| Welcome to In The Balcony. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Plus, you'll be eligible for the monthly $1 million prize. (Not really.) Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| Your Age, Serially Speaking | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 3 2014, 06:19 AM (908 Views) | |
| The Batman | Jun 3 2014, 06:19 AM Post #1 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
On another thread, someone wondered about the average age of serial fans today. I thought a quick, informal poll would be a good way to determine the average age around this place, anyway. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| moodyhound | Jun 3 2014, 11:54 AM Post #2 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Dont know who that fellow was, but that kind of wild, free thinking is whats needed around here.
|
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Jun 3 2014, 11:57 AM Post #3 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I also hear he is quite dashing and a big hit with the ladies... |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| Pa Stark | Jun 3 2014, 08:28 PM Post #4 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thank you. |
| Honest and Lovable Pa Stark | |
![]() |
|
| panzer the great & terrible | Jun 3 2014, 08:50 PM Post #5 |
|
Mouth Breather
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
But keep your hand on the wallet pocket or there will be a big hit on you. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
![]() |
|
| Barcroft | Jun 4 2014, 08:20 AM Post #6 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
All, I must be one of the old farts (68) I saw my very first serial back in either 1952 or 1953 at the Redwing Theater in Baltimore about 4 blocks east of Johns Hopkins Hospital. The serial that I saw was the re-release of Overland with Kit Carson. It was the chapter where the Black Raiders chased Bill Elliott in the mouth of a mineshaft and this is the one where they blew up the mine. I didn't get a chance to see how he made out until I bought the serial back in the early 80's. Talk about waiting for a resolution..........................but is was worth it. Barcroft Edited by Barcroft, Jun 4 2014, 08:33 AM.
|
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Jun 4 2014, 08:27 AM Post #7 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Well, according to the poll, there are two older farts kicking around this place, Junior. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| CliffClaven | Jun 4 2014, 11:17 AM Post #8 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Born in the 50s, never saw a serial in a theater, but would catch individual episodes on local TV (already being run as camp items on a smart local talk show and by a late-night horror host). Also saw some "Adventure Theater" pasteups of Republic serials. Wasn't quite old enough for the Batman marathons. In college, sat through an all-night dining hall showing of "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe." VHS and later DVD initially meant a chance to fill in the gaps on serials I never quite completed, also to see where intriguing book stills and documentary clips came from. Serials became part of my overall interest in old movies, comic strips, radio, etc. Never became a serious buff, but can throw off enough arcane references to stun civilians. A bit discouraged that I have to explain serials to people my own age, along with the concepts of theatrical short subjects and the Saturday matinee. Heck, I had a hard time convincing one lady that the Three Stooges were shown in theaters. I never experienced the Saturday matinee as a proper ritual. In my neck of the woods it was a current "real" movie (Disney, Jerry Lewis, Don Knotts, etc.); sometimes as a double features and just maybe a cartoon. No shorts, no serials, no B features from a series. I keep hoping America's mighty B heritage can be revived via iPad. Unpretentious serial episodes, shorts and one-hour features seem perfectly suited to casual viewing on portable screens; more so than summer blockbusters or intense dramas. |
![]() |
|
| Barcroft | Jun 4 2014, 01:10 PM Post #9 |
|
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Cliff Claven, I would be nice if a new cable channel would pop up and start showing serials, shorts and the great old B-movies of the 30's, 40's & 50's. One can only hope. Barcroft |
![]() |
|
| JazzGuyy | Jun 4 2014, 02:56 PM Post #10 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I have to confess to voting incorrectly. I thought the poll was about my serial mental age, not my physical age, so there's a young whippersnapper indicated that shouldn't be there. I'll read the directions first next time.
|
| TANSTAAFL! | |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Jun 4 2014, 04:35 PM Post #11 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
LOL - are you the 0-5 year old or the 11-15 year old. I figured the former was just someone being funny (which is too bad, I'm honestly curious as to the age demographic around here) and the latter was a genuine vote, which was really encouraging for the future of serials. I know who the 16-20 year old is, that is a real vote. Would you also mind telling us which category you would have voted in, Jazzy, to keep the numbers in line? |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| CliffClaven | Jun 4 2014, 10:59 PM Post #12 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
The folks behind "Matinee at the Bijou" are still trying to mount a revival (see their website -- infrequently updated, but with substantial historical articles when it is). Not to upstage them, but I keep hoping more than one outfit will assemble a similar program for cable, on-demand or other delivery system. As I've said before, it's a real pity nobody at Universal can throw some weight behind the idea. They have the vital components for a Saturday matinee package: cartoons, serials, and iconic B movies: Monsters, Bud & Lou, and Maria Montez epics for war & prewar; scifi, Francis, and Kettles for postwar; and scattered cowboys and thrifty adventures throughout (they no longer own the Rathbone Sherlocks to my knowledge). I believe they also have their own newsreels as well. Don't know if there are any short subjects in their Paramount holdings. Anyway, each installment -- cartoon, serial and short feature -- could clock in at under two hours. Time Warner has everything but the serials. I miss the "Warner Night at the Movies" packages they used to include with individual features. TCM runs shorts hither and yon, but wish they'd do a regular slot prefacing a Warner, RKO or MGM feature with the appropriate cartoon and short package. Another pipe dream is to do something rotating their many series detectives, teamed with a "Crime Does Not Pay" and a lighter short. Columbia has toons, serials, comedy shorts and B features. But I suspect the whole would be less than the sum of its parts in most cases. Disney? While they could do a "Night at the Movies" thing with their True-Life Adventures and other featurettes (including TV items adapted for foreign theaters), my programming fantasy is a television block: A vintage Mickey Mouse Club, a Zorro, and the Uncle Walt-hosted hour. Thanks to DVD it's possible to serve up any of these combinations at home. But I hold out hope a ready-made version would win converts to the cause. It's encouraging that a broad range of old newspaper comics are being reprinting in serious collections, and are selling well enough to inspire more. |
![]() |
|
| JazzGuyy | Jun 5 2014, 04:41 AM Post #13 |
|
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
The 11-15 year-old. I should be listed in the 66-70 category. I am old enough to remember serials in movie theaters though I only saw chapters here and there in theaters since I didn't go to the same theaters every week. What really got me started with serials was when one of my local TV stations started showing a package of Republic serials on Saturdays. Got to see things like Fighting Devil Dogs, Hawk of the Wilderness and other Republics. All of my friends and I were fascinated by and got absorbed in these serials. |
| TANSTAAFL! | |
![]() |
|
| The Batman | Jun 5 2014, 06:38 AM Post #14 |
![]()
Charter Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks, Jazzy. I guess we can assume the 0-5 vote is just some joker. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
![]() |
|
| Stony Brooke da Mesquiteer | Jun 5 2014, 08:21 AM Post #15 |
![]()
Sapient Balconeer
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
56-60. WOW, 24 votes! Now if some folks around here would just start posting more often!! |
| It's like Rodney King used to say, "Can't we all get a bong." | |
![]() |
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Continued Next Week · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2






![]](http://z2.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)





6:52 AM Jul 11