PCR READER AND "LOST IN SPACE" FAN OFFERS WEBSITE
Nolan,
I was reviewing your nice Pop Culture Review, especially the Lost In Space pics and material. Very nice!
LIS is now being compiled into the computer universe as flyable ships and detailed sceneries. http://pendercrafts.com
Not trying to spam or get publicity, just sharing the ultimate simulations for fans.
There are many videos to see also. All new footage of classic LIS that are the first in almost 30 years (sans LIS forever reunion with Bill and Jonathan.)
Rich Taylor
Rich, thanks so much for writing! "Lost In Space" is one of my Top 10 all-time favorite TV shows, and before I discovered LIS-fandom, I'd've said there could not be a greater fan than I! Since then I've discovered a remarkable fanbase that shares my passion. This flight simulator on the website you sent me is one of the coolest things I have ever heard of, just incredible---I'd love to take a spin on that myself! ---Nolan
PCR READERS ON MYSTERY RESTAURANT
Dear Readers--
As you may recall last week, a Stephanie Baldwin wrote in asking us to identify a restaurant she and her husband had their first date in. All she could remember was it was at the old Tampa Bay Center, upstairs, next to Sears, directly above McCrory's.
Rick Sousa and Steve Beasley wrote me over the past week with suggestions. Both thought it might be Ruby Tuesday's. Steve threw in Piccadilly's and Rick suggested Putney's Pub (Ruby Tuesday's prior ID). I forwarded these ideas to the letter writer via a personal email, but never heard back.
Thanks to Steve and Rick for their suggestions. ---Nolan
READER ON DR. PAUL BEARER INTERVIEW
Dear Nolan,
I just read the lost interview of Dr. Paul Bearer and enjoyed it
greatly. I live in Winston-Salem N.C. where Dick [Bennick] lived and worked for
WTOB radio and WGHP-TV in High Point. I actually ran in to Dick about
10 years ago when he came to town for his mother's birthday. We
talked for about an hour while standing in front of the motel where
he was staying. He is the reason I got in to radio in the first
place, after listening to him I said that's what I want to do, and I
did so for about 10 years. I was just thinking about the lost
interview and just maybe there may be a tape of this interview so
that I might be able to get a copy of it. I am also looking for any
airchecks from the radio days as well as video of Dr. Paul Bearer. I
have something to do some trading on if you're interested and that
would a tunedex from WTOB from the 60's featuring Dick Bennick as
well as The Flying Dutchman Pete Berry and thats not all I also have
a copy of a tape where Dick is doing a live broadcast at a Saturday
night dance party in Kernersville from about 1960. This interview by
Ed Tucker was just great. Hopefully I can get a copy of the audio if
there was one made. Thank you for anything you can do for me.
Curt Clifton
ED TUCKER RESPONDS:
Curt,
Thank you for the kind words about the Dr. Paul Bearer interview. As I said in the preface, I had no idea that it would turn out to be the most in depth piece ever done on him. The interview was video taped and transcribed from that. The tape still exists and I am in the process of incorporating parts of it into a DVD project I have been working on called "Mondo Paul Bearer". This DVD will feature two hours of rare clips and footage from the Creature Feature program. As Nolan said in a personal email to you, I was originally shooting to have it completed this month in time for an event in Tampa that ended up being canceled. When that happened, I back-burnered this project in favor of a couple of other ones but I will find my way back to it soon. When it is ready I will have all the details on the Crazedfanboy website so keep an eye out for it there.
- ED -
READER SEEKS MORE TAMPA HISTORY
Nolan,
I’m a Tampan, born and raised, 42 now, and I realize that I know so very little about certain Tampa things.
Like:
The Floridian Hotel in downtown.
History of Seminole Heights, etc.
Big Tampa names of the past.
Is there a book or something on Tampa history or do you know a historian?
Thank you,
Rich Guagliardo
BOY, DO I! Hello, Rick, and thanks so much for writing! Just so happens one of my oldest friends, William Moriaty, is a Tampa and a Florida historian and can help you with your research better than I. He has just published a book called "William Moriaty's Florida" that's filled with interesting anecdotes and real history. The collection previously appeared in a series on this website in a column named "La Floridiana", and is currently available for purchase from Cafe Press. Also see William's website. OK, all the plugs out of the way, I'm forwarding this email directly to William so he may contact you about further reading on Florida and Tampa history. ---Nolan
WILLIAM MORIATY RESPONDS:
Dear Rick:
I think you will get great results by reading books by the late Tampa historians such as Hampton Dunn and Tony Pizzo. If you do an on-line search typing in their names, certain book distributors such as Amazon and Alibris have their works available for sale. Most notable is Hampton Dunn's book "Yesterday's Tampa", which you could probably still find in the regional section (Florida) of Borders or Barnes and Noble.
In addition, retired Tampa Tribune journalist Leland Hawes wrote great pieces in the Sunday edition of the Trib on Tampa history. Other good sources include the Special Collections of the main downtown library and the Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa.
Again, thanks so much for writing!
--WILL
To send an email to Letters to the Editor write to: Crazedfanboy1@aol.com. Any emails sent to this address will be assumed intended for publication unless you specifically instruct me not to. I can and do respond privately, if that is your preference. Frequently, it's both ways.---Nolan
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