1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 59

  Today marks the anniversary of the first killer whale born in captivity. Sadly, this happy birthday wasn't a long one. The creature, born at Marineland in California, only lived a couple of days.

     It would be another 8 years before a killer whale would actually survive and thrive after birth. The first killer whale to survive more than 2 weeks was named Kalina. The Atlantic/Pacific hybrid lived for 15-years and gave birth to at least 4 calves.

    Another first for 1977 but thankfully, not a last. 

    Well, that's my look at my favorite year for the day. Who knows where I'll turn up tomorrow. Until then...

Dark Knight: A True Batman Story

   In the early 90s, Paul Dini was on top of the world. His work on the Batman: The Animated Series won him an Emmy. The show was a massive hit. He had a hot (but not really serious) girlfriend. Dozens of projects were falling in line for the writer.   
    But it all came crashing down one warm night when two men mugged and savagely beat him. Dini needed months of surgery, recovery, and healing. Sadly, the celebrated screenwriter spiraled into a dark depression and alcohol problem. Thankfully, he had the characters of his beloved Batman series to help him find his way out into the light.
     Most Batman stories hint at real life but still fall quite short. This biographical look at a segment at Dini's life was the real deal. It was such an insightful look at the creation of one of my all-time favorite TV shows- not just cartoons- TV shows period!
     If you love Batman: The Animated Series. If you want the inside scoop at the creation of Harley Quinn, the Joker's girlfriend. If you love metaphysical and psychological true crime thrillers- this is the non-fiction Batman graphic novel you've been waiting for.
    A Must Read! But with very graphic violence and some very raw emotions and language, this DC/ Vertigo graphic novel is for mature readers only!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 58

 

Such an Iconic Poster.

 40 years ago today, the 50 Foot Woman died. actress Allison Hayes, whose claim to pop culture and film fame will forever be her portrayal as Nancy Fowler Archer, a troubled socialite, who after an encounter with some strange orbs, grows to a stature of 50-feet tall!

    The movie actually isn't as bad as it sounds. Yes, it's a B-movie but not all B-movies are terrible. Sometimes, a film just can't get a good budget and get's relegated to a studio's B-status. 

     Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is one of my favorite B-movies, though the Incredible Shrinking Man is probably my all-time fav in this genre. Sadly, the Shrinking Man and the Giant Woman never teamed-up in a film together... That would've been awesome.

     Allison Hayes was a former beauty contestant and model whose reign as Miss District of Columbia in the 1949 Miss American pageant, garnished the attention of local TV stations and eventually Universal Pictures.

Attack of the 50 Foot Socks!

      The reason of death for Ms. Hayes is rather tragic yet important to American consumers. In 1976, the former actress was diagnosed with leukemia. She actually was responding fairly well to treatment. However, her increased use of calcium supplements were found to have stricken her with lead poisoning. Hayes was then motivated to persuade the FDA to remove the 'drug' from the market and perform better regulations of supplements. 

Miss Hayes has even been immortalized as a diorama kit.

     Unfortunately, after a blood transfusion, Haye's condition suddenly turned for the worse. Experiencing flu-like symptoms, she was transferred to a medical center in San Diego where she died just one week shy of her 47th birthday. Even more unfortunate, she never saw the letter from the FDA informing her that amendments to the laws governing supplement importation due to her condition.

     Until tomorrow, a moment of silence for a fallen 50 Foot Woman...

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 57

   
  As I've said before, I come across all kinds of interesting stuff doing the A Madman Turns 40 articles. For today's look at 1977, I travel to Stubenville, Ohio. In an article posted 40 years ago today in the Herald Star, kids were asked to predict what life would be like in the year 2000.
    I remember these sort of projects at school. They were always fun and they always revolved around kids expecting the world to be full of flying cars, robots, and things like that. So, let's see what the kids of the Stubenville area were thinking the year 2000 would be like.

This prediction was really wrong!

