Cowboy Church #69

Hello my friends and welcome to another service of Cowboy Church. 

Stuart Hamblen's story is one of a person whose life God completely changed. He was a country music singer/songwriter, radio host and actor in many cowboy movies (including ones starring Roy Rogers, John Wayne and Gene Autry). Despite his popularity and talent, he unfortunately fell deep into alcoholism. His alcoholism lead to him fighting and destroying property. Because of this he frequently found himself in jail, only for his radio sponsors to bail him out only so he could return to his destructive ways and wind up there again. In 1949 he attended a Billy Graham Crusade and gave his life to the Lord. He gave up his drinking and even got fired from his radio job when he refused to do beer commercials. This was not a set back at all as he soon got into the world of Christian broadcasting with a radio show called Cowboy Church of the Air. Today's musical selection begins with him singing Teach Me Lord to Wait. This is followed by Hank Thompson singing This Train is Bound For Glory on a 1964 episode of The Jimmy Dean Show. Molly Bee, Roy Clark and Jimmy Dean all join him for this song. Following is our good friend the King of the Cowboys himself Roy Rogers singing Peace in the Valley. This song was written by one of the best songwriters in the history of gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey (who also wrote Precious Lord Take My Hand). This is followed by The Possum himself, George Jones singing Lord You've Been Mighty Good to Me. This great song comes from his 1966 gospel album, Old Brush Arbors. George was on top of the country music world for much of his great career, yet he always made sure scared songs would always continue to play a part in his repertoire. Like many country singers of his era, he grew up with gospel music and these songs stayed with him his whole life. This song has an important message for us. We can too often get caught up in what we don't like about our lives that we fail to realize what God truly has done for us. I know I have done this and I am sure many of you have as well. Next comes one of the best Ride This Train segments from The Johnny Cash Show. This segments feature Johnny taking us on a little trip and through a mixture of spoken word story telling and the singing of related songs. The segment was based off his similarly done 1960 album, Ride This Train. In this version of the segment Johnny takes us on a trip to Israel including some great holy songs. Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their reminder to Read the Bible Everyday. 

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:4

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. Romans 14:1

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. Colossians 2:2

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." John 5:14

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:6

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Colossians 3:8

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Thanks for joining me, come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy Trails to you until we meet again. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Silent Film of the Month: Just Pals (1920)

Run Time: 50 minutes. Studio: Fox Film Corporation. Director: John Ford. Writers: John McDermott, Paul Schofield. Main Cast: Buck Jones, Paul Schofield, Helen Ferguson. Cinematographer: George Schneiderman. Editor: William Hornbeck.


TCM spent the last month playing tribute to one of the all time best movie directors John Ford. I was very pleased with a lot of the choices but there was one disappointment and that was the lack of any silent films. So I felt like calling attention to one of John Ford's silents that I really enjoy and one that rarely gets the attention it deserves.

In a small town a lazy bum (Buck Jones) is an object of ridicule among the townspeople. He meets a young runaway boy (George Stone) who is similarly an outcast in the town. The two quickly form a friendship and the bum raises the boy as his own, overcoming his naturally lazy ways to do so.

Film historian J.B. Kaufman, brings up an interesting point when he wrote about this film on his website (you can read that here.) This movie is surprisingly similar to the much better known Charlie Chaplin classic, The Kid (1921). Both feature an unlikely father-son like friendship between two societal outcasts. However as J.B. points out while The Kid was released after Just Pals, The Kid finished production first. So there is no plagiarism on either part.

This is a movie that could have easily felt too sappy or sentimental if it was in lesser hands. However John Ford was not lesser hands. This film works so well because the emotion always feels completely real and believable. There is not one false note struck here and because of this the movie doesn't feel overly sentimental, but rather very engaging with real emotional value. This is helped by the great performances from our two leads. Buck Jones and George Stone not only play their roles perfectly but they have incredible chemistry with each other that brightens the screen each time they share it.

This film marked the first time John Ford would work with cinematographer George Schneiderman. They would later work on such movies as Dr. Bull (1933), Judge Priest (1934) and Steamboat Around the Bend (1035).  He does just as good of a job here as he did in those later films, and this movie is a joy to simply look at.          


