OFFICIAL SITE OF AUTHOR MICHAEL RICKARD

The summer issue of Jack Lord's Hair is online featuring all sorts of good stuff including: A look at how NBC murdered Star Trek A review of Spaced Out: The Best of Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner Part Two of my celebration of the 45th anniversary of Marvel Comics' Tomb of Dracula comic. My interview with wrestling historian and author Dick Bourne. My review of the Justice League of America Bronze Age Omnibus

Peter Lorre does an excellent job of portraying Joel Cairo. In Chapter Four of The Maltese Falcon, Hammett describes Cairo as "…a small-boned dark man of medium height. His hair was black and smooth and very glossy." (425). While Lorre's hair is not black, he fits the rest of the description. Towards the end of the novel, Hammett describes Cairo: "Joel Cairo's dark face was open-mouthed, open-eyed, yellowish, and amazed. He breathed through his mouth, his round effeminat

Originally presented at Canadian Bulldog's World. Arrogance is the art to take pride in one’s own stupidity. You’ve probably heard the saying “don’t let your mouth write checks that you can’t cash”. Nobody likes a loudmouth. For decades, wrestling promoters have used peoples’ disdain for big mouths to help sell tickets. Savvy promoters know that giving a wrestler with the gift of gab a microphone can lead to fans screaming for their favorite wrestler to silence the loudmouth.

While WrestleMania is the WWE's equivalent of the Super Bowl, summertime always meant something special for wrestling fans. For many younger fans, summertime meant no school and more time to tune in to wrestling and attend shows. For the truly lucky fans, the summertime meant outdoor shows, often star-studded affairs with some of the biggest matches possible (and in a promoter's eyes necessary to sell a larger venue). I remember watching Jim Crockett Promotions every summer (

The film The Maltese Falcon is a close adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's novel. This should come as no surprise given the film's production. According to the DVD supplementary material "The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird", John Huston wrote the screenplay directly from the book. The result was a film that captured much of the book's plot and dialogue. The only exceptions of note were those called for by the Hays Code. While the Hays Code prohibited director John Huston

Editor's Note: I wrote about the glut of WWE programming nearly two years ago and there is even more wrestling content out there than before. Do my words still ring true or has the WWE improved on its presentation? Originally presented at Canadian Bulldog's World. Orlando: Then love me, Rosalind. Rosalind: Yes, faith, will I, Fridays and Saturdays and all. Orlando: And wilt thou have me? Rosalind: Ay, and twenty such. Orlando: What sayest thou? Rosalind: Are you not good? Orl

Slave narratives contain several common elements. One of the common elements is that the narratives record a long and complicated journey from (and within) bondage to freedom. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (“Equiano”) and A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (“Narrative”) each contain elaborate stories of both men experiencing incredible advances and reversals. The wheel of fortune is constantly spinning in both men’s st

An actor’s dream is to find a successful role, but a successful role can sometimes lead to an actor’s nightmare-the inexplicable phenomenon of being typecast. Adam West was one such actor who found himself immortalized, only for the rest of his career to be seen as an escape from the role that made him a household name. Nevertheless, Adam West rolled with the punches (I’ll skip the POW! BAM! etc. references), living with the hand that was dealt him. Just about every kid loved

I never get tired of having friends and colleagues tell me about new TV shows. With all the new shows, stations, and streaming services (not to mention web series) out there, it’s difficult to keep track of all the new programming. At the same time though, the sheer number of new shows makes it impossible for me (or anyone else for that matter) to watch them all. So as a public service, let me tell you I’m sure your favorite show is awesome but don’t feel bad if I don’t watch

Originally presented at Canadian Bulldog's World. When you think about it, there really haven’t been a lot of films about professional wrestling. Sure, there have been more than a few films to star wrestlers but very few that look at the Sport of Kings itself. Not too long ago, I came across a hidden gem of a film with an entertaining and innovative approach to professional wrestling. The film was The Wrestler. No, not the Mickey Rourke film from several years back but a fi

The costume film is another example of how a film’s characteristics define its genre. Graves and Engle list a costume film’s characteristics which can include literary adaptations, historical films, biographies, and the use of stars known for appearing in costume films. The 1963 costume film Cleopatra contains the characteristics of a historical recreation, a biography and the use of performers often seen in costume films. Cleopatra can be categorized as a costume film due to

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne defies the Puritans’ draconian laws both by her passive resistance and by subconsciously channeling her id into her daughter Pearl, allowing Pearl to actively defy those who would persecute Hester and Pearl. Only when Reverend Dimmesdale reveals his identity as Hester’s lover is Hester able to resume control of her id, allowing Pearl to live as a normal child. Hester Prynne defies the Puritans by following the letter of the law in affixing