An Hour Of Steve Canyon Every Saturday!

 A WHOLE HOUR of Steve Canyon every Saturday morning on The Decades TV Network! 

Starting at 7am EST (4am PST ) two complete half hour episodes air every Saturday morning on the DECADES TV Network. 

This coming Saturday will be two of the most popular episodes, starting with OPERATION B-52 followed by OPERATION MUSHROOM.

OPERATION B-52

Above, from left, Richard Anderson as cynical reporter Ben Radin, Dean Fredericks as Col. Steve Canyon, and John Compton as copilot Capt. Woody Buckler. This is an original 8x10 publicity photo from the series (which most likely has never before been published).

This is a minute and 10 seconds long  movie clip from the 13th episode, OPERATION B-52, which aired originally on Saturday November 15th 1958 at 9pm on NBC. It was repeated once by NBC on Tuesday June 30th 1959 at 8pm. When ABC aired summer reruns of Steve Canyon in 1960, for some reason this one (and 13 others) NEVER got repeated. What you are about to see is the first time in 48 years that any part of this episode has been seen in the United States. The shows were run on Armed Forces television overseas in 1963 and 1965, and dubbed in Japanese and broadcast by Nagoya TV in Japan in 1963, but otherwise (as far as we can ascertain) they were never aired anywhere else in the world. If you remember seeing STEVE CANYON broadcast at any other time or place since, we'd love to hear from you.

Here's a clip you ca watch from OPERATION B-52!

This particular episode is an interesting one, as it was written by famed Twilight Zone scribe Charles Beaumont, and was directed by the man himself, Arthur Hiller. Richard Anderson, Sylvia Lewis and Roxanne Berard all appeared. and to our knowledge was the first time a civilian crew was allowed to film aboard an actual Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (which was considered top-secret back during the Cold War). 

The film was shot at Universal Studios on October 3rd, 6th and 7th 1958 and concerns an around the world flight that is interrupted by a problem that threatens to destroy the $8 Million dollar plane. The film is dedicated to the Strategic Air Command 92nd Bomb Wing, Castle Air Force Base, California. Enjoy this restored clip, the entire program (along with 33 other broadcast episodes, lovingly restored from the original 35mm network broadcast masters), can be seen on DECADES TV. These shows never looked or sounded this good!

OPERATION MUSHROOM

Here's a clip you ca watch from OPERATION MUSHROOM!

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 very first hydrogen bomb...but this episode was SO popular it aired twice on NBC and once again on ABC (in 1960)!

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic nuclear bomber.

This is the episode with ALL the planes! Virtually EVERYTHING that the USAF was flying at that time is seen in this episode...including these great planes: F-84 Thunderjet, F-84 Thunderstreak, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, H-19 Chickasaw, H-21 Workhorse, C-47 Skytrain, C-54 Skymaster, C-121 Constellation, C-124 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, B-36 Peacemaker, B-47 Stratojet, Martin B-51, B-57 Intruder, B-66 Destroyer, B-50 Superfortress, KB-50 Supertanker, B-52 Stratofortress, T-33 T-Bird, SA-16 Albatross and even more!

MANY details on the handling and cleanup after an H-Bomb test is shown.

Don't miss these two great episodes on DECADES this coming Saturday morning, at 7am EST, 4am PST!

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I've been hearing from many that are enjoying the series on DECADES. Coming up I'll be posting some of the comments I've received. While owning and watching a high-quality DVD any time you want is a cool thing, the "shared experience" of watching a favorite TV series over the air has always been a pleasure for me, and seems to be the same for many Steve Canyon fans. 

Stay tuned for more frequent posts right here on our blog...see you next time!

John Ellis, 

Hollywood, California

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(AND don't forget Daylight Saving Time begins the next day, on Sunday, March 14, 2021, at 2:00 A.M.  On Saturday evening, our clocks need to “spring forward” one hour.)

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NEWS FLASH! Steve Canyon Returns to TV...Once More!

A week from today, Saturday February 13th at 7am eastern time (4am pacific), Steve Canyon will be returning to DECADES Television for it's fourth complete modern re-run on free American broadcast television! Be aware there may be two episodes in a row each Saturday as that information was not made clear to me. Let's hope so!

((Note that I am amending this post to mention that I just found out there will be two episodes each Saturday, a whole hour of Steve Canyon goodness, from 7am to 8am, starting next Saturday with OPERATION TOWLINE followed by OPERATION THUNDERBIRDS! Will run through Saturday June 12th!))

ALL 34 episodes only ran ONCE in it's initial run on NBC primetime in the 1958-1959 season. NBC only repeated 14 episodes in 1959, and ABC then only repeated 20 episodes in 1960. 11 episodes were NEVER rerun in the US until last summer on Decades. So set your DVRs accordingly!

Paul Frees as R.A.F. pilot "Durkle" in the premiere Steve Canyon episode OPERATION TOWLINE. Frees was known as "The Man of a Thousand Voices", you may remember him as the voice of Boris Badenov on THE BULLWINKLE SHOW and as well as The Pillsbury Dough Boy and many others. More info on him here.