For anyone interested in watching this movie it is available on YouTube.                                                                  



 

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Some Cartoons For Saturday Morning #82

Hello my friends and happy Saturday Morning. Once again it is time for classic cartoons.

I love of the cartoons of Chuck Jones from any period but there is something special about his films from 1942 and 1943. At this time he was fully getting away from his slower paced cuter output of the late 1930's, but had not yet gotten to the style of films he would make in the 1950's that everybody is familiar with today. So what we get from output during these two years are cartoons that experiment with what you can do in an animated short. It doesn't hurt that he worked with such experimental artists as layout man John McGrew. Chuck gave McGrew plenty of freedom and what John accomplished in these movies is nothing short of amazing. This is especially shown in The Case of the Missing Hare (1942), where experimentation is seen in every moment. Just watch the abstract backgrounds that show a mixture of two colors at a time, but the colors change when there is a strong action in the foreground. This is something someone may not notice on their first watch but it is something they can feel. A review in The Film Daily stated "Here is another hilarious, the Leon Schlesinger creation that keeps growing in comic strength with every new release." I think anyone watching this cartoon today will recognize that the antagonist is not Elmer Fudd, but one reviewer from The Exhibitor didn't as in his review he stated "...this has Elmer, as a magician..."  A review from the same magazine less than a month latter stated "Elmer isn't in this." The latter is right. A review in Variety called this "One of the better Bugs Bunny subjects."

Next up is a Terrytoon, Tall Tale Teller (1954).

Next up comes an early black and white Silly Symphony, Mother Goose Melodies (1931). Like many other early Silly Symphonies, this film doesn't feature much in the way of plot and spends most of it time with characters dancing and reacting to the music. Yet this is an important film in the series as it is the first one to have lyrics sung by the characters. The songs here are rather simple affairs with little of the complexities that would appear in later Disney music (JB Kaufman and Russell Merritt's indispensable book on the Silly Symphonies credits these songs to "Bert Lewis and/or Frank Churchill). The opening scenes beginning the parade (animated by Ben Sharpsteen) would later be reused in a special short for the 1932 Academy Awards titled Parade of the Award Nominees. This film would be remade as the color Silly Symphony, Old King Cole (1933). The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Walt Disney and his assistants have turned out a synchronized cartoon comedy that will be hard to beat. It has all the Mother Goose rhymes worked into one story and the transportation from one to another is accomplished by turning the pages of a huge story book. Drawings on the pages come to life and preform real laugh-making antics. Gags are new and plentiful. This one will make audiences laugh plenty." The following is a review from the Motion Picture Herald, "Walt Disney has done a most unusual piece of work in this "Silly Symphony" number. There is indicated a great step forward technically, in animation and synchronization, in addition to excellent subject material, clever animated ideas, and rapidity of action. There is almost the illusion of real life in some of the figures, the animation is so fine. Many well known Mother Goose stories are included with the stories neatly running together. Old King Cole is featured and little Jack Horner is featured as well. The youngsters will devour this and ask for more and the elderly children will enjoy it hugely By all means do not miss it. It is great." Walt Disney voices Little Jack Horner himself. 

Movie Makers, 1931

Let's end today's cartoon selection with a Fractured Fairy Tale.

Thanks for joining me come back next week for more animated treasures. May all your Tunes be Looney and your Melodies Merrie. 

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Silent Films on TCM This August.

Hello my fellow silent film fans and TCM fans. So you don't miss anything here is a list of silent films that will be on TCM this August. Because of Summer Under the Stars there will be no Silent Sunday Night, but the good news is that the 8th will be Charlie Chaplin day. 

Saturday, August 8th

The Rounders (1914) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. 3:00am Pacific. 6am Eastern

The Knockout (1914) Director: Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and Charlie Chaplin. 3:15am Pacific. 6:15am Eastern.

The Pilgrim (1923) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Enda Purviance. 4am Pacific. 7am Eastern.

A Dog's Life (1918) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Sydney Chaplin. 4:45am Pacific. 7:45am Eastern. 

