Steve Canyon On DVD

The Latest Update

2012-01-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

The Full-Series Three-Volume Slipcover's

are IN!

Just in (finally) from the factory... (click on images for a larger picture)

Boxes filled with...boxes!

These really turned out great! They will be shipped out flat (with the Vol 3 DVDs when we receive them), ready for you to fold and insert your 3 volumes into.

Although we now have the slipcases the Volume 3 DVDs are still not in from the factory...we are dealing with a minor quality control issue with one of the discs and we ask everyone to keep the faith and just be patient a little bit longer... and be aware there will be a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT here and via direct email once we have the DVDs and are preparing to ship!

Thanks everyone for your continued support...and we hope you enjoyed the holidays!

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

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Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers mid to late January 2012 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.
(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Holiday Holding Patterns

2011-12-26T02:52:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the Holiday weekend just passed...and the one to come.

The news on Volume 3: We HAVE NOT shipped Vol 3 as WE HAVE NOT received them from the factory. We finally heard from the factory rep just before the weekend and were told that they just weren't able to get to our order prior to their holiday hiatus. In plain terms what this means is that nothing is going to happen until they return on January 3rd and then complete our order (however long that takes, I assume within the week) and there's nothing I can do about it. I don't want to make light of this situation, and I realize that some of you might not even understand the situation...but know that I have pushed and I have shoved and ultimately I just couldn't make the schedule turn out as I promised, and I am sorry and I apologize for that.

I do hope you understand that in any event we are really only a matter of a short time away...the factory has already been paid in full and now we are waiting on them. You may not know that I've been working FULL BLAST on this since late 2005 and NOBODY wants to see this wrapped up more than I do. That's six years! Much of that with little or no funds and basically on a wing and a prayer.

Most of you have sent well wishes and "attaboys" and such, which are very kind and really do help to pep my day, but I still hate to let anyone down ...and after receiving this news and also a couple of really nasty emails...it's taken the whole weekend for me to recover enough to write this update. We absolutely have a responsibility to our customers, but we are doing this to see that it gets done, for the love of it, and not for a profit motive. We love this as much as many of you do and there has never ever been any question to us about seeing this through to completion. I fully realize that all of the delays seem ridiculous and frustrating at times, but I want to say that I've done whatever I've had to to keep this ball rolling to insure the completion of this project (with the DVDs finished and in your hands)...and I'll just leave you with that notion.

Note that I will post here (and also send out emails to all V3 pre-order customers) as we receive our orders (slipcase and V3) and when we begin shipping as well...if you don't see it here (or get an email), then it hasn't happened yet. Trust me, you'll know.

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

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To read more about The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volume 3, click here and here (and also check earlier posts elsewhere on our blog).

NOTE that even though domestic and overseas shipping rates have gone up AGAIN recently, we are going to keep the $19.95 (postage-paid) price for the time being. I am certain however that we will have to change pricing for all of our DVDs following the release of Volume 3.

ALSO NOTE that only those that Pre-Order Volume 3 will get the special three volume slipcase (mailed in the same package) for free (as our gift to those who have supported us by pre-ordering)...once we release Volume 3 there will be an additional charge to get the custom printed slipcase which will hold all 3 volumes of Steve Canyon!

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Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers early January, 2012 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.
(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Slipcase Preview And Scheduling Update

2011-12-03T11:52:00.000-08:00

We've Still Got A Few Gremlins...

Birth pangs...last minute whatever-you-might-call-it...and not to belittle the situation, but it IS COMING and that's the main thing (I keep being reminded of this by everyone)...both Volume 1 and 2 had last minute delays as well, so I tell myself "why should this be any different".

Other than the finishing of all of the elements that go into V3, the big issue has been that we have been waiting on a lump-sum payment from my sister's estate which we have been waiting for for exactly the last year...which we need to cover the expensive manufacturing fees of V3. Well we finally received it last week, but the bank put a 14 day hold on it, and can't transmit funds to the manufacturer until that hold is released.

Mind you we have already submitted some already-available funds to the manufacturer so certain things (i.e. the slipcover) we expect to arrive imminently, but they won't finish the final work on V3 until we can pay them in full, and that is the hang-up.

So to put it plainly we are now looking at having everything in hand and ready to ship sometime between the 14th and the 20th of this month...still in time for Christmas, and so I'm going to say the week of December 14th, fingers crossed.

SO now for some fun stuff...

The Full-Series Three-Volume Slipcover

We haven't even hinted at what the slipcase looks like...until now. Following are the final (and very cool) designs by Johann Mitchell:

Full-Series DVD slipcase front cover with top and bottom panels. (all slipcover Graphic designs by Johann Mitchell)

Full-Series DVD slipcase 3D preview simulation.

Full-Series DVD slipcase back and side cover panels.

Full-Series DVD slipcase back cover (3D-view preview) simulating all 3 DVD volumes inserted.

Something that I haven't really pointed out is that the reason WHY we are including the slipcover for free with the Volume 3 pre-orders: it's to be fair to all of those who bought the DVDs from us one volume at a time. Maybe I'm a bad businessman, but it has always bothered me when you have to keep buying the newest release of an old favorite JUST to be able to have EVERYTHING.

You have been loyal to us, so we are being fair in return. And after we end the pro-order free slipcase offer (upon the official release of Volume 3) we will still offer the slipcase by itself for a nominal fee. It's part of our commitment to a standard of quality in both our product and our being in service to our customers. And NOTE that the slipcase will still be included FREE when all 3 volumes are purchased together, and of course as a complete series box-set.

Now some MORE fun stuff:

Volume 3 Cover Designs And Disc Art

ALSO up until now we've only shown the front cover art for Volume 3...well here's a look at the rest of the final designs:

Volume 3 Outside Front and Back cover art. (all Graphic designs for Volume 3 by Johann Mitchell)

Volume 3 Disc 1 art.

Volume 3 inside cover art.

Volume 3 Disc 2 art.

Hope you've enjoyed this revealing look at the designs for the Volume 3 and Slipcase packaging art, and that it will satisfy the hunger for actually holding it in your hot little hands...which will be soon...just a couple of more weeks, and remember we are still talking about delivery BEFORE CHRISTMAS and will announce here as soon as we are shipping! As always, we appreciate and thank you for your support and all the emails and well-wishes, and we apologize for yet another stupid and ridiculous and unavoidable delay for this mammoth undertaking.

Clear skies ahead!

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

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Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers the WEEK OF DECEMBER 14, 2011 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.
(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Saluting Our Veterans on Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

We've Still Got A Few Gremlins...

SO now for some fun stuff...

The Full-Series Three-Volume Slipcover

We haven't even hinted at what the slipcase looks like...until now. Following are the final (and very cool) designs by Johann Mitchell:

Full-Series DVD slipcase front cover with top and bottom panels. (all slipcover Graphic designs by Johann Mitchell)

Full-Series DVD slipcase 3D preview simulation.

Full-Series DVD slipcase back and side cover panels.

Full-Series DVD slipcase back cover (3D-view preview) simulating all 3 DVD volumes inserted.

Now some MORE fun stuff:

Volume 3 Cover Designs And Disc Art

ALSO up until now we've only shown the front cover art for Volume 3...well here's a look at the rest of the final designs:

Volume 3 Outside Front and Back cover art. (all Graphic designs for Volume 3 by Johann Mitchell)

Volume 3 Disc 1 art.

Volume 3 inside cover art.

Volume 3 Disc 2 art.

Clear skies ahead!

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

###

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

Volume 3 Update

2011-11-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

Illustration by Milton Caniff and Johann Mitchell

Due to a scheduling problem with our manufacturer we are having to push back our previously announced ship date to the week of December 5th, exactly 3 short weeks later than we previously announced. Note that this is nothing major just a hiccup and everyone that have pre-ordered will still have theirs well before Christmas!

On the bright side this will give those of you that haven't pre-ordered a little more time to do so (and cash in on the free 3 VOLUME FULL SERIES CUSTOM SLIPCASE!) that will go out to everyone that pre-orders and will be included in the same package as V3. Once we begin shipping V3, those that want the slipcase will have to pay a nominal fee (to be determined).

Again, my most sincere apologies for this last minute delay, I hope that another 3 weeks won't be a problem for you considering these remaining shows have been lost for over 50 years! I've been working on this project for nearly 6 years and I am so excited to be able to finally complete it and share it with all of you...thanks for your generosity and support and for hanging on with me on this sometimes bumpy ride ;-)

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

P.S. More Volume 3 art and details coming next post!

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Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers the week of December 5, 2011 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.
(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Happy Birthday Harry!

2011-11-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday wishes to Harry Grant Guyton on his 87th birthday!

Drawing of Harry by his favorite uncle, Milton Caniff!

Harry with our longtime friend Brinke Stevens at the San Diego Comic-Con 2007...it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!

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Everyone has Harry to thank for the resurrection of the Steve Canyon TV series...if it wasn't for him, it would still be "lost" to the ages. The resurgence in interest in all of Milton Caniff's work of late is directly attributable to Harry's commitment to keeping Milt's name alive. Here's to my friend and partner Harry and his unflagging devotion to his Uncle Milt and Aunt Bun.

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

P.S. More Volume 3 news coming next post! Watch for it!

Volume 3 Release Date Set!

2011-08-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Set your calendars for November 14, 2011...

Cover design for Volume 3 by Johann Mitchell

That's right, The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volume #3 (concluding the series) will be released November 14, 2011 and begin shipping that week...just in time for Christmas! (NOTE the updated release date is set for the week of December 5, 2011).

