The GA "Short Bus" Thread Post your unpopular books! 2 2

[Scrooge]

Fawcetts seem always welcome on the Short Bus. Here's another entry from the company that Captain Marvel built: Mike Barnett, Man Against Crime # 2.

 

And yes, Mike Barnett was an Oustanding Television Program (better known as Man Against Crime):

 

"Mike Barnett

Created by Lawrence Klee

 

Featured on both radio and television, MIKE BARNETT was a New York private eye so tough he didn't need a gun (take that, Hammer!). Along with MARTIN KANE, which made its debut just a few weeks earlier, was the first of what would soon be a long line television eyes. And Mike got around, popping up in New Orleans, Stockholm, Vienna, and Lisbon, among other locations.

 

The New York Times described him as "an average fellow, not too bright and not too dumb, quick-fisted, amiable and something of a modern Sir Galahad." Whatever, the show was a hit, especially on the tube, where it won a national popularity poll as best mystery on television for its third year. The shows were done live, with all the usual problems that entailed, but eventually the big switch was made to film, in the fall of 1952, giving the fight and chase scenes an added touch of authenticity.

 

In fact, action was the keyword. According to Television: A History, by Francis Wheen (London: Century Publishing, 1985), writers on the show were told that "somebody must be murdered, preferably early, with the threat of more violence to come...Bellamy must be menaced early and often."

 

Ralph Bellamy played Barnett on both radio and television, and, in fact, played Barnett through its entire initial television run, giving it a consistency that Martin Kane lacked. As well, the show was more popular, both critically and commercially. When it left CBS in 1953, it made some sort of television history when it became a regularly scheduled show on two different networks, NBC and Dumont, occupying the same time-slot on both.

 

 

in 1956, two years after it left the airwaves, the producers tried to revive the show, bringing in Frank Lovejoy to play Barnett, who carried a gun, but not the show. It died."

 

When in syndication, the show was renamed: Follow that Man.

 

 

[ciorac]

Do you have the Down with Crime?

[Scrooge]

Do you have the Down with Crime?

 

Yes -

[adamstrange]

Do you have the Down with Crime?

 

Yes -

 

I'd ride this shortbus! Nice background info on the Mike Barnett!

[ciorac]

Do you have the Down with Crime?

 

Yes -

 

Very, very cool

[selegue]

Short Bus fans might enjoy these two pages and some info that I recently posted in the general quiz thread.

 

A Thom McAn ad from Captain Midnight 44 inside cover. Iceman prototype, almost 20 years predating X-Men! I get a laugh out of the little elf named H too.

 

 

A page from Richard Richard, Private , a comic detective strip in several Fawcett titles. Apparently a one-man operation by McKay. Here's a particularly silly page from Captain Midnight 44. Funny how Richard and the bad guy look sort of like Beavis and/or Butthead (I can never remember which one's which) and the dog looks suspiciously like Big Boy's dog, Nugget!

 

 

Jack

 

 

[selegue]

Another potential Short Bus book from the quiz thread.

 

Adventure is My Career, Street & Smith, 1945, recruiting giveaway for the US Coast Guard Academy.

 

ART AND EDITORIAL

Joe Simon, Specialist Second Class, USCGR

Milton Gross, Specialist Second Class, USCGR

 

Overstreet says "Simon, Milt Gross -- a"

but the artwork looks like essentially all Simon to me. Notice that he signed both splash pages below. I don't see a trace of Gross. Maybe he only edited this book.

 

Jack

 

 

 

 

 

[ciorac]

I had a copy of that book years ago and gave it to my brother. He is/was a career Coast Guard guy and a comic lover.

[G.A.tor]

cool stuff....keep it coming

[selegue]

I had a copy of that book years ago and gave it to my brother. He is/was a career Coast Guard guy and a comic lover.

 

If he stored it on the floor of a very damp basement, I may have the copy you gave him!

 

Jack

[ciorac]

I had a copy of that book years ago and gave it to my brother. He is/was a career Coast Guard guy and a comic lover.

 

If he stored it on the floor of a very damp basement, I may have the copy you gave him!

