Remember When podcast from the radio show FlashBack

Singer/ dancer/ actress Trina Parks made an impressive appearance as the villainess “Thumper” in Diamonds Are Forever (1971)! She’ll tell you all about working with Sean Connery, being the first black woman to feature in a Bond film,  and her memorable dance/ karate moves and nearly drowning on set! She’ll talk about her singing career-and she’ll share a sample of her singing as a bonus!                Then we offer a surprising conversation with model/ actress Max Vesterhalt who shares what it was like to work with Roger Moore and director John Glenn in a casino scene in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only! Both Trina and Max have strong opinions about showcasing the place of women of color in the Bond franchise. They will tell you about their views in the latest 70th Bond Anniversary Avalanche episode!

Dive 70 years into TV history with Bonnie Bartlett Daniels. Her small screen career began in the soaps in 1955. Then she worked with the likes of Jackie Gleason, Patty Duke, and worked in recurring roles in Little House on the Prairie and St. Elsewhere, where she made TV history in 1986; she and husband William Daniels became the first married couple to win acting awards for the same TV series on the same night. She never slowed down. She just published her new memoir, “Middle of the Rainbow " at 93. Then return to Happy Days with Ralph Malph himself, Donnie Most of course, who has lots more to sing about than Happy Days! In fact, we focus on his swingin’ singin’ career and his love of Bobby Darin! Yep, we play a few samples of what he can belt out on stage!

Back in 1965, guitarist/ singer Kim Simmonds founded the British blues/rock band Savoy Brown which he helmed until his death last year. In 2011, Savoy Brown issued Voodoo Moon, and that year Simmonds sat down with Wes Britton to talk about his band’s ever-evolving legacy. You can hear that conversation here at Remember When, along with a new co-interview with the surviving members of the group, Pat DeSalvo(bass) and Garnet Grimm(drums). For over ten years, they were the longest-running lineup behind Simmonds. Pat and Garnett talk about their time with the band and their brand-new album, Blues All Around. The band’s last?

“I am the god of hellfire, and I bring you . . .Fire!” That was the opening salvo of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s1969 mega-hit, “Fire!” He was a pioneer in rock theatre and influenced everyone from Alice Cooper to David Bowie. Plus, he has a new album to tell you all about-

Remember When is throwing a virtual James Bond cruise and you’re invited to the party! That’s because Matt Sherman, longtime meister of the international James Bond cruises, comes aboard to talk about just what goes on at his annual events and shares just who attends these major 007 social occasions!   He’ll take you to some important Bond locations, introduce you to folks who have shared in the James Bond story, and takes you behind the scenes of Past and upcoming cruises! Like what’s going on this October . . . But that’s not all! Sharing in this 3rd episode of the 007 anniversary avalanche, we reprise a classic interview with Korean actor Will Yung Lee who broke into the movies starring as Colonel Tan-Sun Moon in Die Another Day. Will has lots more to talk about beyond James Bond and shares stories about Hawaii 5-O, Wolverine, and his career as an Asian actor in Hollywood. Coordinated with this podcast, we also present a special Matt Sherman collection of features at: https://spywisesecretdossier.com/mattSherman.html

Welcome to Remember When, the audio podcast from FlashBack Radio Show. Remember When celebrates 70 years of 007 with part 1 of the “James Bond avalanche!” First up will be a revealing interview with  Kathryn Harkup, author of SUPERSPY SCIENCE: Science, Death and Tech in the World of James Bond. Kathryn has many entertaining and surprising answers to so many questions. Then, Simon Firth, author of  On the Tracks of 007: Filming James Bond in the Bahamas and  On The Tracks of 007 presents ITALY - a James Bond location guide that takes you to exotic 007 places around the globe. Enjoy your Bond experience.

James L. Neibaur & Gary Schneeberger, co-authors of From Connery to Craig: The James Bond Film Series. Nobody knows more than these two gents, so expect lots of surprises and insights you might not have known all these years when these guys swap stories and perspectives with fellow Bond aficionado Wes Britton and co-host Karina Kantas! We flesh out this lively conversation with a vintage interview with Rob Weiner, editor of James Bond in World and Popular Culture: The Films are Not Enough. That indispensable 2010 collection of 40 essays look at the realm of 007 from a wide, interdisciplinary range of perspectives that have earned a long-standing stamp of respect from the 007 fan universe. #Bond #JamesBond #FromConnerytoCraig #bondfilms #movie #books #films #JamesNeibaur #GaryScheeberger #RobWeiner #rememberwhen #Flashback

The multi-talented Laura Cayouette. She has so much to talk about, from how her NSA Dad paved the way for her role in Enemy of the State to her long-time association with Quentin Tarantino to how she worked with Garry Shandling on the Larry Sanders Show.   Plus, Laura is not just a noted writer, she teaches writing courses and offers you a 20% discount on several of her teaching packages exclusively for listeners!

“Remember When” commemorates the life and legacy of singer/ songwriter/ activist  Harry Chapin! Celebrations honoring the 50th anniversary of what would have been Harry’s 80th birthday! Two special guests tell you musical and personal stories, including Harry’s daughter, Jen Chapin, who shares memories of her Dad, shares insights into his songwriting, and takes you inside his biggest hits, such as 'Taxi and 'Cat's In The Cradle.' We also offer singer/songwriter Dr. David Fish, who performs his brand-new tribute to Harry, “Harry’s Song (Every Monday Night)”, offers his insights into the legacy of Harry Chapin and tells you tales of his own career, including playing the saxophone for Ella Fitzgerald and Cher!