I'm keeping this post a brief one as I am short on time but just wanted to get the word out...

Harry and I know this will be good news to all of our supporters who have pre-ordered...some of you as long as two years ago...and we couldn't have done it without you! The gathering and preparation of materials for this Volume has been a very long and hard haul and there is still work to do to wrap up the bonus materials, graphics and more for this concluding volume...additional up-to-date details will be announced here as we finalize them.

The advance pre-sales have helped to complete the work on this volume...and we thank each and every one of you for your unflagging support. You are the real heros!

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To read more about The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volume 3, click here (and also check earlier posts elsewhere on our blog).

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So now the wait is nearly over... you can still pre-order yours today! (scroll down)

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Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

Happy Independence Day 2011

2011-07-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

235 Years! - 1776 - 2011

"Raising Of The Flag On Iwo Jima"

Art by Milton Caniff from "We Are The Flag" filmstrip, 1970

Remembering with thanks those who have fought and sacrificed for our independence.

Harry Guyton and John Ellis

The Milton Caniff Estate

Behind The Screen: Restoration Notes #1

2011-06-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

As work continues apace, I've been asked by more than a few people why THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume #3 seems to be taking FOREVER...

and...

I've also been asked by more than a few people to explain some of the hurdles and processes I am having to go through to bring this all to fruition.

Here's one example...look at the following picture of Corporal Fred Foote (aka Dean "Steve Canyon" Fredericks) that I utilized in my last post, and that I am using in both of the documentaries on Volume #3, "Dean Fredericks: Hollywood's Steve Canyon " and "The Making Of Steve Canyon"

Corporal Frederick J. Foote at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas 1943

(aka Dean Fredericks, star and namesake of STEVE CANYON)

Nice picture isn't it? The kind of picture you'd expect to see?

But it didn't start out that way...take a look at the way it looked when I first scanned it:

Raw scan prior to approximately 1 hour of manual digital restoration work.

Not every picture requires as much work to make it look good, but note that EVERY SINGLE PICTURE that I post here requires at the very least 5 or 10 minutes (by my hand) to make it presentable (well, to my personal standards anyway). Not counting all of the time I spend scanning each picture, and the detective work to actually find these images from where they have lain hidden over the years. So far I have posted over 300 of such images here...and have over 1000 more (in various stages of restoration) that are waiting to see the light of day, both here and many that will be debuting within one or both of the two documentaries on Volume #3!

As a "man of many hats", I just wanted to give you all some idea...and I'm sure you are beginning to get the picture: It's a lot of time consuming work for one person...and it's just one small aspect of what's going on to prepare THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume #3 for release this summer.

More "Behind The Screen" looks at what's going on will be coming in the days ahead. Thanks for tuning in, and remember to subscribe to our blog (using the form on the upper right sidebar) to avoid missing any of our future posts. And feel free to buy a dvd or spread the word to help us in the completion of Volume 3! See you here again soon!

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

Memorial Day

2011-05-29T17:39:00.000-07:00

Newspaper clipping from the Antelope Valley Ledger Gazette, Thursday May 10, 1945

Sgt. Fred J. Foote was recovering from being wounded in a fire-fight in New Guinea when he got the word that his brother "Bud" had been killed in a Japanese ambush on July 20, 1944. Fred had been shot in the left hand -- a wound not considered bad enough to send him home (but enough to earn him his first Purple Heart) -- and his unit was preparing for the invasion of the Philippines in October. He would miss his fallen brother for the rest of his life, and visited his grave in Hawaii whenever he could over the years.

Airman Edward "Bud" Foote

Edward "Bud" Foote enlisted in Los Angeles in March of 1942...just 7 months before his younger brother. While Fred had later joined the famed 1st Cavalry Division, Bud wanted to be a pilot and joined the Army Air Corps as a Private...he eventually attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant with the 5307th Composite Unit, more popularly known as MERRILL'S MARAUDERS as a C-47 pilot.

"Merrill's Marauder" Edward "Bud" Foote

Though they were only operational for 6 months, their exploits in Burma under impossible odds and horrible conditions are legendary. Their battles against the enemy's superior forces as well as struggles against constant torrential downpours, hunger and disease (which took more of their lives than the Japanese did) were noted when the unit was awarded a Distinguished Service Citation in recognition of their heroism. Bud Foote (and each soldier in the unit) also received The Bronze Star...though his was posthumous, and was accompanied by a Purple Heart.

Bronze Star and Purple Heart service medals

I'm certain those reading this until now have never heard of Lt. Edward G. Foote, but he gave his life in the service of our country back in July of 1944, and was a hero in the very true sense of the word.

Remember him the next time you watch an episode of Steve Canyon, for his brother, who also was a hero during WWII...

Corporal Frederick J. Foote at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas 1943

(aka Dean Fredericks, star and namesake of STEVE CANYON)

But that's a story we are saving for Steve Canyon Volume 3.

Remembering our Veterans and fallen service men and women on Memorial Day 2011.

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

Update: Operation Volume 3

2011-05-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

John Ellis sitting in front of Apollo capsule last September 25 in Chino at the Planes Of Fame Air Museum. Photo by Jan Paulshus. Click HERE for Jan's snazzy anaglyphic 3D version of this pic! (make sure red lense is on left eye and blue lense is on right eye to view properly).

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In spite of the long overdue delay in posts here, THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 3 is ALIVE AND WELL and still on low horizon approach. There have been problems, mostly annoying, some possibly avoidable, some not...and NONE fatal. As a friend said recently, "slow...but slow PROGRESS". So Volume 3 IS COMING but is regrettably still a few months away. Announcement of the release date is forthcoming.

I recognize that some of you have been waiting a LONG time since you pre-ordered, and that it may seem ludicrous BUT this is an unusual project, totally underfunded...and I want to remind everyone once again that this is not a throw-away product to us, not only is it a labor of love, but also a one-man operation...it just takes time and lots of it.

It's not "paint-by-number" either, every day and every decision is an adventure that effects everything else, and it's very hard to predict a schedule. I absolutely love what I'm doing and I thank each and every one of you that have written with encouraging letters and messages of support, they really perk my days! This is important to me to get it right...not perfect, just...accurate. It means a lot to me to honor Dean Fredericks and all the associated cast, crew and material to the best of my ability and I promise to have it in your hands not a minute later than is possible.

Think about this: Your pre-orders are what are making this possible! I consider that we are all in this together, shipmates on a journey...with the final destination just ahead!

You've Probably Noticed...

We haven't posted for a while due to a few technical glitches here on our website (involving images and media files) which are now gladly a thing of the past. I'm not a complainer and would rather talk about what's going RIGHT with the wrapping up of Steve Canyon Volume 3.

Pending Interviews

We are rescheduling several critical interviews with celebrities and Dean Frederick's family members that we had to postpone recently (due to circumstances REALLY beyond our control, such as extreme weather, distance and health issues): we heard from "The Virginian" James Drury (another Steve Canyon regular cast member) who called to let me know he is recovering from surgery and is looking forward to wrapping up his interview with us soon. We wish him well and look forward to sitting down in person and talking with him about his days on Steve Canyon!

James Drury as Lt. Richard Muller (flanked by Frank Maxwell as Major Barr on left and Dean Fredericks as Col. Steve Canyon on right) checking something sinister in the front wheel-well of an F-100 Super Sabre at oh-dark-hundred in the final filmed episode of Steve Canyon, "SABOTAGE" (directed by Walter Grauman).

More info on wrapping up other pending interviews is coming in the next few posts...so stay tuned!

MORE VOLUME 3 NEWS

We recently uncovered a treasure trove of information about the filming of the series through the kindness of director Walter Grauman, Chris Soldo and USC's Ned Comstock. Mr. Grauman had donated his directing notes and papers to USC and Mr. Soldo put me in touch with Mr. Comstock at USC (as he was aware of some Steve Canyon materials that were included in Walter's donation). Ned went on a hunt within USC's archive that was both above and beyond the call of duty, and which netted us not only Walter's extensive notes for the seven episodes he directed (and dozens of heretofore unseen newspaper clippings related to the show) but also the "daily production reports" for nearly every episode in the series!

This amazing find is extremely significant due to the fact that most of the details of each day of shooting were written down by the assistant director. So many questions that I have had have been answered in these papers and much of this material is going into the "making of" documentary in Volume 3. In fact it's caused me to revamp significant portions of the documentary and I am now finishing with renewed confidence. Our thanks go out to Ned, Chris and Walter for this amazing gift from which we will all benefit.

Clowning around on location at Van Nuys Airport during the filming of OPERATION NOSEWHEEL.

From left, Dean Fredericks, Col. Frank Ball, Abel Fernandez, and Jerry Paris. (also directed by Walter Grauman).

Photographed Wednesday December 3rd, 1958

More news on the horizon (and in separate posts)...I am going to try to post once a week from here on out until Volume 3 is released, so stick around...it's about to get very interesting!

And be sure to check out this related blog post by our pal Dean Mullaney concerning Steve Canyon and IDW Publishing's big CANIFF art book that's coming out this summer!

Again, Volume 3 is coming soon...we're on track and moving forward every day... andI thank everyone for their interest and patience...your support is appreciated!

More next week...roger that!

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Bob Burns On Board

2010-09-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

August 28, 2010, Burbank California:

Bob Burns brandishing one of his many original Steve Canyon treasures in his house-cum-museum in beautiful suburban Burbank last Saturday.

