2899 From: "Robert J. Sawyer" Date: Thu Nov 4, 2004 0:56am Subject: Re: John C. Strong Interview--Part Four robertjsawyer Thank you SO very much for this! This interview was the most enjoyable thing I've read on the Internet in weeks! Cheers, Robert J. Sawyer http://www.sfwriter.com 2900 From: "Jim Alexander" Date: Thu Nov 4, 2004 5:15am Subject: John C. Strong Interview--Part Five probecontrol BEGINNING OF PART FIVE A: Were there any Production people you'd like to mention who made a substantial contribution to the series that seem to have gone uncredited? S: (pauses) Everybody on that show. A: You worked together as a team. S: Yeah. Absolutely. That goes through an Assistant Director named Russell Llewellyn... ======================== NOTE: Among other very notable productions, Llewellyn worked as an Assistant Director on George Cukor's A STAR IS BORN in 1954, Paul Newman's first film--THE SILVER CHALICE that same year, the all-time classic GIANT in 1956, Spencer Tracy's THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA in 1958, and ten years before SEARCH , he was A.D. on another great movie musical--THE MUSIC MAN (in 1962). His only foray into science-fiction listed in his imdb credits is Robert Altman's COUNTDOWN in 1968. See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515755/ for more details. ========================= S: ... who would've given ANYTHING for that show, God rest his soul. Lee Phillips, our Gaffer... ========================= NOTE: A gaffer is another name for the Chief Lighting Technician. He is the head of the electrical department, and responsible for the design and execution of the lighting plan for a production. Early films used mostly natural light, which stagehands controlled with large tent cloths using long poles called gaffs (stagehands were often beached sailors or longshoremen, and a gaff is a type of boom on a sailing ship). This may be an incorrect guess on my part, but the only gaffer listing that I could find for a 'Lee Phillips' was at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0680578/ and his man appears to be a Head Wrangler and Actor, as well. ========================= S: ... was a guy who would be there long after everybody else was gone, and just as early, to make sure everything was right and ready-to-shoot within the timeframe. They were some really good folks. A: Any other stand-outs? I know that Russ Mayberry came back from the (PROBE) pilot and did episodes (of the SEARCH TV series)... S: Well, you know Russ Mayberry... how he got his job with our company... I was the Kellogg's Sugar Pops Cowboy... ======================= NOTE: Type in 'Kelloggs Sugar Pops cowboy' (or cut and paste http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=kelloggs+sugar+pops+cowboy&btnG=Sear\ ch) into Google's IMAGES search field, and you'll see an image of a vintage Sugar Pop cereal box featuring a cowboy which is apparently John Strong. ============== A: Okay! (laughs) S: ... and Russ Mayberry directed me as the Sugar Pops Cowboy. And I brought him in to do an episode of McCLOUD, with Leslie (Stevens). And then we hired him, because of our relationship with him, to do (SEARCH). And he's a wonderful man. A: Any other stand-outs? Nicholas Colasanto? ============== NOTE: Nicholas Colasanto will always be best known for playing the sweet-but-befuddled character of 'Coach' on CHEERS, but he appears to have been a rather extraordinary individual in 'real life.' Colasanto served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945, and was a veteran of the Second World War who was awarded a World War II Victory Medal, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and an Honorable Service Lapel Button. He spoke fluent Italian. His imdb credits list him as concurrently acting and directing in television throughout the late 50's to the late 70's. He can be seen in such TV series as I SPY, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. He was in a variety of films, including Alfred Hitchcock's last film, FAMILY PLOT, and Martin Scorcese's RAGING BULL. Colasanto likely knew Stevens and Strong as he played a Reporter in the FAME IS THE NAME OF THE GAME pilot, as well as directed episodes of THE NAME OF THE GAME series. Colasanto directed the episode of SEARCH that John Strong wrote, entitled IN SEARCH OF MIDAS. =============== S: Nicky was a wonderful, sweet man. A great guy. Funny guy... A: HAD to be, doing comedy (referring to his character on CHEERS). S: He drove Tony (Franciosa) crazy, but he was great. A: (laughs) How so? S: Well, you know... 'Tony' is 'Tony' is 'Tony.' Nicky was not a movie director, you know? Tony wanted a big movie look. I mean... (unintelligible) They ALL wanted to take a 'step above.' (SEARCH) was like a 'Movie of the Week.' A: Absolutely. You had high standards on the show. S: Yeah. And in their own way, they wanted to make sure that everything was perfect. Two guys that worked for me tirelessly were David Hardberger... ======================= NOTE: If I have the correct individual (David R. Hardberger--imdb link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0362046/), then he has added quite an impressive series of credits since performing opticals for SEARCH. A variety of credits too numerous to mention here links him to various contributions to films such as STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, BLADE RUNNER, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, RETURN OF THE JEDI, THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI, LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. ======================= S: ... and George Silano (?) of (unintelligible)... ======================= NOTE: Again, not wishing to overly interrupt the flow of the interview, I did not request that Strong supply me with spelling and references for all the individuals he talked about. This is another case where I should have double-checked. Not sure if I have the right individual here, I'm guessing that it might be George Silano, who has credits similar to those of Hardberger (Camera Operator and Cinematographer), around the time of SEARCH. His imdb listing is http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0797800/ If anyone has corrections to the assumptions I've made, please contact me, and I will make modifications. ======================= S: ... We had worked at Universal on something that George Roy Hill did. (pauses) SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE. And I brought them to Universal with me, and they were my little Optical team. Right? A: Hand-trained. S: Hand-trained! They were the BEST in the world! Warner Bros. always used Pacific Title. ======================== NOTE: Pacific Title (full name: Pacific Title & Art Studio) has played a major role in the film titling and post production industry for almost 85 years. In the 1970's (when SEARCH was being produced), Pacific Title handled many titles and opticals duties for film and television production. See http://www.pactitle.com/pages/home/index.html for more information, as well as a brief company history. ========================= S: ... and I said (Pacific Title) can't DO the work because they'll never be able to complete it on time. So I got a guy named Dan Genis who owned a company called Modern Film Effects... ========================= NOTE: Modern Film Effects and Pacific Title have been competitors for decades. A business-oriented article can be found at: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1999/07/12/story8.html There is a small Variety trade article mentioning Genis at http://print.google.com/print/doc?articleid=0l1vuizJzKJ ========================== S: ... and Dan said, "You know what? I'll do it better, cheaper, and never miss a date!" Okay? A: (laughs) S: And he knew how I did things, and he went to bat for us, and Warner Bros. didn't want to 'walk quietly into that good night,' and they finally let me do it, and it was a big success! A: They were pleased with the results, and couldn't argue, huh? S: Not only were they were pleased with the results, but they were pleased that it cost one-fifth of what everybody else cost. A: Ah-HAH! The transitional effect between scenes (in SEARCH)... the 'dot pattern.' Your idea? S: Yep! I shot'em over in a doctor's office with a guy who had set up a computer. A: No kidding! S: Yep! A: Incredible. (Effects such as that one) really hold up. A lot of very inventive techniques, I think, were thought up for SEARCH. S: Well, y'know... I