This week’s video showcases Timothy’s performance in the It Takes A Thief episode “Fortune City,” which first graced television screens on February 2, 1970. Stephanie Powers has been kidnapped by Tim and his gang and they are about to bump her off, but not before Tim’s character decides to take advantage of the situation.
I can’t decide which is creepier: Timothy making a pass, or Powers pretending to respond. Eek. Also appearing in this episode are Broderick Crawford and Peter Bromilow.
Let’s start off the week with another look at the Ellery Queen episode “The Adventure of Caesar’s Last Sleep,” first broadcast on March 14, 1976. Tim is thug-for-hire Jay Bonner, about to cause some serious mayhem.
Seen as well in this episode is Timothy’s frequent co-star Stuart Whitman. They also appeared together in Convicts 4 (1962), Shock Treatment (1964), Rio Conchos (1964), and an episode of the television Western series Cimarron Strip (1968).
“In New Haven, they put me on the stage to help whip up some interest in ‘Bayou.’ They hollered when I did the dance. It out-Elvises Elvis… What I really want to do is write. I’ve got a script right here, which I call ‘L.A.,’ that I’d like you to read… I joined the U.S. Marines at 15, was at Parris Island and finished boot training when they learned my age. Then I was out… When I got to Hollywood, I heard Henry Hathaway was casting ‘Prince Valiant.’ I rented a Viking costume for $15, climbed a studio fence, confronted him with drawn sword. I didn’t get the part.”
- Interview with George Murray, Chicago Daily News, “Loop Movies,” January 15, 1958
I recently got this nifty little book on eBay, James Dean in Mendocino: The Filming of East of Eden, compiled and edited by Mendocino historian Bruce Levene. It documents the time spent by director Elia Kazan, Dean, and the other cast and crew members shooting key scenes for the film in Mendocino, California (standing in for Salinas and Monterey) during the spring of 1954.
It was a big event for the little town, and the local newspapers gave it plenty of coverage. However, the papers never seemed to get Timothy’s name right.
There are lots of great candid behind-the-scenes shots in the book, including this one (the only one featuring Tim) that I’m sure we’re all familiar with.
Several locals had some unique remembrances to share.
All in all, this is a wonderful slice of film and California history, and a welcome addition to “the Carey file.” For Timothy’s own account of his and Dean’s adventures in Mendocino, please see this post.
Our pic for today takes another look at Timothy’s unnerving abortionist from Unwed Mother (1958). Norma Moore, in the titular role, clearly is having definite second thoughts about the whole thing.
Would you trust this guy to perform an extremely delicate (and, at the time, illegal) medical procedure on you? As my mother used to say, not me, Myrtle.
Our video(s) for this week highlight Tim’s appearance in the Elvis Presley vehicle Change of Habit (1969). He portrays the probably racist manager of the Ajax Market who gets his comeuppance in a manner I’m sure he was not expecting. Tim first appears at about 7:16 in the first video, and 7:23 in the second.
Jane Elliot, seen here as spunky social activist Sister Barbara, is another of Timothy’s co-stars who has been a busy television actor for nearly 50 years. She’s been a General Hospital mainstay since 1978.
It’s Valentine’s Day, and that means love. This delightful picture of Timothy, his wife Doris, and their six children appeared in the article “Timothy Carey: The World’s Greatest Director!” by Harvey F. Chartrand, Filmfax Plus magazine #102 (April/June 2004).
Today is also the birthday of Tim’s daughter Germain, the baby of the family and, as she will tell you, “the adorable one” in this photo! Happy birthday, Germain!
Starting off the week is another shot from Bikini Beach (1964), featuring Tim’s first appearance as pool-cue-slinging South Dakota Slim. Slim has only one scene here, but he returned the following year with much more screen time in Beach Blanket Bingo (1965).
I chose this shot so we could get a good look at that personalized jacket. Also appearing from left to right: Val Warren, Andy Romano, Alberta Nelson and Harvey Lembeck.
“You really can’t describe the picture. I read the script and actually it’s the most bizarre film story I ever read before. Each page is another movie. It’s quite unique. I’ve never really been involved, I’ve worked in films before but never any quite as unique as this one. It’s a very hard film to describe. People say, ‘Well go ahead and see the film, you’ll find out.’ This is usually a promotional stunt or something. But in this picture I played about four different characters. And I didn’t know what I was doing most of the time. These Monkees, you know, to be honest, they’re not the most disciplined actors. I remember Davy had to get a hair cut right in the middle of the scene. (laughs) And three of the other actors, they had to walk someplace on top of the roofs to get inspired, they’d lost the feel of it. They just walked off and they came back about an hour later, much to the dismay of the assistant director who couldn’t quite grasp it. They had to replace four assistant directors; they broke down, they just couldn’t take anymore because of the Monkees’ antics and carrying on. I mean it was just impossible sometimes, but of course this is the Monkees and this is what makes their talent so unique and so great. It was strictly a picture for the Monkees. I’m sure their fans all over the world will really love this show, you know, because it’s so outstanding. It makes Tiny Tim look like a Sunday school teacher.”
- Promotional radio interview for Head with Don Stroud for the “Hollywood Report,” 1968
Today’s pic is another one from the Baretta pilot episode, “He’ll Never See Daylight,” first broadcast on January 17, 1975. Gangster Matty and his boss Frank (Joseph Mascolo) are enjoying an evening at a Middle Eastern restaurant with their girlfriends.
Baretta himself (Robert Blake) is in disguise as one of the fez-topped waiters in the background. The belly dancer is not credited – who is she?? Mascolo has been a hard-working television actor for over 50 years, especially on the soap operas The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives.
