Since I had some time, I'd figure I'd take a look at the second chapter of Going, Going, Gone. This chapter takes a look at a New York landmark, the Automat.
The first automat was opened in Germany in 1895. A forerunner to a cafeteria, people walked in, handed over some change and got food.
The first one in America opened in Philadelphia in 1902 before one opened in New York City in 1912. From there it was a smash sensation. For 5 cents you could get a full meal. A neat idea and I can see the popularity.
Admittedly I can see how the concept was utterly crushed by the arrival of modern vending machines. A good concept lost to progress, although apparently a start up tried to bring the concept back in 2007.
Could it come back? I don't think so. Vending machines can offer much the same. I've seen the spinning models that offer cheeseburgers. I think the variety offered would be cool, but for food on the go I think most people would settle for a bar and a soda.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Friday, March 13, 2020
Friday the 13th (2009)
Friday the 13th (2009) dir. Marcus Nispel, Platinum Dunes/Crystal Lake Entertainment/New Line Cinema
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Re-Write the Book: The Lex Express
Not quite seasonal, but I had an idea. Lex Luger was a gent who should have been bigger than he was, but one angle of his stood out.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
The Master, or why I don't write for TV
Did you know the Master has been released on DVD?
The short lived 80's show about ninjas and Van Patten's may not have been the best show but, in proof of my warped mind I think I could have done something with the idea.
The short lived 80's show about ninjas and Van Patten's may not have been the best show but, in proof of my warped mind I think I could have done something with the idea.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Updates and upcoming events
Hope everyone enjoyed our look back at the Golden Age Green Lantern and his many besuited foes.
More or less a break for a bit, but be sure to come back this June for a special surprise, as well as what might be the last go-round for the Summer of Love(craft) plus the return of Shark Week.
More or less a break for a bit, but be sure to come back this June for a special surprise, as well as what might be the last go-round for the Summer of Love(craft) plus the return of Shark Week.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: The Sportsmaster
Real name: "Crusher" Crock
First appearance: All-American Comics#85 (May 1947)
Abilities: Peak human strength, master of all sports
Worst act: Theft, attempted murder
Quote: "Me..."Crusher" Crock...bounced? You're nuts!"
Created by: John Broome (script), Irwin Hasen (pencils), and John Belfi (inks)
Given that this is the 29th, an unusual day for the month I'd figured I'd take a look at another personal favorite of mine.
The Sportsmaster might be my favorite Green Lantern foe, besides Solomon Grundy. Here's a guy who decides to tackle a dude who could level a city block armed with nothing more than a tennis racket. That is a level of dedication one rarely finds today.
His backstory, at least in 1947, is fairly straight forward. Crock is a pro football player, but not one the fans can root for; no, Crock makes it a point to injure at least one player in every game. While this might get some tut-tutting from a cable sports pundit today and a slight fine, Crock finds himself banned not only from football but ALL professional sports.
Not sure they had that kind of power back then, but whatever.
Deciding to strike back at the world that mocked him, Crock decided to rob a polo match. He immediately runs into the Green Lantern and apparently falls to his death.
You can't keep a good crook down though, and he was soon brought back. One thing that made him stand out from other crooks? The Huntress
Not the Batman/Birds of Prey supporting character, no, but the 'Kill Wildcat and mount his head on my wall' character. She and Crock run into each other and soon sparks are flying. Seeing two villains fall in love was a different approach back then and it works. Huntress was also a fairly tough cookie in her own right.
One thing I also liked about the Sportsmaster was his costume(s). Every time he showed up he had a different one with a different sports theme to it. He dressed as a baseball player, a polo rider, and even a tennis player too. Nowadays they have him in a goalie in tactical gear, but I thought it was cool.
First appearance: All-American Comics#85 (May 1947)
Abilities: Peak human strength, master of all sports
Worst act: Theft, attempted murder
Quote: "Me..."Crusher" Crock...bounced? You're nuts!"
Created by: John Broome (script), Irwin Hasen (pencils), and John Belfi (inks)
Given that this is the 29th, an unusual day for the month I'd figured I'd take a look at another personal favorite of mine.
The Sportsmaster might be my favorite Green Lantern foe, besides Solomon Grundy. Here's a guy who decides to tackle a dude who could level a city block armed with nothing more than a tennis racket. That is a level of dedication one rarely finds today.
His backstory, at least in 1947, is fairly straight forward. Crock is a pro football player, but not one the fans can root for; no, Crock makes it a point to injure at least one player in every game. While this might get some tut-tutting from a cable sports pundit today and a slight fine, Crock finds himself banned not only from football but ALL professional sports.
Not sure they had that kind of power back then, but whatever.
Deciding to strike back at the world that mocked him, Crock decided to rob a polo match. He immediately runs into the Green Lantern and apparently falls to his death.
You can't keep a good crook down though, and he was soon brought back. One thing that made him stand out from other crooks? The Huntress
Not the Batman/Birds of Prey supporting character, no, but the 'Kill Wildcat and mount his head on my wall' character. She and Crock run into each other and soon sparks are flying. Seeing two villains fall in love was a different approach back then and it works. Huntress was also a fairly tough cookie in her own right.
One thing I also liked about the Sportsmaster was his costume(s). Every time he showed up he had a different one with a different sports theme to it. He dressed as a baseball player, a polo rider, and even a tennis player too. Nowadays they have him in a goalie in tactical gear, but I thought it was cool.
Friday, February 28, 2020
Bring on the Bad Guys: Baldy
Real name: Arnold Corbin
First appearance: Green Lantern I#2 (Winter 1942)
Abilities: Forging wills
Worst act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Mart Nodell (art)
Winding down here, we take a look at the first villain to take up an entire issue.
Green Lantern decides to throw some business towards lawyer Frank Benton. He finds one in Joe Stromboli. Joe's in a pickle, also an asylum as he claims that millionaire PG Jeffers named him in his will.
Obviously this was enough to get a man committed back in the day. Green Lantern doesn't have time for this legal nonsense and breaks Joe out before hunting for the men who put him in there in the first place.
Mr. Slagg is the lawyer for Lester Payne, who argues that Jeffers named him the sole beneficiary. Slagg ends up murdered, forcing GL and Benton to tackle the case and hunt down who wanted Stromboli out of the picture.
All the evidence points towards a fellow called "Baldy" but who is he? They narrow it down to a few suspects, most of whom work for the Jeffers Corporation, but when one of cleared and the other nearly murdered, who could it be?
Not a bad story, but again we see another corrupt guy in a suit.
First appearance: Green Lantern I#2 (Winter 1942)
Abilities: Forging wills
Worst act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (script), Mart Nodell (art)
Winding down here, we take a look at the first villain to take up an entire issue.
Green Lantern decides to throw some business towards lawyer Frank Benton. He finds one in Joe Stromboli. Joe's in a pickle, also an asylum as he claims that millionaire PG Jeffers named him in his will.
Obviously this was enough to get a man committed back in the day. Green Lantern doesn't have time for this legal nonsense and breaks Joe out before hunting for the men who put him in there in the first place.
Mr. Slagg is the lawyer for Lester Payne, who argues that Jeffers named him the sole beneficiary. Slagg ends up murdered, forcing GL and Benton to tackle the case and hunt down who wanted Stromboli out of the picture.
All the evidence points towards a fellow called "Baldy" but who is he? They narrow it down to a few suspects, most of whom work for the Jeffers Corporation, but when one of cleared and the other nearly murdered, who could it be?
Not a bad story, but again we see another corrupt guy in a suit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)