electronically-edited the first motion picture... ever. It was called GARBAGE PAIL KIDS... on a system called Arriflex, invented by a man named Herb Dow. ======================= NOTE: If I have the correct individual, editor Herbert H. Dow happens to be the father of actor Tony Dow, who played "Wally Cleaver"--Beaver's older brother on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. Dow's imdb credits can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235606/ ======================= S: Ron (unintelligible) talked me into it. He was head of (unintelligible) Video at the time... and no one had ever done it without going to a Work Print or a Final Print or... anything else. We transferred it onto half-inch tape. A: Half-inch?!?! ======================= NOTE: Home VHS machines use half-inch (wide) tape. Industrial television recording and playback machines use a half-inch tape as well, in a Beta format. In the pre-digital days, use of half-inch videotape in relation to motion picture editing was unheard of, and considered quite revolutionary. ======================= S: Half inch! Twenty machines. It gave you six cuts. A: Amazing! S: You transferred those over to three-quarter-inch... ======================= NOTE: Three-Quarter inch tape was an industry standard when GARBAGE PAIL KIDS: THE MOVIE was made, and was considered to have a better image quality than half-inch tape--mainly because that extra quarter-inch of videotape could hold much more audio/video information. ======================== S: ... and that was supposed to be your cut. But it didn't work. So Ronny (unintelligible) got me a guy named Telly (unintelligible), and we invented a machine with an output (unintelligible) generator that gave you every edge number of the film, and we edited the movie in two weeks, and got it in the theatres four weeks later. A: Amazing! You were quite a trendsetter and trailblazer! And NOW look what they're doing (in film)! They (use the techniques you created), and don't look back! S: And now guys like me are OBSOLETE!!! A: (laughs) Let's not go THERE! (laughs) (In a previous conversation) You said, "We had a helluva time making SEARCH and we worked like dogs seven days a week--but had a GREAT time." Do you care to elaborate on that? S: It was, um... making three movies... and delivering them two weeks later. You had a week to shoot, a week to edit. Three days to dub... ship an air print. ===================== NOTE: Simply put, Strong is relating that the limited amount of time that the crew had to make an episode of SEARCH (which, because of the quality involved, he refers to as a 'movie'), and ship the finished film canister to the network for airing. ===================== S: That was it! A: Right. Any other SEARCH fans like us crawl out of the woodwork since its cancellation? Do you talk to many people who remember it fondly? S: Oh yeah! A: Yeah!?! S: Yeah, absolutely! A: Excellent!!! S: Absolutely. People talk to me all the time about it... and every now and then I whip out the Scanner... A: (laughs) S: (laughs) A: Well that's GREAT to know! S: Yeah! A: Sometime, we think we're (such a small group) who remember the series. But when a couple of gentlemen started the (www.probecontrol.com) webpage, and people write in from literally all around the world saying how fondly they remember the series, we know there's a deep affection for the show. S: Well, listen. It's like your first girlfriend. When you've got something you like, you NEVER forget it. And, uh... SEARCH and PROBE were like a first girlfriend. You know? It was new, and it was fresh, and it was pretty, and it was sexy, and it was romantic. I mean, when Lockwood's necking with Elke Sommer, and you hear Burgess Meredith's, "We have LIFT-OFF!" A: (laughs) S: You know? You KNOW what you're talking about! A: Oh, sure. A little sly. S: A little sly... A: ...slide it past the censors. S: That's right. We tried to break (new) ground in that show, and did it successfully. Unfortunately, times and ratings dictate things that you don't expect. And I think that because we'd had a lot of major talent wanting to come aboard as guest stars... and I think that if Leslie had gone a little further... if Leslie had stayed with the show, it would have maintained its integrity. A: One could only guess what it might have been like. You likened (SEARCH) to a 'first girlfriend', but you'd been a trendsetter before--you'd broken new ground before... S: Yep! Yep! A: THE OUTER LIMITS was TERRIBLY trendsetting, and you were breaking new ground with that. You had GREAT guest stars... S: THIRTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS an episode!!! A: Great guest stars wanted to do OUTER LIMITS too, so it's interesting to ME that you would call SEARCH 'your first girlfriend'... S: Well, you know... there're a lot of PERSONAL reasons for it, as well. There's relationships with people within in the cast and the show, and... OUTER LIMITS was an anthology. You just had people come in for their three days, and go away. A: Same crew, but different people in FRONT of the camera. S: We started on OUTER LIMITS with talents like Conrad Hall, William Fraker, Haskell Wexler... the greatest cinematographers of all time. ======================== NOTE: In addition to THE OUTER LIMITS, cinematographer Conrad Hall worked on other Leslie Stevens projects like STONEY BURKE (1962) and INCUBUS (1965). He won Academy Awards for his work on BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999), and ROAD TO PERDITION (2002). His imdb credits are at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005734/ Among other films, William A. Fraker worked on ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), BULLITT (1968), and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977). More on Fraker at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005710/ Haskell Wexler contributed to such classic films as IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967), the original THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968), and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975). More on Wexler at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005549/ Conrad Hall and Haskell Wexler are two of only six cinematographers to achieve stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. =========================== S: ... some of the great cinematographers of all time! A: The VERY best. S: So, you look at things, and you say well, "I consider SEARCH a first girlfriend" because it was a pretty, pretty show. END OF PART FIVE 2901 From: "jeff sage" Date: Thu Nov 4, 2004 5:43am Subject: RE: John C. Strong Interview--Part Five jajsage Jim, Just saw a post of yours. I'm trying to follow up on people I was trading with a few months back. I lost touch after I got married and lost my job. But would still love to get the Search episodes I need as well as a few other shows on goodlife. Please let me know if your still interested in trading. I have a new computer now. My old computer finally crashed and most of my data was lost. So you may have to help me as to what you're looking for. But I will resend my list again. Thanks. Jeff I've received many requests for my have and want list, so here it is: Wanted: sword of justice, caribe, kodiak, the most deadly game, hot pursuit, gavilan, snoop sisters, cool million, richie brockelman, sierra, the duke, flying high(all but the pilot movie), star of the family, hot l baltimore,aloha paradise, lucan(all but the pilot movie),bearcats, mannix(seasons 1, 7, 8 only), the rookies(only if copies are made from 1st gen masters) zorro and son, inside o.u.t.