. Can't recall any songs off the top of my head, I might look them up on youtube now the subject has been brought forward.
I always loved the song Cool, Clear Water - would that be considered a Singing Cowboy song? To be honest, I never really thought of it as a separate genre, just as part of American country music in general: weren't they all singing cowboys? I'm speaking of my childish impressions, of course - but as we know, the influence of those early impressions never really goes away, no matter how much your conscious mind may develop.
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Post by brutalis on Jul 9, 2021 23:50:46 GMT -5
Tonite while watching WWE Smakcdown (a kind of western dueling in a way) I sorted through and put into numeric order all of my collected Best of the West series. Bill Black through his AC comics showed his own love of classic 1950's western comic books by publishing this low selling series. He kept the range riding Cowboy hero alive for many a year and I for one appreciate it.
My first exposure to this black and white miniature. more or less digest sized bit of fun was many years ago when Mr. Black was just starting up AC comics and his "hits" were Fem Force and Black Diamond as a kind of PG rated exploitation. His comics with lady adventurers were readily available at any LCS (shop owners knew their teenaged male audience) but I never did see any of this western comic. Had to ask the owner if he would order for me and at that time he said AC comics required a minimum # of issues to purchase/deliver by LCS. He knew the Best of the West series wouldn't sell but I was one of his best customers so he did manage to squeeze in 2 seperate issues knowing he could swing it with sales of the Fem Force.
So all I ever has was 2 issues which sadly I managed to lose with multiple apartment moves. They were amazing though as he made the smart move of cherry picking the best stories from all the old westerns he had access to through public domain. Each issue would normally carry a Durango Kid, Red Mask, Ghost Rider (now named Haunted Horseman) an occasional Roy Roger and others. These short 4-8 pagers printed in black and white to be cost effective were a delight and totally NEW experience to me.
I had several Marvel Westerns but these all were something different from a time past I had little knowledge of. Unable to afford mail ordering the comic I was always on the look, keeping an eye out but NEVER finding any of the series locally through the LCS's here in town. About 10 years ago being an adult financially secure enough I went internet searching and came upon Lonestar's site and found they had many of comics for sale. Some quite expensive and others more affordable due to the limited publishing and I imagine those of us collecting and enjoying it are holding on to issues.
So now I have a nice run with many holes as I continue watching for cheap buys. These are great quick reads that I can pick up at any instance for a story or multiple stories and put aside to continue later. The one and done adventures are a glimpse of a different place and time in comic book history which many might not know of or even like or appreciate. To me, they are a pure delight which I can't get enough of.
Watch for more about these amazing western heroes where I will delve further into the writers and artists and adventures.
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Post by brutalis on Jul 11, 2021 14:36:10 GMT -5
Continuing on about AC comics Best of the West series, it began in 1998 running for 71 issues until its ending in 2009. Mostly only available by mail order or now through the AC Internet site. It is a black and white labor of love keeping aive the history and fun of a simpler time. Each issue was jammed pack with good old American cowboy heroics which had its heyday when B-Western movies ruled during the 50's and as television westerns took their place captivating the minds of youth and adults.
Every issue of Best of the West spotlighted 3 MAJOR Stars: The Durango Kid featuring art from Joe Certa and Fred Guardineer, The Haunted Horeseman (so named as Marvel usurped the original Ghost Rider title) by Dick Ayers and Tim Holt as Red Mask with the artistry of Frank Bolle. The rest of each issue would be filled by a rotating cast of lesser heroes as well as 2-4 page fillers. This way we readers were able to sample the likes of Bobby Benson of the B-Bar Riders, Roy Rogers with early John John Buscema work, Monte Hale, Rocky Lane, Black Diamond, the lemonade Kid, the Latigo Kid xss Jim Bowie, Wyatt Earp and some early John Severin sweetness on American Eagle.
Along the way there are artistic treats in seeing the likes of Bob Powell, Pete Morisi, Will Elder, Myron Fass, Carl P. Laufer, Joe Maneely, Dick Giordano, Sally Trapani and Gil Kane to name a few. All in crisp, clean black and white on pristine white pages. Granted, Bill Black cut costs as best he could for keeping the series in print by using b/w and printing in a much smaller format (typically in 8 1/2 by 11 inch size folded over) giving it all a fan look, but at least this kept it out there for us Western comics lovers.
