Tag Archives: the blackbirder

Video of the Week: “The Blackbirder” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

Two weeks without posting – yikes! My apologies, folks. Well, as tomorrow’s Thanksgiving here in the US, I thought I would make our Video of the Week something that we can all be extremely thankful for. We’ve shown it before, but here it is again – Timothy’s performance as Lute Purdy, fur trapper and bounty hunter, from the Daniel Boone episode “The Blackbirder”. It first aired on October 3, 1968. Lute is one of Tim’s most richly drawn characters, and he’s in practically every scene. Another thing we can be thankful for!

Also, Lute just looks like the kind of guy who would go out and shoot wild turkeys, or something. Doesn’t he? Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Video of the Week: “The Blackbirder”

Posted by Marisa on

As promised, here is the Daniel Boone episode “The Blackbirder” in its entirety. It first aired on October 3, 1968. It showcases one of Timothy’s best comedic performances – heck, one of his best performances, period.

From the episode’s first moments, when Tim lopes in on his horse, breaks the fourth wall and practically winks at the audience, he owns this thing. He’s in almost every scene and is the catalyst that keeps the plot moving along. Plus, he’s just hilarious. If you haven’t seen this one yet, I envy you – you’re in for a treat. Enjoy!

Pic of the Day: “The Blackbirder” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

We kick off the week with another look at one of Timothy’s finest performances, that of bounty hunter Lute Purdy in the Daniel Boone episode “The Blackbirder”. It debuted on October 3, 1968.

The Blackbirder - 1968

As I believe I’ve said before, Tim walks away with this episode tucked neatly into his fringed buckskin pocket. It’s out on DVD, and I’ve just discovered the episode in full on YouTube!! Glory be. Stay tuned for that on Wednesday as our Video of the Week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by Marisa on

We here at the TCE wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving! I’ve always thought that Lute Purdy, the bounty hunter from the Daniel Boone episode “The Blackbirder” (10.3.68), looks like the kind of guy who would spend a leisurely afternoon hunting wild turkeys. So let’s pretend that’s what he’s doing here.

The Blackbirder - 1968

Whatever you’re chowing down on today, I hope it’s in the company of friends and loved ones. And cultivate that attitude of gratitude – not just today but every day!

Pic of the Day: “Mamma Cooper” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

We end the week with the last pic I have of Timothy’s brief appearance in the Daniel Boone episode “Mamma Cooper,” which first aired on February 5, 1970. He portrays a slave trader by the name of Wibberly.

Mamma Cooper - 1970

His previous appearance on the show, in the episode “The Blackbirder” (10.3.68), showcased one of his best performances ever, in film or on television. He was in almost every scene and stole every single one of them. He’s in this episode barely a minute or so. At this time he was very busy filming Tweet’s Ladies of Pasadena, which could account for the smallness of the part. Once again we’re left with a mere glimpse of an intriguing character that we wish we could see more of.

Pic of the Day: “The Blackbirder” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

It’s the evening of Independence Day here in the United States, and I’m trying to ignore the fact that our neighborhood sounds like a war zone. Today’s pic had to be tied to something quintessentially American, and what could be more American than Daniel Boone? Here is Timothy in one of his best performances as loquacious bounty hunter Lute Purdy in the Daniel Boone episode “The Blackbirder.” It was first aired on October 3, 1968.

The Blackbirder - 1968

This one truly is a gem. Tim is engaging, funny and rather mean when he has to be, and he’s also in practically every scene. Do not miss it! And happy Fourth of July, everybody!

Pic of the Day: “Daniel Boone” promo ad

Posted by Marisa on

Today’s pic is my latest eBay score! It’s a page from some Hollywood trade paper, announcing Timothy’s “comedy guest star” appearance on Daniel Boone (“The Blackbirder” episode, as bounty hunter Lute Purdy) that night on NBC-TV. We can then surmise that the ad appeared on the episode’s original air date, October 3, 1968. This was Timothy’s standard head shot for that time.

Promo ad for "The Blackbirder," 1968

I can’t seem to find too much biographical info on Tim’s agent, Lew Sherrell. He and his agency certainly represented a lot of folks in Hollywood – Forrest Tucker, Adam West, Robert Alda, Harry Carey Jr., Sue Ane Langdon and Robert Englund, just to name a few.

Pic of the Day: “The Blackbirder” revisited

Posted by Marisa on

A friend of the blog reminded me recently about this great episode of Daniel Boone, first broadcast on October 3, 1968. Timothy completely steals the show as bounty hunter Lute Purdy.

The Blackbirder - 1968

This episode was directed by William Wiard, veteran TV workhorse who directed 36 episodes of the Daniel Boone series, including the other episode Tim appears in, “Mamma Cooper” (02/05/1970). Don Pedro Colley, as former slave Gideon, also appears in Tim’s Tenspeed and Brown Shoe episode “The Treasure of Sierra Madre Street” (06/20/1980). I also remember him fondly as Baron Samedi in the blaxploitation horror classic Sugar Hill (1974).