tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post112990309573474612..comments2024-03-29T04:57:26.162-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Cult TV Friday Flashback # 14: Rod Serling's Night Gallery: "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar"John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-58329119635952192572016-04-05T01:49:46.758-04:002016-04-05T01:49:46.758-04:00This one seems more reminiscent of a Twilight Zone...This one seems more reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode and contains many of the themes used in episodes like "Walking Distance," where a man tries to escape into his past. It seems to have been a recurring theme for Serling to write characters that were trapped in jobs they hated and were either burned out or on their way down. Serling was often at odds with network executives over censorship and as he got older, perhaps related to these characters more and more-men who felt out of step and out of place in a rapidly changing world.WestVirginiaRebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14129174334939968181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-13560758453201526432016-02-20T16:43:12.496-05:002016-02-20T16:43:12.496-05:00Maybe I'm crazy, John, but I distinctly rememb...Maybe I'm crazy, John, but I distinctly remember a different ending to "Tim Riley's Bar" when I saw it in 1969. I was twelve. The ending I remember was much sadder. Instead of Lane hearing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" emanating from the nearby bar "Antoine's" wherein a gathering of Lane's office workers toast Lane, and his boss apologizes, wishing him "another 25 years of success," I distinctly remember Lane instead running into the deserted Tim Riley's Bar, at night, and then closing the door, amidst the wild cheering of ghosts emanating from inside. Could my memory be that bad? Or was the ending re-shot to make it less heartbreaking? I believe that, erroneous as it may be, my interpretation was better.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02206588232600153137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-86215982378465519622014-03-15T16:27:37.867-04:002014-03-15T16:27:37.867-04:00Loved both TZ and NG - Rod Serling was local and m...Loved both TZ and NG - Rod Serling was local and many of the place names in his stories can be found on our maps in central New York. My parents occasionally ran into him at a favorite local restaurant. He shopped in our town (the menswear shop on State Street had his favorite knit tie in assorted colors) and he lectured at our community college. His maternal grandfather owned a meat market here and this is where his father met his mother.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-14342036331685874862013-07-03T00:15:34.217-04:002013-07-03T00:15:34.217-04:00Thank you so much for your reflection upon this an...Thank you so much for your reflection upon this and Mr. Serling's work. I have always loved Rod Serling's series and had not seen this one(Tim Riley's) until tonight. I will be 48 in 6 weeks and amidst reflection and judgement, joy & regret, sadness at all the inevitable loss that comes with time, it is comforting to read of others pondering our condition. Also of note is that the last of the paratroopers of WWII are with us now. They would be about 86 this year. My dad would have been 92. There is value in reflection..... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-88180833496732642832013-07-02T23:43:27.689-04:002013-07-02T23:43:27.689-04:00I was born in 1960 and Serling has always been a b...I was born in 1960 and Serling has always been a big inspiration to my career as a writer and Night Gallery is a special favorite. I just saw "Tim Riley" again which resonates differently to me at 52 than it did when I was 11. Brilliant!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-63613166114870310002013-03-24T16:11:45.828-04:002013-03-24T16:11:45.828-04:00The Tim Riley episode is a great Serling piece, wo...The Tim Riley episode is a great Serling piece, wonderfully acted by Windom. It's always resonated with me deeply and I reference it in my Wisconsin tavern history website: manitowoctavernhistory.org. It's right there on the home page, which I link to this beautiful homage by Mr. Muir.Joe Kazdahttp://manitowoctavernhistory.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-67441043720997448172012-09-18T15:31:41.826-04:002012-09-18T15:31:41.826-04:00Just heard of the death of William Windom while I ...Just heard of the death of William Windom while I was on vacation. I only saw "Tim Reilly's Bar" once, when it originally aired yet it stays with me to this day. Perhaps I am overly sentimental, but their generation, Serling's and Windom's was certainly something very special. I saw the same in my parents and their brothers, sisters and friends. A unique people, certainly not replicated since and I doubt impossible to replicate again. As with "the Best Years of Our Lives", the tears tend to well up when I just think about them, their hopes, dreams, struggles and disappointments. Thanks for a wonderful piece.SK Trynosky Sr.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-17138857017003869332012-07-26T23:13:43.041-04:002012-07-26T23:13:43.041-04:00My favorite two episodes from Mr Serling: 'The...My favorite two episodes from Mr Serling: 'They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar' from "Night Gallery" and 'A Stop at Willoughby' from the "Twilight Zone". Perhaps due to being in my late 40's both of these cause me to remember fondly much simpler and happier times with those that are gone. PMTooneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-48920224522291043992010-07-10T12:14:47.389-04:002010-07-10T12:14:47.389-04:00Mr. Eyesman,
Thank you, sir, for composing and of...Mr. Eyesman,<br /><br />Thank you, sir, for composing and offering us those words about a genius and a great human being. Thank you for your wisdom, your insight and your compassion. Your eulogy was beautiful, and it was a pleasure to feature your words here on this blog, in honor of a great writer and a great talent.<br /><br />Thank you,<br /><br />John Kenneth MuirJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-23472855748718807592010-07-10T11:58:53.888-04:002010-07-10T11:58:53.888-04:00Thank you for publishing my eulogy to Rod.He wrote...Thank you for publishing my eulogy to Rod.He wrote poetry and had such vision. He gave everything he had and there was such beauty. He made words sing. He made me weep for Martin Sloane and want to go home to childhood when I was still a child. Words were heart to Rod. He kept integrity in nostalgia and in outrage. He fought and didn't quit.<br />I think of Danse Macabre and Stephen King,how they hurt with their cruel words. They could never touch Rod's genius in a million years. Rod was a giant. He looms and will do so forever.<br />Barry EysmanBeysmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-81170222489527291382008-04-04T00:28:00.000-04:002008-04-04T00:28:00.000-04:00Years ago, when in college, I had the distinct ple...Years ago, when in college, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a Q&A session with William Windom the day after he'd appeared in a one-man play, "Thurber," on campus.<BR/>He said that of all the TV work he'd ever done, "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar" was the only one he kept a personal copy of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-1133080023094762552005-11-27T03:27:00.000-05:002005-11-27T03:27:00.000-05:00I remember seeing this episode when I was really y...I remember seeing this episode when I was really young and it stuck with me. <BR/><BR/>I would like to know a little more of the back story for this episode because Serling (as mentioned) was a WWII Paratrooper in the Pacific and William Windom was also a WWII paratroop with the 508th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne who fought throughout Europe. <BR/><BR/>I anyone has any insider info, I'd like to hear it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-1130177020600682572005-10-24T14:03:00.000-04:002005-10-24T14:03:00.000-04:00Hey Linda - thanks for the kind words. Had sort of...Hey Linda - thanks for the kind words. Had sort of a blue "feeling my age" moment when I wrote about "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar," but I think it helped make the piece come together...John Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-1130162254666144642005-10-24T09:57:00.000-04:002005-10-24T09:57:00.000-04:00Thank you for this entry. I never understood the s...Thank you for this entry. I never understood the scorn heaped on <I>Night Gallery</I>. <I>Twilight Zone</I> had its share of yawners and turkeys (actually my favorite TZ is considered one of its turkeys). I managed to record "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar" back when Encore was showing the series. It's a superb effort.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00684124498981972463noreply@blogger.com