• 
  One little girl predicted another Great Depression. Well, she was only off by about 7 years with the Great Recession that plagued the Bush and Obama administrations. 
• Another young lady predicted more oil would be discovered. In the late 70s, everyone was afraid of running out of oil, but several key discoveries have been made since. Can you say 'Fracking?'
• The same child also predicted global peace. Well, last week, when the Colombian government and a group of rebels settled on a peace treaty it was the first time that the entire Western hemisphere was at peace in, well, ever. Sadly, things still aren't so good in the Eastern half of the world.
• One youngster predicted robot teachers. Well, telecommute teaching is a very real thing. So is the ability to get anything you need on a small personal computer (the iPhone.)
• The same kid predicted that you could get anything you wanted at the push of a button. If Amazon has their way, that future is almost now!
• Several children predicted women astronauts. These same kids thought we'd be living on the moon by the year 2000. So, they're batting 500...
• And of course several kids predicted flying cars, robots, jet-packs, and even more robots. Hey, they're kids. That's what we want when we are little- flying cars and robots!

Personality wish, I think this 1968 article was on the money.

    Well, that's my look at my favorite year for today. In 2005, the Smithsonian Magazine reviewed the Herald Star article. If you are interested, click on this link to read the full story. It's got some really neat stuff.

Every child's dream- a flying car.

      Until tomorrow...

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 56

  On this date, Johnny Carson was named Harvard's Hasty Pudding Man of the Year. 

Carson accepting his award for a
"lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment."

   For those of you not old enough, Johnny Carson was an institution. He made people laugh night after night on the Tonight Show for over 30 years. 

    If you ever get a chance to see an old episode of Carson's Comedy Classics, you really should. He was quite brilliant. 

Johnny, behind his trademark desk.

   My favorite sketches of his were when he played Carnac the Magnificent; a bumbling physic who was also a little bit naughty. 

    I remember watching Carson's last show. It was about as big of a deal as when Walter Cronkite signed off from hosting the CBS News. (Yes, I saw that too!) I even think my mom cried that night. By the time he left the air in the mid-90s he had become a part of the family for millions of households. We don't see that type of reverence anymore...

    Before I leave you, here's a clip of Carson as Carnac. I hope you get as many laughs out of it as I.

   Until Tomorrow... 

    

DC Super Hero Girls: Finals Crisis (Family Comic Friday)

   Imagine if most of the heroes and villains of the DC Universe all attended a high school in Gotham City. While enrolled, they are trained by their teachers to become the next generation of Super Heroes. That's DC Super Hero Girls in a nutshell.

    Now a bestselling line of dolls, young adult novels, and a popular web series, this volume collects the first storyline of the web comic series from 2015-16.

     It's almost finals and the girls of Super Hero High are practicing, studying, and preparing for their exams. Yet one by one, the young heroes are kidnapped by a mysterious foe. It's up to Harley Quinn to track her companions down and save the day! 

     Uh-oh! They're doomed!

    This was a very enjoyable little series. There was lots for not only girls but boys to enjoy! Parents will delight too- especially if they grew up reading DC Comics. There's tons of great Easter eggs and throw backs to vintage DC. 

     The only thing I had an issue with was the artwork. Every characters is stunningly rendered and they look so much like the toys. But the posing of the characters just looked a little off. For example, there's a scene at the end where all the Super Hero Girls are together posing for a class picture. Sadly, Supergirl looks too small and two or three other characters look like they are floating about 6 inches of the stage. It's definitely a composition issue.

    A delightful read based on a toy line that is full of girl power!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 55

   Another celeb is having a 40th birthday today. This one comes from the world of boxing. It's undefeated boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr's special day.

     Dear readers, I would watch boxing as a kid and teenager. I really enjoyed Bonecrusher Smith and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. I cheered when Buster Douglas took down Mike Tyson. And I delighted seeing Muhammad Ali any time he came on the screen. I even remember watching one of his last fights as a little tyke on HBO at my Grandmama's house.

    But boy do I hate Floyd Mayweather Jr!

    It's not because of his uber-flashy ring-style or insane spending habits (the Champ is rumored to spend $2,000 a week on haircuts for himself!) No, what I don't like about him is his history of domestic violence. Yes, I know that Ali has been accused of the same issue. However, I didn't know all that when I was little. At 4 or 5, Ali was like real life Superman! 

