Robert Francis Hoy - 1927-2010

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.

Volume 2 Update

First, I want to mention with great sadness that Abel Fernandez's wife Josephine Miller Fernandez passed away on March 23rd from complications from pneumonia following a long illness. They were married for 27 years, and she was a 30 year member of the Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She was 81. Contributions can be made in Josie's name to St. Judes Children's Hospital (Memphis, TN) OR the LA Children's Hospital.

###

YES we are late with Volume 2 and unfortunately it couldn't be helped as there have been MANY contributing factors. YES Volume 2 will be shipping soon (in April for certain). YES we will update everyone just as soon as we know the EXACT DATE ourselves. YES we are asking everyone to be patient just a little bit longer. And YES it will be worth the wait.

NOTE: Updated release/ship date is May 15, 2009! Discs are "at the factory" and being manufactured right now (May 6th, 2009). Thanks to everyone for your patience.

Thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered and to those that have sent in words of encouragement! This has been a difficult task, and your kind words have made a HUGE difference and are always appreciated.

Stay tuned for our next announcement (which will be an IMPORTANT and EXCITING ONE), but in the meantime...

Here are some recent pictures of some of our commentators on THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON On TV Volume 2:

(click on images for larger versions)

Steve Canyon series regulars Bob Hoy (left), Abel Fernandez (right)...with Producer John Ellis (middle) taken March 20th. Bob and Abel contributed to 4 episodes on volume 2.

Artist and Classic Television Historian Brad Ulvila provided expert and insightful commentary on the Steve Canyon episode THE PRISONER.

Standing on far right is Aviation Film Historian James H. Farmer who contributed commentaries to no less than 6 episodes this time around. This was taken on Saturday March 14th at the Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio. Seated (L to R) are Korean War heroes Col. Milton (Mike) Bellovin, Col. Dean Hess, Col. Ernest Craigwell, and CMSgt. Joe VonRembow, all USAF (ret). Bellovin, Craigwell and VonRembow all served under Hess in Korea and they were at the Air Force Museum to film interviews for a 90-minute documentary about Dean Hess being written by Farmer! I interviewed Dean Hess later that day when we discovered he was the USAF Liason in Hollywood to the Steve Canyon TV series!

Guest stars Richard Anderson and Sylvia Lewis from OPERATION B-52. Taken March 4th 2009 after our wonderful and insightful recording session.

We are missing a picture of Peter Kuran, who along with James H. Farmer, provided dazzling commentary on Operation Mushroom...we hope to rectify this with a nice photo of Pete soon!

###

Please Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 2 NOW!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 2 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 on May 15, 2009 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.

(Now with NEW consolidated shopping cart!)

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.

ReelStuff Redux

(click on image for larger version)

Here's fearless leader John Ellis at the REELSTUFF film festival in Dayton Ohio last Thursday, March 12th...just hours before our special presentation of the Steve Canyon standout episode OPERATION INTERCEPT. John also delighted the audience by "interviewing" Steve Canyon creator Milton Caniff interactively on stage by utilizing a promotional film Milton recorded in 1963. More on this later.

I'm back from the whirlwind Dayton excursion which will have some surprising benefits to Steve Canyon TV fans. We met two people at Reelstuff that will have an impact on the upcoming Volume 3. Suprisingly, it was revealed that famed Korean War flier Dean Hess was the USAF Hollywood Liaison Officer to our TV series, and we were able to shoot a brief interview with him for our Volume 3 documentary. Then our second new friend Marc Malis, Vice President of Television Casting at Universal Studios for many years, who is helping us to try and find some production materials from Steve Canyon that have so far eluded us.

I want to mention that I had a GREAT time meeting all of the fans that showed up, and it was a lot of fun having a chance to chat about the series. Ron Kaplan and the crew at NAHF are to be commended on putting on such a class-act of a show, and I appreciate and am honored to have been asked to participate. Hopefully we can be a part of next year's ReelStuff as well!

