Sun Records star Billy Lee Riley dies
1950s rockabilly star Billy Lee Riley died Sunday at age 75.
Riley is perhaps best remembered for his classic 1957 single, "Flying Saucers Rock and Roll" -- a novelty rockabilly rave-up inspired by the era's U.F.O. mania -- which proved a hit and prompted him to rename his band the Little Green Men.
Despite this promising start, Riley's commercial fate was sealed after Sun put its promotional efforts behind Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" -- a song Riley played on -- which zoomed up the charts and past his own follow-up single "Red Hot."
Despite his disappointment, Riley continued to record for Sun and Phillips for several years, before going on to cut sides for Mercury, Atlantic and Crown, as well as his own Nita and Mojo labels, creating a body of work that's been championed by rock critics and notable fans, including Bob Dylan.
Pop links: Pogo! Astroworld! Five Stairsteps! Foom! War comics!
Pappy presents a Pogo story from 1953.
-----
Visit Houston's Astroworld theme park via a 1960s Viewmaster packet.
-----
Via Bedazzled: The Five Stairsteps on Soul Train.
-----
Read the first issue of Marvel Comics' in-house Foom fanzine.
-----
From Golden Age Comic Book Stories: A few stories from Atlas Comics' War title, featuring work by Russ Heath, Joe Sinnott, Joe Maneely and others.
-----
Visit Houston's Astroworld theme park via a 1960s Viewmaster packet.
-----
Via Bedazzled: The Five Stairsteps on Soul Train.
-----
Read the first issue of Marvel Comics' in-house Foom fanzine.
-----
From Golden Age Comic Book Stories: A few stories from Atlas Comics' War title, featuring work by Russ Heath, Joe Sinnott, Joe Maneely and others.
More pics from Disney's Rapunzel
Here's some more production art from Disney's upcoming "Rapunzel" animated film.
Cover art, Amazon listings for upcoming DC Comics collections
Amazon has posted cover art for a few upcoming DC Comics collection of note. Click the links to pre-order discounted books:
Showcase Presents: Dial H For Hero
The Superman Chronicles Vol. 8
Robin Archives Vol. 2
DC Comics Classic Library: Justice League of America By George Perez Vol. 2
Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 5
Batman & Robin Vol. 1: Batman Reborn Deluxe HC
The Newsboy Legion Vol. 1 Featuring Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
Showcase Presents World's Finest Vol. 3
The Wonder Woman Chronicles Vol. 1
The Batman Chronicles Vol. 9
The Creeper by Steve Ditko
Doc Savage: The Silver Pyramid
Flash vs. The Rogues
Showcase Presents: Wonder Woman Vol. 3
Showcase Presents: Dial H For Hero
The Superman Chronicles Vol. 8
Robin Archives Vol. 2
DC Comics Classic Library: Justice League of America By George Perez Vol. 2
Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 5
Batman & Robin Vol. 1: Batman Reborn Deluxe HC
The Newsboy Legion Vol. 1 Featuring Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
Showcase Presents World's Finest Vol. 3
The Wonder Woman Chronicles Vol. 1
The Batman Chronicles Vol. 9
The Creeper by Steve Ditko
Doc Savage: The Silver Pyramid
Flash vs. The Rogues
Showcase Presents: Wonder Woman Vol. 3
Pop links: Original Dalek dies; Rolf Armstrong pin-ups;
Michael Summerton, British actor and the last of the Dalek operators on the original Doctor Who series, has died.
His agent told him he would not need to learn any lines for the casting, and when he arrived at the BBC workshops he was asked to strip down to his underpants and sit in what appeared to be a tub on castors.
Summerton (who was one of the four original Daleks) was instructed in how to move this apparatus about, the director saying: "We want to test this prototype for manoeuvrability. We want you to move forwards, backwards, sideways. Quickly, slowly." Presently the director lowered a lid over him with a plunger sticking out of it. Summerton found himself in total darkness. He would later relate: "When the lid went on I knew my career as an actor was over."
-----
From Golden Age Comic Book Stories: A big selection of pin-up art by Rolf Armstrong.
His agent told him he would not need to learn any lines for the casting, and when he arrived at the BBC workshops he was asked to strip down to his underpants and sit in what appeared to be a tub on castors.
Summerton (who was one of the four original Daleks) was instructed in how to move this apparatus about, the director saying: "We want to test this prototype for manoeuvrability. We want you to move forwards, backwards, sideways. Quickly, slowly." Presently the director lowered a lid over him with a plunger sticking out of it. Summerton found himself in total darkness. He would later relate: "When the lid went on I knew my career as an actor was over."
-----
From Golden Age Comic Book Stories: A big selection of pin-up art by Rolf Armstrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)