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Stanley D. Reid
Police Constable
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - 8:24 pm: | 
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Hello friends
I recall seeing a dramatic JTR program on TV in the 1950s or 60s that I can't find in the A-Z or in any web searches. It involves a our subject as a nonagenarian who is still alive and killing in the, then, present.
There's a slight possibility this could have been a movie being played on television but I'm unable to find any film with that plot either.
If this draws a blank or someone asks, I'll post another message detailing all that I can recall about this production.
My apologies in advance if this topic has already been covered.
Stan |
Dan Norder
Chief Inspector
Username: Dannorder
Post Number: 618
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - 11:29 pm: |
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Hi Stanley,
I'm not sure on the nonagenerian part (as that implies not just being still alive but also aged), but the rest kind of sounds like Yours Truly Jack the Ripper, the famous Robert Bloch story and novel of the same name where Jack has gained immortality through his killings, which he had to repeat priodically in other locations. There was at least one TV version of that in the 1960s, but, according to HollywoodRipper.com, it's nearly impossible to find these days.
By the way, welcome to the Casebook.
(Message edited by dannorder on April 12, 2005)
Dan Norder, Editor
Ripper Notes: The International Journal for Ripper Studies
 Profile  Email  Dissertations  Website
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Eduardo Zinna
Detective Sergeant
Username: Eduardo
Post Number: 74
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 8:28 am: |
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Hello everyone,
There have been several TV shows where the Ripper is still alive and killing in the present. The one Stanley has in mind is probably "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper", which was first shown in 1961, when the Ripper, had he been still alive, would have been at least in his nineties. The script was based on Robert Bloch's short story (there was no novel of that title), and was made for the series Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff. It opened briefly in Whitechapel in the Victorian era and ended in America in the 60s. Another possibility, though less likely, is the episode of Star Trek, Wolf in the Fold, which was first shown in 1967, and where the Ripper reappears as a malevolent force in outer space. Even less likely are an episode of Twilight Zone from 1963 where the Ripper was a waxwork, one of Cimarron Strip from 1968 and one of The Avengers from 1969. There was also a Kolchak show in 1974, but that's outside Stanley's timeframe.
There was a time where some of these programmes might have been available in VHS through a number of companies specialising in B movies, horror, sci-fi and television series. I seem to remember one of them was called "Sinister Cinema", but wouldn't bet on it. They used to advertise in magazines such as Filmfax, Outre and Cinefantastique. They might be worth a try.
Hope this has been helpful.
All the best,
Eduardo |
AIP
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 3:10 am: |
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Sounds like Kolchak: The Night Stalker: The Ripper starring Darren McGavin, 1974. It involved the ageless Ripper stalking victims in the (then) present day. |
Stanley D. Reid
Police Constable
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 12:31 pm: |
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Hello Dan, Eduardo and AIP
Thanks to all for your input. I can see why you might think I'm refering to the episodes you've cited but I've checked into them and am almost certain they aren't what I saw.
To the best of my recollection, here's a description of the show I viewed. I think it was set in the USA, New York perhaps. A detective type is investigating some murders in or near a ballet theater. One of the people who the investigator talks to is a very old man who works at the facility in some sort of menial position such as a custodian or stage hand. This guy is in his nineties and looks it. He also likes to reminisce about a bygone era when he used to watch Anna Pavlova dance. At the climax of the program, it's discovered that he's the murderer and the actual Jack the Ripper. He then is quickly killed when some kind of stage equipment falls on him.
My best thought is that this program was an episode of one of the half hour detective shows of the time such as Meet McGraw or the original Mike Hammer series. Meet McGraw was one of the great underrated programs of the time and an episode entitled "The Ballerina" sounded promising but I ordered it from the Finders Keepers video outlet and it's not what I was looking for. There's also a chance it could have been on a teleplay program like Playhouse 90 or on one of the anthology type shows such as The United States Steel Hour.
Since I'm new here, I'll also take time to give you my history. I've been very interested in this case since I read Rumbelow's book back in the middle 70s and wrote about it when I had a monthly column in America's Most Wanted News Magazine, a publication that was affiliated with same said TV program. It went out of print in 2003. I do, however, have interest going back to the late 40s or early 50s when I heard a Ripper type radio program, perhaps "The Lodger". I have a CD version of this story that says it was broadcast on February 14 of 1948 as part of the Suspense series. My birth was in August of 1946 and, although I have some memories going back when I was one year old, I don't believe I could have understood the tale on that date. Perhaps, I heard a rebroadcast or another version.
