AGENT K-13

August 26th was National Dog Day! Not only are we in a time in history when we hear more about true service dogs, the day also served as a reminder to the four-legged friends who care for us and who help to guide us in our daily lives. They are family. And to those in the military, security, and law enforcement, they are our colleagues. I thought about a few fictional canines to share here on Spy Vibe, but settled on Fang (aka Agent K-13). Fang made his debut in the first episode of Get Smart in 1965. He then accompanied Agent 86, Max Smart, during seasons one and two, in episodes 3, 4, 11, 16, 23, 32, and 43. Rumor has it the labradoodle-actor, "Red", was hard to direct and and his character was subsequently written out of the series. Apparently it was explained to fans that the dog had retired from the field to enjoy a quiet desk job. Before Get Smart, Red appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Andy Griffith Show, and Bachelor Father. Incidentally, Red's trainer, Rudd Weatherwax, worked as a trainer on Lassie Come Home (1943), Old Yeller (1957), and on the Lassie television series. Despite being dropped from Get Smart, the Fang character continued to help sell ancillary products like comics (some drawn by Steve Ditko) and paperback books, where he appeared alongside Max Smart in the cover designs. Get Smart (1965-1970) was created by Mel Brooks (The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs) and Buck Henry (That Was the Week That Was, The Graduate, Catch 22, What's Up Doc?) as a satirical answer to money-making properties James Bond and The Pink Panther. The original series was a wonderful send-up of popular conventions, and Fang/Agent K-13's introduction remains a hilarious, classic moment in 1960s Spy Vibe culture. Below: Fang on the case. In other news, check out my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show, where I introduce classic spy films/TV series and play soundtracks and rare cuts: Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers). Episode #6 (The Prisoner). Related post: Agent 99 By Andy Warhol.

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

WILD THINGS

I went to the Disney Family Museum yesterday to see a new Maurice Sendak show. Housed in their special exhibits building, the work on display celebrates the 50th anniversary of Sendak's classic (originally banned) book, Where the Wild Things Are (1963). If we celebrate the revolutionary milestones of the 1960s here on Spy Vibe, we can't overlook the significance of Sendak's message of rebellion against authority and the power of youth that resonated throughout that era. With independence came all of the anxieties of responsibility, just as Max had to learn the power he wielded as a "wild thing" and was forced to find the confidence within himself to tame the monsters. Looking at that time period, it's no surprise that similar themes cropped up in other areas of pop culture. A few novels and films that come to mind are Billy Liar (1963), Catch-22 (1961), West Side Story (1961), La Dolce Vita (1960), The Warped Ones (1960), Lolita (1962), Lord of the Flies (1963), Village of the Damned (1960), and The Leather Boys (1964). Even Spider-Man, who struggled with the responsibilities of his new-found power as a young man, first appeared in August of 1962. Every generation has its coming-of-age stories, but this was the era of "wild things."

Sendak was a great influence on me growing up and his illustration style inspired me to draw. I got to meet him a number of times over the years. We lived near each other in Connecticut and I tried to attend book signings when I could. The last time we met was at Amherst College. He gave a short presentation in an upstairs classroom and then signed autographs. The room was so hot, I remember I stayed up there and fanned him with my copy of In the Night Kitchen. 

Sendak gave some very candid and emotional interviews on Fresh Air toward the end of his life. He also was the subject of a quirky video portrait by director Spike Jonze called Tell Them Anything You Want. I picked up the DVD at the museum shop and watched it this morning. Like his books, Sendak comes through as a man honestly grappling with the complications of life. But for all of his kvetching, the movie captured the artist enjoying the true happiness and satisfaction he got from his work and from his friendships- the most prominent one in the film being with his German Shepherd. After looking at his lifetime of drawings of dogs and monsters in the exhibit, I was really moved to see so much footage that illustrated the love and communication he shared with his beautiful canine pal. So in honor of all of the four-legged "wild things" we love, here is a collection of some Spy Vibe heroes with furry friends: Maurice Sendak (above), Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee (The Avengers), Roger Moore, Buster Keaton, Alfred Hitchcock, Alain Delon, Cary Grant, Diana Rigg, Ian Fleming, Federico Fellini, Leonard Nimoy, Peter Lorre, Paul McCartney, Sean Connery, Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon, and assorted Patrick Macnee (on the set of The Avengers). Search the internet for more "wild things" with Alfred Hitchcock, Edward Gorey, George Harrison, Tilda Swinton, Anthony Perkins, Leonard Nimoy, and others. I've had fun looking through the menagerie.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about our fiendish villains archive, book designdopplegangers, Christopher Lee, Bettie Page, Dashiell Hammett, Miles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE manga. new James Bond omnibus, Orson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, Ralph Byrd Dick Tracy, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here.

Ian Fleming on Spy Vibe: recent posts include Fleming birthday tribute, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, and our Ian Fleming image archive link here.

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