-(unsold 70's pilot with farrah fawcett), Leg men, whiz kids. blue thunder,hardball(episodes I need),hawk,holmes and yo-yo,man from atlantis, b.j. and the bear(episodes I need), misadventures of sheriff lobo,new people,search, shadow chasers,super train,tenspeed and brownshoe,time express,voyagers(upgrades), wyatt earp(episodes I need), harry o(episodes I need), new adventures of batman(70's cartoon) need unsold archie pilot. Based on archie comic book characters. Aired once on December 19,1976.one hour long. Stared dennis brown,audrey landers, gordon jump, and Billy Mumy. Also looking for search and sugar time(barbie benton series) also looking for someone in Hawaii to tape locals. Someone in Australia who gets Fox Classics. also looking for someone who gets the goodlife network to tape shows off-air. also looking for someone in England to tape shows off cable or satelite. also looking for someone in Canada who gets the Canadian TVLand and Lonestar channels. if nothing to trade or further information on any shows e-mail me at the following address: jsage145603MI@... here is a list of the shows i have at least one or more episodes for: if interested in a show let me know and I'll give you more info. please keep in mind that I have many other shows not listed. This is a temporary list. if you don't see something you want.let me know. I may have it or can get it. my home address: Jeff Sage 30370 Red Maple Lane, Southfield, MI. 48076 Detective/Cop/Action Shows: AIR AMERICA ALIAS THE AVENGERS B.J. AND THE BEAR B.L. STRYKER BAY WATCH BARNABY JONES THE BARON BLACKE'S MAGIC BLUE THUNDER BODIES OF EVIDENCE BOOKER BURKE'S LAW(60'S) AMOS BURKE, SECRET AGENT BURKE'S LAW(90'S) CADE'S COUNTY CAIN'S HUNDRED CHARLIE'S ANGELS CHARLIE GRACE CHECKMATE CHINA SMITH COOL MILLION COVER UP CRIME STORY CROSSING JORDAN C.S.I. C.S.I. MIAMI DAN AUGUST DANGER MAN DAVID CASSIDY, MAN UNDERCOVER DEVILIN CONNECTION 87TH PRECINCT EDDIE CAPRA MYSTERIES ELLERY QUEEN EVERGLADES EXTREME EZ STREETS FALL GUY FAST LANE THE F.B.I. FELLONY SQUAD FOLLOW THE SUN FORTUNE HUNTER FOUL PLAY THE FUGITIVE(60'S)-UNCUT OFF PBS STATION THE FUGITIVE(00'S) GAVALIN GIDEON OLIVER GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E., THE GRAND SLAM HAGEN THE HANDLER HARD BALL THE HARDY BOYS(70'S)-MOST ARE UNCUT HARRY O THE HAT SQUAD HAWAII HAWAII 5-0 HAWAIIAN EYE HIGH MOUNTAIN RANGERS HIGH PERFORMANCE HONEY WEST HONG KONG HOOPERMAN HOUSTON KNIGHTS I-SPY-(have all episodes in pre-recorded dvd format) IT TAKES A THIEF JAKE AND THE FATMAN JESSE HAWKES JOHN DOE JOHNNY MIDNIGHT KAREN SISCO KNIGHT WATCH LA X LAS VEGAS LEG WORK LONGSTREET M SQUAD MAGNUM P.I. MAN CALLED HAWK MAN CALLED SLOAN MAN IN A SUITCASE MANCUSO F.B.I. MANNIX THE MARSHAL MARTIAL LAW MASQUERADE THE MASTER MATT HELM MEDICAL INVESTIGATIONS MIDNIGHT CALLER MIKE HAMMER(50'S) MILLENNIUM MISSION IMPOSSIBLE-(Old Series) MISSION IMPOSSIBLE-(1980's) MOD SQUAD MOLONEY MR. AND MRS. SMITH MR. LUCKY MRS. COLUMBO MURDER ONE MURPHY'S LAW NAKIA NAME OF THE GAME NASTY BOYS NERO WOLF NEW ADV. OF CHARLIE CHAN NEW AVENGERS NIGHTENGALES OHARA O'HARA U.S. TREASURY ONE WEST WAIKIKI OWEN MARSHALL PALACE GUARD PERSUADERS PETER GUNN PRIVATE EYE PRISONER PROFESSIONALS THE PROFILER THE PROTECTORS P.S.I. LUV U PULASKI REMINGTON STEELE RESCUE 8 RICHARD DIAMOND RIKER RIPCORD RIPTIDE ROCKFORD FILES THE ROUGES THE ROOKIES ROUTE 66(60'S) ROUTE 66(90'S) RUN FOR YOUR LIFE SECRET AGENT THE SENTINAL SNOOPS(80'S) SNOOPS(90'S) SONNY SPOON SOUTH BEACH SPECIAL SQUAD STARSKY AND HUTCH STREETS OF SANFRANCISCO THE STRIP SURFSIDE 6 S.W.A.T. SWITCH TENSPEED AND BROWNSHOE T.H.E. CAT THIEVES THIS MAN DAWSON TIGHTROPE THIRD MAN, THE TRUE BLUE TUCKER'S WITCH TWENTY-FOUR 240-ROBERT UC: UNDERCOVER UNSUB VEGAS VERONICA MARS VIPER WALKER, TEXAS RANGER WALKING TALL WISE GUY WESTERNS: ADV. OF BRISCOE COUNTY JR. ANNIE OAKLEY BARBARY COAST BAT MASTERSON BRANDED BRET MAVERICK BRONCO BUCK SKIN BUFFALO BILL JR CIMARRON STRIP CHEYENE COLT 45 CUSTER DAKOTAS DEPUTY DESTRY GALLANT MEN GREY GHOST GUNS OF PARADISE HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL HEC RAMSEY HIGH CHAPARRAL JOHNNY RINGO KUNG FU LANCER LAREDO LARAMIE LAW OF THE PLAINSMAN LAWMAN MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH MAVERICK NED BLESSING OUTLAWS OVERLAND TRAIL PARADISE THE QUEST RANGE RIDER RAWHIDE REBEL RESTLESS GUN RIFLEMAN RIVERBOAT SHANE SHOTGUN SLADE STONEY BURKE SUGAR FOOT THE TEXAN TOMBSTONE TERRITORY TRACKDOWN TRAVELS OF JAMIE MCPHEETERS THE VIRGINIAN WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE WESTERNER WHIPLASH WILD WILD WEST WYATT EARP YANCY DERRINGER YOUNG MAVERICK ZORRO(DISNEY) ZORRO(FAMILY CHANNEL) SCI-FI/FANTASY SERIES: ADV OF ROBIN HOOD ADV OF SUPERMAN ALF AMAZING SPIDERMAN AMAZING STORIES AMERICAN GOTHIC BABYLON 5 BATMAN BATTLE STAR GALACTICA BEAUTY AND THE BEAST BEYOND WEST WORLD BIONIC WOMAN BIRDS OF PREY BLAKE'S 7 BRIMSTONE BRING 'EM BACK ALIVE BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER BUGS THE BURNING ZONE THE CHAMPIONS CLEOPATRA 2525 COVINGTON CROSS DARK ANGEL-(just got 1st season on dvd from commercial release in England) DARK SKIES DARK SHADOWS(90'S) DOOM WATCH EARTH FORCE EARTH 2 ENTERPRISE FANTASTIC JOURNEY FIFTH CORNER FIREARM FIREFLY THE FLASH FLASH GORDON FREDDY'S NIGHTMARES FRIDAY THE 13TH GALACTICA 1980 GEMINI MAN GIRL FROM TOMORROW GREATEST AMERICAN HERO HARD TIME ON PLANET EARTH HAUNTED HIGHLANDER HIGHWAYMAN THE HYPERNAUTS THE IMMORTAL THE INCREDIBLE HULK THE INVADERS IVANHOE JIM HENSON HOUR JIM HENSON'S THE STORYTELLER THE KINDRED KOLCHAK, THE NIGHT STALKER LAND OF THE GIANTS LEXX(FIRST SEASON FROM PAL PRERECORDS. COTAINS SCENES NOT IN U.S.) LOGAN'S RUN LOIS AND CLARK LOST IN SPACE MANIMAL MANN AND MACHINE MAN FROM ATLANTIS M.A.N.T.I.S. MAX HEADROOM MEN INTO SPACE MISFITS OF SCIENCE MR. MERLIN MUTANT X NIGHT MAN NOWHERE MAN OCEAN GIRL OUTER LIMITS(60'S) OUTER LIMITS(90'S) OUTLAWS(80'S) THE PHOENIX PLANET OF THE APES POWERS OF MATTHEW STARR THE PRETENDER PREY PROBE PROJECT UFO Q.E.D. QUANTUM LEAP QUARK RANDALL AND HOPKIRK DECEASED RED DWARF ROAR ROCKY JONES ROSWELL SABLE SALVAGE 1 SAPHIRE AND STEEL SEA HUNT(50'S) SEA HUNT(80'S) SEA QUEST SECOND HUNDRED YEARS SIR LANCELOT SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN SLIDERS SMALLVILLE SOMETHING IS OUT THERE SPACE ABOVE AND BEYOND SPACE 1999 SPECIAL UNIT 2 STAR COPS STAR GATE STARLOST STAR MAN STAR TREK STAR TREK DEEP SPACE 9 STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION STAR TREK VOYAGER THE STORYTELLER STRANGE LUCK STREET HAWK SUPER BOY SUPER FORCE SUPER TRAIN SURVIVORS SWAMP THING TALES FROM THE CRYPT TARZAN(RON ELI) TARZAN-(2003) TEK WAR TIME COP TIME EXPRESS TIME SLIP TIME TRAX TIME TUNNEL TRACKER UFO V VERITAS: THE QUEST VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA VOYAGERS WAR OF THE WORLDS WELCOME TO PARADOX WEREWOLF WITCHBLADE WIZARDS AND WARRIORS WOLF LAKE WONDER WOMAN X-FILES YOUNG INDIANA JONES COMEDY SERIES: A DIFFERENT WORLD ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIETT BEVERLY HILLBILLIES BEWITCHED BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES BRADY BUNCH BRADY BRIDES BRADYS CAMP RUN-A-MUCK CAPTAIN NICE CAR 54 THE CHARMINGS C.P.O. SHARKEY DELTA HOUSE DINOSAURS DO OVER DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE DREAM ON FAWLTY TOWERS FLYING HIGH FRIENDS F-TROOP GET SMART GROWING PAINS HAPPY DAYS HOGAN'S HEROES I DREAM OF JEANNIE IT'S YOUR MOVE JUST THE TEN OF US LIVE IN MAID MERRIAN MAX MONROE MY FAVORITE MARTIAN MY THREE SONS NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR NUT HOUSE OPERATION PETTICOAT PARTRIDGE FAMILY POPCORN KID THE QUEST ROLL OUT SABRINA SANFORD AND SON SLEDGE HAMMER TABITHA THAT WAS THEN THREES COMPANY WE GOT IT MADE WELCOME BACK KOTTER WHEN THINGS WERE ROTTEN WINGS DRAMA SERIES: BAYWATCH BLACK SASH CROSS ROADS-(W/ROBERT URICH) DOLPHIN COVE MAYA MODEL INC. NIGHTINGALES WIND ON WATER WAR SERIES: BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON COMBAT CHINA BEACH GALLANT MEN GARRISON'S GORRILLA'S JAG JERICHO RAT PATROL TERRY AND THE PIRATES TOUR OF DUTY TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH CARTOON SERIES ANGEL COP ARK 2 ASTRO BOY(60'S) ASTRO BOY(80'S) BARRIER REEF BATMAN BATTLE OF THE PLANETS DUSTY'S TRAIL ELECTRA WOMAN AND DYNA GIRL EVANGELION FANTASTIC FOUR(60'S) FANTASTIC FOUR(70'S) FAR OUT SPACE NUTS FISH POLICE GILLIGAN'S ISLAND GODZILLA(70'S) GOLDIE GOLD AND ACTION JACK GROOVIE GOOLIES THE HARDY BOYS HERO HIGH H.R. PUFF-N-STUFF ISIS(LIVE ACTION) JOHNNY SOKKO JONNY QUEST(60'S) JONNY QUEST(80'S) JUSTICE LEAGUE KIMBA LAND OF THE LOST LASSIE'S RESCUE RANGERS LOST SAUCER MARVEL SUPER HERO CARTOONS(60'S) MIGHTY ORBOTS NEW ARCHIE'S NEW SHMOO POLE POSITION ROCKET ROBIN HOOD ROBOTECH RUN JOE RUN SCORCH SHAZAM(CARTOON) SHAZAM(LIVE ACTION) SIGMUND AND THE SEA MONSTERS SPACE ACDEMY SPEED RACER SPIDERMAN(60'S) SPIDERMAN(90'S) STAR COM SUPER FRIENDS SIUPER GLOBETROTTERS SUPER HERO ROAST(LIVE ACTION) CHALLENGE OF THE SUPER HEROES(LIVE ACTION) ULTRA MAN ULTRA MAN TOWARD THE FUTURE U.S. OF ARCHIE WAIT TIL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME THEATRICAL MOVIES AND TV. MOVIES AND SPECIALS 12:01 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA-[PART 1] A CHALLENGE FOR ROBIN HOOD ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE KILLER BORIS KARLOFF ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE MUMMY