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crack_van2009-12-04 12:13 pm
georgiesmith.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2009-12-04 12:13 pm
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Fandom Overview: Alias Smith & Jones
With great big thanks to the gang over at
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aliassmithjones for their support.Special thanks to
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simonesa , dawnebeth , hardboiledbaby , for their input and to devilshole for the edit and helpful suggestions.GENERAL OVERVIEW
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry – The two most successful outlaws in the history of the west. And in all the trains and banks they robbed they never shot anyone. This made our two latter day Robin Hood’s very popular - with everyone but the railroads and the banks.
Alias Smith & Jones was a western television series that ran on ABC from 1971 to 1973 for a total of 50 episodes. The series was created by Roy Huggins, who had previously created Maverick and The Fugitive, and Glen A. Larson. The series was inspired by the hit 1969 movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. However in order to inspire sympathy, Heyes and Curry were presented as men who avoided bloodshed and who were trying to reform.
Lom: “The Governor can’t come flat out and offer you amnesty now. You gotta prove you deserve it.”
Heyes: “So all we’ve gotta do is stay out of trouble until the Governor figures we deserve amnesty?”
Curry: “But in the meantime we’ll still be wanted?”
Lom: “Well, that’s true. Until then only you, me and the Governor will know about it. It’ll be our secret.”
Heyes: “That’s a good deal?”
Heyes and Curry are only wanted in one state - Wyoming. When the duo learn of the Governor's amnesty program, they are pragmatic. They didn't stop robbing banks and trains because they wanted to but because safes were harder to crack, trains were harder to rob and posses were getting harder to lose.
It’s Lom Trevors who comes up with their aliases – Joshua Smith for Heyes and Thaddeus Jones for Curry, although the first names aren’t used in the pilot.
In their partnership, Heyes and Curry are equals - Curry doesn't always defer to Heyes. They are skeptical, sardonic, cynical men - although they don't look it. They don't take anything at face value. This said neither man is violent. Kid Curry is good with a gun but he would never stick a gun in someone's face and threaten to kill him just to get information. Neither man is prejudiced, nor are they natural Good Samaritans.
Pete Duel committed suicide on December 31, 1971. Filming on the program continued as the production team worked to come up with a solution. After three days of deliberation, they settled on casting Roger Davis in the role of Heyes. Davis had done the opening narration of the series and appeared in the second season episode "Smiler With a Gun". The series rapidly declined in popularity following Duel's death and only 17 further episodes were produced.
The series boasted a number of well-known guest-stars, including: Jack Albertson, Don Ameche, Anne Archer, Noah Berry, Joseph Campanella, Jack Cassidy, Broderick Crawford, Bradford Dillman, Tom Ewell, Lou Gossett Jr., Joan Hackett, Dean Jagger, Ida Lupino, Patrick Macnee, Lee Majors, Robert Morse, Diana Muldaur, Pernell Roberts, Ann Sothern, Susan St. James, Craig Stevens, Chill Wills, and Keenan Wynn just to name a handful.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Into the West came many men. Some were good men and some were bad men. Some were good men with some bad in them. And some were bad men with some good in them. This is the story of two pretty good bad men: Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry.
Both Heyes and Curry are from Kansas. Their families lived right next to each other and they grew up together. When they were 11 years old, during the Civil War, their parents were killed by Southern raiders. Now orphaned, the boys were sent to the Valparaiso School for Waywards, which was more like a reform school, from which they escaped when they were 15. When Davis took over the role of Heyes they were referred to as "Kansas cousins" in the opening narration, which has created issues with canon in ASJ fandom.
Hannibal Heyes [portrayed by Pete Duel] is considered the brains of the partnership. He's got a silver tongue that has gotten the boys out of more than one tight situation. He's a safe cracker who can open a safe either by listening ("The McCreedy Bust") or using nitroglycerin ("How to Rob a Bank in One Hard Lesson"). Heyes is devious and plans his schemes thoroughly. He is an expert at figuring out how to rob a bank or handle a card cheat. Heyes doesn't believe in luck; he relies on his skill. 
After Pete Duel’s death, the part of Heyes was recast with Roger Davis in the role. The relationship between Heyes and Curry changed – their banter became barbed and somewhat unfriendly. This is possibly due to the fact that the on-screen chemistry between Murphy and Davis wasn’t as potent as it was with Murphy and Duel.
Jedediah “Kid” Curry [portrayed by Ben Murphy] is best known for his fast draw. He's more of a ladies man than his partner. He's confident but doesn't have a chip on his shoulder. Going by outward appearances, Curry comes across as a simple man at first but in reality he’s quite complicated. When it comes to money, Curry isn't all that particular about how it comes. He appreciates his luxuries including bubble baths and fine cigars. He also has a prodigious appetite.RECURRING CHARACTERS
Harry Briscoe [portrayed by J.D. Cannon] is a Bannerman Detective who sometimes finds himself on the wrong side of the law.