On Dec. 5, KSAV.org's "Flashback" leaped back in time as we were joined by writer   Bruce Scivally, whose new novel The Last Stage, or Wyatt Earp's Dying Dream, offers an unusual window into the final days of the most legendary lawman of them all.   Then, we reprised a vintage 2014 interview Wes Britton conducted with actor Hugh O'Brian, the star of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp from 1955 to 1961.  Hugh had a ton of stories to share from creating the battle-cry "Ooh-rah" for the marines, to meeting Albert Schweitzer in Affrica, to creating the Hugh O'Brian Youth program (HOBY). You can now hear the Wyatt Earp hour at:

Back in 2008, Wes Britton had the opportunity to interview Ron Dante of the Archies to plug their then-new Christmas album,  their first since 1971. Of course, the interview was more comprehensive than one album, so we talked about all sorts of things Archie, so pop by for this Remember When nugget with a Yuletide twist-

Back in the Summer of Love, Sam Andrew was a member of Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin. “Remember When” pays tribute to Pearl with this vintage conversation with singer, songwriter, and guitar player Sam Andrew who will take you back to those heady days and take you backstage to some of the most memorable concerts of the 1960s along with sharing insights into how Big Brother worked in the studio. And stay tuned-we got more Big Brother and San Francisco sounds to come-

On Oct. 30, 1938, Orson Wells created a radio legend when his Mercury Theatre broadcast his adaptation of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds. Remember When pays tribute to the Wells production and presents an interview with producer Lee Purcell, the main motor behind a brand-new adaptation of War of the Worlds performed by the Hollywood Radio Players. The Players, once a month, do a modern version of old time radio classics for their “radio you can see” to benefit the MPTF (Motion Picture Television Fund.) Using Zoom, the Players produce their retellings with actors, sound effects, and special effects no one could have watched back in the Golden Age of Radio. For our belated Halloween special, we also offer a vintage interview with Diane Kachmar, author of the 2015   The Fly at 50: The Creation and Legacy of a Classic Science Fiction Film. Go behind the scenes of a Hollywood classic as Wes Britton takes you back in time for a trick-and-treat double feature-

“Holy Halloween Batman! “Remember When”has taken over the Bat-signal!” We celebrate Batman with two special guests beginning with Chuck Dixon, a much lauded writer for the DC comic book. For one thing, he created Bane. Then we will introduce you to Jim Beard, editor of the 2011 Gotham City 14 Miles. It’s an extraordinary assembly of 14 essays exploring every aspect you can think of involving the 1966 Adam West Batman TV show.

Fans of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Patton, The Towering Inferno and countless other film projects know the award-winning work of cinematographer Fred Koenekamp even if they don't recognize his name.  Before his passing in 2017, Fred sat down with Wes Britton and discussed not only his own career, especially on MFU and Patton, but the ground-breaking camera work of his father who worked on the classic silents.  So go behind the scenes of filming TV and movies with one of the masters here at Remember When--

Before he left us in 2017, stand-up comic Shelley Berman was an award-winning onstage performer who won an Emmy nomination for his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm.   He earned gold records for his comedy albums back in the day including the first Emmy for a spoken-word comedy record. Before Bob Newhart, he developed the improvised phone conversation sketch in his stage and TV act. He had too many film and TV roles to summarize here, but he discussed many of them with Wes Britton for “Remember When” on a laugh fest trip down memory lane-

Completing our Lost in Space trilogy (including Bill Mumy and June Lockhart), “Remember When” now offers Mark Goddard who played Maj. Don West in the original TV Series. But Mark also appeared in many TV programs of the era from The Detectives to Johnny Ringo to the Beverly Hillbillies. He has lots of stories to tell which he included in his entertaining memoir, To Space and Back. For “Remember When,” Don sits down with Wes Britton and talks about his career’s twists and turns and all the surprising moments of his Hollywood life.

In this special episode of Remember When, Wes chats with Dan Harary, the author of the hot-off-the-press Flirting With Fame: A Hollywood Publicist Recalls 50 Years of Celebrity Close Encounters.  It’s a memoir brought to you by way of BearManor Media chock-full of celebrity encounters with the likes of Meryl Streep, Hugh Hephner, Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Seinfeld, and Barbara Streisand . . . talk about name-dropping! Right after we have a wonderful interview that Wes had with the late Dawn Wells. R.I.P. Dawn Wells October 18, 1938-December 30, 2020 (aged 82) Dawn Wells starred as Mary Ann Summers, one of seven stranded castaways on Gilligan’s Island that aired for 3 seasons and in syndicated reruns ever after. Before Gilligan, Wells, was crowned Miss Nevada in 1959  and represented her state in the 1960 Miss America pageant. Then, in 1964 she joined the cast of Gilligan’s Island and became an icon of American pop culture as male viewers forever debated over who they preferred: Ginger or Mary Ann? Maybe Mrs Howell? Wells became an author in 2014 when she released What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life, published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Gilligan’s Island. That  Sept., Wes Britton interviewed Wells after meeting her in person at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention before she died from COVID-19-related causes at age 82 in Los Angeles on December 30, 2020.

What if your job was to spend every day typing up jokes phoned in by the best gag-writers in the comedy business? What if your boss was Bob Hope and you were laughing all day long in “Bob Hope’s Bungalow?” Carol Shaw did just that for 13 months in 1983 and 1984  and tells you all about her experiences in her brand-new memoir, Bob Hope’s Bungalow: Tales from the Typing Trenches. Join us here at “Remember When” for a new perspective behind-the-scenes of the life of one of America’s finest comedians-

Star Trek fans know actor John Billingsley portrayed the genial Denobulan Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Phlox,  on the series Star Trek: Enterprise. But they might not know just how engaging, delightful, and insightful he is when not covered in Denobulan make-up. Now, you can learn all about John when he talks about Enterprise,  his cast mates, the importance of Star Trek as a whole,  and so much more with Wes Britton and Karina Kantas on Remember When. We admit-we just scratched the surface of things John can talk about, as in his long career in acting and his many roles on television and on screen. So consider this delightful interview as but part one of an ongoing conversation—stay tuned.

