From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Wed Mar 1, 2000 1:03 am Subject: [probe_control] Fwd: Leslie Stevens Credits & SEARCH Connections Great list, Don! The only thing I can add to it off the top of my head is... Didn't Stevens write the script for RETURN TO THE BLUE LAGOON? I seem to remember him mentioning it to me in the brief letter he wrote me a couple of years before he died... Don't know what SEARCH 'connections' there'd be on THE LAGOON? :) Jim probecontrol@aol.com From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Tue Feb 29, 2000 11:00 pm Subject: [probe_control] Leslie Stevens Credits & SEARCH Connections To: probe_control@egroups.com LESLIE STEVENS - LIST OF CREDITS (born in 1924, died 24 April 1998) Birth name: Leslie A. Stevens III This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, it's just meant to help us see some connections and make us more familiar with the background of the man who created SEARCH. From 1956 to 1959, he wrote for the following series: FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE, PRODUCERS SHOWCASE, KRAFT THEATRE, and PLAYHOUSE 90. Allen Reisner (director of "Short Circuit") directed many episodes of PLAYHOUSE 90. 1958: THE LEFT-HANDED GUN (writer). 1960: PRIVATE PROPERTY (writer). 1960: MARRIAGE-GO-ROUND [play] (producer). 1962: HERO'S ISLAND [aka THE LAND WE LOVE] (producer). 1962: STONEY BURKE (creator, producer & director). 1963: THE OUTER LIMITS (creator, executive producer, writer & director). Bob Justman's association apparently started here. Dominic Frontiere composed the music for this series. Paul Stanley (director of "Flight to Nowhere") directed some episodes. 1964: FANFARE FOR A DEATH SCENE (director). 1965: INCUBUS (director & filmed in Esperanto with William Shatner - Stevens' fascination for languages is hinted at in his SEARCH episode "Short Circuit." Lelia Moen was a teacher of modern languages at a university.) 1965: THE WAR LORD [play - THE LOVERS]. 1966: I LOVE A MYSTERY (director), SOMETHING FOR A LONELY MAN. 1967: MI MUJER, LA SUECA Y YO (story). 1967: THE VIRGINIAN (executive producer 5th season & writer). Doug McClure's connection seems to have started here. Russ Mayberry, Paul Stanley, and Joseph Pevney directed some episodes. 1968: THE NAME OF THE GAME (producer, writer & director). Tony Franciosa's connection seems to have started here. Barry Shear (director of "24 Carat Hit") was also a producer and writer for this series. Joe Pevney directed an episode. 1968: IT TAKES A THIEF (writer, producer & director). McClure had a cameo in the pilot. Allen Reisner (director of "Numbered for Death") directed an episode, as did Paul Stanley, Michael T. Caffey, and Marc Daniels. 1970: MEN FROM SHILOH (executive producer of the Doug McClure segments, producer & writer). Philip Leacock (director of "One of Our Probe's is Missing") directed an episode, as did Marc Daniels. 1970: FOUR IN ONE: McCLOUD (executive producer). The Terry Carter connection ("The Mattson Papers") may have started here. This association may have also led to his appearance in "Galactica." Russ Mayberry, Barry Shear, and Jerry Jameson directed some episodes. 1970: THE AQUARIANS (writer). 1972: SEARCH (executive producer & writer). 1974: FER-DE-LANCE (writer). This movie was directed by Russ Mayberry. 1975: THE INVISIBLE MAN (producer, writer & director). 1976: GEMINI MAN (producer & writer). Michael Caffey (director of "The Packagers") directed some episodes. 1976: STONESTREET: WHO KILLED THE CENTERFOLD MODEL? (executive producer & writer). This movie was directed by Russ Mayberry. 1978: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (series co-creator & co-producer). 1978: BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY (supervising producer). Tim O'Connor ("The Mattson Papers") appeared as Dr. Huer. 1984: SHEENA (story). 1987: THREE KINDS OF HEAT (writer & director). 1995: THE OUTER LIMITS (program consultant). 1995: GORDY (writer). I'm sure there are many other items and connections I may have missed! If anyone sees something that can be corrected or added to this list, please do so. :) Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Thu Mar 2, 2000 8:56 pm Subject: [probe_control] Batman Connections to SEARCH, etc. Jim: To answer your question on SEARCH director William Wiard, he had no connection to the "Batman" series. He did however, direct a number of episodes of "The Rockford Files," another of my favorites. He also directed episodes of "MASH" and "Cannon." Wiard appeared as an actor in the 1970 "Love American Style" episode, "Love and the Detective." Sad to say, Wiard died 2 July 1987. I did some checking on "Batman" (the mid-60's ABC-TV version) and found that there are a number of interesting SEARCH connections. So here goes: Burgess Meredith (Cameron) appeared in many episodes as the Penguin. Deanna Lund (Harte of "Adonis File") appeared in "Batman's Anniversary." Paul Mantee (Sam Field in "Suffer My Child") appeared in "Catwoman Goes to College." Mantee is perhaps better known for his appearance in the movie "Robinson Crusoe On Mars" with none other than Adam West. Malachi Throne (Col. Nobokov in "The Bullet") appeared as False Face. Howard Duff (Dr. Jamison in "Countdown to Panic") appeared in "The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra" with his wife, Ida Lupino. William Smith (Roman in "24 Carat Hit") was in the last "Batman" episode produced, "Minerva, Mayhem & Millionaires." To answer your other question on Leslie Stevens, he did indeed write the script for "Return to the Blue Lagoon," which was released during August 1991. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times only gave it 1 1/2 stars. Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Fri Mar 3, 2000 12:35 am Subject: [probe_control] Re: Batman Connections to SEARCH, etc. Once again, Don-- You've educated the lot of us! Excellent reSEARCHing!!! Thanks! Jim probecontrol@aol.com From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Fri Mar 3, 2000 2:21 am Subject: [probe_control] Pause to Reflect & Give Thanks Jim: Thanks for the kind words, but I want to also thank John and Bryan for their efforts in starting and maintaining this Search Mailing List and their forthcoming expanded web site. I'm just happy to be able to contribute what I can. John has put a lot of time into digitizing the scripts for us, and I understand Bryan has been helping him digitize the filmclips, so I thank them for that, too. As we watch the episodes again, I figure it makes it more fun to know a little more about the names we see flashed in the credits, that's all. The research is a little easier nowadays, what with Internet search engines, databases and the like. Who'd have guessed that the very word "SEARCH" would have become so pervasive in the world of computers? Also, I'm trying to help stir up some comment from the other members of the group as much as possible. There is room for everyone! :) What I notice is that everyone in the group knows something. Everyone seems to have various areas of expertise. When the web site is finished, I'm positive that it will be something we will all be proud to have been a part of! Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Fri Mar 3, 2000 11:16 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: Pause to Reflect & Give Thanks Rats! Lets' try that again... Anyway... very well spoken, friend! Jim probecontrol@aol.com From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Sat Mar 4, 2000 4:56 pm Subject: [probe_control] SEARCH Necrology (Note: Earlier posts noted the deaths of Leslie Stevens (executive producer) and Albert Popwell (Griffin). Here is a list of the passing of other "Search" notables with some details. Anyone who can add to this list or make corrections is encouraged to do so.) "SEARCH" NECROLOGY Leslie Stevens (executive producer, writer and series creator) died on 24 April 1998 in Los Angeles of a blood clot. Doug McClure (C. R. Grover) died 5 February 1995 in Sherman Oaks, Calif. of lung cancer. Burgess Meredith (Cameron) died 9 September 1997 in Malibu of Alzheimer's Disease. Albert Popwell (Griffin) died 9 April 1999 from complications of open-heart surgery in Los Angeles. Kent Smith (Dr. Laurent in "Probe") died 23 April 1985. He also appeared as the district attorney in "The Night Stalker" (1972). Ben Wright (Kurt Von Niestat in "Probe") died 2 July 1989 in Burbank, Calif. He was the voice of Grimsby in "The Little Mermaid" (1989) and the voice of Wolf in "The Jungle Book" (1967). He was also the voice of Roger in "101 Dalmations" (1961). Lilia Skala (Frau Ullman in "Probe") died 18 December 1994 in Long Island, New York. Maurice Evans (Mr. White in "The Murrow Disappearance") died 12 March 1989 in East Sussex, England. Sci-fi fans recall his appearance as Dr. Zaius in "Planet of the Apes" (1968). David White (Miles Llewellyn in "The Murrow Disappearance") died 27 November 1990. White was perhaps best known for his role as Larry Tate in the long-running "Bewitched" series. White's 33-year old son, Jonathan, died in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988. White was a widower soon after Jonathan was born. He became embittered by this new tragedy and died of a heart attack in 1990, just days before the second anniversary of the death of his son. Mark Lenard (appeared in "The Gold Machine") died 22 November 1996. He was better known as Sarek, Spock's father in "Star Trek." Edward Mulhare (David Pelham in "Operation Iceman") died 24 May 1997. He played Devon Miles on "Knight Rider," a series which bore more than a passing similarity to elements of "Search." Mary Frann (Stephanie Burnside in "Operation Iceman") was once a weather reporter for a TV station in St. Louis. She gained fame later as Bob Newhart's TV companion in "Newhart." She died on 23 September 1998 in Beverly Hills, Calif. of heart failure. Nicholas Colasanto (director, "In Search of Midas") died on 12 February 1985. He was better known as a regular on "Cheers," Ernie 'Coach' Pantusso. He also directed Tony Franciosa in "Fame is the Name of the Game" (1966). William Wiard (director of "Moonrock" and three others) died 2 July 1987. He also directed episodes of "MASH" and "The Rockford Files." Marc Daniels (director of "Live Men Tell Tales") died 23 April 1989). Daniels directed a number of "I Love Lucy" and "Star Trek" episodes, as well as other TV projects. Torin Thatcher (Stonestreet in "Live Men Tell Tales") died 4 March 1981 of cancer. He also played the magician in the Ray Harryhausen movie "7th Voyage of Sinbad" (1958). Dane Clark (Ed Bain in "24 Carat Hit") died 11 September 1998 in Los