That's quite a lot of belts...

    So, everytime Mayweather was scheduled to fight, I'd secretly wish upon wishes, that he'd lose. But the guy just kept winning and amassed an impressive 49-0 record with 26 knock-outs. And hey, who knows, maybe the guy has really done a 180 from his at home behaviors. I'm a very forgiving Madman, so here's wishing Pretty Boy a Happy 40!!!

    Well, that's my look at 1977 for today. 

    Until tomorrow- Let's get ready to rummmmmm- Ooops, sorry- copyright.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 54

  The other day, I saw that there was a novelty comic book cover in which readers got to decorate it with removable stickers.

The Superman: The Man of Steel Colorform cover
that inspired this article.

    Colorforms!!!

    So for today's Madman Turns 40 article, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the Colorforms sets that say on store shelves in 1977...

  Donnie And Marie

   With this set, kids could dress up the brother and sister pop duo, Donnie & Marie. You could dress Marie up a little bit country and Donnie could be dolled up a little bit rock n' roll!

   Sesame Street

   
    Every year it seemed that Sesame Street came up with a different Colorforms set. This one seems to be based on the colors of the rainbow from the organization of each hue.

     Pete's Dragon

       
      This set was based on the live-action/ animated Disney musical Pete's Dragon. Elliot, the Dragon was cartoon. Pete was played by a human actor. Yet, it worked quite seamlessly.

       Micronauts

        Micronauts was a cult classic toy series made by Mego. Mego Toys had the chance to obtain the Star Wars license but turned it down, thinking the film was going to be a flop. Unfortunately, it was Micronauts that was a dud and Mego closed doors by 1980. A near perfect set of Micronauts is worth a nice chunk of change.

        Ballerina Barbie

        Playing dress-up was a very popular 'activity' with Colorforms. I know that I already posted a dress-up set in this article but I thought this was note-worth because of the girl on the box. It's a then unknown Brooke Shields. Because of this, Ballerina Barbie is a much sought after set among film and Barbie collectors alike.

         Space Warriors

       

     Not every set made by Colorforms was based on a licensed product. The Space Warriors Adventure Set was an attempt by the company to cash in on the Star Wars craze. Kenner refused to allow Colorforms to make a set based on the George Lucas film. So, the toy maker created their own set along with a series of jigsaw puzzles. While the array of characters looks quite impressive, it didn't move off the shelves. Nope, not one little bit.

     Well, that's a look at one of my favorite toys during my favorite year. Come back tomorrow, who knows where I'll show up next...

Supergirl #2 (Rebirth)

     While seeking some peace of mind in the Fortress of Solitude, Supergirl is confronted by her father, Zor-El, the new Cyborg Superman. He comes not to fight but to take her home to Argo City, which he claims is alive and thriving. Can he be trusted? Kara Zor-El highly doubts it. But she longs to be back with her people desperately.
      Meanwhile, as Supergirl mulls her decision over in her human identity, things are buzzing at her National City high school. Cat Grant has arrived on campus looking for a new protege. While one of Kara's rivals seems to have the job locked up, the media mogul has her eyes on a shy student with the last name of Danvers.
     I'm digging the Rebirth Supergirl series. But I much rather enjoy the elements that are more closely in tuned with the TV series like Cat Grant or the DEO than with the Cyborg Superman. Calista Flockhart's Cat grew on me and I think it's the one element that is sorely missing on the CW series right now. Thankfully, series writer Steve Orlando capture's Flockhart's character flawlessly in this series. 
     I also enjoy what Orlando has done having Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers cast as DEO agents who are undercover as Kara's adopted parents. But I wish that the writers and editors of this book could somehow put J'onn J'onnz as the head of the DEO, as on the TV show, instead of Maggie Sawyer. She's just not the right chemistry for this book. But if she's secretly a Martian underneath that blonde hair and trench-coat- well that's a twist you read about here first, folks!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 53

     On this day in Madman history, a star was discovered when producers for the forthcoming live-action Superman film (1978) cast young Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. It had been a long and arduous process for the father/ son production team of Illya and Alexander Salkind. But when the Salkind's found Christopher Reeve, they hit pay dirt.

