March 30 Birthday Wishes

Frankie Laine [1913 - 2007]

John Astin [1930 - ]

Howdy Manco!!

Frankie Laine was a hit singer during the 40's and 50's. His biggest hits were, That's My Desire, Muletrain, and Moonlight Gambler. He recorded the music for several western films, such as Rawhide, Gunfight At O.K. Corral, 3:10 To Yuma. Although Tex Ritter sang the theme song for High Noon,Laine also recorded the song and actually had the bigger hit. A little trivia about Laine. Back in 74, when Mel Brooks was producing and directing Blazing Saddles, he advertised in the trade papers. for a Frankie Laine type singer. Brooks was surprised, when Frankie Laine, himself showed up for the audition, and that's how Laine wound up doing the music for Blazing Saddles.

John Astin's first regular role was on the ole series, I'm Dickins, He's Fenster. He next took on the role for which he would become famous, that of Gomez Adams on the 50's hit t.v. series The Adams Family with Carolyn Jones. His zany facial expressions, together with Jones spooky beauty made the show, what it was. He has appeared on many of the t.v. series of the 60's, 70's and was in several of the, Murder, She Wrote episodes. The one western he starred in became a cult classic. Titled, Evil Roy Slade, it was a western spoof of Hollywood villains. I will never forget the scene where he takes the dwarf's horse and comes riding around the bend, wearing all black with 2 pearl handled six guns, with his heels and spurs dragging on the ground, because it was a Shetland pony!!

Ed

I had read somewhere that Frankie Laine recorded the Blazing Saddles theme before he knew it was a spoof. He apparently wasn't happy that it wasn't a straight western.


Marty Inggles, the other half of Dickens and Fenster has made a career outside of acting but most interestingly, he's Shirley Jones' husband.