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Recent Reviews for Stephen Lodge
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Nickel-Plated Dream (Book) - 4/15/2006 10:42:07 AM
Stephen Lodge's excerpt from "Nickel Plated Dream" can stand alone as a short story. The writer's homage to western reenactments staged at Corriganville Movie Ranch and Old Tucson Studios captures the atmosphere of the Eisenhower era. Having been to Tombstone and Old Tucson I have an appreciation for the reverence for this material and originality of this storyline.
Nickel-Plated Dream (Book) - 4/7/2006 2:28:00 PM
sounds an interesting read
Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit! (Book) - 6/28/2004 6:18:22 AM
Quality Western in the style of Louis L'Amour
A cross-country cattle drive complete with cowboys on horseback would seem an unlikely occurrence in today’s west. Using this idea as the premise for a modern novel would seem equally unlikely, yet author Stephen Lodge crafts a convincing tale in Charley Sunday’s Texas Outfit!
When a rich villain prevents Charlie Sunday from transporting his recently acquired 300 head of Texas Longhorn cattle by truck or rail, Charlie organizes an outfit of colorful characters to drive them home – the old-fashioned way. The trip also presents him with an opportunity to provide his 10-year-old grandson, Henry-Ellis, with a character building adventure. Existing “livestock right-away statutes” supply plausibility for what would otherwise seem an unrealistic plot, but the drovers still encounter plenty of other natural and man-made obstacles along the way.
Action packed scenes devoid of gratuitous language and violence create an enjoyable read for the entire family, but this doesn’t mean that the story is bland. The author’s flair for witty dialog keeps the reader engaged: “Used to be in Texas a man settled his own problems,” Charley said. “But that was when due process was a bullet.”
Reminiscent of a quality western in the style of Louis L’Amour, Charley Sunday’s Texas Outfit! draws a clear distinction between the good guys and bad guys. Readers longing for a family tale where justice prevails will be thrilled with this modern day saga.
Dennis Royer
Author of STRANGER
Gunsmoke's Final Season (Article) - 2/22/2013 5:00:00 PM
Stephen,
Great article. Loved 'Gunsmoke' growing up. By the way, I own a DVD copy of 'Kingdom of The Spiders'...love that flick. Thanks for the memories....Terry
Gunsmoke's Final Season (Article) - 12/1/2011 10:23:02 AM
At age sixty one Gunsmoke remains my favorite show by a mile. Growing up I felt part of the cast as Matt Dillon took care of business. One thing I always wanted to do was visit the set of Gunsmoke and sit in the Marshall's office. I read your article and my wish was fulfilled as I lived that experience thru you. Thank you for sharing your story. It meant a lot to me to read it. Will see you along with the cast...down the trail.
Hey, Wild Bill, Wait For Me!!! (Article) - 10/20/2011 5:28:11 PM
Hi Steve,
How exciting it must have been to meet some of the real TV cowboy heros in person! Those were the days when we had the BEST western shows. I glad that I was able to watch them and I know they cannot compare with the garbage that the kids watch today. Stick um up partner! Ohhhh - ya got me! BRAVO!
John Michael Domino
PS: The closest I ever got to a TV western character wsas to meet John Wayne's double in a church youth group meeting in Colorado.
David Janssen (Article) - 7/2/2011 6:38:42 PM
I liked David a great deal ever since he played Richard Diamond, private detective, and had Mary Tyler Moore, with the legs, as his switchboard dispatcher.
To younger guys David was like a good father or older brother type figure we wanted to be like. I'm glad he was a straight, traditional role model with good values.
As The Fugitive, he was the best. A Gable-like guy with maybe a bit more finesse and sensitivity made him a very credible character on the screen. Yes, I miss David, and couldn't understand why he had to go so soon.
Has anyone read anything about David having steel walls or rolling walls in his home, I think was in Malibu?
Robert Mitchum (Article) - 9/20/2010 4:39:23 AM
A great story. I felt like I was there with you. Ironic that you had to drink to be there, but because of the drinks couldn't remember what was talked about. But as you summed up, you got drunk with Michem.
Johnny Yuma was Nick Adams - Or was he A.J. Fenady? (Article) - 8/7/2010 9:53:09 AM
Great to read about this as I'm just reading a new book on Elvis and he, Nick Adams, and Natalie Wood are hanging out in Memphis.
"Johnny Yuma, was a reble. He roamed through the west."
Not be be confused with 'You fought all the way, Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb." (Johnny Horton)
John Russell - "The Lawman" (Article) - 7/10/2010 7:33:40 AM
Good to read this. Russell play the leader of the bad guys in 'Rio Bravo'.
