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Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '05 II => Topic started by: CyrusL on November 11, 2005, 10:58:11 PM

Title: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: CyrusL on November 11, 2005, 10:58:11 PM
TV Party,  [flower] a pretty cool website on vintage viewing, currently has an article in "Alias Smith and Jones", which featured Roger Davis, originally as its narrator and guest star, and later a replacement lead under tragic circumstances. Here's a link to the article. (Unfortunatley it doesn't mention DS, but many of you will be amused at the descrition of Roger   [a345])

http://www.tvparty.com/alias.html

Michael
[/color]
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: *starshine* on November 12, 2005, 01:01:36 AM
Thank you for the link.  Alias Smith and Jones was such a great show- one of my favorites as a kid.  I vaguely remember Roger Davis...I was just so mesmerized by Pete Duel and Ben Murphy.
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Julianka7 on November 12, 2005, 04:16:16 AM
Thanks for the link. I enjoyed ASand J very much.
Julianka
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Patti Feinberg on November 12, 2005, 11:43:47 PM
Roger Davis was married to Jacyln Smith  :o  :o

That's sort of a double connection, Kate Jackson/Jacyln Smith...

Thanks for the extremely cool link!

Patti
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Midnite on November 13, 2005, 12:06:30 AM
His "greatest claim to fame was being Jaclyn Smith's first husband"?  Dude, that's harsh.

That's sort of a double connection, Kate Jackson/Jacyln Smith...

Also, Jaclyn Smith auditioned to play Vicki before Alexandra got the part.
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: MsCriseyde on November 13, 2005, 01:33:11 AM
His "greatest claim to fame was being Jaclyn Smith's first husband"?  Dude, that's harsh.
I suppose it's better than saying that his greatest claim to fame is incessantly touching his hair.  ;D
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Patti Feinberg on November 13, 2005, 01:37:39 AM
I was Yahooing for KLS, when I came upon this page:
http://www.asjcollection.com/current/asjphotos37.html

I really never realized how busy Roger Davis was.

Patti
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Midnite on November 13, 2005, 03:45:34 AM
I suppose it's better than saying that his greatest claim to fame is incessantly touching his hair.  ;D

LOL, good point.  :D
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Josette on November 13, 2005, 04:52:16 AM
Also, Jaclyn Smith auditioned to play Vicki before Alexandra got the part.

I don't think I ever heard that before!!  :) :)
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: CyrusL on November 14, 2005, 06:38:16 PM
I was Yahooing for KLS, when I came upon this page:
...
I really never realized how busy Roger Davis was.
"The Roger Davis Gallery"!!! And no paintings of Charles Delaware Tate??? I love the following photo  http://www.asjcollection.com/current/graphics/rd39.jpg  I guess we can now prove he shovels it on a bit heavy sometimes  ;)

Michael
[/b]
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Janet the Wicked on November 14, 2005, 07:27:58 PM
 [laughing4]
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Janet the Wicked on November 14, 2005, 08:05:08 PM
Quote
"The Roger Davis Gallery"!!! And no paintings of Charles Delaware Tate??? I love the following photo  http://www.asjcollection.com/current/graphics/rd39.jpg  I guess we can now prove he shovels it on a bit heavy sometimes  ;)[/b]

Wait a minute. Did Roger Davis pose for the bronze sculp in the foyer of Collinwood???
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Amanda on November 14, 2005, 09:21:54 PM
Thank you for the link.  Alias Smith and Jones was such a great show- one of my favorites as a kid.  I vaguely remember Roger Davis...I was just so mesmerized by Pete Duel and Ben Murphy.

Roger is my favorite Hannibal Heyes on Alias Smith and Jones. 

ASJ and DS have something in common; he's not a favorite over there either.   :)
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Midnite on November 14, 2005, 10:00:15 PM
Welcome, Amanda.   [hello]
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: JoeNathan on November 15, 2005, 05:05:09 AM
OT from ASAJ, but this involves Roger Davis and a non-DS role, so -  I'm rewatching the series and I'm currently at #656, from Dec., 1968.  Maggie has just become governess and is with David and Amy, who ask her if she knows where and why Vickie left.  She tells them that Vickie went to be with her husband, Jeff/Peter.  David then asked why Vickie didn't even say good-bye before leaving and Maggie replies that she couldn't because she had to leave on the "spur of the moment".

This phrase resonated iln my mind for a second and I remembered - Roger Davis had a small part in a Twilight Zone epidsode entitled "Spur of the Moment" in 1964.  He played a rejected suitor, as I recalled.

I wonder if the DS writers put that phrase in as a joke of some sort, or maybe it was just a weird coincidence?
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Amanda on November 15, 2005, 09:41:42 AM
Midnite, thank you for the welcome.