Well it finally happened. We've been talking about it since way back in 2006 and last Saturday my associate Tom Swyden and I finally got together with Bob and Kathy Burns and shot an interview with Bob for inclusion within the documentaries I am working on for Volume 3 of THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV!

Here's a a little peek featuring Bob as well as a promo for the Volume 3 episode "The Bomb":

"Bob Burns On Steve Canyon"

Bob will also be providing audio commentary on that episode as well which should be a lot of fun! I also shot interview footage that afternoon with famed illustrator and cover artist Stephen Hickman, Stephen's brother musician Lance Hickman, and Visual Effects maven Pat McClung, all big Steve Canyon fans, and we're glad to have them on board for Volume 3.

Now the promo for "The Bomb" has a bit of an interesting story. It was actually finished about ten months ago BUT was a casualty of the fatal hard drive crash that I reported at that time. I can tell you that it was really depressing to lose all the work that went into creating it (and other things).

Well when Bob and I were recording his interview I suddenly got an idea how I might resurrect this promo in spite of having lost all of the original files and media. Working from a text file I had saved to another drive (that listed all of the pieces), I was able to recreate it piece by piece by hand using a different formatted version of the episode that we had on another hard drive. It took a while but I am glad to report I feel much better now that it has been restored for your viewing pleasure.

It's interesting that had this not happened it would have gone out last year without Bob Burns mighty presence to give it that extra touch...so it worked out ultimately to everyone's advantage.

"The Bomb" was directed by Walter Grauman and written by John Hawkins, with star Dean Fredericks and series regulars Jerry Paris and Ted de Corsia PLUS guest stars John Anderson, Virginia Christine and Dabbs Greer.

Three boys, a clubhouse, a little red wagon and a live 250 lb. general purpose bomb! (Left to right) Gregory Irvin, Steve Wooten and Ricky Klein in a scene from "The Bomb", which aired Thursday March 12, 1959 on NBC primetime.

Here's another image from "The Bomb", this time a cool stereo 3D image for all you cats with two different colored lenses in your glasses:

3D anaglyph image from "The Bomb", which aired Thursday March 12, 1959 on NBC primetime. Use red/blue 3D glasses to view (with the red lense over your left eye). 3D process by John Ellis.

While we're at it here's another rare image from our files:

Steve Canyon (Dean Fredericks, left) with Dr. Francis Arnold (Barry Atwater) in a composite studio publicity shot from OPERATION MOBY DICK, which aired November 8, 1958 (available on Volume 1). Photo courtesy the family of Dean Fredericks.

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So to wrap this post up, work is proceeding apace on Volume 3 as I get closer to having all of the interviews and commentaries recorded. I will be trying to post more often to keep everyone apprised of the current status and final release date for Volume 3...it IS approaching...relentlessly...resolutely...and we are just as excited about it as you are.

Stay tuned.

John Ellis

Pacoima, California

P.S. Again, I recommend (if you want to stay "in the loop" and you haven't already) that you 1) Subscribe to this (our official website) using the form you find over on the right hand sidebar, so you can keep up with what is going on. 2) We also have a Steve Canyon page on FaceBook that we post to regularly with updates that are "on the fly" or too minor for this blog (our regular website). Much much up to date info there!

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Volume 3 News Update

2010-08-03T08:09:00.001-07:00

In Memoriam

Doris Jane Gossett 1940-2010

My sister Doris Gossett (left), my daughter Sara and myself (John Ellis), Thanksgiving 1985, Alexandria, VA. Photo by Cindy Weinstein.

My sister, Doris Gossett, passed away last month at the age of 69, after succumbing to a long term battle with type 1 Diabetes.

I was stunned: I didn't really expect this as she had survived so many "life threatening" health issues over the years (including a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant, deep staph infection and so many other things). Doris was a bona-fide mathematical genius who was "drafted" by the Naval Research Laboratory while in college in the early 60's and worked with them for her entire adult life.

Understand, please, that there most likely WOULDN'T be a restoration of STEVE CANYON if not for her. Doris not only raised me for a few years when I was very young but also sparked and continued to fan into flame my lifelong interests in the arts and sciences. She always encouraged me to do what interested me (as unlikely as it might seem for a farm kid from Ohio to succeed in these varied fields).

When I was 8 years old she took me up in her Piper Clipper and let me take the controls for a few terrifying yet cool moments I will never forget. When I was 9 she gave me a REAL paleontologist's rig (not a toy) for hunting and preserving fossils (which was one of my passions and still is). When I was 10 she gave me a "chemistry set"...not a "Gilbert" kid's set but many boxes of REAL erlenmeyer & florence flasks (and other pro lab gear), but more importantly a mortar and pestle, which I used for years (especially in my career in motion picture special effects).

She bought me many books on art and aircraft and military subjects and also my first plastic model kit (a midget racer). When she saw my finished build of it, she said "John it's very nice, but you aren't supposed to cut the decals apart and glue them on, you put the decal sheet in water and then they will slide right off and onto the model!". She was always so loving and so darned cool and her passing has affected me profoundly. I miss her dearly.

Doris was a big supporter of my illustration/writing/motion picture work and the Steve Canyon Restoration Project. She urged me to boldly initiate the Steve Canyon Project when others that I knew were warning me against doing it. They said that it was too risky and that I would be disappointed and that it just "wouldn't work out"...well Doris was right and the nay-sayers of doom were wrong, and so I just wanted you all to know just who she was, the part she played in this and how she has affected all of us and our love of The Steve Canyon Television Series.

###

Having said all of that (which has been very hard to write), I am sorry to report that I am still behind on the finishing of Volume 3. This is a MAMMOTH undertaking any way you look at it and is a tough task for me all by myself and with so little money that I have to work on additional paying jobs to help to fund this (and to keep a roof overhead and the lights on).

At the urging of many of you I plunged ahead with pre-sales and projected completion dates though I was uncomfortable trying to predict when it would be finished. One factor in all of this is trying to get critical materials that have been promised and recorded interviews that have also been promised...some for YEARS. I'm pleased to say that I finally was able to travel out of state and pick up some 200 images of Dean Fredericks' early life and military career, and to complete my interview with his daughter on camera. I only have a few local interviews to shoot then I will have all the pieces to complete Volume 3 as envisioned.

Exciting New Stuff:

On the upside we have uncovered even more phenomenal documents, photos and individuals during this period which continues to enrich the documentaries for Volume 3.

Dean Fredericks during basic training late 1942.

We now have a number of much needed (and never before seen) images of Dean Fredericks from the war years. We have also uncovered many new STEVE CANYON images along with vital information about the filming of the shows.

During the filming of OPERATION DIPLOMAT at Rogers Dry Lake (near Edwards AFB, CA) during the week of September 17, 1958.

Behind the scenes pictures from STEVE CANYON are rare, but we have managed to pull together quite a few unique and interesting images from several episodes...

Dean Fredericks (left) going over the script with Director Don Taylor during the filming of OPERATION DIPLOMAT at Rogers Dry Lake (near Edwards AFB, CA) during the week of September 17, 1958.

We also have managed to find a number of rare behind the scenes images and production stills from some of Dean's other films...

Dean Fredericks (center) with actor Richard Weber and famed WWII fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (seated) during the filming of THE PHANTOM PLANET (1961). Thanks to Drew Cook for identifying Pappy Boyington!

The most important materials by far...and the things we have been lacking until now, are images from Dean's life prior to becoming an actor in the early 1950's. This has made it hard to work on a documentary about his life, but now (as of this week) due to the kindness of his daughter, we now have many images of his mother and father and his older brother Bud.

Dean Fredericks (right) with his older brother Edward "Bud" Foote when they lived in the suburbs of Los Angeles circa 1932. Bud was a pilot and a member of "Merrill's Marauders", who were like the Rangers and later the Green Beret. Bud was killed in Myitkyina, Burma in July 1944. He received the Bronze Star for bravery and other honors.

We also have images of Dean after the war and between that time and when he began acting. All of this is SO VERY important to the proper telling of the story of Dean Fredericks on Volume 3.

So where do we stand?

I ask you to bear with us and give us a chance to complete Volume 3 the way it NEEDS to be completed. Though I am SERIOUSLY RELUCTANT to promise another finishing date at this point...I really have no choice but to say that I am HOPEFUL to be finished and releasing by the end of summer/beginning of fall of 2010. That's about the end of September/beginning of October. BELIEVE ME, I wish it were sooner but again I am literally going as fast as I can with this without the money, resources and manpower to grease the wheels of progress.

AGAIN, we are NOT a major studio (I work out of my own home), and while I used to be able to work for days on end without sleep, I have discovered that I am physically incapable of doing that any longer at my age. BUT I AM COMMITTED to finishing this project...and those that know me know my tenacity and focus and dedication to each and every project I have ever been involved with. I appreciate your support and patience and good humor, and I can say that The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volume 3 DVD is coming! and it will be well worth the wait!

John Ellis

Pacoima, California

P.P.S. Thanks to Tom Swyden, Laura Lozano and Rick Slugoski for their support above and beyond the call of duty of late on this project. Thanks also to the steadfast support of Harry and Yo, without whom Col. Canyon would still be sitting in the dark...

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

Big Thunder Bulletin: Brewer Brothers Model Kit Expo

2010-06-12T23:24:00.000-07:00

Just a quick bulletin from the Big Thunder Control Tower this time...

Abel Fernandez and I (John Ellis) will be appearing at the Brewer Brothers Model Kit Expo tomorrow (Sunday June 13th, 2010) at:

The Old World Village

German Hall & Restaurant

7561 Center ave. #49

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Admission $5 (free for 12 & under)...open to the public from 9am to 3pm...Rare & hard to find model kits, Military ephemera and lots more!

