In Search Of, Redux

Posted by Marisa on March 6, 2015

Yesterday we received the exciting news that Season 3 of CHiPS has finally been released on DVD. That means that we will soon have Timothy’s episode “Kidnap” in our hot little hands and will be posting screencaps ASAP. So in that spirit, I’ve decided to repost an edited version of this post from last year that details all of Timothy’s work that I have yet to discover. I have removed the CHiPS episode and added a couple of new entries. As always, your help in obtaining these is more than welcome. Here we go…

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As awesome as it would have been for Timothy to have shown up in an episode of that Leonard Nimoy-hosted “mysterious mysteries” series, this post isn’t about that. Instead, as mentioned yesterday, I’m going to list Timothy’s film and television appearances that I have yet to acquire on DVD. I have a want list up for most of these over at ioffer.com, but just in case any of you lovely people have any leads on where one might get ahold of “collector to collector” copies of these, I thought I would present them here. So, in chronological order, let’s start our search:

1. Chevron Theatre: “The Survey Man” (1952)

A brand-new addition to Tim’s IMDb page, although his presence in it is listed as “unconfirmed.” Season 1, episode 16; directed by the great Norman Lloyd. First broadcast on April 18, 1952, which would make this his earliest recorded performance on record, if indeed he is in it.

2. Invitation Playhouse: Mind Over Murder: “The Last Act” (1952)

Here’s another new one that has appeared on Tim’s IMDb page since I made the original post a year ago. Directed by William Asher, who later directed Tim in the Beach Party films. Additional cast includes Gene Roth, veteran of several Bert I. Gordon films, and former silent star Claire Windsor.

3. Gang Busters: “The Tri-State Gang” (1952)

My hubby wrote about this one here a while back. It hasn’t been added to Tim’s IMDb page, but it really should be as its existence is well documented. A two-parter from season 1, first airing on November 9 and November 27, 1952. It’s out there somewhere.

4. Death Valley Days: “Cynthy’s Dream Dress” (1953)

Season 1, episode 9. This is another recent addition. It was first broadcast on March 3, 1953. Ed Wood stalwart Lyle Talbot is in it too!

5. Cowboy in Africa: “The Red Hand of Michael O’Neill” (1968)

Season 1, episode 19; first broadcast on February 5, 1968. Portraying Tim’s daughter is Bonnie Beecher, who later became Mrs. Wavy Gravy!

6. The Outsider: “For Members Only” (1968)

Pilot episode of the series, first airing on September 18, 1968. Star Darren McGavin met his future wife Kathie Browne while filming this episode.

7. The Name of the Game: “Aquarius Descending” (1970)

Season 3, episode 13. The second of two episodes of the series in which Tim appears, this one was first broadcast on December 11, 1970. He plays a character who goes by the intriguing name of “Desert Rat.”

8. Toma: “A Funeral for Max Fabian” (1974)

Season 1, episode 13; first broadcast on February 22, 1974. It’s listed as “A Funeral for Max Berlin” on IMDb, but numerous other sources list it as “Max Fabian” (oddly enough, the name of the put-upon theatrical producer portrayed by Gregory Ratoff in All About Eve [1950]), so I’m going with that. Based on the real-life adventures of undercover cop David Toma, the series was retooled after one season and became Baretta, after star Tony Musante refused to sign on for another season. Which leads us to…

9. Baretta: “The Marker” (1978)

Season 4, episode 16; first broadcast on February 16, 1978. The last of Tim’s four appearances in the series. From reading the brief plot synopses found around the internet, I have a feeling Tim’s character is particularly heinous in this one.

10. Hard Knocks (1979)

This one’s a puzzle. It’s been released under several titles, including Hollywood Knight, Mid’Knight Rider, Mid-Knight Rider and Mid Night Man. An online version can be found here (Warning: The first part of the film is NSFW). It’s not very good, and I sat through the whole thing – no Timothy to be seen. So either there’s a version out there with him in it, or there’s another film by that name with him in it. Not a clue.

And there you have it! Man, that took forever. Thanks, everyone!

