19 Famous Folks in Military-- Part 2: Wilson, Barker, Guiness, Sajac and Bronson

**  FLIP WILSON

First name is actually Clerow, but received  nickname "Flip" from  fellow airmen in Air Force.

**  BOB BARKER

Former host of "The Price Is Right"  trained as a fighter pilot.  He left college in 1943 for flight training with the Naval Reserve, but World War II ended before he  was given an active-duty assignment.

**  ALEC GUINESS

The original Obi-Wan Kenobi joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1941.  He would later serve as the commander on a landing craft during the Normandy Invasion on D-Day.

**  PAT SAJAC

The "Wheel of Fortune" host  joined the Army in 1968.  He worked as a deejay for the Armed Forces Radio.  "Gooooood Morning, Vietnam!!"

**  CHARLES BRONSON

Joined the Army in 1943 and served as an aircraft gunner.  Awarded a Purple Heart before leaving the military in 1946.

--Cooter

Some More 2020 Deaths, October-December: Gibson, Morgan, Dinkins, Maradona, Prowse, and Johnson

DEATHS IN OCTOBER

BOB GIBSON, 84

Baseball Hall of Famer and dominating St. Louis Cardinals pitcher.  Died October 2.

JOE MORGAN, 77

Hall of Fame second baseman became the sparkplug of the dominant Cincinnati teams of the mid-1970s.  Died October 11.

*********************************

DEATHS IN NOVEMBER

DAVID DINKINS, 93

Broke barriers as New York City's first black mayor.  Died November 23.

DIEGO MARADONA, 60

Argentine soccer great who scored the "Hand of God" goal in 1986 and led his country to that year's World Cup title.  Died November 25.

DAVE PROWSE, 85

British weight lifter-turned-actor who was the body of arch-villain Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy.  Died November 28.

********************************

DECEMBER

RAFER JOHNSON, 86

Won the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics and helped subdue Robert F. Kennedy's assassin in 1968.  Died December 2.

Death of Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) in 2019

From the May 3, 2019, Chicago Tribune "Actor who played Chewbacca in several 'Star Wars' films" by Andrew Dalton, AP.

Actor Peter Mayhew, who played the shaggy, towering, noise-making Chewbacca in several of the "Star Wars" films died May 2, at age 74.   He was 7-foot-3 and played the menacing but lovable sidekick and best-buddy to Han Solo as co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon in the original "Star Wars" trilogy.

He went on to appear as a Wookie in 2005's "Revenge of the Sith" and shared the part in 2015's "The Force Awakens.

"He put his heart and soul into the role of Chewbacca," said a family member.

Actor Mark Hamil, who played Like Skywalker, said:  "He was the gentlest of giants -- A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend."

He was born and raised in England and had worked in one film and was working as a hospital orderly in London when George Lucas found him and cast him for "Star Wars."

Keeping Up With "Star Wars"-- Part 3: Empire-- Return-- Awakens-- Last

7.   "STAR WARS: EPISODE V-- THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK"--   The original second episode.  Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire has regrouped.  Darth Vader is looking for Luke.  We meet Yoda.  Luke finds his daddy.

8.   "STAR WARS:  EPISODE VI--  RETURN OF THE JEDI"--  At one time this was to be the last episode... BUT NO!!!  Like and others rescue Han Solo and Pricess Leia from Jabba the Hut.  Ewoks to the rescue.

9.   "STAR WARS: EPISODE VII--  THE FORCE AWAKENS"--  Thirty years after Episode 6.  The New Order has taken over for the Empire, led by Supreme Leader Snoke and sidekick, Solo and Leia kid Kylo Ren.  We meet the new heroes.

10.  "STAR WARS:  EPISODE VIII--  THE LAST JEDI"--  Firts Order reigns supreme, but Luke to the rescue.

Of course, "Star Wars:  Episode IX--  The Rise of Skywalker did not come out until December 2019, a year and a half after Episode VIII.

Now You Have It.  CootR2D2

Keeping Up With "Star Wars"-- Part 2: Revenge-- Solo-- Rogue-- Hope

Other than looking at which episode it is, could you put all the "Star Wars" movies in order, including the tie-in movies?  Pay careful attention.  There will be a quiz at the end of this.  Or is that a test?  The old teacher in me loves to say that.  (I will scramble the movies and leave the Episode Number out.

Anyway, back to the "correct" list:

3.  "STAR WARS:  EPISODE III-- REVENGE OF THE SITH"--  Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the Dark Side, turns against his master and topples the Jedi.  Became you-know-who.