On Wednesday of last week my hometown newspaper, the Wilmington Ohio News Journal did a nice little front-page(!) article on me (and ReelStuff) that some of you might enjoy, you can find it here.

###

Note that though Volume 2 is a bit late in being released it IS COMING and hopefully before the end of this month...and it is (in our humble opinion) really terrific! Please understand that there is a huge amount of work involved and we are unfortunately understaffed and underfunded...but hey, we are doing the very best we can to make this worth the wait.

We recently recorded OUTSTANDING commentary tracks with Aviation Historian James H. Farmer and Star Wars alumni Peter Kuran, also actors Sylvia Lewis and Richard Anderson. We are also about to finish recording the remaining two (of four) commentaries with Abel Fernandez and Robert Hoy together for the episodes they both appeared in, and commentary with artist and entertainment historian Brad Ulvila...and more!

Please reserve your copy of Volume 2 today! It's coming (right around the corner now) and we need as many pre-orders (as well as sales of the Special Edition DVD, caps, and Volume 1) in order to help us to bring you the remaining two volumes.

###

Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 2 NOW!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 2 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!

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 on May 15, 2009 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.

(Now with NEW consolidated shopping cart!)

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.

More Volume 2 News

RELEASE DATE NEWS

Volume 2 is late and I'm sorry. I don't wish to get into the details but I will say that there have been a variety of issues that have affected this release and it will be released as quickly as possible, most likely this month (March) but ultimately depending on the speed our manufacturer can finish once it leaves our hands.

NOTE: Updated release/ship date is May 15, 2009! Discs are "at the factory" and being manufactured right now (May 6th, 2009). Thanks to everyone for your patience.

I also want to apologise for the need to have a separate shopping cart for Volume 2 (and eventually Volume 3) for Pre-Orders...it is necessary to keep the Pre-Orders separate (from what is currently shipping) in order to keep from making shipping errors on my end. I handle every package that leaves here and I send every letter and email myself, so understand that this way it makes it possible for me to NOT have to spend the entire day on shipping/organizational issues and can have more time to work on the episodes and extras myself.

NOW, having said all that...let's get to THE FUN PART!

HERE'S the near-final list of what's included in

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON DVD VOLUME TWO:

(click on images for larger versions)

Here's the final front and back cover artwork by Johann Mitchell

The interior reversible cover insert with full color art version of the Volume 2 cover drawn by Milton Caniff in 1958! We were concealing the image of the right side artwork (the reversible cover) so that it would be a surprise for all of the people who pre-ordered...but here it is now in all it's glory!

Disc 2 Sample Menu

Description of Contents:

NOT SEEN IN THE US IN OVER 45 YEARS!

QUITE POSSIBLY THE RAREST "LOST SERIES" OF ALL TIME!

IN BEAUTIFUL BLACK AND WHITE FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM FILM BROADCAST MASTERS

12 FULL HALF-HOUR EPISODES AND MORE, FEATURING THE FAMED COMIC STRIP HERO CREATED BY

and starring DEAN FREDERICKS as COLONEL STEVE CANYON

Featuring MANY classic late '50's USAF planes in footage that can only be seen ON THIS DVD! P-51 Mustang, 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 others (including the Soviet MiG-15)!

Featuring MANY WELL KNOWN GUEST STARS such as Richard Anderson, Sylvia Lewis, John Compton, Roxanne Berard, Nick Adams, Wesley Lau, William Schallert, Jack Hogan, George Brenlin, Sandy Kenyon, Grandon Rhodes, Sam Edwards, Larry Thor, William Bryant, Sean McClory, Celia Lovsky, Jerry Paris, Abel Fernandez, Ted de Corsia, Ken Lynch, Robert Hoy, Tom Gilson, Leslie Parrish, Chuck Courtney, Hal Baylor, Jeanette Nolan, Hayden Rorke, Ingrid Goude, Leonard Nimoy, Meg Wylie, Bobs Watson, Lamont Johnson, Robert Sampson, Teru Shimada, James Griffith, Karl Swenson, Lili Kardell, Morris Erby, Frank Kumagai, James Yagi, Rollin Moriyama, Elena Verdugo, Oliver Cliff, Jay Novello, Jack Grinnage, Read Morgan, Joyce Taylor, Lewis Charles, Mike Road, Frankie Van, Gavin MacLeod, Jack Weston, Vito Scotti, Norm Alden, Mary Tyler Moore...and many others!!