ALIENS-(DIRECTORS CUT) AMERIKA-[PART 1 TO 7] ARCHIE: TO RIVERDALE AND BACK AGAIN ASSIGNMENT: MUNICH ASTEROID-[PART 1] AT SWORDS POINT BATMAN AND ROBIN BATMAN FOREVER BATMAN RETURNS BATTLE OF THE NETWORK STARS BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES BAY COVEN BEATLES: A HARD DAYS NIGHT BEATLES: HELP BEFORE DAWN BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES BERMUDA TRIANGLE BETRAYAK FROM THE EAST BIONIC EVER AFTER BLACK SCORPION BLACK SCORPION II BLONDIE BLONDIE BRINGING UP BABY BLONDIE IN SOCIETY BLONDIE MEETS THE BOSS BLONDIE ON A BUDGET BLONDIE TAKES A VACATION BLOOD TIES BODY GUARD BRINGING UP BABY BROKEN ARROW C.A.T. SQUAD C.A.T. SQUAD: PYTHON WOLF CAPTAIN AMERICA CAPTAIN AMERICA II: DEATH TOO SOON CASPER CASPER A SPIRITED BEGINNING CASPER MEETS WENDY CHAMELEONS CHARLIE CHAN AT THE CIRCUS CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OLYMPICS CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA CHARLIE CHAN AT THE RACE TRACK CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND CHARLIE CHAN IN CITY IN DARKNESS CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS CHARLIE CHAN IN RENO CHARLIE CHAN IN RIO CHARLIE CHAN'S MURDER CRUISE CHARLIE CHAN'S SECRET CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER CON AIR COUNT FIVE AND DIE COUNTER ESPIONAGE DANGEROUSLY THEY LIVE DARK AVENGER DEATH OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK DESPERADO DESPERADO: AVALANCHE AT DEVIL'S RIDGE DESPERADO: BADLANDS JUSTICE DIAMONDS ARE FOFREVER DICK TRACY MEETS CUEBALL DICK TRACY MEETS GRUSOME DICK TRACY, DETECTIVE DIE HARD DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER DR. NO DR. STRANGE DRACULA DRACULA PRICE OF DARKNESS DRACULA-(HAMMER HOUSE) DRUMS OF AFRICA EARTH-STAR VOYAGER-[PART 1 TO 2] EL DORADO EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ESCAPE FROM ATLANTIS ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK: THE DIRECTORS CUT ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES EXECUTIVE DECISION FACE/OFF FLESH AND BLOOD FLESH GORDON FOLLOW ME BOYS FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE FROM THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT FULL ECLIPSE GENERATION X GET SMART AGAIN GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE GODZILLA-(W/ MATTHEW BRODERICK) HARD RAIN HELL TOWN HELLO DOWN THERE I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER IN LIKE FLINT INDEPENDENCE DAY INDIAN JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE ISLE OF THE DEAD IT: THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE IT[PART 1 TO 2] J-MEN FOREVER JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TIME JULE'S VERNE'S: THE LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD JUMANJI JUNGLE JIM JUNGLE MAN-EATERS JURASSIC PARK KELLY'S HEROS KISS THE GIRLS AND WATCH THEM DIE KNIGHT RIDER 2000 LIFE POD LIVE AND LET DIE MAN WITH THE POWER MAYA MIRACLES FOR SALE MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE MOONFLEET MURDER'S ROW MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY MYSTERIOUS ISLAND MYSTERY IN DRACULA'S CASTLE NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE NANCY DREW DETECCTIVE NANCY DREW, TROUBLE SHOOTER NICK KNIGHT NOT OF THIS WORLD OUR MAN FLINT OUT OF TIME PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES PLANET OF THE APES PLYMOUTH PREHISTORIC WOMEN QUATERMASS 2 QUATERMASS AND THE PIT RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK REPTILE RETURN OF THE JEDI RICHIE RICH'S CHRISTMAS WISH RUNNING AGAINST TIME SALEM'S LOT SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER SMALL SOLDIERS SON OF FRANKENSTEIN SONG OF THE SOUTH STAR WARS STARGATE SUBTERFUGE SUDDENLY SUPERMAN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE TAKEN-[PARTS 1 TO 10] TALES OF THE SUGGLER-[PART 1 TO 3] TARZAN AND THE HUNTRESS TARZAN AND THE MERMAIDS TARZAN ESCAPES TARZAN FINDS A SON TARZAN IN MANHATTAN TARZAN TRIUMPHS TARZAN'S DESERT MYSTERY TARZAN'S NEW YORK ADVENTURE TARZAN'S SECRET TREASURE THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN THE ADVENTURES OF NICK CARTER THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD THE ADVENTURES OF TARTU THE BAREFOOT EXECUTIVE THE BEAST-[PART 1 TO 2] THE BIG HIT THE BIONIC SHOWDOWN THE BLACK ROOM THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN THE COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF KIOWA JONES THE DELPHI BUREAU THE DEVIL MAKES THREE THE DEVIL RIDES OUT THE FALCON AND THE CO-EDS THE FALCON IN DANGER THE FALCON IN HOLLYWOOD THE FALCON IN MEXICO THE FALCON IN SANFRANCISCO THE FALCON OUT WEST THE FALCON STRIKES BACK THE FALCON TAKES OVER THE FALCON: A DATE WITH THE FALCON THE FALCON'S BROTHER THE FULLER BRUSH MAN THE GAY FALCON THE GIFTED ONE THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE GREAT PRETENDER THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN HAWKES THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS THE INVADERS[PART 1] THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS THE KLAE RESOURCE THE LANGOLIERS THE LOST CONTINENT THE MAN FROM DAKOTA THE MARK OF ZORRO THE MUMMY THE MUMMY'S SHROUD THE NAKED SPUR THE PHANTOM THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION THE RETURN OF DESPERADO THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES THE RETURN OF THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN THE ROCK THE ROMANCE OF ROSY RIDGE THE SHOTIST THE SILENCERS THE SILVER WHIP THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER THE SPIRIT THE STAND-[PARTS 1 TO 4] THE STRANGE CASE OF THE END OF CIVILISATION AS WE KNOW IT THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD THE SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST THE THREE STOOGES MOVIE THE THREE STOOGES: HAVE ROCKET, WILL TRAVEL THE THREE STOOGES: THE OUTLAWS OS COMING THE TOMMY KNOCKERS-[PART 1 TO 2] THE ULTIMATE IMPOSTER THE VENGEANCE OF SHE THE WACKIEST SHIP IN THE ARMY THE WITCHES THE WOLFMAN THEM THUNDERBALL THUNDERBOAT ROW TIDAL WAVE: NO ESCAPE TIME STALKERS TIME TUNNEL:RAIDERS FROM OUTER SPACE TOMBSTONE TOTAL RECALL TRIAL OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK TRUE GRIT TWISTER VAMPERELLA VANISHING SON VANISHING SON II VANISHING SON IV WEIRD WORLD WILD PALMS X-THE UNKNOWN YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE COMING SOON new shows I'm currently taping, trading or buying to add to collection: s.w.a.t., new adventures of batman(1970's), follow the sun, vegas, rat patrol, green hornet, hardy boys and nancy drew mysteries(uncut off a movie channel in canada), shannon, ripcord, hong kong, captain power, unaired pilots, gavalin, checkmate(pre-records), fall guy, fantasy island(1970's), battle of the planets, the champions(pre-records), six million dollar man-(pre-records and dvds), bionic woman-(pre-records and dvds) rifleman, my three sons, time slip(dvd pre-records), dungeons and dragons(dvd pre-records) Zorro and Son. my codes are as follows: E 1 M1=excellent, first generation, dvd burned(I can only burn on +R/RW) 1 hour speed E 1 M2X=excellent, first generation at the 2 hour dvd speed E 1 M4=excellent, first generation at the 4 hour dvd speed E 1 M6=excellent, first generation at the 6 hour dvd speed E 1 DVD=excellent, first generation, pre-recorded dvd E P SP=excellent, pre-recorded tape, recorded at the 2 hour speed E 1 SP=excellent, first generation, recorded at the 2 hour speed VG+ 1 SP=very good(not quite excellent),first generation, recorded at 2 hour speed VG 1 SP=very good, first generation, recorded at 2 hour speed G+ 1 SP=good(not quite very good), first generation, recorded at 2 hour speed G 1 SP=good, first generation,recorded at 2 hour speed P 1 SP=poor, first generation, recorded at 2 hour speed these codes would mean the same thing if they were 2nd or 3rd generation, recorded at the four or six hour speeds. Poor, good, are usually multi-generation and are for trade, but are for collectors who really need that item. ie. E 2 LP=excellent, second gen, recorded at the four hour speed ie. G+ 3 EP=good plus, third gen, recorded at the six hour speed. most of my shows are first generation. I don't have many series in less than good plus condition. I usually grade pretty fairly. But keep in mind, tapes deteriorate over time. I try to keep up with any chages in quality, and will stand behind any trade or sale. if unsatisfied with tapes, we'll work it out. -----Original Message----- From: Jim Alexander [mailto:probecontrol@...] Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 12:16 AM To: probe_control@yahoogroups.com Subject: [probe_control] John C. Strong Interview--Part Five BEGINNING OF PART FIVE A: Were there any Production people you'd like to mention who made a substantial contribution to the series that seem to have gone uncredited? S: (pauses) Everybody on that show. A: You worked together as a team. S: Yeah. Absolutely. That goes through an Assistant Director named Russell Llewellyn... ======================== NOTE: Among other very notable productions, Llewellyn worked as an Assistant Director on George Cukor's A STAR IS BORN in 1954, Paul Newman's first film--THE SILVER CHALICE that same year, the all-time classic GIANT in 1956, Spencer Tracy's THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA in 1958, and ten years before SEARCH , he was A.D. on another great movie musical--THE MUSIC MAN (in 1962). His only foray into science-fiction listed in his imdb credits is Robert Altman's COUNTDOWN in 1968. See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515755/ for more details. ========================= S: ... who would've given ANYTHING for that show, God rest his soul. Lee Phillips, our Gaffer... ========================= NOTE: A gaffer is another name for the Chief Lighting Technician. He is the head of the electrical department, and responsible for the design and execution of the lighting plan for a production. Early films used mostly natural light, which stagehands controlled with large tent cloths using long poles called gaffs (stagehands were often beached sailors or longshoremen, and a gaff is a type of boom on a sailing ship). This may be an incorrect guess on my part, but the only gaffer listing that I could find for a 'Lee Phillips' was at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0680578/ and his man appears to be a Head Wrangler and Actor, as well. ========================= S: ... was a guy who would be there long after everybody else was gone, and just as early, to make sure everything was right and ready-to-shoot within the timeframe. They were some really good folks. A: Any other stand-outs? I know that Russ Mayberry came back from the (PROBE) pilot and did episodes (of the SEARCH TV series)... S: Well, you know Russ Mayberry... how he got his job with our company... I was the Kellogg's Sugar Pops Cowboy... ======================= NOTE: Type in 'Kelloggs Sugar Pops cowboy' (or cut and paste http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=kelloggs+sugar+pops+cowboy&b tnG=Search) into Google's IMAGES search field, and you'll see an image of a vintage Sugar Pop cereal box featuring a cowboy which is apparently John Strong. ============== A: Okay! (laughs) S: ... and Russ Mayberry directed me as the Sugar Pops Cowboy. And I brought him in to do an episode of McCLOUD, with Leslie (Stevens). And then we hired him, because of our relationship with him, to do (SEARCH). And he's a wonderful man. A: Any other stand-outs? Nicholas Colasanto? ============== NOTE: Nicholas Colasanto will always be best known for playing the sweet-but-befuddled character of 'Coach' on CHEERS, but he appears to have been a rather extraordinary individual in 'real life.' Colasanto served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945, and was a veteran of the Second World War who was awarded a World War II Victory Medal, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and an Honorable Service Lapel Button. He spoke fluent Italian. His imdb credits list him as concurrently acting and directing in television throughout the late 50's to the late 70's. He can be seen in such TV series as I SPY, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. He was in a variety of films, including Alfred Hitchcock's last film, FAMILY PLOT, and Martin Scorcese's RAGING BULL. Colasanto likely knew Stevens and Strong as he played a Reporter in the FAME IS THE NAME OF THE GAME pilot, as well as directed episodes of THE NAME OF THE GAME series. Colasanto directed the episode of SEARCH that John Strong wrote, entitled IN SEARCH OF MIDAS. =============== S: Nicky was a wonderful, sweet man. A great guy. Funny guy... A: HAD to be, doing comedy (referring to his character on CHEERS). S: He drove Tony (Franciosa) crazy, but he was great. A: (laughs) How so? S: Well, you know... 'Tony' is 'Tony' is 'Tony.' Nicky was not a movie director, you know? Tony wanted a big movie look. I mean... (unintelligible) They ALL wanted to take a 'step above.' (SEARCH) was like a 'Movie of the Week.' A: Absolutely. You had high standards on the show. S: Yeah. And in their own way, they wanted to make sure that everything was perfect. Two guys that worked for me tirelessly were David Hardberger... ======================= NOTE: If I have the correct individual (David R. Hardberger--imdb link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0362046/), then he has added quite an impressive series of credits since performing opticals for SEARCH. A variety of credits too numerous to mention here links him to various contributions to films such as STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, BLADE RUNNER, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, RETURN OF THE JEDI, THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI, LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. ======================= S: ... and George Silano (?) of (unintelligible)... ======================= NOTE: Again, not wishing to overly interrupt the flow of the interview, I did not request that Strong supply me with spelling and references for all the individuals he talked about. This is another case where I should have double-checked. Not sure if I have the right individual here, I'm guessing that it might be George Silano, who has credits similar to those of Hardberger (Camera Operator and Cinematographer), around the time of SEARCH. His imdb listing is http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0797800/ If anyone has corrections to the assumptions I've made, please contact me, and I will make modifications. ======================= S: ... We had worked at Universal on something that George Roy Hill did. (pauses) SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE. And I brought them to Universal with me, and they were my little Optical team. Right? A: Hand-trained. S: Hand-trained! They were the BEST in the world! Warner Bros. always used Pacific Title. ======================== NOTE: Pacific Title (full name: Pacific Title & Art Studio) has played a major role in the film titling and post production industry for almost 85 years. In the 1970's (when SEARCH was being produced), Pacific Title handled many titles and opticals duties for film and television production. See http://www.pactitle.com/pages/home/index.html for more information, as well as a brief company history. ========================= S: ... and I said (Pacific Title) can't DO the work because they'll never be able to complete it on time. So I got a guy named Dan Genis who owned a company called Modern Film Effects... ========================= NOTE: Modern Film Effects and Pacific Title have been competitors for decades. A business-oriented article can be found at: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1999/07/12/story8.html There is a small Variety trade article mentioning Genis at http://print.google.com/print/doc?articleid=0l1vuizJzKJ ========================== S: ... and Dan said, "You know what? I'll do it better, cheaper, and never miss a date!" Okay? A: (laughs) S: And he knew how I did things, and he went to bat for us, and Warner Bros. didn't want to 'walk quietly into that good night,' and they finally let me do it, and it was a big success! A: They were pleased with the results, and couldn't argue, huh? S: Not only were they were pleased with the results, but they were pleased that it cost one-fifth of what everybody else cost. A: Ah-HAH! The transitional effect between scenes (in SEARCH)... the 'dot pattern.' Your idea? S: Yep! I shot'em over in a doctor's office with a guy who had set up a computer. A: No kidding! S: Yep! A: Incredible. (Effects such as that one) really hold up. A lot of very inventive techniques, I think, were thought up for SEARCH. S: Well, y'know... I electronically-edited the first motion picture... ever. It was called GARBAGE PAIL KIDS... on a system called Arriflex, invented by a man named Herb Dow. ======================= NOTE: If I have the correct individual, editor Herbert H. Dow happens to be the father