In Search Of…

Posted by Marisa on February 7, 2014

As awesome as it would have been for Timothy to have shown up in an episode of that Leonard Nimoy-hosted “mysterious mysteries” series, this post isn’t about that. Instead, as mentioned yesterday, I’m going to list Timothy’s television appearances that I have yet to acquire on DVD. I have a want list up for most of these over at ioffer.com, but just in case any of you lovely people have any leads on where one might get ahold of “collector to collector” copies of these, I thought I would present them here. So, in chronological order, let’s start our search:

1. Chevron Theatre: “The Survey Man” (1952)

A brand-new addition to Tim’s IMDB page, although his presence in it is listed as “unconfirmed.” Season 1, episode 16; directed by the great Norman Lloyd. First broadcast on April 18, 1952, which would make this his earliest recorded performance on record, if indeed he is in it.

2. Gang Busters: “The Tri-State Gang” (1952)

3. Death Valley Days: “Cynthy’s Dream Dress” (1953)

Season 1, episode 9. This is another recent addition. It was first broadcast on March 3, 1953. Ed Wood stalwart Lyle Talbot is in it too!

4. Cowboy in Africa: “The Red Hand of Michael O’Neill” (1968)

Season 1, episode 19; first broadcast on February 5, 1968. Portraying Tim’s daughter is Bonnie Beecher, who later became Mrs. Wavy Gravy!

5. The Outsider: “For Members Only” (1968)

Pilot episode of the series, first airing on September 18, 1968. Star Darren McGavin met his future wife Kathie Browne while filming this episode.

6. The Name of the Game: “Aquarius Descending” (1970)

7. Toma: “A Funeral for Max Fabian” (1974)

8. Baretta: “The Marker” (1978)

9. CHiPs: “Kidnap” (1980)

Season 3, episode 18; first aired January 26, 1980. Directed by recently-deceased Gordon Hessler, who also directed Tim in the Kung Fu episode “Ambush” (4.4.75). Also appearing is our favorite Klingon, Michael Dorn, in his first regular role in a television series.

And there you have it! Man, that took forever. Thanks, everyone!

Pic of the Day: “The Long Shot” revisited

Posted by Marisa on January 25, 2013

Let’s end the work week with another look at “The Long Shot,” the episode of Racket Squad that provided Timothy with one of his first speaking roles in Hollywood. It was first broadcast on July 3, 1952. Frankie the torpedo, who is not exactly Einstein, is attempting to reassure his boss (Edward Keane, on the right; I’m not sure who the other fellow is) that all is well with their phoney sweepstakes tickets scheme.

Tim appeared in a two-part episode of Gang Busters later that same year, “The Tri-State Gang,” but the episode has apparently been lost. Please revisit this post to learn more. Consider it another Holy Grail of Careyana. It’s out there somewhere…

New addition to Tim’s filmography!

Posted by Marisa on December 31, 2011

A special treat for the last day of the year! Today’s guest blogger is my awesome husband Byron Caloz. He has a keen interest in lost and/or previously undiscovered films and TV shows. He recently made an exciting discovery and wants to share it with you. Take it away, Byron!

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A new addition is now confirmed for Timothy Carey’s filmography/videography: Two episodes in the first broadcast season of Gang Busters! Alas, most of the episodes from the first season are not on DVD. They were filmed so it is possible they exist somewhere, but at least we know which episodes are his (we had heard from Romeo Carey, Tim’s son, that Tim had told him he was on Gang Busters).

Tim Carey appeared as the character Legenza in “The Tri-State Gang” which was broadcast as part 1 on November 9, 1952 on NBC, and then part 2 on Nov. 27, 1952 (Gang Busters was broadcast at the same time and day but on alternate weeks with the original Dragnet television series). Interestingly, the two part episode was not filmed as all one production and then split, but rather was filmed as two separate productions, part 2 first as production 12, then part 1 as production 15; both directed by George Habib.

This information came from the superbly researched book by Martin Grams, Jr. titled Gang Busters: The Crime Fighters of American Broadcasting. While the cast list is available, there is no plot summation, but Legenza is clearly the gang leader and the F.B.I. investigator on his tail is Agent Hibbs, played by Larry Dobkin.

Here is the original plot which was first used for the radio on Sept. 14, 1935 for the pre-cursor series to Gang Busters: G-Men. Walter Legenza and Robert Mais shot their way to freedom while being transported from a jail to see their attorney. They shot two guards and a police officer and the police officer died. Later the two with their gang robbed a bank but police caught up with them and soon captured them.

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On that note, all of us here at The Timothy Carey Experience (that is, Byron and myself) wish all of you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Here’s hoping you tackle whatever problems come your way with the same sense of triumph and love of life that Timothy displays in this promotional shot from Fast-Walking (1982). For Auld Lang Syne, everybody!