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2

340 MINUTES / BLACK AND WHITE

NTSC FULL SCREEN (1:33:1) 24 Frame Progressive

REGION 0 - PLAYABLE IN ALL REGIONS

DIGITALLY REMASTERED PICTURE & SOUND

12 FULL EPISODES ORIGINALLY BROADCAST IN 1958 & 1959 ON 2 DUAL-LAYER DISCS

Full Color Printing Inside And Out In An Industry Standard "Crystal Clear" Clamshell Case
Full Color Process Printed Factory Glass-Mastered Discs

EXTRAS:

COMMENTARY TRACKS ON ALL 12 EPISODES

(Featuring Abel Fernandez, Bob Hoy, Richard Anderson, Sylvia Lewis, James H. Farmer, Peter Kuran, Brad Ulvila & John Ellis)

ORIGINAL COMMERCIALS AND NETWORK PROMOS IN EACH EPISODE!

TWO ORIGINAL NETWORK COMING ATTRACTIONS FEATURING "Operation Diplomat" AND "Operation Souvenir"!!

Reversible Cover Art

Steve Canyon® is a Registered Trademark of the Milton Caniff Estate

Steve Canyon® is owned and Copyrighted ©2009 by The Milton Caniff Estate.

Entire Package and contents Copyright ©2009 by The Milton Caniff Estate.

All rights reserved.

A Milton Caniff Estate Releasing Release

#MCER1002

Celebrating The Steve Canyon TV Series' 50th Anniversary (1958/1959-2008/2009)

Executive Producer: Harry Grant Guyton

Producer: John R. Ellis

Color art and graphic design by Johann Mitchell

Disk 1 artwork and design by Johann Mitchell. We are using a different background color on each disc in all three volumes.

CONTENTS:

Disc 1

13. OPERATION B-52

NBC First Run Saturday November 15, 1958

Directed by Arthur Hiller • Written by Charles Beaumont • With: Richard Anderson. John Compton, Tom Greenway, Gene Miller, Bill Idelson, Sylvia Lewis, Roxane Berard, Peter Nelson, Jeff DeBenning, Stephen Roberts

Canyon and crew attempt to set a new around the world non-stop speed record in a B-52.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring actors Richard Anderson and Sylvia Lewis with producer John Ellis

14. OPERATION CRASH LANDING

NBC First Run Saturday December 6, 1958

Directed by Lamont Johnson • Written by Sidney Carroll • With: Nick Adams, Wesley Lau, George Brenlin, William Schallert, Gordon Polk, Sandy Kenyon, Michael Hinn, Jack Hogan

While piloting a B-52 bomber from Brazil to California, one of Canyon’s crew becomes seriously ill.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring aviation film historian James H. Farmer and producer John Ellis

15. OPERATION MUSHROOM

NBC First Run Saturday November 29, 1958

Directed by Don Taylor • Written by Sidney Carroll • With: Grandon Rhodes, Sam Edwards, Larry Thor, Vernon Rich, Norman Sturgis, Frank Harding

Steve is assigned to pilot the B-52 that drops the first test Hydrogen bomb.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring filmmaker Peter Kuran, aviation film historian James H. Farmer and producer John Ellis

16. THE GIFT

NBC First Run Saturday December 20, 1958

Directed by Don Taylor • Teleplay by Ray Bradbury • Story by Ray Bradbury and Sidney Carroll • With: Barbara Beaird, Sean McClory, Celia Lovsky, William Bryant, Lillian Adams

Flying a group of children from an orphanage and displaced persons camp to spend the holidays with servicemen’s

families in Germany, Canyon finds a little girl who has never celebrated Christmas.

