Hodge-podging about what I've been doing

Hi everyone.

I have been doing a lot of things away from the internet.  I've been exploring some television (traitor, right?)  I watched I Love Lucy and saw Jay Novello.  I've been watching the old Dragnet TV show.

Am I still listening to OTR?  Yes, of course.  As a matter of fact, I am heavily into Gleason and Armstrong (almost half-way done with it) and still listening hard to Vic and Sade and Superman.  I've almost been listening to a lot of Amos 'n' Andy "since I've been away."

I've been enjoying (or trying to enjoy) baseball, one of the things I enjoy most in life.  My team started off hot but is no longer hot - as a matter of fact, they waver on being horrible.  But I've been watching.

I have been listening to Lum and Abner as well - but I have noticed than in 1945, Alka Seltzer has taken some drastic measures to change the show a bit - and I am none too happy about it.  So much so that I almost don't want to listen to it.

Basically, I have been trying to stay away from the internet as much as possible.  I devoted 4 months to this blog (and it's siblings) and I need a rest is all.  As soon as I get a hold of some more news, I will get back in the swing of things.  This "vacation" was sorely needed.

I honestly hate to be away, but I was dangerously close to running myself into the ground here.  I still love OTR but the blog got to be a heavy burden because I was devoting so much time to it.

I'll see you soon.  I hope.

©Jimbo 2010/2011

Review: (The Adventures of) Rocky Jordan

Jack Moyles is Rocky Jordan

Rocky Jordan started out as a West Coast-only show (like The Whistler) known as A Man Named Jordan.  That Jordan was a restaurant owner in Instanbul, Turkey.

The theme music (albeit in a different time signature) and Rocky remained the same when the show went national but Rocky had moved to Cairo, Egypt and the music got it's more contemporary flavor.

Rocky Jordan (played by Jack Moyles - and in the later years by the miscast George Raft) was an American living in the Mid-East. I don't believe the series ever tells why he is there, other than to run a restaurant. He's not a detective, yet crime comes his way all the time and he's almost forced into finding solutions for intriguing problems. It's not always murder; sometimes there's a swindle, stolen artiacts or sometimes a bomb --  and always a beautiful young lady.

Jay Novello is Capt. Sam Sabaya

Since crime is involved in every episode, Rocky has to deal with Cairo police Captain Sam Sabaya, played to the hilt by radio (and tv) handyman, Jay Novello.  He knows Rocky isn't behind the crime-of-the-week but investigates him anyway.  Somehow (like all radio detectives) Jordan is always one step ahead of the law, figuring out the crime before the cops ever do.

The atmosphere of the Middle-East is strong in these shows.  At times, you feel the humidity from the Nile River and sense the exotic market smells while listening to the show.

There's not a thing wrong with the show - until the show's final year when George Raft took over for Moyles.  Then the show becomes just another show because Raft is simply boring on radio.

3 and a half to 4 stars.

BONUS: Do you have this episode?

BONUS: The Sultan Hassan Mosque mentioned at the beginning of each show