Pic of the Day: “Quaker Girl” revisited

Posted by Marisa on July 14, 2015

Today we take another long-overdue look at “Quaker Girl,” the second of the two Gunsmoke episodes in which Timothy appears. This one first aired on December 10, 1966. “Buster” Rilla, the muscle behind a couple of treasure-seeking crooks, watches as killer Fred Bateman (William Shatner) tries to talk his way out of a case of mistaken identity.

Among Shatner’s zillions of impressive credits is that of Incubus (1965), one of a handful of films shot in Esperanto, a specially constructed language developed in the late 19th century with an eye towards fostering unity between nations. According to experts in the language, however, the actors failed miserably in pronunciation and delivery, and the film is not considered a good example of spoken Esperanto. It still makes me want to take a stab at learning it, though.

Pic of the Day: “Quaker Girl” revisited

Posted by Marisa on July 29, 2014

It’s time to take another look at “Quaker Girl,” the episode of Gunsmoke that first aired on December 10, 1966. It’s the second of two episodes of the legendary Western series in which Timothy appears. Charles “Buster” Rilla is the hulking muscle behind a couple of gold-hungry outlaws.

Tim was directed for the second time here by the prolific Bernard L. Kowalski, who memorably let Tim have his head with his characterization of gangster Matty Trifon in the Baretta pilot, “He’ll Never See Daylight” (1.17.75).

Pic of the Day: “Fade In to Murder” revisited

Posted by Marisa on April 18, 2014

We wrap up the week with another look at Tony, the deli owner/frustrated actor of the Columbo episode “Fade In to Murder”. It first graced television screens across the nation on October 10, 1976. Poor Tony is merely a pawn in the elaborate plan set in motion by arrogant TV star Ward Fowler (William Shatner, in the puffy blue jacket) to silence his former lover, producer Clare Daley (Lola Albright).

Timothy and Shatner had worked together previously in the Gunsmoke episode “Quaker Girl” (12.10.66). I’d dearly love the chance to ask him if he has any memories of working with fellow scene-stealer Tim.

Video of the Week: “Quaker Girl”

Posted by Marisa on February 12, 2014

This week’s video is another full-length television episode. It’s “Quaker Girl,” the second of two episodes of Gunsmoke in which Timothy appears. It first aired on December 10, 1966. He is suitably menacing as Charles “Buster” Rilla, the part-Native American tracker to a couple of (literally) gold-digging bad guys.

Directed by the legendary Bernard L. Kowalski, and co-starring William Shatner and Ben Johnson, “Quaker Girl” is a serviceable example of the 20-season series’ middle years. Enjoy!

Pic of the Day: “Quaker Girl” revisited

Posted by Marisa on December 17, 2013

Today’s pic takes another look at “Quaker Girl,” the second of two episodes of Gunsmoke in which Timothy appears. It was first broadcast on December 10, 1966. Opportunistic bad guys Dave Westerfeldt (Tom Reese) and Vern Morland (Ben Johnson) rely on their part-Indian tracker “Buster” Rilla to help them nab a killer.

Johnson and Timothy had previously both appeared in Marlon Brando‘s One-Eyed Jacks (1961), though not on-screen together. Johnson was certainly one of the greatest Western stars who ever lived. If he seemed like an authentic cowboy on-screen, that’s because he was one off-screen as well. He was ever at home in the saddle, having been discovered in 1940 in his home state of Oklahoma by Howard Hughes while he was a rodeo rider and ranch hand. Hughes hired him to run a herd of horses to California, Johnson ended up sticking around, and his Hollywood career began. He returned briefly to rodeo riding in 1953, but the pay in Hollywood was a lot better, so back he went. His father, Ben Johnson Sr., was also a champion steer roper and a legend in the rodeo world.

Pic of the Day: “Quaker Girl” revisited

Posted by Marisa on May 14, 2013

Today’s pic is another from the Gunsmoke episode “Quaker Girl,” the second of the two episodes of that long-running Western series that Timothy appeared in. It first aired on December 10, 1966. The bad guys’ muscle, Buster Rilla, has been thwarted in his evil designs on the eponymous Quaker girl, Cora (Ariane Quinn).

This was the last of two television appearances by Ariane under that name. She then became known as Patricia Quinn, and turned in memorable performances in Arthur Penn‘s Alice’s Restaurant (1969), as Alice herself, and in An Unmarried Woman (1978), directed by Paul Mazursky.

Pic of the Day: “He’ll Never See Daylight” revisited

Posted by Marisa on February 18, 2013

Today’s pic takes another look at Matty Trifon, the glove-wearing, chicken-loving mobster of “He’ll Never See Daylight,” the inaugural episode of Baretta that first aired on January 17, 1975. Matty is in a somber mood as takes a phone call from his boss Frank Cassell (Joseph Mascolo) to discuss that pest Baretta (Robert Blake).

Television legend Bernard L. Kowalski directed this episode. He also directed Timothy in the Rawhide episode “The Book” (1.8.1965), the Gunsmoke episode “Quaker Girl” (12.10.1966), the Columbo episode “Fade In to Murder” (10.10.1976), and the TV movie Nightside (1980). I’m guessing he had a few tales to tell about working with Tim! I wish I could have had a chance to talk to him before he passed away in 2007.

Pic of the Day: “Quaker Girl” revisited

Posted by Marisa on November 19, 2012

Our pic today revisits “Quaker Girl,” the second of two Gunsmoke episodes in which Timothy appeared. It was first aired on December 10, 1966. Buster and I’m pretty sure that’s Dave (Tom Reese) are taking great pleasure in apprehending outlaw/sheriff’s deputy impostor Fred Bateman (William Shatner).

This episode was directed by the great Bernard L. Kowalski, one of the most talented and prolific producer/directors in television history. He directed Tim several times, and seemed willing to indulge him a bit as far as characterizations went. You know you’re in for some quality television when you see Kowalski’s name in the credits.

Pic of the Day: “Quaker Girl” revisited

Posted by Marisa on March 22, 2012

Our pic of the day takes another look at Tim’s appearance with today’s birthday boy William Shatner in the Gunsmoke episode “Quaker Girl,” first airing on December 10, 1966. He got ample time to push Shatner around in this episode, which unfortunately he did not get ten years later when they both were featured in the Columbo episode “Fade In to Murder.”

The Shat is 81 years old today. Many happy returns of the day!

Pic of the Day: “Fade In to Murder” revisited

Posted by Marisa on March 12, 2012

Our pic of the day takes another look at “Fade In to Murder,” the Columbo episode that first aired on October 10, 1976. Tim is deli proprietor Tony, only a pawn in TV star Ward Fowler’s (William Shatner) murderous plan.

This was Timothy’s third and final appearance on Columbo. He and Shatner had also previously co-starred in the Gunsmoke episode “Quaker Girl” (1966). Shatner’s Star Trek comrade Walter Koenig also appears in this episode, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) not with Shatner.