EXTRAS: Commentary track featuring aviation film historian James H. Farmer and producer John Ellis
Original network "coming attraction" featuring OPERATION DIPLOMAT (after end credits)

17. OPERATION BIG THUNDER

NBC First Run Saturday January 3, 1959

Directed by Lamont Johnson • Written by Sidney Carroll • With: Jerry Paris, Ted de Corsia, Ken Lynch, Robert Hoy, Abel Fernandez,

Tom Gilson, Marjorie Hellen, Caroline Hughes, Chuck Courtney and Hal Baylor.

Canyon takes command at Big Thunder AFB and has to deal with local citizens who violently refuse to accept the airmen and the base.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring actors Bob Hoy, Abel Fernandez and producer John Ellis

18. THE SEARCH

NBC First Run Thursday January 15, 1959

Directed by Lamont Johnson • Written by Sidney Carroll • With: Jeanette Nolan, Hayden Rorke, Jerry Paris, Wilton Graaf, Abel Fernandez, Robert Hoy, Ingrid Goude, Leonard Nimoy, Bobs Watson and Meg Wylie.

Canyon searches for industrialist Peter Brendan, whose plane has been reported missing by his wife.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring actors Bob Hoy, Abel Fernandez and producer John Ellis

Disk 2 artwork and design by Johann Mitchell. We are using a different background color on each disc in all three volumes.

Disc 2

19. OPERATION NOSE WHEEL

NBC First Run Thursday January 8, 1959

Directed by Walter Grauman • Written and produced by David Haft • With: Lamont Johnson, Jerry Paris, Abel Fernandez, Ingrid Goude, Robert Sampson and Charles Lind

With a civilian passenger, Canyon discovers that his nose wheel is damaged, and he must try to eject the frightened man before he risks a dangerous crash landing.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring aviation film historian James H. Farmer and producer John Ellis

20. THE PRISONER

NBC First Run Thursday January 22, 1959

Directed by Lamont Johnson • Teleplay by William Spier • Story by Sidney Carroll • With: Teru Shimada, James Griffith, Karl Swenson, Lilli Kardell,

Morris Erby, Frank Kumagai, James Yagi and Rollin Moriyama

In New Guinea Steve finds Army dog tags which belonged to a flier listed as missing during WW II and investigates.

EXTRAS: Commentary track featuring television historian Brad Ulvila and producer John Ellis

Original network "coming attraction" featuring OPERATION SOUVENIR (after end credits)

21. OPERATION SOUVENIR

NBC First Run Thursday January 29, 1959

Directed by Lamont Johnson • Teleplay by William Spier • Story by William Spier and Sidney Carroll • With: Elena Verdugo, Jerry Paris, Oliver Cliff, Jay Novello, Tony Travis, Abel Fernandez, Jack Grinnage, Len Weinrib

Returning from Tapei to Big Thunder, Canyon finds that a souvenir he purchased there has placed an Air Force nurse and himself in danger.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring stars Bob Hoy, Abel Fernandez and producer John Ellis

22. THE FIGHT

NBC First Run Thursday February 5, 1959

Directed by Walter Grauman • Written by John Hawkins • With: Abel Fernandez, Jerry Paris, Read Morgan, Joyce Taylor, Robert Hoy, Lewis Charles, Ted de Corsia, Mike Road, Mark Scott and Frankie Van

After sadistic boxer Al Gorsky puts Sgt. Berger in the hospital, Airman Featherstone (a former pro-boxer) decides to provoke the fighter into a grudge match.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring stars Bob Hoy, Abel Fernandez and producer John Ellis

23. THE ROBBERY

NBC First Run Thursday February 19, 1959

Directed by Lamont Johnson • Teleplay by William Spier • Story by David Haft and Michael Meshekoff • With: Jerry Paris, Gavin MacLeod, Jack Weston, Vito Scotti, Harry Harvey, Jr., David Cross, John Craven, Carol Hill, Norm Alden

Canyon and Maior Williston are kidnapped by three men who take over their plane with a plan to rob the Penrose AFB bank.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring aviation film historian James H. Farmer and producer John Ellis

24. STRIKE FORCE

NBC First Run Thursday April 14, 1959

Directed by Lamont Johnson • Written by David Haft and Michael Meshekoff • With: Jerry Paris, William Bryant, Robert Sampson, Don Fenwick, Yvonne Preble, Mary Tyler Moore

Canyon leads a training exercise in which an aerial assault force is sent to attack an installation in the Cayman Islands.