Angeles. From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Sat Mar 4, 2000 10:31 pm Subject: [probe_control] SEARCH Trivia Items (Note: Here is a list of "SEARCH" odds and ends that did not seem to belong anywhere else. As you read through it, you'll find yourself saying, "hmm--I did (or didn't) know that." Food for thought as we watch the episodes again. Anyone who wants to add to this list is welcome!) "SEARCH" TRIVIA ITEMS Hugh O'Brian, who's real name is Hugh Krampe, has a brother named Don Krampe. Hugh spends much of his time now with HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) which seeks out and helps recognize leadership potential in high school sophomores. Tony Franciosa was born Anthony Papaleo in New York, New York. Doug McClure's full name was Douglas Osborne McClure and he was born in Glendale, Calif. Burgess Meredith was born Oliver Burgess Meredith. Elke Sommer (Uli in "Probe") was born Elke Schletz in Berlin, Germany. Sir John Gielgud (Streeter in "Probe"), made his screen debut in 1924. He received his title Sir in 1953 for his acting skills. Angel Tompkins (Harding) appeared in "General Hospital" as Dr. Erna Morris in 1985. She was featured in an issue of Playboy about the time "Probe" premiered. Ginny Golden (Keach) appeared in the "Starsky & Hutch" episode "Vendetta." Byron Chung (Kuroda) appeared in at least seven different "MASH" episodes. He was usually a Korean soldier or a P.O.W. A Martinez (Carlos in "Probe") appears in "General Hospital" as Roy DeLuca. Alfred Ryder (Cheyne in "Probe") later appeared as Dr. Sutra in "Goddess of Destruction." Robert Boon (Felix Ernst in "Probe") later appeared as Egan in "The Bullet." Russ Mayberry (director of "Probe" and other episodes) also directed an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He also directed the movie "Fer-de-Lance" for Leslie Stevens. Robert H. Justman (line producer of the first 15 episodes) was also a producer of "Star Trek." He worked earlier with Leslie Stevens on "The Outer Limits." Dominic Frontiere ("Search" music and theme) also did the music and theme for Leslie Stevens' "The Outer Limits," an album of which is available from Crescendo Records. Mary Ann Mobley (Lilia Moen in "Short Circuit") has been the wife of Gary Collins since 1967. She was Miss America 1959 and she was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. Her daughter, Clancy, is now a Paramount TV exec. Mary Ann was the original "Girl From UNCLE" in the pilot episode, but was replaced in the subsequent series by Stephanie Powers (Jill Davenport in "One of Our Probe's is Missing"). Barbara Feldon (Kate Dawes in "In Search of Midas") once won $64,000 on the old "$64,000 Question" show. She was born Barbara Hall in Butler, Pennsylvania. Cheryl Stoppelmoor (Amy Love) is none other than the famous "Charlie's Angel" herself, Cheryl Ladd. Maybe the name change did the trick. She was born in Huron, South Dakota. Allen Reisner (director, "Short Circuit") directed "The Captains and the Kings" miniseries in 1976. Keith Andes (Dr. Barnett in some of the last episodes) was Akuta in the "Star Trek" episode, "The Apple." Tom Hallick (Harris in the last eight episodes) was a host of "Entertainment Tonight" in 1981. Vernon Weddle (McEgan in "The Murrow Disappearance") did many of the voiceovers during Probe Control's briefing tapes throughout the series. He also appears on the Probe screen in "Goddess of Destruction" while giving his reports. Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: actingman@iname.com Date: Sun Mar 5, 2000 1:17 pm Subject: [probe_control] My email address If you are not using it already, please make sure you update your email address books and use the above address for me. I will be shortly shutting down my AT&T Worldnet account. My iname address is my permenant address, and no matter which ISP I use, Iname will forward my email to where ever I tell it to. Worldnet has given me constant problems since I signed up with them, and even tonight as I write this, I have been disconnected yet again. There are several free isp's out there, and they are more dependable, with faster downloads, and less disconnects then Worldnet. And at least two of them are unlimited usage with no ad banners. Anyway, by Monday, Worldnet will be history. Anyone want to take bets they will continue to bill me? John Carlton John Gumbinger John Whomever From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Sun Mar 5, 2000 5:19 pm Subject: [probe_control] SEARCH Episodes We Have on Video (Thought it would be a good idea to take note of exactly which "SEARCH" episodes we have, where they came from and who has closest to first generation. New group members or members who don't have all the episodes yet can use this checklist to see how to proceed in adding to their collection.) SEARCH EPISODES WE HAVE ON VIDEO WITH SOURCES NOTED: 0. "Probe" - (Home Video version of original 2 hour pilot movie) 0. "Search" - (Syndicated version of above with Search title) 1. "The Murrow Disappearance" (Australia) 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. "Short Circuit" (Australia) 7. "In Search of Midas" (Australia) 8. 9. 10. "The Adonis File" (Australia) 11. "Suffer My Child" (AFN logo) 12. "Flight to Nowhere" (AFN logo) 13. "Let Us Prey" (Australia) (+direct 16mm transfer o/c) 14. 15. "The Packagers" (AFN logo) 16. "The 24 Carat Hit" (FEN TV) 17. "Numbered for Death" (Australia) 18. "Countdown to Panic" (FEN TV) 19. "The Clayton Lewis Document" (FEN TV) 20. "The Mattson Papers" (FEN TV) 21. "Goddess of Destruction" (FEN TV) 22. "Moment of Madness" (FEN TV) 23. Jim (probecontrol@aol.com) has the best copies of the Australia episodes. Don (dghprobe3@aol.com) has the best copies of the AFN logo and FEN TV episodes. One version of "Let Us Prey" is a direct 16mm transfer of a copy of a network print with original commercials and a "scenes to next week". Jim's and Don's copies of that are basically the same. Jim also has an Australian version of "Let Us Prey" without the commercials and extras, but the picture quality is not quite as clear. Outstanding episodes are: AUDIO---2. "Moonrock" 3. "The Gold Machine" AUDIO---4. "One of our PROBEs is Missing" AUDIO---5. "Operation Iceman" AUDIO---8. "Live Men Tell Tales" AUDIO---9. "The Bullet" AUDIO---14. "A Honeymoon to Kill" AUDIO---23. "Ends of the Earth" Don can provide audiocassettes of the above (except "Gold Machine"), which were taped off NBC during the 1973 network reruns. No commercials were recorded, but audio of the opening teasers, scenes to next week and Ed McMahon's promo for "The Tonight Show" over the closing credits are intact. On their own level, the audiotapes are enjoyable, too. It's kind of like listening to an audio book, only it's "SEARCH." For those scenes where you are not sure what is happening, you can follow the action with the script. The only coverage we have of "The Gold Machine" is the script, some film clips and the GAF ViewMaster set. Does anyone out there have "Gold Machine" on audio? NBC never bothered to rerun that one. Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Sun Mar 5, 2000 5:23 pm Subject: [probe_control] American Forces Network (AFN) Information Jim: I did some checking on the AFN. Most people refer to it as "Armed Forces Network." There is a website and I'll give the address shortly, but AFN actually stands for "American Forces Network." But it is part of the AFRTS - "Armed Forces Radio and Television Service." The network has three different divisions. One for Europe, the Pacific and Korea. I checked all of the schedules and "SEARCH" is nowhere to be found. Unless it is one of those late-night fill-in type shows that pop up once in a blue moon. This may be why we have had trouble getting all of the episodes. "SEARCH" may not have aired on AFN on a regularly scheduled basis. Or, as soon as someone gets hooked on the show, it gets pulled because--with so few episodes--programming managers don't want to give it too much exposure. I notice that we tend to have most of the later episodes and fewer of the earlier episodes. The following is from the AFRTS website at http://www.afrts.osd.mil or you can try http://206.67.28.80/contact_us.htm#top >The AFRTS Broadcast Center, located at March Air Reserve Base near Riverside, >California, is the sole programming source for military radio and television outlets >overseas. These outlets serve American service men and women, Department of >Defense (DoD) civilians, and their families stationed in over 150 countries around the >world where English language broadcast service is unavailable or inadequate. >Known as AFRTS-BC, the Broadcast Center is responsible for reflecting an >accurate cross-section of what is widely available to stateside audiences of the >American radio and television industry. Programs are uplinked from the Broadcast >Center to a series of satellites and delivered worldwide via a secure transmission >path using MPEG-2 digital compression technology. This global radio and >television network service is called AFN, the American Forces Network. >The AFRTS Broadcast Center is located at March Air Reserve Base, California. > >Questions regarding AFRTS programming should be submitted to Affiliate >Relations... > >AFRTS Broadcast Center >Affiliate Relations Division >1363 Z Street, Bldg. 2730 >March Air Reserve Base, CA 92518-2017 >Phone: (909) 413-2236 >DSN: 348-1236 > >Or contact the Web Administrator >(mailto:webadmin-afrts@dodmedia.osd.mil) On one of the first two web pages, there is a form you can fill out where you can put your questions and comments. I went ahead and mentioned that some years back they carried a show called "Search" with Hugh O'Brian. I asked if they had any plans on carrying the show anytime in the future. I ended by telling them to keep up the good work, etc. I'll let you know if I hear anything. I guess the hope is that I run across someone who works there that remembers running the show and either has tapes of it or knows a friend who does! You might want to check out this site and put in your vote for "Search" too! The other question I have is this. The main AFN network may not be running "Search," but do any of the affiliated stations of the network run it on an independent basis? I notice that some of the AFN episodes show the official "AFN" logo on them (such as in "The Packagers"). But other episodes say "FEN MISAWA" or "FEN TV 73" (such as "Goddess"). Are the FEN MISAWA episodes taped from an affiliated station? I suspect so, but only someone familiar with the network could say for sure. Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Sun Mar 5, 2000 6:56 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: SEARCH Episodes We Have on Video On the list of episodes we have, I forgot to mention that Jim (probecontrol@aol.com) has the best copies of the "SEARCH" pilot movie. There are two versions available: 0. "Probe" - (Home Video version of original 2 hour pilot movie) 0. "Search" - (Syndicated version of above with Search title) Both of these tapes are of terrific quality! From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Sun Mar 5, 2000 10:13 pm Subject: [probe_control] What FEN-MISAWA Means (For the back story of this post, go toward the bottom of this post.) Okay, gang, I found out what the "FEN-MISAWA" logo on some of our "SEARCH" episodes is all about: FEN stands for the Far East Network. Misawa refers to the city of Misawa and Misawa Air Base in Northern Japan. FEN is that part of AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio & Television Services) which broadcasts in and around Japan. Quoting from one of their websites: "As originally conceived, the Far East Network, part of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, covered the entire Pacific Rim region including Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Korea, the Phillipines, and a number of Pacific islands." Also, "while FEN's mission was to 'Serve American Forces Overseas,' audience estimates approaching 10 million for the most popular shows were common. The Japanese people, teens in particular, seemed eager for Western culture and FEN was a favorite source. They even formed FEN fan clubs! I'm told that FEN's popularity continues to this day for many of the same reasons." What this tells me is that SEARCH, being designated "for export only" by Warner Brothers, probably already has an OVERSEAS fan following of which we know little or nothing! Many of these fans would be people serving in the military. When the web site is finished, I wonder how many hits it will be getting from overseas? John, can we tell where the hits are coming from? I sent an e-mail asking about this to someone who used to work for FEN and has his own web site. Will keep the group posted if I hear any response. Meanwhile, here are some links to FEN: http://jg3.com/fen/misawatv.shtml is the address for FEN-Misawa TV. http://jg3.com/fen/other.shtml is a page of links pertaining to FEN. http://jg3.com/fen/links.shtml has more links. http://jg3.com/fen/tv1968.shtml is a page showing a 1968 FEN schedule. http://books.dreambook.com/robinnews/fen.html is for The Sounds of FEN. Don dghprobe3@aol.com --------------------------------------------------- >Jim: > >I did some checking on the AFN. Most people refer to it as "Armed Forces >Network." There is a website and I'll give the address shortly, but AFN >actually stands for "American Forces Network." But it is part of the AFRTS - >"Armed Forces Radio and Television Service." The network has three different >divisions. One for Europe, the Pacific and Korea. > >I checked all of the schedules and "SEARCH" is nowhere to be found. Unless >it is one of those late-night fill-in type shows that pop up once in a blue >moon. This may be why we have had trouble getting all of the episodes. >"SEARCH" may not have aired on AFN on a regularly scheduled basis. Or, as >soon as someone gets hooked on the show, it gets pulled because--with so few >episodes--programming managers don't want to give it too much exposure. I >notice that we tend to have most of the later episodes and fewer of the >earlier episodes. > >The following is from the AFRTS website at http://www.afrts.osd.mil/ or you >can try http://206.67.28.80/contact_us.htm#top > >>The AFRTS Broadcast Center, located at March Air Reserve Base near >>Riverside, California, is the sole programming source for military radio and >>television outlets overseas. These outlets serve American service men and >>women, Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, and their families stationed >>in over 150 countries around the world where English language broadcast >>service is unavailable or inadequate. Known as AFRTS-BC, the Broadcast >>Center is responsible for reflecting an accurate cross-section of what is >>widely available to stateside audiences of the American radio and television >>industry. Programs are uplinked from the Broadcast Center to a series of >>satellites and delivered worldwide via a secure transmission path using >>MPEG-2 digital compression technology. This global radio and television >>network service is called AFN, the American Forces Network. >>The AFRTS Broadcast Center is located at March Air Reserve Base, California. >> >>Questions regarding AFRTS programming should be submitted to Affiliate >>Relations... >> >>AFRTS Broadcast Center >>Affiliate Relations Division >>1363 Z Street, Bldg. 2730 >>March Air Reserve Base, CA 92518-2017 >>Phone: (909) 413-2236 >>DSN: 348-1236 >> >>Or contact the Web Administrator >(mailto:webadmin-afrt-@dodmedia.osd.mil) > >On one of the first two web pages, there is a form you can fill out where you >can put your questions and comments. I went ahead and mentioned that some >years back they carried a show called "Search" with Hugh O'Brian. I asked if >they had any plans on carrying the show anytime in the future. I ended by >telling them to keep up the good work, etc. I'll let you know if I hear >anything. I guess the hope is that I run across someone who works there that >remembers running the show and either has tapes of it or knows a friend who >does! You might want to check out this site and put in your vote for >"Search" too! > >The other question I have is this. The main AFN network may not be running >"Search," but do any of the affiliated stations of the network run it on an >independent basis? I notice that some of the AFN episodes show the official >"AFN" logo on them (such as in "The Packagers"). But other episodes say "FEN >MISAWA" or "FEN TV 73" (such as "Goddess"). Are the FEN MISAWA episodes >taped from an affiliated station? I suspect so, but only someone familiar >with the network could say for sure. From: actingman@iname.com Date: Mon Mar 6, 2000 11:01 am Subject: [probe_control] Various We should add to the list the alternate version of the pilot, that Jim has. Below is my description of it from the FAQ that will appear on the web site: "There are two opening scenes to the pilot. The first one, which may be the more widly know one, and which is the one on the VHS copy sold by Unicorn Video (Under the title Probe...get to your video dealer and order it...#1249) has Lockwood rescuing a diplomat being held hostage. After he succeeds it seques into the opening credits. In the script, (which you can view by clicking here) this scene is numbered with regular numbers (page one, page two etc.) The alternate opening starts with the credits, and hard cuts to Cameron and Dr. Laurent talking to Lockwood on the phone convincing him to give up his vacation to take an important case. In the script this scene is numbered 1A, 2A etc. Both scenes would fit into the pilot with the rescue, the credits, and the men asking Lockwood to come back. For some reason, the pilot opening with the rescue, and the version opening with the phone call are both in syndication in the US. If anybody knows the reason for this...let us know." On another topic, I don't know where everybody on the email list are from. I know a few, and I once got an inquiry from England, but for the most part, so far, it has been from folks in the U.S. We know that the show has run in Great Britain, Australia, and Ireland. there may be a few others that I am forgetting. And of course all the Armed Forces runs. From: Bryan D. Date: Mon Mar 6, 2000 4:03 pm Subject: [probe_control] You can view Actingman's slides at... Notice to the Group: All of Actingman's (John's) Slides are posted in thumbnail form on the website. You can view then at: http://probecontrol.com/Slides/catalog_1.htm You cannot click on the slides to pull up a larger image yet, hopefully this will be fixed today, and you cannot yet access the slides from the main page. This will be fixed this week. Also you will note some of John's Star Trek clips are not yet culled from the site. Just a added bonus until it's finalized. Thanks everyone for your patience. Bryan From: Bryan D. Date: Mon Mar 6, 2000 6:04 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: What FEN-MISAWA Means There are tools available that will sort the hits by domain, browser, platform, etc. Sometimes you can tell by the domain where the viewer is (.au for australia for example), but often times you cannot. (As far as I know). With a little JAVA, it is possible to grab the email address of each viewer (assuming they have set up their email address preferences in their browser) which also might hold a clue. >When the web site is finished, I wonder how many hits it will be >getting from overseas? John, can we tell where the hits are coming from? From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Tue Mar 7, 2000 12:01 am Subject: [probe_control] Link to a different SEARCH webpage Checked on a few things and found a site listing SEARCH. Try http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/9348/search.htm Maybe these guys can put a link to http://probecontrol.com since we were nice enough to make a link to them! But really, their page looks good and they have all of their facts correct. From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Mon Mar 6, 2000 11:24 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: SEARCH Trivia Items As always, Don-- A wealth of information! Fascinating! I knew I remembered 'Acuta' from somewhere!!! :) Jim probecontrol@aol.com From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Tue Mar 7, 2000 1:27 am Subject: [probe_control] Review of SEARCH Pilot Film (In my continuing efforts to stir comment among group members, I offer the following review for anyone to take potshots at. Hopefully, I'll be able to put a new twist to something old and familiar. Or I will succeed in making everyone say, "what in the world was he thinking?" Either way, you decide.) "Search" pilot film Review by Don Harden Originally called "Probe." According to TV GUIDE: "Space-age sleuthing about an investigative organization armed with computers and special electronics gear implanted in its agents. Hugh O'Brian stars as Probe One (Hugh Lockwood), a top agent on the trail of a priceless gem collection." When it was first aired, TV GUIDE noted that it was a pilot for a "possible" series. Apparently it did well enough in the ratings. Overall this was an okay pilot and an okay story. Because it is 2 hours long, it does drag a bit here and there. Hugh O'Brian does well enough as Lockwood and is able to carry the