You know William B. Davis best as the “cigarette smoking man” on TV’s X-Files. But he’s had a long distinguished acting and directing career which he described in two books, Where There's Smoke...: Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man, a Memoir and its new sequel, On Acting ... and Life: A New Look at an Old Craft. For “Remember When,” William dug deep into what readers can find in On Acting . . . and Life and talked about the craft he’s been pursuing all his life. Find out why as Wes Britton sits down with an actor who was once known for cigarettes he really didn’t smoke . . .

At the very beginning of creating the original Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry brought in writer and producer John D.F. Black to help bring together the new writers who would create a phenomenon. All Trekkers owe John a debt of gratitude. In an offbeat offering at our “Remember When” podcast page,   frequent guest Marc Cushman serves as guest host and conducts a very insightful interview with Black and his wife Mary.  Yes, lots of Star Trek lore along with so much more. Not for Trekkers only.

How many actors can claim to have starred on three major television series?  June Lockhart can and talks about being part of the casts of Lassie, Lost in Space, and Petticoat Junction on Wes Britton’s “Remember When.” But June has much more to say than Hollywood history as she’s especially Knowledgeable about NASA and space exploration. So 30 minutes with June Lockhart on “Remember When” is so much more than reliving old TV memories,  although there’s nothing wrong with that.

You know Walter Koenig best as Ensign Pavel Chekov on the original Star Trek. But his career has included many other achievements, which he tells you all about in his 2020 memoir, Beaming Up and Getting Off: Life before and After Star Trek. For “Remember When,” Walter shares many of the anecdotes he revealed in Beaming Up talks about his various writing projects over the years.  So this interview is full of Star Trek lore and so much more, especially about the craft of authorship.

If there’s a Renaissance Man working in entertainment today, it’s Bill Mumy.  He was a child star in Lost in Space, later added to his sci-fi credentials on Babylon Five, and his musical range is just unbelievable. He’ll share some of his achievements on Wes Britton’s “Remember When” and talk about how so many of his childhood dreams came true.

Ever heard of a James Bond cookbook? It exists, in fact, the author Edward Biddulph is quite an expert on James Bond. Noticing there were many James Bond cocktail books he saw that there were no James Bond cookbooks, and decided that he would write one. Being such a fan of the movies, he took every culinary dish mentioned in each film. Enjoy this episode of Remember When with a special guest but don't be surprised if you're hungry after the podcast.

Return with us to those wonderful decades when we all loved our vinyl record collections, and one reason we did were all the eye-catching album covers that captured our attention. Bob Heimall was one of the artists who designed those classic covers for the likes of The Doors, Carly Simon, Patti Smith, and The Kinks and he shared many of his rock ‘n roll stories in his colorful book, COVER STORIES: Tales of rock legends and the albums that made them famous. On “Remember When,” Bob shares some of his behind-the-scenes memories about spending time with Jim Morrison, Carly Simon, Barry Manilow—well, you gotta check the conversation out to hear some rock lore you won’t hear anywhere else-Bob is a pretty good storyteller and has a serious love of rock ‘n roll that makes this interview so engaging and personable-

“Author. Teacher. Geek expert.” That’s how writer Bob Greenberger describes himself at his website where you can find an astonishing bibliography of his work in sci-fi, working for Marvel and DC and for the Star Trek novel franchise. In his in-depth interview with Wes Britton, Bob takes you behind-the-scenes of writing science fiction, especially for the Star Trek novels and how they reflect what you see on TV and the films. How has the new Picard shaped the realm of ST novels? Find out on this discussion on “Remember When”-

Canadian stand-up comic Murray Langston is best remembered for being the “Unknown Comic” who wore a paper bag over his head telling jokes at a break-neck pace, especially in his many appearences on the odd“Gong Show” which featured would-be amateur entertainers competing for stardom on daytime television. Alongside controversial emcee Chuck Barris from 1976 to 1980, Langston became a cult figure showing up on a wide variety of talk and game shows and comedy series like the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. So Murray is a perfect personality to take us back to the strange times of ‘70s comedy TV and remind us why he kept us laughing so many times back in the day-

“He’s no fun, he fell right over!” For 45 years, off and on, Peter Bergman, Philip Proctor, Phil Austin, and David Ossman were the Firesign Theatre, a wildly surreal and influential comedy quartet whose glory days were in the 1970s when they released a string of best-selling albums and featured on a series of popular radio programs. Original member David Ossman talked about the unique humor of the Firesigns in an in-depth analysis of the Firesign legacy with Wes Britton in a conversation that touches comedy corners you won’t expect, even if you’re a knowledgeable Firesign Theatre fan. So it’s time to laugh again with a master of surreal humor here at the “Remember When” Podcast page!

Who’s the most famous female comic in the world? If you ask Judy Tenuda, she’d say that’s obvious-she is! The Love Goddess, the Aphrodite of the Accordion,  the creator of The Vagina Monologues" and "Menopause the Musical". She's written two comedy books, Full Frontal Tenudity and The Power of Judyism, and has released five comedy CD's, receiving “Best Comedy Album” Grammy nominations for Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians! and In Goddess We Trust. But probably the highlight of her career, so far,  was the afternoon she sat down with Wes Britton to talk about her wild and crazy career, punctuating her punchlines with her squeezebox and improvised songs.   No one has ever been so predictably unpredictable as Judy Tenuda in one of the brashest and bawdy conversations you'll ever enjoy. It doesn't get much wilder and funnier than Judy Tenuda unleashed-

James Bond in World and Popular Culture: The Films Are Not Enough was an eye-popping anthology of forty essays on all manner of takes on the many realms of James Bond. A variety of experts wrote on the official novels, comic books, video games, the music, the girls, detailed looks into the life and lore of Ian Fleming, the use of Ian Fleming as a fictional character, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,  Bond parodies and ripoffs, James Bond and the Bible . . . and much more. The collection was the brainchild of Texas Tech librarian Robert G. Weiner who sat down with Wes Britton to give you a whirlwind tour of all the topics and analyses in a very hefty tome including one of the best overviews of James Bond film music out there penned by, ah, er, Dr. Wes Britton. So if you haven’t heard about the anthology, now’s your chance to discover a book belonging in the library of every James Bond fan out there-including you!