of actor Tony Dow, who played "Wally Cleaver"--Beaver's older brother on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. Dow's imdb credits can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235606/ ======================= S: Ron (unintelligible) talked me into it. He was head of (unintelligible) Video at the time... and no one had ever done it without going to a Work Print or a Final Print or... anything else. We transferred it onto half-inch tape. A: Half-inch?!?! ======================= NOTE: Home VHS machines use half-inch (wide) tape. Industrial television recording and playback machines use a half-inch tape as well, in a Beta format. In the pre-digital days, use of half-inch videotape in relation to motion picture editing was unheard of, and considered quite revolutionary. ======================= S: Half inch! Twenty machines. It gave you six cuts. A: Amazing! S: You transferred those over to three-quarter-inch... ======================= NOTE: Three-Quarter inch tape was an industry standard when GARBAGE PAIL KIDS: THE MOVIE was made, and was considered to have a better image quality than half-inch tape--mainly because that extra quarter-inch of videotape could hold much more audio/video information. ======================== S: ... and that was supposed to be your cut. But it didn't work. So Ronny (unintelligible) got me a guy named Telly (unintelligible), and we invented a machine with an output (unintelligible) generator that gave you every edge number of the film, and we edited the movie in two weeks, and got it in the theatres four weeks later. A: Amazing! You were quite a trendsetter and trailblazer! And NOW look what they're doing (in film)! They (use the techniques you created), and don't look back! S: And now guys like me are OBSOLETE!!! A: (laughs) Let's not go THERE! (laughs) (In a previous conversation) You said, "We had a helluva time making SEARCH and we worked like dogs seven days a week--but had a GREAT time." Do you care to elaborate on that? S: It was, um... making three movies... and delivering them two weeks later. You had a week to shoot, a week to edit. Three days to dub... ship an air print. ===================== NOTE: Simply put, Strong is relating that the limited amount of time that the crew had to make an episode of SEARCH (which, because of the quality involved, he refers to as a 'movie'), and ship the finished film canister to the network for airing. ===================== S: That was it! A: Right. Any other SEARCH fans like us crawl out of the woodwork since its cancellation? Do you talk to many people who remember it fondly? S: Oh yeah! A: Yeah!?! S: Yeah, absolutely! A: Excellent!!! S: Absolutely. People talk to me all the time about it... and every now and then I whip out the Scanner... A: (laughs) S: (laughs) A: Well that's GREAT to know! S: Yeah! A: Sometime, we think we're (such a small group) who remember the series. But when a couple of gentlemen started the (www.probecontrol.com) webpage, and people write in from literally all around the world saying how fondly they remember the series, we know there's a deep affection for the show. S: Well, listen. It's like your first girlfriend. When you've got something you like, you NEVER forget it. And, uh... SEARCH and PROBE were like a first girlfriend. You know? It was new, and it was fresh, and it was pretty, and it was sexy, and it was romantic. I mean, when Lockwood's necking with Elke Sommer, and you hear Burgess Meredith's, "We have LIFT-OFF!" A: (laughs) S: You know? You KNOW what you're talking about! A: Oh, sure. A little sly. S: A little sly... A: ...slide it past the censors. S: That's right. We tried to break (new) ground in that show, and did it successfully. Unfortunately, times and ratings dictate things that you don't expect. And I think that because we'd had a lot of major talent wanting to come aboard as guest stars... and I think that if Leslie had gone a little further... if Leslie had stayed with the show, it would have maintained its integrity. A: One could only guess what it might have been like. You likened (SEARCH) to a 'first girlfriend', but you'd been a trendsetter before--you'd broken new ground before... S: Yep! Yep! A: THE OUTER LIMITS was TERRIBLY trendsetting, and you were breaking new ground with that. You had GREAT guest stars... S: THIRTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS an episode!!! A: Great guest stars wanted to do OUTER LIMITS too, so it's interesting to ME that you would call SEARCH 'your first girlfriend'... S: Well, you know... there're a lot of PERSONAL reasons for it, as well. There's relationships with people within in the cast and the show, and... OUTER LIMITS was an anthology. You just had people come in for their three days, and go away. A: Same crew, but different people in FRONT of the camera. S: We started on OUTER LIMITS with talents like Conrad Hall, William Fraker, Haskell Wexler... the greatest cinematographers of all time. ======================== NOTE: In addition to THE OUTER LIMITS, cinematographer Conrad Hall worked on other Leslie Stevens projects like STONEY BURKE (1962) and INCUBUS (1965). He won Academy Awards for his work on BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999), and ROAD TO PERDITION (2002). His imdb credits are at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005734/ Among other films, William A. Fraker worked on ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), BULLITT (1968), and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977). More on Fraker at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005710/ Haskell Wexler contributed to such classic films as IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967), the original THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968), and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975). More on Wexler at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005549/ Conrad Hall and Haskell Wexler are two of only six cinematographers to achieve stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. =========================== S: ... some of the great cinematographers of all time! A: The VERY best. S: So, you look at things, and you say well, "I consider SEARCH a first girlfriend" because it was a pretty, pretty show. END OF PART FIVE 2902 From: "Mike" Date: Thu Nov 4, 2004 4:00pm Subject: John C. Strong Interview kc8nqa I have to agree with robertjsawyers' post. Excellent - Excellent indeed. :) Thank You to ALL that have made it possible. Good Day All, kc8nqa 2903 From: "David Paleg" Date: Fri Nov 5, 2004 3:01am Subject: Re: John C. Strong Interview--Part Five dpaleg I noticed that your reply to the John C. Strong interview contains the entire Part 5 in your message, but nothing in your part of the message has anything to do with the interview. What exactly are you trying to ask or comment about it? 2904 From: yorktowncmdr@... Date: Tue Nov 9, 2004 7:48pm Subject: Re: 'Thanks' to John C. Strong worldsecanalyst In a message dated 10/15/2004 8:06:23 PM Eastern Standard Time, probecontrol@... writes: > Mr. Strong DOES live in California. I kind'a get the impression that he's > NOT a 'convention-attending' kind'a guy. And I'd be PERFECTLY willing to go > in on a plaque for Mr. Strong! > > Jim > probecontrol@... > 2905 From: yorktowncmdr@... Date: Tue Nov 9, 2004 7:49pm Subject: Re: 'Thanks' to John C. Strong worldsecanalyst I would love to go in on a plaque too. David > Mr. Strong DOES live in California. I kind'a get the impression that he's > NOT a 'convention-attending' kind'a guy. And I'd be PERFECTLY willing to go > in on a plaque for Mr. Strong! > > Jim > probecontrol@... > 2906 From: yorktowncmdr@... Date: Tue Nov 9, 2004 10:33pm Subject: Re: John C. Strong Interview--Part Five worldsecanalyst Jim, I've begun reading your transcript with John Christopher Strong. How could I have put this off for so long? One feature appealled to my heart. That of the early Probe Control set's low lighting. Strong wanted to convey the mystery and mystique. Here's my shameless plug about my cryptological interests though. This brings to mind the Black Chambers. These were the early Secret Services (especially during the Elizabethan Age) that dealt with acquiring intelligence and encrypted dispatches. Those analysts literally worked in darkness with feeble candle light dedicated to King/Queen and Country. Finally, early in the Twentieth Century Herbert O. Yardley founded the Black Chamber for cryptanalytic