action scenes. If he used a stunt double, I could not tell. Burgess Meredith portrays Cameron, who is supposedly reminiscent of "M" in the James Bond movies. Unfortunately, in comparison to the James Bond films, "Search" seems a tad dull. But let's face it, the Bond films did have substantially larger budgets and much more preparation time. Also, the stakes in the Bond films generally involved some earth-shaking event of international importance. The stakes in "Search" were much smaller, usually involving the recovery of some missing object. So it was rare for "Search" to have a Bond-like villain, though there were some exceptions. It's sort of like comparing a John Wayne movie to an episode of "Bonanza." TV shows usually reflect a lower budget. Another thing to keep in mind is that the most recent Bond film at the time was "Diamonds are Forever," released in 1971. So, when Leslie Stevens was putting his "Probe" pilot together, he found a way to get diamonds into his show. However, the only real criticism I have with this pilot is that Sir John Gielgud (Mr. Streeter) is much too nice and too British a guy to be cast as a neo-Nazi trying to become a new Hitler. With the futuristic sci-fi premise of Probe Control, Leslie Stevens could only dredge up an old Nazi as his first villain? It is certainly casting against type and the idea was probably to surprise the audience at the end. But I think the audience may have gotten a bit turned off by what appeared to be a relatively young Hugh O'Brien roughing up a seemingly poor old man who was likeable up until the very end. To me, it's like discovering that Winston Churchill was a Nazi too. Or is it just me? In addition, some in the audience may have already anticipated the ending, since after all, most detective shows end with the least suspicious person having done the dirty deed. ("The butler did it!") Others in the audience may have expected a snarling "Goldfinger" style villain all the way through and got disappointed. I mean, these returning old Nazis are supposed to be such a big threat, yet the simple act of Lockwood keeping them from getting a gem collection stops them from taking over the world. It seems a bit easy, doesn't it? Overall, though, it's a fun two hours with enough plot turns that keep you guessing. Critics of the time complained that "Search" was ultimately nothing more than a cop show with special effects gimmicks. But to me, the gimmicks were fascinating and it makes one wonder whether or not the CIA really does have such devices and tricks up their sleeves. Also remember that this was 1972. The technology as portrayed on the show might have appeared to be a bit unbelievable to the average viewer back then. And this was before home computers became in vogue. "Search" had a potential to it and some of the later episodes succeeded better than others. In this pilot, I also notice the appearance of Alfred Ryder as Cheyne. Ryder played Prof. Crater in the "Star Trek" episode "The Man Trap." Also, a few "Star Trek" sound effects creep into the Probe Control scenes from time to time. From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Tue Mar 7, 2000 9:21 pm Subject: [probe_control] Review of "Flight to Nowhere" (Another review, submitted for your approval.) "Flight to Nowhere" Review by Don Harden According to TV GUIDE, "a personal assignment for Lockwood: He's looking for a pilot friend who disappeared without a trace -- along with 20 tons of fertilizer and his cargo plane." An okay episode that plays somewhat like an episode of "Wild Wild West." The bad guys are rather inept as killers, however. Lockwood gets away from them several times. I mean, why drag Lockwood all the way up to the hotel roof and throw him off? All they had to do was shoot him. They took a bigger chance being seen carrying him around than if they just shot him and bolted from the room. Also, it was too much of a coincidence (for me, anyway) for Lockwood to crash into Seniora Antonia Bravo's room after jumping away from the bad guys who were trying to throw him off the roof. Aside from that, though, I found myself enjoying this above average episode. Lockwood even gets teed off at Cameron at the beginning of the show. Cameron objects to Lockwood taking this case personally. To which Lockwood replies, "You're becoming more like a machine every day. Go on, Cameron, take a good reading of your humanity level. The dipstick comes out bone dry!" Again, the one you least suspect turns out to be involved with the crooks. The girlfriend who turns on Lockwood at the end was played by Joanna Cameron, who later played "Isis" on a Saturday morning kid show. Another ironic ending when we find out where the valuables were hidden on the plane. This episode has a better pace than most and the plot takes a number of twists and turns before it ends with a nicely played closing scene. From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Wed Mar 8, 2000 11:10 pm Subject: [probe_control] Here's why the SEARCH Filmclips turn red Those of us who are into film collecting (or are interested in pursuing it) or who collected some of the SEARCH film clips from Lincoln Enterprises might find the following of interest. There is a film collector's site with a page on color fading (i.e., the film turning red). This page is at: http://www.film-center.com/fade.html This is a really interesting site, so for those who want to go directly to the home page, try http://www.film-center.com To paraphrase here, they point out that 90% of most film stock is what is called "Eastman" type. People have tried to restore such faded red film with no success. Some projectionists try color filters over the lens with mixed results. An exception to this is the Eastman 3b stock, used by MGM from 1969 to 1974. Another exception is some Eastman stock made in 1982, but nobody knows why these films hold up better. The only way to slow down this process is to store your films in as low a temperature and humidity as possible. NOW they tell us! From: actingman@iname.com Date: Sat Mar 11, 2000 1:11 am Subject: [probe_control] Repeating an old post Go to the below web site. Type in Robert Weverka, then Search, then Moonrock and it will give you several places to buy those books. From: "CDR R. A. Benson, USNR" Date: Sun Mar 12, 2000 1:46 am Subject: [probe_control] Don Harden's Review of the Pilot Sorry to have been incommunacado for so long; but free time at sea is something of precious commodity. But since I have a spare moment, I wanted to comment on Don Harden's review of PROBE. Two things made me initially resistant to this. First, having just recently viewed it again, after twenty-five years, the feeling of nostalgia created something of a buffer between enjoying the movie and any critical analysis. (Especially difficult when seeing the 1972 Angel Tompkins again sent my hormones to levels not reached since my pubescent days.) So, removing the rose-coloured glasses and looking at the film objectively took some effort. The other reason I was hesitant was because I discovered that I was generally in agreement with Mr. Harden's take, both in general and in specifics; and there's hardly much point in adding a comment which merely echoes the previous one. However, I do some additional insights which, I trust, will keep this note from being redundant (read: boring). As I said, I agreed with Mr. Harden's overall assessment that the plot of PROBE was tepid. Specifically, to all practical purposes, the climax was non-existant. The only real conflict between Lockwood and the bad guys was the scene in the villa's wine cellar. It was suitable as a set piece; but it did not hold the upward-spiralling motion in either action or eposition that a climax requires. The final confrontation between Lockwood and Mr. Streeter--the notational climax--was lackluster. First, as Mr. Harden observed, there is something of "Godzilla Vs. Bambi" in young, athletic Lockwood confronting old, sedentary Streeter. Scarcely a compelling conflict. The added element of having Frau Ullman stealing in to shoot Lockwood in the back somehow felt terribly lacking in surprise or suspense. Although the situation made clever use of the scanner, as eyes behind Lockwood's head, it never felt like Probe One was in any danger in the first place. To agree with Mr. Harden, again: I, too, found it hard to accept the character of Streeter being a former Nazi war criminal. Part of the problem lied in the casting. Sir John Guilgud just wasn't the right choice. Some actors can go against type; others can't. Sir John is obviously one of those who can't--or at least, wouldn't,in this case. To be effective, he should have shown a change in personality as Streeter after finally cornered by Lockwood--in effect, giving the impression that his whole persona as Streeter was an act cultivated for years. Instead, Streeter exposed as a Nazi was no more put out than Streeter served a red wine with fish. I can appreciate the producer's intention (if it was, in fact, by design) to avoid employing one of what I call the "cliche villains"--i.e., actors like Lloyd Bochner or Fritz Weaver or Alfred Ryder, who did make an appearance as a lesser character in PROBE--to keep from tipping off the surprise to the viewers too soon. Instead, though, they went too far in the other direction in trying to create an unlikely suspect. SIDEBAR: Actors like Lloyd Bochner and Fritz Weaver I term "cliche villains" since, if any one of them appear in the cast of a television show, he is sure to be the hidden traitor/mastermind/killer. I've always hoped and waited for some producer to get the idea to cast a show with nothing but "villainous" actors like Bochner, Weaver, Alfred Ryder, Andrew Robinson, and Bradford Dillman. That would really confound us veteran television watchers. The lack of any real climax or pivotal scene in PROBE lends kind of a "Waiting for Godot" feel about the movie. One keeps waiting for SOMETHING important to happen, but it never does. On the plus side, the movie made maximum use of the actors'/characters' personalities. Hugh O'Brian, as Lockwood, was dutifully stalwart, competent, and heroic--much like his Wyatt Earp days. Burgess Meredith is always entertaining to watch, even if he were just reading the names in a telephone book. Angel Tompkins was the obligatory gorgeous teammate, but far from being a bimbo, she was a medical specialist, intelligent, cool, and wryly funny. Sir John portrayed his typical British gentleman with aplomb. As the stars, one would expect these roles to be memorable. But the virtually "anonymous" other techs of Probe Control also stood out. Each actor, with a minimum of lines and