CRESTWOOD HOUSE: THE MOLE PEOPLE (PART 1)

I have to admit, it's been a while since I've watched Universal's 1956 sci-fi/adventure/horror film, THE MOLE PEOPLE. Call me crazy, but as I remember, I really enjoyed it and for some reason it reminded me a little in it's type of setting, plot pacing and element of adventure of THE MUMMY'S HAND. Lots of critics and fans have disagreed on its merits, though, and it even earned a run through the ringer on MST3K. Okay, let's just call it fun, then?

Today I present THE MOLE PEOPLE from the Crestwood House Movie Monsters series, adapted from the screenplay by Garret Fort and published by MCA in 1985. If the name Garret Fort looks familiar, you may remember him as the script writer for Universal's FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA, DRACULA'S DAUGHTER and MGM'S THE DEVIL-DOLL, written with Guy "The Werewolf of Paris" Endore and Erich "Sunset Boulevard" von Stroheim (!) and directed by Tod Browning.

Carl R. Green is noted for authoring quite a number of books for young people, sometimes delving into outré  topics like mysticism, UFO's and fortune-telling (try to get away with that these days on the bookmobile!). Green was coauthor with William R. Sanford, another prolific author of YA books. Together they published 86 books together during their collaboration. And just so parents wouldn't get all twisted up about their kiddies reading a monster book, the editor is again Prof. Howard Schroeder, specialist in elementary education to calm their frayed nerves.

TOMORROW: The exciting conclusion!

A TASTE OF HONEY WEST

The ABC crime/action drama HONEY WEST is remembered fondly by fans. It starred Anne Frances, John Ericson and an ocelot named Bruce and lasted only one season with 30 episodes airing from September 17, 1965, to April 8, 1966. It is historically significant for being one of the first TV shows with a female lead. The characters of Honey and her partner, Sam Bolt were first introduced in an episode of another crime drama, BURKE'S LAW. Honey and Sam were also adjacent fixtures to popular spy shows for using all sorts of gadgets and gizmos. There was enough interest in the series to market a board game, an action figure/doll, accessories and other items.

The series was created in a series of novels by the husband and wife team of Forrest and Gloria Fickling using the pseudonym G.G. Fickling. In an interview with THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, Forrest explained the genesis of the books: "I first thought of Marilyn Monroe, and then I thought of Mike Hammer and decided to put the two together ... We thought the most used name for someone you really like is Honey. And she lives in the West, so there was her name."

Shown here is the October 9-15 1965 issue of TV GUIDE with a profile on Miss Francis. Next is a comic book one-shot of the show, published by Gold Key Comics. The box set of the complete series is available at Amazon for under $20. My only gripe about this fun series is it wasn't broadcast in color, which made it looks more like a 50s TV show rather than one from the 1960s.

HONEY WEST

Vol. 1 No. 1 (One shot)

September 1966

K.K. Publications (Gold Key Comics)

Editor: ?

Cover: Photo Cover

Script: Paul S. Newman

Art: Jack Sparling

Pages: 36

Cover price: 10-cents