You can also find Decades on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/decadesnetwork/

Decades TV is a TV network that is broadcast on many local stations (and some cable providers) throughout the US. Can't find it? Click the link below for a current list of stations that carry DECADES:

http://www.decades.com/wheretowatch

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

Steve Canyon Returns...Again!

This morning, Tuesday November 12th at 4am eastern time (1am pacific), Steve Canyon returned to DECADES Television for it's third complete modern rerun on free american broadcast television!

ALL 34 episodes only ran ONCE in it's initial run on NBC primetime in the 1958-1959 season. NBC only repeated 14 episodes in 1959, and ABC then only repeated 20 episodes in 1960. 11 episodes were NEVER rerun in the US until last summer on Decades. So set your DVRs accordingly!

The juvenile delinquent Jaybirds, from left, Skippy (Ronnie Knox), Hawk (Larry Pennell) and Buck (Burt Metcalfe) give Col. Steve Canyon (Dean Fredericks) a bad time in the 2nd Steve Canyon episode, "OPERATION THUNDERBIRDS", airing early Wednesday November 13, 2019. Note that Metcalfe co-created the M*A*S*H* TV series and was one of the producers of the show for the entire run of 251 episodes.

Decades TV is a TV network that is broadcast on many local stations (and some cable providers) throughout the US. Can't find it? Click the link below for a current list of stations that carry DECADES

http://www.decades.com/wheretowatch

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA

Veterans Day 2019

Happy Veteran's Day 2019 to those who served and their families.

Fred Foote (aka Dean Fredericks, later star of The Steve Canyon TV series) following US Army basic training in 1942. He was later promoted to Master Sergeant and then was wounded in 1944 during the invasion of the Philippines.

John Ellis
Milton Caniff Estate Releasing

Memorial Day 2019

UPDATED from Memorial Day post May 29, 2011

"Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We spend time remembering those who lost their lives and could not come home, reflecting on their service and why we have the luxury and freedom that we enjoy today. We might consider how we can support and safeguard their grieving families and loved ones who are left behind." - The Farmer's Almanac

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

Sgt. Fred J. Foote was serving in action against the Japanese in New Guinea when he got the word that his brother "Bud" had been killed in a Japanese ambush on July 20, 1944. Fred's 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)

Happier times: Teenaged brothers Bud and Fred Foote before the war.

The following is an excerpt from the book, “We Remember” by Dayle L. DeBry (courtesy of the author):

EDWARD G. “BUD” FOOTE, JR.

Bud's Junior High School yearbook picture.

     Edward G. Foote, Jr., was born about 1922 in Illinois, the son of Edward G. and Margaret Foote, Sr., from New York and Illinois, respectively.  By 1930 the family was living in the South Gate area of Los Angeles Co., California where Edward, Sr. was employed as a salesman for an oil refining company.  The family included Edward’s wife, Margaret, and sons Edward, Jr. and Fred Foote.

     While attending AVJUHS, Edward was involved in many activities including three years of Varsity football, and two years of basketball.  In his junior year he was elected the Jr. Class yell leader and was also a member of the Letterman’s Club.  Edward graduated from AVJUHS with the class of 1941.

     On March 20, 1942, Edward enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the U.S. Army Air Forces before attending Officer Candidate School.   In 1943, Edward was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army after the successful completion of the Officer Candidate course at the Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. He held the rank of corporal before being commissioned.

     As part of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), Edward was sent to Myitkyina, Burma.  The group later became known as “Merrill’s Marauders” named after its leader, Brigadier General Frank Merrill.  The jungles of Burma were thick with vegetation – no room for the jeeps and trucks needed to carry supplies.  The men had to carry all their equipment and supplies over 800 miles, marching over jungle and mountain roads.  All the equipment was carried by the soldiers, on their back, or on the backs of pack mules.  They were re-supplied by air drops after clearing the thick jungles areas below.  Landing strips were hacked out to allow small planes in to evacuate the sick and wounded.  At the end of the Burma Campaign, all remaining soldiers were evacuated to hospitals suffering from tropical diseases, exhaustion and malnutrition. 

     On July 2, 1944, Edward was killed in action.  He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star.  For their accomplishments in Burma, the Marauders were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation in July 1944.  The Marauders also have the rare distinction of having every member of the unit receive a Bronze Star, duly awarded for their “heroism and outstanding achievement in a combat theater.”

     2nd Lieutenant Edward G. Foote, Jr. was buried at the Honolulu Memorial, in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his name is joined with thousands of other soldiers who died in World War II.

Battle of Myitkyina – Author unknown

At Myitkyina today they lie at rest

There were soldiers all and gave their best

They fought and died in days of rain

And prayed for sun that never came.

Through mud they crawled to find their foe

They cursed and swore but on they go

As days went by and night fell

They all slept on the walls of hell.

Artillery shells with their melody of death

Whizzed by with each and every breath

As dawn came to light the earth

Amid sniper fire through dirt

In falling rain they fought on

Hope to live by those had gone.

Myitkyina has fallen at last

They would be glad to know of the finished task              

          

But the trails are filled with Yankee blood

Of gallant men who fought, died in Burma mud

Courageous men these, they fought and fell;  Bless them all, God; treat them well.

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Remembering our Veterans and fallen service men and women on Memorial Day 2019.

John Ellis

Hollywood, CA