Broadcast Pioneers

Lowell Thomas (1892-1981) was an American writer, actor, radio broadcaster, and traveler remembered for publicizing T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). Thomas was a relentless self-promoter, and he persuaded railroads to give him free passage in exchange for articles extolling rail travel. When he visited Alaska, he hit upon the idea of the travelogue, movies about faraway places. He pioneered the use of motion pictures in reporting news with his multimedia shows on the First World War. Working with a new form of journalism—movie newsreels—was a natural step for him, specifically, Fox Movietone News in the 1940s.

Thomas helped establish the broadcast news format. The newscast’s steady factual style reflected his newspaper experience which was distinct from the sensational staccato of his contemporary, Walter Winchell whose background was from Broadway’s vaudeville. With clear elocution—owing to his doctoral degree in speech —and a worldly air, he calmly delivered the news along with nonpartisan commentary.

In 1945, Thomas received the Alfred I. duPont Award. In 1971, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. Five years later, President Gerald Ford awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1989. The Thomas Mountains in Antarctica are named for him.

Reel Character Series

Frank de Kova (1910-1981) was an American character actor in films, stage, and TV, often playing a Native American or Mexican bandit in westerns, or a modern-day gangster, all befitting his craggy face.

Born Frank Campanella, it was imperative a name change was in order so there was no confusion with the film actor of the same name, the older brother of television stalwart, Joseph Campanella. As DeKova, or De Kova, or de Kova—per his grave plot—he made his Broadway debut in Detective Story and was subsequently discovered by director Elia Kazan. In Hollywood, he appeared in Viva Zapata! in 1952 as the Mexican Colonel, and played Abiram in The Ten Commandments. He appeared in three films released in 1958: Cowboy with Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon, a quirky role in Machine Gun Kelly opposite Charles Bronson, and as the restrictive, old-school tribe counselor in Teenage Caveman, where Robert Vaughn played the cool, teen rebel with the perfect barber shop haircut. De Kova would reunite with Bronson in, The Mechanic in 1972.

De Kova was certainly most visible from his television work, including a role as Mafia hitman Jimmy Napoli in the ABC crime drama, The Untouchables, the western, Cheyenne, and a recurring role in Gunsmoke as a Kiowa Indian who is a trusted friend with Dodge City's marshal. He gained new fame as "Chief Wild Eagle" in the wacky western comedy spoof, F Troop, from 1965-1967. As the Seventies dawned, his work was less frequent, split between television and film. 

An East Side Kid

 

Stanley Clements (Stanislaw Klimowicz 1926-1981) was an American actor and comedian. While at Monogram Pictures, his nickname offscreen was "Stosh," but Clements adopted the nickname "Stash" for the ensemble-cast film series, East Side Kids, starring Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall. When Gorcey left the East Side Kids in 1945, he and his teammate developed a new comedy gang series called The Bowery Boys. Because of personal tragedy and subsequent alcohol abuse, Gorcy was replaced by Clements as Stanislaus "Duke" Coveleskie in the final seven films, co-starring with Hall.

He appeared in numerous films in the 1940s and 1950s. His most famous role was as the uncredited teenage street-wise-turned-choirboy in the 1944 Bing Crosby Oscar winner, Going My Way, with some excellent comedic deliveries. (above with Carl Switzer) He had great success portraying a jockey in the 1945 Alan Ladd feature, Salty O'Rourke. He soon transitioned to television guest spots but small film roles were a staple into the late Seventies. 

A more complete filmography at https://wikimili.com/en/Stanley_Clements

A Noted Television Theme

 

Simon & Simon is an American series that originally ran on CBS for eight seasons, 1981-1989. Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker starred as two disparate brothers operating a two-person detective agency in San Diego. Nearly canceled in 1982 due to low ratings, it was given a second chance by the executive producer, Philip DeGuere. The new season began with a cross-over episode with Magnum P.I. and the show steadily rose in popularity garnering many fans along the way. Though canceled before the series could properly end, McRaney and Parker returned for a reunion television movie, Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again (1995). 

The first season theme song has a laid-back "Mariachi Band" feel. The rest of the series used the more popular funky rock theme which was more endearing for the series. Both themes were composed by Barry De Vorzon.

Season 1 Theme    Seasons 2-8 Theme