It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman! Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway--there's a book title that says it all-the most comprehensive exploration of the many faces and kinds of Superman we've enjoyed over the decades on every form of popular media available courtesy of comic book expert Bruce Scivally. No matter how much you think you know about Kal El or Clark Kent or Lois Lane or the Fortress of Solitude, I guarantee this is a tome filled to the brim with surprises for every reader on nearly every page. Happily, Bruce Scivally isn't just knowledgable about our favorite son from Krypton,  he's a great story-teller who makes what could have been a dry academic tome a readable and engaging investigation of the world's most famous super-hero. Superman on Broadway?  Not only does Superman leap over tall buildings in a single bound, he can do it carrying a Broadway-worthy tune or two- So hop into your local phone booth-if you can find one-or simply click on your favorite Podcast platform and it's up, up, and away with Wes Britton's "Remember When" interview with Bruce Scivally.

Ever wonder how all those spectacular special effects for films and TV shows were created, especially in the days before CGI? Ron D. Moore, special effects supervisor for Star Trek, Deep Space 9, Voyager, Enterprise, Ghostbusters and Roswell can tell you all about how to make the galaxy come alive on the wide screen and in your living room.  He can tell you how to make New York not look like New York, how to blow up a bus without hurting any occupants, and he can share the comedy of the Enterprise Blues Band, a group you can only see live at Star Trek conventions. Is that enough entertainment for ya? Then make it so and join us in Ron Moore’s captain’s lounge on the next “Remember When” Podcast-

“Star Trek: These are the Voyages, The Original Series (TOS.” No one knows more about all the behind-the-scenes activity in producing the various Star Trek series and movies than researcher Marc Cushman. No one. I promise.  For years now, he’s been publishing exhaustive volumes like the one stated above, on the original series, the Next Generation, the films—and found himself surprising the original participants with revelations they never knew. Like Waltar Koenig, the gent who was the original Pavel Chekov beginning in season two of the first series. For Wes Britton and “Remember When,” Marc and Waltar sat down together and talked about that special season, the messages and themes of Star Trek, the impact the show had on generations of fans, and Waltar shares anecdotes to tickle your funny bone. Join us as we launch “Sci-Fi Week” here at the “Remember When” Podcasts:

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better...stronger...faster." For five seasons from 1973 to 1978 on ABC TV, actor Richard Anderson delivered that opening narration to the Six Million Dollar Man in his role as Oscar Goldman, director of the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI). He also played the same role for 3 seasons in Bionic Woman and in later TV movies starring the bionic couple, making him the second actor in TV history to play the same character on two prime-time series.    (The first was Leo G. Carroll as Alexander Waverly on both the Man and Girl From U.N.C.L.E.) While Anderson is best remembered as Oscar Goldman, his years on the bionic programs don't even scratch the surface of his long career in films and TV shows as he recounted to "Remember When"s Wes Britton before his death in August 2017 at the age of 91. So return with us to the times when secret agents didn't have to carry around futuristic gizmos and gadgets but were instead the fantastic gadgets themselves-

In Honor of "Memorial Day," Meet the Marine drill sergeant who claimed to be the one who coined the battle cry, "oorah!" Maybe so. Hugh O'Brian's story behind that phrase is very intriguing, especially from the man who was, on record, the youngest drill sergeant (aged 17) in Marine history. But Hugh O'Brian is probably best remembered for playing the title lawman in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961), one of the series credited with being one of the first "adult Westerns."  Over the decades, many American students benefited from his Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY), a nonprofit youth leadership-development program for high-school scholars. It has sponsored more than 500,000 students since O'Brian founded the program in 1958, following an extended visit with a physician and theologian Albert Schweitzer in Africa. In an in-depth conversation with "Remember When"s Wes Britton,  O'Brian discussed Wyatt Earp, how that show affected his hearing for the rest of his life,  his connections with the likes of Ida Lupino and Debbie Reynolds,  how  Albert Schweitzer changed his life, and his 2014 autobiography, Hugh O'Brian or What's Left of Him. This interview was one of O'Brian's last as he passed on September 5, 2016 (aged 91). "Oorah!"

If you want to talk about comedy, you can’t have a better tour guide than Harry Shearer. As a child star, Harry worked with Jack Benny and knew the great voice actor, Mel Blanc. As an adult, he was part of Spinal Tap, performed for years on SNL, is the voice of half the characters in The Simpsons,  created the mockumentary The Mighty Wind, and appears weekly on his Le Show radio series.  And that just scratches the surface of one of the funniest and wittiest Renaissance Men on the planet- Talking with Wes Britton on “Remember When,” Harry discusses all those projects and we play samples from his comedy album, Can’t Take a Hint.  So kick back, smile, and laugh along with Harry Shearer and Wes Britton on the next “Remember When”-

“I hate spunk!” Well, not so much. Before his death on August 29, 2021 (aged 91), Ed Asner was the most honored male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, five of them for playing Lou Grant as supporting actor in the Mary Tyler Moore comedy series (1970-1977), and then for playing the same character in the hour-long drama spinoff named for his character (1977-1982). Among his many off-stage achievements, he was the 21st President of the Screen Actors Guild. While Lou Grant was his most famous role, Asner gave us many significant performances  on stage, Television, and on the large screen from 1957 to 2021. He was well-known for his politics and activism and had much to say about so many of his concerns and then-current projects in a lengthy 2012 interview with “Remember When”Wes Wes Britton. And, for the record,  one difference between Asner and his most famous character is that he thinks spunk is a very good thing. He thought no one should live without it. So spend some time with Ed Asner, Wes Britton, and a lifetime of spunk on today’s thought-provoking Podcast-

