NewsFlash: Drex Files, Johann & MORE!

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

NOTE that Doug's DREX FILES site is gone from the internet, but the text and a few images from the "RETURN OF STEVE CANYON" article can be accessed by clicking HERE.

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

NOTE that Doug's DREX FILES site is gone from the internet, but the text and a few images from the "HEY! AIRFORCE!" article can be accessed by clicking HERE.

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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.

News From The Flight Line

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)!

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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.

Comic-Con 2008: Debriefing

Our 50th Anniversary STEVE CANYON ON NBC panel went off with nary a hitch near the end of the convention on Sunday afternoon. Aside from a bit of trouble dimming the room lights it all went well...and although not a packed room it was well attended by quite a few original die hard fans as well as a number of new recruits.

As predicted in the previous post, Harry Guyton, Bob Hoy and Mrs. Frank Ball were unfortunately unable to attend, so John Ellis (hey, that's me!) had to fly solo. John answered quite a few interesting questions during the program concerning the past, present and future of the series AND the Steve Canyon character.

Steve Canyon presentation art by Milton Caniff

We started off with a rapid-fire slide show featuring nearly 300 images relating to the tv series, which included never before seen behind the scenes shots and also rare images such as the one above which was the cover to an abortive mid-fifties presentation Milton put together to try to get Steve Canyon on TV. Images from our restoration effort were also shown.

Screen image from OPERATION NOSE WHEEL, featuring Dean Fredericks on right and Lamont Johnson on left.

Following the slide show everyone was treated to the promised screening of the episode OPERATION BIG THUNDER, which got a big round of applause at the end. Since we were short on guests it turned out we had just enough extra time to screen a SECOND episode (which we let the audience pick) and that turned out to be OPERATION NOSE WHEEL. Both shows featured added fun since they included the original network commercials...

Dean Fredericks hawking Chesterfield cigarettes for the show's sponsor.

...and also an original Chesterfield Cigarettes "endorsement" commercial by Steve Canyon himself, Dean Fredericks.

John chats with a group of fans at the end of the panel.

I think everyone had a good time at the panel (heck, I sure did!) and we all got to see two Canyon episodes that haven't been seen publicly in 48 years...and NEVER BEFORE on a big screen! How cool is that?

There was some discussion of our plans to release the full series on DVD, although we have not yet announced a "street date" (release date), but we plan to make an official announcement here in the weeks to come, and also reveal some of the packaging designs and other details...so bookmark us here (or subscribe up there at top of the page) and stay tuned for breaking news about to come your way!

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Although he couldn't stay for the panel, Dean Frederick's grandson Christopher met me early that morning and we walked through the exhibit hall and talked about his famous grandfather. 

Along the way we met and talked with the great Robert Culp (vocal fan of Milton Caniff's Terry And The Pirates) and stupendous artist Mike Royer (who told us of how he ALMOST became the letterer of the Steve Canyon comic strip). We found artist extraordinaire Mark Wheatley lurking about, and we also spent some time at ASIFA-Hollywood's booth with our friend Steve Worth and the Animation Archive's dedicated denizens. Be sure to click on over to ASIFA's amazing website and support them MIGHTILY as we do! We managed to spend a few minutes with a few old friends, including the incomparable Patricia Rogers, indy filmmaker Scott Phillips and the mysterious Charles Band, all of whom helped to make it a memorable show for us.

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Part of the reason it has taken so long to get this post up is that we didn't have any photos from the panel, and I had to pull frames out of the video footage that Laura Lozano shot for us and prep them for insertion here. Thanks to Laura and our old Virginia pals Kurt Gustafson, Dennis Medinets and Tom Swyden. I also want to thank Phil Pyster and the gang from The National Cartoonists Society for their kindness and assistance during the show.

Thanks for tuning in! More is on tap and coming here soon!

Our Current eBay Auction

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

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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!