Without Black's love and desire to reprint these grand old classics of his youth most of us, like me who knew of but missed out on such splendid comics, might never been able to read such rollicking adventures. It is now much easier finding such comics over the Internet, but there something special in holding and reading these rare historic gems in your own hands. I would have eaten these up as a youth if they were out on the spinner racks, but I realize Western (and War) comics are now a niche seller even more so than during the 70's/80's
So my appreciation and admiration for Bill Black's dedication to preserve thrills and excitement of the Wild West for posterity and modern readers knows no bounds. I will continue hunting affordable issues across the Internet to keep the Cowboy comic alive even if it is only for myself.
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Post by brutalis on Sept 5, 2021 12:00:36 GMT -5
You ask How the West was Fun for me? Well, as a wee little tyke growing watching tons of Western movies on Saturday afternoon television it is naturally conclusive that I would find delight in Western comics. So of course I was unlucky or lucky depending on how you view it at the time. In the mid to late 70's the Western comic book was in decline, well past it's hey day in the 50's but was stubbornly hanging on.
New stories were hard to come by but if you looked could find them. DC provided Jonah Hex, Scalphunter and a few various others while Marvel was mostly focusing upon their 3 Kids: Rawhide, Colt and Two Gun along with occasional a few others occasionally in the mix. I had a dozen or so issues of all 3 Kid's alongside a half dozen or so Jona Hex. That was pretty much it for my Western collection as a kid until my Senior year of high school as I spent my summer yardwork earnings and allowance on starting to buy new Jonah Hex off the shelf, until it was cancelled.
Time jump to adulthood far too many years ahead and I am overjoyed to find DC giving me a chance to renew my Western love with their 2 Showcase Presents black and white collections of the early Jonah Hex. From there I revived my adoration and gave in to the addiction to seek out Western comics once more. Quickly I grabbed up through Amazon and Mycomicshop.com any trades that I could afford in my hunger.
Then I turned my eyes solely upon digging through marked down boxes at the annual comic con, LCS's and Mycomicshop.com. My focus being for ANY cheap (under $5) back issues for Marvel, DC and Charlton Western comic books. With this fire burning hotly once more driving me to "go west" my hunt began filling my short boxes with battered and weary wild west adventures. Soon enough my acquisition's grew with various issues of Best of the Wrst. Outlaw Kid, Ringo Kid, Jonah Hex, Texas Rangers, Outlaws of the West, Night Rider. Red Wolf, Durango Kid and others.
But far and above I renewed my adoration of the main 3 Marvel Kids. Filling up my box with those 3 gives me a singular sense of pride and joy. While missing sundry issues of their exploits and still searching for filling the holes, my most beloved reads are 2 series completely built upon Marvel reprinting those glorious Westerns of old featuring the 3 Kids mainly as the leads but also featuring their lesser selling compadres.
I am talking about the 46 issues collecting Mighty Marvel Western heroes and it's companion series of 33 issues Western Gunfighters. What thrills exist between these covers featuring gunfights galore of which I had never seen before and some that I knew from before. Finding all 3 heroes riding alone or together along beside their brethren in their stories has me remembering my youth poring over those few issues I once had.
Now having this Trio of fast shooting riders of Justice united under 1 cover is a favorite constant go to for me. Plenty of quick, easy to enjoy entertaining one and done morality plays to savor. Comics that I can only wished I had grown up with more issues of. But now I have them with me for growing old with when one day in my early retirement (coming soon in a few years) as I sit in the hills of Colorado, my nearest neighbor a mile away unable to hear my old hoots and hollers of delight while reading my favorite gunslinger comics. Wahoo and yippee kay yay indeed...
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Sept 25, 2021 10:22:42 GMT -5
Watched a decent documentary this morning available on Amazon Prime entitled In Search of Doc Holliday. The writer-director has a PhD in history and the film does a fairly good job of cutting through the myths and getting to what we actually know about Holliday.
It’s a linear history starting with his boyhood in Georgia, through his dental training and following him through Texas, Dodge City, Arizona and to his death in Colorado. There’s a lot of myths to debunk. Historically we can only account for probably three gunfights for Holliday (leaving aside OK Corral and the Vendetta Ride). And he was very clearly nobody’s side-kick, least of all Wyatt Earp’s.
If there’s a failing in the film it’s that it doesn’t do enough to really clarify the Earp’s truth vs. legend…particularly Wyatt. Though that was likely beyond the scope of the film.
Well worth the hour and fifteen minute time commitment.