Whatever happened to Tabitha Stephens, the TV sitcom baby witch played by child-star Erin Murphy? More than you think. Erin is an extremely talented lady who has been appearing on the small screen from her infancy to the present, sharing the stage with the likes of Ronald Reagan and  Hulk Hogan and serving as a TV correspondent for all sorts of outlets like TVLand. She’s the last surviving cast member of Bewitched and has lots of stories to tell you on the latest edition of Remember when-

Return with us to those homesteading days of yesteryear on Little House on the Prairie when a child star named Alison Arngrim became the longtime nemesis of Prairie star Melissa Gilbert. But only on the small screen. In an in-depth interview with Wes Britton, Arngrim shares stories about the development of her character, Nellie Oleson Dalton, as well as the truth about her real-life relationships with other cast members like Gilbert and the main man of the series, Michael Landon. Go behind the scenes of the series' surprising grand finale. Expect some surprises as we take you back to Plum Creek, a farm near the little town called Walnut Grove, Minnesota-

Shaken, Not Stirred (The Secret Files of I__ F______, Code Designate 17F) You don’t have to be a James Bon  Aficionado to decode the above title to Aaron Cooley’s 2013 novel where Cooley has fun with the supposed adventures of one Ian Fleming in naval intelligence during World War II.   Cooley wasn’t the first, nor likely the last writer, to spin out fanciful adventures taking lieutenant-commander Fleming out from behind his historical Admiralty desk and send the actual designate 17f out on missions that never were, create characters allegedly models for the likes of Q and Miss Moneypenny, and spin out plots and villains that would become grist for Fleming’s literary mill. Clearly Cooley had a lot of fun creating his blend of fact and far-fetched fiction to entertain readers, especially those who admire the James Bond novels. Cooley’s spirit of fun and his unique imagination are on full display in his interview with spy expert Wes Britton where Cooley shares many of his creative approaches.    If you haven’t read Shaken Not Stirred, we wager this Podcast will whet your appetite to give   I__ F______, Code Designate 17F a chance—

I suspect every Bond fan everywhere knows who Raymond Benson is and has their own opinions about his series of 007 continuation novels. Almost as many readers have enjoyed Raymond’s own character, The Black Stiletto. If you haven’t met Judy Cooper and like costumed vigilantes with a feminist bent, well, Raymond tells Wes Britton all about the first Black Stiletto novel in this, the 10th year anniversary of her literary debut. She’s a super-hero without superpowers who only operated from 1958-to 1963  and then mysteriously disappeared after leaving a legacy of battling Communist spies, the Mafia, and common crooks. Decades after her retirement, her son finds clues that convince him that his Mom was the crimefighter of old especially her descriptions of her adventures in her secret diaries. So whether you’re already a fan of the Black Stiletto or an aficionado of old-time thrillers or comic books without pictures starring strong female leads or simply entertaining storytelling,  check out this encore conversation of Wes Britton and Raymond Benson broadcast some time ago in the misty past of radio yesteryear-

Who are the Baker Street Irregulars? Sherlock Holmes fans will remember the gang of street urchins Holmes employed to assist his investigations in three stories. Serious Holmes fans will think of the BSI as the oldest and most exclusive literary club devoted to the study of Holmes, Watson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as the Victorian period. Until his death last year, Jon Lellenberg was a prominent member of that group and was an invaluable agent for the Arthur Conan Doyle estate, being their American literary executor and so much more for the family for decades. As a historian for the BSI, Lellenberg had access to key documents about the founding of the organization back in the 1930s which he used to develop his 2010 novel about those events in his book, naturally titled Baker Street Irregular. Using his background in military intelligence, he wove those intelligent characters into a multilayered tale of World War II espionage involving some very high-profile Sherlockians. Back in 2011, Lellenberg sat down with Wes Britton to talk about the BSI, his novel, The affairs of the Conan Doyle estate and shared his opinions on a number of film and television adaptations of the world’s first consulting detective. So if you’re into the literary, film, radio, or television realms headquartered at 221 Baker Street in London, this is a not-to-miss conversation. #author #BSI #BakerStreetIrregulars #writers #bakerstreet #SherlockHolmes #ArthurConanDoyle #classicradio #WesBritton #DaveWhitePresents #spy #agent #espionage #detective #JonLellenberg

Here’s one very enjoyable interview I did with an old friend named Ian Dickerson, the longtime Honorary Secretary of The Saint Club. Yes, that Saint-Simon Templar—“the famous Saint,” the “Robin Hood of Modern Crime.” Colorful author Leslie Charteris created The Saint in 1928 when his character debuted in Meet the Tiger and starred in Charteris penned novels and short stories for decades thereafter. Templar also starred in several radio series beginning in 1940, including being portrayed by Vincent Price; in motion pictures, Templar debuted in 1938 and was played by the likes of Louis Hayward, George Saunders, Val Kilmer among many others; on TV, of course, the haloed Robin Hood of modern crime was immortalized by Roger Moore back in the 1960s. And more was to come . . . This short profile but scratches the surface of the stories of a writer and his “dream self”, both fascinating sagas of the 20th Century, stories told  by the man who knows them better than anyone else, the man chosen by Leslie Charteris himself to helm the longtime Saint Club. So come along to hear some rip-roaring yarns of derring-do, crime solving, espionage,  romance with Ian Dickerson and Mr. Simon Templar-

Harry Potter a Spy? Severus Snape the best double agent ever? That’s what co-authors Lynn Boughey and  Peter Ernest set out to prove in their Harry Potter and the Art of Spying, a book described as a primer on spying, intelligence, and politics. Spy novelist Lynn Boughey and the late thirty-six-year CIA veteran and executive director of the International Spy Museum, Peter Earnest point to a cornucopia of spycraft you probably didn’t notice in the Harry Potter books, especially The order of the Phoenix. For more on the passing of Peter Ernest earlier this year and to read Wes Britton’s review of The Art of Spying, check out Wes’s blog post from Feb. 2022: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/22248188-rip-peter-ernest #HarryPotter #TheOrderOfThePheonix #HarryPotterAndTheArtOfSpying #LynnBoughey #PeterEarnest #SpyMuseum #author #CIA #doubleagent #SeverusSnape #Podcast

