Customer Reviews (3)

Not the definitive book on the serials, but one that is excellent, extremely entertaining and brings back fond memories
When I was young, a local television station has a children's show called "Dr. Max" that aired at 4 PM Monday through Friday. At one time, an old-time serial that featured trash-can robots, a battle between two forces that were quite naturally good and evil and a small team of adventurous interlopers that fought desperately on the side of the good was run. Decades later, I still remember some of the scenes and how my brother and I eagerly awaited the portion of the show when the segment of the serial appeared.
That serial was called "Undersea Kingdom", starred Ray "Crash" Corrigan and I rediscovered this information when I was reading this book. It contains brief descriptions of most of the most significant if not the highest quality of the serials produced in the first half of the twentieth century.After each description there is a series of still photos from those serials that often demonstrate how absurd they really were. Especially the costumes, no better demonstration exists than in the photo from "Batman and Robin" made in 1949 that starred Robert Lowery and John Duncan. Batman's mask is so poorly fitting that it is surprising that he could even see well enough to pursue the evil ones.
One of the best aspects of this book is when a future star appears in an image. Actors such as John Wayne, Bela Lugosi, Clayton Moore, Milburn Stone and Lloyd Bridges got their start in the business in the serials and they appear in these images.
Finally, there is also a photo of a man and a woman trapped in a stone cavern with the ceiling descending on them. Spikes protrude from that ceiling, a precursor to the scene from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Steven Spielberg and George Lucas openly admitted that they used the old-time serials as a model for their Indiana Jones series and it is evident.
This book is an extremely entertaining look back at an important era in visual entertainment, when millions of people, mostly young, went to the movie houses nearly every Saturday in order to see their heroes in action. Perhaps, as was the case with me reading it will bring back fond memories of a younger day. Within hours of learning the name of "Undersea Kingdom" I was online buying a copy.

Excellent Reference & Source Guide
Barbour's book (probably not the definitive on the subject of the classic movie serials) is an outstanding reference compendium and source guide for cinema's golden age.The edition clearly outlines an entire host of serials that appeared on the silver screen during the motion picture business's infancy, and the author even goes to great length (where the information is available) to credit the serials various inspirations throughout the ensuing years.Additionally (a great pleasure for this movie viewer), CLIFFHANGER is replete with black and white photos (excellent reproductions from the original negatives) of major characters and serials from this vintage era.A truly wonderful and inspiring book, penned clearly by an author with a love of the subject material.

This book made me a serial fan!
Mr Barbour's book is a loving look back to the exciting days of the movie serial.The book is lavishly illustrated withrare photgraphs and lobby cards.Chapters look at different genres of the serial and the elements that made them great: the stunt men, the villains and the two- fisted leading leading men and women.If you want to discover what inspired the " Indiana Jones" movies (and Zorro) , seek out this book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

hamish mchaggis
Great set of books takes me back to my childhood with the expressions the characters use in the book.My mum talks the same way.Keep up the good work ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Josiah Symon, Linda Gilroy, John Murray, Patrick Forbes, James Maclaren, Sir Peter Mackie, 1st Baronet, Robert Henry. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 29. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Hon Sir Josiah Henry Symon KCMG (27 September 1846 29 March 1934), Scottish-Australian lawyer and politician, was a member of the Australian Senate in the First Australian Parliament, and an Attorney-General of Australia. Symon was born in Wick, a town in the county of Caithness in the Scottish Highlands, in 1846. He was educated at Stirling High School, where he was the dux in 1862, before attending college in Edinburgh. In 1866 he emigrated to South Australia and was employed as an articled clerk with his cousin, J D Sutherland, a solicitor in the city of Mount Gambier. The leader of the South Australian Bar Association at the time (and a future Chief Justice of South Australia), Samuel Way, noticed Symon's work and invited him to join his firm. Symon, having completed his studies, was called to the bar in 1871, and admitted to practice as a barrister. In 1872, after the death of one of the partners at Way's firm, Symon became a partner alongside Way. In 1876, Way was appointed as a judge, and Symon bought out his part of the business. In March 1881, Symon was made Attorney-General of South Australia in the Morgan government, although at the time he had not been elected to the Parliament of South Australia. He was elected as the member for Sturt in the South Australian House of Assembly several weeks later. However, the Morgan government lost power on 24 June of that year, and Symon lost his position as Attorney-General. Later in 1881, Symon was made a Queen's Counsel, and on 8 December of that year he married Mary Cowle, with whom he was to have five sons and seven daughters. In 1884...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=4100093 ... Read more

Product Description
This book is clear, practical, holistic and brilliant for teachers, administrators, parents and anyone who wants to raise emotionally healthy, civic-minded children.It is a usefull and inspiring guide and can be used at any grade level, k through 12.It includes ideas, lessons, courses, activities and approaches that have been proven in the field. ... Read more

Product Description

The documentation of young children's learning plays a vital role in the pre-schools of Reggio Emilia. This leading edge approach to bringing record-keeping and assessment into the heart of young children's learning is envied and emulated by educators around the world.

This unique, accessible and inspiring book is based upon a documentary approach successfully implemented by Stirling Council in Scotland, whose pre-school educators experienced dramatic improvements in their understandings about young children, how they learn and the potential unleashed in successfully engaging families in the learning process.

This approach, which is based on careful listening to children and observation of their interests and concerns, centres around recording and commentating on children's learning through photos, wall displays, videos and a variety of different media. The authors, both experienced educators include chapters here on:

• why early years’ educators should use documentation as a means to enhance young children's learning
• the values, principles and theories that underlie the 'Reggio' approach
• how to implement documentations into any early years setting, with real-life case studies and hints for avoiding common pitfalls
• how to involve, inspire and enthuse families and the wider community

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent resource for teachers and parents of young children
Fantastic advice based on the influence of the schools of Reggio Emilia and others.A must-have for Early Childhood Educators and those parents who want to look at the alternatives to traditional academic curriculum. ... Read more