work on behalf of the US Dept of State. The height of the Black Chamber's accomplishments included reading encrypted Japanese intercepts instructing their negotiating team during the Washington Disarmament Conference on reducing naval strength of the participating nations. Then there is the Control Data Equipment. Seymour Cray was employed by Control Data to design computers. As you said CDC computers declined in quality. This is because Cray left CDC to found Cray Corporation promulgating the manufacture of the Cray vector processors (supercomputers). This has been very fascinating reading throughout. Forgive me for taking so long to offer my thanks on your work with Mr. Strong. David 2907 From: "dghprobe3" Date: Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:12pm Subject: Six mp3 files posted to Files section dghprobe3 Six Search-related mp3 files posted to Files section, description of each file below. Look for the "SOUND files" folder. Some of this material has already been sent to some list members on audio CD, but I thought the rest of the folks might want to have the same thing available on mp3. To Actingman: Our Files section is just about full to the brim. Any way we can transfer some of the larger files/photos to the probecontrol website, so we can reclaim some bandwidth for more material to be posted here? If anyone has trouble uploading these files, let us know. Thanks, and happy listening. :-) 720804_NBCsearchPromo.mp3 NBC promo for Search, ran at the end of pilot rerun on 8-4-72. Has scenes from several episodes. Includes a scene or two which were cut from their final episodes. Narrated by Marvin Miller (voice of Robby the Robot). From Jim Alexander's collection (I had to do a minor repair at the beginning of the promo). 72_Probe_missingscene1.mp3 Scene missing from the Unicorn Video, but appears in some syndicated showings of the pilot. Lockwood, Cam and Dr. Laurent discuss the 'emergency assignment' and bonus. 7511_11AtlantaSearchPromo.mp3 Promo and opening for Nov. 1975 Atlanta airing of syndicated pilot. 8702_Hugh700Club.mp3 Approx. Feb. 1987: Last 5 mins. of Hugh O'Brian on 'The 700 Club' discussing HOBY activities. Fair sound quality. 870626_WTBSsearchIntro.mp3 6-26-87 WTBS Intro to syndicated pilot movie, hosted by Bill Tush, gives background on Hugh O'Brian. 870626_WTBSsearchOutro.mp3 6-26-87 WTBS Outro for syndicated pilot, Bill Tush comments on Elke Sommers' start in her career as an actress. http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/probe_control/files http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/probe_control/files/SOUND files/ http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/probe_control/files/SOUND%20files/ 2908 From: Fireman2004@... Date: Sat Nov 13, 2004 8:56am Subject: Re: Six mp3 files posted to Files section fireman20052... Pretty cool, files! thanks! next time you can add the MP3 file to the closing credits to the eppy, "Live Men Tell Tales!" Rick 2909 From: "actingman_jc" Date: Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:14pm Subject: DVD Sale Again actingman_jc Sorry to do this to your wallets, but they've got the sale on again I have posted in the past: "DeepDiscountDVD.com is running their famous 20% off blow out sale where you can save an additional 20% off their already low, prices on DVDs and get free shipping on your order. Every title is on sale, all you need to do is enter the coupon code DVDTALK in the promotion code box when you check out to receive your discount. Th e Coupon is valid from 11/14/04-11/20/04 on currently available DVD's only. Coupons do not apply to orders for prerelease DVD's or ther merchandise, including video games, accessories or electronics. Coupon may only be used once per customer!" 2910 From: "Mike" Date: Sat Nov 20, 2004 9:54am Subject: David and Goliath Starring Hugh O'Brian kc8nqa Hello All, I had mentioned earlier that I had watched David and Goliath, Starring Hugh O'Brian and would get a screen shot or two, well I'm not setup for that with my video card yet but I did get a couple shots with my digital camera that didn't really come out that well. The video is very clear, nice copy. In any case, I have uploaded one pic into the Photos/Hugh O'Brian Folder. (Opening Credit, Hugh O'Brian as Abner, son of Ner, served as the commander of Saul's army.) As soon as I get hooked up with my vid card, I will replace it with a couple nice, clean shots. Also enjoying the interview with Mr. Strong. Excellent, excellent indeed! Thankz. Good Day All, kc8nqa 2911 From: "Jim Alexander" Date: Sat Nov 20, 2004 11:06pm Subject: Re: David and Goliath Starring Hugh O'Brian probecontrol Mike wrote: >... I have uploaded one pic into the Photos/Hugh O'Brian Folder. (Opening Credit, Hugh O'Brian as Abner, son of Ner, served as the commander of Saul's army.) As soon as I get hooked up with my vid card, I will replace it with a couple nice, clean shots. ============ Thanks for supplying what you DID, Mike. Interesting, indeed. Did anyone ever think that O'Brian would play a character called 'Abner'? ;) ============ >... Also enjoying the interview with Mr. Strong. Excellent, excellent indeed! ============ Thank YOU for saying so, Mike. And this is the perfect opportunity to beg everyone's forgiveness. I have ONE or TWO interview segments left to transcribe. But my job is currently kicking my 'you-know-what'... and by the time I get home (late every night!), there're other things to do. I promise I'll finish it up, soon! :) Jim Alexander 2912 From: "bfiler2002000" Date: Sun Nov 21, 2004 6:53am Subject: Discovered Something Very Interesting While Surfing The Web Tonight... bfiler2002000 I came across the following Web address which is a list of scripts that are part of the Web site owners' personal collection (as opposed to scripts they sell on Ebay from time to time) http://www.crossovers.net/makeitgoaway/scriptcollection.htm They will make copies of these scripts in trade for a script you have of the shows they collect on. Sadly, I have nothing to trade, but maybe other members do... The thing that I found most interesting (keeping in mind the John Strong interview where he mentioned unproduced-unaired episodes) is that these people claim to have 25 SEARCH scripts (!), which makes me wonder if they are sitting on some hidden treasure and if some of us could somehow arrange to get copies... 2913 From: "Morningstar" Date: Sun Nov 21, 2004 7:39am Subject: Re: David and Goliath Starring Hugh O'Brian am2star Take your time transcribing the rest of the interview with Mr. Strong. The sooner you finish, the sooner it is over for all of us. Perhaps, if you have two portions, one could be a Christmas present and one could start the New year off right. --- In probe_control@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Alexander" wrote: > Mike wrote: > >... I have uploaded one pic into the Photos/Hugh O'Brian Folder. (Opening > Credit, Hugh O'Brian as Abner, son of Ner, served as the commander of Saul's > army.) As soon as I get hooked up with my vid card, I will replace it with a > couple nice, clean shots. > ============ > Thanks for supplying what you DID, Mike. Interesting, indeed. Did anyone > ever think that O'Brian would play a character called 'Abner'? ;) > ============ > >... Also enjoying the interview with Mr. Strong. Excellent, excellent > indeed! > ============ > Thank YOU for saying so, Mike. And this is the perfect opportunity to beg > everyone's forgiveness. I have ONE or TWO interview segments left to > transcribe. But my job is currently kicking my 'you-know-what'... and by > the time I get home (late every night!), there're other things to do. > > I promise I'll finish it up, soon! :) > > Jim Alexander 2914 From: "Jim Alexander" Date: Sun Nov 21, 2004 4:37pm Subject: SEARCH scripts on the Web probecontrol bfiler2002000 wrote: >... The thing that I found most interesting (keeping in mind the John Strong interview where he mentioned unproduced-unaired episodes) is that these people claim to have 25 SEARCH scripts (!), which makes me wonder if they are sitting on some hidden treasure and if some of us could somehow arrange to get copies... ===================== Thanks for sharing this! However, when I pulled up the list, it read that they had 24 scripts, not 25. ------ SEARCH (24) ------ Is exactly what it says in their listing. That would be 23 episodes scripts and one pilot script--total of 24. Did someone write and 'call them on it' in the meantime? ;) Thanks-- Jim Alexander 2915 From: "Jim Alexander" Date: Mon Nov 22, 2004 2:09am Subject: Strong and STRONGER... probecontrol > Take your time transcribing the rest of the interview with Mr. Strong. > The sooner you finish, the sooner it is over for all of us. Perhaps, > if you have two portions, one could be a Christmas present and one > could start the New year off right. ============== A lovely idea. ;) However... I hope to have the first part done sooner than that... and then we can hopefully have a SECOND interview for a 'holiday present'. ;) Mr. Strong himself volunteered that he's interested in sharing MORE stories about the making of SEARCH with us. Howbout THAT? ;) Jim Alexander 2916 From: "Mike" Date: Sun Nov 21, 2004 9:40am Subject: Scanner Comparision gain kc8nqa Hello ALL, In regards to the post a while ago refering to Scanner comparisions, I have put together the pics of some different Scanners. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/ohitsjustme/ALLTOGETHER.jpg If anyone else has any pics of any other Scanners that have been floating around, please feel free to share. I also will hate to see the last of the interview, it has really been excellent reading. Thanks Again. kc8nqa 2917 From: "Morningstar" Date: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:45am Subject: Re: Strong and STRONGER... am2star That is great. He seams like a great guy. Are we still talking about doing some sort of appreciation for him? Not that I would want to press the point, but would he be able to put us in contact with other "Probe/ Search" people, whether they be crew or even cast? Would he be able to relay our interest to Tony Franciosa, for instance? Just a thought. Perhaps I am being too greedy. However, Mr. Strong seems to be the "go to guy" that we have hoped for. --- In probe_control@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Alexander" wrote: > > Take your time transcribing the rest of the interview with Mr. Strong. > > The sooner you finish, the sooner it is over for all of us. Perhaps, > > if you have two portions, one could be a Christmas present and one > > could start the New year off right. > ============== > A lovely idea. ;) However... > > I hope to have the first part done sooner than that... and then we can > hopefully have a SECOND interview for a 'holiday present'. ;) > > Mr. Strong himself volunteered that he's interested in sharing MORE stories > about the making of SEARCH with us. Howbout THAT? ;) > > Jim Alexander 2918 From: "Jim Alexander" Date: Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:03am Subject: Appreciation for Mr. Strong probecontrol Morningstar wrote: > That is great. He seams like a great guy. Are we still talking about > doing some sort of appreciation for him? ================= A member in Holland--Bob Ames--has generously volunteered to send Mr. Strong a box of delicacies from Holland, which I think is a nice idea. :) Who doesn't like chocolates, Stoopwaffels, and such? ;) Those interested in contributing can write me off-list at my e-mail address below... and I will send you a stateside address (with Bob's permission) where you can send any monetary contributions to the sweets-package. ;) ================= > Not that I would want to press the point, but would he be able to put > us in contact with other "Probe/ Search" people, whether they be crew > or even cast? Would he be able to relay our interest to Tony > Franciosa, for instance? ================= Those are questions that I did NOT ask Mr. Strong during our talk (mostly out of concern that I was keeping him from his busy schedule--he and I talked for almost two hours!). I didn't want to ask for 'too much' when I first spoke to him. Since it was HIS idea to speak to me again and share more behind-the-scenes SEARCH tales... perhaps I'll ask him during the 'next round' if he could put us in touch with any more individuals connected to SEARCH? ================== > Just a thought. Perhaps I am being too greedy. However, Mr. Strong > seems to be the "go to guy" that we have hoped for. ================== I don't think you're 'greedy.' I think it's only natural to want to learn more about SEARCH from the people involved. :) Thanks-- Jim probecontrol@... 2919 From: Date: Mon Nov 22, 2004 2:26pm Subject: SEARCH scripts on the Web probecontrol >Possibly someone did, I cut and pasted the 25 number from >their listing so it was accurate as of last night, so it may >be someone called them on it and they modified the list sometime today... ======================== What a wild coincidence that they'd change that just after you posted! Or someone from there could be... a LISTMEMBER!!! ;) Jim Alexander 2920 From: "Jim Alexander" Date: Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:28am Subject: Scanner Comparision probecontrol Thanks for your compliment on the Strong interview, Mike. Also, thanks for the Scanner comparison shots. Very interesting. I hope that one day you'll let us in on the source of the great-looking scanner(s) which you recently purchased. :) Thanks again-- Jim Alexander probecontrol@... ============================================= > Hello ALL, > > In regards to the post a while ago refering to Scanner comparisions, > I have put together the pics of some different Scanners. > > http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/ohitsjustme/ALLTOGETHER.jpg > > If anyone else has any pics of any other Scanners that have been > floating around, please feel free to share. > > I also will hate to see the last of the interview, it has really > been excellent reading. > > Thanks Again. > > kc8nqa 2921 From: "Michael Beacom" Date: Thu Nov 25, 2004 5:15pm Subject: RE: Discovered Something Very Interesting While Surfing The Web Tonight... anonimity_2003 If 25 scripts were possible I believe that the learned group here would already know of their existence. The depth of knowledge of the people who run www.probecontrol.com make me find it hard to believe that fully realized but unaired scripts are just sitting out there, but fantastic things like this have happened before. I work for eBay and there are several accuracy phenomenon which you see; casual language in their description (two copies each of 12 scripts called 24 scripts, etc), outright exaggeration designed to impress the buyer, or even just typographical error. It will be interesting to find out what it really is. Michael Beacom mjbeacom@... ----- Original Message ----- From: bfiler2002000 To: probe_control@yahoogroups.com Sent: 11/21/2004 1:00:14 AM Subject: [probe_control] Discovered Something Very Interesting While Surfing The Web Tonight... I came across the following Web address which is a list of scripts that are part of the Web site owners' personal collection (as opposed to scripts they sell on Ebay from time to time) http://www.crossovers.net/makeitgoaway/scriptcollection.htm They will make copies of these scripts in trade for a script you have of the shows they collect on. Sadly, I have nothing to trade, but maybe other members do... The thing that I found most interesting (keeping in mind the John Strong interview where he mentioned unproduced-unaired episodes) is that these people claim to have 25 SEARCH scripts (!), which makes me wonder if they are sitting on some hidden treasure and if some of us could somehow arrange to get copies... 2922 From: "Michael Beacom" Date: Thu Nov 25, 2004 5:19pm Subject: RE: Strong and STRONGER... anonimity_2003 I would like to thank you for this interview -- and yes please give us MORE! How often have I dreamed of a behind-the-scenes tome such as has been done for The Outer Limits or Star Trek Classic. The Making of Probe/Search. I have been waiting so long to read something like this. Again, thanks. Michael Beacom mjbeacom@... ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Alexander To: probe_control@yahoogroups.com Sent: 11/21/2004 8:11:23 PM Subject: [probe_control] Strong and STRONGER... > Take your time transcribing the rest of the interview with Mr. Strong. > The sooner you finish, the sooner it is over for all of us. Perhaps, > if you have two portions, one could be a Christmas present and one > could start the New year off right. ============== A lovely idea. ;) However... I hope to have the first part done sooner than that... and then we can hopefully have a SECOND interview for a 'holiday present'. ;) Mr. Strong himself volunteered that he's interested in sharing MORE stories about the making of SEARCH with us. Howbout THAT? ;) Jim Alexander