Maybe you were like me from June 28, 2007 to September 12, 2013 hearing Michael Weston teaching us what to do “When you’re a spy . . .” on the hit TV series, Burn Notice. If you were really into Burn Notice, perhaps you enjoyed the novelizations based on the series authored by a knowledgeable gent named Todd Goldberg. In an in-depth conversation with Wes Britton of “Remember When,” Todd tells us how he came to get the Burn Notice contract, what elements of the show he knew fans would want in the books, and what things he could bring into the mix that couldn’t fit in a small screen script. So if you’re missing Michael, his Mom and brother, Sam, and Fiona in their Miami adventures come on board and get your “Fix,” as that’s the title of Todd’s first Burn Notice novel-The Fix. #classicradio #classicinterviews #DaveWhitePresents #WesBritton #novelist #spy #BurnNotice #ToddGoldberg 

Max Vesterhalt was a Bond girl of color- but odds are, you never heard of her. After her exquisite good looks led her into a life of modelling and acting, she became famous for a widespread poster promoting Greek tourism. The poster caught the eye of Bond producer Cubby Broccoli who hired her for a role in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only. While she was supposed to have the scenes you’d associate with a Bond lovely,her role was reduced when the director changed to John Glen. When you see her on screen, she’s in the casino scene with Roger Moore. In her conversation with “Remember When”s Wes Britton,   Max describes her time on the Bond film set and shares her memories of Roger Moore.  Of course, she has lots of other topics to share with you so you’ll just have to click this link to have a peek into Bond film lore you probably missed back in the day-

BOND LOVERS  In Heartfelt Memory of My Friend Bond entrepreneur Ron Payne November 26, 1950-April 2, 2015 "Geoffrey Jenkins has the supreme gift of originality. A Twist of Sand is a literate, imaginative first novel in the tradition of the high and original adventure." –Ian Fleming. Serious Ian Fleming fans know at least something about his South African protogee, Geoffrey Jenkins. The author of 16 thrillers in his own right, Jenkins and Fleming became friends in their days as correspondents at the Sunday Times where they began swapping ideas for their novels.  Jenkins was close friends with harry Saltzman which led to one scene in You Only Live Twice and, according to the literary executor, Ron Payne, this friendship is what resulted in EON Productions opting not to ever film any continuation novels. Ron will tell you the story of Per Fine Ounce which was supposed to be the first continuation novel penned by Geoffrey Jenkins until Ann Fleming squashed that idea. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of the stories Ron will share with you linking Ian Fleming and Geoffrey Jenkins with many a surprise to widen your eyes.  And if the conversation whets your interest in Geoffrey Jenkins,  stop by “The James Bond Files at my spywisesecretdossier.com website and explore all the pieces on Jenkins, perhaps the most extensive overview of the author of A Twist of Sand (filmed with co-stars Richard Johnson and Honor Blackman), the very Bondian Hunter Killer, and the lost 007 continuation novel, Per Fine Ounce. If you’re into all things Bond, this is a conversation not to be missed-

Sometimes, a writer can give an old trope a fresh twist. Take the idea of sleeper agents, something familiar to anyone with a passing interest in spy lit and films. Naval officer Michael Pennington wondered what might happen if the spouses of military officers with high-security clearances could be planted as Soviet sleeper spies.  After all, the officers themselves would be seriously vetted before getting their clearances-not so much their significant others. So Pennington created the extremely capable Susan Anderson, a wife with a dual consciousness. Part of her thinks she’s a normal American wife; but the Soviets had long ago planted a “Sasha” consciousness inside her, buried until her handler reignited the long-forgotten identity. Pennington began his novel series with   Zhena, a book Michael discussed with Wes Britton back in 2010. In the story, Susan Anderson, military wife, mother, and apparent orphan find herself on the run trying to protect her children, and the lives of friends, not to mention maintaining her own sanity and survival. And that’s just the beginning-

Some spy novels have a point to make, especially those in the sub-genre of “insider fiction.” Authors of these books draw on their experience in intelligence to warn the rest of us about what we should expect. For example, Duane DeMello’s 2010  The Wave of the Future is concerned with how present-day circumstances might lead to disasters if our vigilance isn’t of the highest level, if we’re not willing to put security ahead of some personal rights, and if intelligence agencies don’t function to their fullest capacity. DeMello knows of what he writes.  After all, he was a senior intelligence officer in the Central Intelligence Agency. But there’s much more to what Wave of the Future offers beyond a cautionary tale and Duane shared his in-depth thinking in a 2010 conversation with Wes Britton. Learn a bit about modern spycraft and the balance of power between our agencies and those determined to do us harm . . . Join Duane and Wes Britton for a fascinating conversation if you’re curious about what actual espionage is all about.

Part 2 When Columbo star Peter Falk died in June 2011,  Link was surprised by a lack of interest from the media. His phone wasn't ringing off the hook with requests for Link's memories of Falk. So he called me. We arranged for a second interview focused specifically on Falk and Columbo and, despite the sadness that inspired this interview, it was a real pleasure to talk again with this major contributor to TV history. Both interviews were in-depth and chock full of TV lore, Remember When will present encore broadcasts of both conversations over two days. If you're a fan of TV detectives of the '70s and '80s, then "Remember When" will be a major treat for you this week-

Part 1. Before his passing on December 27, 2020, I had the great privilege of twice interviewing TV writer and producer William Link. Along with his longtime partner, Richard Levinson, Link co-created and produced 17 TV series including Mannix, Columbo, and Murder, She Wrote. Our first conversation touched many bases in Link's legendary career, including plugging his then-new book, The Columbo Collection, the first time a TV producer, or anyone else, composed a batch of new short stories for a character long off the air except in syndication.

