The "Gunsmoke" episode "Quaker Girl" opens with Thaddeus apprehending a dangerous criminal named Fred Bateman, played by none other than the legendary William Shatner.
Shatner was about to blow up in popularity thanks to "Star Trek," which debuted only a few months prior, so his appearance on "Gunsmoke" likely made him feel ubiquitous across the medium. On "Gunsmoke," Fred Bateman is an arrogant, violent character who knows no deputy will kill him because the price on his head is too high. He has a few fight scenes with Ewing right at the star of "Quaker Girl." The episode will take Thad and Bateman into a nearby Quaker village, where Bateman lies about being the deputy, claiming that Thad is his prisoner. Will the Quakers figure it out?
Shatner played Bateman as a rough-and-tumble heavy, a devious jerk willing to throw a punch and too arrogant to admit defeat. It's a good performance.
Shatner was about to blow up in popularity thanks to "Star Trek," which debuted only a few months prior, so his appearance on "Gunsmoke" likely made him feel ubiquitous across the medium. On "Gunsmoke," Fred Bateman is an arrogant, violent character who knows no deputy will kill him because the price on his head is too high. He has a few fight scenes with Ewing right at the star of "Quaker Girl." The episode will take Thad and Bateman into a nearby Quaker village, where Bateman lies about being the deputy, claiming that Thad is his prisoner. Will the Quakers figure it out?
Shatner played Bateman as a rough-and-tumble heavy, a devious jerk willing to throw a punch and too arrogant to admit defeat. It's a good performance.
- 3/9/2025
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Independent film icon Timothy Carey is being honored at Philadelphia's International House tonight in collaboration with the Timothy Carey Estate and the artist collective Vox Populi. The film house will screen some of Carey's rarely seen works, including the documentary, Making of Sinner, which is directed by Carey's son, Romeo. A Q&A with the director will follow the screening. Also playing and not to be missed is the never before released Carey masterpiece, The World's Greatest Sinner, which is like spotting a yeti in Philadelphia, only better (and yetis are pretty great).
Carey wrote, produced, directed and starred in 1962's Sinner, which boasts a score by a then unknown Frank Zappa. The film established the impulsive artist -- and he was an artist in every sense of the word -- as an underground legend. Sinners was shot for around $100,000 and Carey used his El Monte home and the city...
Carey wrote, produced, directed and starred in 1962's Sinner, which boasts a score by a then unknown Frank Zappa. The film established the impulsive artist -- and he was an artist in every sense of the word -- as an underground legend. Sinners was shot for around $100,000 and Carey used his El Monte home and the city...
- 4/9/2010
- by Alison Nastasi
- Cinematical
American Director Steckler Dies
American filmmaker Ray Dennis Steckler has died of heart failure, aged 70. Steckler, who gained a cult following as a low-budget auteur using the pseudonym Cash Flagg, died in Las Vegas, Nevada on 7 January.
He began his film career as a movie prop man, and later shot 1962 cult classic The World's Greatest Sinner as a cameraman before moving on to projects of his own.
In 1963 he co-produced his first solo film, The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?, co-starring his first wife, actress Carolyn Brandt.
Often credited with inspiring the work of directors David Lynch, John Waters and Quentin Tarantino, his nearly two dozen film credits also include cult classics The Thrill Killers, released in 1964, and Rat Pfink a Boo Boo, in 1966.
He moved to Las Vegas in 1970, where he taught film classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, owned video stores and continued to make movies, including soft-core pornography.
Steckler's first marriage to actress Carolyn Brandt ended in divorce.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Katherine, two daughters from his first marriage, Linda Arnold and Laura Steckler, two daughters from his second marriage, Morgan and Bailey Steckler, his sister, Judy Conrad and two grandchildren.
He began his film career as a movie prop man, and later shot 1962 cult classic The World's Greatest Sinner as a cameraman before moving on to projects of his own.
In 1963 he co-produced his first solo film, The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?, co-starring his first wife, actress Carolyn Brandt.
Often credited with inspiring the work of directors David Lynch, John Waters and Quentin Tarantino, his nearly two dozen film credits also include cult classics The Thrill Killers, released in 1964, and Rat Pfink a Boo Boo, in 1966.
He moved to Las Vegas in 1970, where he taught film classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, owned video stores and continued to make movies, including soft-core pornography.
Steckler's first marriage to actress Carolyn Brandt ended in divorce.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Katherine, two daughters from his first marriage, Linda Arnold and Laura Steckler, two daughters from his second marriage, Morgan and Bailey Steckler, his sister, Judy Conrad and two grandchildren.
- 2/1/2009
- WENN
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