The Kid (1921) Director: Charlie Chaplin., Starring Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan. 5:30 am Pacific. 8:30am Eastern. 

The Gold Rush (1925) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Mack Swain. 6:30am Pacific. 9:30 am Eastern.

The Circus (1928) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Merna Kennedy. 8:15am Pacific. 11:15am Eastern.

City Lights (1931) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Virginia Cherrill. 5pm Pacific. 8pm Eastern. 

Modern Times (1936) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Godard. 6:45pm Pacific. 9:45pm Eastern. 

Pay Day (1922) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance. 11:15pm Pacific. 2:15am Eastern.

Sunnyside (1919) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance. 11:45pm Pacific. 2:45am Eastern. 

Sunday August 9th 

The Idle Class (1921) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Enda Purviance. 12:30am Pacific. 3:30 am Eastern. 

Shoulder Arms (1918)  Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Sydney Chaplin. 1:15am Pacific. 4:15am Eastern.

A Day's Pleasure (1919) Director: Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Enda Purviance. 2am Pacific. 5am Eastern. 

Mabel's Married Life (1914) Director: Mack Sennett. Starring Mabel Normand and Charlie Chaplin. 2:30am Pacific. 5:30am Eastern. 

Monday August 10th 

The Student Prince in Old Heidelburg (1927) Director: Ernst Lubitsch. Starring Roman Novarro and Norma Shearer. 3am Pacific. 6am Eastern

Thursday, August 13th

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) Director: John S. Robertson. Starring John Barrymore and Martha Mansfield. 3am Pacific. 6am Eastern. 

Don Juan (1926) Director: Alan Crosland. Starring John Barrymore and Mary Astor. 4:15am Pacific. 7:15am Eastern. 

When a Man Loves  (1927) Director: Alan Crosland. Starring John Barrymore and Dolores Costello. 6:15am Pacific. 9:15am Eastern. 

Wednesday August 19th

The Trail of '98 (1928) Director: Clarence Brown. Starring Dolores Del Rio and Ralph Forbes. 3am Pacific. 6am Eastern. 

Romana (1928) Director: Edwin Carewe. Starring Dolores Del Rio and Warner Baxter. 5pm Pacific. 8pm Eastern. 


-Michael J. Ruhland   





 

Summer Concert Series: Gimme Shelter (1970)

This landmark documentary is still incredibly powerful and shocking today. This isn't just a movie about a rock band, but about a tragedy and the change in culture that created it. 

As many know the 1960's is often considered a time of idealism but thoughts of peace and love sadly couldn't last forever. This falling out of ideals is brutally and honestly shown at a rock concert in 1969 that took place at Altamont Speedway that erupted in a hideous display of violence. Though this film is technically about the Rolling Stones, the footage of this concert takes center stage and is what people remember and take away from this film. Anyone who wants a feel good fun rock and roll concert film, had better watch a different movie. The footage of this concert is unpleasant and will leave some with a feeling of discomfort and disillusionment. Yet this movie leaves such a powerful impression that anyone who has seen it can never forget it. Even as one of the most popular rock and roll bands in the world performs their most famous hits, they are unfortunately upstaged and overshadowed by the horror playing out in front of them. Of course the music is excellent but how musically talented the Stones are is not going to be your parting thought. There is little of the peace and love associated with 60's rock and roll, instead their is the violence and unruliness of a painful part of human nature that the hippie dream could not overcome no matter how hard it tried. What hurts all the more is that this is a documentary and what you see in the same is what actually happened as it happened. 

This is not an upbeat movie by any means but it is a thought provoking one that will stay with you long after the film is over. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Decline of Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years (1988)

Penelope Spheeris' 2nd entry into her incredible rock and roll documentary trilogy, turns the focus to heavy metal.