4.  "SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY"--  We find out  Han Solo's back story and how he met best friend Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian and the Millenium Falcon.

5.  ROGUE ONE:  A STAR WARS STORY"--  We find out what happened to set the stage for the original "Star Wars" movie in 1977.

6.  "STAR WARS:  EPISODE IV-- A NEW HOPE"--  Luke Skywalker begins his journey and we meet his lifelong friends Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia Organa, R2-D2 and C-3PO, and, of course, you-know-who.

"I've Got A Bad Feeling About This."  --CootSolo

Keeping Up With "Star Wars"-- Part 1: Phantom-- Clones

From the May 20, 2018, Chicago Tribune  "From 'Phantom Menace' to 'The Last Jedi" by Jevon Phillips.

The movies of "Star Wars" has been expanding rapidly in recent years, with films like "Rogue One" and the upcoming "Solo" (at the time this was written).  What about those of you who must have order of appearance.  Which comes where?  Inquiring minds want to know  The "Solo" film can especially be a problem since we don't know his age in the prequel.

I must admit, I was confused until the very end of the "Rogue One" movie as I was thinking this was one of the big nine movies, not a cut out to explain how the very first "Star Wars" now number IV  "A New Hope" came to be.

Well Jevon Phillips to your rescue.  He'll put them in order.

1.  "Star Wars: Episode I-- The Phantom Menace"  (1999)  Where we meet the young Anakin Skywalker who possesses a strong "Force."  

2.  "Star Wars:  Episode II --  Attack of the Clones"  (2002)   Anakin grows up and must chose between his Jedi duty and his love for a royal senator.

--CootForce

Some of Harrison Ford's Best Roles-- Part 1: Graffiti-- Star-- Now-- Raiders

See if you can guess the movies from the one word titles above.

From the March 8, 2020, Parade Magazine "Role Play" by Maggie Hedera.

For some reason, I have been watching lots and lots and lots of movies these last several weeks.  There was an article about Harrison Ford in this magazine which comes along with the Chicago Tribune on Sundays.

**  AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

This is the pre-"Star Wars" vehicle that really launched his career, where he was the trash-talking motorhead.

**  STAR WARS  (1977)

Hello Han Solo as he has reappeared in four more of the movies until killed by his son.

**  APOCALYPSE NOW  (1979)

A minor role as Colonel Lucas, but what a great movie.  Getting deep into the Vietnam War.

**  RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK"  (1981)

Introduced as the swashbuckling archaeologist Indiana Jones, fights Nazis and tries to avoid snakes.  In three sequels.

--CootFord

Then & Now-- Part 5: "Star Wars": May the Fourth be With You

Since May 4th just passed us by  (May the Fourth Be With You).

During the almost 40 years between the first "Star Wars" movie (1977's "A New Hope") and 2015's "The Force Awakens" the salaries of some of the original stars really shot up.  here's how the salaries of the two casts stack up:

THEN

"STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE (1977)

Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher  (Princess Leia Organa), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker).

They were each paid $1,000 a week  ($4,020 today)

Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) $150,000 ($602,978 today) plus 2.25 percent of the profits.

Ford, Fisher and Hamill also received 0.25 percent of the profits.

NOW

"STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)

Harrison Ford (Han Solo) $10 million- $20 million

Carrie Fisher (General Leia Organa), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)  $1 million- $3 million

Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn) $100,000 - $300,000

Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron)  $600,000 - $900,000.

May the Force ....  --Cooter

Fiftieth Anniversary of "Star Trek"-- Part 1: As In "T"

From the August 28, 2016, Parade magazine "Why We Love Star Trek" by William Shatner.

"Star Trek" was first aired on September 8, 1966 with its mission to "boldly go where no man has gone before."  It did not do so well in the ratings back then but has since captured the love of multiple generations of families.

It is one of the most iconic sci-fi entertainment franchises along with, of course, "Star Wars."  It has spun off TV shows, blockbuster movies, games, books and other merchandise.

"Star Trek" has endured for 50 years, despite that shaky start.

According to actor William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. (Do you know what the T. stands for? Answer below) Kirk, 85, commander of the Starship Enterprise in the original TV  series and several movies:  I think 'Star Trek,' like science fiction in general, is mythology.  It offers a look into the future that's written by imaginative, creative artists whose vision may or may not be true, but we don't know until the future arrives.  It's not unlike religion--  we don't know for sure, but we take it on board."

Am I a Trekkie?  You Betcha.  --DaTrekker

The "T" Stands for "Tiberius."