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Post by Prince Hal on Sept 25, 2021 11:52:18 GMT -5
Watched a decent documentary this morning available on Amazon Prime entitled In Search of Doc Holliday. The writer-director has a PhD in history and the film does a fairly good job of cutting through the myths and getting to what we actually know about Holliday. It’s a linear history starting with his boyhood in Georgia, through his dental training and following him through Texas, Dodge City, Arizona and to his death in Colorado. There’s a lot of myths to debunk. Historically we can only account for probably three gunfights for Holliday (leaving aside OK Corral and the Vendetta Ride). And he was very clearly nobody’s side-kick, least of all Wyatt Earp’s. If there’s a failing in the film it’s that it doesn’t do enough to really clarify the Earp’s truth vs. legend…particularly Wyatt. Though that was likely beyond the scope of the film. Well worth the hour and fifteen minute time commitment. I'm your huckleberry. |
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Post by brutalis on Sept 25, 2021 12:16:08 GMT -5
Watched a decent documentary this morning available on Amazon Prime entitled In Search of Doc Holliday. The writer-director has a PhD in history and the film does a fairly good job of cutting through the myths and getting to what we actually know about Holliday. It’s a linear history starting with his boyhood in Georgia, through his dental training and following him through Texas, Dodge City, Arizona and to his death in Colorado. There’s a lot of myths to debunk. Historically we can only account for probably three gunfights for Holliday (leaving aside OK Corral and the Vendetta Ride). And he was very clearly nobody’s side-kick, least of all Wyatt Earp’s. If there’s a failing in the film it’s that it doesn’t do enough to really clarify the Earp’s truth vs. legend…particularly Wyatt. Though that was likely beyond the scope of the film. Well worth the hour and fifteen minute time commitment. I'm your huckleberry. You ain't nothing but an old hound dog😉 |
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Post by Prince Hal on Sept 25, 2021 12:23:03 GMT -5
You ain't nothing but an old hound dog😉 And mah hypocrisy goes only so far... |
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Post by brutalis on Oct 22, 2021 14:05:09 GMT -5
Western comic books of the 1950's was always an interest for me. Growing up with the cowpokes B-movies on Saturday television I already had a liking for their adventures but had to settle for occasional stories reprinted at Marvel. DC had a few issues here and there as well. Bill Black's AC comics delivered a select few. But mostly I was forced to admit those glorious days of old were beyond my reach. Affordability and availability being the main reason.
Welcome to the new Millennium and the advent of scanned digital comics. Now I and other western fans can find a wider variety and other publisher groups with cowboys and indians, sherriff's, outlaws and gunslingers with the click of a mouse on our computers. It is the glory days for us fans. The undiscovered country of the wild west at our fingertips!
I now have 3 discs with 100's of Marvel and DC Western heroics from the 1940's on through to current times. All the guns, cowboy hats, boots, horses, cattle, saloons, ranching and rustling a person could dream and hope for. An American standard in film, television, novels and comic books to savor and explore that I dreamt of in my youth. Now adult me is excited to own these digital comics to be amazed by.
Writing and art united in presenting a truly unique exploration of the West in what was a once popular genre. My inner child is extremely happy!
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Post by brutalis on Nov 24, 2021 15:12:33 GMT -5
With Thanksgiving arriving tomorrow I had to dig into my western movie DVD shelf so I could have my Traditional Turkey day movie ready for viewing. For about the last 15 or more years I spend the morning watching the now classic Silverado. This annual watching is something that began for me in the mid 1990's when a local channel here would run an all day movie marathon of westerns for Thanksgiving day.
Getting together on Turkey day at my dad's house, the wonderful smell of the meal cooking and the western's on all day very quickly became a fondly awaited moment all year long. When dad and mom moved away to Mississippi and the local channel died away ir became a fond memory. Then one day after buying and watching Silverado on DVD I was reminded of those holiday times. So I made a note on the calendar in the early 2000's to remind myself to watch this beloved movie during Thanksgiving to recapture the joy and comfort.
Silverado perfectly captures the days of yore of the classic cowboy movies while delivering a more realistic connection for modern times. There is such an enthusiasm and sense of FUN which comes through from the actors that you can't help but be caught up in watching them. The scenery and filming is breathtakingly beautiful. The action and gunplay exciting to behold. The casting superb and a delight to watch.
Looking forward to my holiday morning with a hot bowl of cream of wheat, toast with orange marmalade and a steaming cup of tea as I settle in to rewatch this favorite western yet again.
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