CBGXtra.com/SDCC Interview

Click image to go to CBGXtra Video pageMaggie Thompson Interviews John Ellis
Catching up on things Dept: On the last day of Comic-Con in San Diego this year, a lovely lass with a video camera showed up at the National Cartoonist's Society booth and (politely) shoved said camera in my face. Well the lady was someone I've always wanted to meet, Maggie Thompson, the Senior Editor of the Comics Buyer's Guide and the person I often refer to as "The mother of comics fandom". There 'tweren't such a thing as a comics fanzine until she and her late husband Don started publishing them ca. 1960! (Titles such as Ballast and Comic Art come to mind). Needless to say, I had a blast talking with Maggie that day, and she has posted an excerpt of the video on their site. Since she caught me off guard, you'll just have to deal with all of the "umm"s and "uhh"s...not to mention MY mistakes...hehehe...

Also note that she has posted a bunch 'o cool interviews with notables such as Ray Harryhausen, Wendy and Richard Pini, and many others, so it's worth taking a look.

And since we're on the subject of San Diego Comic-Con 2007, here is a photo by Adrian Velazquez of the participants in our panel discussion at the con (that I kept forgetting to post).
Click image to enlarge. From Left to right are R.C.Harvey, Russ Maheras, Denis Kitchen, Diana Doalson, Harry Guyton and John Ellis.

R.C.Harvey is the author of "Meanwhile" (Milton's biography that just came out this summer); Russ is the author/artist of the 60th anniversary Steve Canyon strip that just appeared in Air Force Times; Denis published 26 issues of Steve Canyon Magazine in the '80' and early '90s (among other things; Diana is Milton's grand-niece and appeared in the Steve Canyon comic strip in the '60s; Harry Guyton is Milton's nephew, Executor of the Estate, and Executive Producer of the Steve Canyon DVDs; John is me, and I represent the Estate and am Producer of the Steve Canyon DVDs. BIG NEWS is coming...

Please help Support our Restoration Effort

BUY The Special Edition DVD!
In stock - ready to ship!

News: Alter Ego #72 Hits The Stands!

Dick Rockwell On Being The 36 Year Ghost Of The Great Milton Caniff - In His Last Interview

"The Drawing Board Is My Sanctuary"
(Click on image to go to their site.)

Click to go to Two Morrows Online!


We were contacted by Alter Ego Editor Roy Thomas a few months ago, to provide some scans of Steve Canyon strips...but these weren't the work of Milton Caniff, they were pencilled and inked by Dick Rockwell following Milton's untimely death. Norman Rockwell's nephew Dick worked for Milton from 1952 through 1988, and though a true unsung hero, he passed away in 2006. Harry and I have thought that Rockwell never got the recognition he deserved, and we were delighted to hear that Roy was publishing an interview that Jim Amash conducted with Dick in 2004.

Roy Thomas at The TwoMorrows booth at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con

For those of you interested in the Caniff/Canyon world, this extensive 15 page interview is choc-a-block with reproductions of the work he did with Milton (including the very last Steve Canyon daily continuity strip)! For everyone else there are scans of his extensive comicbook work, including pages for Timely, DC, Marvel, Biro, Fawcett, Hillman, Quality and others...a lot of neat stuff. You can order the 100 page magazine from their site (for $9.00 plus postage), or you can pay $2.95 and download a PDF file of the issue. Either way, there's a lot of great stuff packed in there (and not just Dick).

John Ellis
Hollywood, CA

Steve Canyon Special Edition DVD Full Details

NOTE our SUPER-SPECIAL online SALE PRICE now only $9.99 (all shipping and handling included anywhere in the world! Limited time offer!). DVD's are IN STOCK and ready for IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT via US Postal Service First Class Mail & USPS International First Class Mail! MOST domestic USA orders arrive within 72 hours after you place your order!).
Buy direct from us and support the restoration of the entire series!

We are still able to offer (for a limited time) the "sampler" DVD for purchase internationally!

Steve Canyon Special Edition DVD

OFFICIAL AUTHORIZED RELEASE

NOTE: All purchases are usually shipped within 24 hours AND in the order they are received. There are a limited number of DVDs, so make sure you order yours TODAY!
Cover ArtInside Art (reversible!)Disc Art

This DVD contains 4 hand picked episodes not seen in the US in over 45 years! Episodes of this series are so rare they have been highly sought after and prized by film collectors the world over.

