I watch a lot of GRIT TV, the channel that shows almost exclusively Westerns, so the ad that leaps out at me is the one for Devil's Canyon (1953), showing at the Ohio Theater. It stars Virginia Mayo and Dale Robertson, a favorite of mine since I watch Tales of Wells Fargo on GRIT every day. Also appearing in the movie is screen bad guy/thug Stephen McNally.
It's not surprising that the ad should leap out, since the movie was showing in 3-D on the Ohio's "New Curved Wide Screen."
This posed promotional photo for the movie is pretty hilarious. Dale Robertson looks like he just took a cold shower (which might be appropriate since lovely Virginia Mayo is the only female on the grounds of the all-male prison). Virginia Mayo is actual the moll, but comes around to the good guy's side by the end of the movie, which features a massive prison break attempt, thwarted by Dale Robertson's character wielding a Gatling gun.
I remember watching this on Saturday afternoon on one of the Cleveland UHF channels. While it wasn't as good as the movie in which the comedy duo met Frankenstein and the Wolfman, it was pretty scary as well as funny.
Anyway, it's a pretty good movie that shows up on GRIT quite regularly.
Next on my hit parade is Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, showing at the Avon Lake Theater. Here's the trailer and poster for the movie.
I still remember the ending decades later. Dr. Jekyll has been vanquished, and all the loose ends are tied up – until some of the Scotland Yard constables turn into Mr. Hydes too (after being bitten) and chase Abbott and Costello off for a closing gag.
What about some of the other theaters?
The Tivoli had A Perilous Journey, starring Vera Ralston, David Brian and Scott Brady (no relation); the Tower Drive-in (on then-State Route 57) had Silver City, and The Golden Hawk with Rhonda Fleming and Sterling Hayden; the Palace had Sabre Jet and Shoot First!
Shoot First is interesting because the British spy thriller stars Joel McCrea, star of so many great Westerns, in his only postwar non-Western role.
Hey, you can watch the movie right here and now! So pour yourself another bowl of Golden Crisp and enjoy the day after Thanksgiving!
4 comments:
I've been watching Devils Canyon on Grit any chance I get Dan as it's not on DVD or Bluray.Virginia Mayo was one of the hottest actresses of the golden age of Hollywood and looked particularly good in her jeans.All those horndogs in prison would be taking cold showers after one look at Virginia.She was also good in Fort Dobbs with Clint Walker from 1958.
Boris Karloff appeared in several comedies, including the Abbott and Costello features. I recently saw a musical comedy where he, Bela Lugosi and Peter Lorre tried to kill off the Kay Kyser band. (Everyone's a critic.)
I was trying to post an article about the Lorain Drive -In, as it's not listed.
Buster, that movie was YOU'LL FIND OUT.
"Lorain Twin Drive-In in Lorain, OH - Cinema Treasures" https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/23529
I like the tag line in the 3-D ad: "Real as Flesh!"
But I bet it wasn't.
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