I'll be there all day (from 9am to 3pm) and Abel will be there from approx 11am on. Come on by and meet us and get an autograph from Abel and find out the latest on Vol 3...and OTHER news...see you there!

Here's Abel Fernandez in the Steve Canyon episode THE FIGHT. Abel also co-starred (as Agent William Youngfellow) with Robert Stack in THE UNTOUCHABLES for 5 years from 1959 to 1963!

Dean Hess & Steve Canyon

2010-05-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day!

Colonel Dean Hess, USAF
I think it fitting on this Memorial day to FINALLY be getting to the long promised post on Korean War icon and hero Dean Hess.

Dean Hess taken in his home on March 14, 2009.
On March 14th of 2009 I had the pleasure to sit down with Dean Hess in his home and reminisce with him on his involvement with the Steve Canyon TV series.

From left, author James H. Farmer, Dean Hess and John Ellis. Photo by Calane Farmer, March 14, 2009.
My friend James Farmer (and associates Chuck Carson and Michael McMaster) had invited me to tag along with them that day to their taping of interviews at the Air Force Museum for their documentary "By Faith I Fly", the story of Dean Hess. I had never been to the Air Force Museum and spent about as much time wandering in amazement as I did watching them shoot their footage of Col. Hess, Sgt. Joe von Rembow, Col. Mike Bellovin and Col. Ernest Craigwell (whom I had shared breakfast with that morning and had listened to his USAF tales with great interest). I was then invited to join them at Dean Hess' home for lunch and further interviews to be recorded there.

During lunch, one of Col. Hess' sons noticed my Steve Canyon cap and said to me "You know pops knew Dean Fredericks" and told me to ask his father about it. So I sat down between Jim Farmer and Col. Hess and asked him how he knew Dean Fredericks, and Hess said "Well I was the USAF Official Liaison to the Steve Canyon television series" and I suspect I looked like Jim Farmer did when I looked back at him...his mouth was hanging open! We had no idea! This was both serendipity and an amazing revelation! Who knew what secrets were held in Col. Hess' memories? While I continued to interrupt Dean Hess' lunch with questions, Jim Farmer went over and talked to his associates (Mike and Chuck).

Poster for the 1957 Universal International motion picture about Col. Dean Hess. (Universal International studios is also the place where Steve Canyon was made)
Jim returned and said to us that once they had finished taping his interviews with Hess and the others that (if Hess is willing) they would be glad to shoot an interview for our Steve Canyon documentary. Col. Hess agreed wholeheartedly and what follows is an excerpt of our talk that day:

Dean Hess interview excerpts
More of this interview appears in our documentary "Steve Canyon On TV" in the 3rd and final DVD of THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Coming in late June 2010 (at the earliest). We're sorry it is taking so long to finish, but as we've explained we do not have the resources of a huge studio behind us and are doing our best to make this as great and special as we can. Pre-orders and ordering our other products helps us tremendously...and helping spread the word to others does too. Thanks to everyone for their kindness and support and for sticking along with us in the co-pilot's seat!

I want to thank everyone that was involved that day for their assistance in making this meeting and interview with Dean Hess an enjoyable and enriching experience. Special thanks to Ron Kaplan and the National Aviation Hall Of Fame for helping to make this possible. Here's the official trailer for "By Faith I Fly", the documentary on Dean Hess by James H. Farmer, Michael McMaster, Chuck Carson and their Up In The Air Pictures :

Official trailer for "By Faith I Fly", the story of Dean Hess
Coming up more snippets and tidbits, clips, tips and news about THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 3...and even a few OTHER PROJECTS that are coming down the runway...! So stay tuned.

###

Pre-order Steve Canyon Volume 3 (below) today!

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers approximately (at the earliest) late summer, 2010 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.

(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Updates from the Runup Pad...

2010-03-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

Volume 3 News and More:

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

As many of you already know The Complete Steve Canyon on TV Volume 3 is going to be late. I am very sorry to say that it will be delayed until at least late May and possibly into June. The reasons for this are many and varied.

Due to a number of factors...not the least of which is the fact that we recently lost some of the critical computer files we have been working on for this volume for MONTHS. Before you advise "backup everything" we also lost our backup drive in the same accident. I have been scrambling to get caught back up but there is just too much (and too little money) to make this deadline.

Pre-orders for Vol 3 have been a tiny fraction of what they were for the other two volumes...and we realize it is mainly the result of our current poor economy...but the upshot is that we are trying to make each dollar count for far more result than is reasonable. We WILL make it and get Vol 3 out...just not quite as soon as we had hoped for.

I want to stress that the quality of the release is what is most important to us and we will not rush just to meet an arbitrary deadline. We are a very VERY small operation and I pretty much do everything here, and am going as fast as I possibly can to prepare all of the materials we are all looking forward to seeing to wrap up the series on DVD.

Exciting New Stuff:

On the upside we have uncovered even more phenomenal information, photos and individuals during this period which continues to enrich the documentaries for Volume 3. One such individual (whom we have recorded a preliminary interview with) is Lt. Col. Russ Rickard, USAF (Ret.) who while stationed at George AFB in the late 1950's flew the F-102 for the Steve Canyon TV series. We're glad to welcome Colonel Rickard (and his son David who put us in touch with his father.

Lt. Col. Russ Rickard in front of his F-102 (as a self professed "young Lieutenant") while with the 94th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at California's George AFB. The Colonel told us about flying the plane for the Steve Canyon title sequence (and how it was filmed)...along with other sequences and pilots, as well as flying for the classic Disney feature "The Absent Minded Professor" and other interesting tidbits. Photo courtesy David Rickard.

I suggest (if you haven't already) that you subscribe to this (our official website) using the form you find over on the right hand sidebar, so you can keep up with what is going on. We also have a Steve Canyon page on FaceBook that we post to regularly with updates that are too small for our regular website.

Thanks to everyone we have heard from for your kindness and words of encouragement and I hope that you and those that have pre-ordered Volume 3 can be patient just a bit longer. Many of you that have written are EXACTLY who I thought of when I decided to tackle this most daunting project 4 years ago...and I am looking forward to your comments on the completion of this quest.

Again I apologize for our delay.

Conventions:

A snap from the Valley Con modelmaking convention from March 7th, 2010. From left, Abel Fernandez (Steve Canyon's "Sgt. Featherstone"), John Ellis (that's me), Jim Busby (Aerospace Legacy Foundation) and Russ Maharas (of the USAF Hollywood Liason Office). A great time was had by all! Abel especially enjoyed signing autographs and meeting and talking with a lot of fans at that show.

Tomorrow (Sunday March 21st) I will be at the Kit Collectors Exposition and Sale in Buena Park, CA to meet and greet and answer questions and will be showing clips from upcoming Volume 3. Click here and here for more info.

Joining me will be Aviation Film Historian James H. Farmer (who has provided commentary on numerous Steve Canyon Episodes on our DVD sets). 9am to 3pm, $5 admission (children under 12 with accompanying adult FREE). I'll be sporting my black Steve Canyon cap! Hope to see you there!

More info coming up...and I swear we'll get to the piece on Dean Hess...and sorry it just keeps getting pushed back. Stay tuned...

Valley Con 2010 - Model Contest and Swap Meet

2010-03-06T12:15:00.001-08:00

Quick Note Dept: ABEL FERNANDEZ and I (John Ellis) will be attending this event in Pasadena, CA this Sunday (tomorrow) March 7th...a chance for local folks to meet Abel and get an autograph...and see some some clips from episodes and MORE coming in Volume 3! Also RUSS MAHERAS of the USAF Hollywood Liaison Office will also be joining us...come join the fun (it's $5 for all day and it opens to the public at 9am).

Here's Abel Fernandez in the Steve Canyon Episode THE FIGHT. Abel also co-starred (as Agent William Youngfellow) with Robert Stack in THE UNTOUCHABLES for 5 years from 1959 to 1963!

Click here and here for more information.

Date: Sunday, 03/07/10 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Open To The Public

VALLEY CON 2010 presented by the Pasadena Modelers Society See hundreds of models, including airplanes, cars, motorcycles, military vehicles and much more. Enjoy contests and 40 vendors selling sought-after models.

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; $5 admission

Pasadena Convention Center 300 East Green Street Pasadena, CA 91101-2308 (626) 795-9311

See you there!

Robert Francis Hoy - 1927-2010

2010-02-22T16:54:00.000-08:00

Bob Hoy as Master Sergeant Pete Berger in Steve Canyon

Two weeks ago today, on Monday February 8, 2010 our dear friend and Steve Canyon cast member Bobby Hoy left us. He was claimed by pneumonia caused by a 6 month struggle with cancer. It was a bit of a surprise to me, even though he had been in and out of the hospital recently, he was such a tough guy! Ex Marine, stuntman and actor, director and founding member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures to name a few of the things Bobby was.

Bobby's Golden Boot Award. (Photo by Ginny Shook).

He was a friend to many, some famous, some not. He treated me like he had known me for years when we met and I loved him for that. He wasn't afraid to make fun of himself or those around him which was also very endearing. He was so well loved by his peers that although they stopped giving out THE GOLDEN BOOT AWARD in 2007 (for significant contributions to the western film and tv genre) they gave Bobby the award in the hospital on January 28 which pleased him immensely.