Reeve with the Salkinds
during the 1978 Superman premiere. 

     Christopher Reeve was Superman and he was Clark Kent! Reeve did an amazing job keeping the two roles separate. His Man of Steel was pure, humble, an Adonis among pip-squeaks. Reeve's Clark Kent was a pip squeak. The actor had a brilliant way of making himself stutter, look frumpy, and act so clumsy as the timid reporter that you'd swear 2 different actors were playing the roles.

It takes more than eyewear to disguise Clark Kent
from being ID'ed as the Man of Steel.
It also requires great acting.

     Sadly, Reeve's career and life were both cut terribly short when an equestrian accident in the mid-90s resulted in the actor breaking his neck and becoming confined to a wheelchair. Yet, even when he couldn't walk, the actor inspired the world with his tireless efforts to raise funds and awareness for medical research to cure cases of paralysis such as his. Reeve even continued acting and directing from his wheelchair with such ventures as a remake of Hitchcock's Rear Window and a guest spot on Smallville.

Reeve during his season 3 guest visit on Smallville.

    Christopher Reeve is a very big reason Superman is one of my two all-time super heroes. He made the role his. He made it inspiring. It made you want to be Superman.

I can hear the John Williams theme
just looking at this image.

    Above all, Chris Reeve made you believe that a man could fly!

    Until Tomorrow...

Avengers: First to Last

     An interesting mix of never before told behind-the-scenes stories of the original line-up of Earth's Mightiest Heroes and as well as the team's swan song.

     The first group of stories appeared in the back pages of Avengers Classic. Featuring such greats as Dwayne McDuffie (Damage Control) and the Man himself, Stan Lee, these shorts reveal what happened between the issues, like how Marvel obtained the licensing rights to the Avengers and the first ever meeting between Captain America and Spider-Man.

      It's always been my pet peeve with the Marvel Classic books that they never contain any original material. But with Avengers Classic, that wasn't case. Of note, if you already have issues 1-12 of the Avengers in some sort of collected form and you have this volume, you'll have all the original material and covers contained in Avengers Classic. You will not need to scour the bargain bins for the individual issues of Avengers classic.

      The second feature was a completely new story. The Last Avengers Story reveals what could happen in a final stand off between Hank Pym and Ultron. Written by Marvel mage Peter David, this book was dark, bloody, and a wild read. It was also a little naughty. That's all thanks to the painted pages of Aliens Vs. Predator's Ariel Olivetti.

       If you are trying to collect Avengers stories, you'll need this collection. It's the perfect combination of funny, serious, and adventure. But due to the level of blood and gore in The Last Avengers Story, this is not a book for all readers- especially kids- as some images can be quite unsettling.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 52

     40 years ago- it was Presidents Day.

     I'm wondering if doing research on this day, the things I found were light. With government shut down for the holiday and schools out, I guess it was a chance for everybody to relax and stay out of trouble.

    It might also explain the one bit of info of interest that I could find:

    On this day in Madman history in New York, 74 couples who were members of the Unification Church, said 'I Do' in a mass ceremony. I guess with the day off for Presidents Day and Valentine's Day being over a week later, people in love needed something to do.

     Until tomorrow...
     

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 51

 

  On this day in 1977 history, the 19th running of the Daytona 500 occurred. The winner of the race was Cale Yarborough. It was his second win of this race. He'd go on to win 2 more times at Daytona before retiring.

    Also of note about this race, driver Janet Guthrie became the first woman to ever complete the Daytona 500. She'd also become the first woman to complete the Indianapolis 500. 

And their off...
Janet Guthrie's car is 2nd from the left lane of drivers.

   Now,  I'm not what you call a NASCAR fan. I've been to a race and I've seen my fair share of races on TV. But I just can't call myself a fan.

Janet Guthrie during the driver intros.

    I like cars. I like going fast. I love the designs on the cars, especially if they're for something special like promoting a movie or something. But I just can't call myself a fan.

  But the reason is quite simple- when you are a little kid it is impossible for them to sit through a 200 lap race! Anything over the number 10 is an eternity for a kid! I think it's one reason why I liked playing sports as a kid but I didn't really enjoy watching it until I was older. Everything just seemed way too long...