virtually nothing to do except sit at a console, made his own character distinctive. Ginny Golden, as Miss Keach, was cooler than Miss Harding, certainly less brazen, but the pride she took in her professional competence was obvious. Carlos and Kuroda were younger, slightly less disciplined ("Yes, sir! He's turned on!"), but competent. And Albert Popwell took the prize: to those who are only familiar with his street-jivin' pimp roles in DIRTY HARRY and a score of other films, his performance as the bespectacled, intelligent, multi-lingual Griffin really stands out. His dialogue is sharp, direct, and he shows a bit of his own light side at least once ("If the lady is speaking French, she says 'yes'.") There were moments when the dialogue was truly funny; yet, did not violate the dynamics or personalities of the established characters. As examples: CAMERON: "Invite her mother to tea." LOCKWOOD (to Ulli): "Would you like to join me in town for some tea?" CAMERON: "I said HER MOTHER!" LOCKWOOD: "Bring your mother." Or Gloria's "Lie." "Lie!" "LIE!!" sequence. Yet, setting aside Meredith and Miss Tompkins, the techs of Probe Control had individual personalities, and a group one. They were, in effect, a collective character--instead of the bland, barely distinguishable functionaries that they became in the show's hour-long episodes. Mr. Harden is correct that PROBE, as a mystery or a drama, is insufficient to hold an audience. However, on the strength of the personalities and some incisive dialogue, the movie is very entertaining, indeed. As I'm sure Mr. Harden would agree. Commander Benson From: actingman@iname.com Date: Thu Mar 16, 2000 12:17 pm Subject: [probe_control] Pilot review Some random thoughts about the pilot. In the opening scene with the ambassador being held hostage: he is being held inside a room on an upper floor with armed guards in the room and out on the front porch, and yet someone waiting to rescue him is just outside the window with a weapon? And a car down below with no one seeing who this car belongs to? Maybe we're supposed to assume that it all moved into place at the same time Lockwood moved in. Reasonable to assume that he had a full team helping him. But we should have seen some indication of that, which could have been done with quick shots that would not have complicated the scene at all. The wide shots of Control we see in the rescue scene are stock shots taken from elsewhere in the movie, and they don't match becasue while Lockwood is risking his life, and shots are going off around him, the people at their consoles are sitting there calmly, and the women walking behind them are not even looking at the screen. But later on when Lockwood is fighting for his life in the basement of the hotel, everyone is watching intently, and the women in the back have stopped their note taking and are watching the screen. The expository scene with Dr. Laurent was not bad at all. Sometimes these scenes are painful due to dialog that sounds like nothing short of stopping and turning to the camera and giving a lecture. But that is not the case here. But I would like to know why Dr. Laurent knows nothing about Probe's operations. He should know some of it. (I know...it's a script device.) Minor continuity problem. We see a closeup of the screen and it is red. We then see the three in front of the screen and it is grey. Some of the commercial breaks fall in awkward places...going back to our discussion about Stevens not putting breaks in his scripts. If you want to write a good tv script, you have to pay attention to the rhythms of storytelling where you have to break the action every 12 minutes. The systems check as Lockwood and Streeter is very good in establishing a number of points as to how the equipment and the people work and interact. When Streeter and Frau Ullman "meet" for the first time, why doesn't telemetry pickup any strange readings from them? I may be wrong about this, but that is quite a hotel to be just minutes from the terminal, isn't it? There are a number of occassions where Lockwood is not careful what he is doing with his hand when the scanner is on the ring. He can't go around holding his hand like he is in a production of Cats, but at the same time I don't think he would be walking around with his hand in his pocket as he does in the hotel. And picking up the torn business card with the ring hand...I just think there are times where he could be more careful (O'Brien that is) with what he is doing with his hand. I think the agents would be more conscious of their hands when the scanner is on the ring. After dropping Streeter off in Control, does Lockwood call Harding "Angel"? It sure sounds like it. Some of the shots of the safe dial turning do not match Cameron's audio. How old is Brugge supposed to be? He sure is powerful considering he must be pushing 60. The scene of Ullie and her mother on the screen does not match. We already know the shocking news that Frau Ullman is Streeter's wife. But we don't Ullie's shocked reaction until several seconds later on the screen...because it is mistimed. They wanted the shot to end the scene, but they didn't have enough footage in the take. I have to take the opposite viewpoint of what was written here concerning the final scene with Streeter. Considering that this is a former SS member, who is trying to finance a revival of the Reich, and who has thrown roadblocks and violence at Lockwood the whole time, and who was about to pull a gun on the agent...I think Lockwood acted with extreme restraint...yet showing enough force to control the situation once he had the gun so Streeter didn't try anything...forcing Lockwood to escalate the violence. As far as Streeter's age, it's 1972 and this is an aging Nazi...of course he is old. I find it refreshing that the movie didn't end with a standard fight to the finish as so many shows do each week, and as later episodes of Search did. The Nazis trying to rebuild the Reich is a standard story that could be added to Adam's list of generic always done stories. But like the story of finding a Japanese solider on an island who doesn't know the war is over, it is a story that can no longer be told, as we move away from the mid 20th century. The musical Stop The World I Want To Get Off has a song where the German maid sings humerous references to being cleared in Nuremburg. It made sense when the show opened in 1962, and took place in the present. In order to do the show now, you have to call it a period piece and say the show takes place in the past. The Nazi story in Probe is a period piece, and I think makes more sense in that light...although it wasn't the first show to use that scenario (and didn't someone say once that there are only 5 basic stories? And that Shakespear wrote them all...after he stole them from the Greeks...who stole them from the cave drawings?) What occurs to me about the thought that Streeter was too much a gentleman to prove to be an evil Nazi is that, unfortuately, not every Nazi was a sterotype, visual psycopath. The sad truth is too many of the "nice" types are perfectly capable of such beliefs. I can't pont to any specific ones off the top of my head, but I know that there had to be cultured, educated Streeter types who were the refined gentlemen, while actively holding dear and practing the evil, twisted, pig-ignorance that were the Nazis. Just look to some group you disagree with, and examine the behavior of not just the drooling, unbathed types, but the ones who on the surface seem more cultured. Or a sterotype rich person who donates tax deductible impersonalbe checks to "charities"...and thinks they are true caring folks, and yet would never even think to call the police if they saw someone in trouble as they drove past in their limo. We are all much too capable of doublethink. Look at our final two major presidential candidates this year. (I realize I am throwing out wide examples here...I'm not lumping any one example into any other group...necessarily!) So a lot of talk to say that I can see such a cultured type as Streeter being a sick psycopathic Nazi. After all, can't you see someone who likes to be waited on hand and foot thinking anything that makes that possible is justified? From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Thu Mar 16, 2000 11:34 pm Subject: [probe_control] More on the PROBE Pilot Movie More on the PROBE Pilot Movie by Don Harden Wow! I threw out a somewhat hastily written review to stimulate some discussion and got some! Ask and ye shall receive, eh? Many thanks to Adam and John for some good thought-provoking commentary to mull over. I hope nobody got the idea that I was being overly negative toward "Probe." Actually I have a great affection for it. Political and World War II considerations aside, for me the ending scene just played emotionally as though Lockwood had just beat Streeter at a game of checkers and caught him cheating or something. However, John makes a good point that Leslie Stevens likely wanted to avoid what everyone would have expected, i.e., the obligatory gunfight or "fist to the face" sort of thing. On that basis, I give the final scene high marks as an attempt to reach for the brass ring. And I did originally note that the intention was to surprise the audience at the end. Adam went a little farther than I did in his critique. Considering that it is a period piece, as John pointed out, if "Probe" were remade today, the Streeter character could still be unmasked at the end as someone helping finance someone like Osama bin Laden or the Columbian drug lords, etc. You could do the same story and set it more in the year 2000 timeframe that way. However, in my initial review, I did note that this was 1972. It's just one of my pet peeves in general for any movie to dredge up an old Nazi. It just seems to be the easy way out, although I recognize that Leslie Stevens was putting a new twist on that sort of story, so I give him high marks for that as well. Before I leave here, I wanted to pass along something Adam would appreciate. One of my all-time favorite SEARCH moments is the scene in "The Murrow Disappearance" where Griffin tells Lockwood how to say "What's shaking, baby" in Sanskrit. I get a chuckle whenever I see that. The double take by the Hindustani doorman was priceless also. 