Updates from the Runup Pad...

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

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

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?".

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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!

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.

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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)

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Please help us lift off with Volume 3 ... advance 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!

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)

(Pre-order button removed)

(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

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

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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 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)

Sorry, All Volume #3 Pre-Orders 

NOW CLOSED until the official release at the end of 2014.

(Order button will return at that time)

(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.