JoeNathan, I don't know if "Spur of the Moment" is an inside joke or not.  I have not seen this episode.  I know it is shown periodically.  I keep looking for it.  I hope to find it.  I want to add it to my RD collection.
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Midnite on November 15, 2005, 04:17:56 PM
JoeNathan, I don't know if "Spur of the Moment" is an inside joke or not.  I have not seen this episode.  I know it is shown periodically.  I keep looking for it.  I hope to find it.  I want to add it to my RD collection.

Well, the SciFi channel is airing it on Nov. 30 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern during a TZ marathon.

http://www.scifi.com/schedulebot/index.php3?date=30-NOV-2005&feed_req
Change to the time in your area by selecting your Time Zone Feed at the bottom, then click Nov. 30 on the calendar.
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: CyrusL on November 15, 2005, 06:54:08 PM
JoeNathan, I don't know if "Spur of the Moment" is an inside joke or not.  I have not seen this episode.  I know it is shown periodically.  I keep looking for it.  I hope to find it.  I want to add it to my RD collection.
Roger was the only major DS cast member to star in a twilight Zone episode. (I think some short term players like George Mitchell may have had a few parts.) Unfortunatley, "The Twilight Zone Companion" isn't kind to his poerformance either. You may wish to console yourself with the DVD releases of "Ruby" ( little hard to find) and "Ride the Wild Surf". I will say director Curtis Harrington at least liked Roger, he cast him in both "Ruby" and "Killer Bees" (not on DVD)

Welcome to the DS Boards, Amanda. I actually keep a funny picture of Roger Davis, Z-movie actor Conrad Brooks, and myself at my desk.

Michael
[/color]
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Amanda on November 16, 2005, 05:41:37 PM
Midnite, thank you for the TZ info.  I can't wait!


Thanks for the welcome, Michael.  Your picture sounds interesting, would love to see it.

I have actually found most of Roger's films on the internet.  I am only missing a couple of TV movies, Killer Bees being one that I would love to find.  Another is River of Gold.  I will keep looking. :)

I have all of Alias Smith and Jones recorded. Because even though he only appeared in 18 episodes he narrated 32 of them.

Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Patti Feinberg on November 17, 2005, 02:34:20 AM
This will sound odd, but was the name of this topic always "When R. D. rode the....??

Patti
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: LdyAnne on November 17, 2005, 05:23:47 AM
Amanda

Welcome and here is a picture of Roger taken out by his pool, high in the hills of Hollywood.
If you are interested in how I came to be at his house you will need to read my 2005 Fest report
http://www.geocities.com/ldyanne_58/2005FestRpt.pdf

Enjoy
LdyAnne
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Amanda on November 17, 2005, 10:35:35 AM
Ldy Anne, thank you for the beautiful Roger pic.  I read your Fest report.  Wow!  That is so awesome.  I can only say I am green with envy.  I hope that someday I will be as fortunate as you to meet Roger. 
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Patti Feinberg on November 29, 2005, 10:10:34 PM
Roger Davis...on Twilight Zone...Wednesday, 11/30. Sci-Fi (you remember them...they USED TO air Dark Shadows!!)

Patti
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Midnite on November 29, 2005, 11:43:30 PM
Roger Davis...on Twilight Zone...Wednesday, 11/30. Sci-Fi

Um, did you see Reply #16?  It's also on the Forum calendar, and the entry links to this topic.
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Misa on November 30, 2005, 07:02:29 AM
Welcome Amanda,

I never disliked RD when I originally watched Dark Shadows, I haven't rewatched his episodes recently to update my opinion, but it sure is funny to read all of the comments about his hair obsession. I remember watching River of Gold when it first aired on TV, I liked his performance in it very much.

I have a really beautiful painting of Peter and Vicki together in her jail cell. I bought it at a convention. I loved RD as CDT.

I still haven't begun watching the DVDs I have, but I'm planning on scheduling a weekly viewing with friends soon.

Again welcome to the forum.

Misa
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Patti Feinberg on November 30, 2005, 12:44:41 PM
Um, did you see Reply #16?  It's also on the Forum calendar, and the entry links to this topic.

just pushing the thread to page 1

Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: CyrusL on November 30, 2005, 06:33:08 PM
This will sound odd, but was the name of this topic always "When R. D. rode the....??
Yes Patti, the original post started with a link to an article on "Alias Smith and Jones", which is when Roger "rode the west"  playing an outlaw cowboy. (on that there TV) I think many of us have a fondness as it was the end of the great TV western era, when "Gunsmoke", "Rawhide", "Sugarfoot" and "Lawman" et al. dominated the networks. (Not that I liked or watched all of them, I always thought "Big Valley" especially was tedious) I found the article on TV Party, which by the way also has a great (and extensive) article right now on the  history of the making of Rankin-Bass's "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".

Michael
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: MagnusTrask on December 01, 2005, 06:39:19 AM
Well, I guess I know why I didn't see the show.  Opposite All in the Family... so it'd be opposite another of those CBS comedies like Maude or MASH or something too.    I also hate Westerns, except for the rare oddball one like Kung Fu. and Wild Wild West.

