Vintage shots from days gone by!

This makes me think of those old time flip page animation/cartoon books we used to get back in the '50s. I used to think they were pretty cool.

 

1958

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The "Donna Reed Show" writers obviously meant for the Willys M38 Jeep as a cinematic device [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]to help James Darren's character hatch the plan [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]to escape his woes [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]by joining the army. (Photos [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]THANKS to imcdb.)[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RaceRon wondered a while back WHY James Darren's song, "Goodbye, Cruel World," had an alternate version, wherein the singer is "off to join the army," instead of "off to join the circus," as the 45-rpm record lyrics go. I finally had a chance to research it, as it was a mystery to me too!

For the "Donna Reed Show" episode "One Starry Night," aired on September 14, 1961, heartthrob Darren played a pop singer, Jim Brandt (going incognito as "Kip Dennis." As fate or, more likely, script writers would have it, Kip falls hard for Mary Stone, played by the unforgettable Shelly Fabares (Season 4, Episode 1). On a first date, Mary discovers Kip's true identity as the singer, whom she detests! She spurns his attention sharply, apparently leading to Kip's decision to join the army, ostensibly to get away from his heartaches. During this episode, Darren subsequently sang the "army" version of the as-yet-unreleased single (while driving a Jeep on screen). The tempo is a tad slower, and there are no background vocals and none of the simulated calliope riff that accompanies the vinyl "circus" version*.

Bottom line: It seems that this episode was clearly a promotional field test for what, then, became Darren's biggest single hit. The record itself appeared on November 6, '61, some seven weeks after Darren's stint on the "Reed Show," reaching #3 on the U.S. Singles Chart. I bought the 45 back ten, and I remember watching the "Donna Reed" episode, but I did not remember which song version came first. So, THANKS, Race Ron for asking the question!

I still think that the "Reed" writers -- mindful of all the recent hoopla around Elvis' army absence -- simply incorporated the army draft device into the show's script, in timely fashion. A contrivance? Sointainly! But, that's entertainment! And SO: Both song versions were for real, not anyone's hazy memory misfiring!




[/FONT]

 

Here, James Darren makes a 1959 appearance during the first season
of "The Donna Reed Show." Photo THANKS to the ever-helpful Wiki-
pedia which, notably, is having its annual fund drive. To their credit,
Wikipedia halts the drive as soon as they have enough funds to make
it another year. Who else does that?! (And no donation is too small.)


[Trivia*: Ever wonder about the "calliope" sound effect in the musical accompaniment for Darren's big vinyl hit, "Goodbye, Cruel World"? This was NOT a calliope but actually a vocal effect by the song's real-life writer, Gloria Shayne Baker, and the sound engineers! Don't ya love the back stories?]

 

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Stardust, Las Vegas – 1961




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Is that Sharon Tate?

 

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Waikiki Beach - 1954


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Carrier Approaching Tsuiki Japan — 1954 (Carrier unknown)


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Seems you can always learn something new from the HAMB, or from searching for good stuff to post.
Here, I'd always assumed that the Hurricane and Super Hurricane were both L-head flatties, and that the
Go-Devil was the four. Good to know. Anyway, a cool Jeep & Jeepster ad. Sorry this came out pretty
big.

 

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Ye Olde Tsuiki Food Shoppe, 1954


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The gang at Tsuiki Air Base, 1954


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007 Bar, Hong Kong - 1965


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TWA Flight Center by Eero Saarinen, 1963


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TWA Flight Center Interior by Eero Saarinen, 1963


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TWA Flight Center by Eero Saarinen, 1963


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Busch Gardens 1963


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Float at the Fun 'n Sun Parade, Clearwater, FL – March 1961


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Busch Gardens' Hospitality House - 1963


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Sunrise Shopping Center — Ft. Lauderdale, 1956


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Sunrise Shopping Center — Ft. Lauderdale, 1956


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Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, AZ — 1946


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Arizona Biltmore - 1946


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Carib Theatre, Clearwater, FL - 1954


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Harvey's Wagon Wheel, Lake Tahoe - 1964


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