Celebrating Clint at 90, eventually

It was a pitiful case of bad timing that stopped me from posting this on Clint’s actual birthday, yesterday. Unfortunately, there was a major problem with my internet on Friday which rendered me without any form of connectivity with the internet. Today, 3 days on it was finally repaired and put right, so my thanks to Virgin for their swift work. I had the above montage all designed and finished last Thursday and it was all good to go. I wanted to create something simple but effective that represented Clint through the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s.

Knowing Clint as we do, we know he’s a gentleman who is not one for fuss. So, as we always do, it’s a simple gesture from everyone here at the archive, and of course, on behalf of his millions of fans around the world when we say Happy Birthday Sir, we wish you continued health and happiness. Sincere congratulations on meeting this milestone birthday.  

The Archive on the airwaves-

Thankfully, I’m glad to report that the 90^th celebrations were not an entire wipe-out on our part. Today I was very pleased to accept an invitation from BBC WM Radio to appear on their show and discuss Clint on his career and reaching his 90^th Birthday. It almost didn’t happen due to my home phone also out of use with my server down and out of action. I have to thank two of my closest, Davy and Jayne who were rushing around in the background, taking messages and calls from the Radio Station and in order to try and get hold of me. Anyway, it eventually all happened and it turned out to be a nice little piece. So my thanks also to presenter Paul Franks and his assistant, the delightful Catherine Lund not only for their patience, but for making it all happen.

Catherine is sending me over an MP3 version, so I will get my A/V team on the job and will get it posted here very soon.

Rare High Plains Drifter vinyl shows up – and quickly goes

To be clear from the start, I love Radio Spots. Not just Eastwood Radio Spots, but movie radio spots in general. The format itself is probably something quite alien to the younger generation, so a short explanation. Basically, a Radio Spot is an audio trailer; different length versions were contained either on tape or vinyl (supplied by the studios) and sent to Radio stations for air play. They were never commercially available to buy. Today of course, they are extremely hard to find, a great deal were destroyed (by design) after they had their run to tie in with the film’s general release. It was purely a promotional tool.

So when they appear these days they don’t tend to stick around for long - as this particular one proved a couple of days ago. It would have been great to secure this piece of vinyl, as I have other Universal records for Two Mules, Joe Kidd and The Beguiled. But sometimes it just isn’t meant to be. It didn’t help having a Buy Now option ($59.99) (approx. £49.00) on it, but it doesn’t end there of course, add to that International postage, importation duty and it suddenly becomes a very expensive piece. However, before you could even deliberate over it, the vinyl record had been claimed by some very lucky person.

I have included here a transcription of one of the 60 second spots in order to provide an idea of how they were put together and ‘sell’ the movie. The narration would be overlaid over soundbites from the film and music; this would often be dramatic and different music to that used in the finished film.

 "He drifted into town one day. The strange man in a long black coat. He drifted past the shops and stores, past people who stopped dead in their tracks with fear and wonder. He drifted into a town of guilt, a town of suspicion, and hate and greed. He drifted by them all. This man whose face they didn't recognize, whose name they'd never know, but whose vengeance they soon suffered. High Plains Drifter! He drifted into town one day, and that town would never forget. Clint Eastwood, the High Plains Drifter, a Universal/Malpaso production, rated R, under 17 not admitted without parent."

Warner Bros presents the Future rare publicity brochure

I thought I would take the opportunity to post this very rare and very important glossy card folder/ brochure produced by Warner Brothers very early in 1971. It’s a large piece to capture by scanning, but one of our administrative team Steve Saragossi recently came up with these great images that really do it justice, so my thanks to Steve. 

So why is it so collectable? Well, a look inside among the many ‘in production’ ads, you may spot a certain Frank Sinatra lined up as Dirty Harry. Yes, this is the only ad that appeared linking Sinatra to the upcoming movie. Closer inspection also reveals that the assigned director at this time was Irvin Kershner (1923-2010). Sinatra of course had to pull out of the project after injuring his wrist. The thought of carrying the heavy .44 Magnum suddenly became an issue, and was not going to help aid his recovery. It’s a lovely historic document, and something that doesn’t come along too often – so my advice would be to grab one should you ever find one. I can’t even recall where or when I purchased mine – but I’m certainly glad I did.  

Clint Eastwood Photo Opportunity #19

It’s been some 3 months now since the passing of Hollywood legend, Kirk Douglas. In that time I was desperately looking for a picture of Douglas with Eastwood. It was a struggle, but luckily last week I finally discovered one of the two legends deep in conversation. It was taken during the AFI's 40th Anniversary Celebration Lunch. The event took place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on October 4th, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California.

Clint at CBS in the Sixties

Here’s a great collection of photos that I have had on file for a long time and I promised to post back in the August of 2018. Actually, it’s arguably a blessing I delayed it, as our correspondent Davy Triumph just recently came up with some additional photos from this same shoot – so I’m very grateful to him. 

These photos represent a very long day spent at CBS Television City in Hollywood, California.. It’s a fascinating collection which took place on April 5th, 1960. CBS certainly made the most of their man on that day - Clint can be seen dressed in casual clothing around various areas of the studio premises and then for some more formal publicity shots in the studio. Then there’s a costume change for a photo shoot of Clint in full Rawhide garb. One of these photos was finally used for his Cowboy Favourites album (and the basis of my original post here). And lastly, Clint is dressed formally in a dinner suite for what is described as being a Rawhide season / year-end holiday party, again held at the studios. It’s a really fabulous collection of photos. 

Jay Leno reveals Clint’s Cowboy Favourites LP on TV

Here’s a great little excerpt that was sent to me by our administrator Davy Triumph. By the clues given (the release of Letters from Iwo Jima and it’s Oscar nominations, the talk of the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI and Clint’s upcoming Golf tournament at Pebble Beach) I would have to date this as February 2007, quite probably the 5th. It’s a great lighthearted exchange, as Clint and Jay are old friends – as you may recall Clint used Jay and his show within Space Cowboys (2000). However, what really makes this clip for me, is the moment Jay questions Clint about his singing ‘career; and surprises Clint by pulling out his $500 dollar purchase of the Cowboy Favourites LP (1962). It’s nice to see a valuation of it on TV – just as much as seeing it actually on TV! I remember purchasing this album myself, way before this was ever broadcast and I paid somewhere in the region of $200. A reminder that the LP was later re-released in 2016 on  Brown Tobacco vinyl and on various CDs which has now seen the original Cameo release fall more considerably in price. However, it’s a great moment, Clint’s embarrassment when they choose to run a sound bite from his album version of Cole Porter’s ‘Don’t fence me in’ is a moment to savour. 

               

Clint Eastwood on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson – April 3rd 1973

I must thank our member Jayne Smart for bringing this newly posted interview to my attention. It’s a great piece featuring Clint and long-time host of The Tonight Show, Johnny Carson. Always light-hearted, Clint had just appeared on the Academy Awards for 1973, and of course, that infamous opening monologue which Clint was pushed into presenting on Charlton Heston’s behalf. Heston was caught on the highway with a flat tire. Clint had to struggle through Heston’s speech with all of the Moses references, The Ten Commandments et al. Clint explains of the manic mayhem that was going on back stage. Reading from ‘idiot cards’, Carson reminds Clint about his desperate plea to ‘flip the card man, this aint my bag’ - which is all great fun. Clint was also there promoting his latest film for Universal, High Plains Drifter. The clip from the film has been edited out.