FEATURES:The first OFFICIALLY AUTHORIZED US release of any episodes of this TERRIFIC SERIES since 1960!Transferred from the original 35mm film broadcast masters!4 full half hour episodes and more, featuring the famed comic strip hero created by Milton Caniff. (NOTE: these four episodes are included in The Complete Steve Canyon On TV DVDs, two are on Vol. 1 and the other two are on Vol. 2)Full Color Printing Inside And Out In An Industry Standard "Crystal Clear" Clamshell CaseFull Color Process Factory Glass-Mastered Disc136 minutes / Black & WhiteNTSC Full Screen (1:33:1) 24 Frame Progressive!Region 0 - Playable In All RegionsDigitally RemasteredDigitally Enhanced Stereo Sound4 full episodes originally broadcast in 1958 with Original Commercials and Network Promos
EXTRAS:
2007 Series Restoration Promo (19:17) (features extended clips from 6 other episodes, including: Operation Survival The Trap
Korean Story Operation UFO The Robbery and Operation InterceptStills Gallery (1:00)
Click here for more info.

$14.99 per DVD plus flat rate postage (see below).

NOW ONLY $9.99 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!

Click button below to purchase this DVD.

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

By purchasing this and/or other items from this site you are helping to fund our restoration of the complete Steve Canyon TV series and we thank you for your support.

Shipping (worldwide) is included in the purchase price. Some domestic orders may be shipped via USPS Priority mail (at our discretion). Please allow 1 to 2 weeks delivery for hats, depending on if we have to reorder them. DVDs should only take 1 to 2 weeks tops, as we have a fair amount in stock. Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions. Thanks again for remembering Milton.

Click button below to view the contents of your shopping cart:

Steve Canyon® is a Registered Trademark of the Milton Caniff Estate.
The contents and products herein are Copyright ©1947, 1958, 1959, 1975, 1986, 1987, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 by The Milton Caniff Estate.
Steve Canyon® is The Intellectual Property of the Milton Caniff Estate.
All Rights Reserved.

Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe

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

ORDER FROM THIS PAGE IN ONE CONSOLIDATED SHOPPING CART!

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NOTE that you can ONLY order from this page for DOMESTIC USA SHIPPING within the United States! ALL INTERNATIONAL ORDERS MUST be made through our Amazon or ebay stores!

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Now Shipping!

STEVE CANYON TV POSTER:

We have a limited number of Steve Canyon Mini-Posters available for $9.95 each, postage paid (in the USA ONLY) 

If you are outside of the US and are interested, please email me and we'll figure something out).

They are on nice sturdy coated stock and are 11" X 17", shipped in a sturdy mailing tube. 

Click here for more info.

NOW ONLY 9.95 PER POSTER WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED IN THE USA!!

Click button below to Order this poster.

(click the above button to order SC-MP)


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THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON DVD VOLUME ONE:

This DVD contains the 1st set of 12 episodes (episodes 1 through 12), PLUS audio commentaries on 10 episodes! Click here for more detailed info.

NOW ONLY 19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED IN THE USA!!

Click button below to Order this DVD.

(click the above button to order SC-V1)


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THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON DVD VOLUME TWO:

This DVD contains the 2nd set of 12 episodes (episodes 13 through 24), PLUS audio commentaries on each episode! Click here for more detailed info.

NOW ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED IN THE USA!!

Click button below to Order this DVD.

(click the above button to order SC-V2)

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THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON DVD VOLUME THREE:

This DVD contains the final 10 episodes (episodes 25 through 34) PLUS the ORIGINAL  UNAIRED PILOT film, audio commentaries on each episode, hidden "easter eggs" and MORE! Click here for more detailed info.

NOW ONLY $19.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED IN THE USA!!

Click button below to Order this DVD.

(click the above button to order SC-V3)

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Steve Canyon Collector's Set "3-Pak"

This set contains DVD Volumes 1, 2 and 3, containing ALL 34 episodes PLUS the ORIGINAL UNAIRED PILOT film, audio commentaries on nearly every episode, hidden "easter eggs" and MORE on 6 DVDs in three 2 disc volumes!

NOW ONLY $59.85 FOR ALL THREE DVDS WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED IN THE USA!!

Click button below to Order the Complete Set.