Sherriff Lom Trevors [portrayed by James Drury in the pilot movie, later portrayed by John Russell in "The Day the Amnesty Came Through" and "Witness to a Lynching" and Mike Road in "Shootout at Diablo Station" and "A Fistful of Diamonds"] is a former outlaw turned lawman who intercedes on Heyes' and Curry's behalf to petition the Governor of the Wyoming territory for amnesty.
Kyle Murtry [portrayed by Dennis Fimple] is a member of the Devil’s Hole Gang, formerly led by Heyes.
Wheat Carlson [portrayed by Earl Holliman] is a member of the Devil’s Hole Gang, formerly led by Heyes.
Soapy Saunders [portrayed by Sam Jaffe] is a retired confidence man living in San Francisco who comes out of retirement to assist Heyes and Curry with a con or two when they seek his assistance.
Silky O'Sullivan [portrayed by Walter Brennan] is a retired confidence man who also lives in San Francisco who grudgingly comes out of retirement when Heyes and Curry ask for help.
Patrick “Big Mac” McCreedy [portrayed by Burl Ives] is a wealthy American rancher embroiled in a feud with Mexican land baron Armendariz. The feud is over a valuable bust which represents land that had been owned by Armendariz until the river temporarily switched course, moving the border with it, allowing McCreedy to sell the land.
Señor Armendariz [portrayed by Cesar Romero] is a wealthy Mexican rancher embroiled in a feud with McCreedy and who has more scruples than McCreedy does so we like him more.
Clementine Hale [portrayed by Sally Field] is a long-time friend of Heyes and Curry. She possesses the only picture of the boys and isn't above using it as blackmail to get them to get her out of trouble.
Georgette Sinclair [portrayed by Michele Lee] is a long-time friend of Heyes and Curry; she only appears in the episodes with Davis as Heyes.
IN PRINT
Alias Smith & Jones: The Story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men by Sandra K. Sagala & JoAnne M. Bagwell - The complete history of TV's last major western series. Contains many rare photos, interviews with cast members, detailed history of the show and episode guide.
Pete Duel: A Biography by Paul Green with a forward by Pamela Deuel Johnson. This extensive biography delves beyond such familiar events as Duel’s career and death to reveal more personal aspects, including his political involvement and environmental activism. Organized chronologically, the biography features extensive interviews with close personal friends, actors, producers, directors and writers who worked with Pete Duel. Includes complete episode guides for his work on TV’s Gidget, Love on a Rooftop and Alias Smith and Jones and an extensive filmography. Includes over 60 previously unpublished photographs.
LINKS
FAN FICTION
Alias Smith & Jones Fan Fiction Archive - It hasn’t been updated in a couple of years but has lots of original stories and links to other fan fiction sites.
Alias Smith & Jones Adult Fan Fiction Archive - Must be over 18 to enter. Contains both het and slash stories.
Alias Smith & Jones Fan Fiction - Currently over 300 stories are on the site; the site has adult fiction but does not contain slash fiction.
Wonderful World of Make Believe - A direct link to the ASJ stories on this fan fiction archive.
Alias Smith & Jones @ FanFiction.net - A direct link to the ASJ stories on this fan fiction archive.
Alias Smith & Jones: Virtual Seasons - A gen ASJ fan fiction site, currently accepting contributions.
IMAGES
Alias Smith & Jones Image Library
MISCELLANEOUS SITES
aliassmithjones - The only LJ community dedicated to the show.Alias Smith & Jones Collection - A long running fan site with articles, photo galleries, sound and video files and an active message board.
That’s a Good Deal? - Screen captures, music videos, calendars and more.
The Life and Times of Hannibal Heyes - A fan site dedicated to Hannibal Heyes as portrayed by Pete Duel.
Alias Smith & Jones Scenes - A site that explores in meticulous detail each and every episode of the show. A work in progress.
Alias Smith and Jones: Stories n' Stuff - Gen and Slash fan fiction, videos and lots of links.
Raspberry World - Includes wallpapers, avatars and scans of contemporary articles on the show and the actors. Shameless self-promotion.
Fan History - Fan activities from 1971 to the present.
ACTOR SITES
Pete Duel Site - Contains many pictures, video caps, articles, and message board.
Ben Murphy’s Official Website - Provides news and details about Ben's upcoming appearances, plus video clips, screen captures, and other items from his career.
Roger Davis’ Authorized Website - Contains a biography, photo gallery, filmography, news and upcoming appearances as well as credits, links and contact information.
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I'm looking forward to seeing what you rec, and hoping you can find some good stuff I haven't managed to. :D
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Dig my icon folks. They showed them in bed together. It's cannon.
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asj