How Charlie Brown morphed into Radar O’Reilly As Gary Burghoff recounted in his 2009 memoir, To M*A*S*H and Back: My Life in Poems and Songs No One Wanted to Publish, his first big break occurred when he played the role of Charlie Brown in the Off-Broadway musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  This led to his being cast as Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly in the film MASH and then the long-running TV series. Gary sat down with “Remember When” host Wes Britton and got in-depth about his career, Broadway, and of course his years on M*A*s*H.  If you’re a fan of that show-or “friend”, a term Gary prefers, don’t miss this very engaging conversation including some surprises even Gary didn’t expect-

On the 3rd year anniversary special of the old “Dave White Presents” radio show, Wes Britton brought the second film actor to play 007, George Lazenby, together with guitarist Vic Flick for the first time ever in a dual interview. On this occasion, I was happy to stand aside and let those film veterans essentially interview each other about . . .  to be honest, this one is hard to summarize. The two gents touched on a ton of topics, talking about subjects I don’t think they have ever delved into much anywhere else. Bond stuff to be sure-but so much more. The motto of the old show was “Predictably unpredictable,” and Vic and George helped us live up to those two words. In other words, spy or Bond expert you may be, but I guarantee a string of surprises that will entertain you in ways you didn’t expect . . .

A Special Spywisesecretdossier Briefing on Today’s Remember When Podcasts Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine,  one question I’ve been hearing repeatedly is-what sort of intelligence does Ukraine and Nato have to keep their eyes on the Russian military and policymakers in Moscow? A key question that also needs asking is: what sort of use is given what intelligence we glean? The West has been spying on the Russians for over 70 years now. A case in point: From February 1954 to April 1956, “Operation Gold” was a joint operation of the CIA and the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). Together, they dug a tunnel below the border between the Western sector of Berlin and the Soviet section to tap into the landline communications between Soviet Forces Germany and their masters in Moscow. Voices Under Berlin, a novel by T.H.E. Hill, focuses on those linguists and analysts sifting through intercepted intelligence from the tunnel. Does the image of code-breakers sitting in dusty rooms wearing headphones while scribbling on notepads sound a bit on the dry side? On one hand, we get to look into how the military deals with intercepted intelligence and what horrible mistakes could happen in the wrong hands. As it happens, Hill has been often compared to Joseph Heller (Catch 22) and Richard Hooker (M.A.S.H.) which should tell you how entertaining this look into this secret world can be. If you think the technology of the 1970s might be outdated, that’s not the point. The intellectual uses and misuses of intelligence and training in the military hierarchy are, simply stated, timeless. In short, we can learn a lot about the present and future by looking into unexpected places in the past. Here’s one text interview with Hill at Spywisesecretdossier.com: http://spywisesecretdossier.com/vubInterview.html Now, here’s an exclusive audio interview to take you even deeper into parts of espionage you’ve probably not thought about before:

From 1980 to 1984, actress, stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, and author Geri Jewell starred on the sitcom, The Facts of Life, being the first actor with cerebral palsy to have such a role on American television.  Jewell has been a lifelong advocate for the disabled As well as becoming an advocate for the LGBTQIA community since publicly coming out as lesbian in her 2011 autobiography, I’m Walking As Straight As I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond, which later won a 2013 Golden Halo Award, and the 2013 UCP Life Without Limits Award. From 2004—2006, Jewell starred in David Milch’s western HBO series,  Deadwood. In her Remember When interview with Wes Britton, Jewell digs into how her character was shaped in Deadwood, about her courageous work on behalf of people with CP, her love of comedy and acting, and especially what it takes to persevere and flourish when seemingly all the decks are stacked against you. Her skills as a motivational speaker and as an entertainer are on full display in this inspiring and personable conversation.

RIP Dawn Wells October 18, 1938-December 30, 2020 (aged 82) Who doesn’t know that Dawn Wells starred as Mary Ann Summers, one of seven stranded castaways on Gilligan’s Island who set sail for a three hour cruise that aired for 3 seasons and in syndicated reruns ever after? Before Gilligan, Wells was crowned Miss Nevada in 1959  and represented her state in the 1960 Miss America pageant. Thereafter, she starred in a wide variety of television programs, especially Westerns.  Then, in 1964 she joined the cast of Gilligan’s Island and became an icon of American pop culture as male viewers forever debated over who they preferred: Ginger or Mary Ann? Maybe Mrs. Howell? While Wells continued to act primarily on television and the stage for the rest of her life, she became an author in 2014 when she released What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life, published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Gilligan’s Island. Off camera, Wells operated Wishing Wells Collections, making clothing for people with limited mobility. She founded the Idaho Film and Television Institute, a not-for-profit educational organization. Wells also supported the Denver Foundation, a West Virginia charity. In Sept 2014, Wes Britton interviewed Wells for “Dave White Presents” after meeting her in person at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention which they talk about in the interview linked here. Wells died from COVID-19-related causes at age 82 in Los Angeles on December 30, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in California. This version of their radio interview is uncut and unedited, offering tidbits never broadcast before.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Remember When Podcasts are offering a series of interviews with notable women who’re each much more than pretty faces. First up: Tippi Hedron is best known for her two starring roles in Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds (1963) and with Sean Connery in Marni (1964). Among her 80 roles in television and in film, Hedron was the only actress to ever work for both Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin in his final film, The Countess from Hong Kong (1967). Her honors include a Golden Globe, a Jules Verne Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hedron is also noted for her long commitment to the plight of African lions and tigers. She established her Roar Foundation to support her Shambala Preserve, an 80-acre wildlife habitat. She has created relief programs worldwide following earthquakes, hurricanes, famine and war. In 2012, she was the subject of a biographical film about her time with Hitchcock, The Girl,  in which Hedron was portrayed by actress Sienna Miller. Did we mention she’s Melanie Griffith’s mom? So who could be a better choice to lead off our notable women series as we reprise her 2012 interview with Wes Britton in which we touched on everything mentioned in this description (yes, lots of Hitchcock and big cats) and much more: #Hitchcock #AlfredHitchcock #activist #protest #filmstar #famousmum #TVstar #goldenglobes #WesBritton #wildlife #foundation #MelanieGriffiths #TheBirds