(click the above button to order the Complete Steve Canyon Series Set)

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STEVE CANYON SPECIAL EDITION DVD:

This "sampler" DVD contains 4 hand picked episodes plus extras. NOTE that versions of these 4 episodes are also included in Volumes 1 and 2 (2 per volume). Click here and here for more info.

NOW ONLY $12.95 PER DVD WITH SHIPPING AND HANDLING INCLUDED IN THE USA!!

Click button below to purchase this DVD.

(click the above button to order SC-Special Edition)

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Click button above to view the contents of your shopping cart.
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If you pre-ordered V3 and are looking for SPEEDY SHIP, it's been MOVED, please click HERE.
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Email us at Ye Olde Caniff/Canyon Shoppe if you have any questions. Thanks again for remembering Milton Caniff.
Steve Canyon® is a Registered Trademark of the Milton Caniff Estate.
The contents and products herein are Copyright ©1947, 1958, 1959, 1975, 1986, 1987, 2006 through 2015 by The Milton Caniff Estate.
Steve Canyon® is The Intellectual Property of the Milton Caniff Estate.
All Rights Reserved.

Yet Another Minimal Post-Convention Update...

Just to let everyone that have been commenting here or emailing us, we are still working on getting a shopping cart setup (for the Special Edition STEVE CANYON DVD and hats) worked out here, so please be patient, it's coming as fast as we can hobble! In the meantime, here is another shot of the lovely and talented Miss Brinke Stevens:

(Click on picture to enlarge)
Brinke really is the Dragon Lady, while we just happen to be the draggin' lately's...

John Ellis
Hollywood, CA

Comic-Con Update (brief)

(Click on picture to enlarge)
From left to right, Russ Maheras, Harry Guyton, R.C.Harvey and John Ellis, in the autograph area right after the panel discussion and episode screening. Not pictured are Denis Kitchen and Diana Doalson. More pictures (and video) coming!

Just a brief post here to exclaim what a GREAT FUN TIME we all had in San Diego this past week. We accomplished exactly what we wanted to do and had a terrific time doing it. We're all back home now in "recovery-mode", so am posting to let everyone interested know I'll be doing a longer followup post within the next day or so with more pictures and news and also info about purchasing the hats and DVD's through this site. We've gotten a lot of email from folks wanting to order these (that couldn't attend the convention) and we promise to get this up and running asap. And thanks for all the mail!

Time to rest for a bit. Sleep is a GOOD thing!

John Ellis
July 30, 2007
Hollywood, CA

Comic-Con Friday

(Click on picture to enlarge)
Longtime friend (and Dragon Lady in her own right) BRINKE STEVENS models both our commemorative hat and the Steve Canyon Special Edition DVD at Comic-Con.

Harry and I caught up with Brinke today and I seized upon the photo-op to procure our very first *product endorsement*...hehehe...


(Click on picture to enlarge)

We met up with a lot of other folks around the convention and at the National Cartoonist's Society booth (#1307), pictured below:


(Click on picture to enlarge)

Among those that showed up today were: Jenny Robb, Associate Curator from Ohio State University's Milton Caniff reading room in their Cartoon Research Library; Artist R.C.Harvey, author of the just-released 950 page Caniff bio "Meanwhile..."; Buffy/Xena screenwriter Tom Swyden; fans Michael Bare, Steve Donnelly, Charles Davis, and a bunch of other folks too numerous to summon in my tired brain at this LATE hour...we enjoyed talking with everyone!

Tomorrow is the big day (Saturday) with our panel/screening at 2:30pm and autograph area session (spot "AA3" from 4pm to 7pm). We hope to have a full house and have a lot of fun with all of Milton's friends. We'll see you there!

John Ellis
July 27, 2007
San Diego, CA

We're at Comic-Con!

(Click on picture to enlarge)
Here's the INSIDE of the Special Edition DVD, which is reversible so you can have this image on the outside instead...we think that's kinda neat, and so far those that have seen it agree!