Ken Lynch (as Sgt. Maconochie on left) and Bob Hoy in OPERATION BIG THUNDER. Bobby was terrific in "Steve Canyon". He said on several occasions that the series "gave a lot of opportunities to everyone that worked on (or in) them", a sentiment shared by (casting director) Gene Reynolds and Abel Fernandez.

"I played in STAR TREK with Leonard Nimoy. I played a rock!". Bob revealed (with his typical tongue in cheek humor) that he had played the Horta (in tandem with the creator of same, stuntman and good friend Janos Prohaska), one of the most famous creatures ever in that classic tv series. He was also cast in that same episode as the "pergium" miner and tunnel guard "Sam", the first person you see and hear in that episode (titled THE DEVIL IN THE DARK). This is arguably the best episode of the series to many, including star William Shatner, so it is fitting that Bobby was an integral part of it!

Bob Hoy middle right in the classic Star Trek episode THE DEVIL IN THE DARK as "Sam". Yes that's a familiar face standing in front of him, Ken Lynch (see previous image above).

"The casting director for Steve Canyon called me into his office. It was Gene Reynolds who would become a famous director and co-creator of both the "M*A*S*H" and "Lou Grant" tv series', Gene told me that he was hiring me as a regular for the series, and to just show up on set. I asked him why no audition, and he said he had no doubt I could do this, and if (Executive Producer) Mike Meshekoff threw a script at me and asked for an audition, to throw it back in his face and say "Gene hired me!". "

Previously unpublished pic of me pointing at Bobby and being flanked by Abel Fernandez, taken right after our second commentary recording session for Steve Canyon Volume 2 on Friday March 20, 2009.

That was the first time we gathered (with Steve Canyon co-star Abel Fernandez), at the office here to record commentary tracks on Thursday March 5th, 2009. We finished the commentaries on Friday March 20th. Both times I had coffee and doughnuts waiting, which we all enjoyed. I'm just saying that's the way it's done, you know? If you listen to the commentaries they did for Volume 2, you can use the following picture to visualize the fun we were having here:

Bob and Abel on the couch here in the office. Note the box of doughnuts between them that Abel has his elbow on...no doubt guarding zealously!

Bob had a great time with us, so much in fact that he stayed and provided commentary with Abel on an episode he wasn't even in, OPERATION SOUVENIR. Once during the recording he asked Abel (tongue in cheek) "You were in the military?" knowing full well that Abel was a paratrooper in WWII, and when Abel replied with a puzzled "Yeah?", Bob added "Which side?".

###

Well, If you want to read more about this great man, brilliant stuntman, excellent actor and director who made our world a more fun and greater place, go to Bob Hoy on the Internet Movie Data Base. There are excellent tributes at The LA Times, and also at The Signal. Note also Bobby's website at BobHoy.com, which is maintained by the wonderful Ginny Shook, who put us in touch with him in the first place. Our sympathies go out to Kiva Hoy, Bob's devoted and loving wife of 22 years, and to Bob's son Christopher.

So long Bobby, you were a good troop.

A Hero By George!

2010-01-30T23:55:00.000-08:00

I'm going to skip the Dean Hess post just one more time here to tell about something fabulous that just happened. First of all, this man is a hero:

(click images for larger view)

Actor, hero and friend George Stover

Now George may not look like Steve Canyon (i.e. "the hero type") but he really is and I'm going to tell you why: You wouldn't be reading this blog nor seeing any of these Steve Canyon episodes if it weren't for George. Back in the 1990's my pal George kindly introduced me to the Steve Canyon TV series (by way of the pilot film OPERATION TOWLINE).

For some reason the show just rolled around in the back of my subconscious until 2005. That's when I became intrigued (obsessed perhaps) with the lack of information available on the series and thus began my winding flight-path to where we are now with the recovery, restoration and release of the series on DVD.

ANYWAY, George recently found and sent to me his copy of the pilot film, which is the ONLY existing decent quality copy we know of that has (among other things) this:

Here's an actual frame from Milton Caniff's introduction to the Steve Canyon Pilot Film.

It's a minute and a half intro by the man himself, Milton Caniff, that was filmed in the summer of 1958 and attached to a few 16mm prints of the pilot that were screened at Air Force Bases around the world. It is very rare, and it replaces the low quality copy we have used to screen at Comic-Con, Reel Fest and other places! Even Milton Caniff's personal copy of the unaired version in our archive doesn't have these materials! But now we have it for inclusion in Volume 3, and it's all thanks to George!

Another frame from the "Stover" Steve Canyon pilot film

AND like I said, none of this would have likely happened and we probably wouldn't be enjoying ol' Col. Steve if George hadn't been so kind to me way back when. So let's raise a big mug of Ovaltine to George who has impacted all of us so generously today and yesterday. Thanks George! Note that George has appeared in MANY movies, including two of mine (INVADER and TWILIGHT OF THE DOGS) and several of John Waters' films. Click here to visit George's Internet Movie Database page for his full list of credits, and here to find his Facebook page.

###

For a clip this time, here's one of the more popular Chesterfield Commercials from 1958:

Titled TEST PILOT, this commercial was produced by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company (L&M) specifically for airing during the Steve Canyon series. Great planes in this one! This commercial can be found during the first commercial break of OPERATION JETTISON on THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 1.

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Ok, to wrap things up...so we REALLY REALLY PROMISE...next time on the runup pad is Col. Dean Hess, who besides being a Korean War hero, and the subject of the 1957 feature film BATTLE HYMN (see below), was the USAF Official Liaison to the Steve Canyon TV series!

Poster for the 1957 Universal International motion picture about Col. Dean Hess. (Universal International studios is also the place where Steve Canyon was made)

###

Please help us lift off with Volume 3 ... advance pre-order yours today! (scroll down)

###

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers approximately late summer, 2010 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.

(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Steve Canyon: The Trap

2010-01-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

Here's a promo for another GREAT upcoming Volume 3 STEVE CANYON episode, titled THE TRAP:

This clip features Jerry Paris, Bert Freed, Sid Clute, William Schallert and Dean Fredericks.

THE TRAP
Show #31 (in completion order)
Production #9235
NBC First Run Tuesday April 21, 1959
NBC Rerun Tuesday August 11, 1959
ABC Summer Rerun Thursday June 16, 1960
Photographed: Feb 18-19-20, 1959
Directed by Walter Grauman
Written by John Hawkins

Major "Willy" Williston crashes his F-104 Starfighter during a test, trapping him inside, and Steve races against time to free him from the twisted wreckage.

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That's all for now...more news and clips coming right up! As we promised last time, (and we really mean it THIS time!) NEXT UP on the flight line is Dean Hess (see picture below) who besides being a Korean War hero was the USAF Official Liaison to the Steve Canyon TV series!

Colonel Dean Hess in his F-51 Mustang in Korea circa 1951

###

PLEASE help us keep on keepin' on ... advance pre-order yours today! (scroll down)

###

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

More Volume 3 News From The Flight Line!

2010-01-14T16:05:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday (January 10th) was an amazing day. Arthur Marks, director of 3 excellent Steve Canyon episodes from 1959 (among other things) invited myself, videographer Laura Lozano and TV archivist Peter Greenwood into his home to record his memories of working on the series.

(click images for larger view)

That's Arthur Marks in the foreground and me (John Ellis) in the background, sporting our flashy Steve Canyon accouterments!

We talked about many aspects of his work on the series for nearly an hour, which included details about his work on Perry Mason, I Spy and other leading edge TV series that he directed episodes of over the years. Portions of this interview will be included in THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 3 this coming spring. The full interview will eventually be available online.

Here's an actual frame from the interview of Arthur displaying his bound copy of his Steve Canyon teleplays.

During the interview I asked Mr. Marks if he had kept any memorabilia from the series, and he produced a bound volume containing the scripts for his 3 episodes that he directed for STEVE CANYON in 1959!

Here's a closer view of the gold leaf embossed leather cover to his bound volume of scripts. Arthur had all of his scripts bound this way over the years for his office library.

Following our video interview we recorded audio commentary for all three of his Steve Canyon episodes...marvelous facts and details emerged that we are sure that fans of the series will certainly enjoy as bonus materials on THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 3.

Here's a sample of the commentary track for THE MULLER STORY:

Note this brief clip features James Griffith, George Macready, James Drury & Dean Fredericks.

Here's a longer promo for another Arthur Marks STEVE CANYON episode, titled THE KOREAN STORY:

This clip features Wynn Pearce and Dean Fredericks.

And finally here is a previously posted promo clip from Arthur Marks 3rd directed STEVE CANYON episode (and arguably the most popular show of the series) OPERATION INTERCEPT:

Clip features Dean Fredericks, Jeanne Tatum, Jerry Paris and Ingrid Goude.

Thanks to Arthur and Phyllis Marks for their wonderful hospitality, and for taking the time to share some memories with us. And special thanks to Peter Greenwood for setting this up for us and making this a reality!

That's all for now...more news and clips coming right up! Next on the flight line is Dean Hess, who besides being a Korean War hero was the USAF Official Liaison to the Steve Canyon TV series!

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Please help us keep on keepin' on ... advance pre-order yours today! (scroll down)

###

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers the week of December 5, 2011 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.

(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Stop The Presses! Volume #3 News!

2010-01-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

(click images for larger view)

That's Arthur Marks in the foreground and me (John Ellis) in the background, sporting our flashy Steve Canyon accouterments!

Here's an actual frame from the interview of Arthur displaying his bound copy of his Steve Canyon teleplays.

Here's a closer view of the gold leaf embossed leather cover to his bound volume of scripts. Arthur had all of his scripts bound this way over the years for his office library.