    My dad's father was a huge fan of racing and every Sunday, he'd have the race on. Generally, if my cousins were around, we'd all be out playing while my grandpa, dad, and his brothers all watched NASCAR. (But if I was to only kid around, those race days would be the longest of my life.)

Driver Bobby Wawak's car caught fire after a crash.

  
    I have a distinct feeling that this race wasn't watched by my grandfather. That's because also on this date in Madman history, Elvis Presley played a concert in Charlotte, NC. 

    My grandmama was a huge fan of the King. It's been passed down as legend that the day Elvis died, my grandmama packed a bag and drove all night to Memphis and was in attendance along Elvis Presley Boulevard when the hearse carrying Elvis' body drove into Graceland. So, I have a feeling my grandparents were in attendance for the concert and didn't watch this Daytona 500. Or at least that's what I'd like to imagine. 

   I know this post was supposed to be about race car driving, but I just can't help leaving you without a glimpse of the magical night in the Queen City.

   Enjoy... 

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 50

   I told you a few days ago that I'd return to the awards shows of 1977. Well, today I keep my promise as this Madman looks at the Grammy Awards from my birth year.

   The host for the 19th Grammy Awards was Andy Williams of Moon River and numerous Christmas Classics fame. Aired on CBS live from Hollywood, the event honored dozens of artists and their achievements in the world of music from 1976.

"America, I am Your Forefather..."
-James Earl Jones as Thomas Jefferson.

    You wouldn't think Henry Fonda, Helen Hayes, James Earl Jones, and Orson Welles would be Grammy Winners but the quartet all won for Best Spoken Word Recording with Great American Documents. The year prior was the Bicentennial and the album was just one of countless items marketed to celebrate America's 200th birthday. With the win, Helen Hayes became just the second person to ever win the EGOT, meaning she had won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony in her celebrated career.

With this Grammy, SVB's 15 minutes of fame was up.

    The winner of Best New Artist was the Starland Vocal Band. Which pretty much was the kiss of death for them because despite a short-lived variety show, all four members of the band divorced each other and went their own ways by 1981. Coincidentally, the also won a Grammy for Best Vocal Arrangement which isn't considered a career kiss of death but just another Grammy nobody really cares about. 

     Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald all won various Grammy Awards for their Jazz compilations.

Big Winner Stevie Wonder backstage with Ashford and Simpson
and solo artist George Benson.

     But the biggest winner of the night had to be Steve Wonder. His iconic album, Songs in the Key of Life won at least 5 Grammys. If you add those technical awards that they never air, he probably won a couple more.

     Overall, the Grammys of 1977 wasn't overtly shocking. Though many do attribute Starland Vocal Band's win as Best New Artist to be the beginning of the BNA curse which struck future acts such as Men at Work and Milli Vanilli.

Dolly Parton backstage prior to presenting a
Country Music Award.

    So, that' my trip through 1977 today. But before I go, here's a track from Mr. Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. Enjoy...

   

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 49

 

First edition of 2000 AD

   Though the cover was dated for February 26th, today marks the 40th anniversary of the British sci-fi comic magazine 2000 AD. Growing up I was allowed to read any comic book I wanted except for this one, Heavy Metal, and anything listed in the adults only box at the local comics shop Tales Resold. But over the past decade, I've gotten my hands on some issues and I must say I enjoyed them. 

    2000 AD was where many great British comic book writers and artists got their start. Talents like Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Brian Bolland, and Grant Morrison gained international fame working on the publication. But if 2000 AD is known for anything, it's this- Judge Dredd.

Alan Moore- Acclaimed Writer
of Rasputin cosplayer... you decide.

    Judge Dredd appeared in the title's second issue or Prog (which is short for Program.) The authoritarian look at life in an overcrowded metropolis won over fans, appalled critics, and soon became English slang for a police state. 

2000 AD's most famous character, Judge Joseph Dredd.

     2000 AD was edgy, violent, and just want the punk movement needed. Published weekly, it quickly became a sort of manifesto for the anti-establishment crowd which is ironic because Judge Dredd is the ESTABLISHMENT! But the die was cast as the alienated tone of punk rock was embraced by many of the writers of this series well into the late 80s, especially the work of Morrison and Moore. 
  