Enough of my rambling for now.
Best wishes,
Stan
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Ally
Chief Inspector
Username: Ally
Post Number: 877
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 12:50 pm: |
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Hello Stan,
I feel for you. It makes me mental when I can't remember where a scene from a movie or book comes from. It's like a nagging toothache for me. Hopefully not for you. I wish I could be of help but it doesn't ring any bells.
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Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 3220
Registered: 10-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 12:56 pm: |
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Have you checked:
http://www.hollywoodripper.com/
That site seems to be the most comprehensive on the subject of Ripper on tv/film.
Stephen P. Ryder, Exec. Editor
Casebook: Jack the Ripper
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Eduardo Zinna
Detective Sergeant
Username: Eduardo
Post Number: 75
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 1:20 pm: |
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Stanley,
There were several versions of "The Lodger" in radio, including Suspense. If I remember correctly, there was one in 1944 with Laird Cregar and one a few years later with Robert Montgomery. Do they ring a bell?
Can't help at present with the old man and the ballerina.
Will keep looking,
Eduardo |
Stanley D. Reid
Police Constable
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 2:09 pm: |
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Hi to all
Thanks for the sympathy Ally.
Eduardo: Yes, it's the Robert Montgomery version that I have. I also have an old Sherlock Holmes radio program episode entitled "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger" that was first broadcast on June 20 of 1948. I haven't listened to it lately but I don't believe it is in any way a Ripper type story. Thanks again.
Stephen: Thanks. I have checked the hollywood' site and didn't see anything that pricked my ears.
On that topic, however, I've gone through the first half million films and TV miniseries listed on the IMDb site and have found two dozen "maybe serious" Ripper movies. I still have about 100,000 titles left to review. Perhaps, I should start another thread to list my findings. I say "maybe" because there isn't enough information on some of the earlier films to know if they were trueish renditions of the case. And by "serious", I mean I'm not including productions like "Jack's Back", "Hands of the Ripper", "Time After Time" or "The Ruling Class" nor any of the "Lulu" films unless they actually list Jack the Ripper as a character.
Best regards,
Stan |
Eduardo Zinna
Detective Sergeant
Username: Eduardo
Post Number: 76
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 2:44 pm: |
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Stanley,
We're a bit off the original subject here, but there was also a "Lodger" half-hour radio show with Peter Lorre and Agnes Moorehead which was part of Lorre's Mystery in the Air series. Unfortunately, the series was a summer replacement and ran for only six weeks or so. I'm posting from memory, but I could look up the dates if you wish.
Your project with the IMDB sounds interesting and would be a pity to see the effort go to waste. Do you intend to do anything with the data collected? I'd like to know.
All the best,
Eduardo |
Eduardo Zinna
Detective Sergeant
Username: Eduardo
Post Number: 77
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 3:00 pm: |
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Stanley,
Me again. Suspense did "The Lodger" three times: on 22 July 1940, with Herbert Marshall, on 14 December 1944 with Robert Montgomery (1/2 hour) and on 14 December 1948 again with Robert Montgomery (1 hour). Peter Lorre did his on 14 August 1947.
Best,
Eduardo |
Stanley D. Reid
Police Constable
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 4:16 pm: |
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Eduardo
Thanks for the "Lodger" info.
Regarding my IMDb search, I'm collecting a list of all the true crime inspired films. My first short version of this roster was published in CrimeBeat Magazine in 1992. I'm very interested in many other cases as well as JTR. So far, I have about 330 movies from three centuries and have thought about creating a book in which I'd write a page or few about the actual case and then list the film(s) related to it with a brief review. I don't know if I'll ever find the time however. I've written two other true crime type books but neither ever got farther than being accepted by a literary agent.
P.S. to my previous post: Neither have I includeed any of the wax museun Jack the Ripper films on my list.
Best wishes,
Stan |
Stanley D. Reid
Sergeant
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 12:16 pm: |
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Hi all
Back to the original topic-one more recollection:
When referring to the old ballerinna, Jack the Geezer could only think of her first name. He'd say Anna-Anna-- and then someone would chime in and say Pavlova to help the old coot out.
Best regards,
Stan |
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