'Yei gubal ratampindi, gapal' indeed! Very good. I'll reflect more on these posts a bit and make some additional observations the next chance I get. Ciao! From: actingman@iname.com Date: Thu Mar 23, 2000 5:05 pm Subject: [probe_control] Second echo I watched Moment Of Madness the other night and was struck at the amount of echo on the dialog when they were in the second Probe set. I have to start looking to see if it's there in the other 7 second set episodes. They must have thought since Probe was now an enclosed room, that it needed to have echo. From: "Don Harden" Date: Fri Mar 24, 2000 6:35 pm Subject: [probe_control] Correction: Search trivia Here's a correction of a previous SEARCH trivia item: I rechecked my audio tape of "The Bullet" and I found that actor Robert Boon played Peter Balzak in that episode, not Egan. By the way, anyone who wants an audiocassette or a home-made CD of the audio of "The Bullet" (as aired on NBC in 1973) should e-mail me on how to get it. The audio of six other episodes will be made available as I finish them. dghprobe3@aol.com Don From: Bryan D. Date: Fri Mar 24, 2000 7:04 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: Second echo You can really pick up the echo on the CD. >I watched Moment Of Madness the other night and was struck at the amount >of echo on the dialog when they were in the second >Probe set. I have to start looking to see if it's there in the other 7 >second set episodes. They must have thought since Probe was >now an enclosed room, that it needed to have echo. From: "Don Harden" Date: Sat Mar 25, 2000 5:52 pm Subject: [probe_control] Addenda: SEARCH Production Order Addenda: SEARCH Production Order A previous post listed SEARCH episodes in a production sequence based on script dates and partial filmclip clapboard information. I have just taken a closer look at most of the clapboard filmclip frames in my collection and can now give a more accurate list with the actual episode numbers as given on the clapboards. 166-111 "The Murrow Disappearance" 166-112 "The Gold Machine" 166-113 "Moonrock" 166-114 "One of Our Probe's is Missing" 166-115 "Operation Iceman" 166-116 "Short Circuit" 166-117 "In Search of Midas" 166-118 "Live Men Tell Tales" 166-119 "The Bullet" 166-120 "The Adonis File" 166-121 "Suffer My Child" 166-122 "Flight to Nowhere" 166-123 "Let Us Prey" 166-124 "A Honeymoon to Kill" 166-125 "The Packagers" There is no clapboard information on the next eight episodes as no filmclips of them were apparently distributed by Lincoln Enterprises or other dealers. Another interesting item to arise from the clapboard clips is that, although "Gold Machine" was slated as the second episode and the bulk of its scenes filmed during the week of 6-15-72, I found some clips of the cave scenes with Lockwood and Harding that were filmed on 9-13-72. This was some three months after they had started on the episode. (We eventually hope to have scans of these scenes available on the website sometime in the future.) These scenes were not filmed until after "The Adonis File" (episode 10) was finished. Which makes things more confusing. Was "Gold Machine" purposely left unfinished or was it necessary to reshoot those scenes because of some production problem? Hopefully, interviews with Angel Tompkins and others "in the know" will answer some of these questions. Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: Bryan D. Date: Sat Mar 25, 2000 9:05 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: Search by Robert Weverka If anyone is interested, a copy of "Search" is available for bid on eBay now. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290187594 Starting bid is $1.50 with no bids so far. From: "Don Harden" Date: Sun Mar 26, 2000 12:13 am Subject: [probe_control] How We Might Get SEARCH Aired On Cable TV "How We Might Get SEARCH Aired On Cable TV" For some time, a few of us in the SEARCH mailing list have been discussing the problem of getting SEARCH on cable TV. If this could happen, it would render moot the questions revolving around where everyone can get fuzzy, faded copies of overseas versions of the episodes that we currently have. The real hang up with SEARCH seems to be that Warner Brothers, for whatever reason, long ago classified the 23 episodes "for export only," to be run only overseas! They made this decision back in the 1970's, years before cable outlets sprang up running old single season series all over the place. For a number of reasons, the best bet right now seems to be Encore's Mystery Channel. Everyone may not be able to get this channel, but a number of people can. The important thing is that they run shows uncut and without commercials. Some people have suggested TV Land or TNT, but these outlets tend to cut their shows and/or run LOTS of commercials! The other thing in Mystery Channel's favor is that they have made a specialty of running overseas ("for export only") programs! So, I hereby suggest that everyone in the mailing list (and anyone else who is a SEARCH fan who happens upon this post), whenever they can, send a letter to the Mystery Channel asking them to contact Warner Bros. about running SEARCH. There are only a handful of people who are members of this list, but that might be enough to get something rolling. The address is: Encore's Mystery Channel c/o Programming Director Encore Thematic Multiplex 5445 DTC Parkway Suite 600 Englewood, CO 80111 Another suggestion which has been brought up is that SEARCH fans should contact Columbia House. They have made a specialty of selling tapes of such "one season" shows as "The Prisoner," "Kolchak," "Time Tunnel" and others. Would they consider distributing tapes of SEARCH? Here's their mailing address: Columbia House 1400 North Fruitridge Ave P.O. Box 1114 Terre Haute IN 47811-1114 If anyone has anything to add to any of this, please do so! Use your imagination and do whatever you can. Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Sun Mar 26, 2000 2:45 am Subject: [probe_control] Re: Addenda: SEARCH Production Order VERT interestingstuff, regarding THE GOLD MAC From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Sun Mar 26, 2000 2:52 am Subject: [probe_control] Re: Addenda: SEARCH Production Order Let's try that again... Very interesting stuff regarding THE GOLD MACHINE, Don. Nice work. It's great that we have all of this stuff (after all these years) at our disposal. I'm really curious why this episode was never completed, originally. I'm stunned that the crew went back after so many months to finish it. As I'm sure you'll agree... this is MORE than regular in the world of television. What other ramifications could we expect from this? The View Master people had to go back and finish shooting the rest of the frames in order to finish the plotline. Angel Thompkins was gone from the series by this time, wasn't she? She WAS in THE GOLD MACHINE, as I remember... Odd. Very odd. Jim From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Sun Mar 26, 2000 3:02 am Subject: [probe_control] Re: How We Might Get SEARCH Aired On Cable TV Nice work on the MYSTERY CHANNEL address. I hadn't made the time to look it up, myself. Appreciate the 'leg work'... I plan to send them a copy of the pilot to 'whet their whistle'. Lastly, are you SURE that Columbia House offers THE TIME TUNNEL??? I'm surprised to find that out. I had no idea! Where did you get this info??? Jim From: "Don Harden" Date: Sun Mar 26, 2000 9:50 pm Subject: [probe_control] Correction on Columbia House Videos Thanks for keeping me accurate, Jim! I should have looked for the Columbia House website before sending that last post. (I put the link below.) Let me clear up that they do NOT offer tapes of "The Time Tunnel." They also no longer offer tapes of "Lost in Space," although a while back they did. I think that's where the confusion lay. I thought they were carrying all or most of Irwin Allen's series. "The Time Tunnel" does air generally on the Sci-Fi Channel, as does the other Irwin Allen shows. The single season sci-fi series they carry are: "The Prisoner," "Kolchak," "V," and a few others. For Albert (Griffin) Popwell fans, they offer the Clint Eastwood collection. Leslie Stevens fans will be pleased to know that they offer episodes of the original "Outer Limits" series (which ran one and 1/2 seasons) and "Battlestar Galactica" (another single season series with a wide cult following). They also offer episodes of David Carradine's original "Kung Fu" series, which, I believe was another Warner Bros. series, and, like SEARCH, Lincoln Enterprises sold scripts and filmclips for it as well. They also carry all of the Star Trek series as well as "Have Gun Will Travel," the western starring Richard Boone which has some episodes written by Gene Roddenberry. Additionally, they offer episodes of "Adam-12," which ran Wednesday nights on NBC before SEARCH during 1972-73. Another NBC series they offer is "Knight Rider," some elements of which bear more than a passing resemblance to aspects of SEARCH. The link for Columbia House Videos is: http://www.columbiahouse.com/repl/i2/tmpls/master/index_svideo.html Thanks again to Jim for keeping me accurate! Don dghprobe3@aol.com From: actingman@iname.com Date: Mon Mar 27, 2000 9:37 am Subject: [probe_control] OT: Family filter In case any of our Search family subscribes to Onelist mailings (as I do.) I found the filter on my profile on, which I did not ask for. I like filters off. I will have to check if egroups has a filter. John >I just got this message from someone on another onelist and checked it out. >It's not a hoax since I actually had to go to the page and change it myself. >The "family filter" (mentioned below) can be found on the onelist HOME page >after you sign in. Click on the HOME tab once you're signed in and do the >following. > >--S > > > > Onelist has added a new feature, and didn't > > tell anyone! They have added a "family > > filter," which would not be a problem except > > the default is "ON." This has been slowing > > down mail, and preventing some mail from > > getting through. > > > > HOW TO REMOVE THE "FAMILY FILTER" > > > > Go to www.onelist.com > > > > Once you are logged on make sure you are on > > the home page. You should see a section that > > says join a group and has a search engine for > > the > > site. Right above the search engine you will > > see a text line that will say Family Filter > > On or Family Filter Off. Most likely will say > > Family Filter On. Click on the text line it > > will take you to a page with the following: O > > Family Filter On. If the circle is marked, > > click on it and then press done. This will > > turn the Family Filter Off and you will > > receive all your emails without intervention > > from Onelist. > > > > Write and complain, and forward this to every > > group you are on. The issue is not the > > filter per se, it is that they added this > > feature -- set to On as default -- without > > telling their users. I noticed that I was > > not receiving all of my mail as all of my > > OneList