 

Jack

 

Edited January 19, 2008 by ciorac

[BangZoom]

 

 

 

It looks pretty interesting.

 

Could you please post additional pages of the story, one a day for the next 44 days?

 

[skypinkblu]

Fawcetts seem always welcome on the Short Bus. Here's another entry from the company that Captain Marvel built: Mike Barnett, Man Against Crime # 2.

 

And yes, Mike Barnett was an Oustanding Television Program (better known as Man Against Crime):

 

"Mike Barnett

Created by Lawrence Klee

 

Featured on both radio and television, MIKE BARNETT was a New York private eye so tough he didn't need a gun (take that, Hammer!). Along with MARTIN KANE, which made its debut just a few weeks earlier, was the first of what would soon be a long line television eyes. And Mike got around, popping up in New Orleans, Stockholm, Vienna, and Lisbon, among other locations.

 

The New York Times described him as "an average fellow, not too bright and not too dumb, quick-fisted, amiable and something of a modern Sir Galahad." Whatever, the show was a hit, especially on the tube, where it won a national popularity poll as best mystery on television for its third year. The shows were done live, with all the usual problems that entailed, but eventually the big switch was made to film, in the fall of 1952, giving the fight and chase scenes an added touch of authenticity.

 

In fact, action was the keyword. According to Television: A History, by Francis Wheen (London: Century Publishing, 1985), writers on the show were told that "somebody must be murdered, preferably early, with the threat of more violence to come...Bellamy must be menaced early and often."

 

Ralph Bellamy played Barnett on both radio and television, and, in fact, played Barnett through its entire initial television run, giving it a consistency that Martin Kane lacked. As well, the show was more popular, both critically and commercially. When it left CBS in 1953, it made some sort of television history when it became a regularly scheduled show on two different networks, NBC and Dumont, occupying the same time-slot on both.

 

 

in 1956, two years after it left the airwaves, the producers tried to revive the show, bringing in Frank Lovejoy to play Barnett, who carried a gun, but not the show. It died."

 

When in syndication, the show was renamed: Follow that Man.

 

 

 

Thanks for the great info, Scrooge! (thumbs u

 

I think this thread should be renamed, the interesting Bus (all the other adjectives were going to get me in trouble;)

[selegue]

 

 

 

It looks pretty interesting.

 

Could you please post additional pages of the story, one a day for the next 44 days?

 

 

Sheesh. Can't resist men in uniform?

 

Jack

[skypinkblu]

 

 

 

It looks pretty interesting.

 

Could you please post additional pages of the story, one a day for the next 44 days?

 

 

Sheesh. Can't resist men in uniform?

 

Jack

and they left YOU off the Funniest poster thread...

[BangZoom]

 

 

 

It looks pretty interesting.

 

Could you please post additional pages of the story, one a day for the next 44 days?

 

 

Sheesh. Can't resist men in uniform?

 

Jack

 

Don't be jealous, Jack.

 

It's only a comic book.

 

 

[rob_allan]

Do you have the Down with Crime?

 

Yes -

 

I'm late to the party, but this is a great book.

[Scrooge]

Fawcetts seem always welcome on the Short Bus. Here's another entry from the company that Captain Marvel built: Mike Barnett, Man Against Crime # 2.

 

And yes, Mike Barnett was an Oustanding Television Program (better known as Man Against Crime):

 

 

Thanks for the great info, Scrooge! (thumbs u

 

I think this thread should be renamed, the interesting Bus (all the other adjectives were going to get me in trouble;)

 

Thanks Sharon!

 

At times though this thread does dig up comic page that are better completely forgotten ... Mr. Creepers - Eeeewwwww -

[shiverbones]

It's been far too long since I hopped on the short bus for a ride, so here is a fun book from 1941 I picked up in December....

 

 

The green color is really outstanding, but the real joy here is the demented 2 deer headed flying "moto sled" What on earth! Good thing Rudolph eventually became the pop culture choice to lead Santa's sled, because this thing would have given kids nightmares every december!

[shiverbones]

And before I get deluged with requests for interior shots of the "moto sled" I shall show a page here...