So now the wait is over... you can advance pre-order yours today! (scroll down)

###

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers the week of December 5, 2011 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.

(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

2009-12-25T12:52:00.000-08:00

Flaps Up! Pre-Order Volume 3!

2009-11-29T20:05:00.000-08:00

Today is yet another anniversary! Exactly 51 years ago today, on Saturday November 29th, 1958, the Steve Canyon episode OPERATION MUSHROOM premiered on NBC. Told in documentary fashion, the curious public got a detailed and early look into just what went into an atomic test. Never mind that Steve Canyon didn't REALLY drop that bomb...but this episode was so popular it aired twice on NBC and once again on ABC (in 1960)!

Preliminary rough front cover design for Volume 3 by Johann Mitchell

Moving on, the episode that everyone is anxious to see again is OPERATION INTERCEPT, which Time Magazine called "a neat exercise in airborne shock"...

Above is a frame from the 28th Steve Canyon episode "Operation Intercept"...now here's an extended clip from the episode:

So now that we have your attention, and we know that you really really really want to see "Operation Intercept" in its entirety...

On this auspicious occasion we are announcing that THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 3 DVD is slated for a spring release and that we are now making available advance Pre-Order sales of this 2 disc DVD through the PayPal "Add to Cart" button below. Continuing from the first 24 episodes presented in Volumes 1 and 2, this final DVD set will include the following final episodes of the series:

Episode 25) Iron Curtain

Episode 26) Blackmail

Episode 27) Room 313

Episode 28) Operation Intercept

Episode 29) The Bomb

Episode 30) The Muller Story

Episode 31) The Trap

Episode 32) The Sergeant

Episode 33) The Korean Story

Episode 34) Sabotage

There will also be extras on the discs (similar to what was included on Volume One and Two) such as episode commentary tracks...we are still finalizing the artwork and contents at this time. Further details are TO BE ANNOUNCED here in the pages of our blog and we recommend subscribing to Steve Canyon On DVD by using the form on the right hand sidebar on this page (it's free!). We have been getting a lot of mail about Volume Three and we don't want to delay any longer to make advance orders available even though the DVDs won't be available until approximately June. (Note that the official release date WAS November 14, 2011, but is now set for December 5, 2011).

One key extra will be the ORIGINAL PILOT VERSION of the very first episode OPERATION TOWLINE, which has additional scenes, footage and different head and tail title sequences than what was in the broadcast version that was in Volume 1.

I will say that there will definitely be audio commentary tracks for every episode (like we did in Volume 2). Commentators this time will include Abel Fernandez, James H. Farmer, Brad Ulvila and more. We will also be including some DVD-Rom content, including the screenplay for the unproduced episode PROJECT B-58!

There's cool aircraft again (as you would expect in Steve Canyon) such as F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-102 and TF-102A Delta Dagger, B-47 Stratojet, KB-50 Supertanker, B-52 Stratofortress, F-104 Starfighter and others (including the Soviet MiG-15)! Some of these later episodes were trying to focus more on drama than hardware but having said that, there's still some great aircraft footage in this volume!

There are bunches of well known performers in these shows, such as Abel Fernandez, Jerry Paris, Ted De Corsia, Ingrid Goude, Robert Sampson, James Drury, Werner Klemperer, Celia Lovsky, Barbara Beaird, Ross Martin, Dara Massey, Amanda Blake, Roy Thinnes, Jack Grinnage, Nelson Leigh, John Anderson, Dabbs Greer, Virginia Christine, George MacReady, James Griffith, Bert Freed, Claude Akins, Ron Ely, Hal Smith, Robert Sampson, Frank Maxwell, James Hong, Weaver Levy...and more!

Directors are Walter Grauman, Lamont Johnson, Arthur Marks and Ted Post. Writers are John Hawkins, William Spier, David Haft, Tony Barrett, Joseph Landon, Shelly Colbert and Milton Caniff.

We don't have an EXACT release date yet, so we are just going to say the our TARGET release date is ROUGHLY spring 2010. (Note that the official release date is now set: early January 2012!) There is still a LOT of work to do on additional extras for this volume...more details will be announced here soon. The advance pre-sales will help provide much needed funds to actually complete the work on this volume...and we thank each and every one of you for your unflagging support.

For more detailed information about what EXACTLY is going to be included in The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volume 3, keep tuning in here in the weeks to come.

Note that even though domestic and overseas shipping rates have gone up this year, we are going to keep the $19.95 (postage-paid) price for the time being.

So now the wait is over... you can advance pre-order yours today! (scroll down)

###

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 3 NOW!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 3 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Pre-Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers early January 2012 via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD will ONLY be available directly from us (for the time being)...so reserve your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.
ALSO NOTE that only those that Pre-Order Volume 3 will get the special three volume slipcase (mailed in the same package) for free (as our gift to those who have supported us by pre-ordering)...once we release Volume 3 there will be an additional charge to get the custom printed slipcase which will hold all 3 volumes of Steve Canyon!

(NOTE that you must pre-order Volume 3 separately from any other items that we offer here...we apologise for the inconvenience but it is necessary for us to do it this way at this time)

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Whither Steve Canyon Volume 3?

2009-11-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

It was this week last year that we released THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 1 ...and although we would prefer waiting till closer to the actual release date, the demands of YOU, our friends and followers of this adventure have suggested we start taking orders NOW...an act of faith I suppose...
Click on image to enlarge

Here's Steve Canyon's "poppa" Milton Caniff holding one of his artist reference models (an F-100 Super Sabre) for an NBC publicity shot for the Steve Canyon TV series back in 1958! (Photo taken by Bob Goldwater (NBC) August 11, 1958 in the Caniff home in High Tor New York).

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We're shooting now for a February or March release (and earlier if possible)...that it's reasonably achievable (with all of the work left to do on this last volume)...we've been battling with a lack of funds to continue at a steady pace. We also just had a hard drive fail (with materials that were already completed for Volume 3 on it)...meaning that they either need to be recovered or redone, either way it's a costly prospect. (Anybody out there that can help recover files from a hard drive with mechanical failure..NOT software failure...we'd love to hear from you!).

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet bomber (with JATO jet assisted take-off) from the Steve Canyon episode OPERATION INTERCEPT, arguably the most memorable and much anticipated show of the series (which will be included in Volume 3).

I meant for this to be a brief post...so I'll just say let us know your thoughts on this plan (email link below) or as a direct comment on this post...OR via our Facebook page...and we'll post our decision in the next day or two.

###

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe and let us know what you think. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

The Girls of Steve Canyon - Part 5

2009-11-21T11:35:00.001-08:00

Sue Randall

Actual publicity photo from our archives. Caption reads, #9207-10 "Lt. Colonel Steve Canyon (Dean Fredericks) explains the workings of Lockheed Hercules to passenger Addie Malone (Sue Randall) before take-off on overseas flight in the STEVE CANYON episode, "OPERATION JETTISON".

I can't believe we've done all of these "Girls of" posts and have never done one on everybody's favorite Sue Randall just as lovely as ever as "Sgt. Addie Malone" in the Steve Canyon episode OPERATION JETTISON!

Click on images to enlarge

Sue Randall with Tige Andrews (middle) and Steve canyon himself Dean Fredericks in an actual frame from our restoration of OPERATION JETTSION on DVD.

We have gotten a lot of traffic on our website from people searching for images of "Miss Landers" and "Sue Randall"...Sue was a regular on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER from 1958 to 1963 (playing Beaver's teacher "Miss Alice Landers)...her first appearance on that show was probably photographed at about the same time as her single STEVE CANYON appearance, which was photographed on August 15, 18 and 19, 1958. She appeared in about an even 100 tv shows and movies from 1955 to 1967. Here's a salute to Sue Randall!

Sue Randall and Michael Galloway in a tense moment in OPERATION JETTISON

OPERATION JETTISON

Show #6

Production #9207

NBC First Run Saturday October 11, 1958

NBC Rerun Tuesday July 28, 1959

Photographed: Aug 15-18-19, 1958

Directed by Andrew McCullough

Written by Sidney Carroll

There’s king size trouble for Steve when his passengers become

hysterical after the plane develops engine trouble.

With: Tige Andrews, John Hoyt, Sue Randall, Michael Galloway, Paul Comi,

William Ching, John Ward, De Forest Kelley, Rayford Barnes and Norm Alden.

Dedication:

“This film is dedicated to the Tactical Air Command’s 773rd Troop Carrier Squadron

Whose Motto is: “The Blue Eagle Squadron – First Where Action Calls”

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Also note that Sue Randall's episode OPERATION JETTISON is included on THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV, Volume 1, which is available for purchase below.

###

Click button below to order this DVD.
ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 1!

READY TO SHIP!

ORDER NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

VOLUME 2 IS ALSO NOW AVAILABLE & VOLUME 3 IS COMING SOMETIME IN LATE 2009 OR EARLY 2010 AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THIS BLOG SOON.

Click button below to Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD is NOW SHIPPING via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US "overseas" customers).
REMEMBER this DVD is ONLY available direct from us...here and on our ebay store!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.

Click button above to order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

From The Archive...

2009-11-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

Harry and I want to thank everyone for the words of encouragement and support and all of the lovely emails and communications we've been getting lately. We are hard at work trying to make The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volume 3 DVDs just as nice and special as the first two volumes.

Here's a little something from our archives:

While we're hard at work on Volume 3...here's the man himself Milton Caniff reviewing NBC publicity materials for the Steve Canyon TV series back in 1958! (Photo taken by Bob Goldwater (NBC) August 11, 1958 in the Caniff home in High Tor New York).