lists seemed to be deadly quiet. I am > > pitching a major fit about this, and I > > strongly recommend that you do also. > > > > From: "Don Harden" Date: Tue Mar 28, 2000 11:23 pm Subject: [probe_control] On SEARCHing for episodes Funny thing. I was thinking about SEARCH and taking stock on what we've been doing on this mailing list, among other things. If the premise of SEARCH is to seek and search for "that which is missing," then we fans have taken that credo perhaps to it's logical (or illogical) conclusion. Leslie Stevens would probably have been both perplexed and amused to find to what lengths we as individuals and as a group have gone through in "SEARCHing" for and finding some of the episodes. We have even used some of the techniques used on the series, i.e., the use of computers, etc. Wouldn't it be funny and ironic if on the day on which we finally find the last episode that the series shows up on a major cable outlet? Don Dghprobe3@aol.com From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Tue Mar 28, 2000 11:38 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: On SEARCHing for episodes The day we find the last episode, the series shows up on a major cable outlet???? OUCH! That's Leslie getting the last laugh!!! Jim probecontrol@aol.com From: "Don Harden" Date: Wed Mar 29, 2000 10:22 pm Subject: [probe_control] Another webpage mentioning SEARCH Made use of AOL's search engine and found another webpage mentioning Search. Try http://www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF/tv-chron.html The page starts at the top with the title "SF Television." From there, it goes on with an alphabetical list of sci-fi oriented television series. You'll have to scroll down to shows starting with the letter 'S' before you get to "Search." (Or use your "Find" or "Find in Top Window" command and enter Search.) It's actually a fairly good listing. They note that the show had good casting, but that it was without the fun of "I Spy," the spoofiness of "The Man From UNCLE," or "Q" from James Bond. Don Dghprobe3@aol.com From: ProbeControl@aol.com Date: Thu Mar 30, 2000 12:21 am Subject: [probe_control] Re: Another webpage mentioning SEARCH Nice digging on that SEARCH mention, Don... MAN! I just got through opening up the CD package you were nice enough to send along! WOW! Another beautiful job from Don!!! Just stunning!!! I'm a guy that likes to 'display' everything 'just so'... and create an attractive package for whatever I'm doing, so... what you've done here is right down my alley! From the frame-grabs of the title sequence, to the TV GUIDE description, to the Lincoln Enterprises Film Clip frames... Really, really nice work! The wife popped in into the DVD player, but it wouldn't play. It DID play on her BOOM BOX, though! I have a Portable CD Player in the car that I'm going to 'try it out on' tomorrow morning on the drive to work... Thanks Don! I continue to owe you BIG TIME! Can't wait to write another letter and let you know what I thought of the audio, itself! The first few minutes I heard sounded really GREAT! I wasn't expecting that kind of quality! Your (4) TIME TUNNEL dubs are finished. I will mail'em out as soon as I get the SEARCH 'clip' segments done... Jim (smiling broadly) probecontrol@aol.com From: actingman@iname.com Date: Thu Mar 30, 2000 10:49 am Subject: [probe_control] Re: Another webpage mentioning SEARCH Yes, some of us have seen this site. We are not impressed. I don't mind legitimate criticisims, but the problem with this site is it is a pasting of stolen material from different sources, factual errors, and just plain pig-ignorance. You will see me continue to rip into our favorite show, but my words will have some backing to them. He complains that Search is a rip off of MI, but then complains that it doesn't rip off other show's or movie's specific elements. And of course saying that it is a copy of MI is just stupid. An example of rip off and error is his listing of Space:1999. He mentions they had "camelot locator beams." This was taken directly from some other publication, and it is wrong becasue there never was such a thing. The actual reference, taken from one episode was to using the locators on their commlocks. The original writer, if I remember correctly, was purposly taking cheap stabs at the show. So this moron copies it over, doesn't attribute his sources, and treats it as fact. And now an example of pig-ignorance. Below is his entire descrption for The Six Million Dollar Man: Based on the novel "Cyborg" by aerospace wizard Martin Caidin, whose novel "Marooned" became the film which inspired the actual US-USSR Apollo-Soyuz mision, the first time the Americans and Russians cooperated in manned spaceflight beore today's Shuttle/Mir peacemaking. Gee, that sure tells you a lot about what The Six Million Dollar Man was all about! Now at the bottom of the list there is a note "For more comprehensive information, see references such as:..." and then he lists some of the places that he copied the notes and things word for word. For giggles everyone, look up some of your other favorite shows and read the listings, and see if any of it is right, or well thought out. And by the way, I love the personal critiques on each and every show...and you know the geek who put this page together can not possibly have seen each show. I'll stop now. John Original message from: "Don Harden" Made use of AOL's search engine and found another webpage mentioning Search. Try http://www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF/tv-chron.html The page starts at the top with the title "SF Television." From there, it goes on with an alphabetical list of sci-fi oriented television series. You'll have to scroll down to shows starting with the letter 'S' before you get to "Search." (Or use your "Find" or "Find in Top Window" command and enter Search.) It's actually a fairly good listing. They note that the show had good casting, but that it was without the fun of "I Spy," the spoofiness of "The Man From UNCLE," or "Q" from James Bond. Don Dghprobe3@aol.com From: "Don Harden" Date: Thu Mar 30, 2000 5:24 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: Another webpage mentioning SEARCH Well, well. Didn't mean to step on anybody's toes. It just seems kind of strange sometimes that as big as the Internet seems to be, there are only one or two piddlin' little webpages that so much as MENTION our favorite show. My original hope was that maybe we could get this person to include a link to our site, so that folks happening upon his SEARCH mention would be able to hop over to ours. The only listing I took time to read carefully was the SEARCH listing. True, he wasn't bubbling over with unqualified praise, but he did bother to mention it. While I agree that calling SEARCH a "knock-off" of Mission Impossible and complaining that it doesn't rip-off the "spoofiness" of Man From UNCLE is not too terribly fair, I must point out that the front of the Robert Weverka book on SEARCH quotes the following from The Hollywood Reporter: "An outgrowth of Man From UNCLE, with a little Mission Impossible thrown in..." Also recall that TV Guide and The New York Times put out reviews that pretty much trashed SEARCH (as displayed in previous posts). Sometimes it seems that the professionals make just as many mistakes as Average Joes with webpages. Things are not always going to be perfect or totally to our liking. I know it's a cliche, but perhaps we should be lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness. From: "CDR R. A. Benson, USNR" Date: Fri Mar 31, 2000 7:06 am Subject: [probe_control] Re: Another Web Page Mentioning Search "Sometimes it seems that the professionals make just as many mistakes as Average Joes with webpages. Things are not always going to be perfect or totally to our liking." It's more than just web pages. Two rows of my library at home contain nothing but books which are "encyclopaedia of television shows" of some stripe. And even the best of them make elementary mistakes. Just off the top of my head, without turning to the notes I have made in each of these books, I can recall some of them: In the truly best work of this type in the bunch, it makes an obvious mistake in listing the lead character of McHALE'S NAVY as "LIEUTENANT Quinton McHale". O.K., I'll grant you--I have a certain advantage in catching this one. Still, if it's a book claiming to be an authoritative reference, one would expect it to, at least, get the lead character correct. Or how about the I DREAM OF JEANNIE entries which state that Major Healy was a U.S. Air Force officer, when the most casual viewing of almost any episode would tell you that he wasn't? The same book I mentioned earlier also made the claim that Richard Anderson portraying "Oscar Goldman" on THE SIX-MILLION-DOLLAR MAN and THE BIONIC WOMAN was the first actor to play the same role on two different shows in prime time. He was not--that distinction belongs to Leo G. Carroll, who portrayed "Alexander Waverly" on both THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E. The point is: if one is going to write an authoritative reference--be it book or web site--then the eventual readers have a right to expect the author to do his research. These kind of mistakes undermine the credibility of the entire book (if I can catch mistakes the author made on the facts I do know, how can I trust the entries I don't know to be correct?). SIDEBAR: I presume most of these errors occurred NOT because the author watched the show and got it wrong; but because he DIDN'T watch the show, and instead, swiped his material from another book. Thereby, perpetuating incorrect info. Now, reviews of shows are another thing entirely. It's a cliche, but there IS no accounting for taste. The fact that two reviewers thought little of SEARCH (see? I hadn't forgotten the subject of message board)simply shows a difference in taste, as opposed to a lack of grasp of the facts. The entry for SEARCH on that other web site, I had run across before discovering either this site or the PROBE page that John and Barry set up; but obviously that other fellow didn't do his homework. I suspect the task he set for himself was more overwhelming than he had anticipated, with the result that he had to give the short shrift to some entries--including SEARCH. I'm sorry, but I can't excuse that kind of sloppiness. One of the joys in finding this site is I have the benefit of the knowledge of John and Barry and Don to teach me things which I did not know about the show or its characters; and with the effort you have put into it, I can pretty much take what you say to the bank. But slapdash efforts like