Re Lou Tarnopol's post, yes, indeed, Gomer Pyle's favorite hero was Captain Marvel, hence his "Shazam!" catchphrase.
Gomer mentioned "The World's Mightiest Mortal" on at least one episode of TAGS, when he said, in praise of one of Barney's ideas, "Captain Marvel wouldn't'a thought of that!" But even though Gomer (and cousin Goober) read comic books, Captain Marvel had to be Gomer's CHILDHOOD favorite. During the production of TAGS, CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES (and the other Marvel Family comics published by Fawcett) were no longer in print, having been forced off the stands in the mid-1950s due to a plagiarism lawsuit with DC Comics, publisher of Superman. Interestingly, for me as a child growing up in the '60s, I learned of "Shazam!" and Captain Marvel through Gomer Pyle, even though I was a voracious comic-book reader. It wasn't until I read a history of comics in the early '70s that I learned of the original Captain Marvel -- who was revived in late 1972 in a comic book titled "SHAZAM!" which was published, oddly enough, by DC Comics. Makes ya want to put a bucket over your head and "thank," don't it? Michael Eury Concord, NC _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