EXTRA: Commentary track featuring aviation film historian James H. Farmer and producer John Ellis

###

Click the button below to pre-order THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON VOLUME 2 NOW!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 2 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 on May 15, 2009 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.

(Now with NEW consolidated shopping cart!)

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.

Volume Two DVD News!

Today is yet another anniversary! Exactly 50 years ago today, on Saturday January 3rd, 1959, the Steve Canyon episode OPERATION BIG THUNDER premiered on NBC. This episode is special as it marked a change in format for the series, one which the cast and crew thought would be well received by both the general public AS WELL AS the network, the sponsor, the aircraft industry at large, and the United States Air Force.

Chuck Courtney, Leslie Parrish (then known as "Marjorie Hellen") and Tom Gilson in the 17th Steve Canyon episode "Operation Big Thunder"

New continuing supporting characters were added and Steve was made commanding officer of the fictitious "Big Thunder" California Air Force Base to allow for more character development and to make the show more like Milton Caniff's newspaper comic strip. And it worked beautifully as you will soon see...

From left, Abel Fernandez, Dean Fredericks, Robert Hoy, Jerry Paris and Ken Lynch in the 17th Steve Canyon episode "Operation Big Thunder"

So now that we have your attention, and we know that you really want to see "Operation Big Thunder"...

On this auspicious occasion we are announcing that THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV Volume 2 DVD is slated for a March 3rd 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 12 episodes in volume one, this second-of-three-volumes set will include the following episodes of the series:

13) Operation B-52 aired 15Nov58
14) Operation Crash Landing aired 6Dec58
15) Operation Mushroom aired 29Nov58
16) The Gift aired 20Dec58
17) Operation Big Thunder aired 3Jan59
18) The Search aired 15Jan59
19) Operation Nose Wheel aired 8Jan59
20) The Prisoner aired 22Jan59
21) Operation Souvenir aired 29Jan59
22) The Fight aired 5Feb59
23) The Robbery aired 19Feb59
24) Strike Force aired 14Apr59

There will also be extras on the discs (similar to what was included on Volume One) 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 Two and we don't want to delay any longer to make advance orders available even though the DVDs won't be available until early March.

I will say that there will definitely be audio commentary tracks for OPERATION B-52 and OPERATION MUSHROOM for added value since versions of these episodes were included on THE STEVE CANYON SPECIAL EDITION. These will also be fully restored versions and look and sound much nicer that they did on the earlier DVD.

There's plenty of cool aircraft again (as you would expect in Steve Canyon) and there are bunches of well known performers in these shows, such as Sylvia Lewis, Richard Anderson, Nick Adams, William Schallert, Leonard Nimoy, Hayden Rorke, Jeanette Nolan, Elena Verdugo, Jay Novello...and many, many more!

We learned our lesson last with Volume One, so we are just going to say the our TARGET release date is on or around the week of March 3rd, 2009. That way if we're a bit late, we won't feel like criminals. Stay tuned for more up to the minute news RIGHT HERE on this channel!

NOTE: Updated release/ship date is May 15, 2009! Discs are "at the factory" and being manufactured right now (May 6th, 2009). Thanks to everyone for your patience.

For more detailed information about what EXACTLY is included in The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volume 2, click here for More Volume 2 News!

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 2 NOW!

AVAILABLE AGAIN!

Back Ordered! - Will ship week of May 10, 2010!