that other one, are pretty much useless. I agree, Don, it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness--and this site makes a hell of a good candle--but sometimes you want to do both. Adam From: actingman@iname.com Date: Fri Mar 31, 2000 10:51 am Subject: [probe_control] OT: The first show... Of course I am now going to show that I don't know when to shut up: Depending on when Girl From Uncle premiered, I would think the first two show regular character would be Sam Drucker who did double duty on Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. Acres went on in '65...and I specifically cite Drucker, because, although all of the characters on Junction made early eappearances on Acres, Drucker was, or became, a regular on Acres since the Douglases had to go to the general store for supplies, mail, and story requirements. It is difficult to know when you read something that says so and so is so. Forget unimportant things like history, presidential assassinations, fund raising abuses and the like, what about the important things...like which married tv couple was the first to be seen in the same bed? I read in one book it was Ozzie and Harriet (which I tend to doubt but can't confirm), and I read in another book that it was The Munsters...which I think was more likely...since the idiot networks would feel more comfortable crossing that taboo barrier with a comedic, horror format (and I have seen them in the same bed.) But who knows. It is nice when you come across a referrence to your favorite show. I remember in '77 when a book came out called Fantastic Television ...I rushed right out and bought one. Since there was nothing else like it at the time, it was a cherished item. But in recent years I have gone back and reread it's chapters on different shows, and have found so much error it is not funny....except of course that it is hysterical. But showing how error gets made, I of course point to myself. I once got into a disagreement at the costume shop I worked at about Major Nelson and Major Healy being in different branches of the service. The error was of course mine, but the reason it came about was that I grew up in the worst possible environment: a household with only black and white tv's. I had never heard any reference to Roger being in the Army (and it would never have occured to me) and the Uniforms looked quite similar on a grainy b/w image. After the costume discussion, I went home and watched the show on Nick At Night and when I saw the uniforms in color, I basically did about 20 years of cursing to make up for not know such important information. (And I'm sure we are all relieved to know that I am aware that on JAG Mackenzie and the Gunney are Marines, while most everyone else is Navy. But on Jag you do hear references to service branch amongst the main characters.) I like good heated discussion...and if a profanity or two can be worked in to it...so much the better. I intend to rip into Goddess Of Destruction when I get around to it. (I think that will be a good example to discuss...especially about the changes they did for the last eight.) But I hate uninformed cheap shots just for the sake of making smug remarks that are supposed to pass for humor...which was my take on the web site that Don brought to our attention (and I have said to him privately, and I want to say publicly that he is the researcher guru in our little group with all the things he has turned up from the web and library microfilms.) I think that description can also be applied to Cleveland Amory's TV Guide review. If he didn't like the show, then give well thought out reasons...don't quote dialog out of context and then make fun of it. John Original quotes from the message from: "CDR R. A. Benson, USNR" Or how about the I DREAM OF JEANNIE entries which state that Major Healy was a U.S. Air Force officer, when the most casual viewing of almost any episode would tell you that he wasn't? The same book I mentioned earlier also made the claim that Richard Anderson portraying "Oscar Goldman" on THE SIX-MILLION-DOLLAR MAN and THE BIONIC WOMAN was the first actor to play the same role on two different shows in prime time. He was not--that distinction belongs to Leo G. Carroll, who portrayed "Alexander Waverly" on both THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E. The point is: if one is going to write an authoritative reference--be it book or web site--then the eventual readers have a right to expect the author to do his research. These kind of mistakes undermine the credibility of the entire book (if I can catch mistakes the author made on the facts I do know, how can I trust the entries I don't know to be correct?). From: "Don Harden" Date: Fri Mar 31, 2000 7:11 pm Subject: [probe_control] my main concern Gentlemen: We are all on the same side here. Robust and tough commentary backed by good research is what we need and I'm all for it! We have a newspaper in our area and local wags are always saying that correcting them would be a full time occupation! I have only been online for a few weeks and I see that there are too many webpages that are of the same nature. And Adam is correct about the badly researched books. I'm not offended or anything, nor am I excusing bad research, but I think I understand what has happened. My main concern is that new people who happen upon this mailing list might get the wrong idea about us if we engage in name calling, that's all. I'm proud that we've generally been able to disagree on different matters and keep things on a high level. Actually, I'm anxious to read some first blush reactions from John and Bryan to their three "newly discovered" SEARCH episodes! Let's show the other webpages how it's done! From: "CDR R. A. Benson, USNR" Date: Fri Mar 31, 2000 9:33 pm Subject: [probe_control] Re: The First Show John, Since THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E. did not debut until the summer of '67, you are correct in believing that Frank Cady, as "Sam Drucker", was the first regular character to do double duty on two separate shows. The reason I used Leo G. Carroll as my answer is that I recall that was what I had put down in my notation in response to the "Oscar Goldman" error. Quite frankly--and I'm not trying to wiggle out of my answer here--I can't remember if I noted Leo G. Carroll because I had overlooked Frank Cady, or if the incorrect statement by the book's author specified "regular cast"--which I take to mean the people who are presented in the opening credits and are intended to show up in most, if not all of the episodes. As opposed to Frank Cady's "Sam Drucker", who only appeared in the closing credits and, while seen frequently, did not appear as often as the regular cast. And like you, I don't even want to go near the first married couple on television shown in the same bed. I've heard the "answers" you listed; but I had finally settled on I LOVE LUCY, since there were a handful of episodes showing the Ricardos in the same bed (as opposed to two bed pushed together). But last year I purchased a book (which, unfortunately, is back at home right now) which listed yet an earlier show--a short-lived sitcom which fizzled early and starred no one who went on to greater things. So, I don't think that one will ever be answered. (You know, I'm starting to think that a good television book could be put together on the subject of just researching these questions and providing the answer--or answers.) Lastly, on the subject of Major Healy. For years, I was condemned to watching I DREAM OF JEANNIE in black-and-white, too, so I never made the connection. Believe it or not, I finally noticed it while watching a re-run one Saturday afternoon at Officers' Candidate School. That was on a colour television set, and I noticed that the colour between Nelson's and Healy's uniforms was slightly off. THEN I started paying attention, and noticed several distinguishing features about Healy's uniform (he wears Army "wings" as his breast insignia, while Nelson's were Air Force; Healy has the insignia of the Army Corps of Engineers on his lapels; Healy's trousers have the distinctive black stripe down the sides which demark Army officers--which the Air Force doesn't have. On the rare occasions you see both Nelson and Healy wearing their covers [hats], Healy's has "scrambled eggs" on the visor while Nelson's doesn't, even though they are both majors [Army and Marine Corps officers add the braid to their visors at the major (O-4) level; in the Navy and the Air Force, it is not until the O-5 level]). But you're right--the show NEVER mentioned, nor made any issue out of, the fact that Healy was Army, so it would be difficult for a life-long civilian to tell. (That has always been one of my lifelong television questions I've never had answered: since the fact that Healy was in the Army was never referred to, nor was it ever a plot point of the show, why did the producers bother to make him Army? It would've made no difference if he had been Air Force, too--and less trouble for continuity purposes.) Don't get me started on J.A.G.--that show makes enough service mistakes to make THE X-FILES look like an FBI manual of standard operating procedure. And I, too, have the book FANTASTIC TELEVISION. I bought it on a trip to California in 1977. Like you, John, at the time, I thought it was a marvellous resource; but since, I have discovered that it is riddled with errors. What a disappointment. I understand Don's concerns about the possibility of someone just discovering this board mistaking us for being nothing but a flame-thrower to "lesser" efforts. Honestly, I didn't get that impression from the earlier comments. But I agree with Don about not heading off in that direction, if for no other reason than it is not neccesary. A few minutes' examination of that other site which MENTIONS SEARCH and this one, of which SEARCH is virtually its "life's blood", would confirm to any reader which site is the more authentic. From that standpoint the work all of you have put into this board stands for itself--and quite well. Adam From: Dghprobe3@aol.com Date: Fri Mar 31, 2000 10:15 pm Subject: [probe_control] Getting back to SEARCH Really? I thought Frank Cady played the Skipper on "Gilligan's Island." Or the bird in "Baretta." Even though we are just having fun here, a thought occurs to me. Are we are doing exactly what we deplore with the Cleveland Amory-types and the faulty webpages? Wouldn't it be funny if we were suddenly besieged by hordes of angry Leo G. Carroll fans because of this? On a completely different subject, I anticipate some interesting commentary on certain SEARCH episodes in the very near future.