My favorite 2000 AD alum, Neil Gaiman.

     When 2000 AD was first published it was owned by IPC Magazines. Over the next two decades, the title was purchased by Robert Maxwell and Edmont UK. When the book first came out, it was in black and white and published like an over-sized tabloid magazine. Nowadays, the book is a mere shell of itself. Published in stark color and reduced to the size of a general comic book to save cost and appeal to readers. Fans liken these changes to when National Lampoon stopped publishing nude women and foul language in their pages after being bought out by a subsidiary in the late 80s. It was like a neutered dog- still feisty but missing a real passion to it's bite. 

A 2016 issue of 2000 AD.
It doesn't seem quite so grim and gritty anymore...

    Time (and sales) will only tell if 2000 AD will make it another 40 years or become another classic sci-fi comic title relegated to bargain bins worldwide and otherwise forgotten. 

    Until tomorrow...

     

Tib and Tumtum #1: Welcome to the Tribe (Family Comic Friday)

 

   For today’s Family Comic Friday, I went back to France for inspiration. The series is called Tib and Tumtum. Tib is a young caveboy who has a red birthmark on his face. Teased by the other kids in the tribe, Tib often plays by himself. One day, he comes across a small dinosaur that he names Tumtum.

    But dinosaurs are supposed to be extinct. Is Tumtum the real deal or is the thunder lizard a figment of lonely Tib’s imagination?

    I really enjoyed this sweet graphic novel by French cartoonist Grimaldi. It was funny and it was fun. Though this volume reads as a complete story each page contains it’s own punchline. So it’s very easy to find stopping points without being broken down into chapters.

   I also liked how this adventure was framed as the untold story of the cave people who created the paintings in Lascaux. It kinda made this story seem more real.

     There’s currently 2 volumes in the Tib and Tumtum series. Both are for readers in grades 4-6. But I think with a helpful adult, children in grades 2-3 could enjoy this book as well.

    Available on Amazon and libraries nationwide, this is a great book filled with memorable characters, thrills, and a few chills, that anyone should make a part of their child’s reading tribe.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 48

  It's a look at another true crime from 1977!

   My mom was hooked on true crime. If there was a new book by Ann Rule, she was first in line for it. If there was a new made-for-TV movie about it, she would have the VCR set and ready to go. I guess that's why I'm a little partial to in myself.

    On this day in 1977 history, Chicago candy heiress Helen Brach disappears. She was last seen in a Minneapolis medical clinic for routine treatment. She supposedly went to the gift shop, mentioned that she was in a hurry, and never seen or heard from again.

The Brach family tomb.

    A massive manhunt was underway a few days later, but nothing ever turned up. Some believe that the 'Candy Lady' was murdered by a known Windy City Lothario named Richard Bailey who was eventually jailed for conning rich little old ladies out of their life savings, including Brach. (The judge in Bailey's racketeering case even added extra years to his sentence because of the possibility he might have gotten away with Mrs. Brach's death. I didn't even know that was legal to do...) Bailey is now in his late 80s and is still incarcerated in a Florida prison.

    Though her body was never discovered, Helen Brach was legally declared dead 7 years later in 1984. Her fortune went to the care of her beloved dogs Candy and Sugar, who are entombed in an empty crypt bearing the Candy Lady's name. 

     In the past 20 years, numerous books have been published about the Brach disappearance. Many believe that Richard Bailey and his brother Paul got Helen Brach tied up in a horse breeding scandal that attempted to defraud the mafia and Brach was murdered in retaliation for the ruse. However, nobody has ever been tried for the murder despite numerous 'eyewitness' accounts of the crime.

My theory:
Mrs. Brach was murdered for producing this cringe-worthy junk...

     That's a general overview of the case. If you are interested in reading more about the Brach disappearance and the possible mob ties involved, check out the book 'Who Killed The Candy Lady?' by James Ylisela. It seems to have some very interesting theories.

     Well, until tomorrow...