David Janssen (Article) - 1/29/2010 12:05:07 PM
Dear Mr. Lodge,
Thank you for this very dignified tribute to a great man, a great actor, and a great friend.
Michael Phelps
King of the Cowboys! (Article) - 1/20/2009 8:48:03 PM
What a neat story. It was cool that Roy Rogers had good morals and wanted to teach that little fella a lesson. A lesson that would not be forgotton! Thanks!
Amen to Roy!
Fury (Article) - 1/20/2009 8:38:03 PM
Fury was one of my favorite. What a GREAT experience!
Thanks!
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid TV Movie Sequel (Article) - 1/20/2009 8:36:45 PM
A good recollection of the way things were in Hollywood.
Hey, Wild Bill, Wait For Me!!! (Article) - 1/3/2009 5:30:41 PM
Hi Steve, it was fun to read this story about the set of Wild Bill Hickok, which I remember well from my days as a youngster. It was also fun to see you again at the Festival of the West last March in Phoenix. I hope we bump into each other again in the near future. Steve Ulmen, author of the Toby Ryker series.
Remembering Annie Oakley - The TV Show, That Is (Article) - 4/9/2008 9:58:57 AM
Thank you so much for your account of your wonderful day. I was a schoolgirl when we first had television and Annie Oakley came to England. She was a role model for me. I went to the library and looked up everything about her.
No VCRs in those days of course so I've waited 50 years to see the series again on DVD. I am impressed by how high the standard was of the production and the script.
Your piece reminded me of how popular the series must have been.
Thanks again.
Joyce
Gunsmoke's Final Season (Article) - 3/5/2008 7:20:55 PM
I have always loved "GUNSMOKE" and watched it every chance I got while growing up, so naturally I enjoyed reading something writen by someone who was there. You did such a great job on this article, that I was transported backwards in time. Thankyou so much Mr. Lodge.
The way you ended it gave me a lump in my throat. Wha!
"Gunsmoke" is a classic in my book and always will be.
Glad you were able to have some of your dreams come true.
-Zach B McClure
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid TV Movie Sequel (Article) - 2/12/2008 8:00:37 AM
I enjoyed reading this article.
Continued blessings of enlightenment and creativity!
Thank you for sharing,
~Gwendolyn
Pioneertown: Home to Roy, Gene, & The Cisco Kid (Article) - 9/29/2007 5:48:03 PM
Fine informative article. Rand Brooks, rather than Russell "Lucky" Hayden was Hopalong's sidekick. His character was named "Lucky" in the Hoppy movies. He died in Sep 1, 2003 in Santa Ynez, CA.
The Cowboy From Utah (Article) - 8/1/2007 10:26:03 AM
well done
The Cowboy From Utah (Article) - 8/1/2007 5:17:47 AM
wonderfully written with so much warmth and humor I couldn't wait to see how the young man was going to over come his fear of learning his lines. Great article Stephen, my hats off to you for writing such a heart warming piece. The part about the calves reminded me of the time I lived with my grandparents and had to give the calves their scour tablets when they were ill.. Melanie D. Calvert
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid TV Movie Sequel (Article) - 7/4/2007 2:09:46 PM
interesting article!!
David Janssen (Article) - 6/18/2007 4:24:39 AM
enjoyed the read
David Janssen (Article) - 5/30/2007 3:09:36 AM
Very nice memoir and tribute to Mr. Janssen. Well done. Malcolm Watts
Robert Mitchum (Article) - 4/17/2007 3:50:37 PM
enjoyed the read always like mitchum too
The 17th Annual Festival of the West (Article) - 3/23/2007 3:44:14 PM
enjoyed the read
The Day They Buried The Lone Ranger (Article) - 3/20/2007 7:06:43 PM
A VERY TOUCHING PIECE, STEPHEN. WHEN I OPENED THE NEWSPAPER, AND SAW THAT HE WAS GONE, I GOT CHOKED UP. CLAYTON MOORE WAS EVERYONE'S HERO, AND WAS A TRUE GENTLMAN EVERYWHERE. HE PERSONIFIED WHAT AMERICA SHOULD ALWAYS BE LIKE.
Meeting My Cowboy Hero: Johnny Mack Brown (Article) - 3/20/2007 6:56:22 PM
DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS! STEPHEN, TO REMEMBER JOHN MACK BROWN IN HIS HEYDAY IS A TREASURE. I UNDERSTAND HE BECAME A GREETER AT A RESTAURANT IN HIS LAST YEARS. WISH I COULD HAVE MET HIM. SO MANY STORIES OF HIM AS A REAL GENTLEMAN.
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