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Don't be left out of the action! Get some Steve Canyon goodness for yourself today!

###

Click button below to order this DVD.ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 1!

READY TO SHIP!

ORDER NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

VOLUME 2 IS ALSO NOW AVAILABLE & VOLUME 3 IS COMING SOMETIME IN LATE 2009 OR EARLY 2010 AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THIS BLOG SOON.

Click button below to Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

Happy Veteran's Day 2009

2009-11-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

Harry and I (and Milton Caniff and Dean Fredericks in absentia) wish to acknowledge our past and present service men and women on this day, for their loyalty and devotion and patriotic service and sacrifices made, that we as americans and citizens of planet earth can enjoy a safe life and live as free individuals. Thank you one and all.

Dean Fredericks & Milton Caniff with two USAF Nurses in 1959. Photo by Sam Goldstein. Photo courtesy of OSU.

TDY: Temporary Duty Yonder

2009-11-06T23:30:00.000-08:00

...but first...

(click picture for larger image)

Here's an audio message from Abel Fernandez:

(Use controls above to play message)

The picture above is from the Steve Canyon Episode THE SERGEANT. Here's another:

From left to right, Abel Fernandez (Airman Featherston), Dean Fredericks (Steve Canyon), Pete Randall (Ron Ely), and Sergeant Brecker (Claude Akins) in this episode directed by Walter Grauman (who directed 7 episodes of the series). Did you know that the fights in this episode were choreographed by Abel Fernandez, who is a boxer in real life? It's true!

Now here's the list of episodes that will be included in The Complete Steve Canyon on TV Volume 3 DVD set...coming soon:

Episode 25) Iron Curtain
Episode 26) Blackmail
Episode 27) Room 313
Episode 28) Operation Intercept
Episode 29) The Bomb

Episode 30) The Muller Story
Episode 31) The Trap
Episode 32) The Sergeant
Episode 33) The Korean Story
Episode 34) Sabotage

Plus:

The original pilot version of the first episode OPERATION TOWLINE (with different titles and 4 additional scenes totaling over 2 minutes that were never ever broadcast anywhere in the world)

And:

Documentaries and MORE DETAILS coming in the days ahead!

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Now about my "TDY"...it's not really "yonder" but...sales of the DVDs have been "light" lately and the economic challenges that are effecting us all have forced me to divide my time between Steve Canyon and working on outside projects to help to try and keep the lights on and a roof overhead...as a result I've been working 16 hour days seven days a week and running myself ragged. This is why I've not posted officially lately...it's time consuming to put posts together that are worthwhile...I just don't like doing things halfway.

I recommend to all of you that follow us to join our Steve Canyon Facebook group and our Twitter account to get frequent news tidbits (where I don't have to plan an involved post). You can also subscribe to Johann's Lost Arts blog where she frequently talks about her work for us. Otherwise I will try to do more frequent posts here. I know everyone is waiting to hear just when Volume 3 is coming and right now it's not looking possible until after the end of the year. I'll just say it'll be out just as soon as I can get everything done correctly...and please understand that I want to get this released asap...for a LOT of reasons.

One issue slowing us down is that we are still gathering documentary materials for use in Vol 3 and have been waiting on a significant cache that just can't be mailed or shipped which I have to travel to Arizona to retrieve...and we just don't have the money presently to make a trip. Any of our friends who are airline employees have comp or companion tickets LA to Arizona...or a private plane...or can get me both ways there by military transport or even a fast burro? Drop me a line if you think you can help with this issue. One way or another I WILL get there and back...hopefully sooner rather than later. (NOTE that this issue is in the process of being resolved courtesy of our longtime associate Tom Swyden. Thanks Tom!).

There is one upside, and that is that the longer it takes the more info and materials pop up for inclusion...to wit, we recently heard from Jules "Gary" Alexander, founding member of THE ASSOCIATION (1960's famed musical group), who talked about his friendship and working with Dean Fredericks! There's not been much printed about Dean over the years...I'm certain that the documentary on him that we are preparing for Vol 3 will be a revelation for many.

Signing off for now! More news soon...so keep watching the skies!

###

Thanks to everyone that has helped spread the word about the return of Steve Canyon!

###

Click button below to order this DVD.ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 1!

READY TO SHIP!

ORDER NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

VOLUME 2 IS ALSO NOW AVAILABLE & VOLUME 3 IS COMING SOMETIME IN LATE 2009 OR EARLY 2010 AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THIS BLOG SOON.

Click button below to Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

NewsFlash: Drex Files, Johann & MORE!

2009-07-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

Our pal Doug Drexler over at the uber-popular Drex Files blog just did a very nice piece on us called THE RETURN OF STEVE CANYON! with lots of great pictures and many many comments.

There's Doug hisself sporting the latest in "wild blue yonder head gear", and a 1959 trade-ad for our favorite noggin-protector!

Click image to enlarge in new window, and click here to go to the full article at Drex Files

In a special arrangement with us, Doug has also started running the Steve Canyon comic strip adventure OPERATION EEL ISLAND from 1951 in a nice LARGE format, and (usually) daily (or at least every other day...sharing a spot with his currently running DICK TRACY comic strip serialization from 1964! Neither are to be missed!

Note that Doug features just a whole lot of AMAZING pictures and articles on a whole lot of topics, and is simply MUST READING if you are a fan of Star Trek, science fiction and the space program.

Not to sit on their laurels, Drex Files have also posted a major article called "Hey! Airforce!", a piece about our very own illustrious DVD cover designer JOHANN MITCHELL and her time in the US Air Force in 1962! Don't you just love the covers and disc art she's done for us?

Wow Johann! Way to go...and it's not hard to love this gal in uniform!

Click image to enlarge in new window, and click here to go to the full article at Drex Files

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Although we have no programming planned for the San Diego Comic-Con this year I still plan on being there part of the time. You should be able to catch me (at the very least) on Preview Night (Wednesday) and Sunday at or near the National Cartoonists Society booth #1307. The NCS will be selling our hats and dvds until they run out...so be sure to drop by and say hello and rattle your ejection seat handles! We'll be looking for you there.

In other news, work continues on THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3 DVD, due out near the end of this year, specific details will be posted here soon, watch for 'em! Be sure to order our other products to help support us to finish this worthy effort. And don't forget to join us on our FaceBook page and also on our Twitter page for all the latest news about what we are up to!

Hope to see you at Comic-Con! Keep 'em flyin'...

John Ellis

Producer

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NOW AVAILABLE!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE
For more info click here!

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2!

ORDER VOLUME 2 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH FREE SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD was released on May 15, 2009 and is NOW SHIPPING via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD is ONLY available directly from us (for the time being)...so ORDER your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.
(Now with NEW consolidated shopping cart! You can add all of our items in one order together now! )

BUTTON
Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

What's The Word?

2009-07-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

...on Volume 2...

(click picture for larger image)

Here's Steve Canyon (Dean Fredericks) on the T-33's ladder and helmeted guest star Lamont Johnson (who also directed 10 episodes of the series) in OPERATION NOSE WHEEL, from The Complete Steve Canyon on TV Volume 2 DVD set. Note the shadow of the camera crew in lower left!

While we're hard at work on THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 3 (due out by Xmas 2009)...here are a few "letters of comment" that have been sent to us since our Volume 2 release:

John!

I cannot thank you enough for the "Steve Canyon" Collection! I haven't seen these since they aired, and you know what? They are terrific! How cool to find out that it wasn't just nostalgia!

Good grief! The hardware on display is awesome.. and the picture is so crisp and clear that the beauty of the technology is breathtaking. There was a sequence in a B-29 cockpit that had my eyes popping out of my head!

Seriously though, you have done a magnificent job. The transfers are amazing. No one has ever seen these shows like this before. It a whole new experience, as during the shows first run, we were all watching it over fishbone\coathangar rooftop antennae! My wife and I are going through them one by one, and I am on to the 2nd disk. I wish that 12 O'Clock High would get this treatment.

This show must have had the complete and total cooperation of the Air Force. What do you know about the background on the making of the show? How did it happen. Who had the magic touch to get the Air Force behind it? I'm dying to know more!

Doug Drexler

California

USA

(Note that Mr. Drexler toils by day as an amazingly talented designing artist on such shows as Battlestar Galactica and most of the recent Star Trek TV series')

******************************************************************

Hi John!

I was delighted to find Volume 2 in my mail when I returned yesterday from a two-week business trip. Guess how I spent my time last evening? You’ve done a wonderful job with Volume 2 and I hope your work can continue through the rest of the episodes.

As a 12 year-old kid, I looked forward to EVERY episode of “Steve Canyon” and was crushed when I discovered it didn’t return in ’59-’60.

My boyhood best friend is a retired USAF colonel and I went to work on him recently. He’s a pilot who has restored 6 aircraft in recent years. I reminded him that he and I used to hook up at each other’s homes to watch “Steve Canyon”. I’m sending him the link to your website.

Warm regards,

Woody (Linwood C. Wiley, Jr.)

New Jersey

USA

******************************************************************

Dear John,

I got my DVDs in Monday. I have finished one disc so far. I am still enjoying the series, and I am glad I read about this project on my friend Tom Floyd's site. At least this treasure of the 50's is being restored and released. I like to thank you and all involved in this project, for all of your work on getting this great series out to us.

For your next project, you can colorize the series. Won't that be fun! LOL!!

Take care,

Lloyd Collins II

Alabama

USA

******************************************************************

My set arrived today, John!

That's super fast delivery to get from California to Florida.