“We’re an American Band.” “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home).” “The Loco-Motion.” While never loved by contemporary critics, it’s been said you can’t talk about ‘70s rock without talking about Grand Funk Railroad. Well, on the next Remember When Podcast, Grand Funk drummer, singer, and songwriter Don Brewer does just that. Don tells Wes Britton tales of the highs, lows, lawsuits, and especially the stories behind the band’s biggest hits. And why the critics never warmed to the Michigan trio. #classicinterviews #RememberWhen #DonBrewer #WesBritton #podcast #radioshow #70s #rock

In an interview with Wes Britton, Dee Wallace remembers playing Mother Mary Taylor in Steven Spielberg’s  E.T. The Extra-Terrestial, being a “Scream Queen” in films like The Hills Have Eyes, The Howling, and Critters. But Dee Wallace has lots more to talk about than screen roles, especially her career as a healer.  What does that mean?  Check out the latest Remember When Podcast and we promise one of the warmest, uplifting, and inspiring conversations you’ll ever hear- #StephenSpielberg #DeeWallace #WesBritton #classicinterviews #Radio #Podcast #RememberWhen #ET #TheHowling #TheHillsHaveEyes #Critters #screamqueen #filmstar #actress 

“Yada, yada.” “Spongeworthy.” Peter Mehlman was the Seinfeld writer who coined those catch-phrases. During most of 1989-1998, comic writer Peter Mehlman was a major contributor to Seinfeld, first as a script-writer, ultimately becoming the series Executive Producer. So the man knows a lot about TV comedy. So you should expect a lot of laughs in the interview Peter shared with Wes Britton first broadcast just in time for Peter to tout his then-new book, Mandela Was Late: Essays and Odd Things from the Seinfeld Writer Who Coined Yada, yada, and Made Spongeworthy a Compliment (2013). Expect some generous samples from that treasury of oddball comedy. #comedy #RememmberWhen #podcast #TV #author #PeterMehlman #producer #radiointerviews #

“Keep playing that rock and roll/ keep doing what you’ve been told . . .” Texas has given the world a signature sound blending southern blues with good ole rock and roll- think Janis Joplin, Roy Orbison, ZZ Top, Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny and Edgar Winter, to name but a few of the Lone Star states rocking luminaries. Back on Aug. 1, 2012, Edgar Winter sat down with Wes Britton and talked about his inspirations, his brother, the blues and the various groups he’s headed over the years. Join us for a vibrant and lively conversation with one energetic rock and roller- #music #rock&roll #EdgarWinter #radiointerviews #podcast #audio #blues #RememberWhen #country #WesBritton 

Going Back to Happy Days with Donnie Most! Yes, Wes Britton got to interview Ralph Malph on Dec. 31, 2014. Now is the perfect time to reprise that conversation as much of the interview focuses on Don’s musical career. As it happens, a new CD of “Donnie Most Sings and Swings” is in the works and we’ll play you some samples of Don’s big band stylings to whet your appetite. And yes,  Don has Happy Days anecdotes to share as we Remember When . . .

You knew her as Patty Duke, but she preferred to be called by her birth name, Anna.  How she became Patty is a poignant story that will touch your heart. As will her stories about starring in The Miracle Worker and The Patty Duke Show.  And her lifelong battles with heart-breaking psychological issues. You’ll be blown away by Anna’s frankness and openness.  After hearing this Sept. 13, 2011 interview, you’ll see Anna “Patty” Duke as someone much more than “identical cousins” Patty and Kathy Lane . . .

I’m guessing when you hear the name Larry Storch, you picture the frustrated Corporal Randolph Agarn from the 1960s comedy series, F-Troop. Thanks to his childhood friend, Don Adams, he also played the “Groovy Guru” in Get Smart. Thanks to his military friendship with Tony Curtis, Larry guest-starred in the Curtis/ Roger Moore spy series, The Persuaders.  For decades (he just turned 99) he was a noted dialectician or impressionist, lending his talented voice to a number of cartoons like Batman and Tennessee Tuxedo. But when I think of Larry Storch, I remember the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention where I and my late wife met Larry. Betty simply fell in love with Larry and decided he was her favorite celeb of all the celebs we ever met. So I hereby dedicate this resurrected interview to the memory of Betty Jane Britton, Larry Storch’s biggest fan.

When most folks hear the name Bernie Kopell, they think of his role as Dr. Adam Bricker on the long-running Love Boat. Or they remember him as Siegfried, Vice President of Public Relations and Terror for KAOS on 14 episodes of the spy spoof, Get Smart. In 2012, I was able to talk with Bernie to help plug the collector’s DVD release of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp, for which the actor voiced villain Baron Von Butcher (modeled on his Siegfried character) along with other baddies in the live-action children’s show starring live chimpanzees. So with this background, you might expect a lively conversation with Bernie Kopell and you’d be spot on! Expect some surprises and lively insights into comic Television and the spoofing of the spy craze of the 1960s-

In September 1999, author Ron Payne was present when former Bond actor George Lazenby made an appearance at a Virginia Beach Edgar Cayce convention. Ron wrote up an article on the appearance which you can read at: http://spywisesecretdossier.com/jamesBond.html Then, thanks to Ron, Wes Britton was able to interview George twice for “Dave White Presents”-first on Feb. 20, 2010 and then alongside guitarist Vic Flick for the radio show’s 3rd year anniversary on August 17, 2011. So, to launch our new series of the “Dave White Presents” classic interviews on Remember When Podcast, here’s the Feb. 2010 conversation with actor George Lazenby.