So Harry and I were at the con all day today, mostly at the National Cartoonist's Society booth (#1307), and we met quite a few folks who read this blog (and who also picked up copies of the DVD)... and this:


(Click on picture to enlarge)
Yep, we also have these nice air force style hats (with the embroidered STEVE CANYON logo) commemorating Milton's 100th and Steve Canyon's 60th...they also have something special embroidered on the back...more on that next time. These will also be available on this site after we get back from the convention (same as the DVD). I guess that's it for now, hope to see more of you the next few days, so don't be bashful!

John Ellis
July 26, 2007
San Diego, CA

P.S. Remember Harry and I will be screening OPERATION INTERCEPT at Comic-Con on Saturday July 28 at 2:30pm in "Room 4". There will also be a followup "autograph" session in the main autograph area from 4:00 to 7:00pm, and we will have the DVD's...and a few hats and maybe some guests and a few *secret* goodies. This is a great show and we hope you'll come up and say hi on Saturday (and various times at the NCS table). Remember buying one of these DVDs helps us get closer to the box set release.

Steve Canyon Special Edition DVD Cover Art

(Click on picture to enlarge)
Here's an advance look at the cover art for the DVD we are releasing at the San Diego Comic-Con next week. The design is a collaboration between Graphic Artist Johann Mitchell and myself. Johann is a superb artist and designer whom I have worked with many times since the mid 1970's, and I highly recommend her if you need a talented artist. She went way above and beyond the call of duty to help me make the delivery deadline on the DVD art and our thanks and appreciation go out to her. Thanks also go out to Laura Lozano for stepping in at the 11th hour to make sure the designs got where they needed to go. Both Laura and Johann have always been there right when I needed them, and stand out as true friends in every sense of the word.

The DVD is at the factory right now and will be arriving here just in time to take to Comic-Con for unveiling. At this time we expect to have it available at the National Cartoonist Society booth. These are true glass-mastered DVD Video disks that are manufactured from raw materials in the factory, with full four color printing inside 'n out and on the disc...none of your "home-brewed DVD's with HP labels and covers" for us...nosiree Bob! The Real Deal. Among its many virtues it has four full half hour episodes from 1958, as follows:

"Operation Zero Launch" - the second episode filmed, and this one has the original sponsors' titles and spot from Chesterfield Cigarettes (Ligett and Meyers). A lot of fun with Marion Ross from Happy Days being a babe. By the way, the Chesterfield tv spot features Dean Fredericks handling the product endorsement!

"Operation B-52" featuring a swell animated spot for Ligett and Meyers L&M cigarettes, this one features Richard Anderson, a script by Charles "Twilight Zone" Beaumont, and terrific direction by Arthur "Love Story" Hiller. Not to be missed.

"Operation Mushroom" - though originally premiered in 1958, this an ABC print from the summer of 1960 and features promos for other vintage ABC shows. One of the most popular episodes, Steve drops the first weapon-class H-Bomb on Eniwetok Island. Tons of cool planes and documentary approach.

"Operation Diplomat" - premiered in 1958, again another ABC print with ABC promos, this episode is (for my money) the one most like the Steve Canyon comic strips of the era. It's great and another one of my favorite episodes.

There is also an image gallery on the disk, and a 19 minute series promo featuring clips from 6 other episodes.

Once we return from Comic-Con, we will offer the DVD here online (for those that couldn't attend the convention). Remember, this is a lead-in for the entire series, and is intended to help us finance the restoration of the rest of the shows. I should also mention that these shows have had their audio and picture elements cleaned up somewhat, but none of the episodes on this set are fully restored.

Don't get me wrong, they look and sound terrific, but there is still a certain amount of dirt specks and such flying around in some sections of these episodes. These shows were hand picked by me as four of the best, representative of what a great series this is. Episodes not seen since their original network runs...and NEVER available as crappy dupes on ebay. The work WILL continue on these and they will be fully cleaned up and "presented for your approval" with the rest of the 34 original episodes, just as soon as we can get 'em out there. That's a promise!

John Ellis
July 17, 2007
Hollywood, CA

P.S. Remember Harry and I will be screening OPERATION INTERCEPT at Comic-Con on Saturday July 28 at 2:30pm in "Room 4". There will also be a followup "autograph" session in the main autograph area from 4:00 to 7:00pm, and we will have the DVD's...and maybe some guests and a few *secret* goodies. We're very excited about the show and we hope to see you there!