Volume 2 is just as beautiful, if not more so, than Volume 1. Great dvd casing and wonderful artwork on the two discs in this second set. The audio and video is clean and crisp, just like the first volume.

John will probably be able to guess which episode I jumped to first in this set. "The Gift", which was the wonderful Christmas episode from this series. And can you imagine my surprise, while listening to the audio commentary from John Ellis and James Farmer, that I hear my own name mentioned!! My kids and wife just looked over at me with pleasantly shocked expressions and we all just grinned from ear to ear. I do appreciate that, John, and want you to know just how much we appreciated that early Christmas gift last year. This episode will always hold a special place in our hearts thanks to your generosity and kindness. Oh, and the commentary track had plenty of great information, as all of them I'm sure do.

Anyone on the fence with this release need not hesitate. This is a top rate dvd set in all ways. And as with V. 1, an added bonus is the original commercials and sponsor spots found on these discs.

I highly recommend this set!!!

Gary "thanks again John - you're the best, my friend" Osborne

Florida

USA

******************************************************************

Happiness is......Setting down in front of the TV with a full box of Tagalong Girl Scout cookies and my new set of Steve Canyon DVDs!

What a great job you guys have done, John......can't hardly wait to see volume 3.

Roger Jackson

Arizona

USA

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Dear friends

I have received Volume 2 in yesterday´s mail. Big THANK YOU.

I enjoy watching the films a great deal.

Good luck to your efforts and I am looking forward to Volume 3

Best regards

Jozef Maly

Bratislava

Slovakia

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Hi,

I remember rushing home from school in those days to watch the show.

My DVD Volume 2 Steve Canyon arrived today, looking forward to the 3rd one down the track

Cheers

Greg Long

New South Wales

Australia

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Dear John,

Yersterday my sample of Vol.Two arrived, ending a long long wait. It's really worth it!!

Congratulations again for all your effort in bringing us these valuable images, so magificiently restored!

Well, now I can only expect for you schedule for Vol.3!

Thanks again.

Yours sincerely,

Flavio Azevedo Estrella

Porto Alegre

BRAZIL

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Dear John,

The package just arrived today, and everything is ok!! This volume 2 is even better than 1. Magnificent!! .. but I have to make a few remarks about “Operation Crash Landing”.. Brazil`s did much to look like the real thing, even back in late 50s! Rio de janeiro, in that time was already a big city, and spanish was never spoken here... all Brazil speaks portuguese... the boy on the jeep, looks like a mexican kid!! But it`s OK!! It`s funny... and Steve Canyon is a true gem!! God bless you, and keep in touch.

See` ya in Steve Canyon Volume 3

Best Regards

Victor Kuster Tavares

Porto Alegre

Brazil

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Dear John: Got my Volume 2 in Kansas on Monday. Am enjoying the heck out of it. Can't wait for Volume 3. All the best and thanks for a GREAT product!

Joe Grasela

Kansas

USA

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Hi John,

I received the DVDs on saturday and started watching them last night, they look great (so far)! The flickering arrows had me alarmed until I realised that was so the broadcaster would no where to place the commercials. I've watched the first two episodes, very much looking forward to episodes directed by Lamont Johnson. I used to house sit for the Johnsons (Toni & Lamont) back in the 1980s when Lamont was working on location. At the time, big Milton Caniff fan that I was, I had no idea he had directed episodes of this wonderful and unnoticed show.

Anyroad, the DVDs have all kicked butt, so thanks for them! I'm still dithering about the cap...

Your pal,

John Dacey

California

USA

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The latest Volume of Steve Canyon arrived here yesterday and its everything that I expected from your wonderful project

Keep up the good work - and here's hoping for the final Volume in the not-too-distant future

Trevor Scott

New South Wales

Australia

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John,

The DVDs are fantastic. We're watching it slowly (only one a week) just to savor it. We are very lucky to have what we have and I'm very grateful. One thing I can't figure out is why I don't remember the show. Maybe it wasn't on up here? I remember some of the commercials from other shows but the show is a blank. It would have been my favorite show!

Rex Dean

California

USA

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John,

I have watched all the episodes on Volume 2 now (without commentary tracks),

and I have to admit, they were great. I was especially surprised by the sea

change from individual missions to Steve becoming the base commander. It

turned into a more traditional TV series, but I was surprised by the

excellence of the writing. I look forward to watching all the episodes

again with commentary tracks.

Hope to see you soon.

Tom Swyden

California

USA

(Tom has written episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Xena: Warrior Princess (among others) and is also on the Writer's Guild of America Education Commitee.

###

I also want to point out that we have begun posting high quality promos of various Steve Canyon episodes on YouTube to help promote our restoration of the series to a wider audience. Here is the promo for PROJECT UFO which starts off with a brief look at our restoration effort:

Note that this 6 minute clip is a portion of the FULL 19 minute promo (featuring clips from 6 episodes, 3 of which are from our upcoming Volume 3!) which is included as an extra on THE STEVE CANYON SPECIAL EDITION DVD, our first release.

There's more in store (and news galore) from the Ace of Space coming right up, so stay tuned!

###

NOW AVAILABLE!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE
For more info click here!

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2!

ORDER VOLUME 2 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH FREE SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

News From The Flight Line

2009-06-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

Looking towards the future:

(click picture for larger image)

Here's Steve Canyon creator/artist/writer Milton Caniff hamming it up with lovely actress Jeanne Crain, (from around the time of the Steve Canyon TV series)

Just a brief post to catch everyone up on what's happening on the Steve Canyon run-up pad! We have commenced work on Volume 3 and it's moving along nicely. Some of the VERY BEST episodes of the series are contained in this final edition, such as THE TRAP, SABOTAGE, THE BOMB, KOREAN STORY, THE SERGEANT and the one that everyone has been waiting for, OPERATION INTERCEPT! We are very excited to be working on this last DVD installment, and we want you to know that we are working hard to make sure the documentaries and episodes themselves are memorable and the best they can be!

The excellent response to Volume 2 has been both overwhelming and gratifying, and we want to let everyone who has called or written (that we try but may not have been able to respond to personally) that we appreciate all the kind words and support, and it helps keep us going when things get tough. The current economic crisis has been hard on a lot of people and we acknowledge those that have contributed to help us and others genuinely in need. Thank you.

Be sure to keep up with what we are doing at our FaceBook Steve Canyon page and also on Twitter...sometimes it's just easier to post an update there than an official (officious? ;-) post here...

Note that even though we won't be hosting anything officially (such as a panel or screening) next month at the San Diego Comic-Con, we will be there and encouraging contact and get-togethers with fans during the show! More on this as the convention approaches...and let me know if you are planning to be there!

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So uh uh UH! Don't touch that dial! Stay tuned for more jet age action! Watch for more exciting Steve Canyon posts coming up right here SOON, with exclusive articles, artwork, photos, film clips and a surprise or three...and continuing news on THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 3 (coming later this year)!

###

NOW AVAILABLE!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE
For more info click here!

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2!

ORDER VOLUME 2 NOW FOR ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH FREE SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

This is a limited time offer and it includes worldwide shipping and handling!

Click button below to Order this DVD.

NOTE that you DO NOT need a PayPal account to purchase this item, there is an option to pay with any major credit card!

This DVD was released on May 15, 2009 and is NOW SHIPPING via US Postal Service First Class mail or Global First Class Mail (for Non-US customers).
REMEMBER this DVD is ONLY available directly from us (for the time being)...so ORDER your copy TODAY!
By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping us to get the COMPLETE Steve Canyon TV series out on DVD and we thank you for your support.
(Now with NEW consolidated shopping cart! You can add all of our items in one order together now! )

BUTTON

Click button above to pre-order

(NOTE: that if you are viewing this in an email you'll have to visit our website at http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com for this button to work properly)

Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions, comments, or are in need of any assistance. Thanks again for remembering Milton and for making this project possible.

Shipping, 3D...MORE!

2009-05-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

All domestic orders for THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 2 have been shipped as of yesterday May 15...there's still a few foreign orders that won't be able to be shipped until after the weekend, but we have essentially met our goal to get it released by today May 15th!

Now I'm going to try & shake this virus that's knocked me on my duff...Let me know what you think about Volume 2, either here on our blog comments, via email or on one of the various forums we post at please! You can also join us on our FaceBook Steve Canyon page by clicking here! I frequently do quick news items or updates there that don't appear anywhere else.

I hope everyone that has ordered enjoys our new DVD release and we thank you all for your interest and support!

###

Coming up some long overdue news posts and articles about other happenings in the Milton Caniff/Steve Canyon world, with lots of previously unpublished photos and info that we've been promising. For the moment, how about a couple of 3D Steve Canyon photos?

Here's a taste of what we've got planned for an upcoming post...all you need is an old pair of red/blue 3d glasses:

(click picture for larger image)

Here's a 3D image from the Volume 3 episode THE BOMB. That's Jerry Paris as Maj. "Willie" Williston driving, Dean Fredericks as Lt. Col. Steve Canyon in the passenger seat, and Steve's F-100 Super Sabre in the background. Pretty neat, eh? Click to enlarge and make sure you put the red lense over your LEFT eye.

Here's another with a familiar face:

(click picture for larger image)

Here's a 3D image from the Volume 2 episode THE SEARCH. That is in fact Leonard Nimoy! Again, click to enlarge then make sure you put the red lense over your LEFT eye.

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That's all for now, but there's more neat stuff sneaking up on the horizon, so meanwhile watch your six and stay tuned for more exciting STEVE CANYON action coming right up!