Rare Rocky Fortune article

Rocky Fortune calls the 21st Precinct

Every now and then you will hear shows reference another show. In the clip below, Frank Sinatra as Rocky Fortune calls the 21st Precinct and mentions the brass ring. (First though, you'll hear the ending of a typical 21st Precinct show where the brass ring is mentioned.)

(((HEAR)))

Review: Rocky Fortune

But..but..but he's not a detective.

Rocky Fortune was an odd character: he could never seem to hold a steady job, he was witty and very sarcastic and he could solve crimes without the advantage of being a detective.  (He was so good at solving crimes that all over the internet you will find that Rocky was a 'detective.')

How and why Rocky got involved in the middle of criminal activity, we will never know.  Every job he took - be it a dishwasher or a museum watchman - found him in the middle of some kind of mystery. It's never fully revealed why he traveled from place to place and took a different job. We can only assume this was done to keep the show fresh and new characters coming in each week.

Singer Frank Sinatra played the part of Rocky.  While other reviews might state he sounded, "bored", I differ.  I believe the part of Rocky Fortune help propel Frank Sinatra into the acting stratosphere. Though he is known for his singing, Sinatra was actually one of the best actors in the history of Hollywood.  He remains highly underrated. I've seen several of his films and I have been blown away by each performance. Although the Rocky Fortune shows aren't his best work, he still shows the traits that made him such a fantastic actor.

How can a non-detective be a private eye?

The wry sarcasm used on the show eventually became a bit of a Sinatra trademark in his films. He's actually quite humorous on the show. Oddly enough, Sinatra never sings in the series.

This show came out in 1953 and only lasted about a half of a season or 25 shows.  It's not the greatest radio around but I can find little bad to say about it. Sinatra pulls up the mediocre writing with his own acting abilities. I'd give the show 3 and a half stars. This is a fun show.

©Jimbo 2010/2011

Revisited: Rocky Fortune stuff

As you may recall here I told you Captain Kanagroo's Theme song was on at the end of one particular 1953 Rocky Fortune episode. Here it is:



!961 - the first year of Captain Kanagroo:


And I also made mention of an odd voice that William Conrad did on another Rocky Fortune episode - and here it is:

Hodge-podging once more

Bob Bailey; stuck in a bad script on LGDI

I heard one of the worst radio scripts ever on a program that usually has decent to sometimes excellent ones.  The culprit being Polly Hopkins'-penned Let George Do It.

The plot was pretty good but the subplot involved Valentine being afraid of horses; the way around this was to make George ride a hobby horse and a merry-go-round (in screaming terror, I might add.)

The episode was essentially passable but the meandering during the middle of the program (episode 461025 Cowboy Star Afraid of Horse) is some of the worst stuff ever.
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Well, The Digital Deli is back online, just shortly after I had taken down all the links to it on OTR People.  So, it looks like the "A's" will NEVER be finished.

Every time I think I am done, I find a new person whose name ends in 'A' or the Digital Deli goes down or the Digital Deli comes back up...

Not only that but "B" may be delayed a while until I can add some more photos.  I'd say 60% of the photos I need are not on Google Images.  But I have found quite a few in newspapers, etc.  I am in the process of adding them online now (it may take a week or more) and then I will try and continue with OTR People.
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Parley Baer

For years I had thought that Wheaties announcer Frank Martin and Parley Baer (Chester on Gunsmoke and thousands of other roles throughout radio, tv and film) were one in the same.  Their voices are so much alike.  If you doubt me, you can hear Wheaties' commericals with Martin during many episodes of Dangerous Assignment and some later episodes of Tales of the Texas Rangers.
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Marvo (William Conrad)

Speaking of Gunsmoke - one of my favorite programs by the way - I heard versatile William Conrad last night on Rocky Fortune (episode 531208 Carnival One-way.)

In it, he plays a character named Marvo.  He shows up roughly nine and a half minutes in.  Check out the voice he uses!  It's very deep and quite hilarious.  It's the only time I remember hearing him use that voice!

This is my first run through Rocky Fortune but I find the show very entertaining.  Frank Sinatra was a great actor (this is evident in each and every one of the films he was in.)

Rocky Fortune continues to surprise me with it's quality every time I listen.

Odd Rocky Fortune music - again

If you listen at the end of Rocky Fortune episode 531201 Murder Among the Statues, you will hear the theme song to Captain Kangaroo (it's called Puffin' Billy.)

The Whistler and Rocky Fortune and Tales of the Texas Rangers and The Black Museum

All the above shows share the same library of music - or did at one time.

The oddest thing I have heard is the distinctive theme of The Whistler heard somewhere during the middle of this Rocky Fortune episode (episode 531117.)