ONLY $19.95 POSTAGE-PAID WORLDWIDE

THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV VOLUME 2!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! ADVANCE ORDER VOLUME 2 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 link 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 will be released and shipped to all pre-order purchasers on May 15, 2009 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.

(Now with NEW consolidated shopping cart!)

Note that orders for Volume 2 will be shipped separately from other items as soon as we have the DVDs in hand (the week of May 10, 2010!)

Click HERE To Order!

Click link 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.

Upcoming: San Diego Comic-Con 2008

COMIC-CON ATTENDEES PLEASE NOTE that at the present time it is unlikely that Bob Hoy, Mrs. Frank Ball or even Harry Guyton will be be attending Comic-Con or appearing on our panel this year (due to a myriad of issues), so read the following post with that in mind and with our apologies...

There WILL still be a panel (I will be there) and we WILL still be screening OPERATION BIG THUNDER. 

Sincerely,

John Ellis

###

Sorry for the last minute-itis here, but things are hoppin' and we're going at it hammer and tong...

Indeed, yes, we will be at The San Diego Comic-Con next week, and will be hosting another panel and special screening, this time celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Steve Canyon TV series on NBC.

The panel will feature:

Harry Guyton, Executive Producer of the Steve Canyon Restoration (and Milton Caniff's favorite nephew);

Sketch of Harry Guyton (from 1974) by Harry's favorite uncle Milton Caniff.

Mrs. Frank Ball, daughter of the late Dean Fredericks (who played Steve Canyon in our series) AND widow of the USAF technical advisor for the series. Note that Mrs. Ball will appear schedule permitting;

Photo taken in December 1962 of Dean Fredericks and his daughter sitting in the custom racing car he designed and built. Photo courtesy Mrs. Frank Ball.

Bob Hoy, who was series regular Sgt. Pete Berger on the show, and also a famed Hollywood actor and stuntman. Note that Mr. Hoy will appear schedule permitting;

Image from the Steve Canyon episode THE FIGHT featuring Bob Hoy as Sgt. Pete Berger and Joyce Taylor as his wife Betty.

And finally yours truly John Ellis, Producer and "chief cook and bottle-washer" on the restoration will moderate the panel.

We will be screening the Steve Canyon episode "Operation Big Thunder" not seen in the US since it's last airing April 14, 1960 on ABC (summer reruns). This episode was directly based on a story arc that Milton Caniff wrote and drew in the Steve Canyon newspaper strip in 1956. This episode introduced both a new format to the series and also a handful of regular supporting players which included Bob Hoy and Jerry Paris.

Panel from the 1956 Steve Canyon newspaper comic strip "The Girl From Little Dogie" upon which the TV series episode "Operation Big Thunder" was based.

Bob Hoy in the STEVE CANYON episode "Operation Big Thunder" which we will be screening next Sunday afternoon!

So if you will be attending the San Diego Comic-Con next Sunday (July 27th), stop on by, get some questions answered and learn about our current plans for the DVD release. I will also be found from time to time during the weekend ONLY at The National Cartoonist's Society (Booth #1307). We may also be in the autograph area at the con Sunday morning but this is unconfirmed at this time.

Star Dean Fredericks, USAF Technical Advisor Lt. Col. Frank P. Ball, and series regular Jerry Paris on location for the episode "Operation Nose Wheel".

From the official Comic-Con International program schedule:

Sunday July 27th 2008 from 3:00pm-4:30pm Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon TV Series 50th Anniversary — Harry Guyton (Milton Caniff Estate), Bob Hoy (Sgt. Pete Berger on Steve Canyon), Mrs. Frank Ball (star Dean Frederick's daughter), and John Ellis (Steve Canyon DVD producer) present a discussion of what is quite possibly the most legendary long-lost (and now found) television series in history! Come delve into the mysteries surrounding the most expensive show on TV in 1958. Includes the first public screening of the restored 1959 NBC Steve Canyon episode “Operation Big Thunder” in 48 years. Room 3

See Ya there!