I was starting to think all of DSdom hated RD.   The derision was confusing to me.    I like him.   [spoiler]One of favorite little moments is when the 100 year old Tate crops up again in 1970.  He'd have liked recent technology... imagine that crazy room of his with the light and sound show, all decked out with Dolby![/spoiler] 

RD seemed to really relish those moments on DS when he was allowed to go crazy.    Dirk Wilkins gloating over Judith when about to bite her was priceless.  "Our relationship is about to change!"
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Amanda on December 01, 2005, 01:08:08 PM
Hi Misa, thank you for the welcome.  Your painting sounds fabulous.  I haven't been able to find River of Gold.  I love Roger in anything he does.  I'm biased and I admit it.  He's my favorite.

I was beginning to think I was the only Roger fan in the world.  I am glad to know I'm not!

Smith and Jones fans don't like Roger because he replaced Pete Duel.  Some fans won't watch the Roger episodes.  One of their nicknames for him is Lord TOG(the other guy).  The role had to be recast after Pete's suicide.  Roger had been associated with the show from the beginning as narrator and as a guest star.  He and Pete were friends.  He took over the role under very tragic circumstances.  His costar Ben Murphy wasn't as cooperative as he should have been during the transition or for the rest of the series.  It was a tough situation for everyone.

The publication of the book, "Alias Smith & Jones: The Story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men", has turned the tide a little more in Roger's favor.  People are beginning to realize he wasn't to blame for replacing Pete.  If the series had been canceled it would not have reached the magic 50 episodes needed for syndication.  The show would have been lost to us.

I watched DS as a kid.  I used to rush home from school to see it.  I loved it.  I am just beginning my DVD collection.  It is so great to see it again.

My favorite Roger roles are Hannibal Heyes in Smith and Jones and Stephen Foster Moody in The Young Country.  I may want to rethink that after I watch his DS performances!
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: Raineypark on December 01, 2005, 03:45:59 PM
"Sugarfoot"?  Now there's a name out of the past!!  MY past actually.  Sugarfoot was my very first 'crush'......

But back to the subject of Roger Davis.  The reason he is so intensely disliked by those who dislike him can be observed in his performances on DS.  He manhandles his female co-performers terribly.  I will always be astonished that none of them ever stopped a scene to slap the hell out of him in response.  Well, at least I've never HEARD that any of them did.
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: CyrusL on December 06, 2005, 02:30:47 AM
I was beginning to think I was the only Roger fan in the world.  I am glad to know I'm not!

The publication of the book, "Alias Smith & Jones: The Story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men", has turned the tide a little more in Roger's favor.  People are beginning to realize he wasn't to blame for replacing Pete.  If the series had been canceled it would not have reached the magic 50 episodes needed for syndication.  The show would have been lost to us.

Hello again Amanda,
  Roger is one of the more unique, colorful and controversial of the DS regulars. I would have to agree with Rainey that he is too rough with the actresses. In person, Roger has a very sharp and wry sense of humor. I rather like his humor and relate to the fact that it can be misunderstood. As we are also both born southerners (he from Kentucky, I from Virginia), I relate to that too. Roger stopped me to compliment me the first time I did a skit on the costume ball, and at various times at the conventions he and I have chatted in the halls and corridors. I always find him warm and approachable. Now be aware Roger won't always be in the autograph table at the usual times. Sometimes, to get him to sign something, you may have to catch him walking around.  I've seen him start a line just for himself while others are on stage. I think the main time when Roger can get out of line in my opinion is when he's on the panels with others. Rogers feasts on attention and will answer a question often intended for someone else by interjecting himself, often on an aspect of DS he wasn't even around on, such as say Jonathan Frid's casting. While I'm sure like many of us,Roger has picked up lots of DS lore and history of the periods he wasn't directly involved in, but it would be more...um..say polite at least to let someone the question was asked to, say a KLS or Nancy Barrett on say, the black and white era answer the question, rather than Roger interjecting, "Well, ah, from what I have heard..."
    There are certain interpersonal events that involve Roger that are best left to not being addressed on the boards in my opinion.
     So, personally, I rather like Roger, but I understand he's not everyone's shot of tea. I understand he rubs some people the wrong way, but can be truly charming. Actually, I'm glad someone else is here who enjoys him.

Michael
[8_2_73]
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: jennifer on December 14, 2005, 01:52:22 AM
Wow Roger and Jacyln Ellen Smith were on a few covers i remember when they were married
patti but i'm just a tad older than you heehee     they really were a pretty couple i was a big ASJ
fan was so upset when Pete died so sad

jennifer [ChristmaS15]
Title: Re: When Roger Davis rode the west-Alias Smith and Jones article
Post by: nedstuart on December 15, 2005, 06:38:16 PM
I remember watching Jaclyn Smith's Biography on A&E and it talked about how they were married. It is a very interesting biography. I too really like Alias Smith & Jones. Thanks to Encore Westerns for re-running those since I was not around for the original airing.