Like how the first movie was the ultimate punk rock film, this is the ultimate heavy metal movie. Like the first entry this sequel covers not only the music but the lifestyle. Once again the lifestyle is neither condoned or condemned. It is simply shown in full and complete honesty. To get the full feeling of the lifestyle, both huge name artists (Aerosmith, Ozzy Ozzborne, Alice Cooper, Poison) to smaller time artists that have bands you probably have never heard of are interviewed. Tales of drugs, rock and roll and especially sex fill this movie to the brim. The way many of the artists talk about sex is revealing and at times uncomfortable. The people interviewed often go into detail about the sexual experiences and talk about them with complete pride. While this can feel strange and off-putting to those of us who don't think about sex 24/7, I appreciate this movie's honesty when it comes to the subject. The gender politics of the genre are also discussed and can be rather sad to hear even if they are well known at times. Sadly there is a heavy metal image and unfortunately often women don't fit into it, despite that they have again and again proven they can rock as hard as the women. As well as musicians talking about how much they love heavy metal, there are also interviews with a woman who supports and practices what she calls "de-meatal-azation," a process of getting young people away from heavy metal music and the lifestyle it is believed to represent. Again what is great about this movie is that it does not take sides, it simply shows what it sees in full honesty.

The music is an excellent look at late 80's metal, showing everything that made the music so popular. There is such a pure level of energy and excitement to the music that is performed here. As much time as is spent interviewing huge names, the performances are often by lesser known artists like London, Seduce and Odin (though Megadeath does perform here as well). While this may disappoint those who want to hear Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Kiss or Poison, there is nothing wrong with the music that is heard here.

This is in many ways this is the definitive heavy metal movie and a must watch for both those who are into the music and those who aren't

-Michael J. Ruhland

Happy 80th Birthday Bugs Bunny

Motion Picture Daily, 1941

Today is the day we celebrate Bugs Bunny's 80th birthday. While this point can be argued as it is based around the cartoon, A Wild Hare (1940), while others argue that Porky's Hare Hunt (1938) was actually his first appearance. Regardless of what you consider the first Bugs cartoon, he first appeared fully formed in A Wild Hare, so it seems appropriate that we celebrate his birthday today.

Though July 27th has become official considered Bugs' birthday, for years Bugs had his birthday hop around (pun intended) from day and to and questionable from year to year as his age would sometime not correspond with what his age was said to be a few years earlier. As I have discussed in a previous blog post, you can read by clicking here.

Bugs Bunny cartoons were often just as cherished a part of the movie going experience as the feature film. As such it should come as no surprise that entire movie programs were created around the Wascally Wabbit's films. An issue of The Showman's Trade Review dated April 4, 1942 informs how you can put on your own.

"Bugs Bunny has come into his own. He's a full fledged cartoon star now, thanks to the public. In fact so popular has the rabbit become that exhibitors throughout the country are cashing in by staging Bugs Bunny Kartoon Karnivals.

"Easter would be an ideal time for this activity, but Easter has come and gone, so that angle is out. Let not your showmanship spirit be dampened, however, for you can put on a Bugs Bunny Kartoon Karnival anytime during the year.

"Four or five cartoons should be booked for the occasion. Devote more than average space for the show in your ad. We've seen several ads from theatres that have already put on the special programs, and nearly all featured line-cut illustrations of the famous hare.   

"Display a large cut out in you lobby. Conduct a drawing contest via the newspaper, with guest tickets for the Karnival going to children who submit the best drawings of Bugs Bunny. Arrangements might be made for a certain number of live rabbits to be given away. (The latter suggestion holds only if you stage the Karnival at a special matinee.)

"Tie-ups of course, depend on the cartoons to be exhibited. For example if one of them is 'The Wabbit Who Came to Supper' (coming right up, we understand), you should be able to promote a window display and imprinted napkins and menus from a neighborhood restaurant. Further tie-ups of a different nature might be suggested by the subject matter of other recent Bugs Bunny releases. 

"I case 'The Heckling Hare' is part of your program you might try a newspaper contest wherein prizes are offered for the best short letters on the subject, 'Why I hate a heckler.'

"Whether you put on the Karnival or whether you play the Bugs Bunny cartoons singly, be sure to feature them prominently in all your advertisements. You'll be surprised by the number of people who'll come to your theatre when they know Bugs is on your program." 

Sponsor, 1957

Sponsor, 1961

-Michael J. Ruhland